i need a vacation

since i started teaching music, the holiday season has become a crazy time of year. in my second year i tried to stay calm and worry less. the kids were great, and i've got great footage, but the whole thing was a lot of work. since october i've been manipulated by a massive wave of exhaustion. knocked on my back every night into such a deep sleep that i can't remember the last time i woke up in the middle of the night.

it's almost time to make the drive around lake michigan. a wiggly circle that affords us the opportunity to see almost everyone in both our families over the week of xmas. it's intimidating when i trace it with my finger on a map, but less so when we actually do it because we make so many stops and see so many people. this year we're going north through wisconsin, east across the peninsula and back down through michigan (last year we did the reverse). when we get home it's new year's eve in the city and a few casual days off before it's back to school on jan. 5.

seven months left until the wedding. april feels like yesterday. all the time that has since passed is an out of focus photo taken while i wasn't looking.