[Beginning to Work on] Getting Our [Semester] Groove Back [?]

Brain cancer is...

...officially today beginning the ubiquitous quest for work/life balance.

We say "ubiquitous" because we've not yet met an individual who says, "balanced life?  Let me explain how!" 

Maybe different people find different things difficult in the Balance Quest.  For us, who have always worked and loved working, in Life 2.0 we have become each other's major source of strength.  We thrive on being together.

[Fun fact: During life 1.0, each of us traveled separately for work on occasion.  For the last four years, we have not spent a night apart.]  

The semester start means we need to re-learn to be apart, live separately for several hours, and then come back together with patience and kindness.  There are different rhythms and requirements.

Today was Andi's first official day on campus for the Department Retreat.  We promise we won't do this to you often, but just so you can see how hard we tried on our first day of Balance Quest, here's our day, by number.

1.  Darrell dropped me off at work.  For the first time in a long time, I worked in my office, which looks like this:

Yes, that's the way I like it.  At home it's "clutter," at work it's "energizing mementos." 

2.  The retreat began with...

...mindfulness and meditation. What better way to begin Balance Quest Fall 2019?

3.  We worked separately until lunch time and then:

Birthday Month Day 22 lunch at Matador.  Hey, birthday month doesn't keep going by itself, friends!  Just nine more days of stamina required!

4.  More independent work until the temperatures dropped, and we fit in a few miles at the park.  After the morning started with mindfulness, we felt particularly appreciative of the gift of two species of herons:

Night Heron

Great Blue Heron

 (Yeah, whatever, Geoff.)

5.  We made dinner together.  (Yes, Andi in the kitchen.)

Steak salads.  No big deal.

So...our efforts to get our [semester] groove back [?] felt successful today.  Monday the students come. 

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Team D member from the beginning, Heather, who exited the elevator, gave Andi a hug, and said, "keep blogging."  Thanks for the encouragement, Heather (and Heather's mom).