Comrades: I cannot explain how excited I am to start my new job in a couple weeks at UNT. I've been busy preparing classes & although I wish it was under different circumstances, I cannot wait to meet my new students (even if it is just virtually)!

It feels weird to be excited about something during a global pandemic and socio-economic unrest across the world, but I think we need to find these little joys to keep us refreshed for the next battle.

And friends, I've had a lot of major life changes over the last couple of months & it hasn't all been super great. But I'm settled in Texas now with an amazing apartment all to myself (for the first time ever!) and I plan on getting so many house plants.

And even though we are in hard times, I've had so many wonderful people reach out and ask if I needed anything. And you know what, that means that world. I know what a struggle it is to reach out these days. I find it tiring and stressful. So I appreciate it.

Although I'm super pumped for my new life, I had to leave some people dear to me behind. And that hurts. Sometimes we have to be a bit selfish in order to find happiness and that feels uncomfortable. I think we are conditioned to want to please other people, but this is for me.

This thread is long and doesn't actually say much, but I woke up this morning just really excited about my new job and my classes and all the new students I get to meet and all my wonderful colleagues and everyone who has been super supportive over the last few months.