Robins and waltzing and work (oh my)

• One of today’s highlights was walking on the very messy sidewalk outside Straub Hall and then almost instantaneously composing a haiku about it.

  Sidewalks outside Straub
  Tiptoe through persimmon rinds
  Dodging eager birds

  Later I went back to try to photograph the birds, but I couldn’t zoom in well enough to get a good photo. I’ve never seen such an accumulation of robins! At least 20 on the ground and more in the trees. Also there were a few juncos.
  
• Another highlight came a few moments ago when D. was inspired by an interesting surname I’d found in the newspaper today and had us waltz around the livingroom some while he repeated the name: “Clinkinbeard. Clinkinbeard. Clinkinbeard. Clinkinbeard.”
  
• H. was encouraging about my second proposal idea for the February 16 deadline, which is good news in terms of possible income for February but also potentially a lot of work, especially for someone who is (a) already doing a proposal for the same deadline, and (b) trying to finish a dissertation.