Tasks for the Summer

I always over-book myself in the summer (winter too), but here are the things I'm hoping to accomplish this summer:

1. Read! I've got a handful of books that I've put off, from Harry Potter to The Elements of Style. I'm going to hit a few of them.


2. Paint! The back bedroom is going to finally get a makeover. It's been a cluttered and inefficient office for years, but I'm hoping to actually paint over the landlord's glossy beige walls and get a decent desk in there.


3. Work out! I'm going to push for at least four gym days a week plus some bike trails stuff. It's nice to look down and see my belt buckle without a protruding stomach in the way.


4. Write! I've got a beginning of a textbook for my remedial students. I hope I can pull together enough for them to have it as handouts by September, then perhaps send it off to a publisher for an opinion.


5. Edit! A friend wants me to look over his manuscript and do something to make it more acceptable for general publication. I hope that works out. I've never actually been in a book under the "Special Thanks To" category.


6. Travel! I'm going to Los Angeles for Becky's wedding, and even though gasoline is certain to go over $5 by the end of the summer, I'd love to do some other stuff too.

My boss at the community college is only giving me one course (though another is possible), so all this really could work. I'm not too worried about the lack of teaching, since I've got six for the fall. The community college course is a literature survey. Haven't done one of those in a very long time. It should be fun.