One day late, due to technical difficulties...

Tuesday felt like the happiest day of the year in Ann Arbor. Not just for me, but for everyone. It was a bit chilly in the morning and there was frost on the back of my gloves when I returned from my morning run, but by the time I left for school I was able to walk to campus quite comfortably with just a light fleece jacket over my short sleeved shirt. Before the end of the day the temperature hit 70 degrees, and there was not a cloud in the sky. Students walked around in flip flops. Every inch of space on the outdoor benches around campus was occupied. Lines at the ice cream shops were out the door. In my graduate level mathematics instruction class, we all begged like elementary school students to hold class outdoors (without success). Everybody seemed to be smiling or laughing or talking animatedly with their friends as I walked home in broad daylight that felt like mid-afternoon but was actually, thanks to the March 11 time change, early evening. I am certain that the proportion of people who felt like all was right with the world was significantly higher that day than is normal.

You probably know how the story ends. After all, this is March, and this is Michigan, and a lot can change in two days. But strangely, I don't mind all that much. The optimism from Tuesday kind of carried over. I have lots of reasons not to be happy right now - I'm not happy with my knee, which has me stuck on the elliptical machine for a few days (hopefully). I'm not happy with the federal government (turns out I actually have to pay taxes this year - what's up with that?). I'm not happy with my skin, which for the last week or so has been drier and itchier than it has ever been in my life. But then again, I also have lots to be happy about. Like the fact that days like Tuesday will come more and more frequently now, and days like to day will gradually fade into memory. Or the fact that I have a summer teaching position over at the commuity college all lined up, which means I'll actually enjoy work this year. Or the fact that I booked my flight into Utah at the end of April a day early and all three people I told emailed me back with great enthusiasm about seeing me. Or the fact that, if my knee was going to cause me trouble at all, at least it decided to hit at preciesly the onset of a streak of crummy weather, which means I can take the time to heal and maybe I'll actually be running normally again about the time the nice weather hits. See, that adds up to more than the negatives, as long as I keep my mind off the IRS (grr...I suppose it had to happen sooner or later).

Oh yeah, and the no-sugar thing is now officially more than halfway over. And yes, it does still get easier as the week goes on.

Thursday, March 15, 2007