Trying a new thing in Going public

I made another book here in which I will start writing public entries. I want to expend my network here, as it’s been years since I’ve made any new friendships. Actually, I think maybe my PB was always friends only, everyone I know here was from OD.

I just finished watching the Chernobyl miniseries on HBO. Years ago I had read the book Voices from Chernobyl which is a series of first-hand accounts. It has haunted me for years, so I was really hesitant to watch the HBO show because I felt like I knew too much already about the horrors of what happened. Now having finished the show, I’m glad I watched it. I definitely learned new things about the people involved in the decision making leading up to the accident, and learned more about the science of what happened to cause the accident.

It also made me think more about lies, and the realities of nature. The climate crisis immediately comes to mind. As much as certain political parties want to deny it is happening, nature doesn’t care what we think. A nuclear disaster is interesting in that its effects are not immediately visible. There is a scene in the show in which a scientist gives a receptionist Iodine pills and tells her to take them to avoid cancer from the accident (they are hundreds of miles away). Imagine how crazy that scientist would seem. An invisible cancer-causing agent floating towards you from a place you’ve never been, and the treatment is white pills filled with a substance you’ve never heard of? Appreciating danger and assessing risk is something humans are terrible at.

My climate change panic is definitely increasing as the predictions are getting worse and disaster seems imminent. At the same time, I don’t know how to most effectively help. I try to take small actions but while living with the guilt of knowing I still drive around a bunch and buy products from countries who are the worst environmental offenders.

Facebook is pile of trash, but one thing I’m still enjoying on it are the ‘Memories’. Apparently this was a busy day for me in years past. 3 years ago I had accepted a position as Laboratory Physicist at a company here in the Seattle area. 6 years ago I was starting my drive from the Midwest to move to grad school in Oregon. 7 years ago I had arrived in Seattle for the first time to start a summer research position at UW.

Today? Just sitting on my couch, with a wide open weekend in front of me. It’s sunny and cool out. I have my patio door open and the cats are wandering in and out as they survey the courtyard from the balcony, then come inside for a nap. I’m contemplating exercises, and there are three choices. Run, bike, or lift. The indecision is stalling me so far. Oh, and the fact that all my sports bras are currently in the laundry. I’ve got a million chores to do, some errands to run, some work I want to complete, and video games calling my name.

I’ll leave you with a photo of Cosmo and Sophie, sharing the spare bed in the den. It’s next to my desk and they like to sit there to be close to me when I am working from home.