What a week

I've been a failure at posting regularly since I started grad school. It's hard to succeed at a blog when you're barely succeeding in school! Okay, not barely succeeding, but putting in a lot of effort (and I do mean a lot, a ton, all of my energy, everything that I am, etc.) to get through each week.

What a week. It started last Sunday (the 21st) and it's just been getting worse and worse. I have so many things to due (typo, but it stays) and the time is just flying by. So I have to give up sleep in order to complete everything. I'm running on fumes these days.

I had a paper due yesterday. Okay, truth... I THOUGHT it was due yesterday. I finished it, ran to school to turn it in... um... it's due tomorrow. Worse - he extended it until next Monday. I'm terrible at life. On the other hand, my paper, my FINAL paper, is complete a week before it's due. That's just unheard of in Yvette world. The craziest part? It's actually good! And interesting! And it's for my Victorian Sex class, which, you know, 50% percent of that class is new to me (get it? get it? I know, I know, I'm the funniest person you know).

So I have another paper due tomorrow and here I am bedridden because I have zero energy and my allergies are killing me. Best part of today? I missed my first discussion section. My students left. Sigh... I'm a failure. Okay, but I checked my email and this is what was waiting for me:

"i just wanted to let you know how helpful all of your t.a. sessions were, and how lucky i feel to have had you as a t.a. you have helped me so much throughout this course, and i really don't think i would have enjoyed this class as much without you! see you tomorrow in class, and good luck with all your finals!"

I left out the part where she tells me everyone left when I didn't show up (teehee). How awesome is that? I mean, minus the grammar and all. Just kidding, I don't judge people's emails. yes i do. I'm a terrible person.

Anyway, I sincerely hope that your week is much better than mine.

title schmitle

Ever read Beloved? Toni Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for it in 1988. In 2010 it made Yvette a very depressed woman. But it's oh so good. Read it if you weren't already required to do so in high school.

Other than that, I'm pretty much overwhelmed by the amount of grading/writing/reading I have to do right now as the semester comes to an end. Next week is Thanksgiving and the following week is the first major due date. I can feel my chest tightening just as I think about it... tunnel vision...

Blech.

Oh, on a personal note, it's been 6 days with the IUD. I think my body is freaking out as it undergoes withdrawal from nine years of BCPs. In other words, I'm a mess. Hey, what's new there, though, right? SHUT IT.

Hey, blog. What's up?

My weekend in a few pics:

The Hold Steady

Descendents (heck yes)


How awesome is Anthony's look here?

My Tuesday in a couple of pics:

Finally re-alphabetized my books. My library hasn't been this organized since the beginning of grad school. Ignore the books still on the floor. I'm not going to re-shelve them quite yet since I need them for upcoming papers. Honestly, I'm just in love with my books so I wanted to show them off. Aren't they lovely?

Bought this sweet dress at Forever21. Yeah, I'm 26, but I could pass for 21! Right? Right? Who cares, this dress is sweet.

In other news, today marks the date of birth for the most awesome person I know... no, not me... my Mom! Happy Birthday, Mom! Even though I know you do not read this, you still deserve a shout out here.

one big sigh

This picture is so old. I think I'm about 19 here so it was about seven years ago (look at those eyebrows!). Anyway, I was thinking about Richard today and feeling heartbroken, but, you know, more than usual. Then I realized his birthday is coming up in a couple of days.

It's bizarre to think about how much I still hurt when missing him. I mean, obviously you feel better with time, but you really don't get over it. I know people say this, but this is the only heartbreak I've ever really experienced. Actually, his death was the first and only time I've experienced heartbreak. After that, breaking up with a boyfriend was nothing. I mean, that's a laughable situation compared to how I felt after Richard died.

Perhaps this is enough pain for one person and god decided I don't need anymore for quite some time (like, forever)? I wish.

I've got some good news and some bad news.

Bad news first? I live in Texas. Yesterday was voting day (for the record, I voted last week like the good little citizen I am). As one who lives in Texas, my vote once again meant nothing, nothing at all. I don't particularly want to get into politics here, but oh it makes me sad.

Good news? I have a green light for my Master's Report topic and I am now working with an intimidatingly cool (but very helpful) professor. I. am. excited. Okay, I know I'm saying I'm excited right now and I know that in, oh, four months or so I am going to eat these words, but, come on, at the end of next semester I'll have my Master's in American lit and my actual report is a topic I've been interested in since undergrad. Hooray life! Hooray grad school! Hooray ME! Interested in my paper topic? I didn't think so... (though I will say I study race & ethnicity in fin de siècle and 20th century lit) But anyway, I'm so incredibly excited to be working with this particular professor. Because I am a nerd. And those are the things that excite nerds.

Also, I finished watching The Wire last night. Anthony and I worked our way through the series and I am heartbroken now that it's over. This seems to happen to me every time I watch a series in its entirety within the span of a couple of months. Seriously, I teared up three different times during the final episode. I'm a loser. NO! The show is just that good. So watch it.

I vow

to use less foul language when writing blogs. Honestly, I just find curse words particularly funny. Obviously I am capable of expressing myself without such words (don't shake your head, I really am). Let's see if I can actually do it. And... GO!