The Perennials are Coming Back

So, it turned out I did have "the chiggers."

I think.

I thought only hillbillies got chiggers; I think this because my Okie cousins talked about chiggers all the time when we were little. Anywho, B and I were raking a while ago, and I was itchy for awhile, and then I painted my stomach with clear nail polish, and now I am all better.

This makes sense, right?

I am taking steps to live a more peaceful, stress-free life. I feel good about this. I have things to look forward to: snow, two more weeks in the classroom, my brother's return in January, my nephew's 2nd birthday, the P3 opening, celebrating 5 years with B. I feel better and stronger.

The Flu is for The Weak

All of a sudden, I got the chills. I like when people put "the" in front of medical conditions:

I got the diabetes!
I got the chiggers!

Back to the chills. I cannot get sick. Just can't do it. We've only 4 weeks left in the semester and I need every one of those weeks. So, I will just continue on like I am not getting sick. I will pretend my office is cold and I simply need my grandma sweater. I will soldier on. Onward Christian Soldiers! This reads like I am hallucinating, I realize, but trust me, Dear Hearts, I am not.

My sleep has been disrupted by work and social life things, and I am stressed out about nearly everything in my life, but here are some bonuses:

!BONUSES!

1. I got to snuggle that Wagner baby.

2. I am rediscovering Roxette and man oh man, do I love them, and my love for them is more easily tapped into because

3. I opened my e-mail and saw 20 bucks in iTunes love from my darling Bridge. What a lovely, lovely woman.

4. My yard is completely winterized, thanks to 4 Caliber-loads of yardstuffs taken to the recycling center.

5. Thanksgiving is next week. I will have 5 days away from the classroom and not too much grading.

6. I am very very thankful for that.

7. My wisdom teeth are no longer an issue, physically or financially.

8. Individually-wrapped prunes are on sale.

9. My car is, once again, insured for the next 6 months.

After class tonight, I am going home to a hot meal and a clean house and a pretty girl. We'll do our usual of stretching out on the couch and watching CSI: Miami.

Life is good today. Oh, life is good today.

I Believe in Miracles

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

-ee cummings

Two friends I met down here in grad school a bajillion years ago (ok, like 6 years ago), just brought home the newest member of their family. After years of wanting to expand their family, they have. Adoption. What a beautiful, beautiful gift. The kid better get used to Auntie Lu.

Oh, November, why do you make us all cranky? It's been a gorgeous month so far: the temps, the sun (!), the leaves. You are not so kind in the classroom, though. You are not close enough to the adrenaline the end of the semester brings, and you are way too far away from the excitement the start of the semester has. You put me and my 78,000 students in a slump. And I like nice posture. I like to sit up straight. (I can't even see straight. Hardee har har ...)

My office is totally Deadwood'ed out. It's pretty sweet.

This weekend? No essays to grade, exams are all handed back, lesson plans are readied. Hallelujah. I'm making a trip to Wagner tomorrow, then a ladies' day down to Sioux City (the ladies being me, B, J to the C, and the Weez). And Sunday. Thank God for Sundays. Literally.

I feel like being super reckless with my credit card and the internet today ...

Lord, give me strength ...