Breathe.

A little over a year ago I burned out.  Despite the fact that I loved being in the classroom, that I loved my students, and that I loved teaching...I burned out.  It was to the point where my teaching was suffering and I knew that the next thing that would suffer would be my students and I couldn't have any of that.

Fortunately, I had a way out and other opportunities came up and I got a job that I could love just as much but that removed me from the daily stress of the classroom.  I could still work with students!  I could still devote my life to the mission that I truly believe in!  Life was good!

However, I was quick to learn that this new job was actually more work than my previous one.  Sure, it's a different kind of stress.  It's not the obvious, physical, emotional, daily stress that comes with being a classroom teacher...but rather a more subtle, chronic and acute stress.  One that sneaks up on you but leaves you with your head spinning and debilitated because you don't know where to begin attacking what must get done.

The camel is many straws past the broken back, but despite all this, I still love my job.  Funny how that works.

All this to use as an excuse for not posting regularly.  I do intend to keep this blog going...I am proud of keeping it as long as I have (although, yes, I realize there are some years that have very few posts).  I just need to find a way to sustain the blog along with other things (aka: work).  

Also, when one works all the time, there is very little interesting content to blog about as most of one's time is spent thinking/dreaming/worrying about work.  Add to this the fact that one actively tries not to blog about work to avoid any dooce.com-esque loss of job stability.  Incidentally, if anyone from work is reading this: I LOVE MY JOB AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.  

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  

I will post again tomorrow with adventures from our most recent journey into the wilderness!  How very exciting and not-work-related!