Being back in Philly and having a minute to recharge from the travel fatigue has been really nice. I drove over 25,000 miles and flew for three trips in 7 months!! That’s a lot of travel so it’s been great to just chill.

I’ve been finishing up with my sabbatical project and rewriting all of my courses, seeing a lot of movies, and eating healthy meals.

I’ve also been to Baltimore twice (a third trip planned this week) and have been totally digging it! Hanging with friends, drinking bourbon, making art, watching Netflix, chatting about all the things, exploring, and helping folks move... it reminds me how much I miss community like that.

Baltimore sure has charmed me and I would love to move there!

Hello faithful readers (all 7 of you)!!

In liver tumor news: surgery is scheduled for March 2 at Lankenau Hospital. In surprising news- it’s open surgery and I’ll be in the hospital for 5 days 😱. Comparatively, I was only supposed to be in the hospital for 2-3 days after the transplant. But my mom is coming back to support me and I am going to ask all the questions at the pre admission appointment. I am particularly concerned about pain management but I feel grateful that I have so much support this time! Phew!

Feel free to send unicorn related presents, flowers and lottery tickets! I’ll have a 6 week recovery so I’m stocking up on audible recommendations and binge worthy TV and movies. I’m frustrated that all my training (for a 5k and strengthening) will have to start over, but that’s how it goes.

In the meantime, let me get back to the fabulous van life and sabbatical recap!

When last we spoke, I was heading south for a house sit in FLA! Let me say, this was the BEST house sit. The homeowner was SO NICE and so appreciative. Everything was automated and the kitties were so amazing! I hope all future sits are that good!

​I was a mile from the beach, and even though it rained a ton, I got to go to the beach a bunch:
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The sit was separated by a week during which I went to Miami. I’ll admit that the dating in south Florida left a lot to be desired, but I had a brief sweet visit and really just enjoyed the relaxing time by the pool and on my own!

I also got to go to the Japanese gardens and a sweet art festival!

As you could probably tell, I had a lot of feels on NYE. I really am sick of years and years of being alone. I know it’s my responsibility to practice self care around this and I tried... but feels still happened. In the end, I think it taught me a lot about walking away from situations that make me feel so volatile. I just have certain needs that aren’t negotiable and I am trying to remember that getting those needs met is not being too picky.

There is a lot of good news here... so far.... and I’m trying way hard to focus on that part.

I’m probably having surgery to have the nodule removed....

good news-
1- I probably don’t have cancer
2- I have the time and space for surgery
3- I have great health insurance
4- I have great doctors who listen and take my pain seriously.

I meet with the surgeon next week.

I’m not gonna lie: I’m scared. The only in patient surgery I have had was the transplant, so... For those of you who aren’t intimately involved with the story, I’ll sum up with— it was traumatizing...

in sum: I donated my kidney in May 2008 to my close friend, Pai Tama. I was alone because I didn’t know I shouldn’t be. It hurt more than I can explain. It was very lonely. They did not take my pain seriously. The recipient died three months later. Everything about that experience sends me into tears when I think about it and when I think about surgery.

But I am in pain and have been since the end of December. I just want this out of my body. And we all just need to think positive that it’s not cancer. Ok??