Coming soon:

Okay, here's a better picture of my new nephew, Diego:




Yes, the cutest kid currently a newborn. I just love looking at pictures of him, and I can't wait to meet him. I hope it's not too long. We shall have to do some conniving to get time and money to work out properly. Oh, it will happen.

In other news, school starts in three days. I have really enjoyed having this summer "off". Despite the six weeks of busy work, far from house and husband, I actually had a very restful summer. I got to read dozens of books, watch dozens of movies, and dozens of tv shows. And even during busy work stuffs while I was on practicum, I also got to do fun things like see a volcano in action, climb the technically tallest mountain in the world (if you're into technicalities, and view them similarly on this point), went horseback riding, swam in oceans (it was really just one ocean), and well, had a good time. And Michael and I have just been great. Before I left, after I returned. I can't get enough of hanging out with this boy-- reading on the couch or lanai, planting things, feeding worms, even boring things like grocery shopping have a decidedly relaxed and happy feel because I get to do them with my boy. I love being married.

Also lately this summer, I got to discussing my thesis with my adviser. I'm in the process of writing up a proper proposal. I feel... really close to getting this going. I got rather discouraged in the spring because I just kept working at it and working at it and getting nowhere it seemed. But now I'm getting somewhere. And I'm really excited about it. If all goes well, this should happen soon. Very soon. I feel all professional now. I hope all goes well. I'm ready.

And the latest good news is that I've got a new job. I was a Graduate Assistant last year with the department chair, and that was pretty cool because Ashley is a very laid back boss. The schedule was loose; she never asked too much; she always said thank you. Plus, I have mad respect for this woman. She does research in Chiapas. She's pragmatic and brilliant and has a very broad understanding of the social changes happening in Mexican villages in that area. So my job didn't have anything to do with that research. Who cares? I still got to work with her.

But this job I just got! I get to do research. And I'm starting right at the beginning of this new grant. We're going to be developing and implementing intervention strategies for Hawaiian schools to help keep Native Hawaiian teens from being tracked into special education classes when they don't have learning disabilities. There are a lot of reasons that kids have trouble learning. We're going to look at reasons that affect this particular population, and see what can be done. If I stay with this job, over three years I'll get to do research, development, implementation, and analysis! A whole bunch of boring words that excite me to no end! I'll get to do this stuff. And plus, parts of the job will be on the Big Island, so I'll get to go back now and again. I start next week. I can't wait.

So yeah. Classes. Thesis. Job. I'd be lying if I said wasn't nervous about the scope of what I'll be doing in these next months. But I'm excited as well. I'm settling into this whole "professional Kati" role.

But don't worry about it going to my head and changing me. I still have that same ripped up blue corduroy bag that I made when I was sixteen. I still don't match my socks. I still love a good fantasy novel. And I still cut my own hair. Because why mess with perfection?