Some of our favorite people here in Pittsburgh are in the process of moving on. The oft alluded to Waz will be defending his incredible body of work that merits a PhD Plus!, and promptly taking up residence as a tenure track faculty in Virginia. And taking J with him! As excited as I am for their success, well... I am really going to miss them. I've really come to rely on them as a regular part of my life here.
About once a week, Tuesdays, we get together to share dinner- not dinner-party-impress-each-other food. More like, just cooking for the family food, which is how I've learned to think of them- just part of our very extended family. Ok, sometimes we get carried away with the food aspect, but it's really about sharing some companionable time with some really compatible people. They explain to us about weird Pittsburgh things, we talk about how hard or awesome science can be sometimes, Matt offers mechanical advice, and we just get to share some time with some very generous and loving people. They have supported and encouraged us, shared in some wild adventures and let us spend time with their families. I am trying not to act panicked when I think about them moving away- and in the not so distant future now, but it is going to be impossible to fill in the whole they'll leave when the go.
I'll try and cheer myself up, like, 'now we'll have some reason to check out fun stuff in Virginia,' and 'if Waz is graduating without much ado, maybe I can too.' But there is part of me that wishes there were someway to stay this way longer, because continuing the rigors of grad school would be worth keeping such dear friends close.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
With three days to spare...
I have this image of myself as fairly with it, not a serial procrastinator, I like dispensing with my obligations as soon as I can. I am also financially savvy enough to know it is easier to pay your bills on time and not get in trouble with anyone than to make magic pennies on the last hour of interest accrued. My feeling is that if you don't get a tax refund you've done something wrong. Keep this in mind when I tell you that our mid-March project got pushed back a bit due to unforeseen circumstances (and a dose of sloth).
A pit in my stomach reminded me that we had yet to file our 2009 taxes, and that the window was closing fast. Fortunately, my dear husband was able to feed Turbo Tax while I was in ceramics class, but he stopped short of actually filing. Why? Because the amount of money we owed AGAIN this year was too much for him to part with without a moment of silence. Unfortunately, my HR department refuses to give me any information that might be misconstrued as advice, and his HR department seems to to think he should be square, so it is unclear how we have arrived at such a clear discrepancy. *grumble grumble* But, it is in and filed, and I don't want to think about it for another 12 months (even though I really ought to sort out how Uncle Sam let me borrow a whole extra paycheck for the year).
In other news, I am back to ceramics! This is going to be another wood firing class, but mostly I am just happy to be throwing pots again. It is nice to play with something you can mess up, or do really awesome at and feel equally good about. I have another 5 weeks to make stuff to take to the kiln in May, so if anyone has requests for sturdy ceramics that will be done over in an earthy ash glaze, let me know! (I could point you to pictures if that would help)
A pit in my stomach reminded me that we had yet to file our 2009 taxes, and that the window was closing fast. Fortunately, my dear husband was able to feed Turbo Tax while I was in ceramics class, but he stopped short of actually filing. Why? Because the amount of money we owed AGAIN this year was too much for him to part with without a moment of silence. Unfortunately, my HR department refuses to give me any information that might be misconstrued as advice, and his HR department seems to to think he should be square, so it is unclear how we have arrived at such a clear discrepancy. *grumble grumble* But, it is in and filed, and I don't want to think about it for another 12 months (even though I really ought to sort out how Uncle Sam let me borrow a whole extra paycheck for the year).
In other news, I am back to ceramics! This is going to be another wood firing class, but mostly I am just happy to be throwing pots again. It is nice to play with something you can mess up, or do really awesome at and feel equally good about. I have another 5 weeks to make stuff to take to the kiln in May, so if anyone has requests for sturdy ceramics that will be done over in an earthy ash glaze, let me know! (I could point you to pictures if that would help)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Wednesday Waffles
Since Noel is going to be on blogging hiatus, I am obviously going to smash him on overall blogging numbers by the time he gets back. I relish it, especially since I am working on my writing a bit more these days as well. I am trying to develop a "writing portfolio." I say this with giant air quotes, as some of our readership has an Actual Portfolio, for the purpose of benefiting their Actual Writing Career. Of course, I don't have one of those, but I would like to be in a position in the future to show a future employer that I am capable of communicating to a wide audience, and having more than one published piece would go a long way to making me seem literate.
Currently, I am working on a piece for the University's Teaching Times, about a grant that some post-docs I work with are involved in. This is a bit challenging, because the Teaching Times has a very Go Pitt! attitude, and the nature of the grant is to benefit the career of these post-docs once they move beyond this institution. I am trying to find a non-smarmy way to play up the Pitt connection to make it a better fit for this publication. It still needs work. It's on my mind though, because Wednesday is the day I go to the waffle shop with a couple co-workers and work on our particular writing projects.
While I was in Spokane, Matt did a nice job hosting our visitors. Bleary-eyed me made an effort to act like a hostess when I arrived, but Matt had already done all the hard work, and the family seemed reluctant to leave. What can I say, Pittsburgh's appeal is in it's diversity, familiarity, opportunity and optimism, and that it isn't the Bronx. Matt did a nice job playing host, while juggling a range of emotional phone calls from his wife.
Getting back to work has been tough. I was pretty upset when I left work last week, so I didn't leave myself any notes about what I was working on- but I've mostly pieced that back together. Since I was upset when I left, all of my sweet coworkers having been asking me how the trip was, and well... there isn't a good answer for that. All told, I would prefer not to go to anymore funerals. But if you've gotta go, you can only hope your family will assemble from far and wide to trade stories and laugh and hug and try to remember how much you enjoyed life.
It seems inappropriate to say it was a nice time, but I do love seeing my family. But that glosses over the fact that I am still very sad, even though I really hate crying at work. Getting the chance to celebrate all the wonderful things Papa did in his life makes me anxious to get started with mine- so I am trying to use the restless energy to propel myself past the moping stage.
Currently, I am working on a piece for the University's Teaching Times, about a grant that some post-docs I work with are involved in. This is a bit challenging, because the Teaching Times has a very Go Pitt! attitude, and the nature of the grant is to benefit the career of these post-docs once they move beyond this institution. I am trying to find a non-smarmy way to play up the Pitt connection to make it a better fit for this publication. It still needs work. It's on my mind though, because Wednesday is the day I go to the waffle shop with a couple co-workers and work on our particular writing projects.
While I was in Spokane, Matt did a nice job hosting our visitors. Bleary-eyed me made an effort to act like a hostess when I arrived, but Matt had already done all the hard work, and the family seemed reluctant to leave. What can I say, Pittsburgh's appeal is in it's diversity, familiarity, opportunity and optimism, and that it isn't the Bronx. Matt did a nice job playing host, while juggling a range of emotional phone calls from his wife.
Getting back to work has been tough. I was pretty upset when I left work last week, so I didn't leave myself any notes about what I was working on- but I've mostly pieced that back together. Since I was upset when I left, all of my sweet coworkers having been asking me how the trip was, and well... there isn't a good answer for that. All told, I would prefer not to go to anymore funerals. But if you've gotta go, you can only hope your family will assemble from far and wide to trade stories and laugh and hug and try to remember how much you enjoyed life.
It seems inappropriate to say it was a nice time, but I do love seeing my family. But that glosses over the fact that I am still very sad, even though I really hate crying at work. Getting the chance to celebrate all the wonderful things Papa did in his life makes me anxious to get started with mine- so I am trying to use the restless energy to propel myself past the moping stage.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
I’ll be over here, not blogging
So apologies in advance. I’ve got all this cool stuff. I got all the audio from a whole bunch of papa stories, including a whole bunch about his bike trip across the country, and even a few bonus Nana stories. Also, lots of pictures from the funeral and associated family gathering. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to do much with them for the last, lets say month. I’ve got to travel again soon, and then there’s three weeks in Europe (awesome!) It just means I’m not going to be able to do a whole lot of extra stuff for a while. I’ll try to get the pictures up where people can see them, but I’m not going to be able to play around with the audio or do much other writing. So, sorry for that, but EUROPE!
Back in Austin after a weekend away. The cats are VERY EXCITED to see us. I’ve nearly tripped over Nagano several times in the morning. He’s cute, but a little underfoot, sometimes. Jess has got a hockey game tonight and I’m going to attend for extra support. Rumor has it that if there are any guys out there that try to push my lady around, I may be called in to beat them up for her. Fingers crossed!
It was really nice to see everyone this weekend, even if the occasion was quite sad. Sandlin, Jess and I got to have a ‘wake’ with the cousins. Which is to say we went to a bar and had a few beers, talked about a variety of very silly things, and often toasted ‘to Papa’. I like to think he would have approved, except that he wouldn’t have been there because we were up quite late and Papa would not be holding with missing his bedtime. But hugs were given to and received by all, the funeral was very nice, and several spectacular speeches were made by members of the family. Well written and well read by all.
So, from Austin once again, hugs and love to all. I’ll see you all pretty soon, even if it will take me a while to be able to write again. No doubt I’ll have plenty of stories to tell whenever I get back to blogging here again.
Love,
-N
Back in Austin after a weekend away. The cats are VERY EXCITED to see us. I’ve nearly tripped over Nagano several times in the morning. He’s cute, but a little underfoot, sometimes. Jess has got a hockey game tonight and I’m going to attend for extra support. Rumor has it that if there are any guys out there that try to push my lady around, I may be called in to beat them up for her. Fingers crossed!
It was really nice to see everyone this weekend, even if the occasion was quite sad. Sandlin, Jess and I got to have a ‘wake’ with the cousins. Which is to say we went to a bar and had a few beers, talked about a variety of very silly things, and often toasted ‘to Papa’. I like to think he would have approved, except that he wouldn’t have been there because we were up quite late and Papa would not be holding with missing his bedtime. But hugs were given to and received by all, the funeral was very nice, and several spectacular speeches were made by members of the family. Well written and well read by all.
So, from Austin once again, hugs and love to all. I’ll see you all pretty soon, even if it will take me a while to be able to write again. No doubt I’ll have plenty of stories to tell whenever I get back to blogging here again.
Love,
-N
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Poppa's farewell
Those of us who share this space know what has happened and have shared our sadness in multiple phone calls and messages. I don't have anything to add or reveal at this moment, I just want a placeholder in our electronic lives which will mark this change and remind us all of our mutual connection and affection.
Poppa was nothing if not practical and aware of life's certainties. How many proclamations of "Martha, this will be good widow training" have we all heard to know he had an edge of reality to his humor. I am proud of the depth of feeling shared by my children across this generational divide. It is a mark of the wonderful affection he earned and shared with those most important to him. I suppose I knew this day would come. I somehow thought I would be better prepared. I mostly find myself distracted and at a loss, less saddened than just stunned. I find myself bustling about preparing to settle lots of details and transitions for Nana as if that will fill the space in the hole that comes from knowing my father is gone. Like all grief, it sneaks up on me, in the sight of his possesions, the setting of his daily life here at home, in the conversations that will now always be about him, not with him.
For now it's time for bed, the end of a day that started like no other, with the calm voice of my mother telling me that my father had slipped away in the night, the silencing of a voice that had spoken to me hours before. I miss him, we all miss him. I love you all, as did he.
Gordie
Poppa was nothing if not practical and aware of life's certainties. How many proclamations of "Martha, this will be good widow training" have we all heard to know he had an edge of reality to his humor. I am proud of the depth of feeling shared by my children across this generational divide. It is a mark of the wonderful affection he earned and shared with those most important to him. I suppose I knew this day would come. I somehow thought I would be better prepared. I mostly find myself distracted and at a loss, less saddened than just stunned. I find myself bustling about preparing to settle lots of details and transitions for Nana as if that will fill the space in the hole that comes from knowing my father is gone. Like all grief, it sneaks up on me, in the sight of his possesions, the setting of his daily life here at home, in the conversations that will now always be about him, not with him.
For now it's time for bed, the end of a day that started like no other, with the calm voice of my mother telling me that my father had slipped away in the night, the silencing of a voice that had spoken to me hours before. I miss him, we all miss him. I love you all, as did he.
Gordie
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Spring Cleaning! Oh, it's so revealing
I spent most of the week marinating on the couch, working through a single sleeve of saltines and nursing a stomach flu. Matt did a great job of taking care of me, but the result of spending a week in place is a lot of detritus. This somehow put into focus the collected clutter of the entire winter. After our first attempt of doing dishes and tidying up, we decided this was a different kind of project altogether. We went to Costco, bought some bins and then decided to rip up the house.
I started in the pantry, Matt in the bathroom. We threw out skads of junk, expired meds, stale cereal, unlabeled who knows what... And the result is having full access to all the countertops in the kitchen (Thank you, thank you!), and the pantry is thoughtfully lumped together. Do you know we have an entire shelf of tomato products (V8, paste, diced, sauces)? and another of beans? And while I have a gallon of quinoa, I only have a single box of noodles? Matt devastated the bathroom- there is actually space in the medicine cabinet, and two trash cans later, we actually have space for linens in the linen closet. Wow!
The result of such earnest work, is that the rest of the house is collecting cardboard boxes and other recycling. It looks like we are moving. But there have been some exciting finds as we start to think about the bedroom- I found my glasses, my chemistry modeling kit, and Matt liberated a bunch of space in the front closet. While I am feeling more inclined to trash things we don't need/want right away, Matt would prefer to organize everything we have for future consideration (ergo, working happily in separate rooms) (Also our bathroom is too tiny for more than one occupant). The next project is the bedroom though, so we'll see what kind of compromise we can swing.
I started in the pantry, Matt in the bathroom. We threw out skads of junk, expired meds, stale cereal, unlabeled who knows what... And the result is having full access to all the countertops in the kitchen (Thank you, thank you!), and the pantry is thoughtfully lumped together. Do you know we have an entire shelf of tomato products (V8, paste, diced, sauces)? and another of beans? And while I have a gallon of quinoa, I only have a single box of noodles? Matt devastated the bathroom- there is actually space in the medicine cabinet, and two trash cans later, we actually have space for linens in the linen closet. Wow!
The result of such earnest work, is that the rest of the house is collecting cardboard boxes and other recycling. It looks like we are moving. But there have been some exciting finds as we start to think about the bedroom- I found my glasses, my chemistry modeling kit, and Matt liberated a bunch of space in the front closet. While I am feeling more inclined to trash things we don't need/want right away, Matt would prefer to organize everything we have for future consideration (ergo, working happily in separate rooms) (Also our bathroom is too tiny for more than one occupant). The next project is the bedroom though, so we'll see what kind of compromise we can swing.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Micro-News: Macro Edition.
Too much stuff has happened, here are the highlights!
Some friends of our came to visit from Albuquerque for an impromptu weekend. We showed them around Austin and fed them tons of food. The bats under the bridge were a definite hit.
I keep forgetting to write Nana back, but the sewing machine we got was a Brother machine. It works really well, and I like it quite a bit. No new sewing projects yet, though.
We’ve done lots of work on planning our vacation. So exciting! We get to see a lot of stuff and it’s coming up right quick! We’ve also got a wedding and a graduation to go see, so we are going through a lot of airline miles over the next few months.
Jess got a new laptop for her birthday from me. Which also means that I got my laptop back.
The husband of one of Jessie’s cousins was in town for a couple nights, too. We took him out for BBQ (yum) and then met Marci and Brian at a club near downtown. We watched a band I’ve never heard of before, they played swing music, quite good. I had my musician ear on, too. Trying to get inspiration and lessons wherever I can.
Last week was SXSW, south by southwest. An enormous music festival in Austin. It’s pretty crazy, every locale that can host a band does, as do several places that can’t. I may try and do it next year. It seemed pretty exciting, though expensive and very all-day. I’d probably have to take some time off to do it properly. Also, there are video games.
Weight! I’ve broken through the ‘wall’ of 205 lbs, and I’m down to about 203 now.
Martial Arts! I’ve found a place to do my exercise. There’s a Judo school up by me. Good instructor, good price, no contract, and a lot of fun. I’m in!
The grass is still hiding underground, hopefully it’ll sprout soon, as long as the birds haven’t eaten too much of it.
Our shower is complete and awesome. The glass looks really nice.
Oop, bedtime, and I need to go take an awesome shower in our awesome shower. Cheers!
-N
Some friends of our came to visit from Albuquerque for an impromptu weekend. We showed them around Austin and fed them tons of food. The bats under the bridge were a definite hit.
I keep forgetting to write Nana back, but the sewing machine we got was a Brother machine. It works really well, and I like it quite a bit. No new sewing projects yet, though.
We’ve done lots of work on planning our vacation. So exciting! We get to see a lot of stuff and it’s coming up right quick! We’ve also got a wedding and a graduation to go see, so we are going through a lot of airline miles over the next few months.
Jess got a new laptop for her birthday from me. Which also means that I got my laptop back.
The husband of one of Jessie’s cousins was in town for a couple nights, too. We took him out for BBQ (yum) and then met Marci and Brian at a club near downtown. We watched a band I’ve never heard of before, they played swing music, quite good. I had my musician ear on, too. Trying to get inspiration and lessons wherever I can.
Last week was SXSW, south by southwest. An enormous music festival in Austin. It’s pretty crazy, every locale that can host a band does, as do several places that can’t. I may try and do it next year. It seemed pretty exciting, though expensive and very all-day. I’d probably have to take some time off to do it properly. Also, there are video games.
Weight! I’ve broken through the ‘wall’ of 205 lbs, and I’m down to about 203 now.
Martial Arts! I’ve found a place to do my exercise. There’s a Judo school up by me. Good instructor, good price, no contract, and a lot of fun. I’m in!
The grass is still hiding underground, hopefully it’ll sprout soon, as long as the birds haven’t eaten too much of it.
Our shower is complete and awesome. The glass looks really nice.
Oop, bedtime, and I need to go take an awesome shower in our awesome shower. Cheers!
-N
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