I Hate Diets, Even Though I Know They're Good for Me

I've been on a diet of late, but probably not the kind you're thinking of.  My diet didn't involve calories or watching my carb intakes, although I want to make it clear here that I try to eat a healthy and nutritious balance of yummy wholesome foods.  No, my restriction has been on writing.

In case you haven't noticed, I haven't posted here in nearly three months.  Three months!  I can't believe it, but I'm sure google keeps a good calendar, and so I must accept the facts.  But that doesn't mean that I haven't been writing.  It just means I have had to watch my time and focus all my energy on a different type of writing.  I am happy to say, however, that I am (mostly) finished with my MA thesis, and am looking forward to getting back on the blogger wagon.  I wonder what a blogger wagon would look like . . . maybe  purple, with lots of comment buttons and links to favorites?  Who's to say?

At the university, they can't take any chances.  God forbid the students take personal responsibility and exercise a little common sense and keep their arms and legs out of the way of the elevator doors.  But at least they said thank you.  

Writing my thesis has been both frustrating and rewarding, and I've learned a lot about myself, most of which has nothing to do with the actual research that was the focus of my argument.  But, and I say this with more feeling than I know how to portray, I am relieved that it's finally over.  My thesis advisor is a nice guy with nothing but the best of intentions, my professors have all been supportive, and my fellow classmates have made this semester bearable.  But the research and the writing have taken all my spare time and turned me into a very boring one-note over the past few weeks.  My husband won't even let me talk about my subject anymore because he's heard it all, ad nauseum.

Now all I have to do is some revision stuff, defend my thesis to my committee, and take my written comps, and I'll be an official holder of an MA in history.  I have been looking forward to this for months, because it means I can get back to living my life.  You know, the fun stuff, like vacuuming, and dusting, and folding the laundry, and about a million other things.  Just in time for the holidays.  And the big move.

Oh, didn't I mention?  My husband got a new job, and it requires a move to another city - another state, actually, although I don't consider Kentucky and Tennessee to be all that different.  While I am even more excited about this than I am relieved about the end-in-sight of my thesis, I have to laugh.  The timing couldn't be better, since I'll be at a loose end after the middle of December.  But it really would have been nice to blog a bit when I had nothing else demanding my attention.

I guess I can't complain too much.  Didn't I just say I couldn't wait to get back to living my life?  Nothing more real about living than finding a new home, selling the old house, figuring out a way to make too much junk fit in too few boxes, planning for the future with my favorite hunny-bunny.  

Cincinnati Art Museum, Ancient Exhibits.  Pottery with heart-shaped leaf motif.  I picked this in honor of my husband.  I'm sure he'll be quite honored that I'm being all gushy-mushy.

But if you feel the urge, hop on over for a packing session.  As for me, well, I'm letting my belt out one notch.  Living lean by focusing on serious, scholarly writing has taken its toll on me, and I'm overdue for a bit of indulging myself.

I even read a little bit of fiction last night, but don't tell anyone about my guilty pleasure.  Maybe I'll blog about the book in future.  It certainly is worth a post.  All the best experiences in life are.