Five Things that Don't Suck, Halloween Edition

1. Vincent Price's voice
2. not having to hear The Monster Mash again until next October
3. little kids in adorable costumes
4. the sound autumn leaves make when you walk through them
5. tiny candy bars

Five Things that Don't Suck, Late-October Friday Edition

1. spending a brief amount of time in quiet reflection on the question of where the hell August went, much less September and October
2. eating tiny candy bars*
3. short days on campus
4. the prospect of reading a good book for pleasure this weekend for the first time this semester
5. autumn leaves

*in moderation, people

Five Things that Don't Suck, Rainy, Rainy, Rainy Thursday Edition

1. rain in a time of drought
2. how warm it is out there
3. how good my hair looks when it's humid*
4. that little bit of ache in my legs that tells me I ran yesterday
5. having all of my grading and prep done before the weekend**

*no lie
**theoretical

Five Things that Don't Suck, Off-Campus Wednesday Edition

1. the ridiculous stickers I bought to put on my students' papers, because what college sophomores and juniors don't want a sticker that says "GOOD JOB!" or one with an apple balanced on top of a stack of books?*
2. getting a run in before going out to dinner with Jed
3. going out to dinner with Jed
4. making some cards because I'm not writing right now
5. sleeping well past 6:30**

*or BOTH?
**the very best part of off-campus days if you ask me

Five Things that Don't Suck, Printmaking Tuesday Edition

1. making prints instead of, say, reading papers
2. okay, fine, reading papers, too*
3. thinking about Christmas card designs
4. magically knowing how to hand-letter**
5. being creative even when I'm not writing

*especially from this class, which is a really good one
**theoretical

Five Things that Don't Suck, Wow--6:30 Sure Does Come Early on Mondays Doesn't It Edition

1. the relative quiet of the early morning walk with the dogs
2. having as much as possible set up the night before so I don't have to think too much
3. dishwashers
4. knowing I'll get to see great students today
5. naps

Five Things that Don't Suck, Tucking in the Bees for the Season Edition

1. making sure everyone is okay
2. maybe giving them some food
3. the very slight possibility of getting a little honey this year*
4. trying not to worry about them all winter
5. that feeling during a January thaw when they all come out and stretch their wings for a little bit

*very slight, sadly