Malaise abound

I haven't been writing much these days, been too worn down to try. Working pretty much nonstop without so much as a few days off since last January has been most difficult. Yesterday was the last day of summer class and marked the end of the 3rd summer class that I taught this year. I worked on grades yesterday and corrected exams today. Tomorrow I will do the course grades and submit them on Sunday night as a final grade. Come Monday in 3 days my summer vacation finally begins! I will have just 3 weeks off but I am looking forward to not having to worry about lesson plans and I am sick to death of grading exams. Been grading exams every two weeks nonstop since last May! ugh!

So the term Malaise feels right, been feeling kind of down and plain old exhausted. Hardly any energy to do anything than the things that need to be done such as work, laundry, etc etc.. I haven't been going out much either mostly because I am just so tired! However I am happy to say I have had many visitors over the summer and I enjoyed that tremendously!

I enjoyed having Carrie Berry visit me for a week and it was awesome to see her again after 7 years as she resides in California. I am hoping she may consider moving east because I worry she is too isolated out west and she is like family to me, I care! It was hard to see her go! We both teared up at the end, who knew this annoying bubbly girl I met over 15 years ago would be such a good friend to me today? I am sooo lucky to have so many wonderful, caring friends in my life. I guess its the universe's way of making up for the years I grew up without hardly any friends at all? I dunno but either way I appreciate all that they do for me.

As a matter of fact all one has to do is take a look around my apartment. It was Blondie who came by a year and a half ago and violently shoved my exes' things in garbage bags and crammed it all into a closet. It was Mama Duck who always told me what a good job I was doing whenever I made any progress with clutter and downsizing. It was Teddy who helped me to tidy up daily and do small acts like taking out the garbage regularly. And it was Patty O and Car Man's Man who redesigned my living room and I have been able to maintain it since. And recently Carrie Berry worked on my bedroom with the clothes putting them away neatly, making more space and each time a friend helps me get one step closer to a stress free home I am so happy because they care enough about me to want to see me succeed! Small acts lead to big changes! I am happier all around with my home life these days. Things are placed back where they belong, I try to do the dishes daily, I throw things out all the time and I really make an effort not to buy things I don't need!

Tomorrow is my birthday and I am looking forward to getting a pedicure with my friend Lisa Simpson and then we will go out to eat dinner. A few hrs later I will pick up Mama Raccoon and her brood from the airport and spend some time with them as well. It will be a low key birthday this year which fits the mood just fine!

Cannot wait to see the family next week!