In Which I Ride a Freight Train to Hell

I'm worried that any type of following I may have gathered has drifted off into the great unknown. 

It's that time of year, folks, and for the past month, I've found myself choking on insane amounts of paper, whether that be in terms of grading or in grad school work.  Even though the end is in sight and the light at the proverbial end of the tunnel looms, this train just isn't moving quickly enough for my tastes.

I'm certain that once the semester has reached its end and I have time to reflect on my year, I'll have much to give thanks for, but for the moment, I want to bury my head in the sand and either scream or sleep for the next week and a half. 

I graded ten essays tonight to bring today's grand total to fifteen.  I should feel proud, but when I consider that I have two more class sets of analytical essays, a class set of definition essays, a class set of definition essay timed writings, a class set of personal narratives, three class sets of poetry anthology projects, one class set of a cumulative portfolio, and four sets of final exams to grade, my brain gives this weird little flutter, and I begin to wonder if I've just had a slight anuerism. 

I'm having nightmares about human-sized green ink pens chasing me through a cemetery in which staplers and calculators burst through cracked earth in some type of zombie blossoming.  I wish I was kidding. 

This is the part where I praise my wonderful husband for the vast amounts of help he has given me in the past three weeks as I've ran around the house babbling about where I left that one sheet of paper with the marks on it?  You know... the one with the red ink that says something about the due date of a manuscript?  To which he has cleaned house, helped me retrieve and wrap a bridal shower gift, helped me clean out my car, and brought me lunch.  So sweetie, thank you for the Subway and the dishes. 

Needless to say, my own work has fallen to the wayside, and now I have two short stories floating in my head (one of which is halfway finished) and the novel to complete as well.  I'm wondering exactly how much writing one can fit into a week and a half long period.  I can imagine that it's not enough. 

In incredibly exciting news, my article, which was published in Free Inquiry magazine is out!  You can read it here.  Wow.  That's my name up there. 

And on a final note, a rant towards Atlanta.  My dear city, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CULTURALLY RELEVANT!! YOU KNOW.... HIP AND ALL THAT JAZZ!!  HOW IS IT REMOTELY POSSIBLE THAT YOU ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE LINE UP FOR LIMITED RELEASE FILMS THAT I'M DYING TO SEE????  Could we do something about that? 



Missed you guys.  Promise I'll be better.  Promise.