Home this morning, and I'm supposed to be working on my dissertation. I'll get there ---
It just feels so cozy in the Dissertation Chamber today... rain on the window, soft glow from the IKEA lamp on the table and my sweet cat winding his way around.
I think the DC needs a fluffy rug uder the table for my feet.... next time we are at IKEA, I'll get a new one for the ottoman and put the old one on the floor in here...
I'd love it if it would stop before I have to go to work... but, at least we have a garage --
Monday, November 28, 2005
Limbo weeks and presentations -- YEA!
The weeks between Thanksgiving and FINALS seem to be a couple of weeks of break/no break... it is kind of a strange limbo, between the work of the semester and finals week.
I'm pretty happy with myself this week and next, as I took a risk and scheduled class presentations during these weeks. For the next couple of weeks, I'll be watching them talk about ethical issues. I like the topics and I like the fact that they are doing the work just when the class is getting tired of me.... they get to hear from others AND have the experience of teaching others.
My hope is that they will be more aware of what it takes to teach, the importance of doing the reading and the work it takes to get a lecture ready. At a minimum, I'll have fewer terrible end of semester papers to read etc..
Next time I'm going to give it more structure -- in that I'll set things up so that the groups work better, I'll have all the readings due the same day. I'll also have them write exam questions and turn in an outline the class period before the first presentations.... I suppose I'll allow revisions to both -- I'll have to -- but, that will force them to be more organized.
I'll also give them the structure to make their groups work better. I'll have them agree to 2-3 mandatory meetings, during class time - (so, no excuses) -- and allow them to have a default way to eliminate members who aren't going to meetings or doing their part.
I'm also planning to have some way that the points could vary among group members, by allowing them to allocate percentages of the non-group points according to group responsibility.
I'm pretty happy with myself this week and next, as I took a risk and scheduled class presentations during these weeks. For the next couple of weeks, I'll be watching them talk about ethical issues. I like the topics and I like the fact that they are doing the work just when the class is getting tired of me.... they get to hear from others AND have the experience of teaching others.
My hope is that they will be more aware of what it takes to teach, the importance of doing the reading and the work it takes to get a lecture ready. At a minimum, I'll have fewer terrible end of semester papers to read etc..
Next time I'm going to give it more structure -- in that I'll set things up so that the groups work better, I'll have all the readings due the same day. I'll also have them write exam questions and turn in an outline the class period before the first presentations.... I suppose I'll allow revisions to both -- I'll have to -- but, that will force them to be more organized.
I'll also give them the structure to make their groups work better. I'll have them agree to 2-3 mandatory meetings, during class time - (so, no excuses) -- and allow them to have a default way to eliminate members who aren't going to meetings or doing their part.
I'm also planning to have some way that the points could vary among group members, by allowing them to allocate percentages of the non-group points according to group responsibility.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Thanksgiving and Grandma Glad's china
We had Sandi and Suz over for Thanksgiving (Jason's mom and her friend from Chicago who comes down for holidays when the Howards are up north..).
Due to the fact that we actually have our dining room table back, we used it and used Grandma Glad's china. It is nice, old and doesn't exactly hold sentimental value for me -- except that it is a family thing. I don't recall ever eating off of them at family things, probably because Grandma Glad was too old to be hosting them by the time I remember her... but, it is nice to have something like that from my family.
Mom also said she'd give me her part of the set, along with the silver that goes with it all. She also said she'd ask Mark for Pam's part of the set. Kind of sad, but he doesn't have any sentimental attachment to it...
Due to the fact that we actually have our dining room table back, we used it and used Grandma Glad's china. It is nice, old and doesn't exactly hold sentimental value for me -- except that it is a family thing. I don't recall ever eating off of them at family things, probably because Grandma Glad was too old to be hosting them by the time I remember her... but, it is nice to have something like that from my family.
Mom also said she'd give me her part of the set, along with the silver that goes with it all. She also said she'd ask Mark for Pam's part of the set. Kind of sad, but he doesn't have any sentimental attachment to it...
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Enterprise Sucks
The cars are fine -- corporate managment seems ok, the people in the Bloomington office suck.
After being pretty much called a Bitch by Matt the Asshat, they over-charged us for one of our rentals.
They charged us for an extra day AND charged us for a bunch of insurance we didn't want. I looked at the contract, and I initialed where I always do.... declining insurance. I'm sure they did it out of spite, and probably to make sure I didn't come back to rent vans from them -- because, as Matt said "I can rent that van for $150.00 / day" -- yea, you figured that out when you over-charged me for the previous week.
Matt -- you earned the name "Asshat" -- because, instead of a head -- your hat sits on an ASS.
Thankfully, Kelly in the corporate office took care of it for us. I wasn't going to pay them --
After being pretty much called a Bitch by Matt the Asshat, they over-charged us for one of our rentals.
They charged us for an extra day AND charged us for a bunch of insurance we didn't want. I looked at the contract, and I initialed where I always do.... declining insurance. I'm sure they did it out of spite, and probably to make sure I didn't come back to rent vans from them -- because, as Matt said "I can rent that van for $150.00 / day" -- yea, you figured that out when you over-charged me for the previous week.
Matt -- you earned the name "Asshat" -- because, instead of a head -- your hat sits on an ASS.
Thankfully, Kelly in the corporate office took care of it for us. I wasn't going to pay them --
Friday, November 18, 2005
15 years
Tomorrow, Jason and I will be married for 15 years.
Wow... he really is an amazing person. So passionate about so many things. Brilliant and compassionate --
When we got married I couldn't even imagine 15 years down the road. Now I'm sure the next 30 years will go by in a flash... and we'll be telling debaters that we have grandchildren their age-- and that they should respect their elders :).
I think after 15 years we have some things figured out --
We are going to the Grand Hotel tomorrow to spend the night. It is the nicest hotel in Minneapolis... so it should be wonderful.
Next year I really want to go to the North Shore... and maybe I'll take a personal day or two to make it a longer trip.
Wow... he really is an amazing person. So passionate about so many things. Brilliant and compassionate --
When we got married I couldn't even imagine 15 years down the road. Now I'm sure the next 30 years will go by in a flash... and we'll be telling debaters that we have grandchildren their age-- and that they should respect their elders :).
I think after 15 years we have some things figured out --
We are going to the Grand Hotel tomorrow to spend the night. It is the nicest hotel in Minneapolis... so it should be wonderful.
Next year I really want to go to the North Shore... and maybe I'll take a personal day or two to make it a longer trip.
Debate update -- now and spring 06
Am working on the spring schedule... looks like we'll be in Cali for New Years (barely, arrive at 10:45 PM) with D1/D2. Tickets were expensive and they are the only competitive team. Most of Janurary - mid-March will be spent other places... I'm glad we have some time off before then --
The dumb-ass administrator who was giving D1a hard time was put in his place by D1 --at the meeting he slammed down a sample card and dumb-ass had to admit that he wasn't printing his own books on their lousy laser printer. D1 got exactly what he wanted, dumb-administrator tells me that they are working on getting us a printer for the road... YEA!
I'm kind of frustrated wth Rex, as he doesn't seem to get any better. Are we not communicating with him what he needs to do, or isn't he internalizing it? He seems to want to do it, but I'm kind of unsure at this point.
Moonshadow decided to go to New York instead of to the Marquette tournament (which was canceled anyway... boo). Tells me where her priorities are. She's acutally improving her debating, it would be nice if she'd actually travel.
Debater X is back and forth, as are WK and JC. Herbie seems to be getting in gear, but right now he and Rex are pretty well-matched partners... which is ok. Herbie is a really bright kid, and will be a fun debater once he gets the hang of it.
The dumb-ass administrator who was giving D1a hard time was put in his place by D1 --at the meeting he slammed down a sample card and dumb-ass had to admit that he wasn't printing his own books on their lousy laser printer. D1 got exactly what he wanted, dumb-administrator tells me that they are working on getting us a printer for the road... YEA!
I'm kind of frustrated wth Rex, as he doesn't seem to get any better. Are we not communicating with him what he needs to do, or isn't he internalizing it? He seems to want to do it, but I'm kind of unsure at this point.
Moonshadow decided to go to New York instead of to the Marquette tournament (which was canceled anyway... boo). Tells me where her priorities are. She's acutally improving her debating, it would be nice if she'd actually travel.
Debater X is back and forth, as are WK and JC. Herbie seems to be getting in gear, but right now he and Rex are pretty well-matched partners... which is ok. Herbie is a really bright kid, and will be a fun debater once he gets the hang of it.
Pam
A week... four years ago -- was the last week of your life.
Thank God you always lived as if it was the last week...
I could learn something, if I weren't so damm pissed off.
I hate that you died now -- why not some other time, like when you were 110, not 30.
Also, the timing in the year fucking sucked. A few days after my wedding anniversary, the day after Thanksgiving, a week before Shirly's birthday and two weeks before mine. I try not to let it cloud the season, but it is hard to be happy when the season itself reminds me you are gone.
Also -- if you talk to Mark, tell him I want your portion of Grandma Glad's china.
P
Thank God you always lived as if it was the last week...
I could learn something, if I weren't so damm pissed off.
I hate that you died now -- why not some other time, like when you were 110, not 30.
Also, the timing in the year fucking sucked. A few days after my wedding anniversary, the day after Thanksgiving, a week before Shirly's birthday and two weeks before mine. I try not to let it cloud the season, but it is hard to be happy when the season itself reminds me you are gone.
Also -- if you talk to Mark, tell him I want your portion of Grandma Glad's china.
P
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