Stick a fork in me, I'm done!
Last night capped off finals week at Del Mar with graduation, and I was the official faculty escort for the majors from English and Philosophy. Graduation was definitely the most fun graduation I've ever been to or been a part of. Del Mar really means a lot to Corpus Christi--that much is clearly evident. Nearly half of the faculty stood up last night, when President Escamilla asked if any of them had taken classes at Del Mar. Some of them, like President Escamilla himself, started their educations at Del Mar and have returned to teach there. What also stuck with me about the faculty was when the veterans among our faculty were asked to stand. At least a third of them on the stage stood. (Del Mar is one of the 2015 Great Military Colleges.)
What will stick with me from graduation will be a few things. One was the bagpiper (because we have so many Scottish people in South Texas?). The second, which brought tears to many eyes, were a father and son who were graduating together. The third was Dear Husband's boss and President Escamilla helping a student who was having trouble walking make it across the stage. And last, the general tone of joy and celebration that was there. (They played "Celebrate" at the end of the ceremony. And "Happy.")
The bagpiper was not the strangest sight this week. That came this evening when DH and I heard fire engine sirens and saw the lights coming down the street. Worried, we went outside, to discover that there was a small parade with Santa Claus and the fire trucks going down the street. We don't live on a main road. We actually live back in a fairly residential area, but the fire trucks and Santa were going merrily along. And then we were given a bag of goodies.
It was odd.
I do have one form that I have to fill out, as I accidentally put in the wrong grade for one of my students, but fortunately, I know someone who works in the registrar's office (*waves at DH*) and that will be taken care of forthwith. But I am not the first person this semester to have put in the wrong grade, and I will not be the last, and fortunately, the student in question is a very understanding individual.
But best of all, by this time next week, we should be home. And more than anything else, that is what has made me excited about this week. We are just getting closer and closer to being back in Kentucky. And I am very, very glad.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Week 16: Surviving Final Exams
I have..remarkably little news this week. Finals started yesterday, so I gave my American Lit class their final. My 1301 class gave presentations, and then I showed Star Wars during the rest of the period, as I'd discovered that many of them had never seen it.
I'm just continuing to contribute to their education. Everyone should see Star Wars. At least once.
Today...I slept until noon, which I desperately needed, as I've not slept well this week, and when I have slept, had very, very odd dreams. I threw the cats out of the bedroom about 6:30 when Ding started chewing on the cords to the blinds, went back to sleep, and it wasn't until my neighbor leaned on the doorbell (for what reason, I have no idea, but I know it was him) that I got up.
Dear Husband had a white elephant gift exchange at work today, so we went out and bought two Nerf guns (he's calling it a dueling kit). It's a gift that very much sums up DH, I think.
Next week, finals continue, as does the grading, but grading at the end of the semester is always easier than any other time, because I don't give a *lot* of feedback, but just go straight through them.
The kitties are lethargic today, but it's 78 degrees outside and hotter in the house, so I don't blame them a bit. I'm sweating like a pig.
And that's really it. Going to have to take my car to the mechanic, as the service engine light is on, but KR has recommended one to us. But there's not much else to tell. I'll take weeks like this.
I'm just continuing to contribute to their education. Everyone should see Star Wars. At least once.
Today...I slept until noon, which I desperately needed, as I've not slept well this week, and when I have slept, had very, very odd dreams. I threw the cats out of the bedroom about 6:30 when Ding started chewing on the cords to the blinds, went back to sleep, and it wasn't until my neighbor leaned on the doorbell (for what reason, I have no idea, but I know it was him) that I got up.
Dear Husband had a white elephant gift exchange at work today, so we went out and bought two Nerf guns (he's calling it a dueling kit). It's a gift that very much sums up DH, I think.
Next week, finals continue, as does the grading, but grading at the end of the semester is always easier than any other time, because I don't give a *lot* of feedback, but just go straight through them.
The kitties are lethargic today, but it's 78 degrees outside and hotter in the house, so I don't blame them a bit. I'm sweating like a pig.
And that's really it. Going to have to take my car to the mechanic, as the service engine light is on, but KR has recommended one to us. But there's not much else to tell. I'll take weeks like this.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Week 15: Thanksgiving, Advent...and Bear Fighting (?)
So this is a bit late, if you don't count my Thanksgiving post. I was going to, but then the rest of our holiday became so eventful that I just had to update again today. You see, I wrote my last post Thanksgiving Day morning. There was still quite a bit of the day left to go. (No, these kinds of sentences never bode well.)
You see, Dear Husband and I spent part of Thanksgiving Day afternoon in the emergency room to get stitches in his hand. Why, you ask? Well, that depends on who you ask. If you ask DH, he was fighting a bear. Two bears, actually, and because he was so busy with Mama and Papa Bear, he didn't think about Baby Bear, and Baby Bear came up and clawed his hand, causing a deep laceration in his left index finger.
If you ask me, I'll tell you that DH was trying to carefully separate a plastic model of a Ferengi Marauder from its plastic holder thingy with a utility knife and missed the plastic and got his hand instead. (The supreme irony of this was that DH was wearing a day-glo yellow shirt that loudly proclaimed "THINK SAFETY" across the back.)
In any case, I dressed it up for him, and out we went to the Bay Area Medical Center, where we were in and out in an hour and a half! It was the fastest I've ever been through an ER before. Fortunately, the cut was not too deep and didn't hit any tendons, but it was deep enough that he needed stitches. If it had been on the back of his hand, they would have just glued it up, but since it was on his finger, it needed stitches. We took the splint off yesterday morning. He's on antibiotics right now too, given the last time he hurt his finger and got it so horribly infected, but we should be able to take the stitches out in a week and a half, which I'll do very carefully. (I asked him why he couldn't have held on a couple of days so we could have arranged to be back home when they needed to come out, and we could have asked my Sainted Aunt Donna to do it. But I've taken stitches out of people before and I can do it again.)
We came home from the hospital to find Ale-8 spilled on the couch and floor....and no clue where it came from. While we were investigating this, a piece of the kitchen counter suddenly fell off. O-F-F off, fell off.
I have become convinced that we have a poltergeist. They exist, right?
But we had much to be grateful for Thursday night. His injury was not bad, we have insurance to handle it and the ER got us in and out in record time. I think DH is also grateful because this absolves him of the responsibility to do dishes until his stitches come out as well. I might be a little less than thankful for that, but I will live.
Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. I love the Advent season. The altar is done up in purple to herald the coming of the King, and it's a season of anticipation. Our new Sunday School class is called "Christmas is not Your Birthday," and while it's not yet as interesting as the class on the prayer book that just ended, it is driving home some of the same points: particularly that God is not Santa Claus (or a magician or a genie), and that claim and gain theology is not helpful to anyone.
The last day of class is Wednesday (thank goodness!) and finals start on Thursday. I am so ready for things to be done! Vacation always goes by way too fast.
You see, Dear Husband and I spent part of Thanksgiving Day afternoon in the emergency room to get stitches in his hand. Why, you ask? Well, that depends on who you ask. If you ask DH, he was fighting a bear. Two bears, actually, and because he was so busy with Mama and Papa Bear, he didn't think about Baby Bear, and Baby Bear came up and clawed his hand, causing a deep laceration in his left index finger.
If you ask me, I'll tell you that DH was trying to carefully separate a plastic model of a Ferengi Marauder from its plastic holder thingy with a utility knife and missed the plastic and got his hand instead. (The supreme irony of this was that DH was wearing a day-glo yellow shirt that loudly proclaimed "THINK SAFETY" across the back.)
In any case, I dressed it up for him, and out we went to the Bay Area Medical Center, where we were in and out in an hour and a half! It was the fastest I've ever been through an ER before. Fortunately, the cut was not too deep and didn't hit any tendons, but it was deep enough that he needed stitches. If it had been on the back of his hand, they would have just glued it up, but since it was on his finger, it needed stitches. We took the splint off yesterday morning. He's on antibiotics right now too, given the last time he hurt his finger and got it so horribly infected, but we should be able to take the stitches out in a week and a half, which I'll do very carefully. (I asked him why he couldn't have held on a couple of days so we could have arranged to be back home when they needed to come out, and we could have asked my Sainted Aunt Donna to do it. But I've taken stitches out of people before and I can do it again.)
I have become convinced that we have a poltergeist. They exist, right?
But we had much to be grateful for Thursday night. His injury was not bad, we have insurance to handle it and the ER got us in and out in record time. I think DH is also grateful because this absolves him of the responsibility to do dishes until his stitches come out as well. I might be a little less than thankful for that, but I will live.
Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. I love the Advent season. The altar is done up in purple to herald the coming of the King, and it's a season of anticipation. Our new Sunday School class is called "Christmas is not Your Birthday," and while it's not yet as interesting as the class on the prayer book that just ended, it is driving home some of the same points: particularly that God is not Santa Claus (or a magician or a genie), and that claim and gain theology is not helpful to anyone.
The last day of class is Wednesday (thank goodness!) and finals start on Thursday. I am so ready for things to be done! Vacation always goes by way too fast.
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