I can't believe I told Al I'd take his Anthro 10 sections. Like I don't have enough of my own work to do. Not to mention finding time to get shot at and other daily tasks involved in the care-and-feeding of a grouchy Sentinel.

Being in anthro sucks. Like, in other fields, when you ditch your classes for a month to go off to a tropical paradise, you get your ass fired. In anthro, it's field research and your too-dumb-to-do-it-to-you-first colleagues have to cover for you.

In January, no less. Also known in Cascade as "the season in which the waters will rise up and devour the city whole." And yea, verily, the Sentinel shall be made unhappy by all the rain and make the Guide's life a living hell.

And it's like he doesn't even get that I have this whole other life that does not revolve around the great Jim Ellison. A life where they actually expect me to show up from time to time. "But you only teach 6 hours a week, Chief."

Grrrrrrrrr. Yeah, right, Jim. And in between I'm just standing around, waiting for my students to show up.

It's a cop thing, I think. I mean, really, in a sense, that's what cops do: wait around for the criminals to show up. It's reactive, not -- oh, hey, better write this down. Possible chapter in the diss.

Crap, add that to the list of things I have to do this week. Need to do some heavy lifting on the faculty front. It's re-up time at the station for my creds and I may need a decent rec.

So, OK, mental list time, Blair. Wait, better write it down.

I've got to have a pen somewhere in this -- oh, crap.

OK, No. 1: Pick up the monstrous pile of paper that just fell to the floor.

No. 2: Drop by the departmental thing this evening and schmooze.

No. 3 -- Better make that No. 2 1/2: *Before* this evening, talk to the department secretary and get current on the whole Carol vs. Bill situation, just in case.

No. 3. Wait I had a no. 3 already, right? So, OK, this is No. 4.

No. 4: Buy new wiper blades for Jim's truck. Not that he needs them. "You're the Sentinel," I said. "Just see *through* the rain." All that got me was a lecture on car safety. Again. And this from the man who theoretically could zone at any time but still doesn't let me drive his truck.

No. 5: Skim the Anthro 10 notes. Just in case I'm unlucky and one of Al's freshmen actually does the reading.

No. 6 -- I'm never going to remember all this. Oh, wait, where's the laptop? I'll just type it in and --

That's it, I'm never checking my e-mail again.

Jennie's leaving? Great. Why no, I don't mind covering an extra section. I'll just cut out, like, sleeping. It'll be fine.

Being in anthro sucks.