Back in Town

I'm back from my annual January conference.  The conference was a disappointment personally but not professionally.  I had really been looking forward to exploring San Antonio but it was cold and rainy.

Now I have two weeks to get a lot of things done.  Based on my history, I'll be unproductive for the first part and then very efficient as I begin to panic.

It is so hard to focus without panic adrenaline.  I need to remember this in my dealings with students who have the same issue.

Back from Holiday Travels

I am an introvert.  I draw strength from when I am alone and can process my thoughts.  I can be very productive in short periods of time when uninterrupted.

I don't enjoy being alone too long;  loneliness is every present.  But I feel empowered to be with others, to be able to communicate with them, understand them, enjoy them, when I have had my time to myself.

Holiday travels are all about never being alone. The point of the travel is to visit with distant loved ones as well as form experiences for our own family.  Simple tasks such as going to fetch something from a bedroom become tasks requiring perseverance and patience.

I have become quite faithful about going to the gym early in the morning, to start the day at least with some time to myself. I also volunteer eagerly for almost any errand that I get to run myself.

God it's good to be back in my office at work.

College Financial Aid

I really really really dislike filling out financial forms of any kind.  I feel as if I should know based on my mathematical experience and experience working for an investment bank that I should be able to confidently fill them out but I am constantly stumped by them.   Being married to someone who gets the forms makes it easier but does set my ego up for a pounding.

Grading Final Exams, Yet Again

I feel a good deal of responsibility about grading final exams promptly for my students.  I remember how anxious I was after my finals.  It's easier for me to push aside other concerns and focus on the grading now than during the rest of the semester.

The to-do list remains long, however.

Quite, for a day

I'm back in my office the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I've been grading papers and doing some things that are more easily done with some peace and quiet.  After Break things will rush again for a little while before getting back to this leisurely pace.  I'll have work to do at home and it will be hard to accomplish with my family around.  There is no separate work-room in our house and they do not respect my need to focus so I'll work early or late when they are sleeping.

Thanksgiving

I've never been a big fan of Thanksgiving.  Being rigid in my values, I've always felt that we should be grateful all year round.  I've never seen a connection between gratitude and over-consumption or sports. I spent many a year with family members outside my immediate family that did not seem to have any interest in me.

We've been fortunate as a married couple to celebrate the feast with friends from church, but that's still for me mainly a chance for fellowship with good friends and a chance to sample good cooking.

College Applications

Our son is applying for college.  He is a hard worker, but he has been putting this off over and over again.  My wife has taken the lead in getting on his case about putting the time in.  He seems in over his head and I wish that I could be more of a help---he seems overwhelmed by the stress.

I don't remember it being this hard for me when I was younger, but I also had a lot more support from my guidance counselor---being the prodigy got me lots of attention.