thinking (or not)

I slept with my mouth open last night, resulting in one nasty case of cotton mouth. I hope I'm not getting a cold. Perhaps it's just the weariness that results in my mind feeling cloudy and unfocused. It's a sure-fire sign that the old thinker box isn't working properly when I can't even work the simple crossword puzzle (there are always two in my newspaper, an easy one and a harder one). I'll stare at the clue and the spaces for the answer and somehow nothing leaps into place. That's a disconcerting feeling. There's nothing more exciting (and this is why I'm addicted) than sensing that leap of intuition that takes the mind from the clue to the answer, even when it's obscure or based on word play (my favorite kind).

It snowed overnight, and perhaps the extra heat-inflicted dry air is what's causing the mental fog. Either that, or exhaustion. I've been grading papers like a maniac (and my students probably stare at some of my comments and think, "That woman is a maniac!"). There are many more to grade, alas. But it will soon end. Next Friday I'll be in Columbia, Missouri, getting ready to take the little walk. I do hope we have a decent speaker. And if he or she is not a good speaker, let us hope we have a short-winded speaker.

I'm still waiting for some of the gifts I've ordered to arrive. I know that at least one will not come until after we've already left, so now I have to figure out what to do about the packages left on the porch. Far too many Grinches are waiting to steal Christmas as it is. There's no need to add temptation.

The Weather Channel has just informed me that freezing rain is falling. Oh, goodie. I'm just happy to be able to stay at home today. That won't be the case for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week, when I'll be at school all day long. Speaking of school, the boss wants me to tackle yet another class online, in addition to the ones I'm already teaching. I get to get overtime pay, which isn't much, but still, it may help to pay for a trip this summer. No one has mentioned coming in for a job interview, but I really don't expect any action until the new semester begins.

Meanwhile, I need to get a move on. There are essays waiting! Dr. S., the grading machine. (That's a picture of me, the grading machine, at the top of this blog!)