Hi UC!
Although I’m enjoying my new-found freedom, this lack of structure is also unsettling. You go through school and there are exams and graduations. Then you go to work and there are deadlines and milestones. So now that I’m properly unemployed for the first time in almost 20 years, I’m having to test my own discipline. But I’m kept busy with all of the paperwork for unemployment, insurance, finances, job hunting, etc. and I know I’ll create my own structure soon enough!
Btw, we finally got our flights to Florida! We’re getting in on Friday March 29 and then heading out early on Monday April 1. Can’t wait to see you!!
He’s back!
After a long 2.5 weeks on the road, Alex finally got back on Sunday morning. The house is so quiet without him. I didn’t really notice it until the past few days when he’d play records in the morning while making coffee. When he’s not here, I just stay in our bedroom or my office with occasional visits to the kitchen. But there is some tragedy with my efficiency: I didn’t notice that his plants in the living room were dying. Apparently I was supposed to know they needed watering. I’m told they’ll live though; I merely tortured them. I have no green thumb, sorry!
The Zone of Interest
I watched this movie called “The Zone of Interest” last week and it was the most horrifying movie I’ve seen but there’s no graphic imagery or violence. How can that be? Well, it’s nominated for Best Sound at the Oscars and I hope it wins. The horror is implied and relies on what you, the viewer, already know. The disregard of that horror should make you uncomfortable and possibly/hopefully makes you reflect on what you are also ignoring. An expert use of assuming that the viewer can discern subtleties. Highly recommend!
What a catch!
I’ve written a couple of posts about my departure from Dell - reflections on how grief has turned into gratitude and how I’ve accomplished so much in my 10 years there. As I sifted through old photos, I found this one from my first Family Day at Dell where Alex dropped by; I think we had only been dating for a few months by this point.
What I haven’t talked about in those posts is how Dell gave me the gift of Alex and gave us security during the formative years of our relationship. Had I not had such an amazing internship at Dell, I would’ve married a jerk in Houston. Had they not been headquartered in Austin, our paths would’ve never crossed. Had my bosses been rigid about working in the office, I would not have had the flexibility to be a supportive partner to a musician with nontraditional hours. Without Dell, we would not have traveled the world extensively together. We would not have had mental health and fertility benefits that we needed. Simply put, we would not have had the life that we’re so lucky to have. It wasn’t always perfect, but I’m choosing to be so grateful for what I got.
