I did it.

For me, really, the best cure for being overwhelmed is to just go and tackle SOMETHING. It doesn't even necessarily have to be the most urgent thing.

I tossed the few student papers (this was an optional rewrite and as of the end of class five people had taken me up on it....that's not to say I won't have a few later papers sitting in my mailbox (but whatever)) in my office and went home. Made a quick lunch and set to work cleaning house.

It had gotten BAD. It took me a full four hours (normally it takes two). I also cleaned most of my office here at home (it's a room almost no one ever sees but me) and did find the rest of the tax forms to verify that yes, I messed up, and it's to the tune of what the IRS said. (On one hand, yes, it's irritating to have to send in more money...but what was really nagging at me was "what if they're wrong? Do I have the energy to fight them on this?" So in a way, knowing that I just have to shut up and pay is kind of a relief.)

I also did stuff like launder the throw rugs. (I had to do the one from my bedroom twice - it had been quite a while - it was alarming how grubby the wash water got. Even though I try to remember to take my shoes off upon entering the house...)

So I got all of that done. (I do still need to change the bed linens. It's a bit sooner than I normally do, but I washed up the new mattress pad I bought last week and wanted to put it on).

I also got in 50 minutes of piano practice, which is about all I ever do in a typical working day. And I wrote my Sunday School lesson.

(And this is how I can tell - for the Helpful People who suggested I maybe need an antidepressant - that I actually DON'T: when I buckled down to work I COULD work. I could get stuff done. And my mood improved as I got stuff done. If there ever comes a time when all I can do is sit, or when working on stuff doesn't make me happier, that's when I will know.)

At any rate: the house is done. (Though it's distressingly little time before it gets messed up again. Even for someone who lives alone and, as I said, tries to remember to do things like take the shoes off at the door.)

So tomorrow: I'm going to grade those papers. But that's it, I think - I had forgotten next week is Mid Semester Assessment Testing Week, which means no Wednesday morning classes (so I can write my exam for next week then) and also no Thursday afternoon lab. So I think I can take a little breath.

I've also decided that when I haul the cardboard boxes over to the recycling bins, I'm going to stop at the new cupcake/frozen-yogurt place that opened in town and buy myself a cupcake. (I thought of doing it this afternoon but you never know with bakery type places, when they run out of stuff. If I head over there around 9 or 10 tomorrow morning, I should have the best choice of cupcakes.)

I also am going to run out and drop the ratzen-fratzen check to the ratzen-fratzen IRS in the mail. (And yes, send it return-receipt-requested or whatever the Paranoid Parrot way of doing it so you KNOW they've received it is). At least then it will be done and I will not have to think about it again.