Life Lately – January 2024

Hello, friends! Anyone still there? It’s been more than a while since I’ve stopped by this space. Between my job and writing, I spend a lot of time in front of screens, and I needed a break.

1. I finished all of my doctoral coursework and transitioned to focusing on my dissertation. After hitting a few speed bumps (and changing my topic a few times), I’m buckling down to defend this spring. While it feels like I’ve been in the program forever, it also feels like it breezed by. Just one, tiny, minor, 125 page paper to go…
2. 2023 also brought another (and unexpected) professional change. I was feeling really demotivated and checked out from my job through the spring. I decided to quit without anything lined up, which is always nerve racking. But God had greater plans for me, and I am now in a position that aligns much better with my long-term career goals. It’s been a shift because I work in an office (for the first time in 3.5 years) and commute three days a week, but it’s been a great move overall.
3. Mac and I have been trying to take advantage of the travel opportunities that living in Virginia offers. He was in Norfolk all summer for a course, so I visited him down there. I’ve been traveling to Williamsburg once a month for class, but I never have time to hit the touristy spots. We explored Jamestown and some other sites in the Tidewater. In August, my friends from college took a wine tasting trip to the Hudson River Valley in New York. It was great to unwind and sip wine for a few days with them.
4. The second half of 2023 also came with lots of sports. We attended three of Virginia Tech’s home football games, traveled to Colorado for my birthday and the Broncos-Commanders game, took in a few more Braves games here in DC, and kicked off hockey season with the Capitals. Mac has enjoyed being a local sports fan for the first time since college and gets to watch DC sports whenever he wants.
5. And I have to include a cat update. Purrburger had a very serious medical crisis when we were in Colorado. We came home from the airport and drove straight to the emergency vet. She wound up in the hospital for a few days but made a full recovery. Bagel Bites continues to be a healthy and happy cat. They’re enjoying their bay window and keeping tabs on the wildlife in our neighborhood.

I hope y’all have a great start to 2024!