Not one day into my goal of posting every day, and I have already skipped a day.
Yesterday, I attempted to grade papers, again. There is something about this activity that usually feels utterly foreign to me. When I do it correctly, and when I am in the correct mind-set, it is long and tiresome mental work, but in the end rewarding for both students and myself. But getting in the correct mind set is difficult. Still, I made progress yesterday- better progress than I had made in the previous few days. Hopefully I will have something complete by the next round of classes.
This winter in Chicago can barely be called winter. Most of the Minnesota falls and springs I have experienced were colder and snowier than this. It is late February, and we have perhaps had seven days with any snow on the ground. There has truly been no more than two days with very cold weather. And by “very cold,” I mean very cold for Chicago. Has it reached below zero even once this year? I cannot recall.
I am once again starting a personal writing project, which I began this morning. I will not be sharing it on this blog, exempting a sample here and there. It will be a collection of personal essays, written for a general audience, though I have no idea if they will be of interest to anyone. I have selected a number of topics so far. This is only a rough draft, but the topics I am playing with include:
On knowledge, its pursuit, and those who “know.”
On the difference between the 17th century and 21st century letters.
On the ideal form of public dialogue.
On god, and modern believers’ embrace of it.
On god, and modern atheists’ rejection of It.
On god, and how the proper contemplation of it expands the soul and mind.
On god, and how one can have proper contemplation of it.
On essays, arguments, and their proper goals.
On Socrates.
On my goals of being a teacher, and how I have failed.
On being liberal and conservative.
On growing up in the suburbs, to live in the city.
On being a former Marine amongst an ocean of life-long progressives.
On joy and sorrow.
On alcohol, its joys and dangers.
Natural Causes 
Additional possible essays:
On games, problems and mysteries, and how they affect the mind’s ability to think.
On Americans being spoiled.
On equality and privilege.
Easily my favorite: “On my goals of being a teacher, and how I have failed.”
It would make an interesting summer project to write paired essays on this.
Indeed.