The Spring, clad all in gladness
Doth laugh at Winter’s sadness.
UPDATE on seasons: I cannot remember a cooler month of May in Louisiana. Since it is cool and the semester is ending, I keep thinking it is Christmas. Yet last night I dreamed of sleeping in summer under the big trees.
UPDATE on time: A Boy just knocked on my door, asking permission to rummage through my flowerbeds for a ball. I thought he was a new Boy and then realized he was the neighbors’ former baby, version 10.0.
UPDATE on advice to new faculty: Yankee men and other Northern barbarians, wash your clothes! I realize this is a cool May, but I can smell you from across the room.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
Sorry. I don’t wash my clothes because it’s a form of bonding with my sled dogs. It’s an alpha male thing. Also I don’t shave until Skjærtorsdag when I harrytur to Strömstad in Sweden where I pillage the malls like an updated version of an old Viking. Excuse me while I finish my Yorkie chocolate bar.
Northern Barbarian
OK but you’ll never get laid in Louisiana. Maybe in Oregon or Minnesota, somewhere where they have white hippies. What is the deal with Skjærtorsdag anyway, what is it that gets torn (doesn’t skjær mean “rend” or something, what is “Maundy” anyway…)? Why is it a day to finally shave … or is it a spring thing?
Skjærtorsdag is deconstructed into Skjær (“cut”) and torsdag (“Thursday”). This is because it was customary for men to cut their beards on this day since spring was coming and the weather was getting warmer.
Maundy Thursday is used in the Anglican Church and originated with the Latin word “mandatum” which comes from the first word in the Latin translation of the Gospel of John (13:34) bible verse. “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” (“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you”) was spoken by Jesus at the last supper on this particular day.
This is fascinating! 🙂