family visit

tomorrow afternoon my sister jan and her two kids, sophie (8) and jeff (11) arrive from michigan. this is the first time anyone in my family, besides my brother, has visited me in seattle. i'm looking forward to it, but i'm also a little nervous. fortunately, jan has a pretty detailed plan for how she and the kids are going to spend their time here--this is not how i travel, but it's nice for me when someone who's visiting me has a plan. takes some of the pressure off, you know? how the hell would i, a divorced, childless chick, entertain a woman and her two kids in seattle? i wouldn't know the first thing to do with them. this isn't strictly true, of course--i suggested several things that they should consider doing, and jan has incorporated some of my suggestions into her plan. most notably, they are going to drive down and see mt. st. helens. unfortunately, the weather looks best for them to go down there on friday, when i can't join them. it's ok, even though i'd really love to see the big volcano again. this way, i will be able to spend all day friday working, without feeling guilty for ignoring my guests.

(yawn) i'm tired. i've been trying to herd my dissertation thoughts together in preparation for a meeting with one of my advisors tomorrow at noon, and they are being very unruly and recalcitrant. as usual. i'm starting to think i ought to focus on that unruliness as my object of study.

wish me luck...