22 December, 2008

my hiatus - an update

I'm still on hiatus, I guess, but I'm trying to take some me-time over the holidays this year, so there will likely be a couple of posts on here to catch things up.

It has been an exceedingly busy semester, busy and lethargic in fairly balanced spurts, really. I've slept like Rip Van Winkle, and I've worked until the star wheel has spun all my familiar constellations out of view. My thesis is nearly complete, and my supervisors are gunning for a finish soon. ... which suggests that I ought to start searching for a new reality, and a new future for myself, whether or not this M.Sc. materialises or not.

BUT, above all else, I am alive and breathing, and I've had my fair share of fun amidst the stress, writing, medication and brain adventures. These stories may well come out in the next week or two, too, we shall see.
prairie

Leaving the prairies behind, a short trip to the mountains, at the beginning of September brought me some much-needed fresh alpine air, and good family time. It was unfortunately also marred by incredible thesis work and pouring rain. BUT you take the good with the bad and make the best of it. I worked quite well since I didn't have the distraction of a messy bedroom, or unlimited internet access, and then spent most of my time with the family playing games and walking around the (rather chilly) mountain resort community.

Shan-Gri-La?

It was full of montane views and stunningly proximal snow, as well as pine beetle-killed trees all around. Gorgeous and sad, nature and yet not all at the same time.

I wish I'd seen the alpine plants, but everything was in senescence. What was left was just a little willowherb and some prolific thistle. All else were in seed, like the black-seeded rushes.

willowherb
thistle
juncus2

I wish the trip had lasted longer, but even the momentary escape into the (not so) wilds was great for refreshing and forgetting about living in the city, even if only for a moment or two, and even if I brought my laptop along.