definitely feeling that witchy feeling...

The tulip and crocus bulbs I planted over a year ago are sprouting. I didn't know that they would do that two years in a row! It was a nice surprise to see little purple flowers budding in front of my place. I can't wait for the roses to bloom again.

I felt much better today than I've felt in over a week. I am still coughing a little, but I am able to sleep.

I finished my first draft of my Harry Potter paper. I decided to call it 'Harry Potter and the Impact of J.K. Rowling's Political Consternation. Yeah, I'm a nerd.

The 9-page handout for my presentation for my literary criticism class is done, done, done! And it looks sharp! Andrew and I will be discussing Marxist criticism, New Historicism, and Cultural Studies (and how they serve the same literary piece in different ways).

I have some of my revisions done on my literary criticism paper that I need to discuss with my professor on Wednesday night before I turn it in.

I am so glad it is warming up. I can't wait to ride my bike outdoors. I can't wait to go for walks in Hines. I can't wait to make my camping and other vacation plans for summer.

I'm ready, world!

I was off to a slow start today just because I am feeling a bit under the weather, but I am finally feeling like I can accomplish anything. I should work on my paper revisions, but I'd rather clean the basement.

I played the ukulele for about three hours today. It was just lovely. I plan to keep playing well into the night, even though my throat is scratchy and I can't sing.

Returning to normal

Overall, today was a decent day. I was tired at work - not so much from my three-hour weep fest last night (which coincidentally hits every third night Jeremy is away) but more from my own boredom with so many of my students who refuse to study. I have resorted to daily quizzes to get them back in the habit. I hate being that teacher, but most of them have checked out mentally for the year. I do want my students to learn, and my boss is constantly telling us that when a child is not earning an A or a B, it is our fault rather than acknowledging the reality of the child not doing what they are expected to do. Any child who does not succeed in any course is simply told to "do better" while we teachers are stuck in meeting after meeting about what we must have done wrong. I dislike the administration versus the teaching staff scenario. It is akin to parent versus teacher problems that end up just pissing off everyone involved - and no one is putting the responsibility on the student.

Anyway, back to my decent day. No students showed up for test retakes or tutoring today, so I was able to leave fairly quickly. I read a little James Joyce for class (I LOVE DUBLINERS!) and then vegged out for about an hour.

I made dinner for Jeremy (low-carb mini margarita pizzas - homemade, homemade tomato-basil soup, and homemade garlic bread using the bread I baked yesterday). Yes, I was little Susie Homemaker today. It felt good to step back from some of the larger issues in my life and relax. We had planned to go to the gym, but I found more homework to complete. I've had a difficult time fighting this cold of mine, so maybe it is for the best. I wouldn't want to pass this along.

We watched some of the bonus features on The Office DVDs.

I did not drink today, and I am okay with that.

...

I almost hit a deer on my way home from class tonight. I imagined careening into the ditch while screaming. I usually find myself so wrapped up in just-as-vivid daydreams while I drive, so this really shouldn't have stuck with me the way it did. It made me assess some aspects of my life. I realized that I am simply keeping pace with my life.

I haven't been writing much poetry or fiction lately. I have been writing blog entries and such, but there doesn't seem to be much more.

I haven't been embracing my studies like I should. I have been waiting until the last minute to do everything. Up until now, that's been fine. Now, I have a lot of large assignments that I don't really care to complete.

I am bothered by walking across Eastern's campus at night. I've NEVER been one to be afraid, so I keep trying to reason with myself. I suppose this reaction is to the numerous muggings, rapes, and murders on that campus in recent years.

I am half-assing the teaching gig. We are in the middle of a snow-day-filled quarter. This week is broken up by the MME. I just don't care all that much lately. My students refuse to study. They refuse to complete assignments (and not because they don't have the necessary materials to do so - they tell me that they are just "too busy." Then drop German, ass holes!).

The only person I hang out with regularly is Jeremy.

I need a life. Seriously.

Birthday gifts

Jeremy celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday. I brought home an ice cream cake from Carvel, which pleased Jeremy (and Mike A., who I often find in our living room upon my return home from work). I opted to not attend rehearsal, and Jeremy and I drove to his parents' house for dinner. I bought Jeremy The Office: Seasons 1 - 3, and I've been watching them ever since. It almost like I bought them for myself. It's Jeremy's favorite show. I love that we both love the show.

My only real issue with the show is that I identify with characters on the show. I know that that is one reason that people watch TV, but I like being able to escape everything that portrays anything like my own life. If I am in front of the TV, there is probably something I don't want to consider, and seeing it on screen just makes my own worries that much more troublesome (and obvious).