too tired to title

... I am a little excited that my whole title is composed of words beginning with the letter "t" - happy accident in the midst of utter exhaustion.

My brain is a bucket of sludge (not kidding, it's a really apt description of how it feels right now). Not a happy state in which to take an oral exam. I think regardless of my being well-rested or not, my brain immediately freezes or turns to murky muck when I am asked to explain simple things out loud rather than on paper. Blech. There is a lesson here for me I'm sure... learn to process auditory information better? Learn to articulate what you know instead of just write it down? it's OK to fail? My worth is not found in my academic successes/failures, praiseworthy/lackluster performances? Yep. True. Stop being anxious about being good at philosophy b/c you never will be?

Can you tell I handle academic imperfection badly? Is that what should be refined in me? Well, 3 exams down. The two orals have left me feeling as if I have NO IDEA how I've done. Not great. Not failing (please!!). I don't feel physically or mentally prepared to even prepare for my next two. I feel prepared to sleep/quit.

I'm trying to keep the Lord ever before me... (psalm 16) and remember all those wonderful things that are true - God loves me! I can trust him! His peace surpasses understanding! He will provide for me even if I fail! - but I'm tired and kinda crabby and I don't like doing poorly.

OK - enough whining... a few comments:
1. A lady at Mass today was in full Cruella DeVille garb and clinging to a stuffed panda bear like it was her life force. Who am I to judge? But, it definitely struck me as funny. I wanted to snap a picture of her so bad.
2. I think a significant portion of the men here are channeling Einstein in regard to their hair styles...
3. Today is the feast of St. Blaise. Since Italian comprehension escapes me, I can't be sure, but I think I got my throat blessed by his actual relics today. I followed the crowd, in total sheep like manner, as they went forward and had a reliquary touched to their throats.

Mergh. Off to prepare for Latin in a hazy smog of brain poo. This is cycle of taking a final, coming home, studying for 12 hrs straight, sleeping, and then repeat EVERY DAY, is really not fun!