Last Day of Classes

Even though it is a relief, especially in the Spring semester, to come to the end of classes, it still feels bittersweet.  It works well for me to use the last class meeting to summarize and then answer questions for the final exam.  It is decidedly not a triumphant feeling.  I and the students all seem to be completely drained.

Graduation is worse---saying goodbye to students I've worked with for four years.

Committee Work

I have done a lot of committee work in my career.  This confuses me since I am an introvert, and yet I find myself drawn to procedural solutions to problems that I care about.  That seems inevitably to lead to committee work, and ultimately, leadership.  I've spent over half of my career being chair of something, whether a department or a committee.

I've got good procedural reflexes and my integrity is pretty good;  people trust me more often than not.

Nearing the End

We're approaching the end of the semester;  I'm at a point in the semester where I need to let go of some of my goals (class coverage, committee work, personal projects) and focus on successfully achieving the goals that are most important to me.  There is a sense of loss, as I am keenly aware of promises that I have made and not kept, especially promises to myself.  There is also a sense of liberation, of shedding those things that hold me back as I sprint toward the finish line.

Helplessness in the Face of a Sick Child

Our son has had another (third) reaction to an antibiotic.  He had a vivid rash covering most of his body.  At this point the doctors can articulate what he has (Type II Hypersensitivity) but that is of little comfort---he will probably have this same reaction for the rest of his life when he takes antibiotics.

And there's not much I can do.  I can try to comfort, but I can't make it better.  There's no way around that.

Last Quarter

Spring Break has ended, and it's a sprint to the finish.  This week contains beginning of the week meetings, and things will be hectic for another 10 days or so.

I'm a bit under the weather in terms of stamina from last week's surgery, but I know that it could be a lot worse.

Layover

I usually have appropriately timed layovers, but for whatever the reason on this trip my layover in Atlanta lasts for hours.  So I splurged on a day pass at the Delta Sky Lounge.

There is a lot to be said for a comfortable seat, table, and power outlets.  I have been much more productive than I ever thought I would be, minimizing the work that I will need to do in my hotel.  I am usually ready to relax in my hotel room, not ready to work.

Spring Conferences

I am so worn thin approaching a conference in March that it is hard to picture it as anything other than an escape from my home responsibilities.  There is always the joy of being primarily responsible for no one other than myself, but I am usually frayed thin by March.  The conference is usually tiring (driving, evening/morning/afternoon meetings, driving) but this one should be a bit more leisurely, if I can finish preparing for it (class preparation, committee work, etc.).