A new semester, a year older

Today is going to be my first day back teaching at Earlham College. It also happens to be my birthday, as I remembered about 10 minutes into a groggy shower.I had a wonderful, relaxing break, spending time in North Carolina visiting with my family. Then, back to Indianapolis for a late Christmas with Stephan's family, and on to Florida for a few days. I wish I had time to write more about some of this but for now I'll just say that the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is a bird-watcher's paradise, and January is a fabulous time to visit the Everglades (no mosquitos, no oppressive heat).I feel like I am behind on lots of things, including writing, since I opted to be away for most of the break rather than play catch-up with all those things I fall behind on during the semester (cleaning up the pile on my desk, for one). But I did start back into chapter one of my novel yesterday and have some ideas for rewrites.I am looking forward to being back in the studio again with many returning voice students and some new ones!