End of summer...

FB and his son came north with me this weekend to see Super Mom...

Here are FB and FBS, fishing -- something FBS has recently decided is a thing he'd like to do.

It was really a perfect way to spend a couple of hours -- calm by the lake, waves lapping, trees rustling and me with my camera.

The rest of the trip was good too -- seeing Super-Mom, hanging out around the fire and enjoying a beautiful part of the area --- in a whole new context.. You see, FB and FBS are guys, and talk like guys... so, I got a good dose of guy talk and perspective. It was a lot of fun, lots of laughter and occasional eye-watering (either from my companions, or laughter -- I'm not sure which).

Yea -- I'd do it again with those two -- what a pair!

Adventures in blended classes...

I did the first blended Biomedical Ethics class summer before last.. it was only moderately successful... they mostly did the on-line work, we had mostly normal classes and the only reason it was a blended class was because we needed to smoosh it into a time slot...

After that, I did a hybrid class where the students came 2 of 3 MWF class meetings, and I did all three --so, they did an hour's worth of on-line activity and I increased my workload by 1/3. The idea was that smaller class sizes for part of the class would increase class discussion and participation... but, not really.

I tried it again this past summer with about the same results. Now i'm starting three Ethics sessions that meet 75 minutes per week in person, with the other half on-line. Now I have an afternoon and a whole Tuesday to do their grading -- and I see them on Wed and Thurs -- with Thursday being THE Ethics day... with a 2:15 section and a 6:00-7:15 section.

I like this arrangement because it makes them write more -- which means I grade more... but, now at least I have the time to do it.

saving/selling souls...

Hubby's doing on-campus interviews this week... all at law firms (cuz, that's where lawyers work, mostly...).

Wise Woman made a comment about working the corporate law job -- and the climb to partner... The implication was that hubby had to sell his soul to make it happen...

I wonder if it has to be that way? I can see that it does happen, but I'm also holding out hope that Hubby's age and my status as an ethicist might make his career different...

One way or the other, Hubby's doing the interviews and hopefully will have a nice job as a result.. think good employment thoughts for him....

end of summer fun...

After Doody Daze (or, duty days... in admin speak), I was worn out and kind of overwhelmed.

On Thursday night I sat and stared into space for about four hours -- mostly because I needed the quiet time...

Friday, I decided that I needed some pal time -- so, I reconnected with old colleagues and welcomed new folks to our hallway -- in other words, I skipped a meeting or two..

Later in the afternoon I met FB to have a drink with an old friend from high school -- We had some good talk about life and love -- and FB drove his 85 Trans Am with the T tops off-- which was perfect summer fun in and of itself...

Afterward meeting our old friend, FB needed to make a Costco run -- which was exactly the kind of activity I needed, lots of laughing and talking -- and he was spending money... while I (for once) wasn't.

Today, I'm meeting another old friend for lunch - then we'll meet FB for coffee... of which he drinks a lot...

after all this fun, I may need to go back to work to get a break from my social life... hmmm...

ps... Hubby is getting good responses in OCI -- which law folks will get :) -- for the rest of you, the equivalent is having a nice number of conference interviews.... think good thoughts for hubby next week.

the end of summer...

Today is my last real day of summer break.

In some ways, the summer has been unremarkable -- hubby and I didn't take a real vacation.

I spent most of the summer by and in the pool -- which was lovely, but not earth shattering...

On the other hand, it's been pretty remarkable --

I'm now Dr. ITPF --- or ITPF, Ph.D.... however it happens.

I've spent a lot of time with my friends this summer -- and have made a new, very good, friend in FB.

I've lost 30 lbs -- I have a lot more to go, but that's remarkable in and of itself -- as the only other time I was able to do so involved lots of vomit...

So, I'll go back to school thinner, tanner, more well rested and with a new outlook on life and teaching... which is probably the best way to end a summer.

Photos...

Here are the Queen and the Minion -- in their proper places... he's looking like he's about to get into something, and she's looking at him like he's not worthy of her time... welcome to life in casa ITPF.

This is my garden this year -- two big pots. Those are my recently pedicured toes... The pot on the left is an aggressive bunch of flowers -- they stick outside of the bars on the other side... on the right is about half catnip with some basil, chives and dill in the other half...the viney flowering plant has set up an annex in the other pot -- so it's tendrils are wound around the innocent basil and catnip plants.

This is a photo of FB by the big lake -- at this point, FB really didn't know what he was headed into at Super-Mom's... One of FB's better qualities is that he doesn't judge others -- combine that with being a good sport and a supportive friend and you have a pretty neat person.

FB and I seem to travel well together. Since Hubby's going to be up to his eyeballs in the law for the foreseeable future, FB and I may go roaming around the countryside... So I doubt this will be the last 'back to the camera' shot --

Special message to jo(e) -- FB was quite grateful that I don't require nudity in my blog photos :). That would have been kinda awkward where we were...

The power of facebook...

For every complaint about Facebook, I want you to think about this as a counter..

I went to see Super-Mom's husband over the weekend... FB came along for moral support and because he loves the woods...

When we got there, it became clear to me that Super-Mom's husband wasn't going to meaningfully understand visitors for too much longer.

Early this morning, I sent a facebook message to his natural children -- who live in corn state. I didn't like to do it in a facebook message, but that's the only reliable contact I have with them -- they're my facebook friends.

They're on their way up to see him tomorrow.

The next time someone posts something dumb and you curse Facebook -- also remember that it's a means of communication that is bringing together a father and his daughters, most likely for the last time.

It must be the cycle of the moon... or something...

I seem to be all about new/old friends this summer...

I've had more contact with the Red Head -- and her sister.

Lots more contact with Curly -Red, and more in-depth conversations than we've had since we were 17 and solving the problems of the world on our dock..

FB is also from high school era...

and now, I'm back in touch with a dear friend from grad school -- whom I thought was lost to me forever!!

Also -- I've just now gone out and "friended" a bunch of folks from grad school... I've defended and it's been submitted -- they really can't do anything to me now.... not like they would, but still...

back from he woods..

It was a good visit..

FB is a wonderful sport --- and very supportive. FB and Super-Mom got along famously..

Poor FB had a pretty short sleep last night, I expect he'll sleep well tonight... the poor boy had to take a nap on our couch once we hit my house..

A trip to the woods...

I may have mentioned that Super-Mom's hubby isn't well... as in, dying.

Super-Mom has been caring for him since March...

I think it's time for me to go up and see SM's hubby one more time...

In many ways, and for many reasons, it's probably better to take FB with me than Hubby... I know Hubby's there for me in all of this -- but, he doesn't need to make this trip to have that be the case.

So -- today, FB and I head for the north woods... we'll be back tomorrow.

A new character...

So -- there seems to be a new character in my little drama... and they need a psuedoname...

So, I'm going to use Fake Boyfriend -- because, he's male, he's a friend and we don't sleep together... thus, the fake part.

FB was a pal in high school -- and we recently reconnected via facebook. It didn't take long to figure out that we get along and have views of the world that are similar enough so as to be compatible - but different enough so as to be interesting.

FB and I started out on the same life path -- but his journey went a very different direction than mine. That's part of what makes FB interesting.

So -- one of my new projects is to find a girl for FB -- so, ladies -- if you're in my metro, single and have a bit of life on you -- and left in you -- and you'd like to date a great dad who plays the guitar and cooks... let me know...

It may be the case that FB ends up in a program on my campus -- he'd be excellent as an X -- if he decides that's what he really wants to do... So, FB is likely to be a recurring character... and, hopefully he'll have a RG...