A Post to Show I'm Alive

 I have had sort of a stupid couple of weeks for a variety of reasons, and since I have no desire to blog about things that just make me sad, I've been quiet.  But I realize that people are probably wondering if I have been eaten by roving packs of philosophy majors or something, so here I am, writing a few words to prove that I am still somewhere in existence.

Folks, I admit it.  I have an addiction.  I really, really can't help myself.  Free samples in the mail.  As many as I can get.  Stuff I don't even know if I want.  If I can get it sent to me simply by virtue of an address and email, I'm there.  And I get pathetically excited about it too.  I open the mailbox and thrill to see some tiny colorful package that means someone has heard my plea for free crap.  I have a few standards, though.  I did not sign up for a year of Maxim magazine for free (though I think I might have blithely clicked through if it wasn't a two-step sign up process.  What?  Beside the point, people, I didn't and that's what counts) and I don't click on the free diaper sample links.  So I'm not totally crazy.

So despite my own dramas, I am slowly amassing a collection of free samples that I think I'll put in my office for times when I need two post-it file labels or a single dose of vitamins.

So there will be a real entry of some sort soon.  But that's what I've got for now.

PS-- I don't want to make a habit out of saying bad things about my students online as a matter of public record, but let me just say that if you have a young person in your life, please, please, please make sure they understand a few basic concepts like using commas to make a list and what the word "or" means.