Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Where We Spend Our Days

The school year has begun, and we have settled into a routine: I go to work in the morning, and shortly after Brian leaves for classes. Most days this semester, he has classes until 4:00, and then he goes to the library to study. I get home around six and make dinner for us. At seven, he comes home and eats dinner with me. Then he goes back to the library for another study period and finally returns around 11:30.

This routine may sound pretty bad, but it is actually much better than in past years. Mostly, this is because of a new space Brian has to study in:


a library carrell!

This has been wonderful not only because it gives him a designated study place, but also because it gives him a place to stash his books. And with the recent back problems he came down with over the summer, that is wonderful in that he does not have to carry them around on his back and in that he does not have to pack them up every time he wants to take a break and walk around a little.


He's been pretty happy with it!

As for me, well, this is my view from my office:


Now, for those of you who live in wide open country, this may look pretty bleak; but I am pretty pleased with it! (Don't tell my co-workers, but my personal opinion is I have the best placed desk in the office.) First of all, it is not foam grey walls three feet away on every side. Second, this window is directly to my left - perfectly placed for daydreaming. And third, really now, the view isn't half bad! I can see the sky and the weather. There is a little rooftop garden with small trees in the distance that I can watch the wind blow around. And every once in a while, a seagull perches on the roof next to me, reminding me that we do live in a coastal town.

And that, my friends, is our context for the greater portion of our waking hours.

8 comments:

IndianaJones said...

this routine sounds very familiar...except add that Colin was working every other weekend as a live in care taker...and that my dear friend is why he dropped out of grad school when Indy came...her little face was far more interesting than the library to him! So...my unsolicited advice: wait to have children...but then I'm guessing you've figured that out...
This doesn't sound bad to me at all and I think your view is lovely, and also looks a bit like my view out of my bedroom window...wish I spent more hours in there...though I'd probably not be looking at the view!

Robby said...

Thanks for the photos, Melanie. Now I know what Brian's study carrell looks like. I like your view, too. Much better than a gray wall!

Sarah said...

I think your view is so lovely!

Steph said...

Oh, you're lucky to have a window! I have one now, but may soon be headed back to cubeville.

deanna said...

I like that window - your own piece of sky.

meg said...

so does he rent this space IN the library? I've never heard of this before, how clever!

Melanie said...

Summer -
Having experienced the husand-in-grad-school thing now myself, I have been very curious to know specifics about your experience. If we ever find ourselves in the same town again, I want to compare notes!

Robby - I knew you would want to see those pictures!

Meg - No, he doesn't rent the space; a certain number of spaces in the library are allocated to philosophy students, and then they are assigned amongst those students on a seniority basis - usually they're filled by students working on their dissertations but Brian got one this semester! We're hoping that he won't get edged out next semester...

meg said...

that's so awesome!