Friday Random Thoughts

I am so exhausted. Summer school is killing me. Perhaps if I was teaching something I had taught before things would be different.

One more week of class!

We leave for two weeks in Oregon next Saturday!

I have a lot of grading to do over the weekend.

I just want a couple days where I don't have anything to do except read a book of no literary or academic value whatsoever.

I am finishing up week 11 of my boot camp work out. Although I have not lost much weight, I am definitely seeing a change in my body. And I feel good too!

Shout out to Big J for making me lunch every day!

Dive, Baby, Dive

I've been taking swimming lessons for the past few weeks to improve my swimming both in general and because I would like to swim for fitness. Also, Big J is training for a sprint triatholon and I am thinking that might be my next goal.

We've covered pretty much every stroke, worked on our kicking tecnique with and without flippers, and learned several drills to improve our freestyle technique. I've learned that it is okay, well actually mandatory, to breathe out while my face is in the water, and I won't drown as a result. I've learned that the backstroke is my best stroke and I am pretty darn fast. And finally I learned that I am completely uncoordinated when it comes to the breast stroke and butterfly.

Ordinarily we are in the shallow end of the large pool; it is about 4 feet deep and freezing cold. Today after our freestyle drills we went to the other end of the pool to work on treading water and diving. I can't remember the last time I did any sort of dive, and it was a little intimidating. We did sit dives, kneel dives, and ended with a standing dive, and I felt like I could have kept going all night. I forgot how incredible it feels to go straight down and then kick back up to the surface. On Wednesday we are going back to the deep end of the pool and my goal is to dive off the starters platform, something I have never done.

For someone who doesn't like water in her face, I am really proud of my swimming progress. And I'm nearly as good a little j!

Friday Random Thoughts

Last Friday was lost because I had a little medical procedure in the morning and slept most of the afternoon.

I just finished my first week of teaching summer school. I'm exhausted!

I've sort of moved in to my new office, but not really. It all feels so temporary.

Our yard is looking great thanks to Big J's recent foray with the chainsaw and lots of free hostas from friends.

I have my first program faculty meeting today. I will be keeping quiet until I learn the ropes and where I fit.

Interesting thought: I went to work for my alma mater directly out of college. Now I am going to work in the program I just graduated from. Hmmmmm.......how do I feel about these transitions? It's a little tough to go from student to peer.

I am loving teaching. I would say that two out of my four days have been outstanding this week. If that was a batting average I'd be doing great!

Tomorrow barbecued brisket. Yum!

That's A Load of Garbage

Big J, thankfully, takes care of the bills. Yesterday he was bill paying and he realized that we hadn't received a bill from the garbage service for quite a while. He remembered that we had a late notice a few months ago, so he called to see what was up.

According to the person he spoke with on the phone, our garbage service was discontinued in February. And when he told the woman that our garbage was still being picked up she said, "Yeah, that happens sometimes." So Big J asked if we could continue our service and was told that there would be a fee to restart. He said that we would be going with another service. And the woman said, "Okay." And that was that. She didn't ask for payment for the last four months, nor did she say that she would waive the fee to continue our service.

However, today was our regular garbage day and it was picked up, same as usual.

We will be changing garbage service regardless. Our new service comes with free curbside recycling. And you really can't beat that.

Crazy Busy

This teaching thing is kicking my butt. I mean, yes, it's only been two days, but I am wiped out after teaching class for three hours both days. I honestly don't know how k-12 teachers do it. Maybe I wouldn't be so exhausted if I didn't have so much reading to do in addition to teaching!

I have to say, however, that the students are great. There are 10 students and they all bring great insights and a variety of experience. I am currently teaching The College Student Experience, and while it is a fun and interesting course, I am really looking forward to teaching College Student Development in the fall.

Fortunately Big J is in town these three teaching weeks. I can only shudder to imagine what my life would be like without him making our lunches, getting little j ready for camp, and generally holding the house together. Maybe I don't say this enough, but I am really lucky to have such an amazing partner.