Did you ever notice that, without something to look forward to, the days drag on and you find yourself becoming more and more lethargic? Well, that’s what usually happens to me. However, now a few things have been set in motion and I have several things for which to look forward:

1. My next class at the University of Michigan starts two weeks from today. There are so many perks to this I can’t even count them all. A few are the following: It is being taught by my favourite professor, Ralph Williams. It is also a class for which I’m sure the benefits will show themselves sooner rather than later, as one of the authors we will be studying is an author for which I’m taking an entire course on in the fall. This will be a good warm-up. The class also gives me two more credits at UofM, which is never a bad thing, especially when I’m considering applying here for my doctorate. And it also gives me the excuse to hang out downtown and on campus on my days off from work (not that I don’t do that anyway, but now I will have a much better excuse, rather than just coming to spend money at the coffee shops). There are so many more reasons, but that should suffice for now.

2. The final Harry Potter film is released in theatres in 29 days and, while I know this is a rather childish thing to look forward to, I also find it an interesting cultural phenomenon. You see, this is the end of an era, so to speak. Fans have been anxiously awaiting the next book, then the next. Finally, we were waiting for the next film, and the next. Finally, we’ve come to the end. I just wonder what people will have to wait for next. This epic is now part of our literary history, and one that will certainly stand the test of time, I believe. Rowling created such a large, world-wide community, simply by telling a story. That’s amazing, if you think about it. If only more cultural gaps could be closed so easily.

3. A few days ago I received my teaching packet in the mail from the University of New Hampshire. While the course syllabi and general curricula are pretty much the same as courses I’ve taught before, I’m slightly appalled that the university requires their freshers to purchase three (count ’em, 3) textbooks for their college composition course. As if students weren’t bogged down by the cost of university textbooks already. It’s quite unfortunate. However, despite that little quibble, I’m excited to begin teaching again. And doubly excited to be starting my MA in literature!

4. I’ve begun writing again. Really writing. My new schedule at work allows for me to take Mondays and Wednesdays off. I know this sounds a bit odd, but it has actually enabled me to truly make time for my writing. Weekends are just not conducive to intellectual productivity for me. When you think about it, we’ve been conditioned for most of our lives to this Monday-Friday, 9-5 attitude and schedule. We want our weekends off, in the garden, at the movies, on our bikes, etc. Not plunked in front of a computer, trying out our livelihoods. So, I’m at the office on the weekends, and I “work” on Mondays and Wednesdays now. And it has proved to be all the more productive.

5. While I’m home for the summer, I’ve decided to make the absolute most of my time here in Ann Arbor. I fully intend to go to the Ann Arbor Art Fair this year. I went nearly ever summer in my childhood, but never really enjoyed it. It was always too hot, too crowded, and I was too young to appreciate what was in front of me. So, for maybe the past six years or more, I’ve skipped it. This year, I plan on changing that. I have also decided to attend my ten year high school reunion. It was not something I thought I’d do. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see the people who were going to be there (or spend the money to attend). After all, this new Facebook age has made reunions a bit redundant – particularly when so many people from my high school think they need to update everyone on our reunion “event” page before we even see each other again. And, naturally, it feels a little odd when you realize that, after reading all of these updates from your high school chums, you are practically the only one left who isn’t married yet because you’ve spent the past ten years moving from one town, state, country to the next and haven’t settled down in one place long enough to find that spouse-to-be. But if I’m going to live my life by saying yes to as many things as possible and not missing out on stuff, I must say yes to something as simple and traditional as this. That, and because my dear friend, Jennie (whom I’ve known since we were three years old), has insisted I go and be her “date.” Thanks, J.