'Sup?

Autumnal Hat
Heeeeeey there! How ya doin'? Been a while, I know.

(By the way, I seem to have lost my ability to determine when to use "a while" and "awhile". Is this a thing that happens when you're old? You forget how to use parts of speech you had no problem using for decades?)

What's new? Well, I'm still happily married to the same Yorkshireman. We're coming up on 5 years together in a couple weeks. Two more years, and he and my PhD will have occupied the same amount of time in my life, albeit non-concurrently.

I suppose the biggest development is that I'm no longer a research scientist. This was a tough development to accept. I had realized that I didn't want to pursue a research career a while back. I wanted some sort of work-life balance that doesn't really exist in the higher levels of research science. Also, I hate writing grants.

The part that was tough to accept was that the decision to not pursue a research career felt like it was taken out of my hands. I applied for research jobs, but, as I had been out of the lab so long, no one would hire me. Outside forces closed the door for me; I wasn't able to close it myself. That was difficult.

I'm still working in biomedical science, but in an administrative capacity. I get to use my knowledge, but also still get to have a life. It's much better.

I'm taking my second year of French. My accent is still terrible, but I'm enjoying it. I can read a lot more French than I can speak.

I've been taking short courses at the local art college, which have been amazing. They've opened up a creative part of my brain that I've neglected for far too long. I've taken up drawing, which I've found I'm pretty okay at. I recently finished my first millinery class ever, the result of which is above. I'm working on a set of embroidery patterns based on fluorescently labelled cells.

All in all, life has gotten pretty great. I just need to get out the sewing machine, and get back to sewing.

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