From the Bottom to the Top

Today has been one of the super-shitty days when, just as I start to think it could only get better, at best it stayed the same. The morning was okay; I'm not an especially demanding morning person. I don't enjoy interacting before several cups of coffee, but since I live alone, I usually don't have to. And I had the most delicious coffee, Peet's Major Dickson's blend, a bold brew indeed. Add a tiny splash of half and half -- perfect. After my early coffee and computer time, things went seriously downhill. I showered early and came up with a pretty good outfit. [I had to iron my blouse, which (if you know about my irrational love of ironing), you understand was a good time.] Then I had a major stomach problem. This happens from time to time, I think because of the Celebrex. If I don't eat just the right amount (and type) of food when I take it, my gut is a mess. So no big deal, except that I had to head to class.

I got to campus nearly an hour before my class started. Rain poured down. My usually failproof trick of bringing my umbrella with me didn't work; it rained anyway. I dragged myself and my papers through the rain, under my ancient (and huge) umbrella, which kept getting caught on low-hanging branches. My class went well even though I still wasn't feeling fantastic. I didn't tell my students I was sick and they didn't seem to notice. When I left the building, the rain had stopped but it was about eighty degrees with ninety-nine percent humidity. (I'm not complaining. That's just spring in Florida.) I don't think I make very good use of my time between classes. I often leave campus and explore the neighboring area, with no clear destination. I have two hours (really only one by the time I finish with the first class and show up for a half hour of office time for the second) and it's not enough to do much of anything. I could do some grading, but for that little bit of time I get my head out of the papers and books and look instead at people and places.

When I left my evening class, the rain had started up again -- with a vengeance. I nearly hit a jaywalking cop as I made my way downtown. Seriously, of all people who should know to be more careful in inclement weather! Then I hydroplaned on the Expressway, which might have given me a mild heart attack. I got home and my handyman's truck was taking up my entire driveway so I had to park on the street -- farther to run while trying to avoid the rain. I won't complain about that either though. He's installing a new AC unit and I was actually surprised he was able to do anything on a rain-soaked day.

Overall, I guess it wasn't that bad -- my day, that is. Tomorrow morning I'm going to a department meeting, my first since starting at this campus. After that, I'm a relatively free woman until Tuesday. Well, there is that pesky grading to deal with -- but I can do that on my own time.