jittery

Overall, I seem to be doing all right on the Lexapro. I've noticed that the side effects come and go. I read the product insert more closely, and my recent sinus troubles could be attributed to meds. The two worst side effects are vivid dreams and tingling skin. The dreams wake me up because they're so odd, and since tingling skin is also a symptom of panic attacks, the sensation makes me nervous. I'm going to the doctor for a follow-up in a few weeks, and I've got an acupuncture appointment on Thursday, so hopefully I can get this out of my system.

There's lots going on in Life right now, too. My job is going to be changing a bit now that my friend, Jane-the-gardener, is coming in to help do the stuff I'm not good at, I'm picking up my new cat tomorrow, and the professor is really pushing us in the fiction workshop, which means a ton of re-writing. When things happen in bunches like this, and I'm spreading my energy around, panic and jitters are usually not far behind.

Speaking of workshops, I ran into a dilemma with my grad degree. It looked like I was going to have some lengthy time gaps in my class schedule, which would drag out getting the degree finished. The gaps occurred because the original class schedule that the admissions advisor sent me not only had a required course missing (the schedule showed only 9 courses when there should be 10), but also had thesis courses that were not in my writing concentration (I had asked for fiction, and the thesis courses assigned to me were for poetry). I asked the admissions advisor to correct this, but I didn't get any response, so I attempted to correct it myself through the student portal to add/drop classes, and in doing so discovered the gaps because classes were not available.

I switched tactics and e-mailed the program director, who was very apologetic, as incorrect schedules and time gaps shouldn't occur in the first place, and it was their fault, not mine. He couldn't schedule additional classes since it would be just me in them, so he suggested I double up and take the last workshop class and the first thesis class in the same semester. Normally, you have to finish all the workshops before you can start your thesis, but the program director said he'd waive that requirement for me, and he said if I wanted, I could unofficially start writing my thesis during one of the time gaps to get a bit ahead, so that the two classes in one semester wouldn't be so overwhelming. So that's the plan, which means I will be done with my degree by this time next January.

This past weekend, I watched a weird film called The Order, with Heath Ledger. It's about two priests who investigate an immortal who forgives sins and sends people to Heaven outside of church doctrine. I'll have to rent it from Netflix, so I can see the beginning of it. Imagine my surprise when I got online this evening and came across a newsflash that Heath Ledger had died today. He was only 28. And did you know his first name is really Heathcliff?

Off to re-writing.