Halfway Point

Our midterm is this coming Friday.  It is shocking on a deep level that we are at the halfway point---so much yet to cover.  On the other hand my teaching load seems to have ingrained itself on me---as if we've always done it this way.

My grading is in pretty good shape as the deadline for turning grades in approaches.  The students may be more stressed out than I am.

Not Enough Sleep

I had hoped that stepping down as chair would ease up on my workload on weeknights and weekends, but so far it hasn't.  I'm still doing a lot of grading and class preparations out of the office.

I have been trying to catch up on the deferred parenting, going at least once a week to get my daughter from her volleyball games, driving my son to scouting stuff.  That seems to be switching out the work hours.

I still am not at a point in my academic life where I can take a weekend off.

Third Week

We're in our third week of classes.  I've started singing in our university no-audition singing group, and between that and commitments to our kids in the afternoon my schedule feels crowded;  I've been spending late nights on grading again.

Not quite sure how to adjust this for the Spring;  I'll need to make time to figure out how.

First Week of Classes

I've met all my classes more than once by now.  One of the sections is huge;  I don't have a good sense for them yet, other than their demeanor being friendly until Friday and then losing their attention.  The others all seem eager to please.  One class is all freshmen, so that isn't a big surprise.

Not much grading yet, but I still feel behind for no particular reason.  Maybe I always feel behind and that's what pushes me to prepare as much as I do.  There's something for further reflection.

Stress at Home

My wife is under a lot of stress, at work and from her family (the death of her aunt, worries about her parents).  She's been taking a lot of it out on me and the kids lately.  It's not been much fun.

Back from Travels

Well, I'm back from a conference.  It's always abrupt.

I get so lonely when I'm out of town by myself, but I do so enjoy the autonomy.  It is so hard to go back to being so responsible when I return.

At least I don't need to worry about staffing any more.

Conference

I'm at another conference.  I've heard a number of good talks, gave one that was pretty well-received.

I look forward to being on my own at these conferences, away from the many many constraints of my home life.  When I'm at a conference I never feel as free as I'd like.  I don't sleep well;  I feel drowsy enough to be even more anti-social and tend not to network.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.