The long Thanksgiving weekend has been filled with mom stuff. Fun, chores; laughter, whining.

My valiant plans to do work (grade midterm! edit student papers! review manuscripts!) did not materialize. When will I finally give up these silly ideas and stop planning to do work during weekends or holidays? When it becomes possible to go home without feeling the death grip of guilt over all the work that looms unfinished. Or never. Whichever comes first.

I have to grade tonight. Here’s a picture of squash. Just look at the carnival squash beauty on the left; I saw it in the produce aisle and absolutely had to have it. By next weekend, two thirds of this still life will be obliterated.