Life as we know it

Well, we're officially 9 sleeps away from Winter Break.  It's going to be a long 9 sleeps at this rate.  Well, the sleeps are passing swiftly, it's the days in between that seem to be taking frickin' forever.

Henry is laying beside me as I blog the events of the last week.  Every now and then he perks his little head up and reminds me that the point of him being beside me is so I can pet him.  He doesn't waste energy opening his eyes, just lifts the head as if to say "Ummm, I'm waiting"

Speaking of Henry, he's been acting a little peculiar lately.  Although he's always been a cuddler, he's taken to burrowing beneath my chin or on my shoulder by my head.  While it's quite cute, and he's warm and cozy, and his purr is rather soothing, it's odd behaviour, even for Henry.  Nonetheless, for the last 3 nights, he's found some way to burrow for a huge portion of the evening.  Maybe he's cold?  I don't have the heat on at night, but I figure if I am warm enough just under my blankets, surely he's fine with his fur?  At any rate, I will enjoy the cuddles and appreciate his "uniqueness".

The seven baby kittens and momma cat are still residing in my garden.  All seem relatively content. Most venture off from time to time, but all return for supper and sleep.  They are still un-named and therefore I am not attached.  End of discussion.

LIfe as we know it has been a little crazy recently.  We're preparing for the possibility of closure, it seems, without actually saying that we are.  We've inventoried our classrooms, made lists of personal teaching resources we'd like to have shipped to us in the event of closure, are inventorying our apartments making similar lists and trying to be optimistic while teaching our little students who seem rather dependent on us being here.  I find that, as we 'prepare' for what may or may not be an early closure, my stress level is on the rise.  The situation here (in Damascus) hasn't changed, nor do I anticipate that it will in the next two weeks, but at the same time, the "feeling" is different.  I can't explain it any other way.

In addition to the worries of inventorying my belongings, I am also finishing up my online course.  Needless to say I asked for (and was granted) an extension on my final paper until Sunday.  I just need to have some time to get my head around everything on my plate.  Today I came home at lunch.  I'm feeling more and more run down and was croaky like a toad by recess.  I slept for three hours, read five articles in preparation for my paper and then baked some cookies, blueberry muffins from a mix (it was given to me, I'm not really a mix sort of girl) and some banana muffins from scratch.  I find baking to be a soothing way to reduce my stress.  In addition, it sort of makes me feel like Christmas is coming (although the closest thing to Christmas baking I have done was make sugar cookies).

I am looking forward to winter break.  Plans are all finalized. Booked my ticket the other day and will be enjoying most of the break in London.  Still contemplating a jaunt to Ireland, but that is easy enough to arrange once I am in London.  All I know is holidays can't come soon enough.

And as holidays can't come soon enough, neither can bed time.  Yes, I realize I slept for 3 hours this afternoon, but I am going to crawl into bed for the night (the last of the banana muffins are about to come out of the oven).

The rest of the week will be inventory of apartment belongings, baking and paper writing.  May the next week pass swiftly.

Until next time...

Ty