Morning watch...

4 April 2025: Especially when she was little, Jo had this habit of leaping on my shoulder in the morning when I opened the curtains. She would then stretch forward and survey the neighborhood. 

I thought she had outgrown it, but this morning she startled me all over again. (My hair is wet--hadn't dried it yet.) 

Once she gave me the "all clear," I was free to finish getting ready and start the rest of my day. 

Room with a view...

3 April 2025: Can't argue with the view out of the home office window this time of year.

Stadium Tree

2 April 2025: I started my walk this morning in maybe not the best mood, though it's hard to say why. I couldn't help but notice, though, how the morning sun was coloring the sky (especially just beyond the Potomac, though I didn't get a picture of that). As I came to the top of the hill near Ram Stadium, I stopped to admire this tree, doing its thing this year like it does every year, with that pretty light in the backgroud. It didn't fix everything, but it sure didn't hurt. 

Running Out of Air

1 April 2025: Got to hear a former student read from her debut novel on campus this evening. Another chance to just marvel at how lucky I am to get to do what I do. 

Must be "A Rose for Emily" Day...

31 March 2025: Excerpts from class discussion today in ENGL 204 that made me laugh...

"I mean, this may be a controversial opinion because...she murdered that guy, but I feel bad for her..."

A student disagrees--she doesn't feel bad for Emily--but adds, "I don't know if I feel bad about the murder part..."

Either way? Very little sympathy for poor old Homer Barron. 

Open window days...

30 March 2025: Finding all the weird poses on this open window day...

First visitor...

29 March 2025: After I got my parents a BirdBuddy feeder a couple of years ago, I asked them for one for myself (when I couldn't think of any other gifts to ask for!). Since today really felt like the end of winter (it's 77 degrees at nearly 7:00 p.m. when I type this), I finally set it up outside.

Behold the first visitor!

Just ahead...

28 March 2025: For a bunch of reasons (construction on Mill Street, the need for some variety), I don't think I had done my old, usual morning walk--with a stop at Rumsey Park--all semester long. This mornimg, I realized that the forsythia down that way might be doing their thing. I got excited at just the idea of seeing them. And just when I turned the bend, I could see that pop of yellow up ahead and my heart soared. 

1-0!

27 March 2025: Lucky enough to get to be home this afternoon and watch the Yanks win the season opener. Let's go, Yankees! Let's go, spring!

It's here!

26 March 2025: What a delight!

Getting closer...

25 March 2025: Stopped on my way into my office today to take a good look at this lovely lilac bush out behind Knutti. It won't bloom until late April, at the earliest, I think, but still...you can see they are on their way and that made me smile. Hopeful.

The universe also sent me a "yeah, but not too hopeful" message while I was looking the bush. A kind of big twig came falling down from above, hitting my head and making me jump. I laughed and said, "okay, okay..."

We have a tracking notice!

24 March 2025: My copies of my book? They are heading my way. Scheduled delivery is Wednesday. My goodness--what a cool feeling!

Back After This

23 March 2025: Our little book club read Linda Holmes's Back After This for this month and all three of us loved it. I could go on and on about all the ways it made me feel seen (sometimes almost uncomfortably!), but maybe just one (fun) quotation for now--from a part that made my toes curl: “His ear had worked like mine” (186). Cecily realizing that Will listened to that recording--more than once--and closely? And he hears what she hears? Baby, that's a keeper!

I have loved so much of what she written. She's just the best.

Work Cited

Holmes, Linda. Back After This: A Novel, Penguin Random House, 2025.

Breakfast with some of my favs...

22 March 2025: After a really great breakfast at a Turkish restaurant, I left this small contigent of our students (who were headed to the Warhol Museum) and headed home. (The other three headed home with Tim and Kevin a few hours earlier.) It's great to be home, but it was a really lovely few days. Affirming in all the best ways.

Convention, Day 2

21 March 2025: One of those days that flew by but also feels very long. But what a fun one! College students are the best (esp. English majors, duh) and Tim is the best.