day 5 - 37 -- Heading into Midterm

Sun and colder air met me as I left the house today. The 2 inches of water standing at the bottom of the porch stairs last night had disappeared. I'd expected to find a sheet of rink ice but it was clear concrete -- a good start. At work I had my times mixed up for class, lab and meetings. Two other people experienced the same things with different meetings and classes. One online meeting was not even today and yet people from across the region felt it was today. There must be something with the alignment of the planets since it was so widespread -- can't blame it on the local weather, water or air <smile>.  By the end of the afternoon and the beginning of a late lab session, things seemed to have improved. I felt less confused and stressed. I'm not sure what made things turn around, but I've decided to accept it and not question things too deeply -- just yet anyway.

Feeling out of control of the smaller details of daily living can be very disconcerting. I've questioned my sanity some days <grin>. We are approaching midterm exam time, with many of these occurring next week. I'm surprised that midterm is so close. I still feel like I am just getting things started in the two courses - and we should be halfway through the content. Fighting potential viral threats seems common, with many contacts losing that battle. Physical exhaustion coupled with mental fatigue can make the brain lose hold of those smaller details. People show up for class at the wrong time and realize this only when they notice the sea of unfamiliar faces. Meetings get booked on top of meetings already scheduled. Panic sets in when thinking that there isn't time to prepare for a meeting or class when it is actually scheduled for two days from now not 30 minutes from now. The brain's ability to focus on the swirl of events and details that expand and self-replicate, diminishes. Looking up from the work and noticing others are in the same situation can help -- though that nagging idea that there is something wrong refuses to let go during this moment of weakness.

Song lyrics that fit the experience with internal and external noise creating further confusion might seem difficult to find. Not really -- seems many people write about such encounters. One set of rather poetic words expressed things very well. Enjoy!

Carry On Wayward Son -- Kansas