hello from the planet Neptune

not so sure why I feel like I'm on Neptune today, but hey, I'm going with it. If I've learned anything so far in this lifetime, it's that when the moment presents itself, grab it because it may never reappear again (the moment, not the lifetime) and besides, I have always wanted to visit exotic places (what's more exotic than Neptune?)
I'm all tired and rueful of my own fatigue as I have to read Machiavelli excerpts from Il Principe tonight and make a comparison with Boccaccio's Decamerone with regard to the treatment of Fortuna (this should be interesting). Happily, I got an A on the first paper I submitted for this class, comparing the first three novels from the first day with each other and then with Novella #73 from Il Novellino (written by everyone's favorite author, anonimo!! but only because it rhymes with geronimo!! ok well, maybe not). I was assigned to compare only the third novella from the first day with novella LXXIII from Il Novellino. Not bad for a first attempt! The prof (in his infinite generosity?) marked up the paper and suggested that we re-write the papers and hand them in again (was this really only a suggestion?).
I made a big decision in the last few days: I am going to do a double major (Italian and Psychology....luckily the psych is already finished). This came out of my own angst about not being able to find a job once I get to Italy without some kind of documented formal education. Passing their tests will probably be fine (if not at least sufficient) but I somehow feel (wouldn't have anything to do with a working knowledge of Italian bureaucracy, now would it?), but passing tests doesn't replace formal education in anyone's mind (even I can't justify it). One of my profs (the very same that I mentioned earlier) suggested that I keep my options open, especially if I wasn't sure that I wanted to teach ESL for the rest of my life (I can't make any lifetime commitments right now)..........so that's what I'm doing..........I'm keeping my options open.......................