a brand new day

I've been negligent both in blogging and cartooning this whole month. Needless to say, Obama's inauguration and all its surrounding afterglow have really brightened the big picture. It really seems like he's done more good in the past four days than Bush did in eight years.

Barbara is trying to arrange me to go to Honduras with her sometime this spring, most likely in March, all expenses paid. I really really hope this works out and she can convince them I have an excuse to go. I'd be involved in a new project: re-drawing and digitizing the sculptural portion of the hieroglyphic stairway. I need to practice my Spanish and get some travel gear together!

Then there are other open avenues. Matt and I have applied for year-long English teaching jobs in Taiwan beginning in July. They had exactly two positions open at this preschool, which has a sister school in Cambridge, and they specifically said that knowledge of Chinese was not required or even expected. They pay $1800 a month and include room and daily lunches. In our applications, we mentioned that we would be willing to share housing to reduce the school's expenses. It would be really exciting for both of us, and because of our teaching and travel experiences, I think we have a shot.

It's kind of scary not knowing where I'm going to be even six months from now, but it's also liberating. By contrast, Lauren and Nawa just took the written part of general exams. The orals are on Tuesday. Oddly enough, they took it on the computers in the Meso Lab where I work, and it felt so strange to realize that I could have/should have been there with them. No regrets here.

Bodies in Flight has reached the point where I think I'm overworking it, except for the final act. I'm going to make the first 150 pages available for critique soon, and continue to work on the last 50, which aren't even roughly finished. I'm still planning to send it to Leapfrog by May.

In short, 2009 promises to be a year of expanding possibilities. With that, I resolve to blog more and keep you all posted.

Still can't believe it...

Barack Obama is the President of the U.S.A.

This is not what I wanted to see: http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2008/12/23/publishing/

on my way

Tomorrow I'm flying back to what seems less and less like home but somehow always will be. I'd be excited even if this did not include meeting a certain yellow Labrador for the first time. It will be so nice to have a real break again -- last year did not count at all.

I love the smell of winter when it first arrives. There's a thin veil of snow on the lawns and rooftops, with a foot more expected Friday. I would not be surprised if my plane were delayed. Boo. I will be pissed if I miss the caroling party Saturday night because of the storm.

I got Matt to watch Death Note with me, and now he's kind of addicted. It's been two years since I watched that show and I forgot how much I love it. Hee! Matt and I are going to the airport together tomorrow, which kind of makes me forget he's not coming to L.A. with me. My friends and I are going to exchange gifts when we get back, since many people have been wrapped up in papers and unable to shop as much as I have. All of us will be together for New Years, which is going to be a nice change.

I need to find a second job for the spring, since Mary will be at Stanford for the term and Barbara can't employ me full time. I've been in contact with Lindamood-Bell, and though nothing real has come of it yet, if I'm here this summer I'd like to do that again.

All my thoughts are disjointed. I'm going to make more coffee.

finally~

courtesy of toothpastefordinner.com

waiting for snow

So I'm nursing a nascent cold, three pesky manuscripts, and a self-inflicted haircut (though I must say I am very pleased with the latter, as it now stands). Our Christmas tree has not arrived yet, and I am getting antsy. We're all going to Mauricio and Albert's housewarming party tonight. It took a really long time for them to get their stuff together, I guess. How strange that we might have all been living there together. Faux-granite kitchen or no, I'd much rather be here, especially considering where I ended up working.

Yay for pterosaurs!

Also, based on recent hearsay, I'm pretty sure that the G-clock doesn't stop, and if I went back to school next year I'd be a g3 already, with only one semester's worth of credit under my belt. I would have to teach while taking a full load of required courses and preparing for generals. If that doesn't seal the deal I don't know what does.

I finally figured out where to find attractive layouts for this thing.

whoot

Thanksgiving, et cetera

Well, I'm not going shopping today, except for a little Christmas tree from eBay. The last of the leaves have finally fled, and the whole world is gray outside. Matt, on the other hand, is hitting the malls, since he's much better than I at braving crowds in the name of savings.

Thankgiving was very nice, and quiet, since there were only five of us around: Matt, Atanu, Philip, and I, along with Choo Choo, the adorable, incredibly polite shelter mutt whom Atanu is dog-sitting for someone in his department. Having Choo Choo around really made Marion Street feel like a home, which is sad because they're not allowed to have pets. The turkey came out well, and the stuffing even better. I think we all have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Speaking of thankful, here is a video of a very thankful penguin:



I have definitely felt that way before.