Well the week of doom is almost over, which will then open up to the terrace of endless grading and the heap of writing assignments I have to get done. The good news is that with Thanksgiving I'll have time to do a lot of Paris writing because AS GOD AS MY WITNESS I AM FINISH THE DAMN PARIS DIARIES BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

It's a lot easier to invoke the lord when you don't believe in him.

If I had the time or the energy I would write about what in the world has happened that there are students who can't write without using the pronouns I, you or we. How some students don't know what an appropriate 4-6 page paper thesis should be (I'm going to compare the isolation of Frankenstein's monster to Gregor's transformation and relate both to the civil rights movement in the US.). How some students apparently don't know the difference between when to use the singular or plural form of a noun. How there is such a profound lack of care in the specificity of language that I get thesis statement like "Gregor is rejected by society because he is different." HE'S A GIANT FUCKING BUG PEOPLE. It's not like he dyed his hair blue or refuses to vote. He's not different, he's unique. And stop throwing around the word" society." Especially in a story that takes place in one apartment. The narrative never leaves the freakin' building.

(deep breath)

If I had the energy I would write about all this and more. About papers I wouldn't have handed in my freshmen year of high school, never mind my senior year of college.

And then I would write about having a student cry over the grades and how suddenly I'm not angry, I feel horrible. Horrible. I'm too hard on them, too demanding, I expect too much....you know like listening and following directions.

I need a nap. And chocolate. and a martini. and a steak au poivre with potatoes. and a long hot bath followed by a full body massage by my personal God Sven Nordic God of Backrubs and tantric sex. And about 15 hours of sleep. And I'll be good.

Really.