I've been getting tension headaches, and I notice, of course, that they are worse when I've got a pile of papers to read and haven't finished them. Genius that I am! I've agreed to teach six classes, 117 students, and they turn in their papers on very similar schedules. At ten minutes per paper, that's a mere 19.5 hours per cycle, but I can't realistically grade more than six or so at a stretch without going nuts. That's 19 or 20 bursts of activity, enough for at least eight or ten days!
But why? Why do I obsess with making everyone perfect? Nobody else does! Why do I feel that students are all telling one another (and me) that I'm doing a poor job if I don't return things in a few days?
Well they do, but it's mainly because they are fascinated with grades. "I got an 82 on this paper. What can I do to raise it to an 83?"
Relax. Ignore the tension headache. Tell the students, one by one, how to make one thing better. Remember that they don't know how you did it with the last class. Remember that you don't have to be perfect.
After all, even with the disastrous teaching of Miss Ruddle (yes, that really was her name) I've turned out to be a damn fine writer!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
It never ends
Ashland University, desperate to save every penny, has instituted a mandatory electronic direct deposit scheme for paychecks. Like they spend a lot to send me three paychecks a semester.
I'm always suspicious of these Rube Goldberg ideas, and this time confirmed my suspicions. Today was payday, and (after half an hour of rummaging around to find out where on the Internet my pay stub resides) I discovered that I don't actually work here. So now someone is trying to find a copy of my contract. The next step, I'm sure, is to figure out what to do with me. Am I a new hire as of 9/25? Do I get paid for the work I've already done? Maybe they will simply do what NCSC did the time they lost my contract: write a new custom contract with pay periods all adjusted a month later than everyone else's.
I'm getting really nostalgic for the days (which were before my time) when employees lined up outside a paymaster's window to get cash in little brown envelopes.
I'm always suspicious of these Rube Goldberg ideas, and this time confirmed my suspicions. Today was payday, and (after half an hour of rummaging around to find out where on the Internet my pay stub resides) I discovered that I don't actually work here. So now someone is trying to find a copy of my contract. The next step, I'm sure, is to figure out what to do with me. Am I a new hire as of 9/25? Do I get paid for the work I've already done? Maybe they will simply do what NCSC did the time they lost my contract: write a new custom contract with pay periods all adjusted a month later than everyone else's.
I'm getting really nostalgic for the days (which were before my time) when employees lined up outside a paymaster's window to get cash in little brown envelopes.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Still Obsessing
As I keep wondering what to cut from my budget, I realize just how much money I'm spending due to forgetfulness. I wonder if it's old age finally creeping in. Or does everyone do these things?
July: Went to visit Joel, and didn't stop to think that South Carolina would be warmer than Ohio. Our July temperatures were topping out in the low 70s. Theirs in the upper 90s. Forgot to take shorts with me, so the first stop was Target.
August: Teaching at NCSC meant I had to provide my own computer for PowerPoint slides. Theirs was too infested with viruses to work. So of course, as I left school, I forgot to take my Apple dongle with me. Have to have it to plug into a projector. Cost $20. Got angry enough that I bought two so I'd have a spare for next time (this is the second time in a year I've lost one). And of course, buying one meant I had to go to Legacy Village, have dinner there, and buy something at Crate & Barrel.
September: Got to U Akron and discovered I had left my computer power adapter home. I need to do about six hours of slides, etc., there, so a battery wouldn't quite make it. Actually, a second power adapter isn't such a bad idea, but I wasn't hoping for the Chinese counterfeit that the school computer store sold me. Still, I was out $70.
I'm sure there are other examples, but it's kind of depressing to think about them. I won't use a black umbrella any more because I left a beauty in my car (black carpets) when I sold the last one. Now I make sure I have an umbrella that doesn't match much of anything.
July: Went to visit Joel, and didn't stop to think that South Carolina would be warmer than Ohio. Our July temperatures were topping out in the low 70s. Theirs in the upper 90s. Forgot to take shorts with me, so the first stop was Target.
August: Teaching at NCSC meant I had to provide my own computer for PowerPoint slides. Theirs was too infested with viruses to work. So of course, as I left school, I forgot to take my Apple dongle with me. Have to have it to plug into a projector. Cost $20. Got angry enough that I bought two so I'd have a spare for next time (this is the second time in a year I've lost one). And of course, buying one meant I had to go to Legacy Village, have dinner there, and buy something at Crate & Barrel.
September: Got to U Akron and discovered I had left my computer power adapter home. I need to do about six hours of slides, etc., there, so a battery wouldn't quite make it. Actually, a second power adapter isn't such a bad idea, but I wasn't hoping for the Chinese counterfeit that the school computer store sold me. Still, I was out $70.
I'm sure there are other examples, but it's kind of depressing to think about them. I won't use a black umbrella any more because I left a beauty in my car (black carpets) when I sold the last one. Now I make sure I have an umbrella that doesn't match much of anything.
Monday, September 21, 2009
$10 a day
I've been looking at my finances, and wondering just how much I'm overspending my income. This only works because I had some money saved up, but now I'm trying to live on current income. It isn't working. On average, I'm apparently overspending my income by about $10 a day. Yikes! Time for some economies. Likely candidates (sounds like what a LOT of people are doing)
- Eating fast food. I do a lot of that, because I'm away from home for five lunches and two dinners a week. Got to d something there.
- Haircuts. Yes, Great Clips does a terrible job, but for the moment, I don't have the money for a $25 haircut. Go to the Great Clips chop shop.
- Buying unnecessary stuff. OK, I bought three pair of shoes last year. Probably only needed one. Ditto for shirts.
Can all this be $10 a day? Do I really need to give up on gourmet coffee? Will I think twice before buying a friend some expensive gift?
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A good thing
It's a good thing I showed up at church this morning. I was having a lazy day and almost stayed home.
This was the Sunday for granddaughter Lili's dedication. I hadn't heard about it in advance, or I might have dressed a little better, and as it was I sort of squeezed on the edge of the proceedings, but at least I was there.
Welcome or not.
This was the Sunday for granddaughter Lili's dedication. I hadn't heard about it in advance, or I might have dressed a little better, and as it was I sort of squeezed on the edge of the proceedings, but at least I was there.
Welcome or not.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sometimes you just have to count
I've been getting really grumpy about Akron parking, so I kept track of the actual search time last Tuesday. It was about 13 minutes. Sure seemed longer.
At the gym they play a local radio station (Y-105) on the PA system, and one of the songs has an incredibly repetitive refrain. I'm not too sure what it's saying, exactly (poor sound quality), but I think it's "This is just a summer love." Or maybe "This is just a rubber glove." Or maybe "It's a bitchin' mother bug." Something like that anyhow. It comes back again and again, so today, while doing a particularly mindless exercise, I counted. It's only 20 times in the song. If the typical Top 40 song runs about three minutes, that's only seven times a minute, hardly more often than once every ten seconds. Sure seemed like more. Maybe because the station plays that song three or four times an hour. But anyhow, now that I've actually counted, I realize that the song isn't any more repetitive than some of the things we sing on Sunday morning in church. (And with seven syllables in the refrain, actually repeats a longer section than some of our worship songs do.)
At the gym they play a local radio station (Y-105) on the PA system, and one of the songs has an incredibly repetitive refrain. I'm not too sure what it's saying, exactly (poor sound quality), but I think it's "This is just a summer love." Or maybe "This is just a rubber glove." Or maybe "It's a bitchin' mother bug." Something like that anyhow. It comes back again and again, so today, while doing a particularly mindless exercise, I counted. It's only 20 times in the song. If the typical Top 40 song runs about three minutes, that's only seven times a minute, hardly more often than once every ten seconds. Sure seemed like more. Maybe because the station plays that song three or four times an hour. But anyhow, now that I've actually counted, I realize that the song isn't any more repetitive than some of the things we sing on Sunday morning in church. (And with seven syllables in the refrain, actually repeats a longer section than some of our worship songs do.)
Monday, September 7, 2009
Things change
So here I am on Labor Day, at 1 p.m., wondering what the rest of my day will bring. It's a rainy 65 degrees, which is OK with me because I got out to the bike trails yesterday and the day before. It's always nice when the temperature shoots up above 75 in Mansfield. I love those early Fall days when we flirt with the low 80s, but never make it all the way to 85. Clear skies are such a rare treat here, too, and the last two days gave us plenty of those.
For years and years, Memorial Day and Labor Day were the occasion of big, elaborate family picnics at the Vega household, complete with a mandatory game of "Death Croquet." (Let a crowd of young teenage boys loose with wooden balls and hammers, and watch what happens.)
Things have gotten quieter and quieter as the years have wound on. People have moved out of town, gotten their own families. Mansfield isn't the sort of place where adults make friends with each other, but this isn't the time/place to have a lot of regrets. I've learned to love solitary activities (night bike rides on the B&O trail, for example), and my teaching is very consuming, so I'm enjoying this alone day. Listening to Peter Nero jazz, planning on braising some steak later, and perhaps spending time with friend Jon, who has touched down for a brief visit between cities.
For years and years, Memorial Day and Labor Day were the occasion of big, elaborate family picnics at the Vega household, complete with a mandatory game of "Death Croquet." (Let a crowd of young teenage boys loose with wooden balls and hammers, and watch what happens.)
Things have gotten quieter and quieter as the years have wound on. People have moved out of town, gotten their own families. Mansfield isn't the sort of place where adults make friends with each other, but this isn't the time/place to have a lot of regrets. I've learned to love solitary activities (night bike rides on the B&O trail, for example), and my teaching is very consuming, so I'm enjoying this alone day. Listening to Peter Nero jazz, planning on braising some steak later, and perhaps spending time with friend Jon, who has touched down for a brief visit between cities.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Lazy Day
Things will pick up on Friday because 45 of my students will submit papers that day, but for the moment, things are pretty calm here. The semester is off to a pretty good start at both schools, the weather has warmed up enough that I can wear short-sleeved shirts again, and life is pretty fine.
I think I'm still stressing about the beginning of school. After all these years, the opening of the semester gives me stage fright. I have trouble sleeping at night, get headaches, and do a lot of those little non-helpful things (eat too much, etc.). Labor Day weekend is the transition, I guess.
Since mid-summer, I've been stressing about a student named Jihad. I was sort of expecting Jeff Dunham's "Achmed the Dead Terrorist." Fortunately (and predictably) the guy never even showed up. He'll turn out to be one of those who stay on the books to perpetrate a minor scam with financial aid, then ask me to sign a withdraw form at the last second. I say I won't do it, but usually cave in at the last minute.
One pleasant side effect of the new school year is that I'll probably blog more. I set up blogs for my Akron classes, so I have to log in and check them frequently. The blogs won't actually say anything because I didn't set up a grading scale or require the students to write there. And, as we all know, if it isn't worth points, it isn't worth doing. I was probably the same way when I was a student. And after all, the students today have been trained to do precisely—and only—what their teachers tell them to do. (They remind me of a comment from the first Men In Black: "You're everything we've come to expect from years of government training.")
Anyhoo, things will be better. Today the temperature is expected to hit the mid 70's (53 now) and I'm going to hit the bike trail.
I think I'm still stressing about the beginning of school. After all these years, the opening of the semester gives me stage fright. I have trouble sleeping at night, get headaches, and do a lot of those little non-helpful things (eat too much, etc.). Labor Day weekend is the transition, I guess.
Since mid-summer, I've been stressing about a student named Jihad. I was sort of expecting Jeff Dunham's "Achmed the Dead Terrorist." Fortunately (and predictably) the guy never even showed up. He'll turn out to be one of those who stay on the books to perpetrate a minor scam with financial aid, then ask me to sign a withdraw form at the last second. I say I won't do it, but usually cave in at the last minute.
One pleasant side effect of the new school year is that I'll probably blog more. I set up blogs for my Akron classes, so I have to log in and check them frequently. The blogs won't actually say anything because I didn't set up a grading scale or require the students to write there. And, as we all know, if it isn't worth points, it isn't worth doing. I was probably the same way when I was a student. And after all, the students today have been trained to do precisely—and only—what their teachers tell them to do. (They remind me of a comment from the first Men In Black: "You're everything we've come to expect from years of government training.")
Anyhoo, things will be better. Today the temperature is expected to hit the mid 70's (53 now) and I'm going to hit the bike trail.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Yikes moment
I keep seeing those ads by Internet pages: "Lose weight by following one simple rule." I got curious, though I assumed they were selling something.
The product is named Colon Cleanse Turbo. That's enough to terrify me already, and being a very imaginative person I should avoid picturing it.
Just don't go to that train of thought.
The product is named Colon Cleanse Turbo. That's enough to terrify me already, and being a very imaginative person I should avoid picturing it.
Just don't go to that train of thought.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
It's Chronic
OK—I've just finished my third day of working at UAkron this fall.
The first day I cruised around the parking garage I've used for years, and found nothing, then went to an obscure lot behind the church and got the last place available.
The second day I went to that obscure lot and it was full, so I went to an even more obscure lot behind the BP station and got the last place available.
Today I cruised seven lots—took 45 minutes doing it—before I found the last place available in the law school lot. The garage behind the former Polsky Department Store had people parked in every aisle so there was only the width of one car to drive. Not once, but twice, I shut off my engine, got out of the car, and walked over to negotiate things with students whose cars were nose to nose. At one intersection we had north, south, and east nose to nose with several cars behind each.
I think it's official. The parking situation is chronic and unbearable. In the short term, I know now that I have to add two hours to my commute to allow for finding a parking place. In the long term, I'm wondering if it's worth the agony to teach here at all. But the alternative, NCSC, can't come within $5000 of the money. Sigh.
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