Friday, December 08, 2006
Excuses, Excuses..
Usually this time of the year the excuses go from students to teachers. Today it was reversed --
What do you think would happen if I told my debate teamt "my cat ate your debate case, so I couldn't grade it."
Blind kitty has eaten a duplicate of a debate ballot I put in the trash. Now he's actually gone into my briefcase and picked out a case on newspaper monopolies to eat. I stopped him, put the case away and thought that would stop him... no, he actually went back into my bag and got another case out to chew on. These cases were in folders, in the pocket of my briefcase -- I'm not sure how he did it. Both cases were written by Swear Jar -- I wonder if that has anything to do with it... like, he's using catnip paper or something.
I've taken to putting my bag up where he can't get it. It isn't as if I'm really concerned about him eating the cases, it is just that the paper tends to stop him up a bit and then he gets cranky.
On the other hand, if I could get him to eat some logic exams....
What do you think would happen if I told my debate teamt "my cat ate your debate case, so I couldn't grade it."
Blind kitty has eaten a duplicate of a debate ballot I put in the trash. Now he's actually gone into my briefcase and picked out a case on newspaper monopolies to eat. I stopped him, put the case away and thought that would stop him... no, he actually went back into my bag and got another case out to chew on. These cases were in folders, in the pocket of my briefcase -- I'm not sure how he did it. Both cases were written by Swear Jar -- I wonder if that has anything to do with it... like, he's using catnip paper or something.
I've taken to putting my bag up where he can't get it. It isn't as if I'm really concerned about him eating the cases, it is just that the paper tends to stop him up a bit and then he gets cranky.
On the other hand, if I could get him to eat some logic exams....
I hate Parvity...
So, as part of my birthday-o-sloth -- or, at least as part of my relaxing birthday... I'm watching the TIVOd Survivor from last week.
They are at the point where their family member visiting is a reward. The winner has the chance to send someone to 'exile island'. There is a lazy little girl named "Parvity" who won this time. She hates a guy named Johnathan -- mostly because he's pointed out how worthless she is...
The ONLY survivor with a spouse who came to see them was Johnathan. And, you guessed it -- Parvity sent Johnathan to exile island, just to deny him any chance of spending time with his wife.
She sucks, she's a lazy, stupid twit -- and she's mean. I want her off of the island... NOW.
They are at the point where their family member visiting is a reward. The winner has the chance to send someone to 'exile island'. There is a lazy little girl named "Parvity" who won this time. She hates a guy named Johnathan -- mostly because he's pointed out how worthless she is...
The ONLY survivor with a spouse who came to see them was Johnathan. And, you guessed it -- Parvity sent Johnathan to exile island, just to deny him any chance of spending time with his wife.
She sucks, she's a lazy, stupid twit -- and she's mean. I want her off of the island... NOW.
It's my birthday!
My Pajamagram arrived yesterday from hubby... the perfect pajamas were inside! I'm wearing them now -- and they feel great!
Hubby arrived home from Red State last night... it is so nice to have him home.
I was trying to figure out what seems strange about this birthday, compared to the others in the past... The answer is that I don't have ANY pressing academic stuff to do today. Because of when my birthday is, I usually have to write, take or give finals on my birthday. This went way back to my first undergrad (at BN University), where I had to take a final on a Saturday, that was also my birthday.
Plans for today -- not much. I'm planning to enjoy a day at home with the cats and the hubby. I may do a few minor errands and other tasks that will make my life easier next week -- but, if they dont get done the world won't end. Later today, hubby will get up and we'll have lefse for breakfast. He'll make me a birthday cake and maybe we'll go out for linner (the lunch/dinner equivalent of brunch). Right now, I'm going back to bed.
Lesson for the day -- dreaming about peeing isn't the same as actually getting up in the middle of the night to pee.
Hubby arrived home from Red State last night... it is so nice to have him home.
I was trying to figure out what seems strange about this birthday, compared to the others in the past... The answer is that I don't have ANY pressing academic stuff to do today. Because of when my birthday is, I usually have to write, take or give finals on my birthday. This went way back to my first undergrad (at BN University), where I had to take a final on a Saturday, that was also my birthday.
Plans for today -- not much. I'm planning to enjoy a day at home with the cats and the hubby. I may do a few minor errands and other tasks that will make my life easier next week -- but, if they dont get done the world won't end. Later today, hubby will get up and we'll have lefse for breakfast. He'll make me a birthday cake and maybe we'll go out for linner (the lunch/dinner equivalent of brunch). Right now, I'm going back to bed.
Lesson for the day -- dreaming about peeing isn't the same as actually getting up in the middle of the night to pee.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
I'll miss them...
My Tuesday/Thursday classes were both good groups.
The logic class came in first -- at 7:45 they tried to learn logic. While I worried about them at first, their scores in the end were very close to my other class... an they were sweet. I'll miss the girls in the front who are roomates and worked together to get As. I'll miss seeing the couples snuggle before class started while drinking their coffee. They started out quiet and ended up asking good questions and helping one another learn a complex and abstract system.... all to avoid taking Algebra :).
After logic, I had a 30 minute break. Since my next class is in the same room, I turned this time into office hours and had some really good conversations with students during this break. They'd go out for a smoke and then come back to talk. Sometimes we'd talk about class - but often we'd talk about life. I'd hear their challenges and victories, I'd hear about their lives before coming to BNCC and their plans for the future. Usually my 9:30 class would come in during this time to chat with me or with one another... all we needed was some coffee and we'd have a great coffee house.
Then there was my honors ethics class -- This is the group I'll miss the most. Individually, they were bright, motivated and interesting. As a group, they were welcoming, fun and challenging. They were good critics of one another's work and when it came time for presentations, they'd ask one another good questions and they kept up their pattern of excellent attendance when their classmates were in charge of teaching the class.
We had an ancient guy auditing. He has a long white beard and looks a lot like Socrates. He never spoke in class, but after class he'd ask me questions -- today, after noticing the high level of communication and interaction between myself and the class, he asked me what my favorite word is... sadly, I didn't have an answer.
I have to admit, it is kind of my teaching dream to teach classes like my honors class. Smallish classes with motivated students -- sure, like any CC my honors students had challenges and sometimes they didn't do their homework -- but when they came to class they tried to engage the material even when they hadn't done the reading. They'd come in, turn on their critical thinking skills, and be present for the length of the class. For this, I'll miss them.
The logic class came in first -- at 7:45 they tried to learn logic. While I worried about them at first, their scores in the end were very close to my other class... an they were sweet. I'll miss the girls in the front who are roomates and worked together to get As. I'll miss seeing the couples snuggle before class started while drinking their coffee. They started out quiet and ended up asking good questions and helping one another learn a complex and abstract system.... all to avoid taking Algebra :).
After logic, I had a 30 minute break. Since my next class is in the same room, I turned this time into office hours and had some really good conversations with students during this break. They'd go out for a smoke and then come back to talk. Sometimes we'd talk about class - but often we'd talk about life. I'd hear their challenges and victories, I'd hear about their lives before coming to BNCC and their plans for the future. Usually my 9:30 class would come in during this time to chat with me or with one another... all we needed was some coffee and we'd have a great coffee house.
Then there was my honors ethics class -- This is the group I'll miss the most. Individually, they were bright, motivated and interesting. As a group, they were welcoming, fun and challenging. They were good critics of one another's work and when it came time for presentations, they'd ask one another good questions and they kept up their pattern of excellent attendance when their classmates were in charge of teaching the class.
We had an ancient guy auditing. He has a long white beard and looks a lot like Socrates. He never spoke in class, but after class he'd ask me questions -- today, after noticing the high level of communication and interaction between myself and the class, he asked me what my favorite word is... sadly, I didn't have an answer.
I have to admit, it is kind of my teaching dream to teach classes like my honors class. Smallish classes with motivated students -- sure, like any CC my honors students had challenges and sometimes they didn't do their homework -- but when they came to class they tried to engage the material even when they hadn't done the reading. They'd come in, turn on their critical thinking skills, and be present for the length of the class. For this, I'll miss them.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
The fun to-do list
I'm tired of my to-do list for the end of the semester... blah blah blah grade, write syllabus for next semester, enter grades blah blah blah... talk to students, read papers, copy exams, blah blah blah... end of semester pot-luck (actually could be fun), debate travel plans, organize cases, blah blah blah... clean office, do recycling from last spring semester, blah blah blah.....
I want to think about the glorious time of winter break... a to-do list I really WANT to do...
Travel --
First on that list, and probably the most fun -- travel. Sure, I traveled a ton this semester -- but most of it was without hubby, and as such wasn't as much fun as it should have been.
This break I'll see the following: In about this order...
1) the great plains between BN state and Red State. This includes 3 trips across the 'I don't know math' state. Hubby's place in Red State now has a nice place for me to work in his office -- so we can hang out there, watch DVDs and grade papers together. When we need a break, we'll go get some good food -- or snuggle :). If I’m a really good girl, maybe hubby will take me to the Best Indian Food in the World….
2) The BN state north woods -- we are going to Mom's for Christmas Eve /Christmas Day. The trees, one of the great lakes, snow, wolves, moose, deer and other critters... I really love it up in the woods, if only I could figure out how to make a living up there... sigh. This trip will be a little better than usual, as my step-dad's computer is dead so he can't use it to look at porn on Baby Jesus's birthday.
3) Phoenix, AZ -- and hopefully the desert. Hubby is going to a symposium and I'm going to hang out at the hotel. I'm great at hanging out and I could use the time... really. He has the weekend off and we have rented a car, so we'll go see what there is to see.
4) Denver and the Rocky Mountains -- with my debate team. For 3 of the 4 this will be their first time in the western US. They've never seen the Rockies -- my big challenge is how to show them these amazing things in the afternoon we have to play. Maybe I'll tell them to get to the airport as early as possible and try to stand-by for earlier flights...
Dissertation work..
I know this doesn't exactly sound like something I should be dreaming about doing -- but, it is. I miss the time working on my own brain. My own work feels good to develop and revise. It is also interesting to me... so, I miss it. I'd like to spend some time while we are home and hubby's symposium time in Phoenix working on my own stuff.
Play time..
Reading books
Sleeping in
Getting a pedicure (Phoenix = sandals = need good toes)
Hanging with hubby (starts tomorrow!!! Goes for 1 month, 4 days!!!!! YEA!!!!!
yep -- that is a to-do list I can deal with.
I want to think about the glorious time of winter break... a to-do list I really WANT to do...
Travel --
First on that list, and probably the most fun -- travel. Sure, I traveled a ton this semester -- but most of it was without hubby, and as such wasn't as much fun as it should have been.
This break I'll see the following: In about this order...
1) the great plains between BN state and Red State. This includes 3 trips across the 'I don't know math' state. Hubby's place in Red State now has a nice place for me to work in his office -- so we can hang out there, watch DVDs and grade papers together. When we need a break, we'll go get some good food -- or snuggle :). If I’m a really good girl, maybe hubby will take me to the Best Indian Food in the World….
2) The BN state north woods -- we are going to Mom's for Christmas Eve /Christmas Day. The trees, one of the great lakes, snow, wolves, moose, deer and other critters... I really love it up in the woods, if only I could figure out how to make a living up there... sigh. This trip will be a little better than usual, as my step-dad's computer is dead so he can't use it to look at porn on Baby Jesus's birthday.
3) Phoenix, AZ -- and hopefully the desert. Hubby is going to a symposium and I'm going to hang out at the hotel. I'm great at hanging out and I could use the time... really. He has the weekend off and we have rented a car, so we'll go see what there is to see.
4) Denver and the Rocky Mountains -- with my debate team. For 3 of the 4 this will be their first time in the western US. They've never seen the Rockies -- my big challenge is how to show them these amazing things in the afternoon we have to play. Maybe I'll tell them to get to the airport as early as possible and try to stand-by for earlier flights...
Dissertation work..
I know this doesn't exactly sound like something I should be dreaming about doing -- but, it is. I miss the time working on my own brain. My own work feels good to develop and revise. It is also interesting to me... so, I miss it. I'd like to spend some time while we are home and hubby's symposium time in Phoenix working on my own stuff.
Play time..
Reading books
Sleeping in
Getting a pedicure (Phoenix = sandals = need good toes)
Hanging with hubby (starts tomorrow!!! Goes for 1 month, 4 days!!!!! YEA!!!!!
yep -- that is a to-do list I can deal with.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Debate plans...
Last week I made our airline reservations for San Diego in February. We have an extra day before the tournament, just in case ;) -- in case we need to aclimate or something.... really. I used to be opposed to this, until the last time we went to this tournament and flew in on Friday evening to debate on Saturday morning. Trouble was that we didn't actually end up getting to the hotel until very late on Friday evening and had to leave that hotel before 7 AM on Saturday. This time, we'll have an extra day to get used to the time change and stuff -- and, the warm weather, vist the beach and all kinds of other fun things.
Today I tried to make hotel reservations in San Diego. I also spent 30 minutes making reservations for 4 rooms at the Super 8 in the middle of Red State. Talk about two different locations... wow.
I'm pretty sure my debaters will have some culture shock. Their schedule goes like this:
mid-January -- fly to Colorado, play in the mountains that afternoon, debate all weekend and come home on MLK day (Monday)
following Thursday -- leave for Red State (probably fly... we'll see for sure, but we need to get back for class).
weekend off
First week of February -- fly to San Diego, play in the ocen, debate one exhausting tournament, fly home on Monday.
weekend off
Third weekend in February -- drive to Chicago for a tournament.
weekend off
So -- they'll debate in the Rockey Mountains, by the Pacific ocean, in the plains and in the largest midwest city... within just over a month... and I'll go with them.
I think hubby will have to come home on the weekends off, because I'll be in no shape to go to Red State....
Today I tried to make hotel reservations in San Diego. I also spent 30 minutes making reservations for 4 rooms at the Super 8 in the middle of Red State. Talk about two different locations... wow.
I'm pretty sure my debaters will have some culture shock. Their schedule goes like this:
mid-January -- fly to Colorado, play in the mountains that afternoon, debate all weekend and come home on MLK day (Monday)
following Thursday -- leave for Red State (probably fly... we'll see for sure, but we need to get back for class).
weekend off
First week of February -- fly to San Diego, play in the ocen, debate one exhausting tournament, fly home on Monday.
weekend off
Third weekend in February -- drive to Chicago for a tournament.
weekend off
So -- they'll debate in the Rockey Mountains, by the Pacific ocean, in the plains and in the largest midwest city... within just over a month... and I'll go with them.
I think hubby will have to come home on the weekends off, because I'll be in no shape to go to Red State....
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