Overwhelmed

ok...so we all remember that I don't do well with "overwhelmed". I think for the first time in a long time, I might have bit off more than i can chew. At least it is only for 10 weeks. i keep telling myself that anything is doable for 10 weeks. :) so, learning how to teach graduate level courses is very time consuming. i basically have to do everything the class is doing except the major assignments and i also have to be preparing to assist with teaching for each class. It involves a lot of time and mind power. it is a different kind of mental strain because i am having to be creative to figure out how to present information to the students in a way that is fun, interactive and yet passes along what they need to know. also, i am doing 5 hours of research each week in the hopes that the professor i am working with and I can publish a paper at the end of the summer. i think i may have set my sights too high with this goal, but i will keep chugging along and see what happens. we were out of town this weekend for my cousin's high school graduation party, which was tons of fun. congrats rita!!! but, since i was out of pocket all weekend, i spent each night last week, except friday (we had a date night at the new piranha, good times) and each night this week after work studying until about 9 or so. it has been pretty overwhelming and i think my brain has turned to mush. anyway, michael is working all weekend and i have cancelled some fun things i had planned in order to get some much needed work done, so next week is not as tough. i am actually teaching an entire 3 hour course next week on religious diversity so i plan to spend a good portion of my weekend prepping for that class. sorry to vent on here, but just needed to let it all out. thanks for all your well wishes on school and work. all this to say, getting a phd is hard work, but i guess that is to be expected. anyway, i am off to the gym, then home to do more studying.