1. I am registered for a 5K trail race a week from Saturday. It’ll be my first race since I finished this round of PT, and the first one this year in which I expect to be able to run the entire distance. (The last 5K race I did involved a run/walk strategy as I was still in the middle of my first round of PT). I’m pretty excited to be back out and racing again, even though I won’t be able to really race the distance — I plan to just run at a steady pace, exert myself as much as I can, and stay out of the way of other runners. I’m not particularly graceful on trails and it’s been a while since I last ran anywhere other than the road or sidewalk, so I’ll try not to wipe out. My race plan: have a good time!

2. I mentioned recently that I’ve been feeling harried and disorganized, and I’m sorry to say that the feeling persists. I am constantly monitoring my to-do lists (yes, lists plural; I have several going at a time; I like lists) and yet I have been unable to shake the feeling that I’m forgetting something. Is it work-related? Something for teaching or for a committee? Did I miss a meeting? Have I neglected to get in touch with a friend, answer a text or email? Or am I forgetting a social engagement on my calendar? I even wake up from sleep with the feeling of alarm that accompanies remembering something you forgot to do, only I can’t remember what it is my brain thinks I forgot. It’s not a severe, constant problem, but rather a nagging undercurrent of anxiety. I think it’s partly to do with my new schedule and responsibilities at work plus the typical onslaught of functions, parties, and get-togethers that happens at the beginning of every new semester. I’m working on methods to keep myself on top of it all, including shifting to a paper planner instead of relying on iCal, which I never remember to check or edit. We’ll see how it goes. Maybe it’ll all shake out soon. Otherwise, do y’all have any suggestions?

3. Last weekend I attended my second football game since I’ve been working here. It was, unfortunately, the second time I haven’t been able to see a real marching band halftime show. As a former marching band person (and a person who can only muster, at best, a tiny handful of interest in football itself), I strenuously object! Both games involved special guests playing with the university band — the alumni band at a homecoming game and a high-school honors band last week — which meant they all stood in a giant square and played some bullshit nonsense songs and then marched off the field. Example: “Moves Like Jagger.” You have GOT to be kidding me. I have sat through two entire football games here and seen precisely zero marching band shows. This cannot stand. Unfortunately, however, I think I probably won’t be heading back for any more games this season: my friends have seats in the upper decks, like three rows from the very top, and my vertigo makes it impossible to sit there without praying for death. (Seriously, I was so proud of myself for sticking it out and I thought, “Wow, I’ve made it almost halfway through this game without vomiting,” and then I looked at the clock and realized we were only 8 minutes into the first quarter.) And, an obviously more pressing matter: they don’t sell beer at college stadiums.