Up at 4:30 = ten bullet post...

1. I've been listening to Vic Chesnutt's "Ghetto Bells" lately, esp. the track called "What Do You Mean?" What a weird-ass song. I could hear it over and over. The Van Dyck (sp?) Parks orchestration is brilliant.

2. My sleeping pattern is a bit messed up, but I'm ok. I've been falling asleep by 7, 7:30, and sleeping until 4 or so. Yesterday I arrived at work by six. I'll probably do the same today. The days are long, since I'm collecting data in the afternoon, but I can't complain much. I remember when I worked scheduled hours, back on days like this I just sort of zoned in the afternoon. Now I can come home and sleep.

3. Yesterday marked eleven months until Italy. I hit the Franciscan library where a nun recommended a biography. I read the first chapter last night.

4. Before last night I passed through a four or five day "don't read much" period. Those periods are rare but necessary, kind of like a runner taking a few days off to let her muscles rejuvenate.

5. Speaking of running, before dinner I ran three miles outside. I thought of driving to the Y after the kids fell asleep, but the air is still pretty warm (in the forties or so), and I was wired after a day of interviews/observations, so I threw on my clothes while the kids played with the friends and hit the streets. I was surprised at how far I went without stopping, actually. Despite the influx of Halloween candy I'm still in better shape than last year. I have to build on that.

6. I haven't been to Chicago in a while, and I don't know when I'll get to return, but I like my hometown at this time of year. Yesterday, while driving through Brown Deer, I opened the window and smelled the concrete. Ah, nostalgia. I was reminded of waiting for the bus, and waiting for the bus in Autumn was rarely that bad.

7. Feeling a bit under the weather today. Must drink tea as soon as I arrive at work.

8. I'm trying to unload some work responsibilities by the time spring rolls around. If I can get someone else to pick up an off-campus responsibility, I'll be relieved. Extra money is involved, so I'm not passing the buck without compensation.

9. I should watch a movie this week...Netflix is profiting off me more than usual this month. I need to finish The Proposition (disappointing, so far) and re-watch Mystery Train.

10. Shadow and I walked Sunday, crunching through the woods...glorious.