Back in LA

I'm here for a week and this trip comes at a perfect time. Although the computer loss really wasn't that bad I was so panicked I almost gave myself a heart attack and my environment in DC was feeling really toxic. Ben, Joëlle's husband, set up an FTP site for me where I can back-up my files on line, which is especially great for when I'm traveling so that I don't have to carry an external hard drive with me.

Luke had a review with his committee yesterday, similar to mine last week. He also got the thumbs up so even though both of us are in a great position we're too exhausted to feel relieved. Yesterday was also 6 months after our first date, so we went to a restaurant on the beach in Santa Monica to celebrate. We're both hoping to take care of ourselves and each other this week while we try to unwind and keep at it with the work.

My hard drive crashed yesterday

That is not a joke. Luckily I had backed up last week so I didn't lose too much work. Did lose a day and probably several years off my life. Ugh all around.

Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

On Wednesday I'm meeting with my advisor to get his feedback on the status of my dissertation. I'm hoping he'll say I can finalize what I have done and wrap this thing up already. If I have to do more work that could mean defending later in the year or extending into next spring (nooooooooo).

A new season

Autumn to winter, winter to spring,
Spring into summer, summer into fall-
So rolls the changing year, and so we change;
Motion so swift, we know not that we move.
-Dinah Mulock Craik

It's been chilly in DC the past few days, a physical reminder that summer is over. I cannot believe how quickly the past few months have flown by. I am kind of scared about how fast time is passing. I think a big reason for that is a feeling that I'm constantly living in a future place - upcoming dissertation deadlines, anticipating Luke's next visit, etc. It's pretty unsettling and this month I really want to focus on being more present.

Luke was in town for a visit and left today. I've been meaning to write about the adventures we've had this summer for a while now and another one has come and gone. Sigh.