October

The courses I administer started Friday, which means I've spent most of my week fielding emails and phone calls from confused students. After a few years working with students and having been one myself not long ago, I've decided that 'student' is pretty much synonymous with 'incapable of reading instructions' (in my experience this is true regardless of age).

I might be good at complaining about it, but I actually enjoy my job. I love knowing the work I put in is contributing to other people being able to achieve their academic/career goals and there is always plenty to laugh about (like the reference for an overseas applicant which declared the applicant's 'skull and scraneum are above medium order'- I'm not sure exactly what this means in terms of suitability for the course, but it is obviously impressive).

Honestly our lives are pretty boring this time of year, consumed mostly with the three W's of work, weather and wishing we could stay in bed. We had a week of beautiful crisp and clear autumn weather, but now the days have descended back into darkness and damp. For me, there is nothing as depressing as the short days of winter. My energy levels just sink, along with any desire I might have had to get out of my cozy bed in the morning. Fortunately, I think we will have a couple more weeks of autumn colours before trees go bare and all those shimmering yellows and reds keep me smiling.

Cooler, wetter, darker days also mean that I can justify cooking some of my winter comfort foods again- chili, stews, pot pies, and anything with baked apples or pumpkin. (I've tried unsuccessfully for three+ years to get Ross excited about pumpkin... sadly he just doesn't see the appeal.) Now that we are well into October, I can start planning our Thanksgiving festivities too! I'm already counting the days.

Now that we don't have any international travel plans for a while, I think I am going to start the expensive process of applying for citizenship. Since they seem to raise prices each April, it is in my best interests to just get it done- before the price doubles or triples! If I can push myself to put my application together, I might just be able to have my citizenship ceremony before Christmas. (The pamphlet says that the Queen often presides over citizenship ceremonies, but I suspect mine will be presided over by some random civil servant instead.)