c&b

There comes a time when you no longer want to live like a college student and furniture stores start looking like candy shops. I remember being very impressed by how grown-up Ezer's apartment was the first time I saw it. When we were getting married, we bought a few pieces of furniture - a new desk and file cabinet, a small island on wheels for the kitchen, and a small cabinet for the bathroom...oh, and a queen-size bed and mattress. Okay, so maybe it was quite a bit. I've been getting the furniture itch again. Now that we have a little bit more room, I'd like to start having more people over. My ideal additions would be a dining room table that could expand from seating 6 to 10 along with chairs and a couch. Right now in the living room we have a loveseat and an easychair. We can fit exactly one guest without adding dining room chairs. :) I shouldn't exaggerate though - already we have been able to entertain more people. Three of the last four Saturdays we've had approx. 9 people in our living room (rearranged furniture) for theology training sessions (part of the Emmanuel Mercy Team preparation). We did borrow two folding chairs from neighbors.

As one builds one's nest, there are many things that one would like to eventually have. One item that I wanted to get last fall but didn't is a stocking, well, two stockings. They bring back fond memories of Christmases growing up. The Hold Everything catalog came today and held a promising possibility.

As Eshkol pronounced tonight at lab meeting, I "passed" my dissertation proposal meeting last week. I wouldn't call it a defense as it was really a very casual affair. But it feels good that my core committee members are on the same page with me and it looks like I will be able to finish this spring!

Food highlights of the week: making a pretty two-layer cake with homemade cream cheese frosting, decorated with edible flowers (for Eshean's, my sister-in-law, belated birthday dinner); Ezer bringing home sushi because I had a craving even though I told him not to (trying to stay on budget!); trying cream puffs and paolitos and reading while it rained outside in the West Village, where we imagined we lived as we walked around the neighborhood.
Puff:
Pao:

I continue to think about issues of work and family. Before we were married, Ezer and I made sure we were on the same page. I thought I would want to be able to stay at home when we had kids (or even if we didn't). Ezer was good with that. We even budgeted to live off only his salary (I'm still paying off student loans) so it wouldn't be a difficult financial adjustment later on. Now as the possibility comes closer - well, at least graduation is closer, I realize that I may want to work afterwards. I wonder if I will be able to find interesting and relevant work to my training that's not full time. I wonder how much of my identity is in doing something more conversation-worthy than being a stay-at-home mom. I wonder if I will become a less interesting person because I will have fewer dimensions or become depressed because I have fewer outlets.