Still Alive

Hello dear readers!

I am still alive and well.

Actually, I'm a little better than well. It's hard to explain.  My doctor is trying a new medication that is supposed to help the depression and anxiety at the same time (What a magical substance!!  Must be from the wizarding world...), and I have a feeling that it may just work.  My last round of meds had a few side effects that were less than desirable.

Life is extremely busy.  This was probably the wrong time to sign up for so many teaching hours at the dance studio or start taking a college class, but I am confident that I will be able to meet all of my obligations.  I even wrote this weekend!  And it was in "What is Right: Year Two!!"

I know what you're all thinking:  "IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!"

And you're right.

Still, I am happy with the progress it's making and hopefully will find some free time to update soon.  Perhaps this weekend.  (Do NOT hold me to that.  Anything could happen between now and Saturday.)

I do have a paper due this week, so I must focus on that first.  School is important.  :)

All the same, keep your comments and reviews coming.  They inspire me quite a bit and make me consider things this brain has forgotten.  In the meantime, I'll continue writing.

Emma Went to the Zoo

Hello dear readers!

This past weekend, the roommates and I headed out to a local zoo called Hovatter's Wildlife Zoo.  It was no where near on the scale of Pittsburgh Zoo or Oglebay Zoo (a zoo in my hometown), but it was still a good time.  It was small enough that you weren't exhausted by all of the walking you had to do, but it was large enough that we spent about an hour looking at all of the animals.

And there were a ton of different animals!  (All pictures are courtesy of my roommate, because I forgot my camera!)

These two were pushing each other around all day.

He walked right up to us!

This was the nicest peacock I've ever seen.

Snooze.  Snooze.  Tired little albino wallaby.

This little guy came right up to us.  Might have something to do with the fact we were carrying food.

Capuchin!

Capuchin again!!  I love their tire swing!

Random duck is random.  And nesting.

Lone wolf (out of four in an enclosure).

The camels noticed the food, too.

Affronted camel because we couldn't give him a carrot.

This little guy followed us around for about five minutes.

The zebras loved the treats we had for them.

PONIES!!

I love lemurs!  They are some of my favorite animals.

He didn't want us to leave.

Pygmy goats!

The llama is unimpressed with our visit.

Human!  I want a treat!

Sunbather.

It's a ram!

Awesome shot of the birds.

Yes, it watched us the whole time.

My sister feeding the giraffe.

It was a good time.  If you're ever in the Morgantown area, check it out.  It won't take too much time, but it is well worth the drive. 

Emma is sick again

You all are not going to believe this...I'm sick again.  I'm beginning to think that the Met Theater is cursed or something.  It seems like every time that I spend any amount of time at the Met, I am sick or injured in some way.  It doesn't have to be after, but it always coincides with me participating in some performance or event at the Met.

At the last performance, I was very sick through the whole thing.  Heck, half of the cast was sick or injured in some way.  I'm pretty sure that no one in the audience knew.  We were just that good...I hope.

This time, I helped at the Year End Festival of Dance.  We don't do recitals, but each class has a chance to perform a little number.  I'm not sure why it's not called a recital, because I thought recitals were when a class performed a number.  Confusing, I think.

Either way, I made it through two nights of this.  I watched some children I've taught since they were three receive their dance belts, which means they are no longer in what is considered baby ballet - when they return in the fall, they will be in regular ballet classes.  I have to admit I teared up a little, watching the little ceremony.  They were mine for three years and now they're off to more difficult classes.  Fly, baby birds!

I went to my ballet class Saturday morning at 9:00 AM.  Mind you, this was after being at the theater until 10:00 PM the night before, and I didn't reach home until about 10:30 PM.  Saturday morning ballet is especially difficult if you're out late the night before.  You sort of stand at the barre like this:

Sleepy kitty, or sleepy dancer?  You decide.

 Even my teacher kept asking why we were having class that early the day after the event.  I could only shrug, but you could tell that neither of us were all there that morning.  I didn't wake up until after barre, which is usually a full hour into class.  That never happens.  I'm usually ready to go at ten minutes into class.

After dance class, I came home, showered, ate something, and then decided to take a nap like a sensible person, since I was so tired.

I woke up sick.  Is there anything more disappointing than going to sleep thinking that you're going to feel awesome and ready to take on the world after a nap and then waking up feeling like you were hit by a truck?

Because that's how I felt.

I actually ended up back in bed before long, clutching tissues and apple juice as though they were the answer to life, the universe, and everything.  My Kindle came in handy as I played audio books to entertain me and I drifted off to sleep several times listening to Matilda or Jane Eyre.

I am still sick, and look a little like this:

Time for more apple juice.

Emma's Crazy Busy Life

People often ask why it takes me so long to update.  My friends....it is a struggle.  My life has changed since the day I could sit disengaged in a classroom, ignoring my professor ramble on in a class I had to take as a requirement, but felt it had no impact on my future (turns out I was right....).

So, Emma's day in "adulthood":

5:00 AM - Wake up thanks to three different alarms. Walk around room shutting off all three alarms, decide I am wake, and get ready to hit the gym.

5:10 AM - Head out the door with a granola bar and a water bottle to the gym.  Work out.

5:45 AM - 6:00 AM -Arrive home from gym and hit the shower.  Get ready for work.  Fight hair into a style and end up staring at a ponytail yet again.

6:30 AM - Second breakfast of real food.

7:00 AM - 7:15 AM - Hit the door to head to work.

7:20 AM - Drop the sister off at her office.  Head to my downtown parking space.

7:30 AM - Arrive at parking spot.  Walk to office (half a mile...nice little walk).

7:40 AM - Arrive at office.  Open, arrange check in materials, turn on lights, and dance in the deserted halls.  (I like to be the first person in the office.)  :)

7:50 AM - 8:20 AM - Greet fellow co-workers as they arrive.  Fend off several offers of coffee.

8:20 AM - 11:00 AM - Various tasks ranging from website coding to scheduling meetings.  I am a jill of all trades in my office.

11:00 AM - 11:10 AM - Walk the therapy dog.  She's super cute and very lovable.

11:10 AM - 12:00 PM - Seek nutrition during lunch hour.  Write on any number of projects or my fanfiction.

12:00 PM - 4:45 PM - More work-related activities.

4:46 PM - Say good-bye to coworkers and head out the door to the car.  Pick up my sister from her office at 5:15 PM.  Arrive home at 5:30 PM.

Depending on the day of the week, I usually leave the house again within an hour of arriving home for: dance, teaching, translation work, or volunteer work.

Most evenings, I can be found holed up with my laptop working on websites, stories, or engaging in Wizard 101 (my latest obsession....).

Hey, even fanfiction writers need to relax.  :)