T'is The Season To Be Stressed

Pippi the Puppy

First the respite. My darling Pippi was a dog yesterday. I took my big girls to piano lessons in the evening and waited down town for an hour to pick them up. Pip fell asleep in the Van. I carried the sleeping girl into Starbucks and put her down on the chaise lounge. She awoke in time for banana cake. Dressed in her puppy hat, black tights and shirt, she was a magical delight--like a precious other worldly fairy creature. She entertained me with her charades of guess what she was: snowflake, reindeer, frog , etc. Watching that graceful, serious little soul act so intently for me at Starbucks was the greatest gift ever. It was a few moments of glorious wonder amidst a week of stress.
I am stressed. This is my rant. Do not read if you hate stressed people.
I am drowning in my thesis and now I have to write a paper for a directed studies class after I finish all my thesis work. Also, I must write a proposal to present a paper at a conference this spring. It must be done by the 20th. In addition, every night I have at least 2 places I have to be with the children. Tonight Tabs' has a concert and Mist is attending her friend's play downtown. I have had at least one child at home sick every single day for the last 2 weeks. I am trying to get all the present shopping done. I am worried about finding a job after I complete my masters--but guess what? As of today I am NOT looking for a job until I have handed in my thesis and passed my directed studies class. That won't be until the end of January I am sure--at the soonest. The UBCO ethics board finally meets today to determine if I can start my study. I've been waiting for approval since September.
Peter is in Vancouver so I missed my morning run--the washer jammed in the night and Tabs clothes for choir were still in water. By the time they were washed and dried it was too late for the bus. I drove the girls to school on black ice--the roads are terrible! My drive way a steep hill of solid ice--trying to get the 2 big garbage/recycle bins down this morning was hard.
I also have to find a dog sitter and pack the entire family up for Christmas at Big White. Never travel anywhere at Christmas. Christmas alone is exhausting without worrying about packing up a family of five and finding a dog sitter.