Ode to my dog

Sage you're wonderful and a boon to my soul. You're always excited to see me, even when my day has crapped out with teachers laying on the homework and students complaining about their grades on papers.

When I feel cold you happily warm my feet. When I need a hug you cuddle up to me and beg to be petted. You're not a big licker--and for that I'm grateful--but you do have a big heart that loves all God's creatures, even Lexie the onery cat and squirrels who run away from you when you just want to play.

Who needs an electric blanket when you're around Sage? You gladly warm up my side of the bed before I crawl in and willingly move over when it's my time to dream. And when it's cold you spoon me--or at least make sure you're touching me all night.

You're full of life and energy, even when you sleep. You growl and moan and bark and run while you sleep--maybe in the land of nod a squirrel stays to play and Lexie doesn't swipe at your nose.

Whatever it is, Sage, you are a wonderful dog and you're definately this woMAN's Best Friend.

New Year, New Semester

I'm back at school and I've successfully completed the first week of classes (successful in that I didn't kill anyone or get eaten by zombies).
        Aside: I don't understand the whole fascination with zombies and vampires that's going around
                  right now. I will admit I've read the Twilight Series (nothing more than mind-candy that
                 doesn't require any deep thought or thinking to follow), but the near obsession with
                 vampires or zombies baffles me. 'Nuff said.

After spending nearly a month visiting family (I was with Susan and her family until around the 23rd of December and then went to Idaho Falls to visit Becca until the 9th of January) I was excited about getting back home. Being surrounded by your own things and sleeping in your own bed are wonderful--and a sign of getting old if my younger sister Cathy is to be believed.

This semester I have a bit harder class load, but I'm only teaching one freshman English class. I'm excited about my own classes because I'll be studying Chaucer, American Gothic literature (Poe, Hawthorne, Emily Dickinson), Rhetoric/Composition (how to design a new class, paperwork, teach more effectively), and taking German again. Okay, so I lied. I'm not too excited about the German, but it's a necessary evil to fulfill the foreign language requirement for my degree. Such is life.

Since it's so early in the semester I don't really have a lot to relate or tell you, but it does look like I may be going back to Alaska this summer. Yeah!!!! I loved my time in Valdez two years ago and was bummed I couldn't make it back last summer. It's still in the discussion/planning phase right now, but if I do go back I'm looking forward to reintroducing myself to the gorgeous glaciers (bring on the ice climbing), black bears/grizzlies/wildlife, and whales as I paddle my kayak between the floating ice. -cross your fingers-