Backing up, I FINISHED MY FIRST SEMESTER OF GRAD SCHOOL! Yay. Pats on the back all around. I wrote a few large papers, took an exam, ruffled and finished this and that, and managed to get a somewhat reasonable amount of sleep through it all. Ian and milk tea (
Ian has 6 interviews on the books for various positions, the bulk of which are positioned on the East Coast. He is, as I write, on a plane to Boston for some of his interviews and to give a paper at the Eastern APA. That lucky dog.
Our string of bad luck started last week, when Ian tried on his suit from the wedding to make sure everything still fit for his interviews... and it was too small. A combination of stress, stress fracture (inability to run or do any useful exercise), and certain people depending on their husbands to do all of the cooking, even when said husbands are overworked and stressed themselves, culminated in both of us gaining weight since the summer (when we were at our most svelte - glistening muscles, luscious hair, healthy glows... now we look like pasty marshmallows with bags under our eyes).
So, new suit. We spent some time at the Banana Republic Factory Store and found him some dressy duds. I may be biased, but my sweetie cuts quite the figure in his new charcoal suit. While I was helping Ian shop, six people also asked me for help. I guess I have a Banana Republic aura or something?
We started really packing and preparing for our trip to Albuquerque on Monday night. Conducted a Target run, packed our bags, fussed over how to best fold shirts and how Ian should carry his suit, etc. I went into work on Tuesday and was frantically making sure all emergencies were taken care of before we flew out Wednesday morning. And then I received a phone call from Ian. Who had just received a text from his dear mother in Albuquerque. Who was wondering: Where are Ian and Rachel? Why aren't they at the airport. Yeah. We missed our flight. Planned on flying out a day after we were scheduled to leave. Can you say clusterfuck? We did our darnedest to get out to Albuquerque, but it was going to be an additional $400 each above and beyond what we already paid to fly out, which financially, just not feasible. We're still pretty embarrassed, but more than that, really sad that we didn't get to spend Christmas with Ian's mom and family. It's one of those things that I'm sure is going to be hilarious in a few years, right? We were able to salvage my plane ticket to use at another time, but ended up having to purchase a whole new plane ticket for Ian's trip to Boston.
We decided to drive to Minnesota to visit my family, which, while not our original plan, was very nice. We got up very early on Wednesday morning, packed the car, and said goodbye to our little kitties. We had a great visit - played some Canasta, hung out with family friends and extended family, ate the McCready traditional Christmas breakfast, which I love (grapefruit, pecan/caramel rolls, and summer sausage), the whole nine yards. Weather was excellent driving in and driving out.
I'd commissioned our good friend Emily to check in on the cats while we were gone to make sure they were doing alright. Emily, though not a cat person, is always willing to lend a hand if needed. We received a frantic message on Christmas Eve that when she went to check on the cats, they had been locked in Ian's study. Our landlords were to perform an inspection on Wednesday, and apparently they closed both cats in a very small room with no access to food, water, or their litter box. For TWO days. Our cats are intrepid little creatures and were as polite as they could be in the situation - they peed in a bucket and used a (previously) reusable grocery bag for their other kitty needs. Poor things. They both seem to be doing fine now, but when our landlords finally have office hours (tomorrow), we will have words.
Anyways, after driving all day, we got back last night, dealt with the cats, unpacked the car, repacked Ian's suitcase for Boston, oh-so-carefully checked his flight information for his Monday morning ride to Boston, and then Ian's phone completely pooped out. Screen gone, totally on the fritz. Ian couldn't go to Boston without a phone, so we redid our voicemails and he now has my phone. I dropped him off at the airport this morning.
Ian called a while later - his first flight to Philadelphia was seriously delayed and overbooked (they didn't even have a seat for him when he showed up two hours early), and they'd completely cancelled the second leg of his flight to Boston due to bad weather, couldn't even get him there until Wednesday night, which would mean Ian misses all of his interviews, comes into town to give his paper, and then flies out again. Ian was finally able to talk his way into a ticket (phew!), and in good faith something would get him to Boston, boarded the flight to Philly. And he caught the last flight out to Boston by pure chance. We were prepared to rent a car or have to pay for a train or bus ride to get him there. (PHEW!)
While none of this stress is comparable to having your home destroyed in a natural disaster, or losing a job, I think this week has been the hardest thing we've been through together. What I know thought is that I have an amazing partner who will be strong for me when I can't hold it together, and will allow me to be strong for him when he is overwhelmed. We will forever have neurosis about flight schedules and kennelling the cats, but we will enjoy it all together.
Jan - we'll see you this spring! We are so sorry.
Mom and Dad - thank you so much for being so flexible and letting us visit at the last minute; it was good to be home for Christmas, even if it wasn't we had planned.
