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EDSTRAVAGANZA CONTINUES. Yesterday was a long, long day. I got up way too early after a night of a lot of birthday drinks at the College Inn. I had to go to campus for the Queer Worlds: The Will to Institutionality symposium. I had promised my students that I would be there and they could attend for participation extra credit. So, I had to go. It was interesting, good, but boy was I in bad shape. The rest of the day was spent recovering and getting ready for the evening’s festivities: Day Two of EDstravaganza! I decided to invite people for drinks at the Satellite Lounge (1118 E. Pike Street @ 11th), which isn’t a great bar but it’s spacious, usually not crowded, has a good jukebox, and the drinks are reasonable. It was a nice mix of people–school friends, nonschool friends, extended friends, some of Greg’s friends–and a lovely time was had. I had many birthday shots of Patron.

Then some of us wandered over to the Madison Pub (1315 E Madison St @ 13th) for nightcaps.

Thanks to all of my friends, “family,” and adorers (new and old) for a really nice, relaxed, convivial, and cheerful night! I had a good time. Today, EDstravaganza continues with brunch and then a double feature: Star Trek and Wolverine. Then sushi for dinner.

EDstravaganza next year is a big one! The big 4-0! I need to start planning now. I’m thinking maybe a birthday cruise.

EDSTRAVAGANZA HAS BEGUN. My birthday celebrations started last night at grad pub at the College Inn Pub. Birthday car bombs, it seems, were in order last night. Yummy, but so bad for the next day. I am a little more than feeling it this morning, and I have to head to campus for a day long symposium. Happy birthday to me!

OLDER AND WISER. (Though, given the dissertation doldrums, not much smarter.) Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Maybe if I say it enough times, I’ll actually believe it. Heh. Regardless, it’s time for EDstravaganza 2009 (this year it’s a limited affair)!

MAY 5. I cannot be believe it’s already May. Half the year is almost over, and I feel like I just started getting into things. Or maybe I just feel like I’m always getting things started and never really getting anything done. Or maybe I just have too many things that need getting started and need getting done. Perhaps that’s really what is going on. And I can’t believe that my birthday has come around again. So quickly.Someone tell me how to put the brakes on this thing. Life. Work. Things. I have been preoccupied, overcommitted, and precociously procrastinating. And it’s stressing me out. A lot. So much so that being stressed out is stressing me out. A vicious cycle of a flavor and texture common only to grad school.

It’s not that things are “bad” per se. Actually, I thing most of the general day to day is fine and dandy. But the big things are big and scary and demand a great deal of psychic energy and stamina. Dissertation. Worried about not having a job next year. Getting older. Feeling stuck. The stress and worry about the big things have a magnifying and harmonic affect on the stress and worry about the little things, which taken on their own or in small, managable numbers are easy peasy. Teaching. Grading. Extracurricular projects. Friends. Relationship. Working out. Not eating like a jackass.

I just need a little time, a little grace, and a little divine intervention. Just to grease the gears a little and get things moving.

More later.