I haven't posted an update about my life in, well, maybe ever? So, I thought I'd catch everyone up on me, and more importantly, begin a discussion of my summer travel plans, which will hopefully include several (maybe all?! - interrobang!) of you...
Spring was kind of depressing with lots of rain in Eugene and rejections from all of the US grad school programs to which I'd applied. I basically didn't leave my apartment for most of March, and I'm sorry if I a little bit fell off the grid (even more so than usual, which is saying something) on checking in with you guys. I don't think I handle rejection well :) BUT I did eventually get my act together and applied to my backup plan school, which is in Scotland. They let me in (yay!), though I think it has more to do with being an American who will pay than with me being awesome, but I'll just have to prove I'm awesome once I get there, I guess.
Anyway, if I can manage the logistics of passports, visas, and financial aid (and that's a big if, given my repeated demonstration of a lack of logistical talent), I think I'll be moving to Aberdeen in early September. I have a friend living in the UK right now who said it's the 'ass end of nowhere', so that's something to look forward to. Though, I have experience living in many ass end of nowhere type places, so it's probably ok.
I'll be working on a one-year Masters of Letters degree in their Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Studies Department, which will hopefully result in me being accepted into PhD programs by all of the schools that just rejected me :) I'm not completely sold on this being the best career move, but I am excited to be doing Celtic Studies in a real academic setting, instead of just reading Wikipedia articles about it.
Nick was offered a job with a sports betting company doing data analysis in Curacao (off the coast of Venzuala) in December. He was supposed to start in May, but he is currently STILL waiting on the visa process, so it's a little unclear what's happening there.
He and I had a pretty big talk a few weeks ago, and decided that we're in very different places regarding kids. He wants them; I don't -- which is kind of a deal breaker. It's something that neither of us were very certain about when we first started dating, but it's becoming more and more of an issue (you know, with the biology and the aging). So, I guess, long story short, we've decided that, when we go our separate ways for our respective careers (though, I'm not sure you can call what either of us are doing a 'career move'), it will probably be best to call it quits.
It was a hard decision, and I think we're both pretty much not dealing with the emotional fallout right now. I'm very good at compartmentalizing (Nick -- not so much. Plus, tomorrow is the anniversary of his dad's passing away, so if you think of it, maybe shoot him a FB message or email to let him know you're thinking about him).
Anyway, all of that means that neither of us have really dealt with the logistics of this summer. However (and after all of that depressing-ness, I'm going to start on the good things :) ), we do have a trip across the country to plan! We need to drive the dog and the car back to NC, which I'm super excited about. We haven't picked an exit date, yet... BUT I think we will be leaving Oregon sometime in mid-July. I'm currently looking at either the 11th or the 18th. My plan is to drive up to Seattle, then to Glacier National Park, then Yellowstone. I think that will take about a week, or so.
Then it's time for quadlings :) I hope to head down through Boulder, then Las Cruces, then San Antonio (then New Orleans and Miami to spend a week with the sibling, sibling-in-law, and nephew, and then on to NC). But I figured I should check in with all of you to make sure you'll be in your homes and that you're able to host Nick, Zigs, and me.
So, I guess Nicky, Abby, and Erica: What do ya'll's schedules look like for the 3rd and 4th week of July? Is there a time that is super inconvenient for us to show up (do you even want us to show up :) ), and what are work/family schedules like? Also, consider the fact that we'll have the dog (who is getting super mellow in his old age). I know that Stokar are pretty much only free to hang out on the weekends, but I'm not sure about the Tilley-Manuliks and the Abby/Sean situation. If we show up mid-week, how inconvenient is that for you? Right now, I'm only planning to spend one full day (2 nights) with everyone, as we kind of need to keep moving. Don't feel like you have to spend all of that with us, if it doesn't work out with life schedules. If it only works out to couch surf and have dinner with you, I'll take what I can get, as I am super homesick for the Quad (especially with all of this life upheaval).
Please, feel free to let me know if it doesn't work for us to visit. My feelings definitely won't be hurt, though I will be sad to miss you. I know this is semi-last minute (as is almost everything I do), and it's summertime, and there might be vacation plans and other commitments in the works. Once I hear back from you guys, I'll send out a draft of our travel plans.
For the rest of you MD/VA-based folks, I think we'll head up to DC sometime in mid-August. I can't be much more specific than that right now, but I will definitely keep you posted. Please, let me know your summer plans, too, so I can try to factor that in when we're planning our trip up there.
I'm sorry for the somewhat depressing nature of this update. 2014 has been a pretty tumultuous year so far in McSpadden-land. But I am so happy about thoughts of (hopefully) seeing all of you (and Jayne and Evie and Kellen!). I love and miss you all so much and think of you pretty much everyday -- even if I'm horrible about every form of communication. Can't wait to hear from you guys about the summer!
Mwah!
~E.
PS For those of you see him regularly, Nick and I haven't really had a chance to talk to Kelly (or Kate/Erek) about the whole eventual break up situation. I feel like this should come from us, so maybe don't mention it to anyone outside of the blog (and Becca Z -- I'm going to email her, too), yet.
Bit, Cameron, and Kellen
