I'm dismantling my penguin army and distributing my squishy friends to those in need. When my brother left his last job he grabbed a bunch of freebee stress squeezers shaped like penguins for me. Two of them are finding new homes with graduate students who will be my lunch companions for the day and in much need of destressing.

As a student whenever I felt overwhelmed I would put my attention to something other than school work. Suddenly I would have the urge to clean out my dorm room or learn how to make soap. Counteractive when working with deadlines, but effective seeing that I actually made it through.

Yesterday I woke up to find a red rose and a stuffed bear sitting on my makeshift desk with a note saying "Just because I love you." Completely unexpected and will surely be (minus Vegas) the highlight of my week. I won't be posting for a while, so while I'm away go busy yourselves with sharing some love "just because." A suggestion to get you started: send someone who is far away a funny card or a small care package or a sweet little note reminding them they are loved.