Keep On A Shinin'

I know... Three posts from me in one week is a lot like overkill, or at least, "really, Jill Be? You have that much to say?"

I do.

Frankly, I'd take down yesterday's whining, but some day I'll reflect back over it and remember. And also, y'all said things. Comments are always nice, and I'd hate to delete 'em. Especially when my family is all a-provin' that they're supportive in good ways.

I'd delete it because I feel better about the world today. I took the day off work (that helps, except that I have loads and loads of work to do) because I ended up with a multitude of appointments today, things that usually take twice the amount of time you budget for them - when they really ought to take half as much time. But so far... taking "appropriate" amounts of time. So I'm back home. I just proof'd and submitted my paper that is due in Gender & Communication today. I feel pretty solid about this one, but then, who knows.

I feel better about the world because this week is wrapping up, and the next couple of weeks are going to be lighter - which means manageable (and which also means that finally, finally I can truly plan to study for comprehensive exams, and mean it). It means I may actually finish today and have my class work for Monday and Tuesday done, which means I can focus on comp studying, and on research and writing for papers in these classes (that are due after the next couple of weeks). It also means that [hopefully] I can spend less time in front of a screen or behind a book cover and give my eyes a rest. That's critically important in my permanent-headache state. My eyes weren't meant to spend this much time focused on tiny spaces, apparently (letters, words, etc).

I also feel better about the world because in the last 24 hours of work and school and taking momentary breaks (with a computer screen - perhaps I'm not getting the point very well), I've read so many uplifting things. You may not see them the way I do, in fact, I'm sure you won't. We're all unique and approach life in different ways. But perhaps you'll enjoy them too, or you'll get a glimpse of what makes me happy.
A Wedding Full of All the Awesome & Important Things 
A Couple that is SO What We're Trying to Be

Also, I get to see Windtalker this weekend. The last couple of weeks have been difficult, we get tiny hours squeezed out of his weekends. I've tried to keep Sunday reserved for no-school no-work, as that's the one day we can both catch. But it's hard to be preparing to share your life with someone while not being able to spend much time with them. Our distance and busy-ness doesn't compare to military families or the like - apples and oranges (they may both be fruit, but they're radically different). Windtalker is calming, and just awesome. With my freedom to step over Asheville-way this weekend, we can talk about things we are both storing up, and continue building up our relationship. It's easier to do that when I'm not [secretly] [but not so secretly] worrying about reading and assignments and exams and work projects...

So the world looks better from today's vantage point. This week has held homemade tomato soup & "grilled cheese". It has held pumpkin muffins. I've had sweet tea. I tasted real-live ginger ale (I even made the syrup) (p.s. My Ginger Ale Loving Man says it's awesome). The sun is shining. It's warm. The mountains are gorgeous. And after two more appointments, some grabbing-of-stuff, and the last of the tomato soup, I get to drive through the mountains.

It's peaceful to sit in silence and hear the birds chirping and just enjoy life. I'm sure there will be clouds, yet. So I'll just enjoy the sunshine.