Back to the grind

What to say? The best Christmas break EVER (at least, thus far in my life) has come to a close. I came back Monday evening from Europe and classes started Tuesday. Luckily jet lag didn't really hit me (except that I keep waking up at 7 am, when I don't need to get up until 8!) And luckily I don't actually have any classes on Tuesday. But I do already have a paper due tomorrow and a presentation next week, so it's not like I'm just sitting around.

I haven't even gotten a chance to post about Las Vegas yet, and I should be posting about Europe and my New Year's resolutions and starting a new semester!

Well, as for Vegas, I'm betting that post will never get fully written, so what can I say in short? I had a fabulous reunion weekend. We got dressed up and went out on the strip (the strip of casinos) for New Year's Eve, where we mostly meandered through various casinos, had some drinks, gambled a little, enjoyed the water show at the Belagio (absolutely gorgeous!), watched the fireworks from the top of all the hotels at midnight, and went to a dance club. We stayed up until about 8 am talking and then managed to get up at 11 for lunch together. I couldn't have had a better time, catching up with friends and enjoying Vegas.

My friends and I discussed our New Year's resolutions over Thai food for New Year's day lunch. We made academic/professional resolutions and personal resolutions.
My resolutions:
- Start running again sometime this year.
- Use my vegetables before they go bad in my fridge. (I have vegetables go bad ALL THE
TIME! I just forget to use them!)
The most amusing of my friends' resolutions:
"Take off my makeup every night."
"Change out of my clothes before going to bed every night."

DVC, just for you, I didn't shave while in Europe. Or really, just because I forgot my razor in my friend's apartment in Vegas. Not too much of a problem since it was so chilly I was constantly in sweaters, sweatshirts, and thick jackets, and thus hardly noticeable (even to myself). My sister took hundreds of digital photos but unfortunately she is still off frolicking (now in Greece) so it'll be a little while longer before she uploads them for me.

Wow, coming back, everyone has the typical question, "How was your break?" I think everyone expects the typical answers: "It was nice." or "Not long enough!" or something generic. I whip out my answer. Some combination of, "It was fantastic!" "It was the best break ever." "There wasn't a single bad part." This is usually followed by a moment of stun from the question asker, not expecting such a hearty answer.

I am still reeling from it. Will I ever have such a great few weeks again? (I don't say that sadly, like, "oh the best days are gone, woe is me!" I say it happily, like, "I'm so happy I got to have such a fabulous few weeks!"). I have never slept so little in a span of a few weeks as I did in these few weeks. And it felt great!

And back to the grind... it doesn't take long! I feel like I have mounds of work to do already.... and I actually do. Most grad students don't take the full three or four weeks like I did, so my work is piled up.

Unfortunately, I can't report any soul searching finds. Mostly, I didn't do much soul searching of the sit-in-a-room-alone-and-ponder-the-meaning-of-life sort. I don't think I'm cut out for that: it just sounds boring or lonely. No need for that when I have so many lovely people around to enjoy, ponder, and live life with.