So  I finished reading ALL of my papers for the week (okay not quite all, but the ones which remain I still have to print off my email and there’s only 1-2 of those).  Now I just have to put grades on them, and I’ll be done grading until they turn in their final projects.  YEAH!

I detected a bit of sarcasm about the Dog Whisperer and Nat’l Geographic.  I’m glad that Trisha has seen the show.  I like it because he tells the dog owners that they’re stupid for treating their dogs like people (but he doesn’t use those words and he has a spanish accent so it sounds better) and then he shows them how to fix themselves and the dogs just stop their issues!  And as Eric says, it’s better than those nanny shows because parents should know better than to let their 3 year old swear at them, but he actually solves real dog problems that you can’t always figure out how to fix. 

Anyway, yes, we watch educational tv instead of sitcoms, reality shows, and dramas.  Truthfully, I don’t watch much on Natl. Geographic, but we do like numerous shows on HGTV, TLC, History Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, and Travel Channel.  Like I said…I’m weird.  It’s okay; I’ve known for years!

I was a grading maniac yesterday, and I finished all the papers for Wednesday’s workshops. Today I hope to finish the papers for Friday, and then I won’t have to grade again until they turn in their final portfolios!  YEAH!

I took a trip to WalMart as one of my grading breaks to get milk.  I managed to spend very little money, which is unusual for me at Wal Mart!  Today I have a dentist appointment that will be my escape from grading for a bit. 

Last night, Eric mowed the lawn and then we talked about some landscaping ideas he’d gotten while he mowed.  I think it’ll be fun…a lot of work, but fun!  Then we had dinner and went to Home Depot.  We bought some yard tools and water softener salt.  Then we came home and I doofed around for a while (I figured I earned it with all my grading!) and watched The Dog Whisperer on National Geographic Channel.  I know…I’m weird.  Oh well!

I really like spring, but I wish it could rain and not be grey outside!  Oh well…I guess that’s April.  At least the sun is supposed to come out again later today.

Not that exciting of a weekend, really.  Eric and I worked around on Saturday.  We did get some yard work done, which was great.  And he even dug out some fountain grass that I didn’t want anymore, so now I can do something better with that space!  And since it was Easter weekend, we had a drama thing for church, so I had to be at the church for a bit on Saturday night and Sunday morning.  After Sunday’s services, we went to Cedarville for Easter dinner with my parents.  Deb’s brother and sister-in-law were in town, so they had dinner at their house.  But Chris did yard work (including fertilizing) which ruined Deb’s plan for an Easter egg hunt, so they came over to have that at Mom’s house. Actually, it was nice to be able to see the girls on Easter without having them be the center of the entire afternoon. We actually got to sit and chat for a while, which was very nice.

Today, I have to grade.  And I must be good about working on it.  I have workshops this week, so I meet with groups of students about their papers.  Workshops make grading a bit easier because I can work in smaller batches, so that’s nice.  I also need to get more milk, so I think I’ll use that as my excuse to get out of the house for a while later today. But now I must go grade!

It’s a rainy Friday in Columbus, but I did get to walk outside today.  And it’s still going to be in the mid-70’s, so I’m okay with a little rain.  We had a big thunderstorm at 5:00 this morning which woke me up.  I hadn’t been sleeping well already because my jaw has been bothering me, but I also remembered that our bedroom window was open.  So I got up and closed it. 

Yesterday I had lunch with a friend, then met Karen and the girls at the mall.  When I got home, Eric and I hung out for a bit before getting dinner (grilled brats…I love warm weather!). Later we went to Home Depot.  We’re going to try to do some container gardening this year, so we bought some pots and seeds to get started.  I don’t know if we’ll get anything to grow, but it should be fun to watch!

Today I’m going to get a massage.  It was a gift for my birthday from Eric, but I’m just now getting around to going.  I’ve never had a massage before, so it should be interesting…and fun, I hope!  Other than that, I haven’t decided what I’m going to do.  I’ll let you all know if something amazing happens, though!

I’m now on Easter Break until next Wednesday.  Classes start on Tuesday, but I don’t teach on Tuesdays, so I don’t have to go back until Wednesday.  I like that.  And I’ve given myself the day off…no grading for me today!  Last night was church stuff, so we were pretty busy with that.  Come to think of it…I should go clean the kitchen from dinner last night.  We had omelettes.

I have options of things to do today: I have a variety of errands I could run, and I have a couple of different people to hang out with.  I might also run to the mall or to a bookstore.  I really need to call and make a dentist appointment, but I had to wait since they don’t open until 9:00 (I think).  Anyway, I can call them now.  I also need to schedule a massage.  Eric got me a gift certificate for one for my birthday, and I haven’t done it yet.  I think I’ll call about that today, too!

It’s going to be a beautiful day, so I’m very excited about that.  Though it seems that there hasn’t yet been a month in 2006 that has had weather like it’s supposed to.  It’s warm in the winter, cool in the spring, today is more like May.  It’s just crazy!

Again, not that exciting of a day.  Got up and came to CU (nothing
unusual there!).  Had my 9:00 class, then I had a meeting at
10:00.  The meeting got done early, and I’ve been working in my
office.  I have to give a test at noon, so I updated the test and
made copies.  Of course, I’m almost done with my to-do list, so
now I guess I just get to dork around until noon! See…it’s been
thrilling!

However, the more exciting news is that this is my last day of class
until next Wednesday.  And then we only have 2 weeks until
finals!  My last day of class is May 1, and I am VERY glad about
that.  The bad news is that Eric is leaving on May 1 for a
business trip, so I’ll be lonely all week, but oh well.  I guess I
can get my grading done early that way!

Tonight is the usual: a quick supper before heading to the church for
our drama rehearsals.  Sorry, I don’t have much more exciting to
say!

So it’s 10:20, and I haven’t done that much yet today.  It’s kind of nice not to have a lot of items on my to-do list!

Yesterday was vaguely uneventful.  I finished classes and came home, but I got here before Eric.  So I read a book until he got home.  Then we went roller blading.  Boy are my legs mad at me today (between blading and lifting weights, I think I worked some muscles I haven’t used in a while!).  Then dinner and more reading, then bed.  Nothing too exciting really.

Today, I may run some errands, maybe go up to the mall.  It’s so nice outside, though, I’m not sure I want to be inside for too much of the afternoon!

So I’m almost done lecturing in Comp.  After today, we’ll have
workshops and work days to give them time to do their papers.  I
find that a better use of their time then my trying to “teach” them
something at this point in the term.  Now I just want them to
apply what they know!

The weekend was very busy, but it was fun, overall.  I had lots of
girl time, but it was nice to see Eric again for a bit on Sunday
afternoon!  He had been “computering” while I was at the shower,
so he had a fun new thing to show me.  I think he’s figured out
how to host a website, so we may actually start using that for things
like small group information and pictures and such.  When/If it
gets up and running, I’ll let you all know!

I’m so glad it’s going to be BEAUTIFUL all week.  I think Karen’s
going to enjoy the weather on Spring Break!  Eric and I are going
to go do something tonight, but I don’t know what yet. I just enjoy
being outside when it’s so nice again! 

Okay, I don’t really have much to say since I saw you all yesterday.  Later!

In honor of Kim, I have decided to post a game today (okay this came off of an email from Stacey, but it’s a fun quiz).  I’ll post the answers later!  Keep in mind, the average American gets a total of 7 correct…how many can you get? edit: The answers are in the comment section…no cheating! end edit

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?

2. How many states are there in the USA?
(Don’t laugh, some people don’t know)

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty’s torch?

4.
What six colors are on the classic Campbell‘s
soup label?

5.
What two numbers on the telephone dial don’t have letters by them?

6.
When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don’t you
dare get up to see!)

7. How many matches are in a standard pack?

8. On the United States
flag is the top stripe red or white?

9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?

10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

11. Which way does a “no smoking” sign’s slash run?

12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?

13.
On which side of a women’s blouse are the buttons?

14. Which way do fans rotate?

15. How many sides does a stop sign have?

16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?

17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?

18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?

19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who’s missing?

20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

21. On which playing card is the card maker’s trademark?

22. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening
between the slats?

23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?

24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?

25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

I got most of my first class graded in two hours yesterday!  My
method worked like a charm.  In the evening, I finished that class
and started the second, but now I have to finish grading that
class.  However, I am not too worried because my system worked so
well yesterday!

So overall, I had a very productive day.  After lunch, I went to
the bank, bought coffee grounds at Tim Hortons (Eric likes it best),
then ran to Sam’s Club briefly.  When I was done, I went and got
my hair cut.  SO CUTE!  Both my hair and I are very happy
with it.  The whole thing took a long time, but I wasn’t it that
big of a hurry, so it was fine. 

THEN, I ran to WalMart.  I got groceries and household
supplies.  And it wasn’t even too expensive!  Unfortunately,
the store did not have the type of pasta I needed for dinner last
night, so I also had to make a quick run to Meijers (which is right
across the street).  I got that, some snacks for the girls’ night
I’m hosting on Saturday night, and a new travel mug for Eric (his is
broken).  Then I went home.  Eric got home right after me,
and wanted to go for a walk, so we drove to a metro park near us to see
the expansion.  We didn’t walk very far, but that was fine with
me. 

Then I made supper, cleaned the kitchen, made brownies, finished
putting away the groceries, relaxed for a bit and graded for an hour or
so.  Then I went to bed…and could NOT fall asleep.  Maybe I
was too wired from my productive day.  Oh well!