it seems a million years since my last post…and it was the beginning of this week. Lot’s of work being done here at Brokedown Palace. I’ve finished a paper, and am tweaking it. Tonight I begin my 20 page History of A Book paper. I really feel like it’ll flow smoothly because I’ve already got the research and outline finished. I have some quesitons on citations, but will figure that out.

I’m enjoying this work…but I’m ready for it to be over. Really. Really ready.

It’s Friday, and I’ve got some great clients lined up starting in about 45 mintues and for that I’m glad glad glad.

But I’m ready to be finished completely so that I can get home and get to work. I’ve only got one cut and color tomorrow morning, then home to work work work, decorate the tree, work, cook and just get stuff done. Yeah. That’s going to feel good.

Holy shit the bed.

I sat at my sister’s house, finishing a paper, enjoying the family (no REALLY. I had the BEST weekend ever) and just feeling stress free and loving life…until I checked the syllabus for tonight’s class.

Papers to be presented.

WHAT??? you mean the one I HAVEN’T STARTED YET BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE NEXT WEEK???

Yep. That one.

I’m ok. I’ve done my research, and started much more last night, have developed a map of sorts, a time line to go by, some bits of writing. That’s what I’ll be presenting. My poor professor has calmly replied to my frantic emails. I know he’ll be glad to see me go. But I’ve found gobs of information, and this week, I’ll be able to write. TO WRITE. Today however, we are all sending up a prayer for my acting skills, saying a prayer of Thanks to Roger and Ma who told me…if you don’t know the answer, tell what you DO KNOW…and to Brenda Brown who taught that Southern Writers seminar the summer before my senior year and started my personal journey into the world of Zora Neal Hurston. It’s because of that, that I already own many of the texts needed, already have much of the knowledge that will be touted tonight, and have the passion for the words that will fill in any empty spaces that I’ll have in lieu of the actual paper.

I want to tell you about my weekend. I want to tell you about experiencing The Muppet Movie with my boys. . . but I have to keep everything on lockdown and focus on this.

I know you’ll understand. . . and if I forget that you’ll remind me.

Gawd, I remember when I was at USAO, the last few weeks of the semester, sitting in the writers lab gnawing on stale animal crackers, no make up, hair in a knot on top of my head that perhaps hadnt seen shampoo in a few days and thinking, “Next semester I am NOT DOING THIS”

Damnit.

It’s been lovely. Really, genuinely, truly lovely. We have had a fantastic time, hanging out together, laughing, eating, singing, watching movies.

It makes me sad that today I must go home, but I miss my kitties, and my house. I’ve got tons of reading to do for the week, and must begin a few more papers. The next few weeks will be nutso trying to get homework finished, study for finals and finish up this semester. I want to get the Christmas tree put up, and enjoy some holiday spirit. Lots to do. Lots to do.

I hope you’ve had a fantastic holiday weekend.

We’ve got thirty minutes before my sister and I venture out into the dark night, making our way down the mountain, giggling like schoolgirls sneaking out of their parents house.

It’s been a lovely day. A lovely two days actually. I managed, somehow, to get everything done, packed, filled, and maintainenced so that I could finish my last client, jump in the car and haul ass to Arkansas. I arrived just in time to see Wonderboy in his Tae Kwan Do class, kick some boards, chop some air, and try to spar with this kid who, my hand to God, was just as touched as he could be. Think about Elaine’s dancing on Seinfeld. Now add a helmut and pajamas. I almost peed myself. Wonderboy was just looking at him, weeble and wobble. Shaking his head. Kid has more self control than I ever did. Wonderboy not the other child. We came home to Mom’s, prepared cassaroles and salads, came over to Taryn’s, prepped the brine and inserted the turkey, and just laughed and enjoyed each other.

This morning, Taryn and Wonderboy and I got up early. Sis was prepping the stuff for the turkey slather, I was loosening the skin on the bird and Wonderboy looked up and said in his most disbelieving voice, ” is that turkey wearing a SHIRT???”

Lovely.

The meal was wonderful. Mom napped, I worked on my paper, they all went to Brett’s family for the afternoon and now we prep for the shopping.

I know everyone is bemoaning the start times, and the “BIG BAD CORPORATE STORES” and joining the bandwagon to “shop local”…I know all of that. But let me just impart a few words. One of those Big Bad Corporate Stores has employed multiple members of my family for many many years. That job has allowed my sister and her family to have benefits like health insurance, so that my nephews could see a doctor without a second thought. That job has paid for this home that my family lives in, safe and warm each night. That big bad corporate store employes many many many people, with a salary, and benefits and opportunities far and wide.

I am shopping there tonight. I am keeping it local. I know what this specific shopping night/day means to the managers and co-managers of these specific stores. I know what’s riding on the numbers. I remember when my brother in law was one of those managers.

Saturday, I will be spending monies at small businesses here as well. I’ve owned a small business. My best friend just bought a small business. I will support that for the rest of my life.

Monday, I’ll be spending some during Cyber Monday.

I won’t be spending a whole helluva lot this year, because for the majority of my presents this year, if you’re on that list, if we usually exchange gifts? Well, I’m giving a donation to St Judes and or the Regional Food Bank in your honor. We don’t need anything. Time together, that’s all. What I need, I get from my family. So. This is how I’m playing it this year.

The thing I love about tonight, isn’t all the hoopla about the corporate blabiddybla, it’s not the crazy deep discounts…it’s the one thing each year that I get to do solely with my sister. Just us. We laugh. We get giddy. We are organized and we are focused. That lady on the Target commerical?

Got nuthin on us.

The Pryor girls have it down to an art. And if, at the end of the night we don’t get that copy of Bridesmaids for $1.97? Pfffffft. So what.

I’ll be you money we walk away having witnessed a catfight between two 60 year old women over some twenty dollar sheets.

That, on TOP of time with my sis???

That’s what I’m thankful for.

I hope you’ve had a beautiful day, full of kindness, and calm. I hope you are in a warm house and you’re bemoaning how full you are. I hope you’re happy the Cowboys won, or that AMC has been showing the Godfather all day.

If you’re gearing up for the big shop, I wish you speediness, patience and luck.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING YA’LL!!!

I’m officially on Thanksgiving Break, from school. One day packed with clients tomorrow, then hitting the road by 3:30. I hope to make it to Arkansas in time to catch Wonderboy in his Tae Kwan Do class.

Hiiiii-YA!

Rapidly getting ready to travel, cleaning out fridge, taking out trash, doing laundry, all those things. I”m ready for some family time.

I’ve got to take my homwork with me. I have a paper due on Tuesday. Gak. Also must start researching my 20 pager due at in a few weeks. GAK. again.

Auntie Lynn will be caring for the fur babies, we can only hope they will be receptive and not boycott the litterbox.

That’s it for me. Just checking off the list, prepping. It’s Thanksgiving week.

How the hell did that happen?

 

I don’t really have much to say this morning. Trying to get through some literary criticism by Toni Morrison. Woof.

Woke up to a cat gagging, yet I can find no proof of it. Makes for some high steppin in the mornings.

My new heated mattress pad that was a birthday money purchase is delightful. I almost cooked myself at first. Then woke up this morning freezing to find it has an automatic shut off. Must. Read. Directions.

Itallian beef in the crock pot. Reminds me of Dion. Always.

My boyfriend George Clooney has a movie opening this weekend. He and it is getting crazy good reviews. I hope it’s good.

I get to see Abbylicious, fresh in from NYC this weekend. She and Seth are having engagement photos done, and I get to do some hair bangin before hand!!! YAY for facetime!

Cannot believe that Thanksgiving is a week from today. What the hell has happened with this year? We spent most of it burning up and staying inside. I feel like we were robbed. Too fast this time thing. Way too fast. Remember when Grad School was just a Thing we were thinking about??? GAK!

Happy Thursday, ya’ll.

Woke up feeling normal. Just enough going on in my head to get things done, dishes, mopping, floors, etc. Just enough to get me out of bed and coffee made and some things finished and enough to want to finish the rest. It’s a brand new day.

It’s like this:

Adjusting to the meds…came home after my first class last night. I talked to my professor, got my info for next week, turn in my assignment and home to the couch. I ate some dinner, played some words with friends then crashed.

Crashed to the point that I emailed my professor for this morning’s class and slept through the day.

Like…seriously. Through the day. I finally woke up at 4pm.

I did get a call from the doctor’s office regarding my bloodwork. Everthing was fine. No menopause, hormonal issues, anemia, thyroid. Nothing at all. Some wonky cells in another test so I have another one in 6 months. I told her I thought the meds were dialing me way down, and she just kind of laughed it off. So, I’m probably going to cut it to half and see how I feel about that.

Dialed down way too much. I know I probably needed the sleep. I had a big week last week and had to recoup in some way. But damn. My give a shit is gone. Kitchen, house, bla bla bla. I’ll dial it back up a bit and see how it works out.

Meanwhile I’ve got to get a shower on my stinky self, clean up that kitchen, and run the vacuum.

 

The art opening at USAO this weekend was done in conjunction with the theatre department’s production of Angels in America. I bought a piece. It’s beautiful and the entire show was just gorgeous.

This is the artists website.  The piece I bought is called RESPECT.

I love it.

The past week was a blur. Doctor’s appointments, advisor appointments, birthdays, art openings and plays and alumni friends, Friendsgiving. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a week so packed.

I’ve put off some homework that I’m scrambling to finish this morning, my house is a little on the messy side, my kitchen is sticky from cooking for the dinner party last night yet…I’m not panicked about it. The angst and crazy have been dialed way down…I got amazing sleep last night, and even allowed myself to sleep in until 9.

I know the meds are supposed to take awhile to kick in…but I do think they’re working. My crazy stress voices have been nearly silenced.

So that’s something.

I worry, though, that the parts of me that are creative will be silenced, too. The crazy inappropriate, bawdy, ridiculous side of me will be muzzled and I’ll just be all zombieland around here…time will tell.