(no subject)
Hrm, not much to report besides the usual. Have been meeting with students much of the time, preparing for OWLs and NEWTs, marking end-of-term projects...
Have had a few interesting meetings with a couple sixth-years about their projects for next year, as some of them, either due to the time needed for the project or the nature of the study, will require a great deal of work in the summer. Some of their ideas are very interesting, and I look forward to reading thier updates and seeing what comes of their plans. However, for my other sixth-years: if you haven't seen me about a project, don't worry about it. You only need to contact me at this point if you will need to start it over the summer, as it's better if I approve it or give you suggestions on it now, rather than you do a large amount of work over the summer and have it all be for naught. Proposals are not officially due until the end of September.
If any students do need to meet with me, I am in my office when not in class, and from after dinner until around 9pm. There is a schedule of my office hours on my office door, and if you would like to meet with me, please send me a note or speak to me after class to arrange a time.
PRIVATE
Oh Lord, I don't think I've ever laughed as hard as I have this weekend. On Friday I walked into Hogsmeade for a few things (as I was loath to do it while that...creature of Hagrid's was wandering around--what on earth was he THINKING?!). I stopped at the new bookshop to take a look around (Alice's Bookshop, I think it's called--the one where Prof. Lupin is working), and couldn't resist buying a copy of that new tawdry romance novel the staff have been buzzing about: The Wicked Wizard's Wand. It simply looked too ludicrous to miss. As to the opinions I've heard...well, all right, the face of the hero on the cover does look a bit like Snape (I refuse to speculate about the rest of the hero's body!). But really, though he does share some traits of Snape's he's hardly like Snape. I can see a bit of a resemblance, perhaps, but the similarity is likely more due to the conventions of romance fiction than intentional. Many romance heroes have a gift with sarcasm or wit--even the well written ones. Ceasario probably owes more to Edward Fairfax Rochester than Severus Snape.
As for the book itself...God, just the thought of it still makes me laugh. It's such rubbish--but highly amusing rubbish. I generally don't read romance novels as they're usually so formulaic and twee, but occasionally I do, when I feel like a good laugh, and this definitely fits the bill. It's not a waste of a few sickles, that's for certain. Spent the weekend morning tucked up in bed, Pippin purring in my lap, reading. Was wonderfully stress-free.
Other than that, worked, and took care of some correspondence. It seems I have a new pen-friend--keep forgetting to scan that letter of his as I promised a while ago. Will have to write myself a note reminding myself to do it. Have to meet with a students in a couple minutes, however, so it will have to wait.