Random

1. Had a long-ish conversation tonight about the probability/possibility of life/society/radios on other planets with my husband, and was reminded how nerdy we both are but also how much fun it is to talk about random ridiculous things. That is one of the things I miss most while not living together-- fewer opportunities for these kinds of things to come up.

2. It is raining, just a tiny tiny drizzle, and I wonder if this may be the last rain I see here. I just drove a friend to the airport, and noticed the particular smell that happens while driving in San Diego when it drizzles, and wondered if I will ever smell that again. Because I might not!

3. I parked my car on the street after returning from the airport, and as I was walking up my block I saw TWO BABY SKUNKS! I have never seen a live skunk before in my life, and they are actually totally adorable. I was going to try to get close to get a picture on my cell phone, and fortunately they ran and hid before I could get near them. Because you know, that might not have been so smart.

4. There is sometimes a really funky smell in my neighborhood, that in my mind smells exactly like what a pencil eraser would smell like if you lit it on fire. It seems to emanate from the canyons, and I have often wondered what it is. Tonight I'm beginning to wonder if it might be skunk-related.

Hitting the re-set button

Whenever I start to feel like something is a little off, or not working right, or headed in the wrong direction, the phrase "hit the re-set button" always pops into my head. To me, that means take a step back, go back to the "you are here" spot on the map, and take a fresh look around, either literally or metaphorically, depending on what needs re-setting.

It's been a while since I posted here, and I think it's time to hit the re-set button on the blog. In this context, I think that means starting today, getting back into a more regular pattern of posts. And what better way to start than to have a whole post about re-sets?

Today I had to hit the button on a client. I had been seeing him for 9 sessions, and we had literally gotten nowhere on the problem he came in with. The therapy I was doing with him obviously was not addressing what he most needed help with. Re-set! Brand new plan, new direction, and a big sigh of relief for both of us.

Health-wise, I have been doing very well lately (up until the past week; see below), feeling about 90-95% normal, and very happy about it. However, while I was not feeling well I started to get into new habits and schedules, and my exercise routine was suffering. Re-set! A few weeks ago I started fresh and have gone back to jogging 3 times a week, and think I am gradually getting myself back into shape.

Unfortunately, the past week or so I've been feeling extra dizzy again, and have been having some nausea for the first time in a while. One accommodation I make for this involves getting up at least once an hour and taking a little walk up and down the hall. I don't know why this helps with the vertigo but it does, and when I asked my neurologist, he said it was kind of like hitting the re-set button. Oh yes indeed. Re-set!

And, finally, the biggest re-set of all is coming up in just 6 weeks. Believe it or not, that is how long I have before internship ends, and my dear husband arrives in San Diego to retrieve me. We will be taking about a week to drive from here to Seattle, and will make several stops along the way, so stay tuned and be ready to make some plans for us to visit if you live along the I-5 corridor!

Hangin in the airport

One hour ago I was happily on my way to Seattle for a visit with Jeff, on the plane in my awesome seat (just behind first class, window seat, no one next to me), plane speeding down the runway about to be airborne, when suddenly we came to a screeching halt. Apparently another plane spotted "something leaking from our engine." After a few minutes surrounded by emergency vehicles, we went back to the gate, got off the plane, and now I'm sitting here waiting for another plane to arrive for us to get on. We will probably be leaving around the time I was supposed to arrive. Short weekend visits do not need to be made shorter by airplanes leaking fuel!

Fun in the Sun

Jeff and I had an excellent spring break together, and this afternoon, Jeff went back to Seattle. I am always sad to see him go, but happy to have had time together. Our week was very eventful:

We did our taxes, which wasn't so fun, but it's done now, and that's the important thing.

We went to the Anza-Borrego desert, which is beautiful, and saw an amazing show of desert flowers (normally it's brown and dry, but after the rain it's actually sort of green in places, and the flowers bloom for a few weeks), cacti, and a real-life palm oasis:




We also took a bike ride around Mission Bay,

went to the Wild Animal park and saw a baby elephant,

hiked around Torrey Pines state park,

and spent time with friends.

All in all, an excellent use of a week together. And I'm starting to feel like a normal person again :)

Spring Break

I am taking a spring break this year. Jeff is coming down to visit on Saturday, and staying for a week, and I'm taking the whole week off of work. After almost two months of not feeling my best, I am ready for a vacation.

And honestly, the past few weeks I've been feeling a little burned out. I've been busier than usual, partly due to cramming people in around doctor's appointments and such, but partly because the influx of patients into our clinics appears to be seasonal, and we're in high season. And my clients have been more intense than usual (more people in crisis, considering suicide, becoming homeless, etc.). So I am really really ready for a vacation.

One more work day, and then it's sleeping in, enjoying the lovely SoCal spring, and spending every day with my husband for a week :)