My students submitted their final essays this week, which means there's a big pile of 'em on the living room floor -- and a smaller pile (those are the ones I've already graded) in my schoolbag. All this to say I don't expect to be doing any new writing until the middle of next week. When I'm not writing, I miss it -- it's kind of like not getting to be with your crush!!! <div>But I decided to write this blog entry today, anyhow, to fill you in on some news. First, I wanted to tell you about some of the really cool papers I've been marking -- I've been teaching two sections of a course called "The Stuff of Nonsense" and for the final assignment, my students had to create a work of nonsense and analyze it in a separate essay. So far, I've seen some amazing stuff. Katherine D made a scarf out of red licorice! Steven B took a totally cool photo that was a play on the I Spy books he loved as a child. Becky W made a guitar that's half chicken and half musical instrument and Zach K made a sandwich that he filled with the layers that make up his personality. So even though I've got a  ton of marking, I can't complain too much since so many of the assignments are just plain fun to read. Also, projects like these make me reflect on the pleasures of creativity. It makes me happy to know there are an endless number of great ideas out there -- if only we're open to them and if we take the trouble to turn them into something.