Live blogging from the porch...

.. well, technically it's the "deck" -- as it's two stories above the ground, but I like the sound of porch later -- as "deck" has connotations of privacy, or boats... but porches are often in front -- and my porch faces the parking lot.

The scene:
It's sunny, not too warm and really windy today. I have NPR on the radio, and the cottonwood trees sound like a really loud waterfall.

I have a nice variety of plants on my porch -- flowers, herbs and a semi-sickly looking tomato plant.

The plan:
I need to get some grading done and to finish my ethical theory midterm... so I can post it and it will automatically open when I want the questions released etc...

One of the reasons I like working on the porch is that I seem to give myself permission to do small acts of procrastination, but I generally don't stray too far from my actual tasks. Also, it's pretty, shady and very inviting.... and my neighbors do kind of amusing things...

So far -- I've seen one bunch come home from Costco -- with muffins and boxes of macaroni and cheese.

The far more 'amusing' bit is that someone is moving out -- and it's not me! They're moving from my end of the building, so their truck is directly below my deck. Yesterday seemed to be a comedy of errors, including one of them pounding on the door yelling to be let in... So far today I've just seen a couple of women moving a box spring into a mostly empty truck.

So -- back to work for now, but updates later...

Lots of general coming and going -- along with a little bit of lusting on my part after the patio set on the next porch down.

I wonder about the moving folks -- There seems to be only a couple of women moving things --but, they are kind of big things, stuff that more experienced movers would have put in the truck first -- like couches and beds.

I also don't remember seeing either of these women yesterday. Yesterday's crew was two obnoxious couples... skanky girls and loud boys. Today it's two pretty serious young women, neither of whom are the skanky girls from yesterday.... and, no boys.

I wonder if this is the end of lease break-up move? Their last act as a couple is to rent/borrow a truck to move out of the apartment. He gets it one day, she gets it the next... hmmm....

I'm learning that sitting on the porch speculating about the lives of my neighbors can be kind of fun!

Update - and a secret letter to the dude by the door...
Yo, moron, can't you read the 'no smoking' sign -- that applies to the area near the door... like the sign says. Just because you can't see me, doesn't mean I can't smell your stinky cigs... stop it.

Update --
I've just figured out another advantage to using on-line course management software -- I can hand back papers without having to write grades on them! The grade goes into the program and all I do is write comments on the paper.

For more complicated assignments, I'll include a grading matrix -- but, for this one, I just made comments and assigned grades on-line. Now I don't have to worry that someone will see someone's grades -- blah, blah, blah....

Final porch update --
I'm done with the grading and have a good start on the ethical theory midterm -- so, my porch time was productive.

I've also seen a bunch of icky hicks come and go from my place... I really hope that most of them don't live here, but I'm afraid they do... sigh.

I also saw a daddy and his little girl headed to a birthday party -- or, rather bringing a party to someone. I kind of imagine that they're going to visit Grandma in the home, complete with a birthday cake and presents -- and that the person having the birthday is the little girl. She was adorable in a pink dress and white sandals -- she's probably 4ish.. maybe turning 5.

The best bit, from a hope for my building perspective, was a very well-dressed black family carrying a car seat/infant carrier. They looked like they'd just finished church and lunch with family -- and will now settle in for a bit of reading or a nap all around. The sad thing is that I don't think they live here...

So -- now to bring all the stuff in from the porch and maybe take a nap before steak salad for dinner...