in which I make amends for my tardiness with adorable photos

Happy New Year!

It's time, I think, for a few updates. I've been away from the blog for a week or so, but for very good reasons. Here is the first:
















That's my grandpa holding my cousin's baby (my second cousin?). We visited family in Phoenix for a few days after New Year. The catalyst for the trip was the Fiesta Bowl (which my sisters' school lost, sadly), but the best part was getting to see so many relatives I hadn't seen in a while, and the baby, whom I hadn't met before. It was sunny and beautiful, and wonderful hanging out with my cousins late into the night.
















My other excuse is that I was preparing to start teaching . . . today! (My sisters don't go back for a week. Stupid . . . quarter . . . system . . . grumble.) I felt woefully unprepared to teach a class on drama (comedy/tragedy) at the beginning of the break, and still feel a little unqualified. I woke up the other morning from a nightmare in which it was painfully clear that I didn't know what I was doing in class (I was asking questions about The Taming of the Shrew after I had assigned Macbeth). Today I managed to sound prepared, though, and I'm pleased with the class' dynamics so far. For a 9am class, they managed to pretend they were awake--which is a good sign, I think.

I'm looking forward to this quarter, and to seeing Justin this weekend. (He just called! He's almost here!) I think I like 2006 already.