This is the weirdest week ever:
1. Dave and the girls are in LA.
Dave had work to do there--so we decided to have the girls go with him and visit the Cali Cousins. They are having so much fun. It's a kind of Winter Break for them. They are swimming, sunning, eating In-n-Out, visiting g-ma and g-pa. It's a blast. (BTW: What we call Winter Break in Utah is actually Summer Break in California. Odd thing is, they have solar heat in May.)
2. Jonah and I are here in Utah.
Why, you ask? We're doing everything we can to keep this marriage together: separate homes, separate vacations . . . JUST KIDDING (yes, I stole that line).
I'm teaching spring term right now (which is like college on speed), so I couldn't miss a full week of work, and Jonah had a play performance and baseball games, so he couldn't miss a full week either.
I'm so glad Jonah stayed because otherwise I'd be walking around the house in a daze.
You never realize how much life there is in your life until 2/3s of it goes on a vacay. Holy Hannah! Last night I had about 4 hours without a single person at the house; Jonah was at youth group. I simply had nowhere I had to be. So you think I'd be sleeping, reading, or ing-ing some other ing I'm typically unable to do with 4 kids at home. But, really I was just kind of wandering around the house. Strange, but true.
3. A student in my writing course told the class he carries a concealed weapon.
Now I don't think I'm a person that is quick to judge. But as soon as he said that, I imagined him holding the whole class hostage.
I love teaching. I absolutely love it. And I love where I teach. Great students overall. But this is going to be the longest term ever.
I'm considering pulling this student aside after class tomorrow and saying, "Listen, you've just won the university lotto. It's a new thing. You don't even have to attend class and you earn an A."
I know, there are standards to keep. Ethics.
Schmethics! That's what I say. Is it more ethical to keep the unstable guy in the class for the term OR protect the psyches of 27 fragile souls?
Truly, the collective cortisol level in the class is SKY HIGH. In fact, I bet if we rolled the tapes from Wednesday's class you'd see me flinch and jump at about every other movement in the classroom. (I'm pretty much teaching from underneath the podium. And, I have my cellphone in my pocket.)
Could I have selected a profession where I don't give grades to people applying to graduate school? (Big brains don't take to Cs too lightly.)
4. I'm on my 7th day with a cold.
They really need to make some decongestants for Mormons. I feel like Sponge Bob when he visits Sandy in her waterless habitat. Sure, my nose isn't stuffed anymore, but I don't think I even have tears--that's how effective this stuff is (not to mention, I catch myself day-dreaming for 15 minute intervals).
I wonder who's having more fun . . . ?
