so it's been awhile...

I'm afraid to look at see when last I blogged.

The summer was both full and empty. I sought intellectual exercise in the form of an undergraduate course at the nearby university, studying geography of the Chicago area. This was a blessing in that I had the chance to spend more time dabbling in the social sciences and to read about and discuss the city that I love. For the first time in awhile, I felt really enthralled by academic reading and found myself, well, pissed that I didn't have people to talk to about what I was learning. (I didn't connect with classmates, and let's face it, A. isn't into this stuff.) I also faced a reminder of how difficult it can be to manage my depression when I don't have any structure. Motivation is always a baraometer of my mood and the stability of my mood. I watched the lack of motivation rise while my mood sank into depression.

And then, I traveled.
And the South sucks.

I could tell some STORIES, boy. Just know that misogyny is alive and well.

So, I'm back at work. Classes have been in full swing for a week. I'm so incredibly busy. I have two hearing-impaired students this year, one of whom signs. Scheduling all of the interpreters for everything she needs and keeping track of that information has proven to be way more work that I could have imagined. Add that on top of the usual beginning-of-the-semester craziness. Wow. Busy. And, as I could have predicted, some of our faculty have been awesome about it while others haven't. It's 2009, people. Deaf people are people, too. Get over yourselves. Sometimes the lack of common sense thing about really smart people is funny. Other times, it's just plain ignorance, and for me, their ignorance is far from bliss.

So, what to talk about from here? Here's some things that are going on.
I joined a gym and have been swimming pretty regularly -- a quarter-mile each time. It feels good. I've lost maybe two pounds, but that's not as important, most days, as just getting the exercise.
I have a few friends having babies. I need to get going on some crochet projects for them. I'll be dyeing my own yarn.
We'll be spending Thanksgiving with Heinous this year. She moved to NC and won't be back to the midwest for an extended stay until the holidays. It'll be the first time I haven't spent Thanksgiving with my family, but then, Heinous IS family to me. Should be fun. I'm imagine lots and lots of cooking.
Oh, yeah, and they made me a Dean. Clearly, I have them all fooled. ;)