OK, I'm sitting here eating a hot, toasted, buttered bagle, thinking that I really should post more often.  Everything's just felt so crazy lately.  And it's like I have ZERO motivation to actually get anything done, particularly work-related stuff.  And I know that when I feel this way, writing--blogging, journaling, even e-mailing--often helps me feel more grounded.  So yeah.  There are only three weeks of class left in our semester--and I guess that's good.  I mean, in some ways, I'm so "over" it, so ready to be done.  But in others, it feels overwhelming, like there's so much to be done in so little time.  I am looking forward to simply having some time off, to having time for other stuff.  I feel like my house is a totally mess, and my yard needs some serious attention.  But really, I'm thankful just to have a yard.  I don't know--I've been feeling weird about things lately, like there's something missing from my life, but I can't totally put my finger on what it is, although I have my suspicions!  And it feels like there's really nothing I can do about it anyway.  And so I just try not to think about it, you know?  Seriously, I just never really featured myself as a "career woman."  And what really gets to me are those people (some of you know the types) in the church who are all critical of "career women" and who would probably say that my personal problems stem from my choosing of a career over marriage.  And that really gets to me because I didn't choose career over marriage and family.  I can honestly say that I never one put career above those things.  I've just tried to make the best of the hand I've been dealt (metaphorically speaking), even if it's not the hand I would have chosen for myself.  And sometimes, I want to say to people, "Look, instead of the criticism, how about extending a little kindness and understanding."  I mean, really, I kinda always assumed I'd end up like just about everyone else I know, living a quiet life as a homemaker in suburbia, spending time with family, attending my same little chuch, the one I grew up in.  And it just didn't work out that way for me.  And it's not that I'm not content with my lot in life; it's just that it's really, really hard sometimes.  And I feel like so few people get that.  There are times when I want to say, "Umm. . . .a little help?"  But there's no one to ask for help.  It gets overwhelming.  And even now, after 5 years, there are still nights when I miss J. so much that I cry myself to sleep.  Wow!  When I started typing, I had no idea I'd get into all this--guess it's what I needed to say just right now.