I was therefore incredibly glad that the three weeks after were mostly mellow, and included 10 straight days without a single obligation due to a miracle of the universe, aka. coinciding spring breaks between my school and my externship. It was to be a glorious time of wearing pyjamas for days on end and watching seasons of reality television shows on Netflix. As that time comes to a close and classes resume this evening and beginning tomorrow I once again travel to central Illinois for my weekly overnight externship, I am tired. Mentally tired, as well as financially tired. You see, having the worst luck in the world with pets means that of course my free time would instead be consumed with pet problems. Pet problems that are costly, both in time and money that I had not budgeted for and it’s left me weary.

This morning I awoke before dawn, restless from an anxiety dream only this time the dream (which, in this case, closely resembles reality) was that my 409 sqft apartment had somehow managed to fit quite a bit of stuff. My apartment was like a clown car, with boxes and bags and oddly-shaped items pouring out in a never-ending stream of stuff. I swear to you I woke up worrying about how I was going to pack everything neatly into boxes that the moving company would be able to move easily without charging me a fortune because as it turns out, moving companies charge based on how many pieces of furniture you have and how many boxes they have to move. So the goal, as I understand it, is to fit as much of my stuff into as few boxes as possible so that the unpacking resembles yet another clown car.

Or, I suppose I could use these next three months to weed through things. Yeah, that might be a good idea too.

I am moving to Maine.

And I am absolutely, positively thrilled about it. I am now free to daydream about summers picking blueberries (the official state fruit) as I stroll along the beaches, and walking amongst the gorgeous fall foliage in the local forests, and snuggling under a cozy blanket with my cat while the snow falls softly outside, and then, well, whatever happens in the spring in Maine, I’m imagining I’ll do that too. I cannot wait!

Like, already-looking-for-my-future-apartment can’t wait. And looking-up-the-nearest-Target-(Bangor)-and-Costco-(Canada) can’t wait.

(In honor of my future home-state, I bought 2 pints of blueberries and have eaten them for breakfast and lunch today.)

(Go HERE to see the last photo-a-day challenge I did, one covering an entire year.)

It is Tuesday evening and my thoughts cannot help but stray to an upcoming date – February 24. My five year doctoral program is approaching its last year and as part of that fifth year, I will take a full-time internship/residency position in a location somewhere across the country and February 24 will bring news of where that location will be. At this time I am hoping for one of the following: Tennessee, Maine, Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Utah, Indiana, Montana, Idaho or Washington. I have submitted my ranked list and must now await word of where I match. There are many hours throughout the day where I manage to forget that I am waiting to hear, that my future is so up in the air. And then there is a moment, often prompted by something random, and then suddenly I am certain I will suffocate from impatience, so badly do I want to know NOW. Suffice to say, February 24 cannot come soon enough.

It is Tuesday evening and I am (for the most part, except for that Feb 24 bit mentioned above) content. Content with my situation in life, my singleness even though I still hope for a husband. Content with where I am. Content with my choice of profession and the years of schooling that it has taken to reach this point. Content with friends and family and the support and fun they bring to my life. Content with finances, knowing that there is very little (other than a bigger apartment) that I truly need or even want. Content with my silly, sickly cat for at-home companionship. I am content. And that is a lovely feeling.

It is Tuesday evening. How is yours?

(Chicago and my silly, sickly cat)

My love of the cool(er) seasons of fall & winter is nothing new, and played a part in my decision to move to Chicago from Los Angeles. The time has come in my doctoral program to consider another move as part of my internship/residency for the 2012-13 year. There are a number of factors that I have kept in mind as I chose sites to apply to, including the presence (or absence) of seasons. As this process nears its end (Lord willing in late February), I am torn between potential sites that offer the outstanding training experience I am looking for and my ideal/preferred climate. Why do the two never seem to align perfectly?

Spotted via.

These two left Georgia for Oregon this afternoon, where more of Santa’s presents await them under their tree.

If only my other three California kiddos could have joined us, my Christmas could have been complete. Hopefully some year!

What thoughts are you having, my friends?

Like all of the quality cuddle time my otherwise not-so-cuddly Esme gave me this weekend and even this morning. Our first snowfall of this winter season. And a favorite beverage tucked into a Christmas stocking and unexpectedly given to me by dear friends who filled it with all sorts of other favorite goodies.

And until such time as my future is more certain, I will sing.

(Image via)