Well, we're heading into the dark of the year now . . . only 37 or 38 days or so until the solstice, and I can console myself with the thought that the days are lengthening. It's still light out when I leave in the morning, and so far, I've managed to return before dark when I've been able to leave right after my last class, but that won't last too much longer.

I heard from my old friend Crystal (from grad school) yesterday. She's now living outside of Waterville, Maine, on the completely other side of the time zone from us. (I remember, when we moved there, how hard it was to grok the fact that Maine and Michigan are in the same time zone.) She said something about how it's now completely pitch-black by 4:15. I remember that darkness; it was one of the reasons I wasn't sorry to leave the place. (True, it gets light earlier in the morning - but to a night person, what good is that?)

I've brought in a bicycle and put it on the trainer in the basement, more because of the darkness than the cold. It's not really that cold yet - and besides, even when it snows, I have my mountain bike . . . But it's not possible for me to ride in daylight very much any more. (I'm having to remind myself of the degree to which I'm choosing not to: I don't have to leave for Lansing until 9:15 on Monday and Wednesday; I could leave at 10:30 on Thursday, and Friday, I can either be home in the morning or the afternoon. This is not a 9-to-5 existence I'm leading! And come May, I can ride all day if I want!!)

But still, the darkness bums me out. My bones feel all creaky, and my Achilles tendons are flaring up; I spent a portion of the day today on the web looking up treatments (NSAIDs, ice, stretching, cortisone, steriods, perhaps an ultrasound to break up the scar tissue, operations . . . or stretches and exercises. Pretty much the picture I'd imagined before I took a look. At least it saved me a fruitless doctor visit). I remember that last year I felt sore and slow and dull-witted in the winter, and also the winter before that. Once the snow flies there's skiing (if my tendons ease up!) and better sunlight - the twilight lasts longer and the light's a more cheerful color - all of which helps. It's no matter to me that winter doesn't really set in until after the solstice; I like winter. February skiing at sunset is the best skiing there is.

At least the classes are going really well at the moment. Since we only have two weeks until the portfolios go in, the students are scared and tractable, listening intently for the first time in weeks. I'm starting to see the occasional flare-up over a grade, and I suspect that'll get worse before it gets better. (As usual, I've conveniently forgotten that I have to grade them.) But basically, from here on out, they're revising things; I get one more batch of papers at the end of this week, and that's it. I don't even mind reading the papers; they've gotten to be quite enjoyable as I've gotten to know people and as their writing has improved.

I'm looking forward to Christmas break. (Looking past Thanksgiving, almost.)

But mostly I'm looking forward to the days getting longer again . . .