blogalicious: Everything in one place, so you can have it all

I am in Florida, a state about which I do not have positive feelings. Yesterday, after we landed, I mentally compiled a list of my first Floridian associations and they are thus:

OJ Simpson

Scientology

invasive reptiles

the marginalization of native Americans

the draining of wetlands

strippers

the booming low-budget FL porn industry

racism

the election of W.

the rape epidemic on college campuses

Ryan Lochte

climate change (specifically sea-level rise)

I cannot think of one positive association, except for an awesome snorkeling experience I once had with Natan (but even then, I remember feeling way too hot). FLORIDA! (said with annoyance and condescension)

Anyhoo—I am at my second, and most likely last, professional astronomical meeting. I am approaching this one as I approached AGU—I am not going to what I should go to, but rather what I want to go to. Should I have learned more about dust in space, and AGN? Probably. What did I learn about instead? The history of astronomy—about a man named Joseph Henry, who advocated for the integration of physics with astronomy (astronomy used to be just positional, that is the movements and locations of objects were studied, but not the dynamism of space), about how asteroids were considered the “vermin of space”(!), about the early inklings of dark matter. Plus, I got to see a picture of the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile in front of the Lowell Observatory! Now that’s what I call a scientific session!

We had a big meeting to practice the introduction to our poster, which made me feel a little wistful about this experience, which then led to a full on personal crisis wherein I pondered the meaning of adulthood and came to the conclusion that I am either living my life so incredibly right, or absolutely wrong. Am I going to miss working on this project? It has been like a second job to me for so long, but like most things, the struggle kind of makes me love it more. Then I thought about the terrible business dudes on our tram and how completely sure of themselves they were—in apparently all life choices--and I thought, is that the definition of adulthood? When one stops thinking that they’re going to be an astronaut and just accepts where they are with gusto and too much confidence? I have clearly not done this. Maybe adulthood is knowing that you are going to always change, personally and professionally, and it’s OK to think, for one brief moment, when you are nearing 40, that maybe you’ll become an astronomer? Me no understand.

Things accomplished on my plane rides:

Viewed Pitch Perfect 2, which was delightful, and thought about Rockappella.

Listened to 1/3 of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me and cried inelegantly. His prose is beautiful, and in the audiobook he pronounces “ask” as “axe”, which is such a powerful rebuttal to the racists who use this facet of Ebonics to dehumanize African-Americans. There’s a lot to chew on in there, and though I had the time, I did not have the emotional capacity to listen to the whole thing in one sitting. I think the US would be a better place if everyone were required to read this book, along with David Simon’s The Corner. Sadly, I think the people most in need of these texts (the all lives matter folks) would be the least willing to read them.

Christmas pics (just a few):

It was a pretty epic break, which included the reorganization of Theo’s room and the purchase of a new (used) car (we are now a two mini-van family. Kia forever.)

Here is my new phone background picture. I cannot get enough of these two children. It's important to notice that Theo is wearing two necklaces and holding three ba-bas (it's his vibe right now):