Alive and Well

Let me interrupt this little stretch of blogging silence to assure you, my dear friends and readers, that I'm alive and well.  I'm five weeks into the semester, which is the point where a semester becomes acutely real.  Grading -- the primary demand on my time and mental resources for my job -- mostly lies dormant during the opening few weeks of instruction, but now it's reared its head.  There's no going back, only through.

So, I'm powering through, one speech, essay, and assignment at a time.  This week on the home front I've given myself permission for the house to be out of order, the laundry to be piled up, and the dinners to consist of easy meals, like chicken tenders and broccoli from the freezer.

It's ordinary, busy life where days blur together, but little pockets of time are set apart for good things like squeezing in a run, or watching the Top Chef finale with my husband, or making hand-dipped Valentine's chocolate covered pretzel rods with my daughters for their teachers.  And right now as I type, I'm nursing a hot chocolate, a rare Thursday afternoon treat that's already boosting me with its warmth and sweetness.

Hoping you're well, wherever you are, and that your day has a little unexpected warmth and sweetness, too.