Man, I have not been in the mood to write in the journal lately. I’m not sure why. I think I spent so much time writing and reading with the end of the semester that the last thing I wanted to do was apply a sustained thought to paper. I thought I had adjusted to the rigors of a semester but the first two weeks of December always wear me down.

Anyway, at the moment I’m in the local library’s quiet room. I not only have the quiet room to myself, I think only two or three other people are in the building. The roads fucking suck and I think most citizens decided against braving driving. I don’t blame them, but I needed to get out of the house. Over the last few days I’ve spent more time reading in the bedroom than anything. M’s mom is here, and the visit has been fine, but I don’t want to watch the Today show or whatever and I don’t want to be rude and change the channel on her. I have home court advantage, I can go upstairs and read. No problem. This morning I thought I’d drive to the office but my car spun out on the road to the highway so I turned around, picked up my laptop and Herodotus, and hit the library.

I’m in an ok place, emotionally, but I’m scared of wasting my time off. If the weather wasn’t oppressive I’d spend more time in the city. I’ve never been to Downtown Books, I want to check it out, and I could use a couple hours in the Art Museum. Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. If the roads are better maybe I’ll get out of the house in the morning. We’ll see.

What else is going on? A publication on academic leadership accepted another of my articles. Yay. I finished that awful Tucker Max book and picked up the Herodotus again. Last night M and I hit an Italian restaurant down the highway (she has gps on her phone now, by the way, which helps you search for restaurants…interesting) then browsed in a bookstore before the subzero temps chased us home. The boys are great, as usual, but growing bored quickly. We’re less than forty-eight hours from opening the gifts than should keep them busy for a while. Everyone leaves on Monday for five days. I might check out the MSO on New Year’s Eve.

Am I scattered enough for you today? My apologies.