... and the birthday conintues...

Today hubby's department in Red State threw him a surprise birthday party -- which was fun for him...

Assuming the weather cooperates, he should be home tonight by 9:00 PM... YEA!! Let the "Spring" break fun commence...

except -- that I have mandatory activities at BNCC both tomorrow AND Wednesday next week. Since I don't usually teach on Wednesdays and Fridays, all it means is that I'm just working more -- different, but more....

Wish hubby safe travels...

Hubby's coming home for "spring" break today.

If I were really well-organized, I'd link to the series of posts from last year when Corn State effectively closed down for a few days, blocking my sweetie from coming home for about 4 days...

This year the weather should be better -- but I'm a bit superstitious.

I can't wait to see him walk in the door...

a new thing thing I've learned on the internet....

My pal StyleyGeek shows us that, in her country, people give "the fingers" -- not, "the finger"....

Around here, I suppose you could say that we give "the fingers" by using the middle finger of each hand....

Funny, I'd never considered alternate ways to tell people to 'to away...'. I doubt I'd learn that in an inter-cultural comm class.... or international relations....

Cat bedtimes....

I've noticed lately that my cats all are sleeping at 10:30 -- If I'm in the living room or office, then they'll be conveniently asleep nearby when I sneak into the bedroom and close the door.

Of course, I also have to put up the "Blind Kitty scratch at the door" barrier, i.e. my suitcase -- or whenever he wakes up, he'll scratch and yowl until I let him in.

RBOC...

• I just ordered a new swimsuit... on-line. It is a bit scary, as trying these things on is usually very important, but they have a good return policy etc... --and, they had a reasonably priced suit that is supposed to be chlorine resistant -- which would be nice, as my current suit has just been killed by the chlorine.
• In swimsuit-related news -- I went down to the "summer" gym again today. I really like it and my summer water aerobics buddies take class down there, so it was nice to see them. I can't wait until they open the outdoor pool -- I'm going to be the most water-aerobics-taking dissertator you can imagine. If I have most of a dissertation and a tan this summer, nobody will believe that I managed to achieve both.
  
• We've had some organizational changes at work -- and, while it would have been easier not to have them -- I think it is going to be OK.... I liked the new version of the group I met with on Monday -- and we are small enough not to have to meet in a classroom, so conference room comfy chairs it was :).
  
• I have a cleaning person coming for her first time two weeks from today -- YEA!!!!!!!! I'll cut lots of corners elsewhere if someone will come in to clean mine... What is nice is that she's a student from last semester (Ethics), so I already know her -- and, she has cats so my furry beasts won't scare her.
• Hubby will be home tomorrow -- for day 2 of 40th Birthday madness.... which will really be a nice dinner at home with episodes of "Jericho" on TIVO... We're doing a gourmet dinner someplace fancy in the BNCC big city on Friday night....
• Between now and March 24, Hubby and I will spend only 4 nights apart -- wow!! Can we handle that?? I suspect so -- but, it could be a preview of summer.... which is why it is also nice that the cleaning person will be here...
• BNCC faculty may not go on strike -- which is nice.
  
• Tomorrow I'll give a logic quiz--- which is nice because it gives me some 'non-talking time'.
  
• I'm also showing an episode of "House" for Biomedical Ethics -- so, an overall easy day. I'm showing the one from the first season where House defies a DNR order -- we'll be talking about death and dying in the next week -- since they just took a pretty challenging exam and they really have been working hard -- they deserve a bit of a break.
  

hubby's birthday....

Update -- it was a singing telegram -- the Grim Reaper... he was surprised and generally happy about it... some of his students were taking pictures, so if I get some, I'll post them.


He's 40.

He should be getting his surprise soon...

After it is no longer a surprise, I'll let you know what it was...

and, if the response is bloggable, I'll post it too...

He'll be home tomorrow, either I'll get a reward or I'll have to spend his "spring" break apologizing to him...

stay tuned....

The Oscars -- who cares?

I think the Oscars are on tonight -- that's the one where they give out the big gold statue of a man.... for movies?? Right??

Am I the only one out there who doesn't care about award shows?

I'm not taking this as some sort of "I'm a smarty-pants intellectual who spends all of her time writing philosophy papers and reading obscure Nietzche passages in German" position. I'm not about to tell you that I don't watch TV and never go to movies, or that I only listen to classical music, jazz and NPR. That isn't it at all. In fact I probably love more bad TV than the average academic...

Really, though, I couldn't care less who wins awards for what... I know that I like some movies and don't like others. I know that I like some TV shows and don't like others. I know that I enjoy some music and don't enjoy other music... I just don't care what everyone ELSE thinks is good.

It is just entertainment, and I'll readily admit to being entertained. I'll even admit to liking to look at fashion and to being secretly happy when celebrities of all sorts don't look so good.... it is just that award shows leave me cold.

Maybe it is because we didn't watch them at home when I was a kid -- my mom really was the "I only listen to NPR and opera" type, so if it wasn't on PBS, she was pretty suspicious....

Maybe it is because I don't like my TV routines interrupted. I don't like it when some big sports event interrupts stuff and I don't like it when entertainment people stop to congratulate themselves in some endless orgy of self-serving speeches.

Maybe the best thing about the writer's strike was that some other awards show was canceled and replaced with a non-nonsense press conference announcing the winners. Really, couldn't they all be like that. Why not have some kind of web-event to announce the winners and let the rest of us continue to be entertained?

If you are an award show fan, please let me know why.... I'm really curious.

I also hope you have a fun time tonight, that the show gives you what you hope to get -- and that it is worth the time and fuss....

as for me, I'm editing a paper at Panera and then maybe going to the gym -- or going home to crochet and watch DVDs of NCIS.

yea -- I like it....

There is something scary about the Supreme Emergency paper I'm working on right now...

I like it. I think it is well-written, insightful, common sense and generally good.

That is what scares me -- what if the people who read it don't like it?

It isn't done yet -- I have three or four paragraphs to write -- mostly adjustments from previous versions. I have a good idea as to how those paragraphs are going to go. I also have a few paragraphs that need to be re-worked a bit -- because they are clunky and don't fit with the others.

Maybe by the time I send it, I'll like it a bit less... in case the people who read it don't like it as much as I do....

---for now, I'm going to get a pedicure and let this sit in my head for a while... reading some fashion magazines while someone polishes my toes is just about the right way to get some perspective on this paper.. and, besides, pedicures feel good :).

Update -- it is 26 pages, 8, 320 words and I still don't hate it. Maybe I'll dislike it more tomorrow when I've picked over the grammar, looked up endless details and otherwise obsessed over the text and the 60 footnotes... For now, I'm gong to watch some NCSI... or maybe go to the gym for a lazy swim...

another update --- in a secret message to Dr. Adviser... ok --you were right at our last meeting -- just wait to see what I've done with the paper. You may not love it, but I don't think you'll completely disagree.

a note to Martha and Cass...

-- written with the understanding that neither of them will read this :)...

Dear Martha and Cass,

As a philosopher, I've been a fan of Martha's for a long time now. When I read the short piece about both of you, I kind of fell in love with you as a couple. I especially admire the way you support one another and criticize with love.

The current academic buzz/gossip/ "news" is that Cass will be moving to Harvard and Martha will stay put at Chicago. Welcome to the long-distance academics club. When you look around, you'll see that most of us are much lower profile than you two, but the challenges are the same no matter how well-known you are. I'm in my fourth semester in the club, so I have a few thoughts about your change...

First, it really is ok to be a long-distance couple. I'm sure you've discussed it. I'm sure you have decided it is what will work for both of you. I also suspect that there are flights between Chicago and Boston, and that you'll be able to afford them :).

There are a few practical things that will make the LDR easier... unlimited long-distance on both your home and cell phones helps a lot. Also, one of you should be in charge of establishing the visit schedule... Hubby and I found that we don't like to go more than a couple of consecutive weekends apart. We also try not to have either of us out of town two weekends in a row. And, if you can arrange to meet at conferences do so... especially if you can add a few days together before or after the academic fun.

There are obvious disadvantages to long-distance love -- but, there are advantages as well. Maybe the best part about the distance comes in the reunions. There is something wonderful about the moment when your love turns from being a voice on the phone to being the real-life person in front of you. Saying goodnight in person is even sweeter when the past few nights it has been done on the phone. Vacations and breaks together are even more delicious than before - because your daily life is separate from the person you love.

So, hang in there -- it will all work out...

Almost living together...

As a method of procrastination, I organized my calendar for the next month.

I mark every day that Hubby and I get to see one another...

This year, like usual, our spring breaks don't overlap.. that means he'll come home on Thursday for break and I'll go down there in a couple of weeks for mine. From Red State we'll travel together to the NPTQKRUS tournament.... and then I'll spend Spring Break in Red State.

Assuming we do a "work weekend" at the end of the month (and I think we'll need to..), we'll only spend 14 days apart between now and the end of March.... YEA!!!! (if you haven't been following along, that's a lot!!).

now, to make some coffee -- get some breakfast and work on Supreme Emergencies.

What I can learn from my colleagues...

I've slowly come to realize that I really like the other philosophers at BNCC... not that I disliked them before -- but, I've recently come to appreciate them even more than I have in the past. I think I can learn from each of them...

Wise Woman -- She really is wise. She's also very tactful, sensitive and considerate of others. I like that she takes time to really think about situations and decide what is fair. I also like the way in which she expresses her displeasure and the way she resolves situations she finds to be problematic. I could learn a lot from the way Wise Woman relates to her colleagues.

New Guy -- [who really isn't all that new, but he was the first full-time male philosopher at BNCC in recent memory (yes, that makes BNCC really odd, philosophy is VERY male)]. New Guy is excellent with his students. Students feel that he is really working hard to make philosophy understandable to them. He doesn't compromise his standards and he doesn't get discouraged when our students are clearly unprepared to do college level work, he just uses a lot of love and compassion when he tells them that they are making serious mistakes. I could be a lot more like New Guy in my relationships with students.

Dog Dad -- He's the most recent of our full-time hires. He has a sense of enthusiasm that is remarkable. He dives into things, asks questions and is genuinely interested in the whole world around him. He is quite kind and forgiving, always seeking the best in both people and situations. I would like to be more optimistic and enthusiastic like Dog Dad.

Dr. Religion is our long-term adjunct -- She's a very hard worker. She doesn't shy away from assigning lots of writing to huge classes, nor does she shy away from teaching sections of 50 students on-line. The amount of grading she does in a semester would swamp me and make me quite cranky, but she just buckles down and does it. She doesn't complain or whine, she just does it. She also contributes to the work of running the department, although that is not something we expect her to do. I could work much harder and with much less complaining and I still wouldn't come close to being her...

really, y'all would be very lucky to be me and to work with these people...

A cool use for PowerPoint

So -- as usual, my pal Julie has made me think.... this time I'm thinking about how to use PowerPoint.

I'm going to use it in a very interactive way...

On the first day of the "Death and Dying" unit, I'm going to give each student a handout. On the handout will be two statements about physician assisted suicide. Their assignment will be to come to the following meeting with the "pro" and "con" arguments concerning each statement... I'll then arrange them in groups and have each group come up with their favorite pro and con arguments.

The cool bit comes next -- as we talk, I'll fill in the blank parts of the PowerPoint.... I'll try to do it in class... if that doesn't work, I'll take notes on my own blank PowerPoint and fill in their arguments (assuming they get the good arguments I want them to :) ). I may ask for a volunteer to type -- but I think I'd rather do it myself to make sure we get what we need into the slide....

The PowerPoint slide will then be the collective class recollection of the discussion --- and it will be available for them when it comes time to study for the second exam...

cool, huh?

I love Birthday Surprises...

Hubby turns 40 next week...

It is a Wednesday, so I can't be there (darned Tuesday/Thursday classes...).

As you can imagine, I feel really bad that I won't be there. Sure, we'll celebrate with a fancy meal when he comes home... but, not being there on the day wasn't sitting well with me.

Since Hubby occasionally reads the blog, suffice it to say that I found a fun way to wish him a Happy Birthday.... I will say it is kind of fun to see what a bit of guilt and a credit card can accomplish long-distance...

I'll spill the beans after his birthday...

until then, feel free to guess :).

How to tell it kind of cold out there....

... yea, I'm a BN state native. True, we rarely admit it is cold, but I'm going to 'fess up, -33 windchill is cold.

and I've finally admitted it to myself ---

• Yesterday I finally got out my huge coat... the black one with the hood. I didn't want to have to face the icy wind on the way out to my car after my night class -- yea, it was cold.
• This morning I decided to order groceries and have them delivered because I didn't want to go out in the cold. My groceries will arrive between 3 and 5 today -- YEA!
  
• I decided to go swimming around noonish, so I can take advantage of the "warm" part of the day. Even with a warm coat, going out to my cold car after being in the warmish/wet pool and then the dry sauna is just shocking... it is better if I don't have to be too shocked.

The good news is that there is a book out, whose conclusion is that the happiest people are in cold climates. His theory is that we have to cooperate to live, thus we are happier... So, those of you who are feeling smug in your nice, warmish climates... we are happy here -- really... (or, maybe I ought not believe every book thesis I hear on the radio while typing blog posts -- hmm).

Julie makes some good points in comments on PowerPoint...

my Pal Julie writes...

Ah, my good friend, I'm about to disagree with you:

You're right, of course, that PPt is a tool, but like all tools, it's not "just a tool." Tools are *created* out of a particular set of values AND assumptions about the use for said tools.

I've been convinced (thru personal experience as well as the analysis by researchers/scholars in the field of technical communication) that PPt is a tool with limited usefulness - and perhaps a cost greater than its beneficial uses - because of the following reasons (just for starters):

1) the hierarchical structure of slide creation forces all slide content into a hierarchy when content may not be hierarchically related
2) the hierarchy forces viewers/auditors to understand the content in a way that may not coincide with their preferred way of understanding (you know, all the "learning styles" and "multiple intelligences" stuff that Howard Gardner has described)

First of all -- it is quite possible to use tools in ways divorced from the assumptions under which they were created. Human kind has been doing that for years, if PowerPoint is a tool, then I'm not sure why it is any different.

In terms of your hierarchy point -- Although in teaching philosophy, PowerPoint is useful in representing an argument -- I do agree that there are many settings in which PowerPoint isn't a useful tool. In fact, I decided not to use a PowerPoint presentation I'd prepared for my most recent conference paper. I decided that my audience would connect better with me than with the slides and that what I had to say didn't need the structure of the slides. I was confident that my audience could follow a 20 minute talk... so I didn't use it.

A professional conference is VERY different than the classroom settings in which I find myself teaching. When I need to present complex ideas and arguments in large classes of community college students, (Ethics is 50 students, don't forget...) I don't have many of the tools available to those whose classes are much smaller. I can't reasonably have a large number of writing assignments, objective quizzes are terrible ways to assess learning philosophy and having a conversation/discussion in class that lets me assess understanding on an individual level is impossible. Add to the mix the problem of accurately assessing reading comprehension and the fact that even students who are actually at college-level have problems with Kant, so even if they've tried to do the readings (which isn't necessarily the case) they may not have understood it..

So, when faced with a large class that isn't necessarily understanding the material, in order to facilitate classroom discussion, my current method for writing PowerPoint slides is to begin with some think/pair/share discussion questions linking their intuitions to the material. I then present the main ideas or questions that will lead the discussion to the main ideas of the work -- and I end with a blank slide for objections...

Additionally, I do use the black/white board to further illustrate points etc -- but, having the outline on PowerPoint also assures me that I haven't left out a point in one class that I cover in another.

In terms of your learning-styles point -- I think that a good PowerPoint can actually facilitate more learning styles than a more free-flowing class discussion... why? Well, visual learners respond to the words on the screen -- and the images if appropriate or available. Discussion-based learners benefit from the resulting class discussions and from the think/pair/share exercises. Those of us (this is me all the way) that learns best within a linear progression of ideas (sometimes called 'logical' learners) can put the information into the bigger context of the slide presentation. Finally, since I make the PowerPoints available to my classes in advance, those who learn by writing can use the printed PowerPoint slides to structure their notes.

So, again -- why isn't it the case that poor PowerPoint presentations are the result of mis-use of PowerPoint and not a problem inherent in the tool itself?

In defense of PowerPoint

PowerPoint has been under attack, once again....

and it is getting old. The claims are basically that it is boring and only used by lazy, boring professors reading off of their slides.

My underlying claim, in response, is that PowerPoint is just a tool. Both good and poor speakers (professors) can use this tools, some use it well, others use it poorly.

I suspect that those who criticize think those who are boring with PowerPoint would be engaging speakers without, but I doubt that is the case....

The less important, but still relevant response, is that in some educational contexts, the use of PowerPoint actually improves education.

Think about this -- I often assign difficult texts to students with less than college-level reading and writing skills. Sure, they may have placed into my class by passing the placement test, but the facts in my classroom are that a significant percentage can't read at a level sufficient to comprehend freshman-level philosophy texts.

If my PowerPoint slides either construct the main points or ask the equivalent of reading questions to guide my students to the main points, then they have some hope of getting the main point before coming to class. If they can get the main point, we can have class discussions about those points.

Since I usually teach multiple sections of the same course, having a PowerPoint presentation helps me to remember where I am in the discussion with any given section. It also allows me to be consistent across sections, so I can accurately grade exams.

Additionally, if they can print the slides before class (and most of them do), they can use them as a structure in which to take notes. They also don't have to waste time writing down what I've written on the board. Taking good notes is the next step to understanding the material so they can do well on the exam.

Finally, my old PowerPoints are often helpful to students in other ways. They see how I've analyzed issues, found sources etc... and this helps them with their end of semester argument papers. Of course, it takes some digging to find them, which is ok with me.

I suspect that those who criticize the use of PowerPoint as a pedagogical tool teach in contexts were students CAN and DO read the assignments. I also suspect their teaching load is light enough so that they don't have to track multiple sections, and they probably have small enough classes or TAs, so that fairly grading an exam isn't one of their worries.

I hope someday to teach in a place like that -- for now, I have to work within the constraints of the system at BNCC -- and the best way to do that is to use PowerPoint...

so -- bug off....

Grading Jail...

I have a big pile of papers to grade.

They won't be difficult, just kind of dull.

I also have some class prep to do -- mostly because I want to clear the decks for next weekend's work weekend.... in which I will finish my Supreme Emergency paper.

I've been putting off this grading since Tuesday last week. I really should have done it Wednesday, but I just didn't.

Now, I'm trying to come up with an incentive to make myself do it --

My first try is to not allow myself to crochet until I'm done with the grading.... since I have a bunch of new yarn for Hubby's crazy color scarf, this is a pretty powerful incentive.

I'll let you know how it goes....

and...another former debater makes good...

This time, it isn't a debate award, but an academic honor society award...

"Herbie" won the state-level award and is going to the national-level in April.

He wasn't an amazing debater, but he tried hard and had occasional flashes of brilliance and insight. "Herbie" was also a good team member and fun to hang out with.

Good luck "Herbie"!!

Northern Illinois...

I can picture NIU and DeKalb, IL....

We were there for a debate tournament last year.

DeKalb is a typical college town -- anonymous in the way that college towns tend to be. The Best Western was the worst hotel we stayed in all year, the college bars advertised cheap beer and the 'Girls Gone Wild' truck was in town when we were... typical of the way I spent many weekends for 10 years.

I'm pretty sure some of our debate rounds were held in the buildings the shooter shot up. It is a typical classroom building. It has wide halls, lots of classrooms, vending machines and the typical wear and tear that comes when hundreds of undergrads shuffle to and from classes.

The rooms are like the classrooms you and I teach in every day. Most of them either have chairs bolted to the floor or those annoying chairs with the attached desks... yea, just like where I taught yesterday and where you'll teach today.

and that is what is so sad and scary. It really could have been one of our classrooms.

I'm not sure what has gone wrong in the world. I feel for the families who have lost students. I worry for the teacher and students who saw their classroom engulfed in the cloud of violence that surrounded a poor, sick, sad, terrible, soul.... the shooter.

I think I'll start keeping my classroom door closed. What else can I do?

waiting for Hubby, Valentine's Day edition....

Sometimes New Kitty scares me. All week I've been telling her Hubby will be home today. When I came in the door after work today, she looked at me with disappointment -- I think she expected me to be hubby.

Hubby called a while back -- Corn state was really windy and the roads slippery, so he slowed down a bit. He'll be here soon...

So, our romantic finger food dinner is ready.

The place is mostly clean --

The cats are napping.

The Christmas Tree is converted into a Valentine's Day tree.

all is well....

other happy things...

• A local dentist is doing free work tomorrow for people without dental insurance. Very cool -- they advertise on the radio station I listen to, and they've been announcing it in every place they normally have a commercial.
  
• It is quite possible, even probable, that our offices will get new computers. The machine on my desk has been there longer than I have... sigh. It makes funny noises and I try not to bother it too much.... I'll believe it when I see the new one on my desk, but the promise is that they'll go in over Spring Break, along with a major upgrade (which is why I'm suspicious...).
• I got to drip on New Kitty this morning when I was done with my shower--- I love getting cats wet.
  

Happy things....

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day...

It is a pointless consumer-driven holiday.

We should express love for those we love every day...

but, we don't -- and sometimes it is fun to be pointlessly consumer-driven.

So, tonight Hubby will be driving up from Red State (wish him save travels in the blowing snow...).

I'll be making a nice, light and romantic meal (all the food is finger food -- very sensual)...

I'll also be decorating our Valentine's Day tree (i.e. the Christmas tree without the Christmas ornaments but with Valentines' day things...).

When he gets here, we'll have a nice little meal while watching the stuff we love to watch on TIVO (Ramsey's Kicthen Nightmares on BBCAmerica, Boston Legal and Jericho).

Then we'll sleep in our own bed -- with our own cats...

I've seen hubby recently, but it has been too long since he's been home... sigh.

--- and, over the weekend we'll hibernate with some good food (mushroom soup, steak sandwiches and v-day leftovers...), we'll get some work done, and not get some other things done.... eventually the cats will forgive him, which will be noisy and obnoxious (they are our cats afterall).

yea --- it is going to be a good weekend.

...for the record....

The Unbloggable is mostly a disagreement between myself and another person --

If I win, I think we will improve the education of students at BNCC. If the other person wins, things stay the same.

Also -- and this one I'll name 100% --- EVERY time I get an e-mail from our "Student" Senate, I have one number flash in my head.... that number is '91'.

Why '91'? --- because that is the total number of votes cast in the last Student Senate elections.

We have a total student head-count that often comes close to 12,000. Yes, that is twelve-thousand students... and 91 of them voted in the last election.

Why?? There are several reasons, including the fact that "Student" Senate election polls are open on one Wednesday from 11:00-1:00.

Every time the election notice is posted I e-mail the "Student" Senate adviser to ask why they don't have elections that are available to for more students... the answer either doesn't make sense OR he says he'll bring it up to the "Student" senate... which I doubt he actually does....

and -- isn't it his JOB as an adviser to guide them -- they are students, they sometimes need guidance. Additionally, the Adviser's other interests are teaching in the phy ed. and political science departments.... as well as being involved in the union and state-level politics. This person KNOWS that the elections are bogus as they are, but chooses to ignore that fact.

Last semester I asked all of my students (about 175 or so... 4 classes, a light semester). Maybe 10 of them knew there were elections. Only 6 would have been available to vote. 1 actually DID vote.

It wouldn't really matter to me, except that they spend (and regularly increase) student activities money --

and they claim to represent student interests.... Yea, if you can say that a group who is 0.0075833333 % of the student population represents the students....

If the "Student" Senate wants to know why I ignore their activities, this is why. If I thought they even TRIED to be inclusive, I'd support them all the way. As it is, when less than 2 sections of my Ethics course get to "elect" the "Student" Senate, I choose not to support them.

So, what is really bogus on your campus?

Girls' logic night....

I schedule some 'optional' time at the end of some of my night logic classes. This is time for those with questions to ask them -- and for those who understand the material to go home a bit early.

Tonight I had all women who stayed -- and it was nice. Very cooperative and relaxed -- and mostly the women I like too...

I wonder how the others will do on their quiz next week? Either they actually DO get it and there was no need for them to stay -- or, they haven't even tried to do the homework assigned for tonight, and they'll probably fail the quiz.

I'm pretty confident that the ones who stayed will do well -- especially the one who had me last semester.... she's kind of a late-starter, but she's wicked smart. I have high hopes for her.

be careful what you ask for....

ya know the unbloggable thing.... A related project at BNCC just sent me a survey.

Since they asked, I told them the truth.

I was blunt and not at all diplomatic. Perhaps I should have been, but I really think naming names and citing specific examples is the only way to make change.

Seeing as how someone from their office just rejected a project that would have been a significant move toward solving the problem identified by that project, it seems as if it was appropriate to do so.

and... if they are really concerned with solving the problem, they'll have to devote some resources to doing so -- some real resources, not just funds to study the problem...

I hope they read it -- and ask questions.

Just because it is the new "normal"...

... doesn't mean that it is right.

Yes, I'm used to the Long-distance marriage thing.

No, I don't like it.

It is kind of nice to have some time to myself, but I still hate this arrangement.

I don't mind driving across Corn State -- but I don't like living apart.

If we had to drive back to Red State every weekend, I'd do it if it meant that we'd be able to be together.

You know it is bad when I realized I could live in the most desolate and rural places, as long as hubby and I could live together...

maybe there are job openings for both of us in North Dakota... according to news reports people are leaving there in droves....

As seen at the blog of a really clever ambulance driver


What do you think when I say:

1. Beer: pretzles.
2. Anorexic: cat (old kitty had that diagnosis once.. then she got over it).
3. Relationships: hubby.
4. Purple: Vikings.
5. Power Rangers: someone's ADS
6. Weed: the TV show Weeds
7. Steroids: football.
8. Cartoons: PhD Commics.
9. The President: we are getting a new one, not soon enough!
10. Tupperware: Hubby cleaning out the cupboard.
11. Best vacation: Canada -- or the next one, wherever that may be.
12. Santa Claus: stuck in the chimney.
13. Halloween: candy.
14. Bon Jovi: my teenage years.
15. Grammar: Grammar Gal.
16. Facebook: silly but fun.
17. Worst fear: hubby dying, like others close to me.
18. Marriage: hubby, of course... who else?.
19. Paris Hilton: dumb blond, poor thing.
21. Redhead: The Redhead
22. Blonde: me, sometime
23. Pass the time: reading blogs
24. One night stands: what's that?
25. Donald Trump: See #19.
26. Neverland: Michael Jackson is a creep
27. Pixie dust: PCP.
28. Vanilla ice cream: chocolate sauce.
29. High School: yikes.
30. Work: lots to do!.
31. Pajamas: Sundays with hubby
32. Woods: Mom
33. Wet Sock: canoe trips in the woods
34. Alcohol: no thanks.
35. Love: hubby

...poor hubby....

He's dealing with a woman who thinks she's owed something by him.

the thing is, she isn't owed squat.

and-- when he's doing her the favor she thinks she is owed, she makes it difficult and complains a lot about it...

Besides which, if I were getting what she's getting, I'd figure out how to take it myself without insisting that hubby deliver it, on 10 minutes notice.

seriously folks...

Grrrrr to people who can't see beyond their own immediate wants and supposed 'needs'.

ps... now, since what she got wasn't clean enough for her, she wants hubby to come back in a few days to move it from her garage to her basement.

the nerve -- what she got came out of a construction site and even after I wiped them down, they have some construction dust on them. She can go take a flying leap... and I wouldn't bet on hubby going back there, ever.

aargh......

There is an unbloggable thing about to go on at BNCC.

What I can say is that just because someone who doesn't work here anymore, and hasn't worked here for at leas 6 years, made a decision -- it doesn't mean that the decision was or IS a good decision.

It is really, really, really unwise not to consider fixing that decision when it can be fixed. Especially since the person who won't consider fixing the decision wasn't here when it was made EITHER -- and when that same person is making demands that really aren't possible, given the prior bad decision.

There is going to be a showdown -- and that showdown is going to be interesting at best.

After the showdown, I'll decide whether or not I want to remain as department chair..... maybe just teaching my classes is a good idea. I can be like most of the others and just do my thing and go home.

ya know that one student.....

...the one who can't seem to listen with the rest of the class?

So, when I give an instruction, I have to give it twice....

The one who somehow thinks s/he is too intellectually gifted or special for your low-level class?

I have that student -- and s/he is making me nuts. I have to repeat EVERY general class direction. I'd think that maybe s/he has a hearing problem, but s/he sits near the front of the class. It is that s/he isn't paying attention and isn't good at multi-tasking.

Well -- today I got a good laugh when I peeked at her/his quiz. We do a review session before the quiz. My quiz questions are taken from homework questions. They asked some good questions in review -- good enough that they hit at least two or three of the quiz questions.

The non-listening student muffed the answers we'd JUST discussed.

When I hand them back in class, I'm going to make a point of telling them that we discussed certain questions in class --- of course, s/he won't hear that -- but, I suspect s/he will ask a stupid question (and yes, I do think there are stupid questions, like when they ask a question I've just answered) and I'll get to tell her/him that the rest of the class got it right, due to the class discussion immediately before the quiz.

Tuesday is going to be sweet!

...'honey, I'm home'...

...about 6 hours after I finished class.... and you thought your commute was long.

Mine involves seeing most of Corn State and lots of semis...

but, I'm here, at my second home -- (which would be more homey if Hubby could have a cat, sigh...).

This weekend BN state is supposed to be cold again, but I've comes south (not far, but far enough I suppose) and am escaping the worst of it.

Off to Red State....

Today -- teach some logic, teach some ethics, drive to Red State to see my hubby.

not a bad thing -- and since the weather forecast looks pretty good for corn state, it shouldn't be a bad trip.

The real question is how many kitty nausea spots I'll have to hit with the spot bot when I get home...

They love me... they really love me....

Or, at least they like me enough to nominate me for a teaching award.

What is nice about this one is that it is the honor society at BNCC -- so it is the students who think I'm doing a good job.

-- and, I'll actually be in town the night of the ceremony.

little victories...

I can't blog the details -- but, if the debate people want to e-mail me for the specifics, I'll share... it isn't really a secret or anything...

and, I feel bad for being petty this way....

but, -- not too bad...

Secret message to debate dude...

It seems like that's what you get for having those silly rules. You drove me out of debate (we would have had a new team and travel money to come to your event... if you didn't have those silly rules) and now you don't have entries... hmmm.

Treat new programs like dirt and this is what happens. That form of debate you despise is nice to new programs.

besides, putting it on caucus night wasn't the smartest move.

Snowy day...

BN state is getting a bit of snow... Not enough to be dangerous or anything, just enough to cover the 'snirt' that has been hanging around since the last thaw...

I've already been to the grocery store and the yarn store. I planned to pick up, start some laundry, do some grading and then spend the rest of the afternoon with my yarn and "Ugly Betty".

but --- just now, New Kitty has managed to make a shambles of my desk -- and I'm going to give in and go to Office Max for some bookends for my desk. So much for being in for the afternoon....

revision progress...

The original paper was about 14,000 words -- in 35+ pages.

It was way, way, way too long.

As of tonight, I have a rough version of what the next one will look like... it is almost 9,000 words and 24 pages.

Much better --

By tomorrow night I want to have a version of this paper to send to the conference (they post the papers after the conference, which makes some sense I suppose) -- and in a couple of weeks I'll have a final go at editing and perfecting it for the other reviewers...

Not a fan of football...

Watch the Puppy Bowl...

we watch it for the half-time around here...

They are re-playing it back to back on Animal Planet all evening... it starts at 5:00, 8:00 and 11:00 Central.

They even have a camera in the bottom of the water dish... which is really cute.

every year I end up wanting a dog ---

well.. it was worth a try...

I decided to go to the coffee shop to work, as it seemed like I was spending more time watching Gordon Ramsey on TV and crocheting than doing philosophy stuff...

So, I came over to my favorite place, sat down and got some good work done with the printout of my paper...

then, I plugged in my flash drive --- and found that I had the wrong version of my paper with me....

So, I'm going home.

sigh.

something has them riled up...

This weekend I'm a single-cat parent.

This morning they are all on some kind of warpath.... New Kitty is getting into stuff, Extra-toes is on the back of hubby's chair having a little fit, and Blind Kitty is having a yowl-fest.

It is kind of scary that there are three of them and only one of me.... with just a little coordination on their part, they could take me.

maybe it is all a bit too real....

Philosophers get guff for not being connected to the "real world". We love to theorize, make up absurd situations to illustrate a point (run away trolleys, pod people, fat man stuck in the cave... the list goes on).

As I work on my paper about supreme emergencies, I see the advantage in being abstract.

Working on just war theory is about real-world death and destruction of people and societies. It is sad and depressing to think about what we will do to our fellow human beings.

It is even more depressing to think about what our own country is doing.

Maybe I shouldn't have read Jenna Blum's "Those Who Save Us" while working on this paper...

Groundhog's day -- confusion...

So, the rodent saw his shadow.

The myth is that times he sees his shadow are times winter lasts for 6 more weeks.

That sounds pretty good to me -- Winter ending sometime in mid-March? - sign me up.

oh wait -- that was the 'bad' news... yea, right, like winter would end before then otherwise? I think not.

Until I lived in Colorado I considered March a winter month -- along with November.... March isn't spring and November isn't fall -- really... no wonder Groundhogs day confused me as a kid.

Long-distance relationship tips...

This is our fourth semester in a two-city academic relationship. I know many have done it longer, but I think we've done it long enough to give a few tips... just in case some of you are just figuring out that your jobs are in one place, while your love is in another...

So -- a few thoughts for you...

Keep one "home"....
One home address, one place where most of your stuff is and one place that you go to during breaks. This is the home you share, even if the other person isn't there as often as you'd like. This will keep your mail coming to the same place all the time and generally make things easier.

If at all possible, both of you should travel...
This means that your second place should be comfortable enough for two... If you can, don't leave it up to one person to do all of the travel. It is tiring and kind of unfair to expect one half of the partnership to do a lot more of the hassle. It may be the case that one of you has a cushy academic schedule and the other doesn't -- so this may not always hold, but -- all things being more or less equal, the travel burden should be shared.

Have one area code... or have free long-distance everywhere.
Phone calls are crucial -- we end up talking at least three times per day. Thanks to our crappy apartment phone /DSL service, we moved from someplace with access to free long-distance to someplace without it. This would really suck if hubby hadn't moved the Vonnage box to Red state and kept his cell phone number in BN state's area code. Now we have two home phones, and all of our four phone numbers have the BN state area code -- even though two of them ring in Red State. The nice thing is that I can pick up the phone and call hubby and not think about how much it will cost...

Figure out if it is less hassle to fly or drive...
BN state and Red State are about 6 hours apart. A direct flight is often quicker, but monopoly air makes things as uncomfortable as possible -- and they suck... so, we end up driving a lot. If it were more like 8 hours or if Red State were a major airport, we might have made a different decision -- but, as it is, it is generally easier to drive than fly.

Have some stuff in both places...
I have a bunch of clothes I only wear in Red State. This helps a lot, as I don't have to pack a suitcase every time I go to see hubby. I also have bathroom stuff in Red State -- so, I could just jump in my car and be in Red State in about 6 hours.... (hmmm, if I didn't have this paper to revise, I might do that --- I could be there by 4 am...).

Overall, remember that there are many important elements to a good relationship... supporting one another is possible in a variety of contexts, being separate isn't easy, but it can be done.

Just War and Harry Potter...

I'm so, so, so, sooo tempted to revise this paper using the Harry Potter series as a metaphor... Voldemort represents a supreme-emergency sort of threat. I know I shouldn't and I'm sure I won't do it... but, it is really tempting. I'd guess that although the reviewers may be familiar with Harry, they probably haven't seen a serious philosophy paper using Harry as the topic... so, I'll resist the temptation.

I have a section I've called "Doctrine of Defense in Dark Times" -- which really needs a new name I just can't conjure up. When I was presenting this section last week, I made a side-comment about Harry Potter... and one of the questions called the doctrine "Defense Against the Dark Arts" -- so he clearly got the reference....

Why is Ron Paul the only one...

... who is advertising on my favorite radio station.

Why does he only have one commercial, but it is on ALL the TIME? I think I'm going to have to change to NPR...

I'm not going to get into all the reasons I couldn't vote for Ron Paul--- (so, don't bother putting the comments here, I'll just turn on comment moderation again and delete them -- ).

If you're wondering -- go to the blog hubby co-writes (he's Jason) and read his posts...

Work Weekend...

This weekend is a 'work weekend' -- both in BN state and Red State.

Hubby will be working on a new chapter of his dissertation.

I'll be revising my paper on Supreme Emergencies. My goal is to put it into 'percolation' status by Monday. That will let it sit until the next work weekend in a couple of weeks.... after which I'll submit it and see what happens...

So, I hope you'll forgive the large number of random posts -- they are a good procrastination technique...