Monday, August 29, 2022
#1
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Six on a Sunday
* Speaking of church--UU was one of our first stops today. Nu is helping in the little kids' room instead of doing R.E. with his own set and liking it. Also, the MI Lieutenant Governor was at the service and everyone waved to him. Singing has been back for a while, and I'm loving it.
* Between meeting CF (massage) and BES (dinner prep) and EM (birthday celebration) in person this weekend and marathon text threads and FaceTimes with the cousins, fam, and friends--It was a rather intense social weekend.
* On the other hand, I did a TON of work today with new students. It's a Sunday, but then it's the start of the semester and they're new and seemed a bit lost, so...
* All the syllabuses and diagnostics for tomorrow are uploaded on Canvas. So there's nothing left to do but get some sleep, hope the documents stay stable, and look forward to tomorrow with that classic first-day-combination of jittery excitement and flustery edginess.
* Bye-bye sabbatical!
Friday, August 26, 2022
que sera, sera
Some tangential stuff has been so sweet... from colleagues messaging to say they heard At on NPR; his old YDSA colleagues chuffed with success; my family, friends, and students trying to connect this to me, etc.
So a day of relief. But my body has been tense and tired for a long time. Last week, I'd booked a massage for myself for today. I remember booking it and wondering what state of mind I'd be in when I got to go in: Would I be happy? Would I be crushed? And here's what I said to myself: Whatever will be, will be; I'll need this either way.
My kids' teachers would often make them write letters to their future selves--this massage felt like a present from my past self.
Pic: The offering I took to the temple the day before the election.
P.S. It seems I jumped the gun on International Dogs' Day--it was today not the day before yesterday.
Thursday, August 25, 2022
HUGE exhale; halellujah
We've all been holding our breaths because At really poured himself into this effort and sacrificed a lot. (We've all missed him for months at this point as he worked himself ragged with food service, unionizing, and DSA leadership.) So I'm so glad this thing that is good for the world happened AND I'm happy that At's dream came true.
I'm still catching up to all the media attention this is getting with Bernie Sanders tweeting about it and At quoted as "union organizer" in this Washington Post article.
(Just last year I was worried about his "impromptu gap year;" he's done more than I have in any one year.)
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
dogged
I'm not sure if these guys know they're dogs, and I'm guilty of treating them like eternal toddlers, but I'm always happy to celebrate everything. (I used to get At and Nu those "Every Day is a Holiday" calendars for a few years, and there were some pretty wacky celebrations for a while.)
Big A sent me a heads up this morning that there's a mysterious illness that has killed dozens of dogs in Michigan. Turns out it's a parvovirus. Usually my babies are fairly isolated from other doggies, but I'm taking them to the veterinarian tomorrow for their shots, and that's making me anxious.
(I'm also anxious about attending opening convocation tomorrow, meeting my new first-year advisees, and making it back in time to take S and H to their doc on time.)
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Day #1 Notes
Monday, August 22, 2022
just another manic Monday
This picture was shared on the college's social media, so I suppose it's ok to share. I was going to joke about looking for me on the far left in this picture... but I can actually espy myself (it helps that I'm so brown and am wearing a mask).
No one at work said a thing about my facial piercings, which I took as a sign that people either didn't notice it or were too freaked out by it. I miss besties KB, JG, CF being at work because they would totally have blurted out questions... and it would be fun coming from them.
Long day: lots of new info and expectations for the upcoming year + some initial prep for a travel course over boxed lunches with CC.
Then I took care of my babies. Nu wanted to spend a couple of hours at the mall with a friend (I counted mall-walking as exercise today); drove to At's Chipotle to morale boost the unionizing crew with some old-fashioned conversation (all the "Union Strong!" orders I'd been placing via the app for $1.67 chips kept showing up with my name on it--unsure of that's a glitch or corporate interference); and now I'm curled up with Scout and Huck. Scout just did his happy sigh, so all is right with the world in this moment.
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Going West
Anyway...
Big A was so excited for our visit and had arranged a full day of garden and museum visits and a fancy dinner out. But I've been so full of tears and tantrums that we only just made it to the art museum and then got carryout from Shake Shack (I got the mushroom burger) so we could go back to the apartment for some more moping.
I'm in that terrible place where I know I'm behaving badly, but can't seem to do better. An absolute delight.
Friday, August 19, 2022
also new...
And so I made an appointment. When the time came, I wanted to wimp out, but Nu said I was already old and not getting any younger and if I wanted to do something I should do it now. It was the best advice.
(Nu also came to the appointment with me, helped me choose jewelry, and held my hand when I wanted...)
And now I have bilateral eyebrow piercings.
I like them.
Saturday, August 13, 2022
rakhi talk
At came over and the four of us headed to the movies (for the first time since the pandemic?). We saw Nope (I'm still processing).
Back home, we had a nice puja for Rakhi. Traditionally, sisters tie rakhis on their brothers' wrists, but we've been bypassing gender and species rules for years now, so At, Nu, Scout, and Huck all promise to love and protect each other. I wish my sister and I had done this for each other instead of bemoaning the fact that we didn't have brothers all those years ago. We always did the love and protection--we should have gotten the bracelets too.
Pic: Nu's bracelets at breakfast this morning (I forgot to take photos yesterday).
Tuesday, August 09, 2022
selective
I took this picture of three generations of Big A's side of the family today. Perhaps the only picture of these three together we'll get this year as Grandpa G heads back to NC for the rest of the year.
It kind of a looks like they're in a garden to me. I guess that's my super power? Haha.
And I guess the important thing is that we found time to make this happen despite everyone's crazy end-of summer and vacation schedules.
Monday, August 08, 2022
adult-child
Parenthood's most persistent fear has been about losing my kids (to disaster/ill health). So it was horrifying to read about another take on this loss in the pull quote on this article about parent-child estrangement in The Atlantic: "you can be a conscientious parent and your kid may still want nothing to do with you when they’re older."
The article then goes on to say that there are usually reasons for parent-child estrangement even if it has to do with how the parent and the child see the past differently.
Very yikes. A cautionary tale, I guess, but what can anyone do about the past anyway?
Pic: Eyde Woods; The Red Cedar River muddy post rain.
Sunday, August 07, 2022
puppy pile
One of the grownups at the get together today was allergic to dogs, so Scout and Huckie had to stay in their room.
Three of the little ones decided to stay in there with them because "puppies shouldn't be in timeout by themselves."
(Not pictured: my big kids, At and Nu, who are around somewhere.)
Friday, August 05, 2022
unexpected sweetness
When we dropped Big A off at the train station the other day, I noticed a huge new sports complex on Service Rd., so I took L and Nu to see it on this morning's walk.
Except--by the time we marveled over how quickly the complex had gone up and commiserated over how we wouldn't be able to traipse over the fields as a shortcut as we used to--there was a very long and slow train stuck on the tracks blocking our way home.
Thankfully, Nu suggested we go to Chapelure, and thankfully, I carry a credit card on the little pocket on my phone so we did. Coffee for L, tea for me, a three-course breakfast for Nu, a chance to sit on the patio and pretend we were in Paris (Nu had a croissant), and it was an unexpected treat on an ordinary Friday morning.
Pic: When LB and TB came over for dinner, they brought this arrangement of flowers from their garden. It's arranged in a sundae glass and has two straws it it. So cute!
Wednesday, August 03, 2022
haphazardly
*
I walked A LOT today: four miles with Nu, two miles with Big A after Nu's medical appointment and my NWSA meeting, and then another four miles by myself because I felt kind of jumpy and wanted to tire myself out.
*
SD, my dear friend of 25 years who lives in DC and was going to spend the rest of the week with us here, had to postpone her trip due to a Covid exposure. But we already have a new date and new plans: she's going to come in the last week of September and maybe visit one of my classes, so I'm excited about that.
*
An unlooked for bonus is that I'd arranged for small dinner parties tomorrow and the day after to entertain her. Those gatherings are still happening, so it'll still be somewhat convivial around here.
Tuesday, August 02, 2022
(Work in) Progress
I was blown away when I saw this de-construction of progress, and am pinning this for myself and everyone I know. I hope I remember to refer to it when Nu feels he's backsliding or At feels he's stagnating or students feel overwhelmed.
[It fits perfectly with how I'm hating on civilization and our definitions of progress right now because I'm rereading Karen Joy Fowler's We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.]
Big A is in town, so we did a "Books and Burritos" night, going to the bookstore and swinging by At's branch of Chipotle. It's At's Boss Day, so we'd planned it around surprising him... he was more like taken aback. Later he texted: "Sorry I looked bad and was so stressed." That very nearly broke my heart. Their NLRB election date is 8/25; we're all crossing fingers and holding our breath...
Sunday, July 31, 2022
something else
Saturday, July 30, 2022
perfection
My peace. My priorities. My pleasure.
At the end of the day, perhaps I shouldn't have eaten a whole BAR of hazelnut Chocolove, but at the time it seemed both imperative and enjoyable.
Pic: My view from the hammock.
Friday, July 29, 2022
two puppies, some bunny, and a people's history
And I'm mostly awed by the bunny ear attachments to Nu's sweatshirt. Nu worked on them all this week, and in true punk fashion sourced everything from what we already had.
Earlier in the day we headed to my office and, on the commute, we listened to Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Nu's first time. I think it's time.
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
on the outside
I missed being outside, but I didn't feel comfortable leaving Nu by himself because of all the health stuff. This way, both of us get to be around each other, get some fresh air, and build our stamina.
It was a good start. The only downside being Nu wore his Doc Martens and got a blister and then wished he'd listened to me--I hate being right sometimes.
Pic: This was our best "ussie" via our reflections--waving creepily at our reflections in the Red Cedar River was L's idea.
a night different from others: four answers to questions unasked
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Friends and old neighbors shutting it down in honor of John Crawford. _
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At had us pose for this pic up at Aunt R's place on Lake Huron so he could put it up in his dorm. "Don't tur...
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I have the feeling that I’m going to succumb to the season and put out a list of resolutions soon. Just wanted to establish this heads up th...