My Poor Little Blog...

...is so very neglected these days. The guilt would be overwhelming if I had any time to process it. Worse than my blog however is my journal. I've never been a successful journal writer. I usually can't get beyond 2 or 3 days. However when we moved down here and I started a new life in academia I decided to record the process in a daily journal. Since my computer functions as a camera the idea was to take a picture a day and to just describe what I did.

I managed almost every day for the first few months--this was before blogging and summertime in a brand new job--but then settled down into a more detailed post about once a week. I've managed to keep it alive for two years, which is really quite remarkable to me. However both August and September both have one entry each. Maybe it will become a monthly fixture...than an annual one and then what, one entry a decade? That will be one long-a$$ entry.

I think the decrease in both blogging and journaling happened because of the whole sending Angel off to school. It seems when I'm really sad or upset I don't like to write or to drink--when I'm extremely stressed I don't eat but I clean, which means that both my person and my house look their best when things are at their worst, pretty messed up eh? I have been feeling better of late (although I think that will be completely shot in 2 weeks when he comes home for his first visit) but this semester is kicking my butt big time. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

I have two community-based interventions running this month, a grant, 3 papers, a gazillion committee meetings and my two classes. All good--well not the meetings--but just no time to breathe. I've been trying to stick to going to the dojo three times a week no matter what as I believe that is my only outlet at the moment. However this is being threatened by some last minute service work that needs to be done Monday night.

Other than the dojo I think my only non-work activities are watching a smattering of TV shows and occasionally going to the movies or for drinks with b (last night we went to see this--I have mixed reactions). I haven't even been able to finish my Octavia Butler marathon. I'm two books shy of the finish line and my favorite ex-GA is reading the same one. We're supposed to be doing an email book club but I can't get to it.

Sorry. I know I'm whining and really its not bad and is just so hard to imagine how it can go from zero to 160 in a month.

RBOC: Updates

• The fallout of office politics has started 2 weeks into the new semester. We have a new Department Head, who has brought 3 new hires with him. We are experiencing a major change in management style and people are getting nervous. I'm way too busy to be concerned.
• I'm halfway through the next series in my Octavia Butler marathon. I've read Wild Seed and Mind of My Mind. Will start on Clay's Ark after this post.
• Angel has joined a fraternity. He had to make a very difficult decision between joining a brand new chapter or a very established one. He really liked the idea of leadership in the new frat but has decided it will be too much work and needs to concentrate on his studies.
• I have 1 paper this close (imagine two fingers held about an inch apart) to being ready to go out the door; 1 paper with the results and analysis written up; 2 papers still in the analysis phase; and more ideas for papers than I can count on 2 hands. I actually got to work on one of these papers today after a week of trying to find the time.
• b has started going to the dojo with me on Friday nights (my favorite class). We do a vigorous and intense workout and then go across the street and kick back a beer or two.
• Angel and I IM almost daily. Yesterday he told me he didn't miss home at all and today he invited his father down for Family Weekend (sigh). I know this is only fair as his father has never even been to see the University and we dropped him off but still...sigh.
• I need to spend all weekend prepping for my classes.

Rut...

...as in "I'm in a."

Last week I was laid low by the flu (or the crud as my colleagues like to call it) and I spent several days in or near bed doing idleness. Now I know this is a good thing because (a) I'm better and (b) taking off from work-related activities is refreshing (I even got to read a little fiction) but now I can't get my game back on.

I'm not behind in anything important and while I have a few deadlines looming at the end of the month there is nothing that can't be cranked out in a day or two if necessary. So really it's not a bad time to be off my game but still it bothers me. Tomorrow is one of the days I spend the morning at home and glued to my research. I'm hoping it restarts my engines.

Tonight I went to the dojo expecting an intense and focused workout. Alas the majority of the class was spent working a very interesting self-defense technique, which although fun, did nothing to help my current state of being.