Happy Valentines?
But you also didn’t come to this blog to hear me complain about my pathetic attempts to reach out to family and friends via the US Postal Service. You came to see this:
And possibly this:
And maybe even this:
It’s been a full year… Miss Stella Ruth went from being a little roly-poly of a baby to a little girl. In a mere 12 months. It was a year of firsts: first crawl, first birthday, first steps, first ocean swim, first words, first long road trip, first chocolate milkshake. ;) Watching her blossom into the gregarious, albeit mischievous toddler has been a delight. Her personality is ever evolving… she loves reading books, playing in puddles, and tending to her growing collection of stuffed animals. Her relationship with Scupper is a joy to watch, and I can’t help sharing this video of the daily ritual when she wakes up from her afternoon nap:
And although many of you know about the last two firsts for this year, I suppose I should mention then again (maybe just to virtually “pinch” myself that it really happened). I successfully defended my dissertation in November (after packing a house and moving to Santa Barbara the week before) and you may now refer to me as Dr. Z. You may also refer to me as a “tri-athlete” but that might be a bit of a stretch, although my brother and I did a triathlon in September together. We pushed each other all summer to train, and although his success was amazing (44th overall in a field of over 900), my goal was to finish and not be wrecked. I think I achieved my goal:
While I believe that Stella had the most development in her life this year, Steve and I had more than our fair share of stress, I mean, excitement. We both learned a lot from the ever-changing job market. I was asked to a few on-campus interviews this spring and traveling to the East Coast on three separate trips to interview at colleges. While they did not lead to eventual jobs (and in looking back, I think we’re happy with that outcome) it was a very intense and important learning experience in my career: the preparation that goes into an academic job interview, the stamina needed once there on campus, and the reality that I was interviewing them as much as they were interviewing me. I discovered what I like – and don’t like – about higher education, as well as academic theatre, and hope that in the coming years, I will find an institutional home where I am happy.
Steve also had a variety of job interviews, from corporate theater in LA, to an on-campus at a small “hippie” college in Washington, to one at UC Santa Barbara… and obviously, we decided, after many weeks of haggling and debate, to accept. Steve is the resident technical director for the Theatre and Dance department, continuing much of what he did at La Jolla Playhouse, only on a much smaller scale. It’s been an interesting transition for him: he has always wanted to “end up” in educational theater, but it also is hard letting go of the “fun toys” that you get to play with in professional theater (machines, tools, automation) and transfer that gearhead energy into getting 18-21 year olds excited about theater.
Our move to Santa Barbara was bittersweet in many ways. While we had been trying to “get out” of San Diego for the past few years, when we finally made the decision, we realized how many roots we had established in the city, and were sad (and still are) to leave the many friends we had made. Six years was the longest we had lived anywhere since we had left our childhood homes, and I think we are still transitioning. Why is it when you leave something that you finally realize the true depth of what you had? So many kind people helped us pack, load a truck, babysit Stella and Scupper… the outpouring of support was humbling.
This year also saw many visits by family, which was wonderful for Stella and us, considering our families live so far away. My mother came in February for 3 weeks while I wrote a chapter of my dissertation; Steve’s parents and aunt came for Stella’s birthday in April, I went home with Stella in May to finish the last chapter of the diss; we took a brief but fun visit to Lake Tahoe to see Steve’s family again in August; a visit from the Zygmonski clan (all of them!) in September; and then the Gerlachs returned back to California in November to enjoy Stella yet again while I traveled to a 4 day conference in Seattle. Even if I believe we will never live right around the corner from either of our parents (unless ya’ll want to move?) Stella has enjoyed much needed grandparent time this year, and I hope that everyone has the energy to continue to do it. Now that we live in a place even more beautiful than San Diego (yes, it’s true, it really is), I hope that 2011 will see more visits from family – and friends?? Seriously guys, come on out. We have a huge yard, a big deck, and goats, horses, chickens, and turkeys as neighbors!
I think I better end this long-winded letter/blog post. I hope that 2011 proves to be as adventurous and exciting, but maybe not with SO much excitement as 2010. May this missive serve as a virtual hug from us to each of you. As Garrison Keillor always says, be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
SASS Germonski (Steve, Aimee, Stella and Scupper)
(and no, we haven’t officially changed our last name to Germonski. Maybe 2011 will be the year of the Zyglachs, who knows?)
Addendum: 1/10/11... I realized that I did not share any Scupper news! And knowing to whom I sent postcards (Morley Field gang!) some of you might be interested. Scupper has adjusted well to Santa Barbara, although I know he does miss his regular gang of doggie friends. We ran into a cattle dog last week on the trail that looked like a friend's dog and he got all excited for a moment, then when we got a little closer, he realized it wasn't her. It made us a little sad, actually, and reminded us that dogs have "friends" as well and moving away from them is also a transition for them. He loves his big yards, and has had one or two run-ins with the copious amounts of livestock in the area. Let's just say that there is probably no love lost between him and the neighbor's goats, and we've learned a valuable lesson about Scupper's listening skills in regards to horses. (i.e. there is no listening, and keep him on leash near any... he really just wants to sniff their butts, but I guess the horses don't take too kindly to that). We found an old soccer ball on the beach a few weeks ago, and he's now obsessed. Like REALLY OBSESSED. I think even more obsessed than digging for gophers. We have to hide the soccer ball when we're not kicking it around because he'll just bark or whine at it on the front porch until someone plays with him. Otherwise, he is tireless, a great trail hiker, and an even better beachcomber. In short, considering the amount of outside, off-leash play he continues to enjoy in Santa Barbara, I think Scupper has had a pretty good year. ;)
