::alio!::

Summer Day Off

Where HAVE I been these last few weeks?

I tell you, April was a complete blur. I started a new job, had a few minor family crises, a few major affinal crises, defended my thesis, watched a lot of hockey, said goodbye to some people and introduced myself to others, and made some big decisions.

Next thing I know it's May and I have a few seconds of breathing room.

I just finished marking my students' exams - the last ones I will have to mark for some time (I'm hoping that as a PhD candidate I'll get to teach 4th-year students, who can usually write in a coherent and intelligent manner).

So here I sit in relative peace on my day off. An enormous wasp has made its way into my room through the as yet unscreened window, and I'm hoping it will swiftly make its way out again.

It's funny - most of the time I look forward to summer as a well-needed break, a time to work and make money and not worry about school. This year, though, I'm looking forward to September, when the boys and I move out. This in-beween time is a space for me to make enough money to cover most of my debts and purchase certain things I will need for my new abode. School is a far-off thought, something to consider applying to once the weather cools down again. I don't think I've ever wished for fall so fervently as I do now . . .

In any case, I certainly have enough to keep me occupied for the next three and a half months. In addition to finding an apartment and getting the requisites to put into it, I have work - which I'm loving. It's exhausting sometimes, and it has its down points sometimes, but there's so much energy and purpose in that store, and such cheerfulness of everyone in it, that it's so refreshing. Never have I worked with so many people who were so happy to be doing what they are doing. Novel.

I'm also learning to re-finish furniture, as my parents have given me a chest of drawers and my childhood kitchen table, and both need a new coat of love. The nice thing about having grown-up cousins and a large family is that everyone seems to have something to give us: a couch, dishes, cutlery . . . you name it. So I can focus my attention on the little things, like nice appliances for my new kitchen. :P

I'm also, in the next week or so, going to edit and re-submit an article I tried to get published last year. I think that another chapter of my thesis has in it the stuff that was missing from the paper the last time I tried, so with a little cut-and-paste and other erstwhile jiggery-pokery, it should be satisfactory. So here's hoping. I have until the 15th of June to work on it, in any case.

Also, I have had the hiccups for approximately 4.5 hours so far, and I'm mighty tired of them. I had some ice cream for lunch, and that calmed them for a bit, and then I drank a huge mug of tea about an hour ago, and that had the same effect, but it feels like they're coming back. I swear I have some kind of chronic condition . . .

Posted by Ally at May 9, 2007 02:27 PM