Instead of just sitting still long enough to grade 39 quizzes in US history over my break/office hour I’ve instead read through a couple of blog posts, did a search for Joris-Karl Huysmans’ novel À rebours at my university’s library (we have several copies), and ate a 280-calorie dark chocolate “energy” bar. I’ve holed up on the 5th floor of the library, sitting next to a window from where I can see–apart from a few office buildings in the distance and a handful of cars in the parking lot–a line of trees running alongside the western creek on campus. I seem to have caught fall fever: I don’t want to be in love or run naked in nature. Instead, I’d really prefer to wrap up in some warm clothes in front of a fire somewhere and read a good book (perhaps Huysmans’ novel) with a warm drink and even warmer cats. Considering this is Texas and today’s high is in the mid-80s, it is unlikely I will get to have this experience any time soon. Even the promised thunderstorms don’t seem to be on their way.

I have slightly more than a week to complete my term paper over Celan, about two weeks before submitting my final drafts for the translation workshop, and maybe three weeks before my project on Redon is due. Then there’s final exams in US history to grade and then finally my final for philosophy is scheduled for December 11th. Now if only I can get through these damned 39 quizzes to set the rest of the term in motion. Ah, December! when life comes due.