Apologies for the long hiatus. The end of the semester was a crazy one, and after a brief trip to Iowa, I'm back at the cabin.

Plans for the summer include:

• reading for the comps - the list is here, if you're interested: http://www.alaska.edu/english/mfa/requirements/readinglist/fiction-2010-and-2011/ I'll be taking the test in February, and so far, I've read only 8 of these books, so it's time to get crackin'.
• writing - I want to polish up some of the stories I wrote during the year, as well as write some new ones and get started on the idea I have for my thesis to see if it'll work.
• submitting to publications
  
• gardening - Just spent the afternoon (off and on) tilling one of two raised garden beds. It seems they haven't been used in awhile, and between the weeds, roots, and hordes of mosquitoes, getting them ready for planting is turning out to be much more work than I'd anticipated.
• sewing/crocheting/cooking/whatever else catches my fancy
  
• jury's still out on the whole employment thing....

I'm hoping to be able to go see more of Alaska this summer. I've pretty much only been in Fairbanks so far, aside from the drive up. I'm feeling pretty limited by the fact that I don't have a job right now, but I'd at least like to make it to Denali, and I'll be seeing what other hiking trails I can find around the area as well (though I'm pretty attached to and content with Murphy Dome already).

I would also just like to note that the mosquitoes here are the largest I've ever seen. And yes, I have seen the ones in Minnesota.