adult function recovery

Music: Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark (2007)

Last night I hosted the twelfth annual Walpurgisnacht/May Day party (it made some appearance as an April Fools party one year in Baton Rouge, however, but . . . was in the same month). A good time was had by all---there was dancing, (moderate) drinking, and plenty of pretzels. No one got sick. No one broke anything. And aside from a couple of couples making busy with the PDAs, it was a rather successful "adult" function.

As my much missed former neighbor Shappy would say, "now, that was a good adult function."

What was amusing about last night's party---and perhaps telling of age, I don't know---was how well behaved we all were. And tired. There were many droopy eyes. Christopher arrived early and promptly napped on the couch. Folks were deliberately drinking water. The furrowed brows on the patio revealed more than a few folks were quietly working through term paper arguments in the back of their minds. A few defenders---a new Ph.D., a new MA, and a recently comped compatriot---were visibly relived.

In retrospect, I cannot think of a busier week in my career, and I'm sure more than a number of folks felt the same. We all wanted to party. We had the spirit within. But we're also all running on sleep deprivation. Sometimes "work hard" demands more "sleep hard" than "play hard." But we gave it a good ol' college try.

Had a lovely day enjoying the outdoors. Now, I think I'll get that "sleep hard" part accomplished. One more week of school to go for us here, then the grading parties commence. Then there are these pesky conference papers to write---and a coauthored essay to work on. And somewhere in there I hope to research and cook something new. And phone those friends I've neglected.

A gallery of the festivities is here. Come dance with us this Halloween.