Been running so long, I've nearly lost all track of time

Some days I'm convinced that I'm swept up in a whirlwind.  Completely at the mercy of nature.  I move from one place to the next so quickly I never know what time it is, what day it is, where I'm supposed to be at any given moment unless it's on the computer screen in front of me - yes, I know that this is the same litany as my last entry, but for the sake of emphasis, I thought it was worth repeating.  

This week has been perfectly insane.  As the last week of Metro classes comes to a close, classes at DU have reached their peak.  But that is not all; my allergies are at their worst right now, and at any given moment, I can go from feeling relatively fine to watery, itchy eyes, wheezing, sneezing, and generalized itchiness.  The only thing that helps significantly is Benadryl, which is a lovely thing but makes me so tired I cannot function.  I get so angry at Claritin commercials because Claritin and all forms of it do exactly nothing for me, and neither does Zyrtec.  Remember Allegra?  It was the wonder allergy drug that "does not cause drowsiness" but had me in a virtual coma by mid afternoon every day when I took it.  Can I tell you how lame I feel not being able to go anywhere near my friends' homes because they have cats?  That before I can accept even the most innocuous invite to dinner, I have to ask what pets they have, if they smoke, etc.?  The last time I encountered cat hair, I thought my throat would actually seal shut before I got enough antihistamine into me to stop it.  Oi.

Then there's the yard at my house.  It's a great yard.  Pretty, with grape arbors, two huge apple trees, lilac and honeysuckle bushes, lemon mint, and the front yard has my roses and snapdragons and bluebells and two kinds of climbing ivy.  I love this fact, having lived apartment and condo life for so long, but I have yet to be able to plant my new flowers, pull weeds, or in any other meaningful way participate in the yard work because I get hives.  That's right.  HIVES from pulling weeds, even with gloves on.  I raked the dead stuff out of the front yard two weeks ago and it took me three days to recover.  I'm sick to death of the allergy thing and there appears to be nothing I can do about it except live with it.

Yesterday was the last day of my Metro stuff and I feel strangely bittersweet about it.  I am glad to have them done with because it means less I have to do, but I will miss them.  Part of what keeps me going is the energy I derive from students, and despite the several poisoned apples, this was a particularly sweet and energetic bunch.  I was overwhelmed with their feedback about my class and about me personally.  I admit that I feel confident that I'm a good teacher, but I didn't know that they all thought so too, and adamantly.  It's nice to know that, and it helps me remember why I do it.  Especially when those above me in various locales do not seem to acknowledge the kind of passion and energy I give to the job.

But you know the old saying: The curse of the highly competent is perpetual servitude.