Two good updates...

8 April 2026: Still pretty crazy and stressful here but two good updates are helping a lot.

First, a family member who had been in the hospital is now home and resting. 

Second, I had a good conversation with a friend who had done something hurtful. We talked it out and while things aren't perfect, it feels good to just choose grace and friendship rather than bad feelings. 

First mow...

7 April 2026: Once again feeling overwhelmed by...everything. Even good news (being invited to the next stage of a grant competition) makes me want to cry a bit, wondering when I'll get that done.

I snuck home this afternoon after conferences with my ENGL 102 students so that I could take care of the first mow of the season. A sure-fire sign of April and its frantic rush is just this situation: "if I don't mow it during this narrow window of free time, everything will be terrible..." 

On my way to the car, a colleague stopped me to say hello. "One thing I can tell you," he said, "when you are done, you'll see it." He's so right. It helps to make little bits of progress, however fleeting.

Stopped and snapped a couple of pictures as I worked, particularly of my beloved redbud tree, doing its thing and leaving me in awe all over again. (Consciously kept the mower in the shot! Ha!)

I texted Hannah later and said, "I stood and looked at the freshly-cut lawn with all the satisfaction of a suburban dad, as per usual." 

Spent the rest of the day working from home and making pretty good progress: did some course prep, finished gradig a stack of essays, sent about 100 emails. Hanging in there.  

Psalm 147:3-4

6 April 2026: 

Praying for healing for a loved one tonight...

"He heals the brokenhearted 

    and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name."

Easter 2026

 5 April 2026: 

I love my little egg son. 

Had a wonderful Easter with Erin, Eric, Krista, and Isla. So blessed to have them so close.

Softball season...

4 April 2026: 

[Catch-up post--forgot to post last night for some reason!]

Got to see the Shepherd softball team play yesterday--in truly summer-like temperatures. Maddy Ruffner (who I had in ENGL 204 last spring) dominated the game, striking out 19 runners, an all-time record for Shepherd. Maddy was the previous record holder...with 18. Exceptional talent!

The final turn...

3 April 2026: Miles to go before I sleep and all that, but we are in the final turn of the semester! (Mixing a Frost allusion with a NASCAR reference is very me...)

Three more weeks of classes and then a week of exams. About a month to go. We can do this. 

Ten days later...

2 April 2026: Same spot from this post and already fading, but such is the nature of spring beauty!

Brandi and Amy

1 April 2026: Brandi on Amy Poehler's podcast? Manufactured in a lab for me! What a way to start the day!

Deep breaths...

31 March 2026: Was having such a lovely and productive day and then I get (accidentally!) forwarded an email meant for someone else, low-key attacking a program I work with and am so proud of. And the lead attacker? Someone I thought was a friend. It's like a plot out of a (very boring) soap opera.

I am so mad. My jaw is aching. Need to take some deep breaths, talk myself down, sit on the absolute barn-burner of an email I have drafted to that person, and instead focus on two good things still to come today: a book launch for a former student and then weekly trivia.

Deep breaths...

Lil ball of paper...

30 March 2026: When I walked down the driveway to bring the recycling bin back to the garage, I saw a scrap of a piece of paper was left behind. I crumpled it up to throw it out, but the very gesture of crumpling up paper makes me think of Jo, whose favorite kind of toy remains balls of paper. 

I rolled it around in my hand, thinking, "She might really like this one..." Something about the littler size...

I put it in my pocket and headed to work, deciding to think about it. Not every piece of scrap paper makes the cut, after all. 

All day long when I reached into my pocket, I would feel it and think about Jo waiting at home.

Got home around 6:00, called her over, showed it to her, and watched her focus on it. (Shades of the way Wesley used to lock in on a toy when I held it up.)

I tossed it. She chirped and jumped off to chase it.

All evening long, she's been batting it around and bringing it to me. 

Just a minute ago, I picked it up and she ran to her favorite spot for me to throw them. (LOL at the Bob's Burgers' caption.)

She's just so silly, weird, pure, and fun. 

Donors and Scholars reception

29 March 2026: There's nothing quite like the Foundation's reception for donors of named funds and the scholars who benefit from those awards. I was asked to give some remarks, but the two students who went before me were a tough act to follow. I am extra emotional these days, but those kids moved me almost to tears. 

Best job in the world. 

Busy Saturday...

28 March 2026: Grading ENGL 407 Critical Essay Proposals at the end of a long Saturday. Grading all morning, NWP event in the afternoon, then--a treat!--dinner and a movie (They Will Kill You) with Amy, followed by housework and more grading...and I've got so much more on my plate for Sunday to even begin to feel caught up.

But the proposals are strong, reflections of my smart and creative students. And the day, while long, was pretty darn good. And I just watched the Yankees sweep the Giants in their opening series.

I'll take it.

She's back!

27 March 2026: It's been so busy that I almost didn't notice when my favorite tree started doing its thing. And then it was rainy most of today. Even in the rain, though, she's beautiful.

Incorrigible...

26 March 2026: Got herself locked in the pantry for 12 hours yesterday. Today? Jumped right back in and had to be coaxed out. Also worth noting that she's framed by about $100 worth of "sensitive stomach" food that she has to have...even though she's a trashcat. 

"Chloe and the Hare"

25 March 2026: Woke up pretty early this morning--awake enough that I (with some annoyance) thought, "Okay, let's get on with it" and got up. So, here I am at my desk on campus much earlier than usual--not a bad thing when I have a long to-do list. 

Maybe it's going to be a "get things done early" day? 

Exhibit B: getting my daily blog post in early, linking to this episode of This is Love, which will stay with me for a long time. Also had me thinking--like so many animal stories do--about my uncrackable nut of a cat, Veronica, who like the hare in this piece, keeps her distance but also somehow stays close.