Last weekend I drove up to Washington for the strange shmooze-fest that is the AAR/SBL annual meeting. It is the most expensive thing I do all year, both in terms of finances and in terms of energy, but for me well worth the cost. Ironically, the annual exposure to the insanity of my guild has become an important tool for maintaining my sanity -- primarily by providing a venue for reunion with good friends from earlier phases of my career, secondarily by indulging my eclectic interests within the broad field of "religion" (whatever the heck that is) and relighting some of the excitement of my so-called vocation.

The rest of Thanksgiving week/end I spent in semi-seclusion, detoxing from the overstimulation of the convention. I needed a vacation from my vacation.

Now, it's back to work for one last week of classes. But first, a belated list of some of the things I'm thankful for. (With an accent on the word things -- I'm intentionally excluding people, because that would take too long.)

* Semi-stale coffee at the Library of Congress.
* Very old books.
* Shiny new books.
* A blue glitter miniature lava-lamp, representing the "light at the end of the tunnel."
* Replacement bulbs from Wal*Mart, for when my "light at the end of the tunnel" is ominously DOA.
* My car, in spite of myself.
* The D.C. Metro system, in spite of everything.
* Un-lost, un-stolen coats.
* An internet connection that works most of the time.
* Unabridged Harry Potter audiobooks.