cheer up!

As I was getting on the 27 bus on Hammersmith Road, heading in to work this morning, the busdriver said to me "cheer up, guv, it ain't that bad, is it?"

I had no idea I was looking so grim.  I was lost in thought as I swiped my Oyster card, glowering about whatever was on my mind (bloody gnomes!)  The stress must really be getting to me this week.  Ugh.

I laughed and immediately felt better and lighter, more myself.  It's good to laugh at yourself and remember not to take things too seriously.

30-40-50

This year D turns 30, E turns 40 and A turns 50...

2008 is a year of big transitions for my closest friends!

back to London

Going home after a weekend in Paris.  From the Marais to Gare du Nord, on to a Eurostar train, through the chunnel to St. Pancras.  Picadilly line to Hammersmith and home to Edith Road in West Kensington.  Never imagined this would be my bi-weekly commute.

"special ed"

Every now and then, D decides I am in need of a science lesson.  

It's true that my knowledge of science is rudimentary, but I have managed to get along fine so far without knowing the difference between DNA and RNA and a mitochondria and a mai tai. However, someone around here sees that as inadequate.  Holding a PhD in microbiology is all well and good, but it shouldn't inconvenience your partner.  Right?

Last weekend, D announced that it was "time for some science."  We were lying in bed reading at the time.  Out of nowhere the little professor had produced a notebook and a pen and he launched into genetics 101 -- DNA, RNA, bi-layered membranes, mitochondria & etc.  

While some people think I'm fairly sharp, D holds no such illusions.  He lectured me slowly and patiently, making cute little drawings of cells in his notebook.  This is how it must have felt in "special ed," which was what we used to call classes for retarded students.

We are different in so many ways, D & I.  And one is this:  while D is trying fathom the secrets of the human genome (and possibly cure cancer to boot!), I am working with a bunch of crazy animators on a cartoon about talking gnomes!