I schlepped to DC, as usual, for class but did not have my usual dinner engagement with Devika. Class itself was lively. It was my turn to present a piece from a poetry journal and I chose a regional one that publishes truly bad work (that was the general consensus, anyway). We had a tremendous time discussing one poem entitled "It Was Raining Diamonds." That is to say nothing of how we anihilated the journal's first prize winner, a highly schmaltzig ode to Cezanne and his apples, but that was really more about the poet's own sense of self-importance. She won $300 for that schlock! We joked about doing a parody of the "diamonds" piece and titling it "It Was Raining Cubic Zirconia."

At work it's all about the deadline. Today is it,and with one coworker out enjoying his new role of father and another out, as of 3:30 yesterday, on vacation we've got a handicap going. Staying late may be in the cards. It's also another coworker's last day. We're all supposed to be going out for happy hour at 5 to wish her well. I see that getting pushed back...but maybe not. Stranger things have happened.