Green hats, pink elephants, and red back…

1) Yesterday, I played Rock Band at work. Yes, it was awesome. Yes, I let the teens play. I promise.

2) No blogging about running, you ask? I have not been running a lot lately. This whole being an adult and trying to negotiate a schedule that accommodates a 35 hour work week (plus online teaching) is exhausting and difficult. I’m slowly figuring out how to balance things again, which is including an acceptance of the things I can and cannot do.

3) My massive sunburn (earned on July 1^st) is now gone for the most part. I’m done peeling and am only left with a bit of an itch. If I don’t think about it (which I obviously current am), then it is fine. When I think about it, it’s like trying not to think of pink elephants.

4) There are too many books about vampires out right now geared toward a young adult audience. No, this is not me taking a stand on the quality of subject matter available to young readers. It is me attempting to compile a list so people who are obsessed with Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series can find something else to read until a) their holds come in or b) the next book comes out.

5) Right now I’m wearing a Robin Hood “esque” hat. I’m not kidding. It’s mad hatter day at work. The other day, I had on groucho glasses. What worries me, however, is the following: a patron comes by and starts asking a question. She comments on my colleague’s hat, who points out I am wearing one too. The patron looks at me and remarks “Oh. I didn’t notice. The hat looks quite natural on you.” Thank you, dear patron. I’m off to put on green tights, dust off my bow and arrow, and steal from the rich.

6) Because it just happened: a bunch of well-dressed, attractive, business-type men just walked by. Yes, I still have the hat on. While I am not ashamed, these are the moments when I feel just a little ridiculous…and the moment is gone.

7) I am not a huge fan of even numbers, so really number seven has no point beyond me stating that fact.

Mixed Bag of Lovin’

So, it looks like I went to write a post the other day and got distracted. The titled was saved (kind of…I apparently stopped in the middle of composing it), but there was no content to be found. In the no-so-original tradition of this blog, I give you another list…or several small lists, divided under one big list? Oh dear. I’ll just write:

1. Driving: I’ve be driving A LOT lately. Yes, Claire, in MY car! I have a what now? I went to T.O. to visit Erin and the Grandparents. It was lovely, but it was a lot of stressful driving. I have learned the following things:

a) speed limits are just a suggestion (either way…people will go either slower or faster, and no one aims for the correct speed limit; yes, I should have known this before).

b) people on bikes are crazy in T.O. I though they were bad here. Now, I will never complain about London bikers again.

c) once you have a car, you drive every, single, darn day…I need a break or a bike; the bike will likely come before the break.

2. Librarianing: I no longer work in a library. My contract is up. It is a very weird feeling. Hopefully, something will open up there in the future, even if it is only temporary or part time. Do you think my library friends will still talk to me?

3. Teaching: All is well.

4. Running: 10k #2 is in 5 days. I am THRILLED! YAY OTTAWA! This race should be good times. There will be many people running. I’m thinking about running a 1/2 marathon in the fall. I don’t know if this is insanity or a good way to challenge myself. Only time will tell…

I swear I had more to write about at one point!

And I’m back! Again…

I wonder how many times I can post about my return to blogging? I seem to have an awful lot of these posts or at least more than I think I should. Alas, I have been busy grading final assignments and exams. Grades were handed in a few days ago, so I’m back…really. I’ve already established my love of lists, so here comes another:

1) My students. Wow. Some of them just rocked their final exams and did really great. I was so proud of them, and, best of all, I got emails from a few saying how proud they were of themselves.

2) Grading for a week straight does strange things to one’s mind. I’m just regaining my ability to have coherent conversations and not act like a complete weirdo in public situations. The last time I worked at the library, I saw a student and called her name to say hi. She turned around, and I yelped. I think I scared her. I cannot explain this behaviour beyond grading makes me loopy. I had also developed this *fun* habit of thinking things and then saying the opposite, only to have to backtrack and explain to my confused friends that no…in fact I did not mean to say that. Oops.

3) Speaking of friends…oh Facebook. I’d like to thank the kind developers behind the new features to FB. How did you know that I needed help finding friends? I refuse to add “people I may know.” In fact, I spent a good few minutes trying to delete all of the people they kept suggesting (nothing personal…I just hate the feature), and more and more people kept appearing. I won’t deactivate my account(s) because I still love the social networking aspect of FB, but I refuse to participate in the creepiness. I also don’t know how I feel about the chat feature. What makes FB fun for me is that it’s not just another IM platform. Now, it just feels like there’s too much going on. Does anyone know why there’s a new notification indicator beside the chat feature? It makes no sense…

4) M & M have joined Twitter. I don’t know if people really want and/or need to know what I’m doing at all times. I cannot resist new technology, so I’ll probably cave, but I cannot say how much I’ll actually use it.

5) J’aime Ultimate Frisbee! Need I say more?

6) The 1st 10k race is next weekend. I’m getting a bit nervous. I’d like to run most if not all of it. We shall see how the knees hold up: Advil, ice, Advil, ice, Advil….you get the point.

7) Time to go catch up on all of the stuff that I put off whilst grading.

I’ve got rhythm, I’ve got music…

I’ve got too much grading. Who could ask for anything more? I’d like less grading, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Because I love lists, here we go:

1) Running has been put on hold due to a little knee injury. I have no idea what happened. Something went *snap* and now my knee hurts. Ice and Advil are my new best friends. The weather is beautiful, if not ideal, for a run, and I sit, staring out the window, dreaming of the perfect run. Oh well. I will try to run tomorrow or Friday. I didn’t realize how dependent I had become on running until I couldn’t do it anymore. Running = stress relief. Now? Stress relief = ??? I’m at a loss.

2) So, *apparently* people actually pay attention to the things I say. I’ve been thinking about this off and on lately because various people have come up to me and made comments on my past opinions/advice/musings. Today, in fact, someone just told me they took my advice. I was not aware that I had really given any advice of any sort, nor was I aware that people actually listen. How bizarre. There are often times when I just speak without really thinking (good? bad? indifferent? I guess it just depends on the scenario). I once told someone that I was impressed by the fact his apartment was vacuumed. The next time I went over, he apologized for the lack of vacuuming, especially since I had made note of it last time. I hadn’t really thought much about the comment as I was making. I had just noticed something and spoke accordingly. Now, I’m getting paranoid about the things I say to people. Will they remember? Will they think me odd (most likely)? Will they take advice that I didn’t mean to give to heart?

Dr. Phil (I know, hardly a credible resource) once said to a guest that if you knew how little people talked about you/thought about you, you really wouldn’t care what they think. I really internalized this statement. While we are all concerned, to a certain extent, what others think of us (some of us more so than others), it was comforting to have someone tell you that no one really cares. Now, I hear that people are listening? I guess it makes sense. I listen to the advice/opinions that others share with me. Although, I do not often spend time dwelling on them, or maybe I do. Maybe I’m overthinking things right now. Typical me.

(Note: Right now, someone just came up to me and articulated a fear that I was thinking about something that she had told me. The details really aren’t important; however, it just shows that people think about things/people/opinions/conversations far more than Dr. Phil knows. I really hadn’t thought much about our conversation. I was happy for the information that she provided me with, but I thought the conversation was over. I’ve since received a few emails. She’s still talking about it as I type. It’s kind of funny. )

3) I am beyond happy not to be writing exams right now.

Misc.

I am currently avoiding doing dishes while waiting for students to email me. Why am I sitting up at 10:30pm on a Wednesday night waiting for these students? Probably because I am a sucker, but also because there are times at which I had late-night questions and just wished my professor was around. Therefore, I wait. I told them I would wait until 11pm. So far, I have responded to 10 emails. I’m trying to be one of those accessible and overly helpful teachers. I’ll let you know how that works out.
In other news, wait a sec…I don’t have any. I’m trying to think of tales from work to share, but I’ve got nadda. No weird bathroom incidents, no acts of ostensible morality, no lessons gone particularly awry. Although, today I was introduced (via a presentation) to Joel-Peter Witkin.

I do not think I *get* some forms of art. A lot of his work is done with corpses. So, upon first glance, it looks like the person is alive, but really no. Apparently, he has been known to sew bodies together and such to create his art. I’m unsettled, but I cannot look away. Is this art? I do not know, but there is a certain appealing shock value in seeing images of death trust before us so pointedly, as the presenters indicated. Just thought I’d share. You’re welcome?

Next time: something a little less unsettling…

I’m feeling a little beige.

Do you ever have days that are just kind of neutral? I mean today was not a bad day, and it was not one of the best days of my life by any means. Things were actually pretty balanced. I was a little more unorganized than I would have liked to have been, but teaching went well enough, running was hugely painful (blast you, hills!) but tolerable, and the day seems to be winding down to sleep.

I’ve been on a self-imposed social hiatus of sorts for the past week. I’m getting A LOT of things done, much to my own shock, but I miss my friends. Only a couple more days of intense grading, and the schedule should work itself out again.

I’m a bit saddened that I have little wit and no stories to tell you….Oh wait! Yes, I write like I talk. I was in the women’s bathroom and I found $20 today. Now, before I continue, I feel compelled to mention that such moral/ethical quandaries are not new to blogging thanks to Michelle! Yay, you say? Indeed, but I have a guilt complex like you would not believe. My first thought? Frig…where is lost and found. Why would I not keep it? I don’t really NEED the money as per say, and I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that it could be someone’s grocery money for the week. I mean, chances are no one will ever claim it, and I’m fairly certain the people in the security office were laughing at me, but I am a sucker at moments like that. Found $$$, unless it is in my apartment and has been placed there by me (that’s right Heather, who, by the way, needs to blog more) is not mine and cannot be considered as such in my mind. Am I a giant sucker? Does the world take advantage of me? Oh probably at some point. Those of you who know me well, know I can be a little naive considering the intentions of others. Still, tonight I will go to bed not $20 richer, but I’ll sleep better. Oh the sappiness of it all

Speaking of sleep…

G’night. Zzzzzzz

What’s in a title? A post by any other name would be as???

I’ll let you fill in the blank on that one.

So, I’m feeling a little pressured to increase the frequency of my posts due to Michelle’s prolific blogging as of late. I’ve been grading (I know *gasp!* My students are pleased), and I have little to blog on unless you want to hear my bitterness on the subject of grading papers that people clearly have spent NO TIME on. It is called editing people! Okay. Done. Maybe.

I am taking a page from the book of M and blogging about a bunch of random stuff that has been going on in the past little bit:

1) As I was walking into work this morning, I overheard the following: “So, I tried to dress for the warm weather, but it didn’t make it any warmer. I’m still cold.” Do I need to comment? Probably not. As a side note, it is still too cold to wear ballet flats without socks. It was snowing today. We live in Canada. We live in Ontario. Accept it. I have. Also, wear a coat.

2) On the way into work, I was listening to the radio, and the person announced John Mayer’s recent denial of Googling himself every day. Apparently, Colin Farrell willingly admits to this. I don’t get what the big deal is. If I was famous (yes, I’ve finally accepted that I am not), I would want to check out what people are saying and the top hits on Google. In fact, I Google myself once every couple of months. It is fun to see what’s out there, and it is also helpful to know what potential or current employers see if (more realistically these days WHEN) then search for you online. I just noticed that I’ve been typing “Google” with a capital “G” every time…hmmm…I think the brand has set in.

3) I signed up for a 10k race tonight. It’s on May 11^th. Good idea? Bad idea? Only time will tell.

4) I’ve been eating a lot of natural peanut butter lately. A lot. I don’t know what I’m getting at here. Just thought I’d share.

5) It’s only just after 11pm, but I am going to bed. The thoughts on here are getting even more random than I had originally intended.

G’night. Zzzzzzzzzz

Final thoughts on St. Patrick’s Day

As I sit here, happily chuckling over the genius of that chicken comic (see below), I am left with some final thoughts on St. Patrick’s Day. In no particular order, I give you the following:

1) I can hear drunk people yelling outside my apartment. Annoying you say? Nah. Just a consequence of where I live. It’s actually more funny than it is annoying. In the past, I’ve heard such gems as “OMG…Where are my shoes…” and “F*&(*#$U#*$)#$ I’m SO drunk!” Classy. We shall see what tonight brings. Will I be awakened to frantic, high-pitched screams of girls who are drunkenly freaking out, as per usual? Only time will tell. When is last call again?

2) Too many people who don’t normally drink wander out today. They probably went home hours ago. A friend and I saw a guy dragging both a pizza and his drunken, miniskirt-wearing girlfriend (?) home at maybe 5:30pm. Probably not a good indication of how the evening was going to go. At least he had his pizza, and she had her…I can’t say dignity…Hmmmm…I’ve got nothing.

3) I really don’t own anything green, nor do I think I have any Irish in me (hold in the jokes…). There were, however, some people dressed in very inventive and lovely outfits at work! Props.

Overall, a good day. I’m glad I do not teach tomorrow-saves having to cancel class because if no one showed today (about 30% of my class made the trek *yay*), NO ONE will show tomorrow.

P.S.

a) I had a MAD fit of the giggles today during American Beauty. Either that is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen, or I blame the chicken comic. Really, I’ll stop mentioning it now…

b) I’ve now edited this post multiple times. I would just like to announce that I’m going to bed at a reasonable hour (as in within the next 15 minutes) for those of you who were concerned about my lack of sleep yesterday

A Professor’s Version

The Renegade Librarian started it, and, as his dedicate friend, I follow…sort of. Thinking of my own seemed like too much time/work, but this came much easier

 

Ten Commandments for Students

1. Show up to class. I’m here, so you should be too. Yes, I know it’s 8am. Yes, I know you’re tired and/or hungover. Come to class. P.S. No you can’t have my lecture notes.
2. Discover coffee. It will help with number one (no pun intended—think about it).
3. Try. Really. Just try. You’re probably a bright person. Just put a little effort in. If we both try together, imagine the allegedly impossible. You might actually finish with an A+!
4. Show up with a pen/pencil and paper. Yes, I want you to take notes.
5. Questioning your teacher’s authority is never a good thing. He/she has worked hard to teach this class. Ask questions, challenge assumptions, beliefs, and arguments you can defend. No one likes a personal attack, and no one wins in those situations.
6. Go to the library. I am not just saying that because I’m a librarian. There are books there: good books and helpful books. Go! I want you to have well-researched papers, so I can give you the aforementioned A+.
7. Talk to your teachers. We like to know about your lives (with some limits). I want to see you succeed and like to hear about your academic endeavours.
8. Do the readings. This is not story time. We expect you to read. I will read to you on occasion. Why? Do I like the sound of my own voice? Yes, but also because reading is a fun way to explore specific ideas. Still—do the readings. You’ll like class a lot more.
9. Study for your tests! Enough said.
10. Be polite and communicate with professionalism. This is pre-job, life training. If you wouldn’t do it at work, don’t do it in class. If you wouldn’t say it to your boss, do not say it to your teacher.

Again with the sex…

So, I’m a teacher, right? I really shouldn’t write that in the form of a question. I am a teacher at a college. There we go. Most educational institutions have some form of election every year to decide on the student government who run such academic events as the “best buns” competition and guitar hero night (don’t get me wrong—I completely support guitar hero night, but the best buns? I like baked good as much as the next person, but, alas, that is not what is on display).

It’s that time of the year at the college. Students are running for president or something and vp of something else. Since I cannot vote, I play very little attention to position titles, but I do encourage my students to vote, using the old “don’t vote? don’t complain” speech. Anyway, there is a point, really.

In wandering around the college, I often glance around at the posters on the wall. Much to my horror/dismay I noticed a common problem with nearly all of the election posters. Grammatical problems, you ask? Yes. Of course. That’s expected. Okay…now I really what I’m going to say makes me sound like a prude, but almost every, single poster had some sort of sexualized theme. First of all: ICK! These are students—not my students, but they could be. One “clever” slogan read “ERECT So and So,” with the “R” scratched out and replaced with an “L.” Oh awesome! I will totally ERECT you. NO! Frig… Another one had a lovely cartoon condom…something about protection? I don’t know. I don’t care. Another featured a girl trying to look “sexy.” I’ll give you a hint…I would not be giving her a passing grade.

This is all to say that elections should be taken somewhat seriously, and it makes me sad to see that these are the people that we are training to go out in the workforce. I think it’s fantastic that students realize sex sells, but it’s an easy sell. Why not try to be wittier?