A fun weekend and another busy week. 

Here's what I accomplished this weekend:

• two loads of laundry
• some general cleaning up around the house (but not too much)
• kick-ass pesto hummus!  basil+garbanzo+extra garlic=WIN!
• went out to PIC's gorgeous new house, met her friends from undergrad, and had a great time hanging out; anybody with my sense of humor for Apples to Apples (a fun game) is a kindred spirit
• put together two birds and parts of other birds, a fox, a hippo, and a gorilla (Mama and I like puzzles)

Tonight:

• work until 3
• get food/go to the library and work on my unit plans
• go to a guest lecture on Faith and Politics at 8pm
• wash hair
• when hubby gets home with soup ingredients, start the beans (everything else will start in the morning)

This Week:

• free lunch Tuesday
• class Tuesday night, huge homework due
• class Wednesday
• NO CLASS THURSDAY! - Fall Break
• pick up new Honda Fit Thursday or Friday
• seafood festival this weekend!

It's a go!

I started my coursework toward an MA in English a little over a year ago.  If my thesis goes well (not sure what it's on yet, so there!), I should graduate in May.  Since the very first class, I've befriended a girl named Elizabeth.  She's a couple of years younger than me, but she has teaching experience, smarts, confidence, and a firm grasp on her plans and goals and how to achieve them.  She's been to conferences as an audience member and as a presenter.  She will go far. 

Last week Elizabeth and I submitted a joint conference proposal to an educational organization in Ohio.  She intends to research and write about the new "Writing About Writing" approach to first-year composition as a way to engage academically gifted students.  I'm looking at the opposite end of the spectrum at basic writing students and their needs.  We'll each give a spiel on our pedagogical approach and the research that supports it, but the cool part, I think, is the analysis afterward in which we hope to describe the differences and especially the similarities in our populations' abilities and needs. 

My Partner-in-Crime (PIC) and I waited anxiously all week to see if our proposal was accepted.  This morning we received news that it was!  Either at the end of this month or sometime in the spring (they're having scheduling issues), I'll be presenting my first paper!  I couldn't do it without PIC's determination and encouragement.  I'll keep you posted.

In other news, I got another little boost this morning when I was a substitute for my boss's 9:00 and 10:30 sections.  I took care of some initial business, made announcements, and then introduced our guest speaker.  I've heard him speak six times now (three years in a row), and though he sells life insurance, he's an extremely affable, honest guy whom I greatly admire.  I was pretty proud of myself, too.  I was pleasant and quick and offered him coffee and all that nice stuff.  He bolstered my mood a bit with his outlook on life. 

But I was already in a good mood because when I went to the Dean's Office this morning to borrow a skeleton key, one of my coworkers told me she can tell I've been losing weight.  This is one of those times where I haven't been trying to at all.  Personal stress has suppressed my appetite, and I guess it's finally paying off.  Today I had a complete breakfast, some tea, a decent lunch with a giant cookie, and more water.  Tonight we're going to cook at home together and I'm going to try my hand at some pesto hummus.  So I'm eating more, but I'm also taking the time to do squats and stretches in my office when there's not much going on.  It's a beautiful thing.  Also, this weather almost makes me want to take up golf.  My dad loves the game and is often looking for others to play with.  He's traveling to Columbus tomorrow to play with a brother-in-law, which should be exciting.  Golf can be fun, but I also know it's expensive and aggravating.  And, as someone (maybe Franklin?) wisely said, it ruins a good walk.