racing against the clock

I haven't blogged for the past couple of days because I was afraid of what My Life would sound like. I suppose it is time to face reality. The headache eased up and did not end up being the humdinger that it sometimes turns into. However, my new doc. and I are watching things closely and clocking things and since she seems to be convinced that I am over-hormonal, perhaps a little more control in that department will help. We are taking things slowly and trying to go as naturally as possible. Baby steps, right?

It always amazes me that, for as much or a little as I plan my classes, they always seem to go off without a hitch. I spent the entire weekend working on correcting exams, checking homework and putting in much more time and effort than I really ought to, that I left my lesson planning for the week on the back burner. It isn't like I haven't taught these same lessons before, but I always like to enter class with precisely what it is I want my students getting out of the class that night forefront in my mind. I have the perfect music chosen, the perfect Felipe-ismos to edit, and the activities usually flow well for such short (relatively speaking) class periods. So I pretty much put my energies into getting midterm grade notifications ready and sacrificed on the lesson planning today...and both classes just rocked. It never ceases to amaze me how, when it is meant to be, it just really is meant to be. I am merely a conduit. Of course, those who are flunking are freaking out, and those who are surprisingly earning a B+ or an A- are a step away from kissing my feet...and I wish I were exaggerating. All midterm work is due by Thursday. I am going to be SWAMPED on Thursday night. Although I wanted to post the midterm grades on Friday before leaving on our Spring Break, I might have to actually bring work on vacation with me in order to post grades once I return instead.

The hard part of all this has been the kids. Both were down with a cold this weekend, and C's congestion is, I am convinced, due to heavy-duty teething on his last four molars. He is just miserable, won't let me even shower without standing outside the door banging his head on the door and screaming, and trying to get into my office here at home to arrange papers, input grades, etc. has to wait until 10 or so at night, at which time I am so tired I can hardly see straight since I have been up since 5 a.m....yes, with him. How does one spell exhaustion? M-O-M-M-Y

Before class tonight I had another dream visit from two different ex-students from my advanced course last term. One had requested from me an academic recommendation letter for a scholarship for Study Abroad this summer, which I had completed and was able to get to her (yes, one thing checked OFF the list, thank you very much!). The other was one of my native/heritage speakers who I had to teach to write NOT how she speaks, and the progress she made over the course of last term was marked. I don't say this to be boastful nor to blow my own proverbial horn. It is just so nice to hear that my class is so fondly remembered by those who took me--she mentioned the small group of 5 of them who are taking another requirement for their major together gather before class or at break and remember back to some of my lessons, and I was very happy to learn that the 302 I taught, she personally feels, greatly prepared her for the heavy-duty literature and writing courses she is currently taking. Again, I am merely the conduit. I also learned so much in that course, and hope that I can teach it again next fall. The workload is great, but the motivation is high. I am not so challenged this term and am thus suffering from a bit of lack of motivation. I would hope my current students cannot notice this, however--I have a feeling I am doing just fine.

On top of it all...It is just really a nice feeling when ex-students come back to visit and the first thing they do is give me a huge hug. This earnest display of affection is completely mutual--I can count on one hand how many ex-students I would never want to see again.

Now to get through the rest of the week, clean up the house, prepare some meals, pack and get ready to leave on Friday night.

Yes, just waiting for Spring Break...!