Yup, Still Happy

About pretty much everything. Except how little time I seem to have suddenly. But it's okay, I like being busy.

This was a good night

Right now I am drinking a toast to myself with the last of the champagne Marshelle and I shared today. The reason for the celebration is that I realized tonight, after coming home late from an after-closing drink, that I had a really really amazing summer. And one of the ways I know it was really the best is that I'm so excited for school to start. I love my job and I had a blast the past three months, but I'm so ready to get back into the swing of the department and see what it will be like to have that and my work life too.

I'm sure this feeling of total contentment won't last much beyond the first time I have to grade papers, read Balzac and work at the Ring all in the same night, but I'm running with it while I can. I let things unfold organically this summer, and damn if it didn't pay off. In spades.

Ugh

Moving is awful. Today was awful. The next two days will be awful. Well, Friday might only be half-awful. But probably all awful.

And man I have a lot of stuff. Way more than I thought. How did I possibly get it here? Has it really doubled in volume since I moved here? Holy cow.

I feel comfortable saying this is one of the very busiest times in my life to date. I have *so* much going on. I was enjoying it til this week, and hopefully once I'm moved I'll enjoy it again. But damn, it's a lot. Whew.

Chill

So tonight, in the colder late-night (early morning?) air, I was reminded of fall and how much I love it - and I suddenly was actively looking forward to fall, the season, the change in the air and in the wardrobes, the crispness, the beauty, the everything. The season itself became this exciting event on the horizon.

I like that feeling. I'm going to chase it.

Release the Stars

So I'm back.

What a trip. I had an absolute blast. As I was telling Andy, it's so rare to have a vacation where nothing goes wrong, and yet that's more or less what this one was like. No delays, no problems, nothing - aside from some clouds on beach day, I suppose. But still...wonderful. It was so nice to see Kate, to realize that everything is just like it was at AU, to hang out at her place chatting about this and that in our lives. I'm so glad to know she's got a great life out there, with good friends and a sweet apartment, in a city she genuinely loves. Having my friends happy is such a nice feeling.

I did so much while I was there. Some low-key nights wandering around West Hollywood, lots of good shopping, the beach, hiking, Jeff's show, a couple sweet bars, a rooftop party on a gorgeous patio, a hot club, meeting tons of new people...all these new things, and new things are what I like best. Well, like I said before...new things and old friends. But new friends too.

(It still cracks me up a little to see Kate and Jeff together, especially as they met totally apart from me. The world is indeed a small place.)

And yet, despite the trip being so great...I wasn't too broken up about leaving. It was hard to say goodbye to Kate, and I did love it there, but I felt really good about coming back to Madison. For one, I know I'll be back there...possibly for awhile, but certainly for a bit. And second...I liked what I was coming back to. Sure I have tons on my plate right now, and moving will be really trying, but I am pretty happy with my life here right now. Marshelle's almost done Latin, Andy will soon be done prelims, I still like my jobs, I can't wait to get out of this apt and into the new one...there's some good stuff here. Definitely enough to make me happy to come back. And given how I felt in June, that's worth a lot.

...oh LA. A toast - to back alley princes, hedges, the Goo Goo Dolls, libraries and Lost. And champagne and beauty and heels and great friends and old flames and pool and thrift stores and the ocean and youth and excitement and aggressive driving and ice blendeds and sketch comedy and sunglasses and palm trees and gay waiters at brunch and people doing what they love. And Kate. And me. And whatever comes next.

I have some really kick-ass people in my life.