Things About Which I Am Currently Excited

Sticky rug gripper tape (from Target of course). People, I'm serious, this is awesome: the rugs don't slip anymore. The Turkish carpet is finally secure, which means we've found a solution to what was not only an aesthetic irritant, but a safety hazard as well.

The soundtracks to Amelie and Chocolat... although I'm peeved that it took me this long to discover them.

This zucchini bread. I mean, I'm excited about the whole Smitten Kitchen blog, but that's nothing new. Everything I have tried from that blog is awesome, and even if not, I'd visit it for the writing and photography alone.

Getting free tickets to Mozart at the Fulton tomorrow... thank you, Jonathan and Amanda.

The fact that there was no new snow this weekend, which means that Jared didn't have to shovel it, which means that I get him all to myself. Yes, I am a selfish wife. :)

Lots of inquiries about my classes next year. It's only February and already I have nearly 30 people interested. (Mind you, only half are likely to follow through, but it's exciting anyway.)

Zucchini on sale for 99 cents a pound at Stauffer's. Now I can make loads of the bread mentioned above, put zucchini on pizza with caramelized onions and mozzarella (my word, that phrase had a preponderance of z's; a striking example of consonance, class), and of course saute zucchini to have alongside spaghetti carbonara or quiche or barbecue meatloaf or, um, just by itself.

The Best Things About My Job

1) Hearing parents say "Your class was exactly what my child needed!"

2) Hearing students say "Oh, I get it!"

3) Grading papers and running across gems like these:
"He displays the qualities of bravery, generosity, tenacity, truthfulness, steadfastness, he is horrible at managing money, and is slightly eccentric."
"One does not have friends a dime a dozen."
"I decided I may have to thrash him for speaking in emphasis like that, and being a chauvinist."
"But even in the darkness every colour can be found-- and every drop of rain can keep things going, seeds you're sowing in the ground."
"The mountain of my emotions, built on fear, crashed as the reality of leaving hit me."
"He likes video games and eating. He dislikes homework and being hungry."

A Note for the Gentlemen

She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed;
She is a woman, and therefore to be won.
-William Shakespeare (King Henry VI, Part I)

No joke: women want to be "wooed and won," and not just on Valentine's Day. Take a woman's affections for granted and you'll be getting the cold shoulder real soon.

So don't be lazy, now.

(N.B. This post shall not be taken in any way as a negative reflection upon my husband, who does a wonderful job of pursuing me, all the time, regardless of my mood. Or if dinner was burnt. Or if I'm having a bad hair day. Love you babe.)

:)