elements

I've given up on the idea of summarizing the past year-ish before I post; to heck with it. I met a lot of lovely people at muskratjamboree this past weekend, and promised them I'd actually write in my LJ again, so here goes :).

Ok, so 2008 was pretty much the oddest year ever. Mostly because I spent most of it pretty darn sick. The thyroid thing that I thought was on the mend over the summer came back full force in September, and I eventually had no choice but to take a disability leave from work while I got better. If you ever want to know about thyroids, I am so your girl. And if you have unexplained debilitating fatigue and a doctor who insists everything is fine? Fire the doctor and insist on seeing an actual endocrinologist. I wouldn't have made it through sane without the awesome support of many friends, colleagues, and housemates, and especially ivyblossom, who encouraged me to demand seeing the endocrinologist and pretty much held my hand (virtually) through the entire thing. I could write lots more on it but am inclined to just let it lie, but I'm very open to talking about the experience to anyone who's interested. I definitely learned how to be my own medical self-advocate.

In 2009, I got back to work, but only briefly. We soon learned (as we had long expected) that my project's funding was lower this year than last, and it became pretty clear that at least one of us would need to be laid off. I was happy to have it be me; and with excellent benefits I am not (yet) very stressed about it. My last day was a week ago. It was kind of sad, in that I'd been at the same center for 4 1/2 years and had a lot of amazing, formative experiences, but leaving the job doesn't mean I've left the community. A week into the full-time job hunt, and it still feels like this is a good thing for me.

My housemates and I are looking for a new apartment for June 1, after a series of increasingly absurd repair issues (including 17 days where we had water issues and sewage in the bathtub and in which I camped out at aquaflame16 and then mindyfromohio's apartments). Yeah, that was fun! Actually, it kind of was, in terms of extended slumber party fun, but still, it was nice to get home, and it'll be nice to move to a place with a hopefully more responsive landlord.

Also, I got a cat! (After the 17 days couchsurfing incident.) He is a rescue, 12 years old, super sweet, and in the 2 1/2 months he's lived with me has completely captured my heart.

Right now I'm typing on the free wifi at the cafe at the Albany Amtrak station, on a long dinnertime layover, while on my way to family for Passover. Missing my cat already! Happily thebostonreader can easily take care of him while I'm gone, and I will be back Saturday night, but I've never been away from my cat for more than a night since I got him.

I solemnly swear I will update at least once more before the month is out. Feel free to make fun of me if I don't. :) And if you want to see more of me on a more regular basis, I've been much more active on Twitter.