This morning I was sweeping the kitchen while the washing machine was on and swept behind the machine, pulling the drain hose out of the way. A few minutes later, after taking out the trash, I returned to find the kitchen floor wet and getting wetter by the second.

Apparently, while sweeping  I had disconnected the washing machine drain hose from its pipe, and the washing machine was kindly divulging its contents on to the floor. I had to laugh, then I reconnected the hose and decided it would be a good time to wash the kitchen floor.

It struck me that sometimes one thing leads to another. And it's not always super fun. In fact, it's often a bit (or a lot) of hard work, similar to my experience this morning. Larger life events can be similar.

Case in point: I moved to Singapore for a variety of reasons: to change my situation, to do something new and exciting, because I knew I'd never regret it, etc.. (various other reasons that should probably be the subject of a new post). And the journey I started in Singapore 3.5 years ago has brought all sorts of things with it - both good and bad. And also some mix of the two. And quite a bit of hard work.

I'm not done yet, but as I look forward to what comes next (or doesn't) I start to wonder how I can prepare myself for chain reactions, to pursue a path that results in good things, and to be flexible enough to respond with grace to those that require hard work physically, mentally, and emotionally.

So I've been lax for the past few months in updating this blog. I guess I've been a bit busy with other things. That's my excuse anyway. A 500-page dissertation to write, an undocumented language to describe, a brain to fry (my own, that is). But that's still no excuse.

Recently I've been cooking at home more, making spaghetti, peanut chicken, and other things that are filling, familiar, relatively simple, and good. Spaghetti reminds me a bit of my life... red and white, some onions and garlic, a bit of meat and a whole lot of tomatoes.. but seriously, just look at all those strands. So tangled. So complicated.

I'm hoping the next few months will be a bit more simple. Back to basics. Less traveling for work. A bit less stress. Maybe I'll get organized and start blogging more. And writing more, not just on my thesis. Sometimes I forget how much I like to write. I also have to start looking for job, but that's a bridge yet to be crossed, all in good time. Here's hoping this isn't just a good intention that's hard to maintain.