Oh no! According to my Dopplr, I have no new trips planned! This is only partially true, of course. I have trips planned in my head, but am just coming back up for air after almost back-to-back trips to the U.S. I’m trying to make some progress in other areas of my life before I head out of town again. But that doesn’t mean that nothing is going on around here!
Last night we made our first visit of the season to the sauna. Yes, it is cold enough. In fact, it is 36 degrees as I write this. Hellooo, mid-October. We also switched out our Spring/Summer for our Fall/Winter clothing — I love it, almost feels like I went shopping! Now, if I could just find myself a new pair of boots, all would be perfect.
On the reading front, I’ve just about given up on Rule of the Bone. I picked it up based on a friend’s GoodReads recommendation, but now that I’m two-thirds of the way through, I can’t convince myself to finish it. I’m not so captivated anymore and am wondering whether to shelve it or let it lay on my nightstand for a few more weeks. To make up for this, I am ploughing through a book about the cholera epidemic in Hamburg in the 1890’s. Not only do I love reading about epidemics, but it’s a great way to pick up a bit of Hamburg history from a public health perspective. Thanks go to another Hamburg blogger, PapaScott, for the suggestion and for lending it to me!
I realize I haven’t said much about New York or New Orleans on this blog, but trust me, both were fabulous. It was amazing to have my circle of friends back together in NY for a little while, which is where we all met. The best kind of friends are the ones where it is easy to just be together and relax and have fun. The kind of friends that inspire you to be a better person. No drama, no facades, no insecurities. Although I’d rather have them all living in my neighborhood, it’s also nice to know that there are open arms waiting all over the world, wherever I choose to land.
The conference in NO was equally inspiring. It was encouraging to see a few hundred researchers, clinicians, advocates and social workers all gathering together to explore the relationship between family violence and health. I went so I could see the faces of all the people whose articles I’ve been reading, and to see where the research in this field is heading. I came away with a bit more direction than when I arrived, and was even able to connect with some folks from my grad school, my old job in NY, as well as some contacts that I’ve made here in Germany. Well worthwhile. My only regret is that I didn’t schedule in an extra day or two to enjoy the city. But I know I’ll go back, and next time it will be only for fun.