I almost wish we were butterflies

and lived but three summer days

~ John Keats, in a letter to Fanny Brawne (1819)

Words and phrases linger inside my head, much like song melodies. This quote has been rattling around up there since the English major graduation ceremony last Wednesday. Oh yes forgot to mention: I'm a college graduate. I thought it made a fitting opening for my annual summer to-do list. 

Much like last summer, I will be spending most of my time at the Gallagher Law Library. I'm working a full forty hours a week and adding on new (and exciting) responsibilities. This week has been completely occupied with interlibrary loan training--learning all about lending and borrowing. Libraries are wonderful places for people-pleasers to work; I take great pleasure in helping people find and obtain the materials they want. Immense amounts of job satisfaction.

But, because I'm working full time, I have no life. I leave for work at 07:00 and get home between 19:00 and 19:30. 'Tis a long day. I still have a few summer goals though. Mostly reading. Lots and lots of reading. On Monday morning, I was on page 390 of The Count of Monte Cristo; today, I'm in the mid-900s. Only 300 or so pages left! I'm determined to finish Monte Cristo by Saturday because I'm participating in a Bloomsday Read Along and beginning Joyce's Ulysses. I don't mind being in the middle of multiple books but I do try to only read one obese novel at a time. For my sanity. Sanity? What is this sanity that you speak of?

Which brings us to my summer to-do list:

• Read through my entire summer reading list 

Source

• For every book that I read, write a short blog post about my thoughts or feelings concerning the text.
• Write a blog post once a week (not including the book blogging).
• Watch all the BBC! Just a few BBC marathons, including but not limited to: Merlin (almost finished with season three), Sherlock, The Hour, The League of Gentlemen, Grandma's House, Downton Abbey, season five of Lewis (premieres July 8 on KCTS!!!), possibly Robin Hood, and definitely some Doctor Who. 
• Road trip to Portland with Samara and one of her friends. We're going to finally see Danny Boyle's Frankenstein!
• Run. A lot. 
• Learn several piano pieces, including Chopin's "Prelude, Op 28: 15 in D Flat Major ('Raindrop').
• Throw a tea party.
• Go to the ocean.
• Follow along with University Presbyterian's summer sermon series: Good Questions
• Make time for friends.
• Pretend to be British.
• Become very freckly. (Also known as spend lots of time in the sunshine.)

It's a simple list this year. Nevertheless, I am very much looking forward to this summer.