The school season starts tomorrow, and I approach it with nervousness, excitement, dread and relief.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing my students, especially my advanced ones. I have more advanced classes this year than Art 1 classes...I guess that either means enough students liked the class last year that they wanted to take it again, or I'm an easy grade.

This should be a great year.

There are many things I have to accomplish before the end of the school year. I just need to concentrate, stay on task and pull through. Field trip Thursday, Art Show next Thursday, register for a class, give exams....

If I'm so ready to be done with the school year, why did I volunteer to teach two one-week classes this summer in Bay City?

I've noticed my most recent pieces have been very colorful. Maybe I should switch back into black and white for a bit? Nothing wrong with either, just an observation. I have a house and 30 years of debt. I also have the day off.

I never take work off because of being sick, today was an exception. Stomach flu or something. I just slept all day. Tomorrow we close on our new house. This weekend we move. I hope to be feeling better.

Are you ready?

Myself, I suppose I am. I need school to keep me on some sort of schedule. I suppose I'm feeling guilty and I need to get back to doing what I'm paid for instead of lounging around for 3 months.

I really dislike the bureaucracy and paperwork involved with school, all of these things that give me butterflies and turn my stomach every morning when I think of what I have to accomplish in the next 8 months. I know I'll do it and survive.

What I truly look forward to are my students, especially those coming back to my classes from last year. They're the main reason I love my job sometimes. I suppose it's a good thing I'm a teacher then, eh? Well, students and the fact I can make a living creating art.

Speaking of making a living, my wife and I are looking to move, not far, just out of this house. It needs too much repair to justify the money it would take and it's holding us back in our lives, so we're searching for something newer with less upkeep. More bills.