The Thing About Introverts

In my piddly little anecdotal experience, I have nailed the most common misunderstanding about introverts.

Extroverts simply assume that introverts are shy, or don't like people. (I'm not saying this is revolutionary, here. I'm just sayin' this has been brought to the forefront of my mind these days.)

Neither of those descriptions apply to me. I like some people and I like sometimes being around them. Like, for real. Genuinely. They usually don't scare me or intimidate me. They generally don't keep me from talking or asking questions. Lord knows I'm not shy. But I am definitely, and without question, an introvert.

Which is the hardest part about this semester. It's not the busy-ness and it's not the crazy hours. It's not driving incessantly to tutoring seshes and it's not doing hours of reading and writing.

It's interacting with others in a very draining way. Even though good teaching (as they say, in composition at least) makes the student do all the work, I, as the teacher, am The Enthusiast. I role model the good energy. I open myself up to all the questions and comments. I do my best in front of a total of 50 students, and then I have to put forth my best in two graduate seminar classes.

And then I go to 1-4 tutoring sessions.

So, at the end of that, I'm satisfied and fulfilled. And empty and tired. And 150% depleted of all energy. I go home and - quite literally - go to bed. No washing face. No brushing teeth. No checking email. (Don't worry about my personal hygiene. In general, I try to keep up with it.)

I think a train could blow through the bedroom and I wouldn't wake up. I think Lucy could tap dance on my face and I would never know it. The energy it takes to be around people, interacting with them, for hours at a time, takes everything I have. Lucky G gets the leftovers. Which is to say he gets to watch me snore.

And speaking of introverts, I thought I might show you some action shots of Loo Loo Bell. Mostly she just lays around, but if there's a cardboard box on the floor, watch out! She can't resist it.

My precioussssssssssss.

Nom nom nom nom.

Just surfin' on this plastic wrap...

...ooh! What's this? Another box?

...mmmm. Just as tasty as the other ones.

Ok, peeps. Tomorrow's another one of those days.

But! The stock show is this weekend! I can't wait! Get ready for some rootin' tootin' blog posts, lassies!