The rest of the stories

It's the end of the year, and I'm feeling a bit reflective. (I'm also avoiding a daunting between-semesters to-do list. When will I manage to take a break?) In a recent comment thread, Female Engineering Professor commented:

I often find myself wondering about various random threads on these blogs. Just the other day I was wondering if ScienceWoman ever got blinds or curtains in her office.

So instead of doing the year in review meme that's gone around, I'll now try to tidy up the nursery by sharing the rest of the story from a few past posts.

First to answer FEP, I did get blinds in my office. It took until the end of the year, in my review with the departmental chair. I pitched it as a safety issue, preventing me from working nights or weekends in our unlocked building. Two weeks later, I had blinds. Of course, by then I was done pumping. Still the blinds have proven really handy now that I've rearranged my office and have morning sun on computer screen.

More stories below the fold...

In January I set a theme for the year, so how did I do this year? Well, my theme was "Seeking Strategies for Survival, Sanity, and Success." Since I'm still here blogging, you know that I'm still seeking and I survived. As for success, I would not count 2008 a success, as defined in my theme post, and I'm not sure I did so hot on sanity either. Stay tuned for a 2009 theme.

In March, I wondered whether I could take a summer break from daycare, since Minnow and I were going to be out of town for five out of eight weeks in June and July. The internets counseled me not to try for fear of tenure and of not getting back in to the same place. I obeyed. It peeved me to no end to fork out the money and not use the time, and only in late August did I discover that I could have reduced her care to 2 days a week for the summer and probably guarantee myself a full-time spot for the fall. That would have saved me about $1200. Stupid unhelpful daycare people (this is only one example). One thing on my to-do list for the break is to investigate other care options for when Minnow turns two.

In April, I wondered whether to publish in the journal that was slow to accept or the one that was slow to publish once accepted. It took me until July to get the paper submitted, and in the end, I submitted to a third journal, and in a few days, I'll return a majorly revised paper to them. They may still reject, so I may be back to square one and deciding between the slow journals.

In August, I 'fessed up about troubles on the homefront. Today, however, I am pleased to report that Spouse recently got a part-time retail job. In this economy, that's really something to celebrate. I also recently accompanied Spouse back to his doctor and now we've got a referral to a specialist to see if there's something we can do about Spouse's continued sluggishness.

And just last week, I told you that my AGU trip was partially an effort to wean Minnow. It seems to have worked. I pumped to relieve pressure the first few days, but didn't pump after Wednesday morning. I got home Friday night at midnight, and Minnow slept until 8 the next morning. We hugged, she asked for "mo" and I told her that "mo is all gone." She's asked for mo a couple more time, but seems resigned. Today at nap time she looked at my bosom and said "mo all gone" in a sad voice. We're learning how to cuddle in different configurations, and I'm struck by how long she is. Last night, we slept next to each other all night and she didn't try to get up my shirt at all. I'm glad for the freedom and for having my body back, but I miss the closeness terribly. It is still bittersweet.