September 4th

Today was labor day, and I was fed up with working and not being able to go anywhere because i had to work. So I decided to go somewhere and L and I left, with B on the back seat, for a hike along a lake. We drove back with a pungent wet lake smell in our car - that was B after a dive into the lake. Got home and ready for my soccer practice. I realize I don;t like doing sports I am not as good at as others. I had the tendency to shout "but I play really good tennis" every time I missed a goal - which was a number of times. The opposite team was not even bothering to cover me. But, by the end of the practice match I had shot 2 goals and feeling a little more in control of the ball. And I had the feeling I was being covered now and then, but not sure about that... We practice again on Thursday and as of next week we start playing other teams (there are 51 teams taking part!).
Had the ultimate feeling of loneliness as I walked to my car and drove home, don;t know why, perhaps it was walking with D and T who were about to discuss one of T's design problems? It was not homesickness, just feeling alone. Perhaps also because J left today, and my world of people I talk to (really talk to, who ask me how I am, and also know how I am) is very small here - only really 3 people of whom one is gone for what seems like an awfully long time. Although he did keep saying he would be in e-mail contact and even offered me 'his itinary infromation' (probablyso I could call in the worst case). I do not need that but it is sweet. He said his graduate students are like children to him (only they listen more) and that's the way he does treat me. LUckily the loneliness disappeared once I got home. Spent an evening alone here with B, actually doing statistics homework but it was cosy and he lies behind me (on my bed!!!) as we speak. He did try to grovel at my underwear again but I am getting a feel for his naughty moments (found him in L's bed eating doggy cookies earlier this evening).
TOmorrow I have to get up very early. I want to hand in the IRB (my research proposal for the ethical committee) but still have a number of things to do, and I may be called for a tennis try-out and would not want to miss that - although by now I am sincerely hoping they will not call, I really don't have time for this tomorrow. I am a bit stressed, the IRB is the most important, the sooner it goes in the sooner it will be reviewed, but I don't want to miss my statistics classes either. And I am not sure i will manage both... This trip to the States is proving hard work. I may not yet be driving my car everywhere yet but I have already reached the state of living for my work (I was already worried how I would work next weekend given I am going to BOston and to Avon).