Got to visit the state public health lab today. It was everything I hoped it would be! I met the genetic sequencing machines that processed all the COVID samples, learned about antibiotic resistance testing, and saw the cool net machine they use for enteric pathogen testing. 🤓

Received an e-mail from the feds that we “may” be able to draw down our awards during the shut down. Thanks? I’d ask my project officers for help interpreting that, but I can’t because they’ve all been sent home.

I can tell that fall is here because I am back on my afternoon dirty chai bullshit. ☕️

Thought I should update y’all on the war zone here in Portland. On Friday night my bf and I had drinks downtown with my cousin and his wife. Yesterday, we had lunch with friends and then ran errands. Today, we had a drink at a fancy bar and are catching a comedy show. Such a hell hole. 😑

I forgot my water bottle at home today and kind of just want to cancel the entire workday now. Can I take a sick day to avoid having to drink out of a random cup I found in the break room?

Found the most amazingly ripe and juicy tomatoes at the farm stand down the street today. They were perfect on tomato sandwiches for dinner.

Bf praised my list-making skills, and I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more loved and appreciated. ☺️

It’s weird to be marking this anniversary so far away from New Orleans. In some ways, it’s helpful that everyone around me is treating it like any other day. Helps keep me distracted. On the other hand, it’s hard to be around a bunch of people who don’t get it.

First out of town conference for the new job is such a comedy of errors. First, it took me 20 minutes of circling around to find the right parking garage. Then, the hotel contacted me to ask why I didn’t check in last night because I made my reservation for the wrong day. 🥴

This was an attack on a federal institution. An attack BECAUSE it is Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This was domestic terrorism. Why isn’t it getting more press coverage? Some coverage, not enough. Domestic. Terrorism.

Heatwaves hit different up here. Currently perfectly comfortable in my living room with just a fan.

A guy was chatting me up at the Waxahatchee concert and informed me that Jeff Tweedy’s GROWN ASS SON plays the drums for them. 😳👵🏼

Farthest I’ve been: N: Stockholm, Sweden E: Sounion, Greece S: Buenos Aires, Argentina W: Otter Rock, OR (just went here last weekend!)

Oh good. This webinar about responding to the current moment in the health equity movement has turned into an after action review of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. 🫤

I used to text @renedugar.bsky.social about the particularly twee (or ridiculous) moments I experience in Portland. Since she’s no longer around, I’ll tell y’all: I rode my bike to a meeting that took place on a colleague’s front lawn sitting on picnic blankets.

The church down the street has a Little Free Library for puzzles, and look at this absolute treasure I found there!

After making fun of Portlanders for what they consider humid, I admitted that this morning did feel pretty humid, so I checked my weather app:

Talked with the nurse about the prep for my colonoscopy in 2 weeks. No legumes for a *week* before?!?! I am a vegetarian; I eat beans every day. 😳

Cool cool cool. 🤢💀

Breathing a sigh of relief this morning as we got some more notices of award for our CDC grants. A few things are still up in the air, but my team and I will be able to fight for public health for another year!

Live in these districts? Time to let your neighbors know what their representatives are up to. Ripping healthcare away from millions, cutting cancer research, setting up concentration camps, while shoveling billions to their friends in tax cuts. All of them need to be voted out. Get to work.

I’m at a cross-agency meeting and just overheard an attendee mention that she’s ready to present on behalf of a colleague in case he’s been laid off. 😕

Started the morning with a notice of award for one of our CDC grants. Arrived on time and didn’t have a reduction in funding! Let’s go!!! (Hoping this bodes well for the 6 other CDC grants that fund my team.)

Picked strawberries and made jam with bf yesterday. Have already consumed half a jar of said jam.

Although I missed what looked like a lovely celebration of @renedugar.bsky.social’s life on Sunday, I feel like I honored her in a small way this morning by getting my mammogram.

Forgot my phone (and therefore shopping list!) at home. Managed to get everything but one item from the grocery store! And the one item I forgot was optional, not critical. Good job, brain!

Yay: Had a wonderful weekend getaway with bf. Boooooo: Coming back to work to triple booked meetings at 9:00 am.

Had a light breakfast in anticipation of today’s lunch potluck at work and now I am SO HUNGRY!

Topic of the week at work is layoffs. If I’m in that number, I’m worried it will essentially be the end of my public health career. The administration’s actions have done generational damage to our nation’s public health capacity and work force. Doing my best to hold out as long as I can!

Cecily, sweetie, what are you wearing?! That is far too much floral print!

Thinking of @renedugar.bsky.social during this performance. She was hoping to go to NYC earlier this year to see Audra McDonald in Gypsy, but couldn’t make it. I hope Audra wins a Tony for this role!

Cole! I’ve never seen someone get to the stage so quickly!

But like, why is there a Hamilton tribute? Are we all just desperate for some hope and to remember better times?

I love that those two dummies are having a very public break up on my birthday. Almost as fun as the time Ronald Reagan died on my birthday. 😁

Many of the federal grants supporting the programs I oversee will end in just over 3 weeks. No indication of whether or not funding renewals are coming. Shit is not good.

Planning a romantic getaway with my new bf. In trying to decide between taking the train or driving, he offered that we could stop at small town thrift stores along the way if we drive. 😍 It’s like we’re a good match or something.

Opening Pride month with a reminder of what it takes to fight and what resistance looks like. It wasn’t polite, it wasn’t without personal costs, and it wasn’t limited to the halls of Congress. HIV funding has been eliminated and no one is coming to save it. It’s time to fight.

How am I wrapping up my work week? Meeting with the management team to decide how we’re going to prioritize our programs given looming federal funding cuts. Having a big girl job sounds fun until you’re asked to help decide these things for a whole-ass state.

Got some preliminary, unofficial good news about one of our federal grants this morning. A tiny light in a dark time.

The comment period for this ends in 3 DAYS. Please leave a comment telling them EVERYONE should be able to get covid boosters. www.regulations.gov/commenton/FD...

What I thought was just a sore throat seems to actually be tonsillitis. Will be heading to urgent care later to get to the bottom of this.

Was assigned to bring something sweet to brunch with some other women who have connections to the South. Made this, but with a cornflake crust instead of pretzel because I think it’s brunch-ier. www.southernliving.com/recipes/stra...

0% chance of rain this morning 70% chance of rain this evening I am going to foolishly walk to the office today and will likely have a wet walk (or bus ride?) home. I just really like walking!

Me: *talks a little about my Katrina experience* Date: Uh oh, now watch we get the big Cascadia earthquake now that you’re here. 😏 Me: Oh, Date, I haven’t even told you that I moved to NYC one month before 9/11. Date: 😳 *laughs nervously* Follow me for more tips on how to charm men.

#RFKJr is testifying before Congress today. In the House Appropriations Committee and in the Senate HELP Committee. Call your members of Congress. Time for this man to step down. He's hurting and harming all of us.

My fundraiser helps get me back into my home and get treatments, which will be ongoing until they no longer work. gofund.me/4343fba7

Very rude of the internet to go out at my house just AFTER I wrapped up work for the week. Guess I’ll read more of my book or something.

I was initially surprised that there are a lot of presenters from Louisiana at this virtual conference on hypertension. Then I remembered what the prevalence of hypertension is in the state.

Today at work, they set up a system to track federal grant termination notices. In case you’re wondering how things are going in the public health sector these days.

Speaking of googly eyes, which one of you just sent me 5 googly luggage tags?