And breathe...

It's my first Friday off. My new work schedule means that I will work 4 10-hour days, Monday thru Thursday, and have every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. How fabulous is THAT?

Anyway, I got up early this morning (WHAT? I know, I thought that was crazy, too!), I took the opportunity to see Scott and brought him to work this morning (lucky him), and talked to my sister for almost an hour on the phone. I am on my way to go work out, then it's time to super-clean the apartment. If I get a chance, laundry is also on the schedule for the day. It's so fantastic to be out and about while everyone else is working. So much more efficient in getting things done!

So yesterday was the graduation. The pomp and circumstance, the boring speeches, the ugly square hats. It was a few hours of my life dedicated to marking the fact that I spent three years of my life dedicated to reading textbooks, writing papers, taking finals and doing research. I made some great friends, had some fun memories, and expanded my world view in a major way. I'm proud of that, proud of myself, proud of my grades, my contributions, my endurance in completing it. I am left with the giant, "Now what?" I am blessed to have a great job to return to, and I have been glad to be back to it this week. It's much easier to do your job when you have the time to devote to doing it.

Yesterday, my parents and I went out for lunch after graduation (Tuscany on Taylor...mmm, calamari!), then headed to the Art Institute for the Hopper/Homer exhibit that ends on Saturday. It was phenomenal, I loved, loved, loved the Hopper exhibit. I wanted to live in some of his paintings. I could have stared at them forever, I think.

To all--thank you for your patience, for your listening ears, for your encouragement and support during the last three years. I wouldn't have kept my sanity (did I?) without you. You've been great friends, family, advice-givers and dinner companions. You deserve to be celebrated just as much as I do. Thank you!

Have a great weekend, all. Here's to the first day of the rest of my life...