Wednesday random things

I did start the new pony (based on a Dalarna horse) last night. I didn't get very far. I find Tuesdays frustrating because I have an evening class that goes from 5 to just about 7, and this week we were out in the field, which meant I had to wash my hair afterward (to get the pollen and mold spores out - even with that I am having sinus symptoms and am a bit hived up). Also, I do have Tuesday afternoons "off" (from 11 to 5), but I find myself so frantically trying to cram all the stuff I need to get done into them that I really don't have them off.

This morning we have no classes because it's mid-level assessment testing. However, the faculty are expected to attend some kind of professional-development thing. I will politely note that I am not in favor of the idea of filling up every empty moment of faculty time with enforced meetings and such. (That's partly why I so frantically cram my Tuesday afternoons with grading and test-writing and things). A goodly chunk of last weekend was lost to work because of Homecoming.

My neck problems are back. I'm pretty sure it's stress; when I go to bed at night to read I heat up a "rice bag" (really: one of those Bucky products filled with buckwheat, this is a long rectangular one that you can put on your back or your neck) and that makes the cramps go away. But they sometimes come back during the day. When I turn my head I can hear a little grinding and that's probably not normal. But also the elbow I broke some 20 years ago has been hurting too, so it's probably the changeable weather.

If it weren't for the professional-development thing, I'd be out getting my fall invertebrate samples. But I can't. And I'm NOT doing it  Saturday, which would be the logical time, as it is supposed to be a high of 55 and raining - and considering my level of adaptation to warmer temperatures, and considering my neck, I don't think it would be wise. I don't know when I'll get to it; next weekend is already totally spoken for unless I skip the city trash-off on Saturday. (I HATE that. I hate that I feel like I can't get to things I need to be doing because I have too much stuff already in my schedule. I'm really overscheduled but there's nothing I can graciously drop right now.)

I have to get an electrician out; another light switch failed. This is the one in the living room that controls the overhead light/fan (aka the light I use to see the music by when I practice piano). It was fine yesterday morning; yesterday afternoon it wouldn't turn on. I tried the breaker and that wasn't it. I presume it's the switch and not the fixture. Or, I hope it's the switch and not the fixture. But it's ALWAYS something. Something is always breaking or failing. I'm going to see if I can get someone out Friday afternoon; that is the first time I will be able to be at home during any kind of reasonable "business hours."

Or maybe I'll suck it up and do the soil sampling Friday, and just not get the electrician in, and make do with floor lamps until....I don't know, until fall break, I suppose. Gah. Sometimes I feel like this is so not the adult life I signed up for.