Be Careful What You Wish For
Nate and I have a big decision to make. We're waffling a little bit. Perhaps waffling isn't the right word, but going back and forth between two nice options. Either would be good for us, I think. It's more a question of priorities. What is important to us? What do we want in our lives? You know, all those little kinds of decisions. We're taking the weekend to think about it. Monday, too, since he's in Illinois and I'm in New Mexico and I'm flying into Chicago late on Sunday.
I'm not trying to be coy, but it's a pretty big decision and we need to make it before I start talking about the details.
Saturday
Thursday
Reflective Mood
Where to start? That's the problem with updating so infrequently. When you do update, there's so much to tell you don't know where to begin. I finished editing my thesis and turned it in on time. I finished the grant (just barely, at 5 p.m. just before the UPS guy arrived to pick up the package for overnight delivery). Right now, I'm in Albuquerque for a community radio conference.
I am not a radio person and have never worked in community radio, but because my employer has a lot of varied programs, I've written grants for performing arts, visual arts, arts and culture, youth, arts education, radio, and a bunch of other things I would never have imagined myself doing. I think this is a great experience for me because, as a first grant writing job, it's giving me a little taste of everything and will help me figure out what direction I might want to go in the future.
I've been thinking a lot about the future lately. I suppose it has a lot to do with finishing school and accomplishing one of the goals I had on my life to-do list. So maybe I'm thinking about what comes next and what I want to work towards. (I am always working towards something.) One is definitely finishing my novel. So that's a no-brainer. But beyond that, I'm thinking. I'm thinking about a lot of things.
While I have come to appreciate, enjoy, and even like Chicago a great deal (after hating it like poison when I first arrived), it still isn't ... it isn't quite right for me. Visiting Albuquerque for just a few days has shown me that there are certain things that are currently missing in my life.
My co-workers, as soon as we got off the plane, said "It's so quiet here." It unnerved them, I think. They've also said they could never life here. My reaction was, "thank God it's so quiet here." People are friendly. They have time to talk to you. I've already had about three substantial conversations with strangers today (lasting ten minutes or more) and a man dressed as Santa waved to me from his car when he saw me smiling at him. Of course, I waved back.
These are the small things I've missed. Friendly faces, sun, blue skies, being able to see for miles around you because the density and height of buildings doesn't block your view. I miss nature.
Unfortunately, both Nate and I have pretty good jobs and incomes where we currently live. And we've actually grown to appreciate the city. I love the multitude of restaurants, all the ethnic diversity, the plays, the museums, the lake, the outdoor concerts, and many of the great people I've met in the Chi. But there are some things that are missing ... how important are those things?
I'm not sure yet. But they're starting to feel more important.
Where to start? That's the problem with updating so infrequently. When you do update, there's so much to tell you don't know where to begin. I finished editing my thesis and turned it in on time. I finished the grant (just barely, at 5 p.m. just before the UPS guy arrived to pick up the package for overnight delivery). Right now, I'm in Albuquerque for a community radio conference.
I am not a radio person and have never worked in community radio, but because my employer has a lot of varied programs, I've written grants for performing arts, visual arts, arts and culture, youth, arts education, radio, and a bunch of other things I would never have imagined myself doing. I think this is a great experience for me because, as a first grant writing job, it's giving me a little taste of everything and will help me figure out what direction I might want to go in the future.
I've been thinking a lot about the future lately. I suppose it has a lot to do with finishing school and accomplishing one of the goals I had on my life to-do list. So maybe I'm thinking about what comes next and what I want to work towards. (I am always working towards something.) One is definitely finishing my novel. So that's a no-brainer. But beyond that, I'm thinking. I'm thinking about a lot of things.
While I have come to appreciate, enjoy, and even like Chicago a great deal (after hating it like poison when I first arrived), it still isn't ... it isn't quite right for me. Visiting Albuquerque for just a few days has shown me that there are certain things that are currently missing in my life.
My co-workers, as soon as we got off the plane, said "It's so quiet here." It unnerved them, I think. They've also said they could never life here. My reaction was, "thank God it's so quiet here." People are friendly. They have time to talk to you. I've already had about three substantial conversations with strangers today (lasting ten minutes or more) and a man dressed as Santa waved to me from his car when he saw me smiling at him. Of course, I waved back.
These are the small things I've missed. Friendly faces, sun, blue skies, being able to see for miles around you because the density and height of buildings doesn't block your view. I miss nature.
Unfortunately, both Nate and I have pretty good jobs and incomes where we currently live. And we've actually grown to appreciate the city. I love the multitude of restaurants, all the ethnic diversity, the plays, the museums, the lake, the outdoor concerts, and many of the great people I've met in the Chi. But there are some things that are missing ... how important are those things?
I'm not sure yet. But they're starting to feel more important.
Monday
Playing Hooky
I took today off to work on my thesis. It's due Friday. But before I settle down to work, I'd like to mention this essay by Mark Haddon. It has some really nice parts. A few quotes for your reading pleasure:
"I don't remember deciding to become a writer. You decide to become a dentist or a postman. For me, writing is like being gay. You finally admit that this is who you are, you come out and hope that no one runs away."
"It's not about you. No one wants to know how clever you are. Like children, adults need to be entertained. Even those reading to make themselves better people would prefer to enjoy the process. They don't want an insight into your mind, thrilling as it might be. They want an insight into their own.
Reading is a conversation. All books talk. But a good book listens as well."
I took today off to work on my thesis. It's due Friday. But before I settle down to work, I'd like to mention this essay by Mark Haddon. It has some really nice parts. A few quotes for your reading pleasure:
"I don't remember deciding to become a writer. You decide to become a dentist or a postman. For me, writing is like being gay. You finally admit that this is who you are, you come out and hope that no one runs away."
"It's not about you. No one wants to know how clever you are. Like children, adults need to be entertained. Even those reading to make themselves better people would prefer to enjoy the process. They don't want an insight into your mind, thrilling as it might be. They want an insight into their own.
Reading is a conversation. All books talk. But a good book listens as well."
Wednesday
Busier Than a Bucket of Bees
Well, folks. I might take a little break from this here blog. (Not like I'm updating much anyhow.) You see, over the next two weeks I have all kinds of crazy deadlines both at work and for school. I'm graduating from my MFA writing program in May (huzzah!) but my thesis is due, oh, next Friday. I have a $100,000 grant deadline on, oh, next Thursday. And those are two out of five big to-dos on my list for the next two weeks. Then I go out of town for work from April 20-25. Fun, fun, fun.
But here's the good news. After April 25, I will be almost done. Classes end on May 14 and I graduate on May 22. And then, my good friends, I will be free. So bear with me, be a little patient, and I'll be updating regularly in the near future.
In the meantime, check out what my husband is up to. He updates more regularly than I do, too.
Well, folks. I might take a little break from this here blog. (Not like I'm updating much anyhow.) You see, over the next two weeks I have all kinds of crazy deadlines both at work and for school. I'm graduating from my MFA writing program in May (huzzah!) but my thesis is due, oh, next Friday. I have a $100,000 grant deadline on, oh, next Thursday. And those are two out of five big to-dos on my list for the next two weeks. Then I go out of town for work from April 20-25. Fun, fun, fun.
But here's the good news. After April 25, I will be almost done. Classes end on May 14 and I graduate on May 22. And then, my good friends, I will be free. So bear with me, be a little patient, and I'll be updating regularly in the near future.
In the meantime, check out what my husband is up to. He updates more regularly than I do, too.