momentary break from the mountain of work

So, I have another 560 words to write for one paper and then 100 pages to read and 1000 or so words to write for the second paper, but I needed to take a small break to share two things.

First, I had this conversation with my mom about how the last week or so has been ridiculously busy but also shockingly low on stress. I wake up, work all day with a minimum of procrastination/panicking, then I go to sleep and do it again the next day. It took me a lot longer to say that on the phone (have I mentioned how patient my mom is when I call her and go on long, rambling, highly caffeinated rants about whatever is bothering me?), but I ended by asking her "is this how normal people feel all the time?" And that's kind of how I feel, like things have gotten easier lately, or at least easier to deal with. I don't know why that seems so significant I guess, that's just exciting to me.

Second, I had my last sewing class yesterday, and it was AMAZING. I missed two of five sessions due to funeral & family obligations, so I was way behind everyone else, but I spent yesterday making a bodice pattern block. I still need to make one adjustment, but after cutting & adjusting 4 versions, I have a bodice pattern block that actually fits me! For those of you who don't sew, that means I have a properly fitted pattern that I can now adjust to make any style of shirt or dress that I want, while still knowing that it will fit me properly. Awesome! I have a bunch of ideas for summer dresses that will now be closer to becoming reality.

Of course, none of that will happen until I get caught up on work, so probably I should get back to it.

first day of school

Hello there, how are you? I've been meaning to post about so many things, but they all relate to photos I've taken, and my hard drive is almost full, so I can't really put any more photos on my computer, which means that I can't upload them to Flickr, which obviously means that I can't write about anything until I clean up my hard drive. Oh, my life, it is so hard.

All well. I got so much done this weekend. I made bread, hummus, sugar cookies, lentil soup, and... something else, I think. I learned how to attach bias tape binding the proper way! That was a fucking achievement--it's such a finicky thing to do, and I've always avoided anything that might involve binding, but finally I know how to do it! All by machine, too--fuck binding things by hand, I don't have that kind of time. (Hooray for unnecessary swearing, am I right?) These three tutorials helped a lot--Heather Bailey, angry chicken, crazy mom quilts. The angry chicken video is totally sweet but doesn't explain corners, but the other two show an easy way to miter corners. Sweet, I know how to miter corners!

What else? School started today; my first classes are tomorrow. I'm super excited about teaching, not quite so excited about my own classes. I'm taking three instead of two; hopefully I will not regret that decision. As long as I have time to sew and bake bread, I will be okay. Oh, that's right, I bake bread now. Making homemade bread is so fucking easy. Uh, if you have a stand mixer, I guess. I made bread by hand once, and while it was fun, it was also way more messy and difficult than using the stand mixer. I have this amazing bread book, I'll write more about that at some point.

Okay, wow, this is all over the place. Maybe because I'm hungry? I haven't eaten since I had homemade lentil soup & homemade bread for lunch. One pot of lentil soup costs like $5 to make and provides at least a week's worth of totally delicious lunches. Saving money is fun! But, um, yes, more later about everything, I'm going to go find some food.

děkuju

Almost time to start the drive up north! I love Thanksgiving, but I think I love vacations more. Not that I should really be taking a vacation; two papers to write and 90 papers to grade. Nathan's going to be recording with Melange, so aside from the car ride and a few hours on Thanksgiving Day, I won't see him all weekend. I'm going fabric shopping Friday, and my mom is buying me a new coat on Saturday! Also on Saturday, I am watching The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 with Tracey and others. Why? I don't know, bonding? Whatever. It's Thanksgiving!

i have a problem

I just bought more fabric that I can't afford. Hancock Fabrics was having a sale, so I got great deals and a lot of very pretty fabric, but I have to stop buying fabric until I make real actual sales.

In other news, everything is lovely. Nathan already gave me three birthday presents (it's next Wednesday, send beer and/or money), and I have been having far too much fun. I'm getting paid to make a website, which is an interesting process, and school is going okay. Taking classes during the summer is weird, but I don't have to work a real job, so whatever.

In conclusion, I love you.

monday again!

Wow, I can't believe it's been a whole week!

I am terribly busy and will be until March 15 at 3pm, but I felt that I needed to take time out from my busy, important schedule to tell you that I got my first paper back today, my first paper of grad school, and there are comments and suggestions a plenty, but I got an A-! I've been feeling overwhelmed by this whole grad school thing, so it is nice to know that I actually know what I'm doing. Basically.

Also, I know you don't care, and I would totally be bored and/or nauseated by this if I were you, but I went home this past weekend, and I got to spend oodles of time with Nathan, and it was our six-month anniversary (six monthiversary?), and we went out to dinner, and I will stop myself before I get too gross and sentimental, but I had a really good weekend.

tomorrow is laundry day

You know what's really pretty wonderful? When you're sitting around, missing someone and feeling blue, and that person you're missing calls you and tells you that he/she misses you too.

On a related note, to all my lovely New York people, I miss you, and I'm terribly sorry I haven't called you. It's not you, it's me. I have been far too self-involved, adjusting to Milwaukee and getting two new jobs and this whole thing where I'm not really depressed anymore.

I made a necklace today. It is long and red and sparkly.

i am happy

About pretty much everything, except the thing where the Packers totally fucking gave up a win against the Bears, because fucking McCarthy decided that "establishing the running game" meant they had to run on every single fucking play, even after it was clear the Bears had picked up on this plan and started, you know, shutting down our nascent running game, and also the part where for the entire second half he was calling plays like he was protecting a lead when we were TIED AT 20-20 and also what the fuck James Jones?!? Okay, fine, you fumbled once, alright, you weren't really holding on to the ball, but sometimes that happens, you don't except the defense to try that hard to strip the ball (it's not like this is PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL OR ANYTHING, why would they try so hard to strip the ball?), fine, but A SECOND TIME? ON THE VERY NEXT DRIVE? LOSING US ANOTHER NEAR-GUARANTEED SEVEN POINTS? Also, seriously guys, 12 penalties? What the fuck was up with that?

But aside from that, everything is peachy. And the Packers are still 4-1, so at least there's that.

blatant materialism

I HAVE A MACBOOK PRO.

I am typing on it RIGHT NOW.

I love it. I still have to buy a case for it, so right now I carry it around wrapped in a pashmina. You know how last time I said I was going to buy my new baby as soon as I could? Today at the cafe, I had this weird, fleeting maternal feeling as I stood there, wrapping up my laptop in my pale yellow shawl. And you know what? I'm totally okay with that.

I get that eventually this will wear off, but right now, my MacBook Pro is making me completely happy.

overload

1. I went ice skating, and it was the best thing ever. I have figured out what is missing from my life, and it is skating.

2. I'm going to hang out with Sonia and Kira tonight. We're going to watch Arrested Development and drink wine and hang out and it might just be the next best thing ever.

3. In two weeks, I will be at home. Awesome.