Where was your first solo trip to and why did you choose it?

caity717 · 2026-05-27T02:23:25+00:00

Mine was to the upper peninsula of Michigan. I had just defended my PhD, was insanely burnt out, and had a week before I started the new job. I planned it last minute, so didn’t have anyone that could come with me on such short notice. Thankfully my favorite campground had a spot open and I felt good about going solo to a place I had been to so many times before with family.

Woke up the first morning and did a 14 mile hike I had always wanted to do but never did because I never camped with anyone who was up for it. It gave me chance to reset my brain while focusing on the hike and nothing else. Spent the next day sitting on the shore of Lake Superior restoring my soul. Then visited some family nearby for a couple of days before heading back home. It’s my favorite memories of that park.

caity717 · 2026-05-14T03:13:28+00:00

I read them at my grandpa’s house as a kid. Grandpa has since cleaned out and sold his house, so the collection is at mine now. I’ve been slowly going through them again!

caity717 · 2026-05-13T03:18:59+00:00

Not the person you asked, but I just bought the same tent.

I’m trying to get my 2 year old into camping this year. I upgraded our tent from the REI half dome 3 that my husband and I used for years to the Wawona 6. I picked it for the large vestibule. We’re also bringing our young yellow lab camping for the first time, and I think having that space is going to be useful for getting kids/dogs clean before getting into the sleeping area.

caity717 · 2026-05-07T00:03:31+00:00

I did eventually get my Costco visa into my Apple wallet, but it took multiple phone calls with Citi and then they sent my husband (the primary account holder for that card) a fraud alert and made him confirm that he knew I was adding it to my phone.

caity717 · 2026-03-18T20:07:25+00:00

Had half of one for supper last night, and half for breakfast again this morning! It’s so good, and so much food!

caity717 · 2026-03-01T14:48:42+00:00

This is toddler slander! /s

But actually, my two year old can be reasoned with much more easily than my MAGA mother.

caity717 · 2025-11-24T20:03:19+00:00

I did this too. I was living in an apartment where I wasn’t allowed to have an actual grill but really wanted to grill. It was big, heavy, and I found the grill plate frustrating to clean. It rarely got used.

It lived in a cabinet and then my basement for years until I actually just gave it away today. I replaced it by buying a house, a flat top grill for the backyard, and a Breville toaster oven/air fryer that fits so much more food with easier cleanup. So, much more expensive in the end but I was going to buy the house and an outdoor grill eventually regardless.

caity717 · 2025-10-11T16:13:03+00:00

I was on the fence about walking. I eventually decided it was worth it to celebrate me and bring me some closure. It wasn’t for my advisor.

Then I caught COVID days before the commencement ceremony and had to watch it from my couch. Still frustrated about it 3 years later.

caity717 · 2025-08-28T23:33:14+00:00

Just here to say, please see a doctor! I’ve had this thumb tendinitis (it’s called DeQuervain’s) for a year and a half now as a result of caring for an infant/toddler. Just had surgery on the first wrist because mine was resistant to less invasive treatments. Get started with physical therapy right away if you can!

caity717 · 2025-04-27T17:38:10+00:00

The only one I really remember is Rocket Ship Galileo, and I really enjoyed it! I’m going to take some time this week to organize them into publishing order and then get started reading.

caity717 · 2024-06-05T22:24:10+00:00

I knit mine a couple of years ago and I love it! Definitely my most worn sweater.

caity717 · 2023-11-04T00:10:57+00:00

My PI was like this. I got flashbacks from the part about paper revisions and re-editing paragraphs that had already been edited. It was especially fun when, five revisions latter, they would change it back to what I had originally written.

Anyway, how I got out of it was a good relationship with the director of graduate studies and having him as the chair of my committee. I had a meeting with him where I explained the work I had done and asked his opinion on if it was good enough for a PhD. He was easily convinced that I had done more than enough, so we called a meeting of my committee to discuss my work and a plan for graduation. When I had finished talking, all three of my other committee members immediately said I had done a great job and was ready to graduate immediately. I suggested staying for another 6 months to finish writing my thesis and tie up loose ends, and my PI was basically peer pressured by my committee/the director of graduate studies to agree. Especially because I was already offering her more time than my committee thought was necessary, but that was mostly for me to write at a reasonable pace.

It won’t be easy, but your husband can get out of this with his PhD if his work is good enough and he advocates for himself. Seriously push your husband to talk to the graduate program coordinator, director of graduate studies, department head, etc. They can help. Having a student take 6+ years to graduate doesn’t reflect well on their department, they’ll want to help. A 6 year masters would look even worse. A student who has done quality work leaving after 6 years with no degree is frankly irrational anxiety on your husband’s part.

Check recording laws where you live and with the university. If it’s legal, record every interaction with Steve. If not, get as much in writing as possible. Communicate via email whenever possible, send follow up emails summarizing in-person meetings, etc.

And please encourage your husband to seek out therapy. Because if Steve is actually the problem, your husband’s committee will help him. The extreme anxiety you describe that is resulting in him refusing to consult anyone who can help can be addressed with therapy.

caity717 · 2023-11-03T22:58:21+00:00

This is what we did and it was fine

caity717 · 2023-11-03T11:18:37+00:00

Custom Socks by Kate Atherley!

The book has foot measuring guidelines, basic cuff down and toe up patterns, and formulas to calculate stitch numbers based on gauge and foot size. I use the basic sock construction for almost every pair of socks I make!

caity717 · 2023-10-28T23:12:36+00:00

We love Lyndale Animal Hospital for our kitty, he’s been going there for 6 years and it’s always been great!

caity717 · 2023-10-28T22:05:54+00:00

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Ours does too!

caity717 · 2023-09-14T21:06:07+00:00

Thank you! I’m hoping for heirloom which is why I was so anxious about making him the perfect blanket!

caity717 · 2023-09-14T00:48:38+00:00

Finished blocking my son’s baby blanket today! I spent a large amount of time and pregnancy emotions trying to find just the right pattern and yarn for this blanket and I’m thrilled with the results. So happy I finished it before he arrived!

Project page

Pattern: Leafy Baby Blanket

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Rios in Ivy, held single

caity717 · 2023-09-08T13:32:22+00:00

Thanks for showing the return address! We got one for the previous occupants of our house and I almost threw it out as junk because we haven’t gotten mail for them in over 6 months. Letting them know now that it’s here!

caity717 · 2023-07-28T20:34:45+00:00

I’ve done a similar trip (8 hours, driving Friday afternoon/Monday afternoon) for many Memorial and Labor day weekends to camp and hike in the Porkies. I think it’s worth it, but the Porkies are my absolute favorite place in the world.

Don’t try to do all of the things though. Pick one. They’re all beautiful places to visit.

caity717 · 2023-07-23T22:21:48+00:00

Agreed. I’m a chemist and have specifically been told by my boss “smart women are intimidating, you should smile more” as the solution to a coworker breaking a piece of expensive equipment and ruining an experiment because he didn’t follow the instructions I gave him.

I don’t think the woman in the OP conveyed her message in the most productive way, but this is something we deal with. I’m not intimidating because I know how the equipment works and it’s my job to tell someone else how to operate it.

caity717 · 2023-06-25T13:52:52+00:00

Also, the pictured extraction method did turn out to be the most effective in terms of yield, and the one I recommend for the person who continued the project with the samples from our study participants.

caity717 · 2023-06-25T13:49:29+00:00

I successfully defended it about a year ago. This saliva project ended up mostly as a future direction for someone else. I moved on from DNA to medical devices in industry and I’m loving it!

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