Slow Progress
On Fridays, some of the more ambitious or opinionated of us at the PRI go to Maxie's Supper Club to discuss a paper. We call it "geeks". I started out feeling somewhat intimidated, but lately have been much faster to question and critique. In fact, the last few times I've gone, I felt downright smart. The group often comes to a consensus with which I disagree (empty niches? yes!), my arguments are usually met with concession.
This particular Friday saw both the last day of geeks before the beginning of the semester, and the staff picnic. The folks at collections were talking about it, but didn't indicate that I was invited. After geeks (during which I clarified a contentious point, resulting in a chorus of "oooooh"s and, I think, a total conversion to my side), everyone asked if I was going to make it to the picnic. When I said I wasn't sure if I was invited, it seemed to click - "Oh, I heard they didn't invite the volunteers." And Warren (who would be my boss's boss) turned to me and said "That's stupid, you have to come. Get Ursula to give you a ride." So I did and ate free food and drank free beers. And made a good impression on some people I hadn't met yet; I could hardly finish my stories over their laughing. My (maybe) future boss, however, is proving a tougher nut and didn't talk to me at all.
It rained all day Sunday with varying intensity, but never a break. While this prevented volleyball, people still came over to say goodbye to Travis. I was helping Sam and his girlfriend make dilly beans (which turned out to be pickled green beans) when people started showing up. It was a small affair, but lots of food and a handful of well-behaved children. It dwindled to just housemates and their mates pretty early. The whole house was up at 6:30 to send Travis off on his bike, laden with provisions for his autumnal cycling adventure to Maine. He plans to return to Ithaca and maybe the house before winter. But in the meantime we are down to five.
That said, we are having a German woman come to live with us for six weeks on Wednesday. She was interested in one of the rooms next to mine, endangering my monopoly on west side of this floor.
I haven't talked to Jordan in about three weeks and keep going through cycles of how I feel about her and our relationship. It's getting easier to focus on what was good, but I wonder if it would have been better to just leave it in Taiwan. Some of my favorite memories are from seeing her here, but it's been such a mess. I don't like being hung up on something I can't change, but when I'm still talking to her in my head every day, it's hard to let go.
This is getting longer than I intended, but I've been pretty happy lately so I'll try and impart that feeling to this entry. I've been spending much of my time lately baking and playing with four-year-old Aurora. I'm exercising pretty regularly, eating well. As I mentioned last entry, after years of wariness, I've given in and am engrossed in The (American) Office. And, Heaven help me, I'm really invested in Pam and Jim getting together.
This particular Friday saw both the last day of geeks before the beginning of the semester, and the staff picnic. The folks at collections were talking about it, but didn't indicate that I was invited. After geeks (during which I clarified a contentious point, resulting in a chorus of "oooooh"s and, I think, a total conversion to my side), everyone asked if I was going to make it to the picnic. When I said I wasn't sure if I was invited, it seemed to click - "Oh, I heard they didn't invite the volunteers." And Warren (who would be my boss's boss) turned to me and said "That's stupid, you have to come. Get Ursula to give you a ride." So I did and ate free food and drank free beers. And made a good impression on some people I hadn't met yet; I could hardly finish my stories over their laughing. My (maybe) future boss, however, is proving a tougher nut and didn't talk to me at all.
It rained all day Sunday with varying intensity, but never a break. While this prevented volleyball, people still came over to say goodbye to Travis. I was helping Sam and his girlfriend make dilly beans (which turned out to be pickled green beans) when people started showing up. It was a small affair, but lots of food and a handful of well-behaved children. It dwindled to just housemates and their mates pretty early. The whole house was up at 6:30 to send Travis off on his bike, laden with provisions for his autumnal cycling adventure to Maine. He plans to return to Ithaca and maybe the house before winter. But in the meantime we are down to five.
That said, we are having a German woman come to live with us for six weeks on Wednesday. She was interested in one of the rooms next to mine, endangering my monopoly on west side of this floor.
I haven't talked to Jordan in about three weeks and keep going through cycles of how I feel about her and our relationship. It's getting easier to focus on what was good, but I wonder if it would have been better to just leave it in Taiwan. Some of my favorite memories are from seeing her here, but it's been such a mess. I don't like being hung up on something I can't change, but when I'm still talking to her in my head every day, it's hard to let go.
This is getting longer than I intended, but I've been pretty happy lately so I'll try and impart that feeling to this entry. I've been spending much of my time lately baking and playing with four-year-old Aurora. I'm exercising pretty regularly, eating well. As I mentioned last entry, after years of wariness, I've given in and am engrossed in The (American) Office. And, Heaven help me, I'm really invested in Pam and Jim getting together.