Four Months' Growth

So, it's been just a little under four months since I posted. I was in the midst of my first NaNo novel, teaching, and dealing with day-to-day "stuff."  Blogging took a backseat, and it wasn't until today, my first day of Spring Break, that I could even get to this page. 

Here's a rundown on the growth rings I've accumulated:

1. I ended up with about 25,000 words in my NaNo novel. Not bad for the inaugural effort!
2. I had a 100% retention in both my 0900 courses in the Fall--not 100% pass rate, but not losing any to withdrawals is pretty fantastic!
3. I continue to fight with ADD brain, but there are certain strides that I'm making.
4. I had to drop out of my women's fiction critique group. They were awesome, supportive women, but my plate got so full that I wasn't able to pull my weight, and it wasn't fair to them to pull me along. They've left the door open, and I hope someday I'll be able to catch up with them.
5. December and January were months full of depression, but I fought through it thanks to a good therapist and good friends.
6. My job is being forced to change pretty drastically because of overzealous, under-informed legislators, so I've had to apply to a graduate certificate for composition studies that will begin this summer. Hopefully, I'll be accepted.
7. I was honored to be invited to share some knowledge and experiences about Southern Women's Fiction in a presentation at the Casper College Humanities Festival.  Here's a link: Kitchens, Porches, and Pews: Southern Women's Voices Through Narrative

Time moves on, and so will I.