I may have actually reached a big milestone in surviving my first semester teaching the lab courses. I still have two groups that weren't able to get data yesterday that are coming back in next Tuesday, but today is the LAST OFFICIAL LAB MEETING FOR THE COURSE (this semester.) Aye...there lies the rub. Next semester is just a twinkle in my eye, which is actually just a tear forming when I think about it. I have an idea of how it is going to look, but haven't made a syllabus or put anything on paper. This semester ended up completely different from what I had planned, so I'm thinking, "Why bother?" If I set the expectations high and have to back off, I look bad. If I set the expectations low and do something spectacular, the students will complain, so I think I will go with my new theory; Null Expectations. In this, every lab session is a surprise to the student and the results are malleable. Everyone wins.
I see a Happy Hour on the near horizon during which I may fall asleep at the table. I'm exhausted. I went in to work out today, unpacked my fresh workout clothes and I had four pairs of shorts and one shirt that might fit Caitlin if she sucked it in a little. I thought about putting it on anyway, because I REALLY needed that workout, but it's not that sort of gym, so I will go back at lunch and appropriate one of the department give-away shirts. I'm a walking billboard for UT BME. I have at least two of each shirt they have ever produced because of my aforementioned penchant for forgetting workout t-shirts, and my complete inability to drink coffee and walk at the same time (coffee in one hand, blackberry in the other, wall/door/student anywhere in area = new shirt.) It's an axiom. The students appreciate the new shirts as well.
I love you, Deb! Hope you are able to get on the page today. Talk to you later.
BJ
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5 comments:
I like work T-shirts too! Why can't Debbie get onto the site? Has she figured out Thanksgiving yet?
She wasn't able to see it when she first tried. All she got was the Blogspot homepage. I gave her my logon last night, but she probably hasn't had time to try today. I think they were doing dental exams and assorted security paperwork all day long.
Ok this is the second time I have written something. I have decided that I am not very computer smart. We spent the day trying to see the dentist. Everyone has heard the old saying "hury up and wait" that is what we did today. We waited 6 hours to see the dentist. Once I saw him he took about 4 minutes to look at my teeth. He did tell me that I had "great teeth". So six short hours and mission accomplished. We did not even get to our other "must get done" things today. I really think that no matter what we do we will not get out of here until Dec 5th. We could wait until the 4th to do everything and it would get done in a day because it had to get done.
OK, so the pivotal question is,"Was the guy a military dentist??"
Hey all,
thanks for passing this on Aunt Wanda. I love to read things written by BJ -- they never fail to be entertaining. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you head into "single parenthood". And, with Aunt Debbie as she heads to Ethiopia. love, Melissa
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