Summer after-math

{August 8, 2011} Summer after-math

It’s incredible how fast 6 weeks went by. Certainly there were days that just dragged by without anything to do (mostly when either Francisco or I were sick), but for the most part we stayed pretty active. It doesn’t help that I love spending every moment with him, and there are never enough moments in the day. But now he’s gone. He left yesterday and arrived safely home in Brazil this afternoon. It’s never easy to leave someone you love, and it sucks just as much when they are the ones leaving you. I have to admit, though, that I’m glad that I didn’t have to suffer through another 25hr plane trip to come home. Traveling always makes me grumpy and stiff.

I apologize to all my avid readers that I didn’t make this blog a priority while Francisco was here. I didn’t even write in my journal, and barely looked on facebook. But now I’m back. And… I have a job! I went back to the Academic Advising Center (where I’d been working this spring) to return a book that I had borrowed and to see all my old friends (and distract myself from Francisco’s absence). I walk in and my old super-visor gives me a hug and says “Hey! Do you want a job?!” I didn’t really think she was serious, but it turns out that they are really short-handed these days and could use any help they can get. So, I’ll pick up some hours this week and next week and then maybe even after Graduate school starts on the 22nd. My schedule works out that I’ll have time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, so this might be the perfect solution to my financial concerns. And it just fell into my lap. Amazing.

In terms of the living situation, I still haven’t found something that I love in Denver so I’m in Boulder until further notice. But since I’m working here too, it might work out well for the next few months. I want to see how well commuting works, and what my course load is like too before I decide anything permanent.

There is also a Family Reunion in a few weeks that I’m very excited for. I missed the last one since I was in Brazil, but this one fits in perfectly right before my classes start. I’m especially looking forward to catching up with my cousin Annie (second cousin?… not sure what the official connection is between us). She is really the only family member on my Dad’s side that I’m moderately close with, but hopefully that will change after I reunite with everyone again. This will be a nice weekend trip to California -a state that I don’t frequent that often. I have fond memories of family reunions (on my mother’s side) in Iowa, but we haven’t had one since my great-grandfather died many years ago. I’ve had a few conversations with my cousin Peter about how unfortunate it is that our family is so spread apart with very minimal interactions. Maybe we just need a family reunion to iron out some family drama that’s been festering… Speaking of family, I am still working on the Family Archives on and off. I sent out an email to my cousins several months ago, asking for them to send me their personal dates/information so I could update the archives, and only two cousins have gotten back to me (out of 10). Pitiful. Maybe I need to contact them by phone and really put the pressure on them.

Anyway, that’s my update for now. And here are some pictures for good-measure. Enjoy!