It is spring. That is to say, it is approaching THE BEGINNING.

This week has been full of more than its share of wonderful things.

I read a book that made me want to stay up all night to read it. The first in a long time. The best part is that reading good writing makes me dream about writing. I love the thought of having stories to write. Too bad narrative isn’t my strong suit.

The second thing I really liked was my Wednesday. It doesn’t, in my mind, seem the sort of day that I should enjoy. I was required to give a seminar in my mycology class and spent the morning at the sugar bowl putting the finishing touches on the presentation: finding previously unknown (to me) links between Amanita muscaria, Keats, Shelley, and Emily Dickinson. Then I headed over to the good ol’ biosci building to put my presentation onto the computer that was hooked up to the projector. It didn’t work at all, and thus ensued two hours of dashing about the convoluted corridors of botany and zoology trying to find a mac projector, adaptor, a computer that could read the image files that I had somehow managed not to insert as jpegs. Who knew that computers were ridiculous? This process took me through the seminar previous to mine and at the very last second there was my presentation converted into an acrobat file ready to go, unrehearsed, and barely proofread. It went surprisingly well, and apparently my audience thought fungi’s connection with fiction interesting. I think this whole ordeal was pleasant because it was exhilarating. Only I recognize how unprepared I was, and how, by some unexplainable bout of fortitude, I was still able to confidently present an argument that would never have flown over in humanities.

Wednesday and Thursday’s suppers were a treat. I was the privileged host of two very pleasant guests, with whom I prepared lovely meals. Cooking is a great deal more satisfying when you don’t do it alone, eating more pleasant when accompanied by friends. And all that with avocado… what could be better.

And the last of my long list: making a mixed cd. I used to really enjoy making mixed tapes, (which I still believe to be a better demonstration of affection and effort than cds), and until now haven’t had a computer that was capable of creating cds (or anything for that matter). Anyway, even making the cd was a very pleasant experience. It’s nice to be able to invest thought and time in something with a pleasing end. Making the cd case was an especially agreeable task. It was constructed out of a cheerios box, with a typewritten insert and red yarn to hold it together. I am very pleased with it, as, I hope, was the recipient.