Seattle!

As demanded by familial obligation, we are in Seattle this week visiting relatives. This means lots of interesting food; we've not been in the city twelve hours and already we've found amazing Thai food and gummi candy shaped like lips. 

I also got to hear Grandma Winter's story about how she poured water all over someone who was rude to her, a story that, while I've never heard it before, hardly surprises me. This is, after all, the same Grandma Winter who routinely intimidated entire police stations by knitting. (Yes, really. Go ahead and ask Robin Winter if you doubt me).

Weird thing about being this far north: the days are far longer than expected, and it is really green. As most of this spring has consisted of panic over fires, this is a welcome change. I regret on this trip that I cannot go and explore the city of Seattle proper....but all things in their time. In the present, there is Thai food. 

Even if I am a little scared to try the lips.

Also we have an awesome hotel room...

Summer! Finally!

I have emerged from the hell that was finals week--or, more precisely  the last month of the quarter. It could have been worse, as I wound up dropping Statistics out of sheer desperation, but there was still more than enough to keep me running, including the first few chapters of a new novel (I found an excuse to take a writing class) and moving out of the apartment. 

Which happened today and was far from conducive to peace of mind. Enough on that now. I doubt anyone wants to hear about what we found in the back of the fridge. 

Somewhere in there, Fanime happened. It was the first convention I've gone to with a large group of friends, and the results were both delightful (people to hang out with in the hotel room, dances) and disastrous (coordination, hoo boy...).  I shall post pictures as soon as I can get them off various people, as I left my camera in a drawer at home, and the tablet's camera wasn't quite up to the job.

I spent most of my time at Clockwork Alchemy. There, I finally purchased an Author Hat, which I am inordinately fond of. I had a wonderful time, and returned to school in a much better frame of mind for the explosion of excitement that was the ensuing month. 

Fieldwork has also picked up. I need to go in to lab tomorrow to finish processing the samples that we got yesterday. In the meantime, I'm going to appreciate being home with parents and cats and lots of good food...