How things change... and stay the same!!

Hi everyone!! So I'm writing from my office at school... yes, very good use of my office time. But it's not like there's really a difference for me. I write lesson plans here and at home, so my "on the clock" time is a bit more vague. I survived my first day of school, not like that was a big thing. I only taught one class yesterday... Principles of Biology for non-majors. I have 11 students (although apparently I just had a student add... so now I have 12). They all seem like a good group of students, so it should be fun. Today is my team-teaching day with Kent so I'll spend the day just observing and listening while he does the work. After next week, that will change though as I start teaching more. But he wants me to get a feel of how much they cover in a day and how much detail they go into. And that's fine with me. I need to know that info.

So the updates... (this will all be about school). One of my most favorite profs at Augie, Dr. Troll, told us that he loved teaching because it kept him young. I always thought that it was so true... and I realize that even more now that I'm on the other side of the desk. Last Wednesday was freshman move-in day. Holy moly did that bring back memories!!! The parents taking time off from work to move their students in. I will say that I was a little surprised by how few dads were there. I realize that it was a Wednesday so people had to take time off work, but it still seems to me that move-in day is one of those days that you just have to take the day off and be there with your child. You only do freshman move-in during the week once. Every other year you move in during the weekend. So I don't think it asks too much. Oh well... what do I know? Anyway, it was just fun/interesting to watch the new students carrying stuff in... also funny to compare what girls bring to what boys bring. It just made me think that some things never change.

I will say that the one thing I DON'T like about times changing is cell phones... holy moly. It is REALLY bad here. Since my office looks out right onto one of the main halls, I see (and hear) students on their phone all day long. I think what amazes me most is that as soon as the students are out of the classroom it's a race to see who can get on their phone first and call their friends. Just crazy. It makes me wonder how we possibly survived without cell phones before?? I never had one in college. I probably got one my senior year... but I'm pretty sure I didn't even bring it to class. It just sat on my desk at home. But yeah... I will say that that is the one thing I don't like about times changing. So far I haven't had a problem with it... although one of my student's phone went off during class last night. He had it on vibrate and he picked it up and I just stared him down. I was like... oh buddy... don't even THINK of answering that here!! He didn't... so he was spared my wrath. :) But it was interesting.

The one thing I do like about teaching on this campus is that so far I haven't had a tardiness issue. That is the one thing I couldn't stand at Waubonsee... students came late ALL the time... and no matter how many punishments you give them and points you take off, they still come late. I realize that with everyone commuting to school, things happen. But it just got so annoying. All of my students were there before me last night. So let's hope that that keeps up. They really have no excuse since campus is so small and almost all of the dorms share the parking lot with the Science Center... so it takes about 2 minutes at most to get from the dorms to the building. So we'll see.

Is it weird that it doesn't seem like I'm working?? I mean, I know I am. But I was driving to school today and I really didn't feel like I was going to my job. I think part of it is because I commute at totally off times so I'm not sitting in traffic at any point, so it doesn't really feel like I'm "commuting." But the other part I think is just that I like coming here. I am realizing how nice it is that no one is sitting here checking on me to see when I come in or when I leave to make sure that I was here for a set number of hours. And because of this, I actually spend more time here than I did in the lab!! LOL Everyone stops by and says hi or waves to me, which I enjoy. Everyone knows everyone's name. It's good times. I guess that this is a good sign that maybe I think of this more as my "career" and not just a job. Who knows?? Or maybe it's just because it's the first week and things will change as time goes on. I like to think positively though. :)

Anyway, I don't think there's really too much more to report right now. I need to work on a little activity for my students for class tomorrow. Good times. :) It "required" me going to Michael's... and you know how much of a struggle that is for me!! LOL

This weekend Mark and I are going downtown for dinner on Saturday night... Lawry's... mmmm.. :) It's our anniversary, so we are actually going to celebrate. Okay, officially the anniversary is next weekend on the 9th, but this weekend just works better, so we adjusted. :) We were thinking about maybe going to the zoo sometime this weekend, but we'll see if it happens (or, more importantly, if it will stop raining to make the trip worthwhile!) We also might head down to Last Fling in Naperville to see Collective Soul with Tim and Patty and whoever else shows up. So yeah... we shall see.

Anyway, I am off for now... I hope that you are all having wonderful days... more excitement to come, I'm sure! LOL

I'm alive!

Hi everyone... so if you're still reading my blog then thank you!! I realize that you must have been VERY bored constantly checking my site and seeing the same old title at the top. Well, not today kids!! I can't believe it's been over a month since I last wrote. I have no excuse... so much has happened in that time and Lord knows that I had many random things to tell you about... but I never seemed to find the time to just sit down and type. But today I'm taking that time... so here we go... :)

So let's see... obviously the biggest event is that I moved into my house at the end of last month. Closing ended up going smoothly (although the time up to closing was NOT smooth and I was ready to smack the people who used to live here). I got all of my stuff in and unpacked and then Mark moved in over the weekend. That was a bit crazier, but nothing too big. Eventually all of our furniture got here and we had a house. And then the decorating started... I have to say that I'm really happy with the finished product. I was kinda stuck for a bit but then Kelly came over and, as I assumed she would, she really gave me some great ideas for the finishing touches (and enjoyed spending my money!!). Mark and I have worked hard to make this house a home and I think we succeeded. Although I think we'll both admit that we're glad the decorating is done!!

We had our housewarming party this weekend that was a ton of fun... but oh my. I have never worked so hard for a party as I did for this one!! Shnikes!! Now most of you know that I have thrown parties at my house before... and usually everyone just brings some food and then we all just eat and be merry. But I was in charge of the food... and that wasn't the big deal. I think it was more that since the party was going for so many hours I was really trying to be cognizant (sp?) of how much food was out at each hour to make sure that everyone had enough food, etc. The party ended up being a lot of fun... I think all of our friends and family had a good time, which was the point. But when it was done... Mark and I were just dead. It was all we could do to quickly rinse off some stuff that needed to be cleaned and then we were just like... bed... need to go to bed!! But yeah... I'm so glad we had the party... it was great to see friends we haven't seen in a while and it really forced us to make sure that everything in the house was DONE by that day. But I'm equally glad that you only throw one housewarming party... cause I'm tired!!

So that is the house news... I will say that I thought that living with Mark would be this big huge life-changing thing and it really hasn't been at all. Mark and I have even chatted about how it just seems so normal and not exciting at all. I don't know if that's good or bad... I'm taking it as a good thing. Lord knows neither of us needs added drama in our lives. :) But yeah... I guess I thought it would be a big deal and it really isn't. Oh well... I'm not complaining! :) I do like having someone else in the house... it's company. And it makes the house not creepy at night. And he's great at reaching tall things!! LOL

So the final news of my life is school. School starts on Monday. I don't really know if I'm excited or what. I kind of would like to have some more time off to just relax. I have decided that I do NOT want to work next summer. I'm taking the summer off. I'm just so freaking tired. I want a break. I was thinking of not working J-term, but I think I will (assuming I get the chance to do something). It's an extra $3000 if you work during J-term and the money is always helpful. And the class that Kent teaches involves going downtown to the museums with students all day. I can handle that. So we'll see. Anyway, I actually need to get moving right now and get all of my work done for school. I just got a cold and feel like crap... but it must get done. Yippee. So I'm off for now... I'm really going to try to be better at my blogging. So hopefully I won't get any more comments about my lack of communication!! Until then... I'm off. Have a great day everyone!!