whew.

This is the first time I've even looked at this in a while. Also: slowing down is relative, I discovered. No judging.

Some stuff:

- I got ALL my reading done this week! Plus I'm tearing through some great non-essential reading on the shuttle, since I commute a half-hour each way. This is a huge accomplishment of which I'm v. proud

- Dan and I ate at the swanky 10 Arts by Eric Ripert for Restaurant Week, where I was blindsided by the tiny detail that the chef de cuisine is Jennifer Carroll! Of this season's "Top Chef!" She totally made me lunch and it was phenomenal

- I got my first Phonathon call Wednesday night. I met a new caller, talked to three sups, heard the whole room shout "Hi Annie!" and only cried a little bit afterward

- My first conference paper presentation was pretty babbly, but went over well. My colleagues had some great questions and I scored some really useful perspective. It was awesome, if the most terrifying hour of my week

Grad school is awesome. It's a lot of fun and a lot of reading/writing, which I am apt to do too much of as it is. Admittedly exhausting, but not in the least bit similar to how drained I felt working behind a desk all day. I still work at least 40 hours a week, but it feels so much more ... tangible?

Everything I learn, research, read, write, and discuss is in some way affecting my field and how I move in it. In other words, I'm not working toward something anymore - I'm working in what I've been working toward, and it makes each day pretty cool.

But that's my new secret, you guys: Do what you love doing.