Turns out, I have at least one faithful reader of my web journal, so I'm posting in order to make her happy (she was complaining that I hadn't posted since April). A lot has happened since I posted last.
My story begins with a call from a graduate committee member at the University of New Orleans saying there existed a position and money for me if I could find an advisor. A whirlwind 2 1/2 day trip to NO (JUST before finals, mind) and several emails later, I had an advisor, an acceptance letter to the conservation bio program, and a sweet financial hookup (tuition, including out-of-state fees, and a paycheck). I've since been trying to line up medical and attendant care, both of which would go so much better if people would just RETURN MY MESSAGES! Grumble, growl. I've posted a help-wanted ad on Craig's list in NO for a PCA (thanks to the advice of my pal Kim) but haven't had any hits yet. I'm not worried YET, but never fear, I'm sure I will begin to worry soon.
Then a week ago I get a phone call telling me the wife of a grad school bud had died of the cancer she'd been battling for a couple of years. I was crushed. I remember when Mark and Kala met, and it was one of those relationships which renews your faith in true love at first sight (at least until you remember it'll never happen to you). Mark had recently been through an awful divorce in which he was swearing off women forever, then he took "a 2x4 shot to the backs of the knees" from Kala, and he was done for. It was great to see. I and three other bio geeks attended the funeral, and it was the second most memorable funeral I've ever attended. Kala had had a lot of time to prepare, and her presence was strong in the poetry, Scriptures, and journal entries she had chosen to be read at the service. She is a truly remarkable woman, and I feel blessed and honored to have made her brief acquaintance.
Let's see -- what else? Oh yes, my van broke down at the funeral home. My mother has been hired on at the VA hospital in Wichita in an as-needed (for now) position, so she's been going through orientation for a week-and-a-half with two-and-a-half weeks to go. That means she and I are getting up between 5:30 and 6:30 so she can get to Wichita in time (did I mention I moved in with the parentals for the Summer?). On MWF she is only in orientation until noon so she can get to work by 2 p.m., but on TTh she's there until 4:00, so I usually go with her and hang with my brother and Naomi (when she's home) in order to have a way to go to the bathroom by asking former PCAs or my pals for help. The sleep schedule gets to be painful by about Wednesday (to bed between 11:00 and 11:30, up at 5:30 or so), but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Hope this little post makes SOME people happy! :-)
