<![CDATA[How is everyone's summer going?]]>It's the beginning of August and I start to sense a subtle move towards autumn. Of course the days have been shortening since late June, but I don't really pick up on that till late July/early Aug. The angle of the sun in the sky is what I notice start to take note of.

We've been plotzing along here. The garden keeps me busy and we continue our Swedish death cleaning initiative. Mr wtg is still going to physical therapy a couple of times a week. Otherwise, pretty quiet except for contractors digging up gas lines and an occasional water main break. Nothing compared to the fires, heat, and/or flooding that we see on the news just about every day.

How about you? What have you been up to this summer? Festivals? Vacations?

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/topic/3932/how-is-everyone-s-summer-goingRSS for NodeMon, 03 Aug 2026 18:40:51 GMTMon, 03 Aug 2026 14:40:57 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to How is everyone's summer going? on Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:47:49 GMT]]>I learned a new word.

I was describing my typical week this summer to my friend on the phone, and she taught me the word “estivation”…

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/27683https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/27683Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:47:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How is everyone's summer going? on Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:35:09 GMT]]>Summer for me is mostly a break from travel. My foundation role has me really busy from September to early December, and again from February to early June.

I am doing one trip this summer - late August to Lake Garda, Italy (midway between Brescia and Verona) with Klaus and his girlfriend.

But to give you an example of how busy my busy season is:

Sept 4-10 - Barcelona for the European Respiratory Society (ERS) international conference

September 14-16 - Washington for Congessional visits

September 24-27 - Cape Cod for a three day bike ride fundraiser

September 28-29 - back to Washington for more hill visits

October 1-4 - Miami for scientific conferences and two board meetings

October 10-11 - Rochester for my 40th high school reunion

October 18-17 - Tampa for another bike fundraiser

October 22-24 - Back to Barcelona for an ERS-sponsored symposium in AATD

November 6-10 - American Association for the study of Liver Disease international conference

December 4-5 - Nashville for a patient education day

After that I get 6-8 weeks off and then a similarly busy spring. So you can see why summer for me is to relax.

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/27679https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/27679Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:35:09 GMT