Welcome to a stray mid-day update. The temps are high, upper eighties, so Mack and I are sequestered in the air conditioned bedroom. Mack loves air conditioning. Smart dog.

The last week has been fine, really, and I’m growing used to the time away from the office. This morning, after a five mile walk with the dogs through pouring rain, I drove down to the office. After I found the security guy, and he opened my office door, and then discovered my computer wasn’t hooked up to the internet, I hit the computer lab and avoided the dead-air temporary office. I answered email and got back into GR mode. By ten or so there wasn’t much for me to do so I drove home, ate lunch, and snagged a double-shot latte at Alterra’s for more email and a The Invention of Morel review.

So I’m working through the poems but probably not with enough discipline. I’m trying to balance writing and staying focused and the need to decompress before the start of the semester. I think I’m doing ok. Within a week or two the meetings, etc. will start in earnest. I’m ready.

• We’re only a few weeks from September. I’m ready for autumn.
• I’m reading Celine. The novel may take a few weeks but I’m getting into rhythm.
• M and the boys visited my sister at Wonder Lake yesterday. I didn’t go. I hate that lake, all buggy and white trash, but apparently the kids had fun tubing.
• Rumors abound that our offices may move from the north end of the basement to an area closer to the classrooms. I don’t care much as to the location of the offices, but I need a fucking office before the semester starts.
• Did I mention DBT and the eels are playing the same October weekend in Milwaukee? Can’t wait.
• I might drive down to Chicago Friday. I want to take the L, maybe, from the northwest side down into the city.
• I’ve been watching Louis CK episodes online and through “On Demand”. Holy hell, that’s a great show, esp. after the first episode.
• We also started up our Netflix membership again. The online “play now” function rules. I also watched You, The Living. Pretty good.

Ok, that’s it for now. I think I’ll take my suits to the cleaners, maybe after doing some crunches. Stay cool.