Life/work/school has been kicking my ass the past couple weeks, hence posting's been light or brainless. I was taking 13 credit hours, working 20 hours a week and doing my field observation. I decided two weeks ago that a class needed to be dropped. I'm now taking 10 credit hours, but I'm still struggling.

I wish Niels & I could afford for me to drop my work schedule down to 15 hours a week, but it's not financially viable at this time, maybe it'll happen in spring.

I don't handle stress well, never have, never will. I eat, can't easily fall asleep and cry. A lot. I'm grateful to have the workout room in my apartment because it is such a great stress reliever, unfortunately I don't have the ability to work out as much as I need to. Right now I work out five days a week for about an hour each time, which under normal circumstances would be fantastic but when I'm stressed my sanity requires more. But I need to sleep, so working out twice a day is not an option for me right now.

The funny thing is, I didn't realize how stressed I was until a couple weeks ago when I was on the phone with my sister and she asked how I was considering all of these life changing things had happened in such a short period of time, moving back to the States, moving back to D.C., restarting at the department, starting school, my field observation. It was at that moment I was finally able to put a label on how I had been feeling.

I've made an appointment with my primary care provider (whom I adore) and am hoping he & I can come up with some sort of course of action to help my mental health. If it means I have to go on meds, so be it. I'm tired of being on verge of crying 80% of the time. 

I know I've mentioned this before, but sometimes I feel the need to repeat myself. A long time ago I used to have great respect for John McCain. I even contemplated registering Republican so I could vote for him in the 2000 primary. Now, I can't stand him, he's a shell of what he once stood for.

So, it shouldn't come as a surprise to any one that I'm in a RAGE that he wants to postpone the debates. I'm of the opinion that he's not prepared, scared that he's down in in the polls and wants to seem like he's grabbing the reins and taking control of the situation. It's not going to fly with me and most people. It comes off seeming like he can't deal with more than one crisis at a time. 

The Economist is doing a neat project where everyone across the world can vote in the election. It's not a shocker that Obama's currently in the lead.

Check it out here.

I didn't have my Development & Diversity class last night because my professor was in the Bronx teaching. While I was excited to have class online I was really disappointed not to have an in-class discussion regarding the reading assignments, especially the one entitled White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. The article deals with how whites are afforded certain privileges, privileges we may not even notice.

I find it apropos that I'm taking my class during an election when you would think these issues would be discussed and argued in language that promotes change, but instead continues the inequality. I find it frustrating and a sad commentary on our country.

I was sent this article by a friend regarding white privilege and the election. While I don't agree with how everything was worded I do agree with what it says about the election.   

Got this from Tony & had to share:

Life has been crazy busy. I decided to drop one of my classes and will take it during the summer, so I'm down to 10 credits! WOOT!

I was given my school assignment for the classroom observation I've to do. I'm hoping to start Friday. Even though I'm only observing I'm a little nervous but also excited to see how ESL's taught locally.

I realized the 90 pages reading I thought I had to have done today isn't due until next week. I AM SO HAPPY!!!

I hate cockroaches. We had two more come into our apartment, one Friday morning and one last night RIGHT BEFORE I WENT TO BED. I hate them. They freak me out like no other bug. I've to pick up catnip, it's a natural deterrent, on the way home tonight & put it in the vents.

The James concert is Thursday! I've been a fan of their since college but have never seen them, so I'm pretty psyched!

The Election's a little less than two months away and I've had a constant stomachache over it since McCain chose Palin to be his running mate.

I'm sick of the GOP thinking that just because I have a vagina I'm going to vote for McCain because a woman is on his ticket. And I'm sick of how many people have fallen for his ploy.

I'm sick of the GOP criticizing Obama (who was NOT my first choice) for not having enough experience yet are now fawning all over Palin insulting people who are asking the same questions they asked of Obama. 

I'm sick of the American public leaving their brains on the bedside stands and eating up all the garbage being dished to them by the McCain camp. I swear if he gets elected, the little faith I have remaining in this country and its people is going to be gone.

We've bitched and moaned about the horrible job Bush has done the past eight years and now we're leaning towards having another person with his same stances in the office for another four. I left the country once because of the policies of an administration, I don't want to have to think about doing it again. I love my country, I'm just tired of the direction it's going and will continue to go if McCain wins

My friend Karen posted this over on Facebook and I can't help but to pass it along. Oh I miss having cable.

Jon Stewart - Sarah Palin and how the Republicans see her

(Not sure how to insert embeded code into my blog. :( )

If McCain wins I'm going to cry. A lot. For a long time.

I liked him...back in 2000. Niels commented how different things would be had he won the nomination and election back then. I liked him back then. Now, I can't stand him.

Watching his speech, what I could stomach which was a lot, I realized, with help, that McCain's idea of America and my idea of America are two very different things. And his idea scares me.

He can't win in November. Obama must win.

Niels sent me this, which totally made my morning and gave me a break from memorizing numbers in German.

Xbox 360, Lagging in Sales, Will Cost Less

Now, the question is can I hold out until Christmas??

Classes start today, and I'm really excited, but a bit nervous. It'll be good to be a student again. It'll be an easy day, I've only one class, Intro to German a class I should have taken a long time ago.

I'm still recovering from the weekend. It was fantastic but I'm exhausted. I'll post some photos in the near future.