good morning, starshine

The earth says hello!

Yes, I'm quoting Johnny Depp's character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Or the musical Hair, take your pick (although I've never seen Hair). The point is, the sun is out and shining brightly this morning. The Weather Channel has given me good news, too: 41 degrees today, 48 degrees by Saturday, 53 degrees by Monday and 60 degrees by Tuesday. Please, don't change my forecast! Give me the warmth I need. And the sunshine.

Despite the bright, sunny day, I've got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and back of my mind that I'm trying to ignore and will away. I won't get results on my portfolio exam until after March 28, and I thought I'd be finding out the results this week. I have to let my apartments know before then whether or not I'll be signing my lease again this year, and I can't help but think, "What if?" This state doesn't allow you to break leases early and just pay a penalty like you can do at home. You're stuck in the lease, and even if you can find a subleaser, you still have to pay $200-$300 a month and they pay a reduced fee. Besides that, I just don't like the thought or possibility of failing out. I'm not used to failing at things. But I don't like the thought of staying here for another year, either. It's a catch 22.

Like I said, though, I'm trying to rid myself of that sinking feeling. And the thought that, in seven hours from now, I will officially be on spring break does help--somewhat. I've got cleaning to do grading to do and reading to do and writing to do and researching to do, all of which I hope to be done with by the time Al gets here Tuesday night. Yes--Al is coming to see me! He'll be here through Sunday the 18th. It's been almost a month and a half since I've seen him, so I'm excited.

My goal today? To get busy (I've got class in 44 minutes), to get things done (grading! class planning!), and to start singing a new tune. Lately, Sarah McLachlan's "Full of Grace" has been running through my head:

The winter here’s cold, and bitter
It’s chilled us to the bone
We haven’t seen the sun for weeks
Too long too far from home
I feel just like I’m sinking
And I claw for solid ground
I’m pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh darkness I feel like letting go

But I'd much rather be singing "Sunshine Day" by the Brady Bunch:

I think I'll go for a walk outside now
the summer sun's callin my name
(I hear ya now)
I just can't stay inside all day
I gotta get out get me some of those rays
everybody's smilin'
sunshine day
everybody's laughin'
sunshine day
everybody seems so happy today
it's a sunshine day

Okay, it's not summer yet, but the sun's out--that should count for something, right? Hmm. Maybe I should have considered going somewhere warm for spring break. Too late now.

Happy day.