Puppy Love

We're accused of being mushy and too lovey-dovey in public, but I say who cares! I love my husband!

Over the past few weeks, Scott and I started reading to each other every night before we fall asleep, which is such an awesome little tradition that I hope we keep alive. Our first book is Dodie Smith's 101 Dalmations. Yeah, it's a kids book. Yeah, it's like a fifth grade reading level. But, honestly, who wants to read something difficult or philosophical or critical right before bed? We get enough of that during the day. Our nights deserve to be a little less complicated and a little more fun. So, we're going to be reading children's books to each other--books that either one or neither of us have read that should be in our repertoire as future (VERY future) parents. It's nice to fall asleep listening to each other's voices. Relaxing. Reassuring. Romantic.

The next book that I hope we can read is either Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, or perhaps The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I suppose Scott must have a vote...

Finals Week

It's finals week for my students, and I wish them all luck. I actually loved finals week back when I was in undergrad. First of all, you don't have to attend any of your usual classes, so you have so much more time to study. Second of all, you know that it's almost over...if you just wait one more week...

Claremont still has a few more weeks of school left, so I'm working hard to get in gear and get my work done. I've been reading a lot, grading a lot, thinking a lot, etc. Mostly, I am excited for the summer to begin so that I can start reading some new books!

I already know that Victorian novels and Postmodern Novels are at the top of my list, since I'll be taking those courses in the fall. But, I have some other books on my nightstand that have been waiting patiently and collecting dust. So, I'll be very relieved when this is all over. By "this" I mean papers. Even after the semester is over, I'll still have one more from last fall to complete, but at least I'll be one step closer to completing coursework like the responsible and studious girl that I am.

In other news, it looks like I'll have more classes with my friends in the fall! I am happy about that because this semester I didn't have a single class with Sharone, only one with Jan, only one with Stefani, and that's not enough for me! I think I fare much better when I am surrounded by people I care about. How's that for motivation? Apparently the good grade is not enough...

Whelmed

I'm not going to claim overwhelmedness because I know with undying certainty that my life will get even more hectic in the next three weeks than it is right now...so right now I'm just extremely whelmed, with a helping of tight jeans on the side.

I just got out of a successful interview for a student worker library position. It's not your usual sit-at-the-desk-checking-out-books-and-checking-facebook library job. It's a job in the digital library. I don't know a ton about it, but I am hoping that this will turn out to be a good summer opportunity for me to learn a lot and make some much-needed money. But...right now there is SO much else looming over my head; I can't really think about summer just now.

Here's my to-do list for today:
1. grade more Freshman Writing portfolios
2. grade Intro to Lit Dracula essays
3. reply to student emails
4. bear hug my husband
5. nail up those picture frames that are sitting on the couch right now
6. wash dishes that are piled in the sink
7. read a few more chapters of Turn of the Screw
8. get a good outline going for my Sunset Boulevard essay
9. fold clean clothes and sort dirty ones
10. read another chapter in Billy Wilder's biography
(I could go on and on, but these are just a few priorities...)

Here's my list of things that made me happy today:
1. Yummy Trader Joe's coffee
2. discovering that my new nail polish dries quickly with no stickiness
3. Brief back rub from Scott
4. grapefruit-scented body splash from Bath and Body Works
5. my very high tan high heels
6. finding easy parking at CGU (you know, since I was wearing my very high tan high heels...)

Signing off now. I miss my baby nephew...they say he's talking a little now!

KB