I have just finished grading my last freshman research paper!!!!

High-fives all around!

The trimester ends this week, and so I was working under a slight time constraint. Going into this weekend, I only had two of my four periods graded...but I used my time wisely yesterday afternoon and today and finished them all.

You cannot even imagine how it feels to be finished with this task. But let me try to illustrate with examples from pop culture and beyond.

1. You all know Odysseus from "The Odyssey", right? The guy who takes twenty years to get home after the Trojan War? Yeah, I feel like that.

2. Odysseus's wife, Penelope, has been waiting, faithfully, for him to return. For twenty years. Yeah, I feel like that.

3. How about reading all seven books of the Harry Potter series, one right after the other? Yeah, I feel like that that.

4. Try watching the extended editions of "Lord of the Rings." Back to back to back. Yeah, I feel like that.

5. Twelve minutes of pure hell in high school physical education on "Run the Mile" day. Yeah, I feel like that.

6. Giving birth. Three times. Without drugs. Yeah, I feel like that.

7. Waiting for the last day of school to end. Yeah, I feel like that.

It feels pretty sweet, actually. I think I'll ask my husband if he has ideas on how I can celebrate this achievement.

I'm sure, without a doubt, you've all heard of the famous poem "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann. It begins like this...

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence."

The rest of the poem is similar. I remember reading this on a poster in my high school social studies classroom, and thinking then how cool it sounded then. Of course, the words ring more true now that I'm older and wiser.

Here I am, on my third snow day this week, and I am trying to keep from going insane. So.....

"Go placidly amid the snow and ice,
and remember what peace there may be in a day off from work."

This is my mantra. I cannot change the weather, I cannot change the weather, I cannot change the weather. I cannot change the fact I'll be in school in June.

But I can change my attitude...and realize some good could come from today. I could get more papers graded. I could read a book. I could do laundry. I could call my mom and see if she wants to go out for lunch, since she has the day off.

Oooh, I do feel better.

Because of the ice and snow that fell on Sunday, I have no school again today (yesterday as well).

This is around our sixth day we've missed this winter. I have never missed that many days! Albeit, I can't remember the last winter we had like this either.

I know the students are probably thrilled, and I should be too. But, I keep thinking about June, and we'll all still be inside when it's beautiful outside. Also, I've got things to be working on, deadlines to meet, projects to complete...I WANT TO BE AT WORK!

Did I just say that? Yikes, I hope the sky doesn't fall on my head.

Remember a couple of days ago when I posted my closet contents?

Remember when I also noted that I needed dresses because I had, like, none?

Remember?

OK, so I've parlayed my love of eBay into my need of dresses. To this mix, I've added my utter adoration of Regency-style clothing and bright, fun colors - not to mention a modern twist.

This is what I found. I really want to buy it. Measurements are good. Should I do it?

At times like this, one should ask herself "What Would Lady Macbeth Do?"

....She'd hire someone to kill the seller and steal the dress herself, then go insane over the heinousness of the crime....*sigh*

Help. I've got four hours.

So, today is Valentine's Day. The Day of Love.

To me, Valentine's Day is the day of higher-than-usual expectations, fakey movie moments, and money spent in the name of what? I was reading on Yahoo today that "millions were spent today" for Valentine's Day gifts.

For what? On what?

Did everyone get what they wanted? What they expected? Or, did they receive another pointless teddy bear or fattening box of chocolates? Did they suffer a terrible disappointment and a feeling of "he just doesn't know me!"

Well, this post is beginning to taste strongly of bitterness. I'll attempt to repent.

I realize I'm lucky. My husband knows better. He knows I would not be able to resist chocolate, so he did not buy me any. He knows I'm not much for flowers, so he did not bring me any. In fact, I didn't expect much for Lovers' Day. We never make much of a deal about it. Because we both see the insane hypocrisy of celebrating love one day out of the year..as opposed to celebrating it everyday.

Anyhoo. Low expectations here all-around.

So, he went out Sunday afternoon, and bought me living room furniture. Now, is that the sexiest thing you've ever heard of, or what? Talk about spending millions. OK, not really, the place is going out of business, so it's marked way down anyway.

But the fact of the matter is, he's heard my subtly dropped comments here and there about inadequate seating in that room. He also heard my quiet, desperate pleas for leather seating. The point is, ladies and gentlemen, not only did he listen, but he listened AND retained.

And that, my friends, is the perfect Valentine's Day gift for me.