Notes From the Dark Side

The Spouse is trying to quit smoking. To say I am thrilled is a minor understatement, however, I’m playing it very low key as she definitely does not want to talk about it. We had a little cancer “scare” here just recently and, although it now appears that things are going to be okay, I think getting scared of the idea of cancer was just what she needed to push her to stop the cigarettes.

The problem, of course, is that she’s mean as a snake. She’s been smoking for more than 40 years and that equals a serious addiction and a very unpleasant withdrawal. You’ve heard of that lion with a thorn in its paw? Well, she’s limping around and that thorn (also known as nicotine addiction) is really digging in. It is not pleasant for either of us.

However, I have great empathy. I remember the hell I went through when I quit, oh so many years ago. They didn’t have patches and gum and all that stuff back then and I just went cold turkey. For some inexplicable reason, she has chosen to do the same. No patches, no gum, no pills, no cigarettes. Gotta admire her gumption even while I suffer through her being so very unpleasant. Nobody around here is very happy at the moment.

In other news, it’s Finals week at school and I’m busily creating final exams for my classes. That too is a challenging task: to make a question hard enough to be “worthy” for a final, but not so hard, they all miss it. I do want them to make a good showing for it reflects well on my teaching. I have new textbooks this semester, hence I have to create all new tests. Not fun.

And finally, our weather is insane. First it’s warm and sunny and you can wear shorts. Today, it’s freezing cold with wildly blowing winds and gray skies. The weatherman truly cannot make up his mind.

Christmas is coming way too fast. I’m not doing much this year, but the little I’m doing isn’t done. Time needs to slow down……..