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Home > Archive: September, 2014

Archive for September, 2014

September Song

October 1st, 2014 at 04:00 am

I'm again way behind on many things, and as much as I'd like to blame myself (ha), I think it's work. Those of you remotely interested in my mundane freelance work might remember I took on a textbook accuracy checking job. There remains more to do on that job, and their checker on another text just quit, Do I need more work? No. Do I want more work? No. Did I take on more work? Yep.

That work, my busy classes, the London recruiting (which has taken on mammoth proportions lately), and a sick kid for four of the five past school days has turned me a bit ugly. I honestly didn't even enjoy apple picking last weekend. I'm tired. I haven't done my ebay listings or a lot of administration around here.

But tomorrow is sort of the end of the teaching week, and London apps are due tomorrow. I've got to get things done this week. End of whine.

Good news? I parked illegally all day and got no ticket. There's an open bag of Kit Kats in my office and I haven't eaten any. My newbie prospective London students are cute as can be. The child is doing better. I made swell chili and great homemade applesauce. Tomorrow is payday. Ah, much better.

Also Catching Up

September 20th, 2014 at 04:10 pm

It's been a couple of flurried weeks between the weekend trip to Minneapolis for my nephew's wedding, three weeks of the new semester, my department chair deserting us for the loftier climes of the Deans' offices, and all the usual household and child raising issues. Plus the London recruiting.

I won't even rehash my many administrative issues with the university; let's just say they have a very hard time leaving well enough alone. I'm over my justifiable outrage about a couple of things, but not a couple others.

It was my birthday last weekend, and two years ago I started a new tradition which I really like. With some of the money inherited from my mom, I invite a number of my lovely women colleagues to go out for dinner. We order decent wine, good food, and two weeks before any one gets their first paycheck for the academic year, we relax, talk, and laugh a lot. It's pure pleasure for me, and a break from all the headaches and austerity we often face together. My mom would certainly approve. Her women friends meant the world to her. That was last Saturday. Sunday DH and DD presented me with a cake and some little gifties. All in all, a very nice weekend.

I'm still slogging away at a freelance textbook editing project. I don't have much nice to say about how so much of this work is outsourced and the result on the quality of the work. But I am looking forward to the cash.

Staying true to my pledge to sell some of the mounting piles of stuff, I've sold a textbook for $49 and a pair of DD's outgrown rainboots for $4.

Lots of work ahead this weekend--both prep and household duties but have decided to play trivia with a colleague this afternoon. I hardly ever get to see him, so this should be fun. We are founts of useless knowledge.

Tired but Pleased

September 5th, 2014 at 04:52 am

Wow--I did predict the week would be a whirlwind, and I was right. I met more than 100 new students on Wednesday, tried to deal with all the prereqs, adds and drops, book issues, personal issues, requests to borrow my text, students in the wrong classes, and a straight six hours of back-to back teaching from 8-2. By the end of the day I felt like I'd be through a tornado.

Today was the campus Study Abroad fair from 9-2--again non-stop talking with students with no time to eat, stop, or think. Then on to a department meeting. The best part of the day was talking with students about London. Three of last year's bunch came to visit, and I can't even begin to say how pleased I was to see them. It's a unique bond, spending 3 months together.

So now, I've decided to turn in early and handle all the odds and ends tomorrow. If I can get off the chair.

Here It Comes

September 2nd, 2014 at 05:20 am

Yes, the new semester is just hours away. Am I ready? Let's just say I will be. No classes for me until Wednesday, so I have tomorrow to finish everything up.

I'll pop in for office hours tomorrow, but then head home for some much needed time.

It's been a busy weekend here. A grand fish fry complete with polka band on Friday, then a Saturday BBQ with my university women and their kids. Today DH, DD, and I went to the Parade of Homes--always interesting, if not quite my style.

In big financial news, I sold an old textbook for $99.
This will be a very squeaky financial month for us as we try to avoid moving money from savings. But in the past weeks we've had to pay over $2K for my gum surgery, the annual household insurance, the car insurance, and DH's tuition. There's not much wiggle room right now. The freezer contents are looking much more attractive, especially when supplemented with the garden's bounty.


More once I catch up--