still crazy

My conference is over (::phew!::), and it went really well. Both the Chinese and Japanese deligations that were here seemed very pleased with their stay, and thanked me profusely. (I'll share pictures when I get around to it.) I am glad its over and I can get back to my normal routine... although its not so much calmer since I have so damn much to do at work and at home. I have 100 work emails to get through (there were about 10 when I left on friday night), and need to sort through intern applications, and complete bios for an upcoming conference in Kansas City (which I would be going to, except its the same weekend as the 3-day walk). Plus all my normal day-to-day items. For personal stuff there is the guest bedroom and walking (of course), plus our upcoming anniversary and Rochelle's baby shower (I'm working on invitations at the moment). There is also my upcoming dentist and dermatologist appointments, and tonight the heating guy is coming out for routine maintnance on our heater.

Despite all that (and the accompanying overwhelmed feeling), I really am happy and enjoying the fact that its autumn time! This is so my favorite time of year and I'm loving the weather, getting to pull out my comfy sweaters, and all the fun stuff we have coming up. And boy do we have fun stuff coming up: This weekend we're heading to the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem to watch some caber tossing and drink some yards of ale. Next weekend I have a hair appointment (getting new color!), and then we're heading to Lehigh for a bit to visit. Plus we might also try to swing by Easton for their Garlic Festival!! :-) The 13th is our anniversary and we're going to celebrate by going on a hayride followed by a bonfire with marshmellow roasting!! And that weekend is the 3-day walk (just about 3 weeks away! Holy Hell!). About a month after that is Rochelle's Baby Shower, which I'm really psyched to put together... then Lehigh/Lafayette and Thanksgiving! And the week after Thanksgiving we are heading up to my parent's to see my bro play Ebenezer Scrooge in the high school production of "A Christmas Carol". I can't wait to see that, he's going to be great.

Plus through all that I get to watch the leaves change, and the the autumn bloom. Expect many many pictures in the next few months.

Well, I need to get back to it... but first one moment of bragging. Yesterday the delegations left around noon, and once I saw them off, I was free to head home for the day. I got home a bit after one, and wanting to make the most of it I completed one of my 101 in 1001 items (check out my progress!)... a fashion/decluttering one. I sorted through all of my clothes... literally I went drawer-by-drawer, and basket-by-basket, removing everything and sorting it into piles depending on whether I was keeping it or donating it. After 3 loads of laundry, tons of folding, and a little hemming and hawing... I ended up with an extra-large garbage bag absolutely STUFFED full of clothes to donate to Goodwill or a similar organization. Now all of my drawers close a lot easier, and everything looks nice and neat. Plus no more piles of clothes on the bedroom floor, which Trav loves. And it feels really really good to get rid of this stuff that I wasn't using anymore and donating it so that someone else will hopefully get some joy from it. Paring down is good. (Okay, end bragging.)

Now its really time for me to get back to work! Ciao!