Saturday Morning

I'm up kinda early this morning.

My mouth hurts, but not where I would expect it to. Where the oral surgeon made his cuts--no pain; my bottom gums closer to the front of my mouth--lots of pain. I wonder why.

I took my 600 mgs of Advil (ok, and 600 mgs is a lot of Advil. I feel like I may succumb to the lamest OD ever) and have my ice pack on.

My ice pack has become my crutch. I need it; I crave it. I love it.

Last night right before I fell asleep, I heard sirens. I whispered in the dark to B., "sirens...?" and she whispered back, "yes, Vermillion is just getting ready for the students in a few weeks." A few weeks, B.? Try a few days. And then she was up, tossing and turning, because even though we both know exactly when the semester starts, we both didn't think it was quite so soon. I am pretty sure I wrote this last year at this time, but here we go again: it's almost September. But I feel like summer is just getting started, man. We're just getting started.

I think I am ready for the new year, though. It's already shaping up well. I will lead a workshop on creative nonfiction at the Sorcerer's Apprentice Camp in September, will read poetry at the Western Lit conference in Spearfish in early October and fiction at the Milton Conference in late October, and will have my work debuted at the Sioux Falls Pavilion in December as part of P3: Poets, Painters, and the Pavilion. Oh yeah, I'll also teach a bajillion students.

I'm excited to get back into teaching. I've gotten e-mails from some returning superstars; I'm always glad to have those students back in class. And, if nothing else, I'll be glad to get back into the classroom so I have something real to get frustrated about, besides the parking antics of my neighbors and the way clover has claimed my lawn. When I meet J. for lunch, I'll actually have to schedule a time, not just send a text that reads, "lunch this week? all week? anytime, anyplace!" When I meet you all for happy hour, I'll actually deserve a happy hour.

OK, Fall '09, I'm ready for you.

Or at least I will be, after my shopping trip to SUX with Bridge, Weez, and Jacy today. I need some tan trouser cut pants. And a planner. And some Clearasil. Then, Fall '09, I'll be totally ready for you.

Oh. I need a haircut and an eyebrow wax, too. And then, Fall '09, watch out.