So, life has been a bit crazy of late.  When we relocated to Minnesota, we decided to rent for six months to get a feel for the Twin Cities before we purchased a home.  So, I signed a six-month lease that had the option of turning month-to-month at the end of February 2007.  Well, the landlords ended up selling their home and decided to move into the place we are currently renting, thus forfeiting the month-to-month option.  I had decided (prior to this news) that we should stay in our rental until the end of my spring semester.  So, the news came as a big blow.  Not only did I not want to move in the middle of a Minnesota winter (which lasts until May) or in the middle of a semester, but the thought of house hunting on top of everything else was more than I could confront.  So, I spent most of January in a state of panic and depression.

Well fast forward to now, and we found a house; we are closing on it next week and moving the first week in March.  Our landlords were kind enough to give us a bit of time after our lease “officially” ended to move over my spring break.  I don’t know why I’m explaining all of this.  I guess I want sympathy.  You see, I haven’t packed a single box and won’t until around the 3rd of March most likely.  So, despite the progress, I’m still in a state of denial and panic.  The problem is this: despite my unanticipated change of housing plans, school work must go on, kids must be cared for, and there is no option of taking a “vacation” to move.  I know I should focus on the fact that we did find a house; all has ended up okay, we are not homeless, etc.  But, I can’t  help from gravitating toward the martyr role.   And, I can’t help feeling like academia exists in a world of  unyielding expectations that often don’t account for personal circumstance.