Take a break, Driver 8

As my first week of school is winding down, I have a few job-related thoughts:

• I really like being a train commuter. The 40 minute train ride to and from work each day gives me some extra planning time in the morning and extra grading or relaxing time in the afternoon. Not to mention the fact that the treehugging Al Gore lover in me is very pleased to be taking mass transit. The trouble with riding the train is . . .
• . . . it will be a while before I get used to getting up at 5:30 a.m. (I have to be at the train station at 6:35 or so each morning.) Fortunately the train station is only about a 10 minute walk from my apartment, and on nice days it is a 4 minute bike ride. Nonetheless, it is too early.
• Having taught in a district where school started after Labor Day, I can say that it has been a long time since I have fully appreciated Labor Day. This first week of school has been exhausting, and I am very much looking forward to sleeping in and a three-day weekend.
  
• But I am also looking forward to my first social outing with my English department colleagues, which is some happy hour fun after school tomorrow.

A good start . . .