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I'm back in sunny California. It's been a nice visit so far, including, but not limited to, swimming in the ocean, watching dolphins swim in said ocean, spending time with family I haven't seen for a year (and some I've never met before), and going for tea in the posh "Grove" shopping mall in Beverly Hills with my two Grandmas ( Read more... )

Today I'm going back to CA for a visit (2 weeks)! Yay!

...but this is where I'll be working in April ( Read more... )

Despite being ill on Christmas, I had a good time. Although being ill included a fever, cold sweats, aches, and a spliting headache, it was fun opening presents and eating together. Quote of the day from grammy, commenting on the small present Ron (her husband) was opening: 'It's not a dog!' ('What??' my sister said) 'He's never gonna get a dog.' ( ( Read more... )

I talked to my family today. Everything seemed really loud and happy with lots of people talking and having fun. My Grandma remarked that she missed me because there was no chocolate cream pie made (as I am apparently the only one who requests it). Here on the home front, M couldn't find turkey at the department store (it's still strange to buy ( Read more... )

It was 43 degrees today ( Read more... )

Yes, I'm back in sunny (41 degrees) CA. For a while I was at my Grandma's taking care of her house (which was an easy job) and writing my dissertation. She (obviously) doesn't have very good internet, so I couldn't update this. Then, I stayed at a friend's house and discovered I am allergic to cats. Now, I have finished a draft of my dissertation ( ( Read more... )

When I was seven or thereabouts, we visited Great Grandpa and Grandma on their farm in Tennessee. There are things in that visit which stick in a seven-year-old's memory: Grandpa's living room walls covered with grandfather clocks, how loud the clocks were each 15 minutes, Grandpa winding his collection of clocks every night, shucking peas with ( Read more... )

Today I went to a rugby game. I will try almost anything (if it doesn't go against my moral code) at least once, so I thought I would go see the sport where brutality is lauded, and being bloody on the pitch can get one sent to the bench. Shaun wanted to explain everything to me, though I think he was surprised to find out I already knew quite a ( Read more... )