Pre-Adventure Musings

Remember 10 years ago on this blog when you would get to see pictures from oh so many different aspects of my life? My walk to class, a friend in town, a big cake I made for a birthday. These days it's just Brett and all the critters we share our lives with. I'm thrilled about it, mind you. It's not until I go to write a blog post that I realize I haven't been out in the world. 

In any case, and speaking of being out in the world, we're heading out. So in some cases yes, this is an obligatory post with no real point to it, just so I can keep up with my sidebar numbers game. (Two posts a month is so minor. If I can't manage that I don't deserve to keep this blog.) I've got to get that second post in before the end of the month. 

I've been packing, vacuuming, and writing extensive instructions for the people looking after all the animals while were away. You don't realize what a job it is to care for your animals, as well as how unhinged you've become, until you're explaining that yes, you can take Grace to the beach, but don't force her to go too close to the water because the crashing waves really scare her. 

While the cats don't really care who feeds them, so long as they are fed, I particularly feel bad sending Pippa off to camp for the trip. Sometimes she has a great time a doggy camp and other times they'll report back that she was "a bashful wallflower." She and I have this drastic pendulum of personality in common. Sometimes I'm a riot. Other times I just want to go hug mom. So I can sympathize with being away from home AND having to spend time with... others. Grace will stay here at the house with Erik, our house sitter. 

Morning pep-talk.

Meanwhile, in preparation for our departure, EisenEars has been working extra late to finish things at work but today he called me with updates that are going to equal out to his team being "blown out" upon his return. Last night he was real stressed and whatnot, but today's news allowed him to really turn a corner. "You know, I'm so far in the hole, what's a few more feet?" he laughed as he stepped up to order a coffee. 

I have spoken to Ellen on the phone more times this week than takes place over the standard month. She's all whipped up and excited and nervous and, as you know, real bossy about our travel plans. I'm excited to spend the trip observing her in her natural habitat. Brett and I have a list of "over/ unders" on when in the trip she will say what phrases. I love this part of traveling. 

Mom and Dad left two days ago for Prague, spent a day and a half in the Charlotte airport, and finally gave up and went to Zurich. While it was an awful ordeal, I was particularly entertained by Dad's blasé texts on the matter. While Mom was fuming, he was sending gifs of Obama, Seinfeld characters, and airplanes flapping their wings. It's the little things. 
Today Lee dropped off the squirts with Marcia and Ellen, understandably, made a Target run.

Wild times over here in preparation for a grand Italian adventure.

A very brave first for nervous Nora. 

(Her first real cuddle.)

Tiny Hats and Big Words

The days of waking up with a blank slate to fill now feel like the days of yore. It's been more than a full month of working a real job for a real organization and I'll tell ya, I'm tired at the end of the day. I like it and all that, yes yes, it's just an adjustment from being so utterly free and in-charge of my day, to a life of ...meetings. 

I remember having a meeting once in one of my other jobs several years ago and being tickled by the seriousness of it. I tend to become especially amused in "business" settings because people are trying so hard to pretend to be anything besides a sweaty, sleepy, farty human. You want to appear composed, and coiffed, and intelligent. So when someone's howling pup or big, frightening roommate interrupts a zoom meeting, I have an especially hard time maintaining my composure. They've been outed! 
Someone was picking their teeth in a meeting the other day, realized what they were doing, and then apologized for being "inappropriate." They were really digging way far back in there and I outright laughed. It was after the fact, when everyone else had moved on, that I seemed to be the only one still struggling with leftover amusement. 

Everyone's just trying so hard! 

The finishing and moving on from Grad school process was surprisingly quick - kind of like coming back from a weekend trip. You just dump the contents of your suitcase into the laundry basket and get back to making grocery lists and answering emails. Brett tried to warn me. He said, "Take a couple weeks off between school and the new job," and I disregarded those thoughts and started the job before school even ended. He was right, not only because the new job's onboarding process was overwhelming, but because it took all the focus away from enjoying my last few chats with school friends and feeling like I finished something big that I care about. It's not a big deal - just something to remember in case of a next time. 

I'm excited to tell you all about the new job and the funky fun people I work with. It seems like a great place for story fodder - already got a few good ones. 
To make sure we took a moment to like... celebrate me?, we had a tiny dock day and cook out celebration. Please note World's Tiniest Graduate Cap upon my head.  

Unbeknownst to you, I'm writing this on a Monday morning before my FIVE meetings today that start in about an hour and will carry me on through to 4:55 this afternoon. What is this life? What have I done? And who knew helping animals required so much computer work? 

... can't wait to start using official business lingo in my upcoming blog posts... collaboration hours. Deliverables...

 This is so fun!