The Waiting Room

OK, I know I have not posted much lately. Blame it on the pre-semester crap that I am working on. So, in lieu of a real post, how about some dog photos!

Here is the Boy with his new toy. "Duckie" was a gift for the Boy's 7th birthday which was earlier this month. "Duckie" quacks which makes the Boy go crazy!!!!

GML's pup, Frankie, just earn his master's degree in Advance Obedience. As you can see from the blue ribbon, he was the Top Dog in his class! Yay Frankie!!!!

Dogs...You gotta love 'em!!!!!

Seriously!

Yesterday snafu began around 10 AM when the adjunct secretary called me at home to tell me that there are no books listed for my courses. I check my school email and find six messages from frightened students.

OK, see, I KNOW I ordered books. I remember the day I sent the form to the on-line books store.

Now, I am thinking all kinds of things like maybe the school is going to reconsider hiring me because I am a total flake.

With my anxiety level peaking at panic level. I send a fury of emails to the on-line books store and my chair. The rep for the bookstore calls me and confirms that I do not have any books listed. I send her the books complete with ISBN numbers and the link that I used to order them in the first place.

Then the chair's secretary calls me. She said that she had been fielding calls from parents wondering why I have no books. I reiterate the entire story to her. She was very sympathetic saying that a few instructors are having the same problem. Seems the local rep for the on-line books store "lost" some of the orders. Turns out there is a local rep who handles the local stuff and then forwards it to another rep in another city. The second rep was the person I spoke to earlier. (I could go on a rant about how the whole on-line bookstore thing is wrong and students should have to go to a physical bookstore on campus and stand in line for two hours to pay for books like I did, but that's for another post.)

The secretary also takes the information to pass on to anyone who calls. I send the information to the students who emailed me and post an announcement on Blackboard with the book information and a suggestion to check other sections of the course because all the instructors are using the same books.

After a good cry on Husband's shoulder, a nap with the Boy and a vigorous workout, I am feeling a little better. I notice that there is a voicemail message on my cell. The message is from the chair of another department.

OK....

He wants to know if I want to teach a law course in his department. Turns out that the person they hired a couple of months ago just quit today. He has been scrambling to find an attorney to teach the course, but most attorneys have day jobs. He was talking to my chair about his situation and my chair mentioned my background. The course is the same course I taught at the old place. Plus, I would get a HUGE increase in salary.

I jumped all over that one.

So, I guess I am not a total flake.

Strange days indeed.

Michael Vick found him.

He's always in the last place you look.

Someone should tell Alberto Gonzales. He might be looking for JC too.

I am an idiot.

I have been stressed about writing a syllabus for the Critical Thinking course I will be teaching at my new college. I have been going back and forth, not exactly sure what content I should include. I have samples from other instructors, but nothing seems to be clicking at the moment. I feel like I have no clue what I am doing.

Also, I've had so many computer issues linking my home computer to the campus system that Husband is worried that he will have to physically restrain me from throwing the entire system out the second story window of our house.

Then, during my nap yesterday, it hit me.

I have taught this course before and I can just insert new college information for the old!

I told Husband about my "revelation". We looked at each and just laughed our asses off.

Yeah, I think I have been out of the loop WAY too long.

OK, time to take my smart pills and get some work done.

You're To Kill a Mockingbird!

by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have
changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you've
also taken a significant amount of flack. But you've had the admirable guts to
persevere. There's a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you,
but you're pretty sure it's worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you
whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Seeking Academia tagged me. It's been a while since I did a meme.

Four Things Meme:

Four Jobs I Have Had In My Life:

• Sales Clerk at Bath and Body Works and the Limited
• Substitute Teacher
• Attorney
• College Instructor

Four Places I Have Lived:

• Hometown
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Germany
• Lake Effect Snow Central

Four Favorite Foods:

• Anything Italian
• Indian food
• Chocolate
• Lobster

Four Places I'd Rather Be:

• Sleeping in my comfy bed with my 600 thread count sheets.
• The beach
• Dinning on any of the food listed above
• Shopping

Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over:

• The Blues Brothers
• The Breakfast Club
• Goldfinger
• The Godfather I and II. (NOT III)

Four TV Show I Like to Watch:

• The Simpsons
• Law and Order
• CSI
• What Not to Wear

Four Websites I View Daily:

• Bloglines
• The Daily Puppy
• MSN Money (To check my stocks)
• Yahoo

Four Computers I Have Owned:

• Commodore 64 (Yes, really!)
• Packard Bell 386 SX
• Compaq
• HP Pavilion

Four People to Tag:

• Ragey
• Chaser
• Astroprof
• Arbitrista

John Lennon's solo work is now available for download on ITunes. I think this calls for a new "Present Thought" for the sidebar.

Very cool and about time!

Yesterday was a total washout. Not only did it rain all day, but my sinuses and allergies were so bad that I stayed in bed for most of the day. So much for my kick start to the new job!

I did email IT and explained my problem. The guy called me within two minutes of my sending the message. He walked me through the problem, so I think all will be OK.

It's still raining. And it's cold. I'm talking 59 degrees here!!!

I am trying to access my account at my new college, and it keeps kicking me out when I try to access my courses. I have disabled my pop-ups for the site, and it keeps kicking me out!

Also, I can't access my college email!

GRRRRR.

Tomorrow begins my pre-season training camp for the new semester. I haven't been in the classroom since December '06. I need to get used to being on a schedule again. (And wearing shoes other than flip-flops!) I figure that if I start now, I should be in good shape by the time classes start in two weeks.

I have so much to do! Lots of materials to read. Syllabus, assignments and lecture notes must be created. I also have some administrative stuff to do too.

I also need to get back into a workout routine. I have not done much for the last two weeks. I don't think I have gained any weight. With fall around the corner, the time is ripe for a flare up of the Rheumatoid Arthritis. I know that when I am on a regular workout routine, I feel better and the flares are minor or non-existent. Plus, the workouts help keep me relatively sane!

We will see how it goes. I am optimistic that my training will not end like the movie!

• Had a "Girl's Night" with GML last night. Good food, good wine and good times with a great friend!
• Husband and I have a full plate tonight. We are stopping in at J's party in the early evening. Then we are meeting our friend, F, and his nieces for dinner. F is from Belgium and lives in Detroit. His nieces are in the States for the first time.
• I want to go makeup shopping. There is a Sephora that just opened in the Huge-Ass Mall nearby. Maybe I will go for a consult.
• I declared that Monday is my "Back to Reality" countdown. That means I need to get my butt in gear with prepping for the semester and getting back on the workout routine.
• I forgot to mention that the Boy celebrated his 7th Birthday while we were on vacation. So, there has been some MAJOR sucking up to him this week. I will have pictures of the Boy with his "present" posted soon.
• It's actually chilly here today. It's only 65 degrees.
• We have a serious rat problem in my neighborhood. More on than later.
• I think I need a nap.

...Before I found someone at my new job who will make my annoying people list.

I attended the new faculty orientation for my new job yesterday. Mostly speeches by the HMFIC and others. The HMFIC has this annoying habit of repeating the last few words that he speaks (the last few words that he speaks. Sorry, his voice is still ringing in my head.)

While somewhat annoying, he did not make the list.

After the speeches, the new faculty members were divided into groups to tour the campus. First, let me say that I hate tours groups. But for the fact that I had to get all my computer stuff done at that time, I would have just gone home. So, I decided to suck it up and get it over with.

There were five of us assigned to a veteran faculty member. I did not know any of the new faculty with me except for one person who ironically taught at my former employer around the time I started there. She seemed really cool.

As for the others, I just wanted to slap the crap out of them.

Have you ever been in a situation where there is one person who dominates a conversation with complaints and whining? The other three woman were that in spades. But there was this one woman I will call Bitch and Moan. Bitch and Moan is a fellow adjunct and sadly is in my department. Let me give you a sample conversation I had with her:

Bitch and Moan: So, how many classes are you teaching?
Me: Two.
B&M: How many sections are there for that course?
Me: (Shrugging my shoulders) I don't know.
B&M: Well, don't you think you should know that? I mean I have one class and there are five sections. I don't understand why you have two classes and I only have one. I need to talk to someone and see if I can get more classes. That is just not right. I mean, you don't even know how many sections there are for your course!
Me: Uh, yeah...whatever.

Later, she had this 10 minute argument with the IT guy because her classroom was not outfitted for power point. The IT guy said that all the classrooms should be ready by the first day of class, but he could not make any guarantees. That just set her off. So, the IT guy suggested that she sign out the power point equipment for the semester. Well, that just made it worse. She demanded that the IT guy set it up for her because she cannot be expected to transport the equipment every day she has class. When the IT guy said that perhaps she could bring a cart, she said that IT would have to store her cart for her. (Let me just interject that space is at a premium on campus). IT stated that they did not think it was possible. All hell broke loose at that point.

At that point I left the room, mostly because that exchange was making the group late for the next part of the tour. Also, I was not sure if there was going to be a bloodbath.

Next was the Public Safety building where we were to recieve our id tags. There is a portable defibrillator on the wall which prompted the following conversation between Bitch and Moan and the Public Safety Officer.

B&M: So, you have a portable defibrillator?
Public Safety Officer: Yes, we just got it.
B&M:How many of them are on campus?
PSO: Well, I believe every building has one. And the dorms have one too.
B&M: You mean you don't know the exact number?
PSO: Well, not off the top of my head...
B&M: Well, you need to know that information. I mean what if something happens, How could you not know that? I mean I don't know how to use one of those things anyway. You should be doing a better job!

Sweet Merciful Crap! All I kept thinking was "Please God, grant me the strength not to slap the shit out of this woman!" I mean DAMN!!!!! Then it hit me. I am going to have to put up with this woman because she is in my department and we will be sharing a workspace.

DAMN!

GML and I had this grand idea that we would go see Chris Daughtry and his band. They are scheduled to play at the county fair. After all, his songs are pretty good. And he is very easy on the eyes.

So, I mentioned to my friend and neighbor, J, that GML and I were planning to get tickets. J told me that one of her friends got tickets for the event. The tickets were $40.00 each and all seats were general admission. Add fees like surcharges, taxes, parking at the event, etc, the total cost was $127.50!

Are you kidding me?

Dude only has one album (sorry, CD) and he has the nerve to charge $40.00 a person? I saw BNL earlier this summer and they charged $45.00 and they have been around for years.

WTF???

I remember when concert tickets were anywhere between $15.00 and $20.00. Back in the day, it was considered highway robbery to charge more than that. Some of you may remember when the Jackson had the Victory tour and they wanted $30.00. People were pissed.

I have to admit that I am guilty of paying an obscene amount of money for some things. I am going to see the Police in November and that ran me about $300.00 for two tickets. And I did get Husband 10th row seats for the Who back in 2003 which ran me about $300.00. And I did pay $200.00 to see Clapton when he said he was not going to tour anymore.

It seems to be getting out of hand. More and more acts are charging a ton of money for concerts. It's getting to the point where soon people will have to take out a second mortgage in order to see their favorite acts. Even if Keith Moon, Jimi Hendrix or even Elvis were resurrected from the dead, it would have to be a perfect show to justify the exorbitant cost.

So as far as Daughtry is concerned, I guess I will just have to listen to him on my IPod. Maybe someday he will be worthy.

I found out that I did not have to attend the faculty development meeting today. It is only for full time faculty. Part timers like me get to stay home. Woohoo! I do have to attend the new faculty orientation tomorrow though.

I am really relived that I have today free. I am exhausted, cranky and crampy. I just want a day where I don't have to go anywhere, do anything or think too hard. The heat wave broke and the temps are quite lovely, like mid 70's with a nice breeze.

So, I think I will relax in the backyard with a good book and the Boy. I finished The Closers by Michael Connelly while on vacation. Next in my stack of books is The Memory Keeper's Daughter.

Yesterday, I went on a marathon shopping trip with LB, one of my former colleagues. We went to an outlet mall about two hours from Lake Effect Snow Central. The mall was in the middle of nowhere. There were no other stores or restaurants around which was kinda strange.

It was a bountiful hunt. I went a little crazy at the Ann Taylor outlet, sinking $200.00 on clothes for my new job. That sounds like a lot of money, but I did get two skirts, two tops and a pair of pants which were all about $40.00 each. I also got a pair of trouser jeans at the Gap outlet for $40.00. So, I have some new "big girl clothes" to wear for back to school!

Let's not forget shoes. Nine West had a buy one get one half price. I found two pairs of peep toe pumps, one black and the other a brown suede. Total cost: $75.00.

Not too shabby.

I needed a change. How do you like the new template?

Also, if you would like to be a "Face in the Crowd", speak up!

During one of our shopping excursions, Piglet overheard this conversation while waiting for me outside a store that sells all kinds of bath stuff. Let me set the scene for you.

Piglet is waiting on the steps of the store next to the bath store. Two woman approach each other. Woman #1 is walking with a four year old in a stroller. Woman #2 has two young girls with her, probably about 10 or 12 years old. The woman carried on this conversation right in front of my friend.

Woman #1: Just a minute, I have to go back into the bath store.
Woman #2: Why?
Woman #1: Because he walked out of the store with this. (This was a small rubber duck.)
Woman #2: Oh, just take it. They will never notice.
Woman #1: Yeah, you're right. (She hands the duck back to the child in the stroller.)

The mostly likely scenario was that the kid was playing with the duck and accidently walked out with it. But the proper thing to do would be to go back and deal with it. And then explain to your child that one does not take things that do not belong to them.

And what lesson did the older kids learn? That it is OK to take things so long as you don't get caught. Nice.

Piglet said she wanted to say something to the women. But what do you say, to something like that? Do you call someone out in front of their kids? Do you go back into the store and tell the clerk "Hey, call the cops. There's a woman with a kid in a stroller who just walked out with a $ 0.50 duck?"

No, you don't say anything because either these women don't get it or don't want to get it. Or, they would blast you for butting into their business. In either case, you end up looking like the criminal for calling someone out for doing the wrong thing.

Sadly, a lesson learned.

Husband and I returned from our trip to Cape May late Friday night. We got up early Saturday so that we could pick up the Boy. I could hear him howling as the kennel attendant was bringing him to the reception area. I swear he was saying "Where have you been!" Big sloppy kisses and hugs followed.

We had a great time on our trip (Shout to Weezy: Damn, I should have checked my blog while I was gone. We could have met up!) My best friend, Piglet, and I had an absolute blast, shopping, gabbing and basic girl stuff. Our husbands are friends, so that makes it even more fun. Husband's brother and his wife stayed in the same hotel as us too. Lots of good food, good wine, sun and sand!

But, Jesus, it was so FREAKIN' hot. Wednesday, it was 104 degrees with a heat index of 115! To make matters worse, the AC broke down in our room, which was on the top floor of our hotel. I ended up with a serious case of heat exhaustion. Thankfully, the hotel was able to install a window AC. They also gave us a discount on our room rate and a gift card for the hotel restaurant. We ended up using the gift card at the bar! (After I recovered from the heat exhaustion, of course!)

Now, it's back to reality. I have a new faculty in service meeting on Thursday. There is a regular faculty in service on Wednesday. I have not started getting my stuff in order yet. I guess I need to get my shit together!

I have 285 Blog-lines posts to read. I guess you were able to keep yourselves entertained in my absence.

But it's such a beautiful day...

...And I have a ton of tomatoes to pick!

Husband and I are off to the Jersey shore for a week of sun and fun. Even the Boy gets his own doggie vacation at his kennel.

Catch ya' later!

I caught the Boy on the couch when I thought he was upstairs taking a nap with me. We have central air but the second floor is a little stuff, despite having a fan. I guess it was a little more comfortable and cooler downstairs...on the couch!

Yesterday, I attended my first faculty meeting at my new college. The idea was to have a working session for my department coupled with a get together between old and new faculty. It was nice to meet my new colleagues and pick their brains about the course that I will be teaching. Everyone seems very friendly, although I can already tell a couple that will get on my nerves very soon.

We had a discussion about a new assessment tool for the Critical Thinking course and a corresponding rubric. The chair of the department presented his proposal and asked for our input and suggestions. He stressed that nothing is carved in stone and welcomed our comments.

All I kept thing was "Wow!" "You mean you actually CARE what I think?"

That would NEVER happen at my old college. At my old college the rule was "Here is the new assessment and rubric." "Just shut up and do it because nobody cares what you think and if you like getting paid, you will do what we say!"

At my old college, I was in the minority when it came to having a doctoral degree. ( Juris Doctor is considered a doctorate degree). Many of my colleagues had Master's degrees, but had no desire to pursue thier PhD's. The administration did not encourage one to move up the credential ladder, unless you did not have a Master's degree, which you had a set time period to earn it or you could be fired. That being said, I never thought that I was "better" or more qualified than my colleagues. At the same time, I did not feel like I had to push myself intellectually or professionally.

For the first time in my life, I actually felt intimidated by my new surroundings. I am surrounded by my intellectual and academic equal or better. I am listening to my new colleagues and I am thinking "Sweet merciful crap, I gotta step up my game or I am going to look like a total ass." I feel like I am on the low end of the intellectual food chain.

I know it should not matter. At a rationale level, I know that I have what it takes to teach at this school.

But, I can't help this nagging insecurity.

And, I keep repeating the Stuart Smalley mantra.

We had a major power outage in my neighborhood last night around 5 PM. What really made sucky was that it was 86 degrees outside at that time.

J, the Girl's mom, invited me, Husband and the Boy over to hang out while we waited for the power to return. We dinned on pizza, beer and Smirnoff Triple X. (That stuff is crack in a bottle!). The Boy and the Girl begged for some pizza. The Girl is a little more forward about begging than the Boy.

Recently, J went out for coffee with a cop. The cop was a friend of another cop who is a friend of J's. I am going to call the cop J dated the Freak. Anyway, on that date, the Freak gave J a book called "I Love a Cop." Pretty creepy! Since then, he is texting J all the time, acting as if they are already in a relationship. J really does not want anything to do with this guy.

We spent most of the evening trying to find a way for J to dump this guy. We were laughing so hard at our choices, finally settling on "I don't like sex and I do not plan to have sex...EVER!"

Then it happened.

J started getting a series of text messages from the Freak. The first one was "Well, since you don't have power at your house, I guess you will have to spend the night with me."

He was dead serious.

Then, another message "All I want in this lifetime is contentment, peace and happiness. But I will settle for good sex."

Uh.....

Then "I was not kidding about the sex."

Eep!

J sent the text messages to her friend who set them up. He said that he would have a "talk" with the Freak.

There is only one thing to do in a situation like this...make a cheesecake run. So, J and I made a run to the grocery store, who had power, and purchased a chocolate cheesecake with chocolate strawberries. We sat in her back yard, waiting for another text, which thankfully did not come.

Seriously though, what is up with this guy? We thought maybe we would have Husband drive over to the Freak's house in J's car. the Freak would get the shock of his life if he saw Husband getting out of the car!