HOME!

Sorry for the lag in posting. My last week in Chicago was miserably long - post-Thanksgiving, all I could think about was getting home to California and being able to take a deep breath amongst my family, Garfield, and friends. And that's exactly what happened: I got home Saturday, and it felt *amazing*. I think I'm generally good about appreciating my loved ones and my hometown, but being off in Chi-town for three months has made that appreciation go even deeper.

I busted ass, got drafts done for my professors to look at, and then I seemed to burn out a bit this past week, when I had to finish up my papers and turn them in :-/ Not the best timing, unfortunately. I did my best to refresh, recharge, refocus and put out some quality work within a limited time . . . we'll see how it turns out.

In good news: I got a B+ in the MAPH Core Course! So I'm off to a good start with my final grades, at least.

Yeah, it just feels amazing to be home. I'm honestly already a bit anxious about going back to Chicago, it's so nice here. But hopefully in another week and a half, I'll feel more recharged and ready to jump back in. Luckily, I have a transition period: Garfield and I are flying back out on December 23rd, spending Christmas and New Years with his family. We have a week and half together out there before my classes start; hopefully that'll help me refresh my Chicago energy from all the stress the end of the quarter brought.

I actually don't really have a "break" right now, I just don't have classes. Over the next three weeks, I have to do work on job-related stuff (update my resume, start networking, etc.) and I also have to get through a 20-source bibliography relating to my final MA thesis. AH! So yeah, no rest for the weary in an intensive 1-year program! I can do it, I know. I'm gonna take it easy this week though, give myself *some* relief. But then I have to start easing back into being productive - I've actually even got a few things on my to-do list for this week. Step by step, I'll do this!

But for now, I'm focusing most of my energy on relishing every moment I have back home and getting to be a "normal" couple with Garfield. We're off to see Arabian Nights tonight; one of the MEME musicians in starring in it at the Berkeley Rep. We're both excited, should be fun!