8-14-18

LAST DAY OF SUMMER VACATION.

I decided to spend it in the studio.

My coke-shaped mugs ran. Ruined.

So I worked on something new, but it was so damp in the studio, my clay was not behaving.

At least this guy turned out ok.

My evening was spent working on a proposal submission, emails to teachers and students, knitting, and watching the second episode of an HBO series about kings and stuff.

8-13-18

I went to school today and ran into a colleague who showed me something in his office. He had these old maps there. Look-- no I-85. You took 29N to get to Atlanta. US-29 and Route15 were the same thing in the second map. But I swear I remember heading up to The Bottle to get to ATL. Maybe I took 147 to The Bottle, and then turned right onto 29North?

8-11-18

We took a ride out into the country today to get some veggies to cook to bring over to our friends' house for dinner. I had a bit of a headache and hoped for some peach ice cream, but they were out.
Finally cooked up the squash and headed over to our friends' house but my headache was worse. Not fun.

8-10-18

I used scraps recycled back into clay to make this pitcher. 

It's not done. 

8-8-18

I finally made it to Atlanta to pick up Dan from the airport. 10:28p.m. 

I thought I'd die every five minutes as huge tractor trailers whizzed past me, as I plowed through inches of rain, as the sky lit up with lightning going every which way, as I tried to switch lanes only to discover cars that weren't supposed to be there. 

I will NEVER do this again.

8-7-18

Found out today that my friend who made this for me is dying. Well, we are all dying, aren't we? But after two rounds of treatment for his cancer, the doctor is suggesting a feeding tube and hospice. He is my age. We went to high school together. His wife died of cancer right after our 20 year high school reunion. It's sad.

Do not smoke.

You may be lucky and evade cancer if you do smoke, but dying at age 55 from metastatic throat cancer is not fun.

8-6-18

8-5-18

Today I started with a couple hours of yard work. I edged a bed and dug up tons of daffodil bulbs that I will re-plant somewhere else. They were in the herb garden and didn't get much sun. Look how many!!!

Then I took four lavender cuttings and put them in rooting hormone and planted them, cut some gardenia stems for their water rooting, and planted one that had rooted. 

Then I set Teensie up to be entertained while I worked.

I finished editing my curriculum and tried to print it (no luck from this computer) and did other various things like applying to Stanford for a faculty job. Hey, it doesn't hurt!!!

Tonight is dinner at Mom's.

With Dan gone, it's like I'm on a silent retreat and I kinda like it. It's just me and the quiet and it's very clearing-of-the-head.

Tomorrow I give a comprehensive exam in the morning and then hope to hang out at the pottery studio after lunch.  I want to make a cake stand, plus make more ice cream bowls! 

8-4-18

Today I told Facebook that I was having trouble getting going, so then I reported in each hour with what I'd accomplished. It was highly effective! I worked from 10-5 and then ate dinner and then goofed off the rest of the evening (read: Kanopy).

8-3-18

Today I attended the dissertation defense of a student. It was a chemistry dissertation, so I wasn't much help. I tried to read it! 

Then I met with my new PhD student who is going to help me this year, and then spent the rest of the day at home not doing too much. Oh, I remember. I discovered Kanopy and watched three documentaries.

8-2-18

Today was strange. I woke with a headache but went to meet a former student anyway for coffee. I brought with me a mug she had made (illegally) at the studio (I'm not supposed to let guests use the equipment).

Then I went to the studio and worked on my teapot. I added this sunflower motif and carved the spout into a more appealing shape.

See how the spout is more curvy on the top?

Then my afternoon was pretty shot. I worked on my book some, and ate leftovers from last night- and worked on a grant.... and knit.

8-1-18

It's August.

That means summer is almost over.

Today I drove Dan to ATL and then came back, worked on my teapot, went to Kroger, cooked and cleaned all afternoon, then had a dinner party for 9 adults and 3 children. It was a really full day.

7-31-18

I got up and went outside and worked in the garden today and yesterday before it got hot.

It was very therapeutic.

Remember that, Chrissy.

Then I went to the studio and worked on this.

My first teapot.

It also is very therapeutic.

pottery

painting

playing piano

listening to music

gardening

knitting

walking

photographing flowers

Do MORE of ^ for peace.

7-29-18

The open casket visitation was heart wrenching.

Car accidents are the #1 killer of people aged 15-24. Suicide is #2.

She was beautiful in her mermaid costume in a casket decorated like the ocean.

Dan and I have been just so disturbed all day over this.

life

is

fragile

handle

with

care

I played the piano at church this morning HORRIBLY. It's as if I looked at the keys and thought, what are those? Still, people thanked me. I don't think they were paying attention to my mistakes because the service was just so emotional.

The father stood up and said, "If there is a person you want to have a relationship with in the future, and you are at odds with them, make amends now."

I thought of CJ.

7-28-18

today I worked on my curriculum- making edits, adding photos, formatting it.

I also got a phone call and a request to play the piano tomorrow at church for a service for this 20 year old girl who died this week in a horrible car crash on the interstate. She was stopped in traffic because of a wreck ahead of her, when a truck carrying jet fuel didn't stop and plowed into her, smashing her between it and a bridge support. I'm just heartbroken and shocked. I know her parents, but never really knew her even though I saw her at church.

Check Your Rear View Mirror When Stopped Unexpectedly.

It might not have helped her, but it never hurts.

7-27-18

This is what my eyes look like in the morning ^.
Something is making me retain water and also making me very very tired. I slept most of the afternoon today after working on a grant for a couple hours in the morning. Endo upped my dose of Synthroid. Hope that helps. It feels like I'm walking through molasses.

Tonight we had dinner at Amsterdam with Marsha and Big L. Dan and I split the bread pudding which was not at all like bread pudding. It was like bread snowball.

7-26-18

I had a meeting today at the engineering school, and look at the coffee selection they have in the Dean's office. My oh my. 

I was so exhausted this evening I slept on the couch and knit, and just could not move. We started watching Game of Thrones.

7-25-18

 Tonight we had dinner in Opelika and walked around downtown. Saw a book talk at the distillery.

Earlier in the day we went to the studio and I worked on a few pots she showed me how to do.

We also went to my office and lab to look around.

7-24-18

Shell and I went to the studio again today and I worked on a few things while she helped. Tonight I made a chicken enchilada dinner that was really good.

Here are my test bowls.

7-23-18

Shell came today! We went to the pottery studio, I got in trouble, then after dinner we walked around campus and got a chocolate dipped popsicle from Steel City Pops.

I'd planned for the two of us to work on pottery together but that was not possible.

7-22-18

I finished it!
Tomorrow my college roommate is coming to visit and I wanted to clean up all the yarn scraps!

7-21-18

Today we had some weather. There were tornadoes in the town next to us, and some houses were damaged but nobody got hurt.

I got a lovely hand-painted card from my MIL! 

and I picked some flowers. This happened after knitting all day and feeling really sick. Finally Dan told me I just had to get up and do something, so I picked flowers then worked a bit.

The evening was spent with this creature in my lap, watching West World.

7-20-18

Today was amazing.

I woke up at 6:30 without a headache and without any stomach pain. I went for a walk, worked all morning, then picked up Buddy and Fossie for the day. We went to the university, to the pottery studio, they played basketball, we went to the arboretum, and I fixed them dinner.

7-19-18

I've been feeling sick to my stomach lately. Today I went to the studio anyway and made these seven mugs. My stomach felt like it had a hot brick in it. I've been trying to do a little of everything on my list each day.

7-16-18

Today is today.

July 16th- the birthday of my birth father and my Nana.

I went to a meeting at school, then scooted over to the pottery studio to glaze, then went back to school for another meeting. Tonight I have another meeting to attend, this one for an organization I'm on the board of. 

7-15-18

Buddy and Fossie came over today. They are visiting their Grammy and Papa this week and next. We did all sorts of things including Frisbee golf, lemonade, attic exploration, Cricut design, stamp collection analysis, eating, watching Star Trek (the old ones), writing letters to their mommy, etc.