.
Odds & Ends During "Crunch Time"

As this is the last week of classes prior to final exams, it is a very busy time for the students and also for us old geezer professors as well. But, in the midst of the enormously busy day of lecturing and tending to the very bruised egos of hordes of students who are not getting the grades they think they should be getting (read, not getting an "A"), a very nice present arrived for me in my lab. My new laptop computer, complete with docking station arrived today. I brought the beast home to look it over, but will be taking it back in the morning so as to set up the docking station. It is going to be very nice and helpful in research.

* * * * *

I am still struggling with the loss of light in the morning. It is so very challenging to get up at the time I would like to set for myself. In my best case scenario, I would like to get up at 5:30am. However, the utter pitch blackness during this time of year makes it a bigger challenge than I would like. Sometimes, during this time of the year, I do not really wake up until 6:30 or 7:00. Occasionally I do not crawl out of bed until 7:30 when daybreak occurs. It is so much nicer in the Summer with the longer day length. I can easily get up at 5:00 if I set my mind to it in the Summer. Any tricks to help in getting up in utter darkness would be appreciated. My best results so far are to set the alarm for 5:00 am and then turn on all the lights in the bedroom. Then go back to sleep for a half an hour and it feels *a little* more like it is daylight. This only is possible on days when my wife gets up at 5:00 however, as the light disturbs her.

* * * * *

The pipe I bought myself as an early birthday present right before deer camp is still a stalwart and true friend who provides utterly amazing service every day. It was such a perfect find for me, and my pipe smoking methods. Grand indeed!

PipeTobacco