Realizations...

So I'm sitting here working on a lesson plan discussing the 4 major macromolecules in Biology (proteins, fats, carbs, nucleic acid). And we're getting to the structure of proteins (and senior year Biochem is rearing its ugly head... I just keep thinking "structure = function" and I'm going to grill it into my students' heads!). Anyway, those of you science nerds who read this will know that proteins are typically either in an alpha-helix or a beta-sheet structure. And I was always taught that the way to remember an alpha-helix is that it looks like a telephone cord. Okay, fine. Except I was just thinking about this and when my students were born... and it's possible that some of my students may have never used a telephone with a cord in their lifetimes. Certainly as the years go on that will become more and more the case... and that just seems weird and strange to me... and makes me feel old!!! Since I just got a new phone, I know for a fact that it's hard to find a corded phone. So yeah... one of these days I'm just going to have to come up with something else to explain an alpha helix. I'm getting old...

In other news... I hate tailgaters. I was almost in a major accident today as I drove to school... I was close to being both rear-ended and side-swiped at the same time... and the cause really would have been the guy who had to be right up on my ass. All I wanted to do was let him pass so that he could menace someone else, but there is really nowhere to go in traffic, so I was stuck in front of him. Why do people tailgate?? I hate it. And it makes me so nervous when I'm driving because that person has now taken away my "safety zone" for stopping. And while I realize that if there had been an accident, he would be at fault and have to pay... you know the likelihood is that a) he's not insured and b) I still am without my car and just as inconvenienced whether or not it's my fault. Ugh... I ask again... why do people tailgate??

I have my first faculty meeting today... 4 pm on Friday... yippee!! As I was chatting with the "old guys" over coffee this morning they were all trying to think of ways to get out of it, but there is no way out of it. I'm just wondering how long it will last... I can't say I'm a fan of having a faculty meeting on Friday afternoon. But that's when they are. It's like labs that have lab meetings on Friday afternoons. You know it's really just because they want to make sure that everyone is actually THERE and working on Friday afternoon. At least, that's the way it was in my old lab. I realize that they picked this time for faculty meetings because there probably aren't any classes scheduled during this time. But seriously... couldn't we find some other day or time when classes aren't scheduled and not Friday afternoon? Oh well... what can you do?? I plan on sitting in the middle or back and just keeping my mouth shut and praying that others do the same... at least I don't have to deal with union issues... that's something, right?

Finally, I've learned that I don't like team-teaching. Now, I'll say that I appreciate it for what it is... I certainly appreciate the lighter work-load on me. But what drives me nuts is that a) it's not always good for the students to get information from 2 people because they hear it 2 different ways and get confused and b) the lab situation. So the labs are just set, they do them every year, fine. But there isn't a lab book... there are hand outs. And I'm lucky if I get the handouts before the students do!! So then I'm in lab with my half of the class, trying to figure out what the hell is going on as the students are doing the same!! It's just annoying... I feel completely unprepared, and I don't like that. Especially because I LOVE being in the lab with students (and there is a BIG difference between these labs and doing my research all the time). But I don't love not knowing what's going on and "winging it." I just want to have all of the information long ahead of time so that I can prepare and know what's going on and actually be able to answer questions. But no such luck. So once I'm done here I have to track Kent down and figure out what's going on. Woo hoo! This is also the bad part about a type A personality (me) working with a type B (Kent) and the type B is in charge. Kent is just super laid back... which is nice as a boss... but bad when I want to have my stuff ready to go and prepared and he's just like... don't worry, it will be fine. You'll figure it out. Ugh... needless to say, I'll be so glad for next semester when I run all of my own classes. I like that MUCH better!!! :) (And yes, I realize that I have control issues... who doesn't??)

Anyway, those are my thoughts for the day... I hope you were entertained... or at least you killed a few minutes of your day, right? And that is ALWAYS important on a Friday!! All righty kids... have a great one... and enjoy the weekend!! :)