It's Friday again, in the sense that Friday indicates the end of the work week, which wasn't true for me for the past two years. As a grad student, the days blended into each each other, always reading or writing to be done - especially on the weekends. The only benefit to the weekend was that all my working friends could come out and play.

I could stay out all night on a Tuesday and not lose time or productivity.

Now, it's personal, er, I mean now it's different. Teach the youngins' all week, then relax on the weekend. It's odd only having martinis two nights a week - but it's also odder being able to pay for them with cash and not a credit card. A trade-off to be sure.

I caught a student plagiarizing. He copied his entire essay from www.classic-notes.com almost word for word. He will fail the paper and be placed on academic probation.

I've gotten two of three monthly paychecks with only Temple University holding out. They pay on the very last day of the month, which doesn't come until Monday.

I'm going back on the dating trail this weekend. I've got nothing but distant prospects and my winning smile. Whatever. It's a necessary evil. I'm going to canvass the coffee shops and corner bars, looking for that special person to become the "girl-that-dumps-me-in-three-months."

ANNIE SPRINKLE