So Long, September

As September comes to an end, I always feel a subtle shift—not just in the weather, but in my mindset. I find myself lingering in the quiet moments a little longer. This time of year always seems to me as if the world is gently encouraging me to slow down for a moment before the rush of the holidays begins.

It's too close to call as to which post on the blog was your favorite this month - Cozy September or Shopping My Closet: Transitional Fall Style. I also shared what I love about Fall in Welcoming Autumn. 

September was a month of long awaited accomplishment. Our countertops were installed. We were thrilled at how quickly this happened.  We had originally been told it could take 6 to 8 weeks. As it turned out - once we approved the slabs, the installation took place 10 days later! They are so beautiful.  There's still work to be done. For example: tiling the back splash, putting up all the trim, and figuring out window treatments.  But we once again have a functioning kitchen and I love how it is coming together!

Our new deck passed final inspection. And we have been enjoying as much time out there as possible! We bought a giant cantilever umbrella to provide shade even when the sun is past the trees and beats down on that side of the house. And we've already hosted a small family get together on it.

No one seems to be happier about the deck than the family dogs.  Ziggy would spend every waking second out there if I let him!  Although he has tried to squeeze through the gate and make an escape once already. We need to figure a way to prevent that from happening!

Mid-month I was sick for over a week with what must have been a nasty cold.  The day it started, I thought it was just some fall allergies. But by the next morning I felt terrible and there was no doubt that I was really and truly sick.  I felt bad enough to test for Covid and the flu. Fortunately, all results were negative. And by the end of the week I was starting to feel a little better. Although, I still haven't completely gotten rid of the cough.

This month I read "Lightning Strike" by William Kent Krueger for book club.  I also read "A Resistance of Witches" by Morgan Ryan and "The Reformatory" by Tananarive Due. I am currently reading "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V. E. Schwab. The man of the house and I finished reading "Equal Rites" by Terry Pratchett.  Any suggestions for what we should read next?

Some of my favorite things from September included: mornings and evenings out on the new deck, iced coffee, the subtle changes in the weather, and the man of the house grilling every weekend.

How was your September? 

Cozy September

There’s something undeniably comforting about the arrival of September.

September wraps the world in a gentle kind of coziness that’s hard to resist. The mornings greet us with a crispness that invites sweaters and warm mugs. It’s the season of soft blankets, simmering soups, and the comforting scent of pumpkin spice and apple cider drifting through the air. 

The pace slows just enough to let us savor the small pleasures—reading by the window, baking something sweet, or simply watching the leaves begin their quiet transformation.

What's your favorite thing about September? 

Good Riddance, September

 I'm not even sure where to start with trying to reecap the month of September.  This was meant to be my month to Prepare.  And for a while I was making pretty good progress.

I was getting my house in order to prepare for my knee surgery in October. Getting things cleaned and organized. Decorating for Autumn. Things weren't moving along quite as quickly as I hoped, but I was happy with the progress I was making.

Then we got to the last week of September...

On the afternoon of September 25th, it began raining.   Over the next twenty-four hours, the area of North Carolina where I live received record rainfall.  Some areas were flooding.  It was a bit of a mess. But that wasn't the big problem.
The big problem was that Hurricane Helene was about to make landfall in Florida and head our way.  It's path was just west of us, putting us on the east side if the storm where the heaviest rainfall occurs.  Rain we didn't need on top of what had just fallen.

It rained throughout the day of the 26th. And in the early morning hours of Friday, September 27th, Helene unleashed her fury on our mountains.  It was worse than we could have imagined.

In our immediate neighborhood, trees and power lines are down.  We have no power, no water, and no internet service. Part of our road has washed away, but is fortunately still passable. Cell phone service is extremely spotty and virtually nonexistent at my house. I'm posting this while sitting in a parking lot where I was able to find a signal.

As crazy as things are for us right now, we are considering ourselves fortunate.   Our home isn't flooded and doesn't have a tree through the roof. We have been in touch with family to determine that everyone is OK. We've been able to cook some on the grill and a propane burner. We have been able to get out and get some more bottled water and some groceries. 

So many others in the area are suffering much more than we are right now. Homes have washed away or been destroyed by landlides and falling trees. Lives have been lost.  I don't think is possible to overstate how much this area is hurting.

Hello, September

It's here!!  September has finally arrived!  Fair warning - I am breaking out ALL the Autumn-ness.  Yes, I know it's technically still summer until later this month.  But I have been stifling the urge for all things pumpkin for the past couple of weeks. So, now that it's September, I am letting it run wild. 

September is always a quiet month for us.  We don't have any immediate family birthdays this month.  And no major holidays.  It's the quiet before the storm.  A shirt break before the months that are jam packed with our birthdays, anniversary, and the holidays begin.

With that in mind, I plan to use this month to Prepare for the upcoming months.  That's why I have chosen Prepare as my word for September.  It's time to take care of some things before life potential gets crazy during the last three months of the year. 

The only books on my Reading list for September are "Tangled Hearts" by Sara McClaflin and "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" by Benjamin Stevenson.  I am taking part in the virtual book tour for "Tangled Hearts". "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" is our book club selection for September.  After that, I'm going to do a little mood reading and open whatever my little book heart desires.  

My big project for September is getting my Etsy shop ready to reopen next month. I'm switching up my business model just a little. And hoping I can avoid the stress and anxiety it was causing me when I shut things down a year ago

My Goals for September:

• Decorate the house for Autumn
• Prepare Etsy shop for reopening in October 

What are your plans for September?

Sunday Inspiration: September

Family

My One Word for 2023 is Explore. In the spirit of exploration, I made the decision not to stop at one word this year - but to also have a word for each month.

For August that word is: Family

My father was born in a Displaced Persons camp in Austria just after World War II ended. He was given up for adoption at age 2, and  was sent to the US to be adopted at age 5.  He knew his biological mother's name thanks to having his original birth and baptism certificates. 

My husband is very into genealogy and over the years we tried to find any information about her, without any luck.  He even bought me one of the Ancestry. com DNA tests several years ago. 

Flash forward to a few months ago where I am DNA matched with a woman as being first or second cousins on my paternal side. And there's my biological grandmother's name in her family tree.  I think it's fair to say that I was in a state of shock and needed to just sit with that information for a little while. 

Finally, the Man of the House convinced me to contact her.  I explained my story and asked what she could tell me about my grandmother. She quickly responded that was her grandmother and that knew her grandmother had given a child for adoption while she was in the camp in Austria. The child's name was my father's name. I immediately started crying and told the Man "It's her!" I messaged back and forth with this newly found cousin for the rest of the evening.

The next morning I texted my dad and told him that I had information about what happened to his birth mother and asked him if he wanted to know what I had discovered. He asked if he could come right over!

I was able to tell him that she had immigrated to Canada in 1949. Unfortunately, she had passed away in 2008, but he has four younger siblings - three brothers and a sister. All still living in Ontario. His mother had never made a secret of him and had tried to find him over the years through the Red Cross with no success. 

My father was able to start communicating with some of his siblings, and last week we made the trip to Canada to meet all of them!  He and his wife drove, while I flew up and met them there. 

It was a wonderful, amazing, crazy, and emotional few days! Honestly, since the very first moments - this has been like living out the plot of some movie.

It's incredible how much my father and his brothers look alike. They have the same hair and eyes. They even have some of the same mannerisms.  There seemed to be an immediate connection between all of them.

It gave me so much joy to see him discovering this missing piece of his story. To get some answers to questions he has always had. And to start building a relationship with his siblings.  I'm so thankful to have been able to play a part in giving that to him.

I have also had the pleasure of meeting my aunt, my uncles, and cousins. They were all so welcoming and kind. I enjoyed hearing stories about my grandmother. It helped me to feel closer to her and to get to know her from those who knew and loved her.  

And I'm happy to say that the cousin I was matched with to start this whole journey and I message, email, and text each other regularly. I now consider her not just my cousin, but also a friend.

And that's why my word for September is Family.

September 2023

Finally... September! After the long, hot days of August - I am hoping for some cooler days and nights and seeing the leaves start to change colors. But let's be honest - here in North Carolina, September can feel more like a continuation of Summer instead of the first days of Autumn.

I'll be doing a little solo traveling in September. I'm incredibly nervous and excited about this trip. And while I don't want to discuss details about it right now - I look forward to sharing the whole story with you later this month.

Football season begins this month. And that means lots of Sunday afternoons in front of the television, relaxing and rooting on our favorite teams. As much as it pains me to say it - I'm not expecting much from my Carolina Panthers this year. But I will still enjoy watching games. And we're looking at plans to see a game at another stadium later in the season.

This month is slow when it comes to celebrations. One of my nephews and a brother in law each have a birthday. But mostly, for us, it's a quiet month. 

I plan to continue doing some "mood reading" through September. I enjoyed the relaxation of just reading whatever stirs my interest or curiosity. And it gives me time to plan some spooky reads for next month! (Suggestions are welcome)

Speaking of scary - but also exciting - I'll be making some big decisions and changes in regards to my Etsy business over the coming weeks. I don't have any details to share right now. But those plans will be coming together and going into action sooner rather than later. 

My Goals for September:

• Take boxes in craft room to Goodwill
• Go hiking at Biltmore Estate
• Run an inventory reduction sale in Etsy shop
• Select 2 patterns to crochet as Christmas gifts this year
• Start one of those crochet gift projects

What are your plans for September?

Currently: September 2022

August was SUCH a great month!  

Last month got off to a beautiful start when we were told that grandbaby #2 is expected to make an appearance early next year.  Y'all know that I adore being Oma - and now I'll have another grandkid to love on and spoil! 

The Man of the House and I did a little traveling in August. He had a conference for work in Washington, DC. I tagged along and did a little solo sightseeing until his conference let out for the day when we could explore the city together. I adore wandering around museums, so all the different ones available in Washington made me feel like a kid in a candy store. 

We also made a weekend trip to Nashville, Tennessee to catch the Titans playing an NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. We have a goal to watch a professional football game at every stadium. We made it to two in 2019 before having to take a break for a couple of years (thanks Covid). Oh, how much I have missed watching games in person! We explored Nashville some while we were there.  Downtown has very much a "party city" feel to it. But there's also lots of history and interesting things to see.  Who knew that Nashville has a full-size replica of the Parthenon? I sure didn't!

In fact, after all the joy, fun, and excitement of August  -  I'm kind of sorry to see it come to an end. But, I am equally excited to see what September has in store!

Working On: Planning for the last three months of the year.  I've got to get my Etsy shop ready for the holiday season.  We have got a big trip planned for later this year, so we're working on plans and the itinerary for each city we'll be visiting. 

Celebrating: This month is my youngest nephew's birthday. Football season starts.  And I'm very excited that I get to see my baby sister and hang out some this month!

Wanting/Needing: Is it too much to ask to find a cute pair of boots that are waterproof and comfortable for lots of walking? Preferably ones that don't cost a small fortune?  I certainly didn't think it would be so difficult. 

Eating: Recently, I have been eating a lot of oatmeal for breakfast.  I have it with protein powder, hemp seeds (for fiber and more protein), walnuts, berries, and a sprinkle of oatmeal. Delicious and packed with nutrition. 

Loving: That it's September!  Fall is almost here.  Football season is starting.  Soon the leaves will be changing and the air will be cooler.  I love everything about fall.

September Goals:

• Post new lip balm holders to the Etsy shop
• Create Thankful and Sunday post templates for the 4th quarter
• Set goals for the 4th quarter
• Clean out the spice cabinet
• Clean out pantry
  
  

 

Currently... September 2021

 I always get excited when September begins.  Because... autumn!!  Time for apple and pumpkin everything, sweaters, and boots (hopefully, unless Mother Nature decides that summer heat needs to stick around), leaves to start changing color, and football season.

This year, September finds me just... tired. The month of August started off so well - a vacation to Disney, spending time with the family, and I was feeling inspired and creative in my work.  Then things took a turn and it ended with one emotional, stressful situation after another.  

Both of my dogs were due for checkups with the veterinarian the week after we returned from our vacation.  This was the first time Max had to have any vaccines since the allergic reaction that he had in the late winter.  He had to have an antihistamine shot beforehand and then stayed at the office all day for monitoring.  Fortunately, he did well.  

Ziggy's turn came the next day and was uneventful.  But then on Tuesday when he had some loose stool, I took him back to the vet and everything seemed fine.  Until it wasn't.  Friday diarrhea returned and steadily worsened over the weekend.  Sunday afternoon he stopped eating and started vomiting.  After a mostly sleepless night Sunday when he was up at least once an hour either trying to go potty (but nothing coming out because his poor little digestive tract was completely emptied) or throwing up bile - I was a the front door of the vet right after they opened on Monday morning.  All of his tests and exams were normal, so he had an antinausea shot, some IV fluids and was sent home with probiotics, antibiotics, and enough digestive support food to last a few days.  Fortunately, he was clearly feeling better within twenty-four hours and is on the mend.

The most worrying of all came on Friday the twentieth when my mother had a routine check-up with her gynecologist.  After feeling something that was not typical, he did an ultrasound and discovered two very large ovarian tumors - one on each.  The larger of the two cysts is just over 10 cm.  She was given a referral to a gynecological oncologist.  At that appointment, she received blood tests and a CT scan.  The doctor explained that these would help her get a clearer idea of what she was working with, but that we would not know for sure if the tests were benign or not until the surgery when pathology tests could be done on the tumors. We were told that whether they were malignant or not, they needed to come out soon due to their size.  Her surgery was scheduled for September 9th.  

I think once she gets through her surgery and we have some more definitive answers on whether she will need any follow-up treatment or not, things will improve.  The waiting and wondering is the hardest part.

Unfortunately due to current restrictions because of increasing Covid-19 cases in our state, only one person is allowed to be at the doctor's office or hospital with the patient.  I went to her first appointment and thought I would be going to the pre-op appointments and to the hospital on the day of surgery.  It makes sense because I am the only of her daughters that live right here in town and I have no children still at home to worry about.  I found myself thankful that the grandkid had just gone back to school and I wouldn't be babysitting several days a week, which meant I had much more time on my hands to be available for my mother.  

Of course, nothing can happen without some sort of family drama.  One of my sisters decided she was the one who should go with Mother the day of surgery and would be at the hospital afterward. And I found myself unceremoniously dismissed.  This has left me not only stressed out that I can't be with my mother on the day of her surgery and not there to hear directly from the doctor what they find during the procedure - but also feeling rejected, unneeded, and unappreciated. 

Over the past several days I  have done a lot of crying and I am not sleeping well.  I have trouble falling asleep and I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about everything from whether my mother is going to be ok to my relationships with my siblings.  This leaves me sad and foggy during the day with difficulty focusing. 

I have also spent an extraordinary amount of time in prayer. I have begged for healing for my mother.  That all of her pathology reports come back benign and that this surgery will be all that is required.  I have asked for skill, knowledge, and wisdom from all of the medical professionals that are treating her  I have cried to God to ease my fear, worry, and anxiety.  To give me peace in the face of fear, worry, and anxiety.  To help me move past the feelings of anger and frustration and not hold onto grudges. And to help me stay focused on what is important.

So, that's pretty much where my life is currently.  This situation has consumed most of what I am working on, thinking about, and wanting/needing.  I hope you'll excuse me if I just don't feel up to the rest of the usual "currently" categories this month.  

September Goals:

• Decorate for autumn
• Plan for The Man of the House's 50th birthday in October
• Walk at least 2 days per week
• Create at least 3 more gift sets for the Etsy shop
• Complete skincare routine every morning and evening

How are all of you doing as we head into September?

 

Currently... September 2020

 Yes!!  September has arrived!  And fall is peeking around the corner.  I don't know about y'all, but I am so over this summer and ready to move on into the autumn of this year.  In some ways this year is feeling as if it's flying by - as most years seem to do for me recently.  But in so many other ways it has been the longest year in the history of ever! 

Of course, fall is my favorite time of year - so I always anticipate and welcome it under even the very best of circumstances.   

Working On:  We've been working on some yard work. Landscaping an area in the front of the house.  We put in a walkway from the front porch over to the stairs that lead to the driveway at the side of the house.  Clearing out some over grown shrubs and vines on the side near the chimney.  The clearing is almost done, and we are to a point with the landscaping where we're ready to spread a bunch of mulch and start some planting and replanting.   

Celebrating:  September brings Labor Day.  Which usually means the Apple Festival here in town.  But... Covid-19. So...  It's also my youngest nephew's birthday.  And my dad is getting married!  It's just going to be a small civil ceremony, because - you know... Covid-19. 

Reading: I have a pretty big to-read stack for this month.  Because for some reason, no matter how long the wait list is - all my holds seem to become available at the same time.  September's list includes: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian, The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware, and Very, Very, Very Dreadful by Albert Marrin

Loving:  My hairs.  My curls have suddenly found a whole new spring in thier coils and it's bonkers!  I don't think I've ever had this much actual curl to my wavy/curly hair before.  I don't know if it's the humidity we've had this August, the products I'm using, this cut, or WHAT.  But I'm not hating it! There's also a lot of halo frizz happening, but nothing I can't live with on most days.  

Wanting/Needing:  A good moisturizer that I don't have to pay an arm and a leg for.  I'm getting super serious about my skin care routine.  Something I wish I had done in my 20s.  Or at least by my 30s.  But alas, I was a slacker who often slept in her makeup and now I'm paying the price and trying to play catchup a little.

 I was using the Olay Regenerist Whip fragrance free, and ,I liked that.  It felt nice and moisturizing on my skin, but light.  Then when I needed more, I couldn't in find the whip, so I got the regular formula - but it feels heavy on my skin and leaves me feeling a little greasy.  Which I don't like.  So, I'm on the prowl for a new one.  In my case, this involves reading about 2 bagillion articles with titles such as "The Best Anti-Aging Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin" and then searching and reading reviews on every single one of them. 

Dreaming About: Fall days.  Cooler weather.  Autumn leaves.  Wearing my boots again.  And Pumpkin spice everything.  

September Goals:

• Be intentional about following skincare routine 
• One week sugar detox (that I didn't do last mo socinth)
• Get back into nail care routine
• Create blog schedule for October
• Create graphics for October Thankful posts
• Create and schedule Sunday posts for October
• Increase Etsy sales
• Add at least 5 new listings to Etsy shop
• Schedule October social media posts for shop

What is your September going to look like this year?

Currently... September 2019

Finally, it's here!  September.  The month when Autumn begins.  My favorite season of them all.  I love everything about Autumn.  Cooler temperatures.  Leaves changing colors and beginning to fall.  All things pumpkin spice.  Soups, stews, and chilis in the crockpot.  The beginning of football season.  Bring.  It.  All.  On.

Reading:  As the month starts, I am reading  Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and The Book Of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  This isn't unusual for me.  I often will read more than one book at a time, especially if one is a novel and the other is nonfiction.  Later this month I plan to read another book for my Before 50 list, perhaps Great Expectations. 

Celebrating:  This month is our daughter's bridal shower!

Working On:  Planning the above mentioned bridal shower and helping finalize wedding details. 

Enjoying:  How I'm feeling since I started losing weight.  More on that in a minute...

Wanting:  To find an exercise that I can actually enjoy and look forward to doing.  So far, I'm not sure that exists.

Needing:  To find a dress for our daughter's wedding next month.  Come to think of it - I should probably do that pretty soon!

Making:  If last month was all about washcloths and exfoliating bath puffs, this month it's washcloths and cotton facial rounds - both exfoliating and original.

Feeling:  Pretty good about myself! During August, I reached 20+ pounds of weight lost and just before that I reached the threshold where I lost 10% of my starting body weight.  I'm starting to see some differences in how my clothes are fitting and how my body feels. 

Anticipating:  The Man of the House and I have our tickets and travel plans set to attend 2 NFL games this fall.  One in Charlotte, because... The Panthers!!  The second is in Cleveland, because he was born in Ohio and is a life-long fan of the Browns. I can't wait!

That's my life in a nutshell as we head into September.   What are you up to this month?

Currently... September 2018

Happy Labor Day everyone!  Welcome to September!  September... you know what that means?  The rest of the year is going to fly by.  If we so much as blink it's going to be Christmas and we'll all be talking about how quickly this year went.  It also means the official beginning of the great "how bad will this winter be" debate, complete with analysis of acorns, squirrel tails and wooly worms.  Or maybe that's just the part of the country where I live.  

In any case, it is September.  So let's talk about what we're up to right now.

Reading:  I finished Life After Life by Kate Atkinson just as August ended.  It was an interesting read even if you don't believe in reincarnation. Now I'm on to Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleve.  I was on the wait list for-ev-er for this book, so I really hope it's worth the wait.

Enjoying:  Some cooler days and nights.  We're still experiencing the hot, humid days of summer.  However, we are thankfully getting very brief periods of respite from the heat in the form of some upper 70 degrees days and nights where temperatures fall into the 60s - and even a few upper 50s.  Perfect sleeping weather.

Working On:   I had several bags of Bob's Red Mill oats which were close to their "Best By" date.  Not wanting to toss it all out meant it was time to make energy bites!  I've made several batches so far, including:  oatmeal chocolate chip, Mexican coffee (which, in my humble opinion, could have used a little less cinnamon and a little more coffee), and oatmeal raisin.  

Anticipating:  The Man of the House has to go to Charleston for work this month.  When he asked if I wanted to tag along - I couldn't say no!  Because... Charleston! It's one of my favorite places.

I'm also looking forward to the start of the NFL regular season this week.  And of course, the beginning of Autumn this month.

Wanting:  The temperatures to cool off enough that I can start wearing sweaters and boots again!

Needing:  More ideas for Christmas/holiday items to make for my Etsy shop. I've been working on some hats, but I want to start working on some decorations to add to the listings this month.

Feeling:  Energized.  There's something about this time of year that always refreshes me.

That's me in a nutshell right now.  What are you up to for September?

Sunday Inspiration: Hello September

Currently... September 2017

September has arrived.  It's almost Fall, y'all!!

Reading:  I did quite a bit of reading in August .  And read some really good books!  After completing My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry and A Man Called Ove , Fredrik Backman has joined my list of favorite authors. I can't wait to read more of his work!  

I just finished Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - a fictionalized story based on the shocking real life Tennessee Children's Home Society (an organization headed by Georgia Tann which often lied or otherwise tricked birth parents into surrendering their children for adoption.  Even going so far as to kidnap children, or steal newborns while the mother was still under labor anesthesia, later telling them that their babies had died in childbirth.  She then charged adoptive parents exorbitant fees.  It was a terrible story, and a very good book.  Any novel which leaves me wanting to know more about the real life events on which was based is a good book in my opinion! 

Now I'm on to Then We Came to the End  by Joshua Ferris and The Boleyn King by Laura Andersen.  

My non-fiction this month is She's Still There by Chrystal Evans Hurst.  I will also be participating in the Proverbs 31 Ministries on-line Bible study based on this book.  

Eating:  Ugh...  maybe I should just stop including this section. It's honestly getting embarrassing to have to admit month after month how terrible I have been eating.  Of course, the easy remedy would be to just start eating better.  But...  

Working On:  I'll give you one guess.  Did you say "washcloths"?  dingdingdingding  You got it!  It seems as if the stream of washcloth orders is never ending.  I also have a newborn football cocoon set to  work on.  

Enjoying:  The feeling I got from doing some good by giving blood yesterday.

Anticipating:  The best thing I am anticipating is that my handsome husband gets home from New York today!  It's only been a few days, but I've missed him bunches.

Feeling:  A little overwhelmed by the "free" time I seem to have during the day now that the grand kid is in kindergarten and I'm not watching him while his mom is at work.  Right now, I have had enough work to keep me busy and occupied.  If things start to slow down, I'm considering finding a knit and crochet group or something to join.

Currently... September

I'm back, y'all!  Tokyo was Amazing, and I can't wait to share it with you.  But, first things first...

Reading:  Just completed Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok last night and began The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht.

Eating:  Not much since I got back from Japan.  Haven't had much appetite for the past 24 hours.  Although, I am still kinda craving all the rich flavors I enjoyed while there.

Making:  Have a few standing orders for the shop, so I will be busy with bunny ear hats, football cocoons, and more facial rounds for a while.

Enjoying:  Being back home with my family.

Anticipating:  September has arrived!  Bringing with it all the promise of Autumn soon to come.  Cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, lots of pumpkin everything, and football season!  Yah!

Feeling:  Quite jet-lagged.  Tired, disoriented, and exhausted.