I think I have my three syllabi done, or as done as they'll get! Whew. I'm all planned up to the end of the month, right up until the minute I head off for World Fantasy in DC on the 31st. Crazy.

I'm feeling a bit nervous about the teaching, but fortunately Elizabeth and I both got to blow off some steam last night at the First Annual "Ohio-Style" Tewell Bonfire over in Chapel Hill, held in the backyard of our friends Josh and Cammie. Here's a photo of the fire I took and emailed to myself last night at 11:24 p.m., using Josh's cool, tricked-out phone:

We had a great time, chatting and cooking wieners and s'mores over the fire with Josh, Cammie, Holly, Val, Siobhan, and Clarke, though we didn't get back home until way past midnight (my wonderful wife Elizabeth drove my tired butt home after one Scotch too many. I need to stick to beer, I think. My past few run-ins with Scotch have been... rough, to say the least).

Today, we're both recovering and getting ready for the coming week -- Elizabeth is in her 2nd week of a new job, and I start a new job tomorrow, so needless to say, we've both been a bit stressed. Transitions are hard on us both, I guess. Once this week is out of the way, it'll be much, much better. First days of work are always the worst. Ugh. Wish me luck!

Now, I'm off to do some serious goofing off. Later!