well, how's that for a heading. My devoted readers complained that I hadn't updated the blog for awhile. Ok, make that singular. Since we spoke on the phone for an hour yesterday, the point is moot, but here are some updates.
Happy New Year to all! I've been home since January 1st after spending 11 days in Spain with the family. I didn't see the highest temperatures, but the sun was shining most of the time, and a slight rainfall the day I arrived ensured blossoming rosemary, lavender and three kinds of lily as the days progressed. The flat is not very large, so when it's cold you can get some cottage fever despite the Mediterranean view. I'm looking forward to going down in summer when the water is warm. I'm also looking forward to going by myself, with wheels of my own. Being under the parental rule is something you never quite grow out of, no matter how much love and respect you feel. The same goes for any other dynamics, of course, once it's there it's hard to break, but it doesn't run that deep with non-family.
Tsunami. The first word of the disaster came as a text message from a friend back home. Her sister's family had originally planned to go to Koh Phi Phi, but decided on the eastern coast of Thailand. We steered clear of the TV news, choosing Herald Trib and Guardian and the Norwegian newspapers for coverage. Once back in Sweden, I discovered that some of my friends had friends who lost someone, and the topic is still hovering around the edges of any conversation. At work, we move between the human interest and the scientific, and are quite fascinated by the wave patterns and the forming and decay of the waves. One colleague received lovely water level measurements from his friends in Sri Lanka, showing the three huge wave trains coming in, and the way the ocean was "shivering" after. We're not going into the Tsunami research as we speak, but are well-enough educated to know something more than the general public and the media. And generally interested, naturally.
Work. Slow. Improving. Well. Depends. I'm not quite happy with my simulation yet, the convergences are too strong. Reprints of a paper came yesterday, and it IS nice to see the result, hold it in my hand. It looks good too, actually. During lunch, I got questions on the second paper. I notice that my supervisor keeps talking about it to all and sundry, which means that he is pretty confident and happy about the paper. And I on the other hand feel generally timid, and wouldn't dream of initiating conversations about my own research. It's stupid, and I hope it changes over time. It's not as if timid is my natural state, on the contrary.
Love. Sure. That's gonna happen. Any millennium near you. *laugh*
Anyhow. What was, was fun, and I accept what isn't.
Seeing the party pictures, and also the pictures from this Saturday made me remember that I should remember to have fun. So I may be coming to a venue near you soon, spread some smiles around.
Friends. So, I got off the plane and switched on the cell. Beepbeep. Movie tonight. The week I've been home has been filled with lovely people, two excellent concerts (the choir performed), a move and a dinner. After the last concert we were sitting at the restaurant, and I noticed a distinct pink glow around the edges. Or maybe golden. If not romantic love, plenty of the other kind.
And I solved my family issues over the weekend, without even telling them I had issues. The mature way, hopefully; working it out, finding the new managing strategy, and then having loving talks on the phone.
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