The thing about grad school is… when you have a lot to say about it, because a lot is going on, there is no time to write, because THERE’S SO MUCH GOING ON!

The spring semester is finally in full swing.  I’m a little stressed about this week’s deadlines.  It’s only so difficult because for some reason I feel like I should be able to live my life and ALSO do grad school.  If I figure out how to do this in such a way that one never interferes with the other, I’ll let you know.

I’ve got a lot of assignments and reading to get done this week for my classes and research, but I also have grading to do and I have to rewrite my lecture notes for this chapter for the class I’m teaching because what worked last semester isn’t really working with this group so I need to adjust accordingly.  It’s “not really working” in a good way, though.  The students are more involved and asking more questions this semester, so I have to find a way to condense the material so that I can still teach it all but allow time for students’ questions.  Right now I’m falling way behind where I want to be (but right on schedule with most of the other instructors teaching the course so it’s not a catastrophic issue yet).

Anyway, all of these responsibilities are happening at one time AND my out-of-school life decided to be somewhat demanding this weekend too.  I didn’t get nearly enough schoolwork done over the weekend because on Saturday I had to clean my apartment (stuff laying around everywhere), take care of the stinky mountain of dishes that had accumulated in my kitchen, and wash the overflowing hampers of dirty laundry that had accumulated in my bedroom.  I couldn’t stand living in filth for one more day.  Then on Sunday I had a date-day, so I was out all day with no time to do schoolwork.  (You may think it is irresponsible and frivolous to go on an all-day date when I have so much work to get done, but the boyfriend and I have gone weeks without a date because of how busy both of us have been.  At some point you just decide to make that the priority because it’s worth it and let other things go for a day and deal with the consequences later.)  If I hadn’t been on a date, I probably would have watched the Super Bowl anyway so it’s not like I would have had a ton of free time.  However, I did NOT watch the Super Bowl.  I don’t really feel bad about it either.  I’ve already seen a Giants-Pats Super Bowl, and it even ended the same way both times.  I didn’t care the first time around, even with a storyline as exciting as “Maybe they’ll go 19&oh!” so why would I care more this time?  But I digress…

All those other plans have left me rushing around yesterday and today to get as much done as I possibly can.  But, of course, my refrigerator and cupboards are empty too so I had to take time to go grocery shopping yesterday afternoon.  It’s like, GEEZ, can’t I just live in a dirty stinky apartment and not have to eat or spend time with people who matter to me for like 5 years until I get my PhD?  I guess the answer is “no” because I’m still trying to make everything work.

I’ve been thinking about work-life balance a lot lately, in my own life, in my boyfriend’s life, and just in general.  I love my work, and I love my life, so it’s easy for me to switch back and forth with little guilt because I know I’m not actively avoiding either one, and for the most part I’m good enough at managing my time that nothing is really suffering as far as I know.  I’m not as in touch with my Pennsylvania friends as I wish I was, but I knew that would be hard because I’m so far away and so bad at using a phone or e-mail.  I’m trying to get better, but I’m having a hard time seeing people down here socially, so long distance friendships are even harder.

Well, I’ve really gotta get back to topology so I can’t babble on anymore.  Hopefully next time I’ll have a good anecdote or two for you.  🙂