flexagon | Apr. 3rd, 2022

I can't tell whether a lot is happening, or if it just feels like a lot is happening.

My team's founding member (and my friend) is going on leave, maybe to return part-time and maybe not. Another person is hiring on. I dealt with tickets for both those things this week. It also looks like I might get deposed again... to be fair, the first time was fun, and taking this job was absolutely asking for it. So if it happens that's kind of okay, but I think this one will be more difficult.

Met Helios's mom, and she gave me a pashmina on Friday! Awww. I won't lie, between that and reading Alison Bechdel's Are You My Mother? this week, I definitely did some pondering of my own mother and whether I've got the best relationship going there. Mostly I leave my mom alone, knowing that I intimidate and baffle her somewhat while also reminding her of my dad -- bleh. It seems kinder this way, but I guess I also haven't tried to see what she wants in a while.

Stitches are out. My leg ached that day and I had a little fear of the wound reopening, even though they said I'd healed up beautifully. No such issue though. Lab results also came back, and the small bump they removed was a dermatofibroma; nothing to worry about.

I had a nice show prep lesson today with the show director, complete with costume and a good run and some feedback on my trial makeup. They liked it!! Apparently my run distracted the crap out of the juggling class too. I asked whether I could please be in the first half of the show, and they said probably; that they try to honor such requests for a) contortionists and b) anyone over 35. I laughed, because I'm sort of both.

Went in to the actual physical office on Wednesday! It was rather overwhelming but I got to see a couple of people I know in person, and move my stuff from one desk I never sat at to a different desk I then did not sit at. Annnnd that's quite enough of that, until I have to go back in early May. WFH is much lower stress for me, between the efficiency and not worrying about covid.

Hypercube has been sleeping on the bed with us more often. She doesn't usually snuggle, but sometimes, and I like the company. She's here with me now, as I display terrible sleep hygiene by typing this from bed.

I got to see Shen Yun, finally, after buying tickets to see them in spring 2020 and having it delayed twice. The classical Chinese dances were really otherwordly and had some circus elements in them... that said, the more modern pieces were confusing and there seemed to be some actually religious bits that I hadn't been expecting. Like, they had a tenor sing a pretty song about how a specter lurks behind atheism and evolution...? To a Boston audience? Yes, they did. The dancers were all New Yorkers and it was hard to imagine them being in on the culty side of the whole deal, but who knows? Lovely plum blossom dance, anyway.

Also of note, feeding squirrels in the park with Helios. Tame little sciuridae they were, and plump even though it's still only spring. We threw unsalted nuts to them and, after a few of these, we were able to get the bolder ones to take peanuts and cashews from our hands. One of them buried a peanut and that was pretty adorable too.

Successfully nailed down dates and reserved a hotel room for New Orleans with apfelsingail in late May, plus tickets to Cirque with the bug and some circus friends, and those things are going to be SO FUN. It feels like the gray fog at the end of April is lifting, and I can begin to see life beyond.

Overall, I am starting to feel more on top of things, and even excited about upcoming events. An unfamiliar feeling. I hope I haven't overpacked April and May but, well, we'll find out.