On the Road

I am on a bus headed to Washington D.C. I am happy to say that it is NOT the "Dirty Dog" (that's Greyhound for you non-bus riders). It is the MEGABUS...what a weird name. But if you can imagine a bus that is twice as clean, half as seedy, and half as expensive (I still can't believe this part). Oh, did I mention that it has Wi-Fi? Ok, it has Wi-Fi.
I am headed to D.C. for the annual American Psychological Association Conference. I am co-author on a poster presentation for my first completed research project in graduate school. Part of me feels relieved to have this portion of my training over and completed. Another part of me is excited to experience the spectacle of a national/international level conference. I hope to sit in on some good talks. I hope to be inspired. I also hope to have the full day on Saturday to take in D.C.

PhD Level Procrastination

So I've tried to make Saturdays the day that I am allowed to do nothing school related. Ok, I've more than tried- I've made Saturdays my official day of nothing.
Yesterday I watched the entire first season of Californication. I did laundry in between. That's it. Today I've already managed to edit my lecture for tomorrow, go grocery shopping, and write these few sentences. Back on the path.

Saturday Morning Thoughts

Listening to Martin Sexton, cup of coffee, and beautiful Fall sun outside- Saturday morning in Knoxville, TN.

I'm planning on heading in to my favorite Saturday cafe to be productive but feel some level of hanging out.

Here are my reflections from the week:

-Therapy is way harder than it looks.
-It's waaay harder to be in therapy, than doing therapy.
-Being open to change requires courage- alot of courage.
-Making changes in your life requires a plan, discipline, accountability, and humility.
-Making changes (even small ones) is hard.
-The support of family is incalculable.

Walk the Talk

I have not taken the time to unpack my mind in quite some time. I notice when my mind is full when at night I lie still and I can't put my finger on any one thing; it ill just stirs and whirs and spins. Stress. Stress I think is a biological catalyst of behavioral change. Time to walk the talk.

It is also time for bed.

Inertia and Momentum

Yesterday I finally cleaned my apartment. It's been on my list for quite some time. The principle of inertia is so soberingly simple: an object at rest will remain at rest unless another force acts upon it. And therein, lies the rub.
I mean that I'm always looking for inspiration; searching for motivation; looking for the ur source of productivity and creativity. We all know the stories about writer's block. When we are stuck, we need to move. Doesn't matter how far, fast, or what method you use. There's no secret other than movement. If you want momentum, you gotta create it.
Even if a stupid official took away a legitimate goal. No...especially because a stupid official took away an official goal.

Few Days in Wenatchee

It's Monday and I'm waiting for what I hope will be my last Greyhound bus trip ever (well, at least my last for a very long time). Last Friday morning I got on the Dirty Dog and made my way west here to Wenatchee to meet up with dad. It was actually quite the classic misadventure just getting on the bus here.

I have taken the bus from Moscow several times going westward toward Seattle, and in all those times, it has always left from a particular side of the Royal Motor Inn (which is it's own hilarious misadventure). So naturally, I assumed it would leave from that side again. It was a chilly early morning and mom and I just sat in the car catching up, waiting for the ostensibly late bus, when I saw it pull out onto the road from the opposite side of the motel.

I jumped out of the car, ran into the lobby, asked the woman if she could call the driver (to which she scowled, having, I'm sure, dealt with dirtballs like me many times before) and she said my best bet would be driving to the station in Pullman (seven miles down the road) to catch it. I jumped back in the car, updated mom on the situation, and she, in her bathrobe, put the pedal to the metal and we zipped off toward Pullman. We hit stoplights on red. We took a wrong turn in Pullman. Yet, just as I had resigned myself to having to call dad and let him know that I would be taking the 1pm bus (for which I was sure to have to forfeit my earlier ticket and buy another), arriving in the evening, we saw the bus station. The bus looked to be pulling out but graciously stopped at seeing us pull into the parking lot in a cloud of dust.

I grabbed my bags, ran at the bus arms waving, and to my pleasant surprise, the bus driver honored my frantic plea for help. He stopped the bus, got out, helped with my bags and very graciously listened to my story and accepted my many apologies. Classic. All that just to get on damned bus- I really do fly by the seat of my pants (which is really an awesome mental image when you really think about it). I need to work on that. I need to make sure I don't miss my bus this morning. I've still got an hour.

So I've been in Wenatchee for 4 nights and just about 4 days visiting dad. My vision and hope was to spend as much time outside doing active things as possible. We did that. After arriving on Friday, we went for a mellow tour of the town on bikes. Then on Saturday we went for a great day hike up off of Blewitt Pass (Ingall's Creek as I recall) on a beautiful 65 degree day- a beautiful drainage full of flowers slowly coming out of their buds and lingering snow on the peaks of the Cascades in the background. We put in a solid seven miles and it was a great day adventure. Then on Sunday we loaded up bikes and headed toward the lake town of Chelan. I had never been before and always have wanted to. The weather was a bit hard to read, it did rain a slight bit, but I was inspired and rode along the perimeter of the beautiful lake next to the vineyards, spectacular homes, and imagined I was in France on a time trial somewhere in the Alps- loved it. Dad, feeling a bit pooped and less open to getting rained on, was my saggin' wagon and followed me around the lake (ca 16 mile ride). We met up for a nice lunch in the intermittent sun by the lake in the tiny town of Manson. Then yesterday, we rode together from dad's place to Anjou Bakery- a great little European style bakery about 8 miles north of Wenatchee. The ride out there weaves through orchards and beautiful old farm houses and all on a peaceful little farm road. Dad wasn't sure that it'd be open on a Monday, but it was. We had a cup of coffee and the best cinnamon roll I've had in a long time. We had some great little adventures and a good time together.

Now I'm gearing up for a week in Seattle with friends before heading back to Knoxville. I'm excited to get to see so many wonderful people and spending time in one of the most magically verdant springtime places you can be. I'm looking forward to a fun last week of vacation.

Now where's that bus station?

Highlights of Two Weeks in Moscow

Been in Moscow for two weeks now. Leaving for Wenatchee on Friday morning. These are the highlights of my time in Moscow:

Martin Sexton- I guess this was technically in Spokane, but taking mom for a belated mother's day gift to this show was so great. To hear him live was such a treat.

Naps- I realized how sweet these little midday snoozes are when you really just don't need to be doing anything in the afternoon.

Movies- I have had a few late mornings that have entailed me getting up at 9, making coffee, and watching a movie. Ones to note: The Insider, On a Clear Day, Adam's Apples, Serpico, and of course, Iron Man 2.

Late Afternoon Runs- I bought new running shoes which is by itself always a nice boost of renewed motivation for running. But add to that having the freedom to run in the late afternoon (my favorite time) = optimal running enjoyment.

Time with People I Love- self-explanatory.

The Simple and Profound Privelege of Freedom