Calendar on Fire

I can't believe how fast this month has gone by. I really can't believe it. I was thinking about it yesterday, and I realized that I have so much work to do in the studio that I need to go back tomorrow-- or I won't be able to put my big pot in the wood firing and I won't finish my mugs in time to fire them in an oxidation gas kiln before the 8th of December. We are loading a bisque firing on Monday for the wood firing, and my big pot has to be dry and ready for it by then. I don't have any time to lose to get back to the studio and uncover it... it will only have a day and a half to dry out. I have no idea when I will be able to fire a kiln of my own, but I made some mugs that need to be fired in cone 10 oxidation, and I would really like to fill up most of kiln #5 to do it, and fire it on my own. Bisque Monday, wood prep Tuesday, LOAD WOOD KILN Wednesday and Thursday, and then FIRE on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I can't wait, but at the same time, I have other obligations getting in the way on Monday and Wednesday that make it so I can't get things done in the studio as fast as I would like to. I am driving back to campus tomorrow to uncover my big jar and trim my mugs and bowls. I also realized that I need to make some pieces to throw in the soda kiln. It's absolute craziness, and I want to be a part of every minute of it. I just want to make everything work out, and that means not waiting until Monday. I have to get back to work. I hope that there will be a kiln open for me to use. I bet the schedule will be crowded with intro class work and BFAs rushing to finish their work for the semester. I just want to use kiln #5 for a day. Oxidation firings can go fairly fast, and I even made my cone boats in advance this time so I can bisque them with the pots beforehand. I am ready for it. I just think I should start the kiln slower than I did the first time...
Photos of the finished mugs (12-7-11)

I can't wait for next semester. I will FLY. I have more understanding of firing and I plan on being as independent as possible with firing next semester-- yes, I will ask for help if I need it, but I will think things through and plan ahead better so I can be totally prepared to be on my own. Maybe I will try using earthenware clay just to see if I like it or not. I'm not too keen on the idea because it would mean firing at a much lower temperature, and possibly in an electric kiln as opposed to gas kilns. It might be easier, but I like the idea of being more involved in the process.
Anyway, the semester is quickly coming to an end... which is why I need to rush my work through bisque kilns so I can fire it all before December 8th. We will have a ceramic holiday sale in the studio on the 9th-11th or so, and we will be firing the soda kiln at about the same time. I guess if things get too crazy I don't have to participate in the soda firing, but I really want to. Maybe I am just a crazed workaholic with a huge agenda... I should down-size. Oh well. Two more weeks, and then I will be bored out of my mind.