You know what has characterized this move more so than past ones, is a sense of being sort of lost in it all- a drifting of sorts.
That and insomnia.
No really, I am a creature of habit. I like to establish a schedule, get into a groove and roll right along. I haven't been able to do that yet. My sleep habits have been really screwy lately, and I am fighting the most severe insomnia of my life. Some nights I only sleep two hours. Its beginning to wear on me.
So it is fair to say that I am severely out of sorts. That is why I haven't been knitting, crocheting or blogging much. I find myself drifting around in my own life....
A few things have begun to pull me back into reality. One is that school starts in only 4 weeks, and I defend shortly thereafter. So yesterday I went into the office and began to draft out a syllabus. I made good progress and worked some more on it today. I hope to have my core lecture course mapped out by the end of the week. Of course, I eventually I have to write the lectures, but one thing at a time. This is making me feel better.
(As you can see, Milo is out of sorts too. He has taken to climbing the kitchen cabinets.)
I have also decided to participate in a Crochetville swap again. So planning for the swap has gotten my creative juices flowing again, and that has also been helpful in the whole trying to get back on track thing.
Besides the move, other stuff has been going on- stuff I can't really talk about, but it suffices to say that a friend is seriously ill and the news of it hit me like a ton of bricks. Came out of left field. That has also left me out of sorts and in the doldrums.
So while I have not been knitting, I have been cooking.
(Catfish seasoned with Old Bay and pan fried, white rice, and cherry tomatoes sauteed in olive oil, garlic and chives over the top. Easy and spectacularly delicious.)
And I have been spending time with the Chloe and Milo.
(Chloe with favorite rope bone toy)
And I have been trying to be glad for the small graces in life.
A few days ago I was walking Chloe when I ran into a woman who went to my college. Not at the same time as me, she is a bit younger, but we got to talking and she invited me to the dog park for the next morning. So I went with her, and her two pups and Chloe had a blast. As I watched the dogs run around I thought about how grateful I was that Chloe can at least trot around and enjoy life at the dog park now, post-knee surgery. I was also grateful for meeting this girl, who extended the hand of friendship when I needed it. And as I scratched the ears of a friendly Basenji named Loki who sat on the bench next to me (just like a person, like he belonged there) I remembered that life has its ups and downs, and that you just gotta roll with it.
I'm sorry to hear about your insomnia. I hope everything comes together for you soon. Maybe just following along on your work schedule will help the sleep (and all around routine) come.
Your dinner looks delicious. I miss good catfish.
Posted by: Jaime | July 22, 2009 at 12:00 AM