Back to the City

Bill, Bridget, and I spent the day in Detroit getting things ready for my biochem class. It was strange to be back. I meet with the woman who taught the class last semester and we discussed content and strategies for an hour and a half. Bill spend that time chasing Bridget all over campus. She must like heights because they spend a lot of time riding elevators and climbing stairs. We went up to my old lab and spent some time talking there. It's clear that my former boss is used to kids (he has 7 of his own) because he took Bridget's extreme curiosity in easy stride.

After lunch it was back to business with a trip to the bookstore for my texts, to the Office of Teaching and Learning for test-making software, and to media services for quick training on the computer presentation stations in the classrooms. We took a side trip down to the science storeroom to see a friend working there. Bridget had a great time riding a flatbed cart that got her absolutely filthy. Our last stop was at the new welcome center to get my id. They still had my old picture on file so they used that on the new card. It would look just like me if I cut my hair, got contacts, and was about 7 years younger.

There are still something that need done before my class starts in just over a week, but I'm happy with how much we accomplished today.

April Showers

It was wet today, a change from the past four days of warm and sunshine. Four days in a row is pretty good for Michigan! Bridget didn't like it much. We spent the day inside, a change from the past four days of walks, runs, balls, birdies, pinecones, rocks, swamps, geese, trees, tackles, tickles, and (seemingly endless) ring-around-the-rosy. Ah, spring as the mother of a toddler!

Worn out already

I've accomplished everything I'd hoped to do today and I still feel buried under a pile of work. the end of the semster has that effect on me. My current class has a lab test, a paper, a group presentation, and two lecture exams in the next two and a half weeks. I have a meeting next Monday about my summer micro lab and I start my biochem class two weeks from today. I may be caught up at this exact moment, but the tidal wave is looming.

With summer right behind

It was down right hot today. My enjoyment of the weather was limited by the bridal shower today. It went by in an absolute blur and I have no idea if it was any good not. There was food, there were gifts, there were guests (though not nearly as many we were expecting). I was very tired by the end. I did get some time in the sun with Bill and Bridget this evening - I hate to waste something that I know won't last!

Spring has sprung

Is it the warm weather and sunshine? The flowers and fresh cut grass? The sounds of birds and kids playing outside?

Nope. It's the end of the semster crunch combined with surge in wedding-related events. I'm trying to wrap up this semester's classes and simultaneously prep my two new summer courses. No point in worrying about the training course that I'll be taking on top of teaching. I scheduled a meeting withthe lead faculty for my micro lab course and I need to set up a trip back to Wayne State to gather resources for my biochem course. This weekend is the bridal shower for my brother's fiancee. I need to quit blogging and finish the exam I'm writing so that I can make a trip to the grocery store and get to my dad's house to help with the food prep. I hope it goes smoothly!

In a different light

I doubt I was the only instructor to walk into a familiar classroom and consider it for the first time in terms of defensibility. I wonder if any of my students did the same.

Earlier this semester I took the time to read the emergency instructions posted in the classroom. Until then I didn't realize that I am responsible for my students if there is an emergency. That might be more responsibilty than I want.

Things happen fast

Today I got call from the chairman of biological sciences at Wayne State. I was teaching and my phone was on vibrate in my pocket. I wonder if my students were awake enough to notice that I about jumped out of my skin. I called back after class and he offered me the spring section of biochemistry. It will be a tight fit with my summer class at LCC but I think it will work. I accepted and they had be drive form Lansing to Detroit this afternoon to sign the paperwork.

It was wierd to be back on campus. Driving around it looked so different that I felt totally lost, even though I was only mostly lost. Once I was on foot, it look so familiar that I thought I should walk right up to the VanBerkum lab and start looking at flies. I was surprised to be stopped at the department office front desk and asked to wait until they called back to announce my presence. I hope taking on this class is a good idea.

A bad day or a trend?

Bridget decided that sleeping was not something she wanted to do today. She's usually very good about taking a nap. Today there was screaming, an hour of sleep-inducing fresh air playing outside, another 30 minutes of screaming. When I finally went in, she sniffled at me and said in a very pitiful little voice, "Cuddles!" Within 5 minutes she was asleep in my arms and stayed asleep even after I disentangled myself. It was sweet at the time, but then she tried the same ploy at bedtime. This time I didn't fall for it and she eventually fell asleep. Let's hope this just one bad day and not a new trend!

Baby Steps

Should I give this an honest try or just let my barely begun blog expire? Today I added this blog to my favorite. Now it's possible that I will actually visit it with some regularity.

Today was rather uneventful. Bridget was sweet and fun today, but so full of energy that we could never quite keep up with her. We just followed the trail of misplaced items left in her wake. We took a family trip to Sam's Club to get one item for dinner. Predictably, we left with far more than a single item. Still, it was a good diversion and Bridget enjoyed the free samples.

I spent a long time working on an online job application. The application, cover letter and resume were easy, but they requested a couple unexpected attachments: a letter of reference (I've never asked for a letter emailed to me instead of the prospective employer) and a copy of my transcripts (I have digital copies of my transcripts, but it took a lot of work to combine them into one document that was under the 2 Mb limit). Despite the fact that I'd rather not work full-time, I've thrown myself into the job hunt and I have some prospects. I have an application in for a full-time faculy position at Schoolcraft college. I sent my CV to the chair of my former department at Wayne State and he's keeping me in mind for the fall, as well as calling me next week about some openings this summer. The position I'm most interested in is the full-time faculty opening at LCC that I spent all afternoon working on. We'll see what happens.

A New Step

A place to say whatever I want and I am out of words.