I am getting a massage on my lunch hour. Before and after that, my misery still centers on paper grading, committee work, and desperate students. I love doing a massage in the middle of the day because it's like a private oasis. Not even the dreaded cell phone can reach me then.
Still have a stack of exams/papers to grade, but went for a hike this morning and saw a Great Horned Owl--he/she was just hanging out on a log. Strange--I've never seen an owl in the daytime like that, up close. I think it was probably telling me to wise up and get grading already.
*Very* cool. I would, however, suggest an alternative explanation: the presence of the owl confirmed the wisdom of taking some time away from the exams/papers.
I'm grading. I also took a look at my calendar for the next few months, because I'm participating in a summer writing group and need to do some planning, and (re)discovered that summer is, in fact, pretty short, especially when you spend 5 weeks of it teaching. I'd hoped to finish two articles; I now think one plus some research for the other is more realistic. I'm also finding that, as class prep becomes more and more elaborate (as we do more and more scaffolding for students, explanation of what we're doing and why for various accreditors/reviewers, inside and outside the university, etc., etc.), the date on which I need to start putting substantial time into that creeps earlier and earlier, truncating the summer from the other end. Between the economically-driven need to teach summer courses, and the student/assessment/course-load driven need to put more time into pre-semester prep, I'm missing 6-7 weeks that I once had to focus on research (or perhaps a bit of relaxation, though realistically, the money I spend on travel these days is for research. Vacations, which I do take, are staycations, entertainment courtesy of the public library and the great outdoors).
I am ALMOST DONE! Waiting on three exams from the student services center- then I can submit grades, grab a cocktail and pack for my trip to the beach.
Currently, I am working through a stack of researched argument papers.
So, the answer to the question is "Nothing." Nothing I am doing beats what Hiram is doing. But at least I am sitting outside listening to the birds while I am grading. So there's that. Plus when I get 10 done, I get to go have a glass of wine and some leftover pizza.
I won't rub it in, but Hiram and I had mid morning snacks at 11:00. Now, I am saddling up my bike to get that much needed exercise that I have been talking about.
I completely agree with your sentiments... Going on a trip to 3 foreign countries far away for 22 fucking bliss-filled days. Fuck yeah indeed! .... And then teaching a summer school session via Internet in July-August. (bubble busted)
I'm going to Disney World! Then I'm spending the summer cooking, reading non academic stuff (first up, The Hunger Games) and laying poolside working on a magnificent tan. Its the first summer in five years I'm not teaching or working other odd jobs, and I plan to fully enjoy it.
My schedule for today? Hang out and prep the living room for painting.
For the summer? Two weeks in the woods with the Boy Scouts, followed by two weeks of conferences (and three preps for those), and then moving my no-longer-a-child to an Institute of Technology in a state far, far away.
Oh, and preps for my fall classes. Not looking forward to it; our gen-chem teacher tells me there's a higher-than-usual percentage of dolts.
Hey, don't pick on Hiram! Most of the time he's terribly baffled, and now for a change he's not, lucky bastard. ;-)
(I am still in final exams/grading hell, with no respite in sight since I have to take my mediocre gradflake to the annular eclipse in Redding, and I just know he'll strike with one of his massive fuck-ups at precisely the worst possible time. At least we can observe the transit of Venus from campus.)
I am getting a massage on my lunch hour. Before and after that, my misery still centers on paper grading, committee work, and desperate students. I love doing a massage in the middle of the day because it's like a private oasis. Not even the dreaded cell phone can reach me then.
ReplyDeleteTeaching, grading, attending meeting. School doesn't end for another four weeks.
ReplyDeleteStill have a stack of exams/papers to grade, but went for a hike this morning and saw a Great Horned Owl--he/she was just hanging out on a log. Strange--I've never seen an owl in the daytime like that, up close. I think it was probably telling me to wise up and get grading already.
ReplyDelete*Very* cool. I would, however, suggest an alternative explanation: the presence of the owl confirmed the wisdom of taking some time away from the exams/papers.
DeleteIf the owl poops on you, you will win the lottery.
Deletea chair, my yard, the sun, beer
ReplyDeleteI'm full court press into August. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI'm not checking campus e-mail while my students heads explode.
ReplyDeletePlaying Dr. Blue vs. Zombies on the Fisher Chemical website: http://games.thermofisher.com/zombie/
ReplyDeleteCool! I'd never have suspected Fisher of having that. Great time-waster, like I need another one.
DeleteI'm grading. I also took a look at my calendar for the next few months, because I'm participating in a summer writing group and need to do some planning, and (re)discovered that summer is, in fact, pretty short, especially when you spend 5 weeks of it teaching. I'd hoped to finish two articles; I now think one plus some research for the other is more realistic. I'm also finding that, as class prep becomes more and more elaborate (as we do more and more scaffolding for students, explanation of what we're doing and why for various accreditors/reviewers, inside and outside the university, etc., etc.), the date on which I need to start putting substantial time into that creeps earlier and earlier, truncating the summer from the other end. Between the economically-driven need to teach summer courses, and the student/assessment/course-load driven need to put more time into pre-semester prep, I'm missing 6-7 weeks that I once had to focus on research (or perhaps a bit of relaxation, though realistically, the money I spend on travel these days is for research. Vacations, which I do take, are staycations, entertainment courtesy of the public library and the great outdoors).
ReplyDeleteI am ALMOST DONE! Waiting on three exams from the student services center- then I can submit grades, grab a cocktail and pack for my trip to the beach.
ReplyDeleteWith five more weeks to go, I'm still digging Hiram's schedule...
ReplyDeleteFinals start tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I am working through a stack of researched argument papers.
So, the answer to the question is "Nothing." Nothing I am doing beats what Hiram is doing. But at least I am sitting outside listening to the birds while I am grading. So there's that. Plus when I get 10 done, I get to go have a glass of wine and some leftover pizza.
I won't rub it in, but Hiram and I had mid morning snacks at 11:00.
ReplyDeleteNow, I am saddling up my bike to get that much needed exercise that I have been talking about.
I had a mid morning snack at 11:00.
DeleteThat was because I just HAD TO BITE SOMETHING (in order not to bite someone) after the faculty meeting, though, not because my day was awesome.
South America for 4 days before summer school and then Italy/Turkey in August FUCK YEAH!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's the only thing keeping me going...
I completely agree with your sentiments... Going on a trip to 3 foreign countries far away for 22 fucking bliss-filled days. Fuck yeah indeed! .... And then teaching a summer school session via Internet in July-August. (bubble busted)
DeleteI'm going to Disney World! Then I'm spending the summer cooking, reading non academic stuff (first up, The Hunger Games) and laying poolside working on a magnificent tan. Its the first summer in five years I'm not teaching or working other odd jobs, and I plan to fully enjoy it.
ReplyDelete5 days in Hong Kong. No summer teaching, but will be studying some new (to me) statistical methods.
ReplyDeleteMy schedule for today? Hang out and prep the living room for painting.
ReplyDeleteFor the summer? Two weeks in the woods with the Boy Scouts, followed by two weeks of conferences (and three preps for those), and then moving my no-longer-a-child to an Institute of Technology in a state far, far away.
Oh, and preps for my fall classes. Not looking forward to it; our gen-chem teacher tells me there's a higher-than-usual percentage of dolts.
What's wrong wiht Hiram's day? Sounds pretty good to me if you substitute HGTV for the golf channel =0)
ReplyDeleteHey, don't pick on Hiram! Most of the time he's terribly baffled, and now for a change he's not, lucky bastard. ;-)
ReplyDelete(I am still in final exams/grading hell, with no respite in sight since I have to take my mediocre gradflake to the annular eclipse in Redding, and I just know he'll strike with one of his massive fuck-ups at precisely the worst possible time. At least we can observe the transit of Venus from campus.)