Hall last week, Hall yesterday, Hall today. No Hall tomorrow.

Matt's big plot, that got underway back in March, I think, is finally wrapping up. And none too soon. I think a lot of people are getting frustrated with it, or just plain tired of it. Not that it wasn't a fantastic plot, but we're ready for things to go back to normal for a while.

Not that there won't still be plenty left to do, but at least it will be stuff that doesn't require direction from the HMs. Aftermath and cleanup and recovery.

I think most of my characters are going to be hanging around just long enough to regain a little balance, and then they'll be taking their loved ones (who happen to be made up of some of K.T.'s characters) and going on some very long vacations. Or something.

One of the cool things about pregnancy is that it gives even the most inept conversationalist an opener. It seems like everyone in the office suddenly needs to ask how I'm doing, or if we've got our nursery finished, or if we know the gender.

I'm not the wit Matt is with snappy answers, so I just say I'm fine (which may or may not be true, but I'm pretty sure that not very many people really care how I am, actually); and we're not quite done, but we're getting pretty close; and yes, it's a girl.

I found a trap though, recently, and managed to dodge it. A couple of people have asked, "So, are you ready?"

Inevitably, these are people with kids of their own. My dodge: "Is anyone ever really ready?"

I'm pretty proud of that answer. It conveys a certain amount of confidence without coming across as cocky.

The ups and downs are starting to take their toll, though.

Yesterday I was feeling really good. I was feeling happy. I had energy. I had a reasonable amount of flexibility. The aches and pains were confined to background noise.

Today, not so much. It's not a bad day - though I've had those, too - but I'm too sleepy to feel happy or unhappy. I'm lethargic. (I pulled into my parking space at work and sat in the car for at least three minutes before mustering the energy to get out.) My hands are swollen, and I'm already feeling mildly overheated. The aches and pains aren't especially bad, but I can't ignore them. I just want to go home and take naps and lounge about on the couch all day.

At the end of this month, I'll be starting my maternity leave. A little less than five weeks, and I'll be free to just lounge around the house all day until the baby comes. You know, to gather my strength for the birth. At least, that's the theory.

At least it should be a fairly quiet month, work-wise. My boss is going to be on vacation for most of the month. There's not a lot of stuff going out that I'll have to check. I can take things slowly.

Slow is good.

--Liz