If I have one more set back...

...I'm going into hibernation. The papers lie untouched today. The Christmas coasters I so lovingly finished 75% of the way mock me from the sewing/computer/homework table in the sewing room/playroom/mud room/room for all the crap that doesn't have any other place. I woke up with a lovely sore-as-hell throat and a fever. As if I have time for lying around and whining.

But, regardless of the logistics of the thing, that's what I did all day, and now I feel panic in my bones. I absolutely HATE letting myself get this way in December. I am a big, big fan of the holidays. In me, the Christmas spirit abounds and often manifests itself in (post-exams) spontaneous rounds of baking and crafting. My inner Martha is loosed upon the household. I'm somewhat insufferable.

But if I let myself fall behind in the tasks I must do, all the fun stuff suddenly turns chore-ish, and I feel pressured to bake, pressured to make snowflakes with the kids, and pressured to wrap my gifts in my signature annoyingly cutesy way. And all of my December joy is washed away like so much curdled egg nog.

This weekend, I'm hoping to pare the list of must do's and make room for the want-to-do's, providing I'm not still sick. I'm actually hoping this is strep throat so I can knock it out with some good old fashioned amoxicillin and feel better by Saturday, which is when our babysitter is supposed to come over to watch the miscreants while John and I finish Christmas shopping. I have been looking forward to Saturday all week, anticipating a day devoted to two of my favorite things: spending money and having kidless time with hubs.

I'm off to sigh and whimper my way through the rest of the coasters. (By god, the kindergarten teachers WILL have somewhere to put their coffee cups this Christmas!) But I can't go without sending a happy birthday wish to my big sis (who needs to update her blog!)

Here's a special birthday image, just for you:

Back to School

As I mentioned in the last post, the fall semester starts this week. Going back to work always leaves me with mixed emotions. I love the freedom of the summer: long, lazy mornings, days of doing nothing in particular, mosquitoes feasting on my ankles. But by August, I'm ready to have my grown-up time back. At work, I can be me for awhile, instead of mommy.

I especially love office hours (even more so when none of those pesky student people show up). Sitting at my desk in the quiet, with the freedom to type an email without anyone begging for a snack or drooling on the keyboard, is bliss. The minutes fly by, and it's time for class before I know it. I go reluctantly, even though teaching is, after all, the point. And as soon as I get going, I love that, too, in spite of...well...all those things that teachers complain about. Especially when they teach mostly freshman.

All this is to say, my gears are in the process of changing right now. This time of year is always a bit overwhelming, always busy, always stressful. My creative energy will be on the wane. Forgive me a few future lame (or nonexistent) posts. In the words of California's beloved governor, "I'll be back."