RBOC: Glad To Be Home Edition

• Just got home from 3 days of NIH grant reviewing. I really don't think I'm cut out for this part of the job. I'm a process person. I need time to think and think deeply before I ask questions or give my opinions. I do well on the grants I'm assigned to review but I don't do well looking at a grant for 5 minutes while listening to 3 abbreviated critiques.
• I'm not really sure how anyone gets funded, and although I've been funded in the past, being part of the review process reminds me just how much it relys on chance.
• We finished early today but my flight wasn't until 5 pm. So I hung out in a hotel room and tried to relax.
• b had a difficult couple of days while I was gone.
• Angel is UpNorth visiting his dad. He called me while I was away to "chat," a sure sign he's not happy.
• My flight was fine but there were a lot of cancellations, delays and overbooking around me. What has become of the airline industry?
• b was working when I left for this trip so I borrowed Angel's car to get to the airport. I MUCH prefer being picked up. There is something very lonely about arriving home with no one to greet you.
• When I got to the parking lot Angel's car wouldn't start. b had to come and jump start it.
• He got the car started but in the process the car door got locked...with the car running and the only other key UpNorth with Angel.
• b was not happy.
• He managed to get it open before Triple A showed up.
• We went out for a lovely dinner at our favorite neighborhood restaurant.
• I feel like I haven't slept in 4 days.