Wednesday morning. 

I can’t believe it’s the last day of April!  How time (and the semester) does fly…  And there was no frost at my house this morning, so the “freeze watch” they were threatening us with doesn’t seem to have crashed into us. Yay!

I decided not to grade yesterday morning.  It was sunny out, so I went to a bookstore.  I didn’t buy anything, but I browsed for a long time and read the newest People magazine. Apparently Miley Cyrus is being criticized for a photo of her leaked from a Vogue photoshoot.  I liked this lady’s take on it.  And that pretty much covered my need for celebrity gossip.

I did do a bit of grading in the afternoon.  I have 3 3/4 portfolios graded.  I watched YouTube videos of Jeff Dunham (a very funny ventriloquist) between each portfolio to give myself a break.  Eric didn’t get home until almost 6:00 which is very late for him.  I was going to have him take me out for Greek, but he needed to relax for a while.  So I made bread crumb crusted chicken breasts, veggies, and bread.  And it tasted yummy!  So I think I’ll hold out for Greek later this week.

In the evening, we watched a geek show until 8:00, and then I ironed.  I watched a Most Outrageous Moments show on NBC, the last half of AI, and the first half of Hell’s Kitchen.  I’ve decided that Gordon Ramsey, no matter how much he swears and yells, is really a nice guy underneath.  Anyway, I went upstairs at 9:30 and read in bed until 10:00.  Then lights out!

Today, I plan to head to CU.  I grade better in my office than at home on finals week.  And I really would like to have my portfolios done by Friday.  So…off I go!

I wish I had something of worth to say today.  Let me think about it…

Here’s what I’ve got:

• I brought home portfolios to grade today.  A portfolio takes about half an hour (sometimes less) to grade.  I brought 10 home with me.  It’s not likely I’ll spend 5 hours grading today. 

• Eric and I made dinner together last night.  We had pasties.  I made the dough; he made the fillings.  I like cooking with my husband.  It’s a great time to talk to each other.

• The Today Show just annoyed me.  Matt Lauer is in Amsterdam today (for their yearly series called ‘Where in the World is Matt Lauer?’).  The NY hosts were asking him viewer’s questions, and Ann Curry made sure to ask the one that assumes global warming is raising oceans which will flood Amsterdam.  I think the environment is really important, but I hate that the question was about global warming, not Amsterdam. Grrr!

• It’s pretty cool here today.  I walked on my treadmill.  At least the warm stuff is coming back tomorrow.

• My last day of classes went fine.  I had a meeting and then collected most of the portfolios (still waiting on one).  I worked on my Basic English reports.  Then I drove home. 

• After dinner, I watched television all evening (pretending there weren’t portfolios in my car, of course!). We watched part of Emeril Live, then Good Eats (about cupcakes), and two episodes of Dirty Jobs.  I recorded the Jon & Kate episodes to watch at lunch this week. 

• One of the Dirty Jobs was about a dairy farm (he helped deliver calves); Eric wasn’t impressed because he’d done most of those jobs himself.  But it was still cool to watch them being born. It reminded me of the day at the Edlunds that Peekaboo (a cat) gave birth in the kitchen, so we all got to watch.  I think we were on our way somewhere and were interrupted because, apparently, she needed Kathy’s help.  Does anybody else remember that?

Okay, I think that’s all I’ve got for now.  If anything exciting happens, or I come up with more, I’ll be sure to update my post.  Happy Tuesday!

It was a laid-back, non-exciting weekend at my house today, and it was lovely!

Friday night…I don’t remember what we did.  Dinner and television, I think.

Saturday, I reread the seventh Harry Potter book. I worked on some laundry, too. Eric mowed and worked around the yard (after the rain stopped, of course).  After dinner, I finished the book and then finished the laundry.  Then we watched part of a movie (True Lies) and went to bed.

Sunday was church, dinner, reading the paper, relaxing a bit, reading a book, doing another couple of loads of laundry, cleaning the kitchen, small group, home, television watching, bedtime.

See, it wasn’t that exciting.  But I did read a lot and took full advantage of my grading-free days!  Of course, today is the last day of classes (WOO-HOO ), so my students will turn in their final portfolios in class.  Which means I’ll have a lot of grading to do this week.  But it’s finals week, so I don’t mind at all! 

Anyway, I think that’s all I’ve got…happy Monday!

Laid-back Thursday

That’s a great way to describe yesterday.  I still got a few things done, but at a leisurely pace and when I felt like doing them.  I cleaned the kitchen after dinner, and I finished most of the laundry.  I did get the garbage out, and I started organizing our spare room (which is where we just dump things when we don’t have a good place for them). 

I also read a bit, went to Target twice (the return trip, to get my receipt corrected, went very well), put gas in my car, hung out with Karen for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and chilled on the couch eating pizza and watching a movie with Eric last night.  So really, it was a good day.

Today is the last Friday of classes at CU.  Next week is finals, so Monday is the last official day of classes.  I collect their final portfolios on Monday and don’t give a final, so I usually spend finals week grading at home or in my office. Grades aren’t due until sometime the week after finals, but I almost always have mine in by Friday of finals.  Then I’m just done, totally and completely done, for the summer.  That is a beautiful thought…

I have work day classes today, helping students with their final revisions for the portfolio.  My mom probably won’t be home for lunch today, so I’m on my own for that.  I have some random “catch-up” grading to do, as well, and I guess there’s a faculty meeting at 10:00.  It’s for a vote about something I don’t care about, so I’m not excited about having to go.  But I will.  Because I’m just a dutiful, obedient little goody-two-shoes.    Maybe it’ll get done quickly…

Well, I think that’s all I have.  Happy Friday to you all!

EDIT (11:20): So I did get the check in the mail and the garbage out.  Then I decided to go to Target because I realized this morning I have a total of 4 wearable short-sleeved t-shirts for the summer.  Definitely not enough!  So, off I go, and I find 6 shirts and a pair of pants.  When I got home, I realized I was charged for 4 shirts and 2 pairs of pants.  I guess I have to go back to Target this afternoon…grrr!

I just realized this morning that I need to send the second check on our vacation rental this year.  It has to be there by the end of the month, so it needs to go out this week sometime.  I’d almost forgotten! We are going to Kiawah Island, SC, this year for a lovely beach vacation.  This is where we’ll be staying.  We’re just a boardwalk from the beach and within easy driving of shops and things.  And Kiawah Island is about 30 minutes from Charleston, so we’ll probably head into the city at least once.  I’m very much looking forward to the event (as is Eric), especially after last year’s desert vacation!

Other than mailing that check, I don’t have much planned.  I must do laundry, but I also have no more grading until final portfolios come in next week, so I don’t want to be “good” all day.  I will probably run to a bookstore or go see Karen or something that is just for fun.  We shall see…

Yesterday was pretty busy.  I finished my grading before classes (that’s always good), and I spent all 3 classes giving one-on-one help as students needed it.  That means I was answering questions about revision, documentation, specific comments I made on their papers, and whatever else popped up.  It’s always a fun day, but really tiring by the end of it.

So, when I got home, I read a book for a while.  And made a light supper (ham salad sandwiches).  And read some more.  And watched television.  Oh, and Eric and I took some large boxes to the recycling place (I couldn’t get them in the dumpsters myself) and then went to put gas in his Jeep.  It was freakin’ expensive!!  But I guess that’s life for now.  Anyway, we finished the night with the new episode of Mythbusters, and then it was off to bed. 

Happy Thursday, my friends!

Wednesday, already?

• Have I mentioned recently how much I love spring?  All the flowering trees and early flowers…*contented sigh*

• I have a bird feeder which I finally filled a few days ago.  The birds have found it, and yesterday there was a goldfinch and a pair of cardinals there.  There were also some less pretty birds, but those ones were fun to watch!

• I woke up to my radio this morning (which is unusual), and it was playing “Let it Rise,” a lovely praise chorus. What a great way to start the day!

• I graded all but four papers yesterday.  This is quite an accomplishment.  I also had sorted them so I could grade them worst-to-best, so these last four won’t take long at all.  And then I’m done grading until the final portfolios next week.  Lovely! 

• I made pies yesterday.  One I have to take to CU with me.  That one’s cherry.  I also made a fresh strawberry pie which I gave to our next-door neighbors.  She was very excited.  It is so nice to do kind things for people.  I should do them more often…

• I’ve been able to exercise outside all week.  I  outside exercising in the morning!

So I think that’s about all the happy thoughts I have this morning, but I thought I’d share them with you.  Enjoy your Wednesday!

Random Tuesday Things

I don’t have
much to tell you about yesterday (classes, meetings, driving, grading), so I
decided to do the list post going around.  Enjoy!

You can only type ONE Word!
Not as easy as you might think. Now copy into your xanga, change the answers to suit you and
post it . It’s really hard to only use one word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone?…….  purse

2. Where is your significant other?….. bedroom

3. Your hair?….. wavy

4. Your mother?…. remarkable

5. Your father?…. smart

6. Your favorite thing?….   books

7. Your dream last night?…. spiders

8. Your favorite drink?…. water

9. Your dream/goal?… children

10. The room you’re in?…. loft

11. Your hobby?…. knitting

12. Your fear?…. failure

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?…. unsure

14. Where were you last night?….. home

15. What you’re not?….. tall

16. Muffins?…. rarely

17. One of your wish list items?…. courage

18. Where you grew up?… Cedarville

19. The last thing you did?… email

20. What are you wearing?…. sweats

21. Your TV?…. huge

22. Your pets?….. imaginary

23. Your computer?…. laptop

24. Your life?…. blessed

25. Your mood?…. tired

26. Missing someone?…. no

27. Something you’re not wearing?…. makeup

29. Favorite store?… bookstore

31. Like someone?…. hubby!

30. Your summer?… coming

32. Your favorite color?…. blue

33. When is the last time you laughed?…. class

35. Who will resend this? …. most

36. Food…. fruit

37. Favorite word….. “Si”

Crazy West Virginia weekend!

So on Friday evening, after we got home and packed quickly, we headed for West Virginia.  We got out about 4:50 in the afternoon, heading East on I-70, so of course, we got stuck in rush hour traffic.  We got dinner in Zanesville and then drove on, chatting over our McD’s.  And we drove.  And talked.  And drove some more.  Into W. Virginia.  Into Pennsylvania, then south, back into W. Virginia. And finally got to Morgantown, home of West Virginia University and Corey Zink’s wedding.

We got to our hotel, a golf resort called Lakeside, and from our first meeting (we and the resort), we were somewhat less than impressed.  The service was well below stellar and the buildings were newly-renovated and clean, but still very 70s in their appearance and construction.   Oh, and the parking lot was FULL of redneck vehicles: trucks, trucks with trailers attached (parked across 4 spaces), trucks with taxidermy or construction businesses advertised on the doors, and one truck with a stuffed mountain lion in the front seat (I’m not kidding).  Apparently, it was very high-class for W. Virginia (there were wedding receptions/dinners all weekend at this place), but I guess we’re just snobs from Ohio…

On Friday night, I realized that I’d left my makeup at home in its drawer.  So we did some driving around to find a place that might sell the basics of makeup, but had no luck.  So Eric took me back to the hotel and then headed out for some guy-time with his friends.  And the exit their hotel was at had a WalMart.  Of course, it did.  So he had a good time, got back to our room about 12:30 am, and when we got up and ready in the morning, we drove back to Exit 1 and bought me some makeup at the Walmart. 

Then we headed back to our exit where the church was for the 10 am wedding.  It was a brand-new church building, and the wedding was very nice.  We hung around there for a bit, talking to Eric’s friends from college, before we all headed over to the brunch reception (omelets, bacon/sausage, egg casserole, fruit salad, etc).  We stayed there until about 2:00 when everybody started packing up to head out. 

We spent the rest of the day goofing off.  We drove to an Arboretum and hiked there for a bit.  We ran into another couple from the wedding whom we spent about an hour walking and chatting with. They’re very fun people!  Then we drove back to our hotel, but through the city, instead of on the highways.  Morgantown is not a hard town to navigate once you figure it out, and all the hills make it very interesting scenery.  We ended up going back out for dinner and then crashed for the night at our hotel.

Sunday morning, we packed and loaded up, stopped at a Bob Evans for breakfast and drove the 4 hours home.  It was a long drive, but we made it!  I graded some in the afternoon, and Eric worked in the basement.  Small group was a social event, so we didn’t go.  Instead, we had dinner and crashed on the couch for the evening before heading to bed. 

So, all in all, it was a lovely weekend.  And now it’s back to routine for the LAST WEEK OF CLASSES!!!  (Can you tell I’m excited about that fact?!?)   Anyway, have a lovely, lovely Monday!!

I Spring!

That’s what I kept thinking yesterday when I went outside, opened windows, smelled the fresh air, read a book in the sun.  How very, very nice!

I enjoyed my day without teacher responsibilities.  During the day, I accomplished a number of cleaning chores I’d been putting off: vacuuming, sweeping the kitchen floor, cleaning the counters, starting various organizational projects. I also goofed off, wrote some, read some, and watched a little television in there, too. 

Eric got home about 4:30.  I was reading outside when he arrived.  So we chatted outside for a while which was so nice!  We grilled steaks for dinner.  YUM-MY!  And grilling makes for such easy clean up after dinner, too, which I love!  After dinner, we both did something we hate doing: Eric went and got a haircut, I cleaned the bathrooms.  I was finishing up just as he drove back in the garage.  Perfect timing!  Then we spent the rest of the evening watching television together. 

Oh…last night, I woke up about 5:30 and realized the bed was shaking.  It stopped while I was trying to figure out what Eric was doing.  Turns out he was awake, thinking the same thing about me.  And it wasn’t either of us.  There was an Illinois earthquake that we felt move our bed in Columbus!  Crazy, huh?

Anyway, today is Friday (in case you’d missed that! )  I have normal classes and a faculty meeting at 10:00.  Then I’ll be heading home as quick as I can so we can get around and head out for our weekend.  We’ll be driving to WV tonight for Eric’s friend’s wedding tomorrow, and we decided to stay two nights there to get a whole weekend away.  Yesterday, Eric found out that there’s going to be a guys’ gathering with the groom after the rehearsal dinner tonight, so I’m sure he’ll go to that.  Baring any major traffic issues, we should arrive just about in time.  I don’t know what the rest of the weekend will hold (other than the wedding), but it should be good.

Happy Friday!

I have no work to do for CU in any way today: no grading, no prep work, no nothing.  Today, I don’t have to think about teacher-stuff.  Lovely!

I have no idea what I’m going to do with my day, yet.  I will need to put the trash out, and do some household chores (vacuum, bathrooms, etc), but those won’t take very long.  It’s supposed to be a gorgeous day, so I will have to find reasons to go outside a lot, too.  Other than that…I’m open to suggestions!

Yesterday wasn’t too thrilling.  I finished workshops.  I went to chapel to see my colleagues get awards.  I had lunch with Mom and Karen (who was down showing off Jason at CU and Wittenberg).  I drove home and got a rotisserie chicken for dinner.  The evening was pretty much spent relaxing.  I talked to Kimberly on the phone for a bit, and we watched a movie (Live Free or Die Hard – pretty good, funny in places) and then went to bed. 

I guess that’s everything I’ve got today.  Sorry to be so boring.  I’ll work on it for tomorrow’s post!  Happy Thursday!