Anxious Anticipation (andamu)

[ grind ]
End of a long work week. I still haven't made time to grab my camera and catch the (for me) unusual mushrooms/toadstools next to the stairs just outside our lab. I've noticed some progressive curling - which makes it more interesting visually - but likely also heralds the passage of time and deterioration of the fungi.
I'll head out there as soon as I finish this! (Well, at least I think I shall.)
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[ the society ]
Tomorrow will be busy with the Board's Planning Retreat. I have completed the "standard" Proposed Budget, and I have "my" version at least half done - there will probably be some ruffled feathers out there, but we have to make a concerted effort to let the society become more dynamic, and this should steer us toward that goal. Of course, as one of the new Board members I will have to tread softly at first, and see how things work, rather than try to impose my will. But I feel strongly that we have a function to fulfil and members and a community who need us to be proactive.
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[ family ]
Monday is my precious one's angiogram. While he would not go under general anesthesia, and while the previous procedure had had no problems, I am always tense when he has to undergo any invasive procedure. A call from the Interventional Radiologists' office this morning surprised us with the news that the procedure will be at 8 a.m. with check in at 6 a.m. We were initially made to understand that check in itself would only be at 8 a.m. Well, in some respects it is good news, because it will allow me to see him to hospital and get him settled, then get to work until noon. I've arranged for the afternoon off to spend with him - the period when boredom sets in after all the fussing around him is done.
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[ work/friends ]
D. came in today to pick up a few of her things. Unfortunately her health situation is such that it it seems unlikely she would ever return full time. The volunteer service team to which we belong would like to arrange a lunch or dinner with her, but I needed to ensure that it would be within her physical and emotional capabilities. She seemed pleased as punch, highly enthusiastic. She is such a vibrant person that the enforced slowing down must be difficult for her. She also seemed very keen on the idea of a scrapbooking evening at her place. Saves her having to pack up all her stuff and schlepp it somewhere, and we can clean up after ourselves and make the evening a pleasant experience for her.
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[ friends ]
The guys are off to Seattle this weekend. It is RK's last weekend in the US, so he wanted to squeeze this trip in. After this it will be only SR - he is more quiet and less outgoing than his roommate, so we would have to make sure he doesn't get too isolated. Being stuck without a car in America is truly no fun.
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[ life ]
I verified today that I can take the three days off from Sept. 8-10. Our tickets to Sacramento are booked, and now it is just a case of finding reasonable hotels around San Francisco, digging for our maps of the same, making some prioritized lists of things to do, and then letting some of our friends in the Bay know that we are on our way :-) Taking the whole family along there is no way that we can scrounge a bed/couch/floor from someone - not with three adults and a three year-old.
Bad news is that we have to fly on "that" day - already we come in for extra scrutiny, mpo especially; I can't imagine what it would be like then. But Alaska has the special for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday flights only; we need a special if all four of us is to fly, and my vacation time is still so limited that I can't afford to take any more time off. Especially since we are required to use three days of our own vacation for the forced December holidays closure.