reluctantly heading back

I don't know why I always take pictures out the window of the megabus.

Lots to do on this ride: have to write a response to Kant's "What is Enlightenment," write a poem (Gary and I have switched from poem-a-day to poem-a-week, with a Monday deadline. Somehow I'm always scrambling on Monday night.), read some Dante, and finish some Italian homework. Once that's done, I'll either try to watch some House episodes online or read Rita Dove's Sonata Mulattica. (I'm about 50 pages in--so far, so good.) There'll probably be some napping, too.

I'm not quite ready to be heading back to the city/back to school. I already miss my peoples.

Almost there...

Can I just tell you, making people show up to class on the day before Thanksgiving is just mean. And scheduling conferences on that day: also mean. I'm really, really annoyed that I'm not on my way back to Ohio yet, and won't be until midnight. That's right...I'm riding a bus over night and will be arriving in Cleveland at 7:30 Thanksgiving morning. Lame!

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Of course, I'm very excited to get home and see my boyfriend and my family, but mostly, I'm excited to meet my new "little sister." Mom and Dad rescued her from the shelter last Friday, after they saw her story on the news (watch here). I might just die of puppy envy.

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I am pretty grumpy because I want to be home and I'm not, so instead of whining, I'm going to jump on the gratitude journal band wagon and see if I can mellow myself out.

This year, I'm thankful for:

• My amazing family (and bf)
• New friends
• Finding a path in life that feels right (most of the time)
• Poems
• Being able to watch TV on the internet
• Having enough money for the things I need, and most of the things I want
• Student Loans! (see above)
• Pink pepper spray (and that I've never had to use it)
• Books
• Office supplies
• Netflix
• Self-awareness & growth
• Being a non-smoker for the first time in 9 years
• Moving to Chicago, and learning to be truly on my own, even though I'd still rather be in Akron
• The Megabus
• Textured tights
• Hot water...

Okay, so that last one was me looking at the clock and realizing I have to go shower and get ready for class (stupid day before Thanksgiving class). I probably won't be back here for a while, so happy Turkey Day, ya'll.

I just realized how much easier the end of the semester is when you don't have students. Too bad my assistantship isn't for not-teaching every semester!

I keep putting off buying my end of the semester bus ticket because I don't know when I'm going to finish the long version of my Ashbery paper. It's due 12/10, but if I get done sooner, break can start sooner... (Really, who am I kidding? I should just make the reservation for 12/11.)

Last night, I spent several hours updating my submission records and trying to get my files organized. Realized I've barely sent anything out since February. I have 200 free copies to use at school before the end of the semester, so you know what they're going to be...

I'm anxious about going home and seeing my peeps, but not so anxious to see the snow. Maybe it will melt before Thursday. What do you think, Ohioans?

Speaking of Thursday...it's really not fair when profs say over and over again that we are going to have class on the day before Thanksgiving and then cancel at the last minute. Now my overnight bus ride is just pointless.

Yeah, that's about all I have to ramble about today. Happy Monday!

Megabus: Mega-bargain?

So, I'm heading back to Chicago after a long holiday weekend at home...and I'm on the bus! Got my ticket for $35 dollars, and so far, so good. Free wireless, no airport-style security, pretty stress free up to this point (except I seem to be getting a little motion sickness). AWPer's, you gotta check this out! They say you can get tickets for as little as $1.

Well, I think it's time to shut down the laptop and take a nap. I'll let you know how the trip was later.