I have decided that I have been very selfish and somewhat arrogant this summer. I feel like I'm just crawling out of the little shell of me and seeing that there are plenty of people around me with real problems that I haven't noticed because I've been too wrapped up in analyzing my own emotional state. I can't believe the school year took me this long to process - two months is an all-time record.

So I'm waking up from me and noticing that the world outside is beautiful and sunny. I'd known that before, of course, since I've spent a significant amount of time outdoors, and I have the tan to show for it. But - funny how that is - I didn't really notice the sun or the green trees or the blue sky. "Time outdoors" was just another item on my list.

I'm still sleeping 10 or 11 hours a night without any trouble whatsoever. Who'd have thought a sleep debt would last so long? And I'm exercising four or five days a week, so even though I'm not eating as "clean" as I could, still I've lost five lbs or so.

I've earned a bit of money. After I paid off my credit cards, bought some clothes, and traveled a few places, I'll probably enter the school year with $500 left over. I have two jobs lined up, both beginning early September - one teaching Physics at a homeschool co-op on Wednesday afternoons, and one tutoring two 11-year-olds in writing. These will probably give me $250-$300/month, which can pay for car insurance, TKD lessons, gas, and extra groceries. I wouldn't mind adding on another tutoring job or two, but we'll see how it goes. The Physics will be especially fun, because I get to design the entire syllabus and all the lessons & labs.

Who am I kidding? I'm looking forward to the new school year. It's less than a month away now; it's starting to feel real! Senior year! I miss all my friends! But meanwhile, the sun outside is beautiful, and I love my family.  ¶ 9:38 AM