8 Days a Week

I've just had the wind knocked out of me this week.

The grief my friend is going through, the stress and frustration two other friends are dealing with, my on-campus interview on Monday. And, while I do appreciate the experience an on-campus interview will give me (I recognize this is invaluable), it essentially means I have to take huge chunks of time out of my own teaching and grading and planning to interview for a job I've been doing--and doing quite well--for the past two years.

All this stress has gathered in my left eyelid, which has been pulsing for the past two days. The gym has been the only place I can go this week and just have an hour to myself. All that changed today, when my idiot neighbor boy walked in and got on the treadmill next to me.

Really?

Just back off, dude. You are a thorn already--you park your big, dumb, stupid, SUV an inch away from my driveway and never move your car when the snowplow comes. Just give me an hour at the gym without having to look at your big, dumb, stupid, face.

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So, there's this biorefinery company in Sioux Falls called Poet. And they are always hiring. And I see their ad, which always starts with "Poet!" And I think, I'm a poet! I should apply! Then I realize they make ethanol (or something).

Or, Poet is always in the newspaper with headline like, "Poet, city make 13 billion dollar deal," and I usually think, Am I the poet the city had made a deal with? Am I gettin' bank, ya'll?

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The text messaging conversation I had with my 11 yr. old cousin last night:
(He is in my phone as "Rovert" which is a name I have called him for years. It's his real name backwards.)

Me: Hey nerdo

Rovert: Hey geeko

Me: Do your homework. Stay in school.

Rovert: NO! :)

Me: What are u guys doing?

Rovert: Notin. How about U

Me: Making pizza for dinner. U wanna come over?

Rovert: Heck ya, dad wants 2 know if u are cookin for ur boyfriend

Me: Ok, u can come, but leave your nerd family at home. Tell ur dad I am cooking for my 7 boyfriends.

Rovert: lol ya right

Me: Ok, tell everyone hi 4 me.

Rovert: i will

Me: C U later, donnie dorko!

Rovert: Its darco! c u, fred

I haven't remembered yet why I am Fred.