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Thursday, August 14, 2008

Busy Bee

Just because the fall semester doesn't start until Monday doesn't mean that I haven't been working this week. The past few days I've been very busy putting together everything for the term, including revising my syllabi and polishing off the final touches on the planning of one class that I've never taught before (I'm so pumped to teach it though: it's a class I developed last spring and I'm so excited that enough students signed up for it so that it's a "go"; it's called "Women Novelists in the 19th and 20th Century" and I'm teaching 5 novels: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Mrs. Dalloway, The Handmaid's Tale, and Beloved -- yeah! It's gonna rock!).

Anyhoo...aside from planning for the fall term, I had to attend a faculty meeting this morning, and I have two meetings to attend tomorrow (all of them are totally pointless, but whatever), and I have been fielding a gazillion student emails. Seriously, my inbox is full of student email -- everything from "can I get into your already full class?" to "can I switch classes of yours?" to "can you change a grade of mine from a year ago?" to "will you write me a letter of recommendation?" -- and because I try to be so accommodating for students, I am swamped with answering their questions and getting them what they need. Phew!

Did I mention that the semester hasn't even started yet?

Thankfully, I am taking a running rest day today because I really don't think I have the time to fit it in today: This afternoon I cleaned the house, and now I need to get some shiz ready for the happy hour we're hosting pre-bowling tonight. We're having about 10 homies and homettes over to enjoy a few pre-bowling beers, as well as some pulled-pork sandwiches; should be a good gathering before our championship game tonight. The Pinderellas are tied for a battle over 3rd place, so cross your fingers in our favor tonight! If we really rock that alley, we could be in contention for 2nd place!

P.S. This time I'm serious: I really need to NOT get wasted at bowling tonight. I have too much work to do tomorrow to spend it hungover like last week!

20 comments:

Wendy said...

Just reading that made me tired.

Good luck bowling!

N.D. said...

I think I eventually want to teach college kids. It must be great. It sounds fantastic as does the new course! Enjoy the day off from running!

Anonymous said...

Ooh, can I take your class? I've read three of the five. I'll have to put the other two on my "to read" list this fall. Sounds like an awesome class.

Good luck with bowling (and with not getting wasted LOL)!

Aka Alice said...

ooohhh new course sounds like one I'd like to take.

I'm also in syllabi-hell...developing three new for classes I've yet to teach...faculty meetings all next week...students start the 25th.

Good luck w/all of it and remember...

Rest days = good
Too much beer at bowling = bad

L*I*S*A said...

Okay, instead of 'wasted', why not shoot for 'tipsy'....

:) said...

Good luck tonight!!!

Wes said...

That's much better than what my professor told me. He told me I could go to another school. Yea, he doesn't have a warm spot in my heart ;-)

J~Mom said...

Good luck tonight! I do need a letter of recommendation if you are writing them...

teacherwoman said...

Ahhh, yes, it is a busy time of year! Have fun with hosting the pre-bowling partay! Good luck tonight.

E said...

Have fun at bowling!

Kevin said...

Good luck at bowling. Somehow I think not getting wasted might be tougher then bowling

MN Mom said...

Not getting wasted...we'll see.

MNFirefly said...

Sounds like a busy day. Have fun tonight.

Stuart said...

This reads like your a super hero...mild mannered Literature Prof' by day, bowling, swearing boozer by night.

Seems to me like you've found the rigt balance!

Marcy said...

Oy, you sound mad busy homette! (I'm totally going to have to use that word from now on :P)

sunshine said...

Holy crap, that's a lot of stuff before class even starts! Your new course sounds wonderful... those are some of my favorites!

Viv said...

No drunk post last night so maybe you pulled through sober. I can't wait to hear how the championships went!
Man, that class sounds great jess. I am sure you are going to be an awesome fit for teaching it. I just get this whole woman power lit vibe from you.

Oh and the emails are classic..LOL!

keith said...

judging by the lack of drunkenly typed late night posts, it seems all your efforts at enjoying moderately paid off...good job!

(that doesn't mean I don't miss the drunk comments on my blog)

Margo said...

Your new class sounds great! I loved The Handmaid's Tail. I'm going to have to read a couple of the other ones I hadn't read. So are they taking a final or writing a paper on the novels? I'm enough of a dork that I'll make a request to you to post the final questions!

sRod said...

That class sounds like fun. Can you override me into the class?