Good things come in lumps.

After reading Jane's post about her stressful day, I wanted to post to say that I've had a Good Day. I'm not bragging, and I'm not smug; but I don't have many days like this. I seem to get long stretches of stress, worry, fear, and general neuroses in between rare days or moments of clarity, rationality, and calm. I've been feeling depressed lately over a paper that I turned in last quarter, my prospects for the MA exam, and the complications of hauling my life a couple of states to the south. But the following Good Things have happened today: 1. Seminar paper was returned to me with positive comments that included words like "strong" and "convincing." The instructor does not think I'm an ass, nor was he taking so long to return the papers because he kept running through red pens while commenting on mine. ("Dammit, Eunice, that's the fifth bag of pens I've used up this week!" I imagine he would say.) 2. Talked to my advisor about my exam, and while we didn't actually discuss my papers (it's more of a defense than an exam), just talking to him is very calming. He's a jovial, bearded British fellow, and he always has to clear books off the one sagging orange armchair in his office when you come to see him. Just being in the office is calming, actually. Someday, I too will work in a fire hazard/death trap of books. 3. Talked to my adopted advisor about Tennessee, and was reassured that the professor I'll be working with there is brilliant, well respected in the field, and an all-around nice guy. It's a good place, and I'm excited about it again for the first time since I opened the letter. I'm going to work on the clapotis for a while, and enjoy the fabulous yarn while secretly hoping there's enough left over to make myself a scarf.