It snowed today in Seattle. A thing not so rare as to be unusual but rare enough to be worth some extra engagement. It’s not actually cold enough for snow so it only sticks to grass and trees. [fig 1,2] And dogs and hats. [fig 3,4] But it makes the world quiet and damp and cool and because it’s Seattle still dark enough to stand all the ground reflection. So I made Shanda open the bedroom window tonight; she’s been living without fresh air since I’ve been away. But sleeping in the cold without being cold is one of the few ways I know how to enjoy being warm. The…

I had a therapy session on Wednesday that I tentatively would label as going well. I felt like reactions to me generally indicated a correct understanding of my state, like my goals were directly influencing the process, and like my own understanding was aligned with the discussion instead of counter to it. We talked about handshakes, a thing I’ve trained myself to tolerate because they’re demanded in my life, but which are right up there on the unwelcome contact scale. I’d honestly rather have a hug if I’m going to have touch at all – and to demand that the other participant make themselves vulnerable to me if we’re going…

Travel was better on Monday than it has been other days. Not great but certainly less draining. It helped that I only had an hour or so of delays. I also paid for a first class ticket and picked a flight on a 757 so I could hide in the corner1Seat 6A. [Fig 2] where it’s easier to ignore some of the people-related flying parts, and where I physically fit in the seat. I was able to arrange my feelings about my day job to not be a big part of the day, and that was great. I also arranged to have a full day’s worth of food in my…