Friday, May 30, 2008

From Aunt Liz

"Working on your dissertation is like eating a shit sandwich: the best part is when it’s over."

My aunt Liz told me this a few years ago and I’ve thought about it oh, daily, ever since.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Sidetracked

An annoying side effect of real life (which for me, at the moment, consists of planning lectures, giving lectures, creating exams, grading exams, grading assignments, figuring out how I'm going to get funded for next year, figuring out how to spend the grant money that I've already gotten so that I don't get taxed on it, communicating with my dissertation committee on my research progress, trying to actually make some progress on my dissertation, in addition to grocery shopping, eating, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc etc etc) is that much of the peace of mind that I gained in Berlin has flown out the window. This became obvious last week when I stopped sleeping and couldn't sit down to meditate for 10 minutes because I was distracted by all of the things that I could get done in 10 minutes if I wasn't cross-legged on the floor. On Tuesday night I went to yoga for the first time in a week and felt a sliver of peacefulness make its way back into my mind. Then yesterday I stopped by the Foggy Bottom farmer's market and felt more peacefulness creeping up on me as I looked at vegetables and talked with farmers. So today, despite the Mt. Everest size of my to-do list, I made myself leave my office early to sit on the ground and get dirty at a community garden where I've been volunteering. Then I went to yoga and got together with a good friend to eat dinner, catch up, have fun, and laugh and relax. I'm getting back on track.....slowly but surely.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Craziness, again

I got up this morning, blinked, and now it's time to go to bed. Sigh.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Long Weekend

I have spent most of the past 4 days at home, partly because I was knocked out by allergies and partly because I didn't want to leave my apartment. Which is not surprising, considering that in the past 5 months I have not been in one place any longer than 6 weeks. And come September I'll be packing my bags again. So I've enjoyed the beautiful weather, light breeze and sunshine from the many windows in my apartment. And it's been fantastic.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Farmer's Market Love

This morning I got up early (um, before 10am) to get to the Dupont Farmer's Market before the one stall that sells milk had run out. After about 25 minutes of shopping I had spent $61.50, which was all the cash that I had in my wallet. Though my initial reaction was 'yikes', I came home with:

1 loaf of sunflower-flax bread
italian herb feta cheese
cheddar cheese
1/2 gallon whole milk
yogurt
1 pint apple cider
1 pint strawberries
3 apples
1 lb lettuce
2 bunches asparagus
5 tomatoes
1 blueberry scone

So that's what I'll be eating this week, and if there's anything better in the morning than a cup of café-au-lait with fresh whole milk I don't know what that is.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Craziness

I ran out of floss on Monday and despite the fact that I pass by about 5 CVS stores daily, I was just able to make it to the store at 10:30pm tonight. This describes the crazy business of the past few days. Main item on the agenda for tomorrow (my day off from teaching): sleep.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Wedding Pics

Taking a break between formal pictures.

I have never seen Lauren look as beautiful and happy as she did on her wedding day.

Lauren and Jim had a gorgeous sunset ceremony at her parents house.

It was a beautiful day, filled with love, joy, friendship, family and happiness. It was so great to spend time with my college friends and be a part of such a beautiful expression of love.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Perfect Fabulousness

...best describes Lauren's bachlorette party and rehearsal dinner. I can't wait for the big day tomorrow!!!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Breakfast at Mom's

Today for breakfast I had coffee, pancakes and chocolate chip cookies. Who else will make all this for you and then serve you like a princess?

Saturday, May 10, 2008

no longer Running On Empty

Yesterday I saw Lauren and we spent the afternoon playing with boxes, candy, ribbon and a glue gun to make party favors for the wedding guests. We were talking about life as PhD students, and she said something to the effect of 'You've really slowed down since college, and you seem a lot happier.'

This is both funny and scary - because I feel like I'm plenty busy at the moment, but it's true. Looking back, I can see how when I was younger I took pretty much everything that came my way, sometimes indiscriminately, in the process of learning and also because I kind of didn't know better. And now, with experience and a greater understanding of who I am, I am able to see more clearly, think more rationally, and make choices and decisions about what I want in my life and what I really want to be involved in.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Good News

Actually -- unbelievable, fantastic, amazing news.

One of my huge dissertation grants, which covers all my dissertation-related travel expenses to Africa, has been approved. I am still in shock, mostly because I have spent the past YEAR applying for these grants, and it was a process with a lot of unknowns and uncertainty, so I have not quite gotten used to the fact that it has all worked out. Getting this big grant means that I can use my other grant money to do things like buy a new laptop, and have on hand in case more trouble goes down in Nairobi and I need to charter a private jet to get out of the country (just kidding) (I hope).

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Not that I need any rescuing, but....

After my recent break-up, on top of everything else I found myself without a date for Lauren's upcoming wedding. I feel slightly shallow that this mattered so much to me, but for whatever reason it did: I'm in the wedding party, Lauren is one of my best friends, many of my college friends will be at the wedding, and originally Mike and I had been planning to spend a week in AZ before the wedding where he would meet my parents, I'd introduce him to my friends and show him where I grew up, etc.

So. I was feeling blue about attending the wedding solo. My college friend Brent and I have recently gotten back in touch, and a few months ago he was offered a dream job in NYC. Since he is actually making some real money, and he's always been super sympathetic and supportive through good and bad times, I asked him how he felt about spending a weekend in AZ. And so Brent, aka Superman, aka my knight in shining armor, is my date for the wedding. Of course he is good friends with Lauren and he will see lots of other friends from ASU, but I can't help feeling a little special that we will be attending it together :)

Friday, May 02, 2008

In other news...

Today I found out that I received another grant to return to Berlin!!! Ich bin sehr glücklich!!

"When the karma of a relationship is done, only love remains."

More EPL (my bible).

I saw Mike this week. It was good. Emotional but not overwhelming - loving and open, in the best way possible. I have certainly emerged from our relationship a wiser woman. And having learned many lessons, too many to enumerate here. Now we'll be forging a new relationship - it will be interesting to see what that looks like as we feel our way down a new path.