it was a very dangerous thing to live even one day

Things I am happy about today:

1. Awkward Family Photos. Probably the best blog I've seen in the past six months.

2. Not having to go back to the courthouse today. Thanks to the great mercy of God, I was not called to serve. I was there from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. But I finished one book ("Women and Writing," Woolf) and read half of another ("Cousin Bette," Balzac). Elisabeth, I'm sorry, but I think you might be crazy. Why would you ever want to fulfill your civic duty in that way?

3. Almost finishing the next issue of the math department newsletter

4. Waking up to an e-mail from Guion

5. I got an internship position at UNC Press for the upcoming school year!

6. New soap in the shower

7. Tea with breakfast

8. Watching "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" last night with Grace

9. Windy's happy-faced daisy arrangements on our kitchen table

10. Plans to meet friends (presently confirmed: Saturday breakfast with Emily S., baby Skolrood, and Tara and then Thai food for lunch with Dr. Gordon, Grace, and Mom. Pending: Elisabeth, J.Hecht)

11. That my mom is still totally beautiful at (almost) 50

"If the artist does not throw himself into his work like Curtius into the gulf, like a soldier against a fortress, without counting the cost; and if, once within the breach, he does not labor like a miner buried under a fallen roof; if, in short, he contemplates the difficulties instead of conquering them, one by one, like those lovers in the fairy-tales who, to win their princesses, fought ever-renewed enchantments; then the work remains unfinished, it perishes, is lost within the workshop, where production becomes impossible, and the artist is a looker-on at his talent's suicide." -- Cousin Bette, Balzac