One benefit to being decaffeineated is that I can get out of bed and immediately start working.  Like I did at 6:00 am this morning and 7:00 yesterday.

Ok.  Maybe that is not a benefit.  I feel like I am dying this semester.  This is the busiest I have been including my hellish first year as a professor.  I have worked every day for the last 3 weeks.  I just don't think that this is good for trying to get preggers!  And, yes, I have scaled back what I think I can accomplish this semester.  Still.  My head is about to spin off of my body.

We did have some fun on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday was the Great Grapes Festival.  It's actually a festival of the NC wineries, and truly, it was not bad!  I will admit to being snobbish and saying I was surprised.   NC is known for its muscadine wines, which is cute in an old south way.  However, I prefer greater bodied  and drier wines.  And some of these places actually delivered!  There was an amazing wine grown from an imported Rhone grape which was delish.  Apparently, the Yadkin Valley is one of the newest wine appelations in the US.  (I think; I could be wrong!)  We really liked the Windy Gap Vineyards and Hanover Park Vineyard.  And in case you're wondering, it was FINE for me to have a drink Saturday night.  There's still no news!

Sunday we met some friends at the Freedom Park Festival.  It's a huge park in Charlotte and a lot of fun!  We really had a good time and I'm not always the biggest Fair/Festival fan.  Lots of art and kiddie things and yummy sweetpotato french fries.  Yum Yum Yum. 

OK.  Enough of a break.  I must finish this morning's work before the day begins. 

7:30:16 AM