Crazy work schedule lately. Spent a couple of days in D.C. this week at a mini-conference on violence and abuse in relationships. Made a lot of connections and received plenty of positive feedback. We took the train in Thursday morning and caught one of the last trains back on Friday night. Exhausting. Especially considering the intense pre-conference prep beforehand. And did I mention the multi-million dollar RFP we’re competing for? (For those not in the know, RFP stands for S-T-R-E-S-S.)

So yesterday I caught up on the rest of my life, bills, and paperwork. I haven’t done laundry since I came back from vacation (who needs linen tops and swimsuits in New York in February anyway?), and desperately needed groceries.

Last week, I was asked to review a manuscript for a peer-reviewed academic journal. This morning, I sat in Gorilla Coffee and read through it. Luckily (for me and for the authors), it was relevant, well-written, and thorough, so I recommended it for publication.

Earlier this week I went to a Stammtisch organized by some other students in my German class. It was a good time and good practice. Unfortunately, it was held at a kitschy restaurant on the Upper East Side (think lederhose). Thank goodness the next Stammtisch will be moved back to one of the Lower East Side German/Austrian venues (who tend to dispense with the kitsch and focus on the beer and the food).

I’ve just begun reading The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, written by Carson McCullers in 1940, and I L-O-V-E it. I had no idea what it was going to be about, but someone in our book club wanted to read a Southern writer and after nixing Faulkner, we decided on this one. Seriously, I’m only half-way through, but already highly recommend that you read this book if you haven’t already.

That’s all for now. Over and out.