You guys. I got an adjunct faculty position at WSU Vancouver!!! It's just to teach labs for one semester, but it will very likely lead into more work. I'm so. Fucking. Excited. It's good money. Good people. TEACHING!  I get to quit my restaurant job. I get to science. Hallelujah!

My grandma bell has been on a feeding tube the last couple weeks, and they took her off yesterday. She was admitted to hospice care today. I'm struggling hard to deal with my grief and anxiety about this. It's hard to know where to put it all when I'm so far away. Oliver and I are going to make some candles for the altar today.

This trip is intense.

But, I saw all of my mom's siblings today. And almost all of my dad's yesterday. That's 13 aunts and uncles. Everyone's here except my mom. I wish she was here.

My grandma bell (paternal, picture below) might not make it. Everyone is in utter agony, grandpa most of all. I'm beyond grateful to be here, and fuuuuuck this is hard ( Read more... )

My grandma bell had a massive stroke this morning. I'll be flying to flint Thursday-Tuesday to be with my family. Financially, this is ludicrous, but I haven't seen any of my grandparents in two years and this is a big fucking deal.

Everything in my life is really good between these crises. Really really.

I got to visit with someone great who pointed out to me that the last things I posted were all pretty bad sounding. And. That's so true! I've been beyond overwhelmed by any electronic communication (blame grad school). When I think about posting updates, it's just too much and I move on with my day. And now I'm in the position of having too much to ( Read more... )

Okay. No complaining this time.

1. I quot smoking a few days ago, and it really is much easier this time. I used the Alan Carr book,  The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. I'm feeling pretty positive about it all, and so thrilled that I no longer have to bear the embarrassment and shame of smoking fucking cigarettes in 21st century.

2. My job is pretty ( Read more... )

I have roughly eight million words that couldn't be touched by these pictures. But for now... pretty. This is, to me, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I came back to add captions and the cut...
( Edited to put giant photos behind this cut. )

We're camping at the Hoh rain forest and I came into town to dry a few things. I had a short delay, thanks to this family. Xo

( Read more... )

And then, sometimes, you get some very unexpected and generous help.

Huge sigh. <3

I'm defending my thesis tomorrow, and every time I start a practice run through, I stumble over the first two slides. Partially, I feel super awkward talking to myself. And then, there's also the fact that this is the most important presentation I've ever given, and will be giving it to a whole room of very smart people.
I feel like I'm going to ( Read more... )