Deadlines and such.

November 30, 2005 | 3 Comments

Tomorrow I will be the recipient of a 10 inch stack of term papers – about 38 altogether. A few students have already submitted theirs. (Bless their industrious little hearts!) Numerous students are emailing me with requests to review their work before the final submission. (The ones I’ve looked at are great; just a little bit of polish and they are good to go.) Many of them — students I’ve taught for a few years now — are confidently working on their own, and I know they will submit terrific work, as always.

And then there are the students who have obviously waited until the last minute to even start their research. As in, emailing me to clarify what exactly their paper topic is because they can’t recall what they told me it was a month ago.

These are the ones that suck the life-blood out of educators like me.

For despite my gruff posturing at the lecture podium about deadlines and discipline, I know from my own academic career as a semi-professional procrastinator that Term Paper week is a fucking nightmare. If you are having a bad semester (or several of them in a row) that one week can make you seriously consider never setting foot on a campus again if you manage to make it out alive this time.

These are the times that are emotionally exhausting for me as a teacher because I sincerely want all of my students to do well, all the time. I don’t understand why some of them won’t, no matter how much assistance and patience is extended to them. It’s mentally taxing to give the slackers a red-ass beat down at grading time, knowing that they fully deserve it, but that it’s probably going to noticeably lower their GPA.

I can’t figure out why I care more about the lackluster grades of a few, when obviously they don’t.

One of my colleagues told me he went through the same thing the first few years he was teaching, but it got easier to be an academic ball-breaker as time went by. He also said he was sure that he turned a few slackers around in life by demanding that they perform up to the high standards he held for his students or else. (By the way, that is what reformed me from my procrastinating ways. Thanks again, Mr. Hoffman, wherever you may be.)

After a while you develop the ability to discern which kids will respond to the demands and which ones won’t, I guess.

I’m not cut out to be an academic ball-breaker. I’m more of the “nurture the budding artist” studio-type teacher. I guess I’m just glad I realized this before I got too deep into the system and tried to make a career out of it.

Because honestly? Even sometimes when you are the teacher, Term Paper week can make you seriously consider never setting foot on a campus again if you manage to make it out alive this time.

That’s all for now. More again soon, my friends. ~ ~ ~

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Uncategorized

Special BONUS Monday nonsense edition!

November 28, 2005 | 1 Comment

I am sitting here, trying to kill time before my session with Dr. K – which is at 4 pm. I’m going to be his last appointment of the day, on the first day back to work after the holiday. I’m sure he will listen with rapt attention to everything I have to say.

Maybe I’ll have to throw him a curveball just to make sure he’s awake.

***

Can someone tell me why the same contact lenses purchased online (Accuvue 2, three boxes, six lenses in each) costs less than HALF what it costs to buy them here in town? And drugstore.com will ship them right out whereas the local place has to order them, adding a full week to the time I get them on my eyeballs? I mean, WTF?

***

In other news, Miss Maizey is lounging in the rocking chair, merrily grooming her shoulders so hard that it’s making the chair rock back and forth. Now that is some clean kitty right there.

***

I subscribe to Kim Komando’s newsletters, and she’s recently passed along information about the following two items. Check these out:

OOPS BUTTON FOR E-MAIL!
www.bigstring.com/kcs

Did you ever send an e-mail that you wish you could get back? Now you can send e-mails and pictures that self-destruct or can be changed anytime you want. Bigstring gives you total control over your sent e-mail.

You can self-destruct or change an e-mail that’s already been sent or read! You can even control how many times it’s viewed! Get your Free Bigstring account today.

And this one too:

Transfer large files the easy way!
www.dropload.com

Digital cameras make it easy to snap pictures or to create videos. And we all like to share our favorites with family or friends.

But let’s not forget proper etiquette. Sending large files via e-mail is a big no-no. Even with broadband, they take a long time to download. And they bog down our inboxes.

You can burn CDs or DVDs and send them via the postal service. But who wants to wait for that?

I recommend you try Dropload to transfer large files. Once you sign up, you can upload any file that’s 100 megabytes or less. The recipient will receive an e-mail notification to download the file within seven days. Dropload is free – and you know how much I love that!

That Kim Komando. She’s always coming up with something good. Plus she’s got that last name that makes you wonder if she’s not wearing underpants, too. That’s pretty neat.

***

I was going to go out and hunt for Christmas trees today, but it’s too friggen cold and windy. And I am particularly lazy right now. I can’t do it on Wednesday because Jer’s truck will be parked at the airport all day while he’s flying off to Louisville on a business trip. Tuesday and Thursday are out because of school.

Looks like Friday is tree day! I better pencil that in.

OK, gotta run. Talk to you again soon,

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Uncategorized

Monday Music Mambo #75

November 28, 2005 | 2 Comments

Fresh from the home office in Mamboville…

Hello mamboers! I’ve got another round of musical questions to make you think, dance, and write. I watched the U.K. Music Hall Of Fame ceremony on VH1 last night, so this week’s Mambo has a European flavor to it.

1. Who are some of your favorite British bands and artists?

The Rolling Stones, Eurythmics, Elton John, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Hollies, The Dave Clark Five, Culture Club, Moody Blues, Spencer Davis Group, Lulu, Tremeloes, Manfred Mann, and The Cure.

2. Who are some of your favorite Irish, Scottish and Welsh bands and artists?

Van Morrison, Rubyhorse, The Cranberries, Sinead O’Connor, Average White Band, Tom Jones, and Simple Minds.

(Sinead O’Connor’s antics drive me nuts, but her voice is soooo beautiful — I have to love her just for that. That and her bald head.)

3. What are some of your favorite songs by the above bands and artists?

Rolling Stones – Honky Tonk Women

Eurythmics – Would I Lie to You

Elton John – Tiny Dancer

Beatles – Something

Hollies – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

Moody Blues – Nights in White Satin

Spencer Davis Group – Gimme Some Lovin’

Tremeloes – Here Comes My Baby

Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U

Manfred Mann – Do Wah Diddy Diddy

Lulu – Oh Me, Oh My (I’m a Fool For You, Baby)

Lulu – To Sir With Love

The first song listed by Lulu is actually my favorite by her, but to leave out the second one would be criminal!

4. Are you a mod, a psychedelic, a glam rocker or a punk?

Uhmm… I think I might be a mod with a twist of punk.

***

That was another fun Mambo! And intriguing, too. It surprised me a little bit — I didn’t realize how much of the music I listen to is European in origin. I wonder what that’s about?

Anyway, the links will be active for a week; take what you like and enjoy. (I challenge anyone who downloads that Tremeloes song to remain perfectly still when you listen to it. Hah! It’s impossible. :yes:)

More again soon, kids. Have a great Monday!

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Monday Music Mambo

Guess what? Turkey butt.

November 27, 2005 | 4 Comments

I’m baaaaack!

The trip was a blast, but ohmigawd are we tired. There was a lot of running around, yak-yak-yakking, meeting new people, staying up late, pie, laughing our asses off, driving all over creation, and more PIE.

(I had three slices in two days. They were tiny because my tummy can’t hold that much anymore, but they were delicious.)

Here’s something that sounds nasty, but really isn’t:

I saw several men drool over my mama’s pie.
Hahahaha.

Ahem.

Yes, children… when you start to make off-color jokes about your mama’s pie, it’s a sign you’ve been awake for too long and you’ve driven too many miles. Time for bed, me thinks.

I’m sure glad all those pie left-overs are on the other side of the state.

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Uncategorized

Wishing everyone a…

November 22, 2005 | 2 Comments

We’re heading out early in the morning — we want to get a head start on the rest of the road pilgrims who are traveling for the holiday. This is going to be a fun trip!

Talk with you again soon, friends…

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Uncategorized