The Waiting Room

Another instructor covered one of my law classes on Monday. She told me that a student would not turn in his assignment that was due that day because I was not there. When the instructor reminded him that I do not accept late work, he said "Well, if she does not accept my assignment, I won't turn in my research paper."

And this hurts me, how??????

Message to student: Go ahead, don't turn in you paper. It's just one less piece of crap I have to read!

I'm back from my trip to my hometown. What a weekend!

The reunion was a blast. What was so amazing was the number of people who showed up. There were about 320 students in my graduation class and of that, about 100 showed up not including spouses or dates. I think there was about 150 in total.

Now for the good stuff...

Many people did not recognize me. Mostly because of my hair. Back then, it was short and curly. Now it is long and straight. I received many compliments on how great I looked. That dress really did me justice. I got a few double takes from guys who did not give me the time of day back then. What really made my night was when one of my classmates said that I looked like a goddess...SWEET!!! It also surprised many people that I am a college professor and an attorney. I was quiet and somewhat awkward in high school, so I guess they figured that being an attorney was the last thing they could see me doing. That will teach them to underestimate someone!

I was really happy to see my classmates from elementary school. I went to a private school from kindergarten to 6th grade. There were only 20 students in my class. As a result, we were a close knit group. Even in high school, when we drifted into different cliques, we still had that bond. So, it was great to reconnect with those folks.

The next day, my best friend, Piglet, and I had a "debriefing" over dinner. What we found was that many of my male classmates are bald. Not balding...just bald. Also, many of the "beautiful people" did not age well. Some looked about 10 years older than what there really were. For the most part, people were friendly and engaging. There were a few people who "snubbed" us. One in particular just looked right through Piglet when she tried to talk to her! I guess some people never grow up.

All in all, it was a great night. I am glad that I went. I felt vindicated by those who thought I would not amount to much and to those who thought I was not pretty enough. It also felt great to reconnect with people that I was friends with, but lost touch. I collect a bunch of e-mails and will be contacting them.

Next post about my long weekend will be a discussion of my father-in-law's mullet. That's right...a mullet!

Stay tuned!

I am leaving today to return to my hometown to visit with family and attend my high school reunion. Husband just left to take the Boy to his deluxe accommodations at the kennel that we use. The Boy really likes it there. Then, we have to finish packing, gas up the car and hit the road.

My in-laws have dial-up, so I doubt I will be blogging. But I will be back next week to tell you all about the reunion.

Have a great weekend!!!!!!

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for...

• The fact that I am here. I have a nice home, I am financially stable, I am relatively healthy and somewhat sane.
• My husband who loves me when I don't love me, supports and encourages me and treats me like a woman should be treated.
• The Boy who is the most lovable dog in the world. Even when I am sad, he know how to make me smile.
• My mom surviving one year after her cancer diagnosis.
• My blog-mates, both old and new, those that I have gotten to know off-line and those that I know through blogging. You are truly friends in my eyes.
• My non blogging friend, especially Piglet (my best friend and soul sister),GML (One awesome gal who is my alter ego) LB (The voice or reason and wisdom), OGD (One righteous dude) Divorce Lady (Always up for an adventure) and Ellen (fellow blogger and a great friend)
• The fact the semester is almost over.
• My weight loss success (For those of you who don't read the Active Academic, I have lost 20 pounds since January!)
• Husband and I surviving a very rough go back in October which sadly I cannot blog about.
• Husband was able to keep his job with the company that bought his division of Old Company.
• My Aruba vacation this year.
• The fact that I can always go home.
• Good food and good wine.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! And make sure you do not consume too much of that chemical that results in being sleepy, loss of energy, bloating, and lying around on the couch...ALCOHOL!!!!!

The big debate was on Monday. I waited until today to give you the full story, because the whole thing transpired over two days.

FW's team went first. FW was the team leader and was charged with the opening statement for his team. It was a disaster. He stammered and stuttered throughout the entire presentation. He also presented the first argument. It was clear that he was not prepared. His counterpart buried him in the rebuttal. In fact, the other team was better prepared and more organized than his team. His team was disorganized. In fact, two of his team members left critical information at home. He didn't bother to make copies for himself. He was a hopeless mess.

Since I ran this like a motion hearing, rather than a true debate, I took the importunately to ask him questions and challenge his argument. Seeing that he was somewhat defeated, I used kid gloves, but I ripped through each of his arguments, tearing them apart piece by piece. I pushed him to concede that his position was ineffective and ill-conceived. I had images of a submissive dog that rolls over and shows its belly when it knows it is not the Alpha dog.

Needless to say, his team lost. I asked two colleagues to act as co-judges so that there would be no complaints that I was being biased. My colleagues commented to me privately and to FW that his presentation was weak. Of course, he was not happy about any of this.

Ironically, Monday was the same day that the students had to evaluate me. After we finished, I gave the students the evaluations and left the room. I had a feeling that FW was going to blast me. Well, on Tuesday, one of my students from that class stopped to talk to me about an assignment for that same class. After we finished, she said "I thought you should know that FW was really mad that he lost." "He keeps whining that it was not fair that his team lost." She went on to say that he was so angry that he refused to fill out an evaluation! Can you believe that!!! If he wanted to get the last word, he could have done so with the evaluation. But no…he was too focused on being pissed off. What an idiot!

So today, I asked the class about what they learned from the entire exercise. FW was the first to raise his hand. He said that he should have prepared better than he did. He did not realize how difficult such an exercise can be. He apologized for not doing his best. Hmmm...

I still think he is full of shit. I still think he is immature snot. And I think I won this round.

As seen at Addy N.'s and Brazen's blogs



I guess I need to work on my grade!!!! Any tutors out there?????

Whenever I go home to visit my family, I get nostalgic for music that my parents used to play in the house. While my parents played all kinds of music, everything for pop to rock to country to gospel to even polkas (my mom is Polish), the music that always makes me think of home is the R&B/Soul sounds of the 1970's. I can still remember sitting around the console stereo as my father would sing to me. One of things I love about 70's R&B/Soul was that live orchestras were used in the background. The sound was so authentic. I think that is what is missing in today's music...uthenticity.

So, here is Monday's Playlist in honor of my going home this weekend

1. Sweet Love by the Commodores
2. I'll Be Around by the Spinners
3. Back Stabbers by the O’Jays
4. The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
5. Ain't No Stoppin’ Us Now by McFadden and Whitehead
6. Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack
7. So Very Hard to Go by Tower of Power
8. Neither One of Us by Gladys Knight and the Pips
9. Always and Forever by Heatwave
10. Could It Be I’m Falling in Love? by the Spinners
11. Everybody Plays the Fool by the Main Ingredient
12. If You Don't Know Me by Now by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

Dear Rebecca

I am so sad that you are leaving the Blog world for good, but I do understand. I don't know if you will read this, but I just wanted to say that I am going to miss you. Please take care. If your future plans lead you back, please stop by. You can contact me at seekingsolace201@yahoo.com

Cheers to you,
Seeking Solace

I went shopping yesterday for an outfit for my 20th high school reunion which is next Saturday. The event is "casual". I was having the worst time trying to decipher what "casual" means anymore. One of my classmates told me she bought a cocktail dress. Crap.

I ended up at the Ann Taylor Loft. After about an hour of trying on stuff, I ended up buying two outfits. I honestly could not decide between the two.

Outfit #1

Outfit #2 (With a cream cami and without the belt).

Both are very cute. I like the idea of the little black dress. The sweater and pants could transfer into my work wardrobe.

Still have to find shoes, although GML suggested I wear my red slingbacks with the black dress.

The kicker was the bill. Let's just say I spent WAY too much.

ETA: Husband likes the little black dress for the reunion. But, he thinks I should keep both outfits. When I told him how much I spent, he replied "Well, you have worked so hard with your workouts, you really deserve it!!!" What a guy!!!!

I was reading Blonde Justice's site this morning. We have all seen the Dateline Busts. All I can say is "DAMN!"

Is this a direct consequence? A coward's way out? Justice?

Ode to '80's rock

Lights by Journey
Still the Same by Bob Seiger and the Silver Bullet Band
Let's Dance by David Bowie
New Year's Day by U2
Love Removal Machine by the Cult
Sweet Child 'O Mine by Guns and Roses
Have a Drink on Me by AC/DC
40 by U2
Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel
Money for Nothing by Dire Straits
Rooms on Fire by Stevie Nicks

My Girl Scout cookies just arrived. Three boxes of Thin Mints. One box of Tagalongs and one box of Brownie Bits.

MMMM....Girl Scout cookies.....

Must...fight...temptation.....

Thanks, New Kid

You can only type one word. No explanations.

Yourself: Opinionated
Your partner: Talented
Your hair: Unruly
Your Mother: Strong
Your Father: Deceased
Your Favorite Item: Dog
Your dream last night: Strange
Your Favorite Drink: Wine
Your Dream Car: BMW
Your Dream Home: Cabin
The Room You Are In: Office
Your Ex: Insignificant
Your fear: Snakes
Where you Want to be in Ten Years? Retired
Who you hung out with last night:Husband
What You're Not: Mean
Muffins: Yummy
One of Your Wish List Items: Puppy
Time: None
The Last Thing You Did: Nap
What You Are Wearing:Clothes
Your favorite weather: Sunny
Your Favorite Book?: Lots
Last thing you ate?: Pretzels
Your Life: Content
Your mood: Good
Your Best Friends: Awesome
What are you thinking about right now?: Dinner
Your car: Gray
What are you doing at the moment: Typing
Your summer: Disappointing
Relationship status: Happy
What is on your tv?: Oprah
What is the weather like: Rain
When is the last time you laughed: Morning

The Fuckwit stood up in class today and apologized for anything that he may have said or done that may have offended me or anyone in the class. He also promised that he would not be a further disruption.

Hmmm. I don't buy it completely.

I will try to take him at his word, while making sure my back is protected at all times.

• I just can't watch my boys in Black and Gold get their asses handed to them again. It is not worth losing my voice again. I do have the TV volume up so I can listen while I work. (ETA: They won! Woohoo! Maybe there is a glimmer of hope...)
• I did get a great deal done this weekend. I got caught up on all the filing and shredding that has not been done since March. It took about two hours to organize and file all the bills and tax crap. The house is relatively clean. Laundry is almost done.
• I finished my lecture notes for Employment Law for the entire week.
• I am almost caught up on grading. My Employment Law class did a fabulous job on their midterm.
• Local community college is hiring adjuncts and full time faculty for their Criminal Justice program. I am going to apply, but I am not sure if I should make the lateral move or jump in for a full time position. Either way, the money is WAY better than what I am getting now.
• Tomorrow, I have to deal with the Fuckwit. Sigh. I wish I could kick him out of the class, but my college will not let me do that. The students have the power and they know it.
• Two more weeks until the reunion and I still don't know what I am going to wear. I am getting my hair trimmed and the color done of Friday, so maybe I will do some shopping.
• I hope I have not gained any significant weight as a result of the RA flare. I have not worked out in a week. Plus, I have been eating Cool Ranch Doritos like mad. (But they are sooooo good!)
• I am racking my brain for a Christmas gift for my mom. What do you buy someone who is extremely cheap (if you bought the item at a place other than Big Lots or the Flea Market and it was more than a dollar, it's too expensive), does not like anything, will not use a gift certificate for any movie, restaurant or spa treatment and insists that you buy her nothing? And no Jelly of the Month club either!

It's too early for me to start thinking about 2008, but OGD emailed this to me. I laughed my ass off over the part with Bin Laden!

Hillary in '08?

I am a bad blogger. I have not maintained my Friends in Low Places section. So, all you newbies, lurkers and others who want to be added, time to speak up!

Thanks, Brazen

Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement. You are the best. I can truly say that you are great friends and confidants! I had a long talk with Husband, who tends to be my voice of reason when I think I am losing my mind. I also have the support of GML and LB and OGD, who are not only colleagues, but great friends. I know they have my back.
I am doing better today. The flare has settled down significantly. I vowed that I would not resort to steroid treatment to get through the pain. Although it would help, I just can't do it. I have worked so hard to get in shape and lose some of the weight that I have gained over the last five years as a result of the RA and its effects. I truly believe that my new healthy habits and exercise routine have helped me through this.

I think Weezy hit the nail on the head. As faculty, especially in the case of adjuncts, you really can't win. If you do too little, you don't care about the students. If you speak up about things that appear to be wrong, you are a maverick. If you do a good job, it's never enough. If you set high, yet reasonable, standards, you are being mean to the students. At my college, the message is that if there are problems, it's the faculty's fault. They are not doing enough to pacify the students.

I am not sure what is going to happen when I return next week. Husband and GML think that I will be fine and nothing will happen to my job. Husband pointed out that even if I were to lose my job, it would not be the end of the world. Well, maybe for my college because they would lose a great instructor who the majority of the students enjoy and respect. But the bottom line is that I will be OK.

I have been dealing with some heavy stuff lately. The stress of it all has led to a pretty bad RA flare. (Stress will do that). Today is much better in that it does not hurt that much to type. I still have some trouble walking,.

I so want to talk about what's going on. But, I am afraid that I might give away to much and identify myself. Maybe I am being a bit paranoid, but given what I have been dealing with, I am extremely guarded. It seems that when I have either opened up or sought guidance, it has come back to bite me in ways that you cannot imagine. It has gotten to the point where I am afraid to ask or question anything that goes on at my place of employment. I cannot engage in confidential conversations with colleagues regarding student issues without fear of extreme blow-back. I am in fear for my job.

I hate this. I feel like no one seems to get it. Maybe, I don't get it.

Since it is Election Day, this playlist deals with the world and the way we see it.

Love Train by the O- Jays
Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones
Redemption Day by Sheryl Crow
Revolution by the Beatles
Won't Get Fooled Again by the Who
The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
California by Joni Mitchell
World on Fire by Sarah McLachlan
Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer

Whatever side of fence you sit on, or even if you don't sit on either side of the fence, let your voice be heard.

The little fuckwit in my Critical Thinking class is at it again. When I began to explain the debate project, he said "I heard you talked to the Dean about me and that you were scared of me."

Scared of him...yeah right. I told him that I decided to change to project in order to benefit the entire class and that it had nothing to do with his false assumption of fear on my part.

He just smirked.

What chaps my ass is not that he thinks I am scared of him. Please, I am not afraid of piss-ants. What bothers me is how he could be privy to a private conversation between me and my boss. I did discuss the issue with a couple of colleague, but I don't believe that any of them would do such a thing. (I hope I am not being naive.)

I did get the last word. I gave out midterm grades today. Guess who earned a big, old, fat "F"??????

I guess it's time to start thinking about draft picks for next season.

Well, there's always hockey.

And, I am really hoarse.

It's only halftime and I am a little hoarse.

Come on Steelers...justify my love!!!!!

Which ones should I buy???



or





Both are from Bandolino and are about the same price at Zappo's. I like the high heel on the first one, but I like the style of the second. GML votes for the first.

What do you think????

Thanks, Jesse!

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said "I love you" and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea - from the shore
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently well enough to have a decent conversation
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

• I am so sick of election ads. I counted six in a row last night.
• Speaking of the election, there should be a "None of the above" choice or "Anybody but these two losers" choice.
• This weekend I will be in grading mode. Midterm grades are due. Better stock up on liquor.
• Today, I might do some shopping. I want to look for an outfit for my reunion. The dress is casual. But, "casual" is pretty vague. I want to comfortable, but look fab.
• "Living on a Prayer" was the #1 song in VH1'a 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's. I think it should be in the top 10, but #1? I would have chosen something from U2's Joshua Tree. I am surprised that it was not something from Madonna or Michael Jackson.
• Shout out to Shelly. Hope all is OK.

Anyone out there watching the Top 100 Songs of the 80's on VH1? I found it odd the "Every Breath You Take" by the Police was at number 47!

What the Hell? That should so be in the top ten!

I think I found a solution.

I spoke with the new Dean of Instruction about my dilemma. Unlike the previous dean, this dean is very supportive of faculty and provides a good sounding board for issues. She surmised that the fuckwit will gain nothing from a "debate" with me. Also, it will not benefit the class in any way. She suggested that I find a way to have my cake and eat it too. Teach the little snot a lesson, while engaging the class in an activity that will meet the course outcomes.

I decided that entire class could benefit from and exercise where they must create and defend a position. So, I am going to have the students participate in a debate each presenting a case in which they must create and presents arguments based on a hypothetical case I created. Yours truly will be the judge. I know the fuckwit will want to be in charge of his legal team, so he will have to convince me that he is right. (HA! Good Luck!) Plus, I can mess with him, challenging his arguments and make his life a living Hell. If he gets out of line, it will impact the grade he receives on the assignment. Hit him were it really hurts, right in the GPA!

I am sharpening my fangs as we speak! Of course, I will keep you all posted.