Taking a day

 I got the first site's samples done today. That was 12 samples, spread over three days. I can't do much more in a day than 5, it's too much eyestrain. Today was challenging because they were working on the roof right above me and it was loud, and also there was dust (I hope there was no asbestos or anything in it) sifting in from the vents. (This building was probably built in the 60s)

So tomorrow I am taking the day off. I need a day out. Today was better (less lonely) because a couple of the grad students were around, as was a colleague. 

One of them had to borrow my big fan (I get it, his office has even less ventilation than my lab) but he retrieved the little fan and tried to set up a swamp cooler for me (he's originally from India so I'd think his experience with humidity was enough to know one might not work that well, but okay)

Towards the end of my workday I looked at the ice and it was mostly melting, and it was REVOLVING because of the fan, and it made me laugh, so I was videoing it when he and the other grad student walked by. You can hear her asking "what are you doing" (you can't hear him, his voice is very soft) and when I said "working on my research" she said "no, you're not!" (she's a smart alec; she meant that I was videoing the ice instead of working)

I do think part of the problem is a feeling of isolation during the day when I'm essentially the only one around. 

 

 So I'm hoping a trip out, not just for more groceries that make easy meals when it's hot (I need to restock my freezer with some of the semi-healthful quick things that are good when it's too hot to cook) but also, yes, I am going to the yarn shop.

No, I don't need any yarn. Will I buy more yarn? Most likely. I might want a skein of sockweight in the "alive" colorway I'm doing mitts of the dk weight from. Or maybe I won't buy anything, but it will be nice to talk to one of the enthusiastic employees and just have a friendly face (it helped even talking a little with the grad students).

I might also go to Michael's, though I'm trying to game out the best path - the yarn shop and Albertson's are in Denison, but I have to go to Albertson's LAST because of cold food and frozen things (even though I have a foam ice chest; I bought two to carry my soil in but only used one), but also, if I want to get a fun lunch out somewhere, it has to be late enough to be WORTH getting lunch (the yarn shop opens at 10; the Michael's opens at 9). I also might want to go to Ulta, despite not really needing anything and they open at 10.....if I went to Michael's and Ulta that would put me close to the restaurants I would want to use (And this all feels  a little bit about that old math problem about the trains that leave Des Moines going East and Chicago going west and where do they pass each other). I'll figure it out. Or maybe I'll faff around here that it will be after 10 by the time I leave, so opening hours will be moot. (Or I go to the yarn shop, and then into Sherman for everything else, and backtrack to Albertson's, since there's an easy back-on to the interstate from near them....)

And then Friday I can work a little, and I have Meals on Wheels (with the German lady, who is fine, but I know my car won't be quite clean enough for her and she might Say Something, but whatever). Saturday I have to bake muffins; we are doing a "week before Independence Day" breakfast at church. 

And then next week, back to the grind, I suppose (though I am going to try to do a couple samples in between Meals on Wheels on Friday, and maybe go in early Saturday and do one or two)

But maybe I do just have to build in a Fun Thing once a week, even if it's just, I don't know, driving up to Caddo (about 15 minutes away) and getting an ice cream cone at the only remaining Dairy Queen near me or something....