i made it there yesterday in one piece--one sticky, panicked, slightly disheveled piece, but one piece.

i got to class a few minutes early, as usual. i hate being late to classes, i can't settle down if i feel rushed and stressed. anyway, outside in the hallway is another student...waiting. so i attempt a little idle chit chat. i can do it. i have the tiniest bit of social skills. maybe.

but she was...ummm....chipper. or maybe perky. at least happy and bright. and young, dear lord was she young. i don't know how old she was but she was just "young." ooh and bubbly. and did i mention young?

so i was thinking, "oh no. it's a jane austen course. what was i thinking? these are going to be simpering, prim, nice people! i am in huge trouble."

we filed in and did the awkward choosing of positions around the table. you know that you are going to wind up there for the whole semester, so you need to choose wisely. i stationed myself on the opposite side of perky and bubbly. social skills, yes. ability to keep myself from throttling her, uh uh. then we all got out what we felt necessary for class. i also find this very telling. i can be a pen snob at times. and i love my levenger notebook. but...i also enjoy a happy bunny notebook or pen, etc. most people seemed ok, not overly organized but enjoying the newness of clean fresh pages in notebooks and pens that actually have ink. i swear i thought perky and bubbly was going to break out a few doilies, but we were spared.

3:30. 3:35. we are starting to get anxious. class starts at 3:30 and no sign of prof. 3:40....she comes in like something out of a cartoon with papers streaming behind her and her glasses pushed up on her head. she flops down in the chair,starts talking and promising that she would get there on time at least once if she ever got organized. she told us to call her by her first name (which caused a gasp from perky and bubbly), told us about her grad school experiences and i knew right away that i would love her. she doesn't like the "austen freaks" who dwell on the niceties. she loves the irony and wit and even meanness in the writing. she is a bit snarky and left to get a diet coke at one point (and offered to get anyone else one!)

we are going to be just fine. we did some "break the ice" exercises. they went well and i feel like i am on solid ground. there is only one paper (no pressure, eh?) but it won't be a problem.

on the way home i rode the smelly train with two girls from class. both were married (!) and back in school. and both were fun and a little less bubbly. it made the ride a lot less stressful.

so now all i have to do is read and write and argue about austen. things are looking up!