Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Brown-iest.

My last class in my credential program is complete. Heretoforewhereart now I will forever be an almost teacher until I decide to student teach. In the meantime, I feel such relief and a little bit like I can start redefining what normal feels like. The past two nights I've slept so soundly and actually slept a little past 8am- this is monumental since I typically wake up but never feel rested. My batteries are recharged and ready, and instead of sighing every ten minutes out of exhaustion, I feel like I can move with purpose and energy and smile at everyone, just because.

It's difficult for people to understand how easily exhausted my body gets living with a chronic illness. I rarely talk about it, because it's typically just something I just deal with. But sometimes, it's like even for a healthy person, I feel pushed to my physical and mental limits of what this little body of mine can take. With the help and encouragement of my friends and family, I was able to power through and (almost) finish something that's been a dream of mine since I was in high school. Message to the kids: Always Almost finish something!

As far as music, I've just got to let the dust settle and allow myself to seek and relish in inspiration. My most cohesive work has always evolved after a period of respite and research, so we'll see what happens with a little time to breathe and think. And by a little time, I mean two days a week.

In the meantime, Christmas is almost upon us and I'm most excited about spending time with my family and I'm even more excited about the gifts I found for the dudes in my family. I'm always telling customers to buy gifts for their family that people normally won't buy for themselves. It's those indulgences we pass up ourselves that make such impressionable gifts. So I tried to think outside the box and lavish my guys, hopefully they see the merit and enjoy something a little less ordinary.

Merry Christmas to all!