Ducks Mate for Life

Today was a strange day. I spent most of it typing up the revisions the Deep kids did on Monday. It was tedious work. I can't help feeling that I may have failed them a little. Did I not push them hard enough? I feel like I could have gotten so much more out of them, and yet I didn't. I hope this is just paranoia related to my unusually high standards. This was my first go round, so I'm sure there's a lot of room for improvement. I have high hopes for next semester, at any rate.

One of the things I tend to struggle with myself as a writer is my overuse of commas. I have a gun that I fill with comma buckshot. I then stand 20 feet away from my work and fire, letting the commas pepper the piece as the hit. It's not a good habit, and now I find myself adding commas to the kids work where none are needed. I need to go to comma rehab and detox.

They're comma-ing for me. Source

I took a break from revisions to go to the grocery store this evening. I thought I did great by staying within my budget, only to find that I overspent in spite of myself. I am so very tired of there never being enough money. I picked up an application for a local deli yesterday. They need someone for 17.5 hours a week, and I'm certain that it would be a minimum wage job - so basically I would be working just to pay for my childcare. I am going to apply anyway though. Having childcare will allow me to do more with my free time to make money - like selling Mary Kay and making things for the Etsy store I have never used. I'm trying so hard not to be bitter, but it's hard.

On my way to the store I saw one of the neighborhood ducks dead on the curb. There was another duck a few feet away, presumably mourning. The people in my subdivision really hate the ducks, but I see no reason to just run them down. It's kind of senseless. I felt really bad for the other duck. I know that they mate for life - I wonder if the survivor will die of sadness or if they move on like people. Maybe it varies from duck to duck.

On a brighter note, I received a Christmas card from Captain Tesla and her boyfriend. It kind of made my day. They were in the obligatory holiday pose, sitting in front of a Christmas tree, roaring fire in the background, wearing tacky Christmas sweaters and full death metal makeup. It was pretty much awesome.

I have nothing else right now, dear readers. I am exhausted. I've finished my revision submission, I've created 11 awards for my students, and I've still got a million things to do tomorrow. I will see you after it's all over. Until then, enjoy today's FPN Extended Play Advent Calendar Selection: "Christmas" from Tommy by The Who.