Five Things Friday: just five things I’m thinking about or things that made my week, or things that I otherwise feel like sharing.
I got not one, but TWO items of Cool Blogger mail this week. One came in the form of a postcard from Birchie and Kyria’s meetup in Buffalo. Awww. What a lovely surprise. And I did notice that you chose the A.D. German Warehouse (designed by Frank Loyd Wright) postcard for me and I appreciate it :) The other one was an unexpected, but oh-so-sweet “just because” lighthouse-themed (how fitting!) notecard from Elisabeth. I appreciated her sweet note and for her to reach out. It really made my day!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all three of you. It’s so nice to find a real piece of mail in your mailbox. Snail mail is not dead! And here’s a PSA: If any of you guys are traveling out west, you have to let me know. I am willing to drive to meet and hang out with any of you.
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I don’t know if you heard about this on the news, but this is one of the projects I am involved with. Fascinating stuff! ‘Anything that can be built can be taken down’: The largest dam removal in US history is complete – what happens next?
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It was my dad’s 75th earlier this week and as always, I hate not being able to join my family for birthday celebrations. They went to dinner at “Timberjacks“, a new-ish US-inspired steakhouse/BBQ chain restaurant with locations in multiple cities in Germany, and they said it truly had a US-vibe and made them feel closer to me.
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I’ve noticed that during my morning runs, there are a few people that I keep encountering on what I assume are their morning walks around the neighborhood. I think they recognize me too. We started acknowledging each other with a head nod, then moved on to smiling at each other, or actually calling out a “good morning”. I am always happy to see them when I am out on my runs!
It reminds me of my gym days when I used to see the same people go about their morning workout routines. Even though I sometimes never exchanged words with them, I started relying on seeing them a few times a week. You all know I kept up with one of my gym buddies (an older gentleman) after the pandemic hit and I stopped going (because luckily, we had exchanged contact information), but I wonder what happened to all the other people I used to see. Sometimes we forget about the small connections we make in our everyday lives until we lose them.
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PLOT TWIST OF THE WEEK: I found out yesterday that my supervisor has accepted a new position and will leave our research group at the beginning of November. I am not quite sure how I feel about it (and I am not sure how I feel about him announcing this in a group email when many of us were in the office yesterday. Is this how it’s done now? Through email, without prior warning?).
Part of me is not thrilled to have to switch to a new (TBD) supervisor yet again (I feel like I’ve been switching a lot), but I am also hoping for someone new who is a little bit more engaged and focused on team building and career development.
Did you get some major news this week? Or share something else about your week with me!
Birchie
September 20, 2024 at 2:09 pmThe thing about snail mail that I had forgotten is that it’s fun to send! Look, a California trip has got to happen for me sometime in 2025 so we will meet! And when we do we’ll have our own postcard party.
One thing that was really nice about Buffalo is that people in the neighborhood where we stayed were friendly. We chatted with a man who was seeing his daughter off to school a few times, and after Kyria left I talked to a few people. In comparison, I’ve been saying “hi” and “nice weather” to the other dog walkers in my neighborhood for YEARS and I just can’t figure out how to move the conversations forward. It’s so strange. But I do enjoy seeing the familiar faces and familiar pups.
Boo to your supervisor leaving. When that’s happened to me, the supervisor usually does a quick chat one on one with everyone on the team (yes one on one chats happen in the remote workplace…that’s why there are tools like Zoom and Slack) and only after that is there an email. So yes, a “Dear John” email is kind of…abrupt.
San
September 21, 2024 at 2:48 pmI am taking your word for it, Birchie: postcard party in CA in 2025! Cannot wait! :)
Right? Isn’t it weird that my supervisor wouldn’t tell us beforehand? The weirdest thing was that he sent the email on our in-person office day, when it would have been the easiest to get us all in a room together and talk face to face. People are strange, man.
J
September 20, 2024 at 3:41 pmCount me in for a California meetup! There are FLW houses here we can show Birchie!
I see some of the same people all of the time on my walks. When Mulder died, I had a couple of people ask me ‘where’s your dog?’ in friendly voices. Then I would start crying and they felt terrible. One woman gave me a hug and we talked for about 20 minutes. Coincidentally, I just saw her this morning after not seeing her for awhile!
I had heard about the dam removal, so interesting! What was your role? I mean, I’m sure that could be a blog post in itself, but maybe a quick overview? Research? Engineering? Modeling?
San
September 21, 2024 at 2:50 pmYes, CA Cool Bloggers meetup. Let’s make it happen :)
Oh, of course you’ve seen a lot of people on your walks with Mulder (and I am not surprised they’d ask about him). Ugh. How tough.
My role in the dam removal project is assessing sediment deposition in the river that have/will happen(ed) after the dam removal. The dam held back a lot of sediment so after it’s removal, all these held-back sediments will be transported downstream and they’ll settle in expected and maybe unexpected places. We’re trying to assess where they settle and how it affects fish habitat.
Tierney
September 22, 2024 at 9:02 amI think it would be fun too! I’m not quite sure how to exchange contact information- maybe through our attached emails?
J
September 22, 2024 at 12:23 pmYes, I think through our emails would work! I hope Birchie comes out, that would be fun! Even better would be if we could somehow plan for a time when Birchie was here AND Kyria were in the area.
coco
September 20, 2024 at 10:43 pmHappy birthday to your dad! Previous time.
I enjoy seeing usual runners during my runs, not all the time, but some I see often and it’s comforting and the camaraderie feeling is so good, right?
I loved my previous manager and it was hard to switch. hopefully you get a good one next.
San
September 21, 2024 at 2:51 pmThank you, Coco.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
September 20, 2024 at 11:53 pmOh I love snail mail. Last week I sat down to write a letter because I really want to open my mail box and find a letter and if I don’t write how can I expect it from others. I still have to send it. I guess it is also a fall thing that I crave snail mail.
That said I also keep nodding to people on my walks. Often I only see them once but I still do it.
Ive not heard of that US chain restaurant. Interesting.
San
September 21, 2024 at 2:52 pmI need to send out some snail mail again, too. I’ve been a bit lazy lately.
Suzanne
September 21, 2024 at 7:47 amI see some of the same people on my walks and it is fun to recognize them and see that spark of recognition in their eyes. There’s one person I see frequently who is kind of mean — she yelled at me once (for not getting over on the path far enough) and so I flinch every time I see her and get waaaayyyyy over. She’s not my favorite.
San
September 21, 2024 at 2:52 pmBoo. We don’t need any mean people encounters on our walks/runs. What is wrong with people.
Elisabeth
September 21, 2024 at 11:31 amI’m so glad my letter made it (you always wonder when you put something in the mail if it’s going to get there; we send ourselves postcards when we’re on vacation and we’ve been waiting for almost a decade to get one of them – I secretly hope it shows up in like 20 years…)
We live in a small town so definitely know a lot of people, but it’s also an area where people are generally very friendly and wave at/talk to strangers.
San
September 21, 2024 at 2:53 pmYour letter truly made my day, Elisabeth. It was such a sweet, unexpected surprise <3
Lisa’s Yarns
September 21, 2024 at 12:03 pmThat is a tough way to find out about your supervisor leaving. I suppose he might have sent it in email so everyone would find out at the same time but it’s a weird way to find out for sure. Hopefully his replacement is good!
That is so fun that you got fun mail! That really brightens a person’s day. I should be better about sending mail!
Happy birthday to your dad! We often get to celebrate with my mom but very rarely celebrate with my dad since it’s around Christmas and we celebrate Christmas with Phil’s family. But they rarely see me on my birthday either as they are more apt to visit for the boys’ bdays. I miss the good old days of having a birthday dinner!
San
September 21, 2024 at 2:55 pmThe weirdest thing about my supervisor’s announcement was that he sent the email on our in-person office day, when it would have been the easiest to get us all in a room together and talk face to face. I don’t know why he would send a group email on this particular day. I am trying to be over it and get excited for someone better.
Thank you for the birthday wishes. I think it’s not unusual that over the years birthday dinners become more rare as you have to prioritize and coordinate different birthdays, holidays, milestones, etc. – but every time the family can get together is a precious time!
Daria
September 22, 2024 at 4:46 amSnail mail is the best!
I would get nervous if my boss were to leave. He is amazing but he is of age where he can retire early… I just hope that he doesn’t. I hope your replacement is good! Or, can YOU be the replacement? :)
Nicole MacPherson
September 22, 2024 at 7:13 amI recognize all my fellow walkers – and runners too – that I see in the mornings. It’s so funny how we are all on the same schedule day after day. What J said about Mulder happened to me too, but Barkley was so obviously ill that I don’t think anyone was surprised. However, I was walking to the library one day and as I passed a house where the occupants were always friendly, out in their garden, the lady said to me “You gave that wonderful dog such a good life. You must miss him.” It was so kind and touching too.
What an interesting project you are working on, San!
J
September 22, 2024 at 12:20 pmYou’re right about Mulder. He didn’t look sick. Lymphoma comes on so fast, and we had him on drugs, so the week he died, he went for a 3 mile walk on Monday. By Friday he could still go for a much slower walk, but his spleen and lungs were involved, and he was going to suffer if we didn’t help. Our last dog Genevieve was more like Barkley, it was a long slow decline, and no one was surprised when her time came.
Michelle G.
September 22, 2024 at 7:52 amI love snail mail, too! Your project sounds great, and I hope there will be lots of salmon in the coming years!
Ally Bean
September 22, 2024 at 10:28 amNo major news here, but I did get out in the garden to transplant some perennials and add some mums into the mix. Small steps toward a pretty garden.
Stephany
September 23, 2024 at 5:29 amI got snail mail this week, too! It’s always such a lovely surprise. :)
Ugh, I’m sorry to hear that your supervisor is leaving and the way it was announced! My boss called me directly to let me know she was leaving, which I really appreciated. It’s been hard without her, though, since we’re still waiting for her replacement to be hired.