I have not been taking the time to write. I regret that and hope to write more soon. For now, I’m going to catch up with a general post. I am determined to get back in the swing of things over the next few weeks.

The last few weeks have been right down demanding – physically, emotionally, and mentally. If you ask me what happened and when, I am not sure if I can tell you. I have been in the mode of “let’s get things done.” At times I feel like I am just going through the motions, but then at times, I feel engaged. Regardless, getting things done and completed feels good.

Speaking of getting things done, I completed the “beginning yoga class” I was taking. I am by no means a pro yogi, but I now have the confidence to walk into a yoga studio, take a class, and feel like I somewhat know what I am doing. I think the thing I enjoy the best about the yoga studio I go to, is that the instructors are real and relatable people who focus on living healthy lives. They are also very personable. After going there a little over a month, I think all the regular instructors know who I am. Since completing the beginner class, I have completed seven classes, which is a huge personal accomplishment!

At the beginning of February, Allyn and I celebrated our 8^th wedding anniversary. It is honestly hard to believe that we have been married for eight years. It is also hard to think about all of the things that have happened over the past eight years. From moving across the country to traveling around the world to losing both of our fathers, we have been through a lot together. I am very fortunate and blessed to have Allyn as my husband, partner, and best friend.

For our anniversary, we tried Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ. Gyu-Kaku is an authentic Japanese – yakiniku (grilled barbecue) dining experience where you order the meat by the “plate” and cook it at your table over a flaming charcoal grill. The meats are premium cuts, aged, and season/marinated amazingly. We first experienced (and fell in love with) this method of cooking and dining in Seoul, South Korea. Overall our experience at Gyu-Kaku was very similar to our dining experience in Seoul. My only complaint is that we both ate too much.  

Over the past couple of weeks, winter has undoubtedly made its presents known. Last week was by far our worst winter storm of the season. It all started on Thursday when we got about 3 inches of ice/sleet, followed by about 2 inches of snow. We stayed in for two solid days, and those days were by far very productive in all aspects.

One of the major tasks we accomplished while staying in was getting our office and dining rooms organized and cleaned up. Getting these rooms picked up was huge for me. They are the first two rooms you see when you walk into our house. When COVID began, my husband took over the dining room, and it became a dumping ground for all his computer systems and work stuff. The office has needed a good reorganization and picked up for some time. We re-positioned many of the Lego sets when cleaning up the office, making them more visible.

I also was able to get in a girl’s day with one of my close friends over the last few weeks. We went to see the traveling exhibit “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,” enjoyed a nice dinner together and talked A LOT. 

I have very mixed feelings about the Michelangelo exhibit. I was really glad that we went to see it, but at the same time, I was disappointed in the exhibit. The display of the photographs was done poorly, along with the lighting and general presentation. (I will talk about this more in another post.) I did enjoy how the exhibit designers broke down and explained the artwork – that was done very well.

For dinner, we went to Black Rock Bar and Grill. At Black Rock Grill, you cook your steaks (or choice of meat/seafood) at your table on a 755-degree volcanic sizzling rock. This cooking method means that you can cook the meat as you go and to your choice of “doneness.” Honestly, I loved this cooking method and can’t wait to return.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have also started another IVF cycle – an embryo transfer cycle, to be specific. This cycle is rather big for us. It is likely the last cycle where we will have the opportunity to have a child that is entirely ours. (This is another thing I will blog more about.)  Right now, I am kind of numb to what we are going through; I think we both are. For me, this is just another medical procedure. I have very slim hope that this will work. Like I said, more will be written on this at another time.

This afternoon, I participated in the department workshop, briefly discussing my dissertation research. I will say that 5 minutes to discuss your research is not enough – I think it just made me babble. During the Zoom call, our cat Sammy became quite demanding. He had to sit in my lap for the first part of the call. Then after a while, Sammy decided to snuggle up next to the monitor, where he stayed for the rest of the call. I am not sure if anyone saw him, but it was adorable. I wish he would finish researching and writing the dissertation.