If you see a whole thing - it seems that it's always beautiful. Planets, lives... But up close a world's all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life's a hard job, you get tired, you lose the pattern. - Ursula K. LeGuin

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

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.

3 comments:

drax said...

Woof! Sorry.

Danielle said...

Sorry for the rough patch, hope things are looking up and you've had a chance to rest up.

Julie said...

Shew! That does sound rough. I'm sorry to hear about the stressful times. I'm showing up late for this one, but I hope things worked out for Angel.

I really don't know how you do it all. You're an inspiration to me. It's all I can do to walk and chew gum at the same time:)