I guess my mind was elsewhere this morning and I was a bit distracted. I’m not sure by what other than that I made my morning tea and turned on the news. I nearly forgot to write a post for today. Because of that, I don’t have much more to say. It will be a sort of short week. I’m still using up vacation time and will be off Wednesday and Friday. Other than that, there’s nothing exciting to report. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Today is going to be a busy day. I only worked a half day on Monday because of a migraine and had to take a sick day on Tuesday for the same reason. I was off yesterday and will be off tomorrow using up extra vacation time I have to use. So, I basically have a week worth of work to do in one day. I have to finish and submit my grades for the class I taught this semester. I also have the usual emails to answer and paperwork to do. Then, this afternoon, I am leading a workshop, which I do not want to do; however, I was asked and because of who will be attending, I felt like I could not refuse. All of this is more than enough for one day. I’m glad I’ll be off tomorrow and can relax for a bit. Grades will be done, and anything else that needs to be done at work can wait until Monday.

Your Isabella pic of the week is one of my favorites. She was such a cute and sweet kitten:

I do not want to go to work today. I woke up with a bit of a migraine and would have preferred to stay in bed. However, I have a few things I have to do this morning, but I may leave early if my migraine doesn’t improve.

I am using up one of my vacation days today and had hoped to sleep a bit later than usual. Isabella had a different agenda and, as usual, woke me up at an ungodly hour to feed her. I always have the intention of feeding her and going back to bed, but it rarely works out that way. Luckily, since I have the day off I can take a nap later if I want to.

I have a couple of small errands to run today and a few things to do around my apartment, but otherwise, I plan to either read or write. I’ve had a story developing in my head and I want to “put pen to paper” as the saying goes. It’s more a fun exercise for me than anything else, and I’m enjoying it: the research, the character development, and creating a story.

Anyway, I plan to do some reading, though I also have some grading that needs to be done before grades are due Tuesday. It is highly likely that at some point I’ll be like the guy in the picture:asleep on my bed with the book I was reading by my side.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

I’m writing today’s post later than usual—and for good reason. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I’ve been working on a short story which has become more of a novella than a short story, and my mind was on that this morning. Also, I took the day off. Not for a big trip or even a long weekend getaway, but for something quieter, something more necessary: rest.

It’s Good Friday, a day of solemn reflection in the Christian calendar, marking the crucifixion of Jesus and the heavy silence that precedes the joy of Easter morning. Whether one observes it religiously or not, there’s something about Good Friday that invites stillness. Maybe it’s the echo of ancient grief. Maybe it’s just the gray light of early spring. But today, I let myself lean into that quiet.

I had planned to write this morning. I usually do. But after a long week—and a distracted mind—I simply forgot to write anything earlier. The temptation to fill every day with productivity is strong, even on holidays, especially when there is so much to be done, particularly the end of a very busy semester at work. But Good Friday, of all days, is a reminder that silence has its place too. That waiting is part of the story.

So, I worked on my novella. Read a few pages of a book I’ve been meaning to finish. Made tea. Watched the morning news, at least what I could stand of it. (I mute it every time the news mentions the current administration.) I simply let my mind wander.

And now, a little later than usual, I’m here—grateful for this space, for all of you who read and check in, and for the chance to slow down now and then, even if only for a moment.

Wherever you are today, and however you observe it, I hope you’re able to find a bit of rest, a breath of stillness, and maybe even a little grace.

Wishing you peace this Good Friday!

I did not sleep well last night. I began working yesterday, when I had other things to do, on a project I had started weeks ago. I became totally engrossed in what I was creating that I kept tweaking it. I kept thinking, “I’ll finish this part and stop for the day,” only for more ideas to formulate in my mind that had to be added immediately before I forgot. I thought I’d finished it last night, but as I couldn’t stop thinking about the project and wanting to add more. I jotted down more notes for what needed to be added. Finally, I forced my mind to quiet and allow me to get some sleep. 

It’s rare that I get so preoccupied with a project. Usually, it only happens when I’m working on a class preparing a lecture or a particular blog post. This was different. This was a project for me. I’ll share the final project with a few special people in my life, but I’m not ready to finish it yet. There’s still more to do, but I have to work today. I have papers to grade, classes s to prepare for, and what seems like a dozen other things I put off yesterday.

Do you ever get absorbed by something to the point it becomes an obsession?