Five Things Friday: just five things I’m thinking about or things that made my week, or things that I otherwise feel like sharing.
The next few weeks will be busy. My mother-in-law will be visiting for a long weekend. We contemplated going down to SoCal for Thanksgiving, but since Thanksgiving travel is always crazy, we invited her up here, so she can see our new home and we can host an early Thanksgiving dinner the weekend before. (Is that frowned upon? As a German, I usually oppose celebrating anything early, but I’ll make an exception in this case. Hehe.)
Oh, and because this year hasn’t already been crazy enough, why not also throw in an annual check-up, pap smear, and mammogram between now and my marathon in early December? I am aiming to start with a completely clean slate in 2025. #gettingshitdone
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I have completely neglected Linus and Sally, my sourdough starters, in the last few weeks and they’ve been ‘freezing their butts off’ in the fridge. I got them out this morning to revive them and hopefully bake again on Sunday! I miss a fresh, warm slice of rye bread in my life.
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In other news, we booked (horrendously expensive) flights to Germany for the holidays. I know, I know, we should have looked sooner (although Meike reassured me that prices have been nuts for weeks so maybe there was nothing to be done!) but we had so many other things going on that we postponed dealing with it until after our move. It hurt a little bit to hit the purchase button, but what’s done is done and I am solely focused on the jubilant anticipatory joy of being able to spend the holidays at home with my family for the first time in over a decade!
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I had my first one-on-one meeting with my new (acting) supervisor this week. I like him. He’s personable, seems to take his temporary job seriously, and has pledged to help our group out as much as possible in the next few months. Unfortunately, it also sounds like he’s really just in for the short term and we don’t know what’s going to happen to us in the spring. Our research group needs a new program chief (who also develops programs/projects to keep us all busy), but I don’t know who’s going to step in. It might be a while until they hire somebody new for the position. It sucks to be in limbo for the foreseeable future.
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ICYMI: may I direct your attention to the 9th annual Secret SANta Swap 2024, a holiday swap that I’ve been hosting for a few years now and that I simply created because it’s so fun to put a smile on somebody else’s face during the holiday season. As many of you know, to receive something in the mail that is NOT bills and advertisements is a tremendous joy. I think we could all use some of that.
Happy Weekend, y’all.
I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2024Links to the Participants List and NaBloPoMo2024 Blog Post Ideas! Happy writing!
Lisa’s Yarns
November 15, 2024 at 4:49 pmI think a pre-holiday holiday makes sense! It’s nice to miss the heavy traffic or higher fares for flights. And then you and Jon can have a nice quiet holiday on Thursday. Enjoy hosting your MIL. Is she in remission/fully done with treatments? I can’t remember. I hope she is doing well and feeling good!
That’s tough to have a temporary boss. I am glad you had a good interaction with him. But all that uncertainty is tough!!
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:12 pmYes, my MIL is fully done with treatment and doing well. Thanks so much for asking.
J
November 15, 2024 at 10:17 pmI’m so happy that you will spend an early Thanksgiving with your MIL, and that you will be going to Germany for Christmas. Travel can be expensive, and sometimes you have flexibility and sometimes you do not. You did not, so it costs what it costs, so oh well. Thankfully you have the money and you can go and enjoy yourselves!
I think I’m going to bow out of the gift exchange this year, we have no more room for mugs/cups, and I don’t really need anything else either. I love giving but don’t want to receive? Yeah.
You remind me that I need to schedule those exams. I got them all in December last year, so I guess I need to do that again. Bah. I did get my COVID shot today. Next week is the flu shot.
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:13 pmThanks Julie. You’re right – I am thankful I have the means to travel and I am glad we’re able to spend the holidays with family during these trying times.
Go schedule those exams! You’ll feel so accomplished ;)
Birchie
November 16, 2024 at 5:21 amIt’s never wrong to celebrate a holiday, even if it can’t be the actual date of the holiday. Enjoy hosting in your new home. We’re hosting this year, and I can’t wait.
Yay for getting the flights, even if they were expensive. It’s worth it!
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:14 pmThanks Birchie. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving. :) And yes, the flights are worth it!
Suzanne
November 16, 2024 at 6:18 amHooray for spending the holidays with family! It is hard to believe the holiday season is upon us – whew! And good on you for working in all those important health check ins at the end of the year.
The work uncertainty stinks so much. I hope your team gets a better sense of stability and clarity for the future — and sooner rather than later.
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:14 pmOh my, yes, I don’t know how it’s already the middle of November… I am not really ready for the holidays, but here we are.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
November 16, 2024 at 7:03 amI think being with family is important and it does not matter when it is as long as you are together! So having Thanksgiving early is just fine. And paying a lot for tickets is just fine. In the end it is the memories that matter and you are not going to care that you have a little less money.
I will not be doing the gift exchange but think that it is great that you have kept up with this tradition! Have fun doing it!
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:15 pmYou’re 100% correct, Kyria – the memories and time together is all that really matters. What’s money anyway?
Nicole MacPherson
November 16, 2024 at 10:14 amOh, I’m glad you booked your flights! Yes, expensive, but honestly, what is time anymore. I kind of think that life goes by pretty fast (to quote Ferris Bueller) and the time to visit is NOW. Also, Thanksgiving isn’t really a thing up here (ours is in October) but I would never blink at an early celebration.
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:15 pmI totally agree, Nicole… we live now and need to make the best of every minute!
Sak
November 16, 2024 at 10:17 amI’m happy that you’ll get to spend the holidays with your family. If you have some discretionary income I think making life easier or more joyful is a great use of money.
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:16 pmThank you, Sak, completely agree.
Elisabeth
November 16, 2024 at 10:28 amI am SO EXCITED YOU’RE GOING HOME. That’s priceless.
Also, I don’t think you mentioned naming your sourdough starters when I talked about naming inanimate objects? I think you have a plant you named, but these names are awesome :)
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:17 pmThank you, Elisabeth. I know how much you value family time as well. I am so glad we’ll be going to Europe! :)
Also, I guess I didn’t think of Linus and Sally as inanimate objects because they’re very much “alive” LOL
Ally Bean
November 16, 2024 at 12:31 pmI’m all about celebrating any holiday on, or near, the official date as long as you get to be with people you love. Thanksgiving the weekend before will be great. Hoping Linus and Sally are doing okay despite their extended stay in the refrigerator.
San
November 16, 2024 at 6:17 pmYes! Being with people we love… isn’t that the most important thing! :)
Tobia | craftaliciousme
November 17, 2024 at 7:02 amYeahhh for being home for the Holidays.
So happy for you. And has it really been a decade. Wow.
It is nice to have your mother in law come for Thanksgiving. Even if it is a pre-thanksgiving.
San
November 17, 2024 at 10:23 pmYeah, it’s been decade since I’ve been home for the holidays… I mean, I visited almost every year, but often at other times because of other milestones (birthdays, anniversaries, communions, and such). I cannot wait.
NGS
November 17, 2024 at 2:26 pmYou can celebrate holidays any time that works for you and your family! Hey, if you want a turkey dinner with all the trimmings in May, who is going to stop you?!
San
November 17, 2024 at 10:23 pmYou’re so right!
Michelle G.
November 17, 2024 at 5:08 pmI’m so happy that you went ahead and got the tickets! I’m all for celebrating a holiday on a different day. Sometimes, it just makes more sense.
San
November 17, 2024 at 10:23 pmThank you Michelle, you’re so right.
Kim
November 19, 2024 at 11:50 amHave a wonderful time with your MiL! And in Germany over the holiday! I’m so happy you get to go.
Ugh .Bummer your new supervisor is just acting. Sounds like he will be a great fit while he’s there <3
Stephany
November 19, 2024 at 12:34 pmFor some reason, I thought you had been home for the holidays in the last few years. I can’t believe it’s been a decade! It will be so good to be with family for Christmas. Excited for you!
Allison McCaskill
November 20, 2024 at 10:46 amHome for Christmas! I’m sure it will be more than worth it.
The U.S. one-two punch of Thanksgiving and Christmas always gives me sympathetic anxiety, so I think early thanksgiving sounds brilliant.
I love that your starters are named Linus and Sally. I also think I should probably start some starter.
Anne
November 29, 2024 at 3:30 pmLeadership uncertainty, quite frankly, sucks. I am sorry you are in limbo and – it appears – will be in limbo for a while longer. I’m glad you got to see your MIL, though, and that you will get to see your family! I hope you have a wonderful time – it’s worth every penny, as I know you know. <3