What Do You Do?

That question always gets me. To most people I will answer to, the simple response of "Research Coordinator" is not enough. If someone comes up and says, I'm a doctor, I'm a lawyer, etc. it is not met with further questions, typically. The term is common enough and conjures up a familiar enough image that most people won't ask for futher clarificaition. Someone more interested or more familiar with the field might want to know what type of medicine or law the person is involved with, but it's more rare.

For myself, I find that I am asked the following question next, "What does that mean, exactly?" or, "So, what do you do?" The latter of the questions is not a sign of a lack of competence or hearing capability but instead the persons more literal intention of the phrase as opposed to the initial context. Again, explaining to a person what I do is not easy. I can explain the big picture study, or I can explain the population, but that is only a percentage of my job. Often times I find myself responding with something like, "Something different every day," or, "So many different things, it's really hard to narrow down." The truth is that for anyone, even a doctor, or a lawyer, people who are rarely asked for further clarification, explaining what they do on a daily basis is impossible in 20 words or less. The amount of tasks a person does under the job title can exceed hours of conversation. For some, a few major responsibilities can still sum it up. For others, however, finding that right set of sentences is not easy.

We go to work every day. We know our jobs, we know what needs to be done. It's funny how trying to explain what we do when we are there can be so difficult to articulate.

Summer Finale's

This week wraps up summer TV. Lie To Me finished tonight and Covert Affairs starts tomorrow night. It's an overlap for fall, though, as Parenthood premiere's tomorrow night. Unsure of which I will watch. Excited for fall TV though. For so long we have had constants like Lost and 24 on tv. It will be interesting to see if anything stands out this year with all of the new shows on every network.

Adjustments

Tonight I had a quick mistaken thought. I turned to ask my mom, "what time are we expecting Alicia tonight?" Then I dismissed this thought when I realized she is away for a week. A whole week before that question would be applicable.

Maybe about 10 seconds passed after that thought before another one entered my head. A second correction. Yeah, she is away and won't be coming home tonight. But even once she is no longer away, even once we get to next week, she still won't be coming home. I know that sounds like I'm acting like she is dead, and I do not mean it to be. But, when the realization settled in that whether she is on vacation or not, she won't be coming back to here, that she doesn't call this place "home" anymore, I kind of just sat there. This might be harder than I would like to acknowledge.

At The Fair

If you were to go to a fair, what would you look forward to the most? The rides - probably not (although everyone loves the Gravitron). Maybe the games - they can be fun, but they tend to be expensive for little reward.

The best part of a local fair/carnival is the food. Fair food is never food you pursue outside of the fair, nor does it ever feel as appetizing as it does while walking around there. But, once you are in that atmosphere, corndogs and cotton candy just sound perfect. But above those foods, the most important fair food is the funnel cake.

Tonight Alex and I were headed to the diner to grab some late night grub when we passed a fair in Upper Darby. We both had a look of 'why not' on our faces and Alex swung the car around and headed into the fair. As I expected, it was filled with kids. Most in groups ranging from around 5th grade to high school, leaving Alex and I officially in the out-of-place limbo between being too old and not old enough to have our own kids there.

As soon as we walked up we both decided, most importantly, we needed to get funnel cake. The problem with this being something so universal is that the line for funnel cake was probably 30 minutes long. It was a small fair and so there was only one stand selling it. We, unfortunately, decided to pass on the delicious fried food and circled the fair, played one game (won a prize) and then headed on to the diner. The entire excursion took about 15-20 minutes but it was worth it.

Hit Me

Tonight I said to someone, "Either I am totally ok with this major change in our lives or it has not hit me yet, but I don't seem at all phased by this."

Maybe eventually I will be able to process the meaning of my sister being married, no longer being home, etc. But after the past 24 hours, the only thing I can process is the desire to lay down. It was one hell of a wedding.

Full House

Tonight is our last night home together, the five of us. I'm not going to allow myself to get upset over this. Tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun. So much to remember for the mass portion. Congratulations Alicia and Leo!

Out To Lunch

Today I met my sister for lunch. We met at Reading Terminal Market which was about 6 blocks away, total. Despite being that close, it was the first time I had gone there since starting my job. I have been to Reading Terminal Market before but only briefly and never for lunch. We split a turkey steak and mashed potatoes and then headed over to Old City Coffee (still inside RTM) and got a cappucino.

For a place so close, I have no excuse for having not gone there before. I told myself, and the person I replaced, that I would try to get out of the office as often as possible. Three months later and I have gone out during the day only a handful of times. Part of this is due to my desire to save money. I have been bringing lunch and avoiding buying/eating out. But another part is due to sheer comfort/laziness. It is much easier to stay in my office and surf the web than it is to go outside for a bit. Maybe this is partially influenced by the 53+ days of over 90 degree weather this summer, but I cannot claim that as my only reason.

I am hoping to revisit the RTM many times in the future. It is not cheap, but an excursion once every few weeks is not out of the question.