Well, that didn't take long. Did I forget to knock on wood when I was going on about how I love my students?
*sigh*
Yesterday I caught one of them red-handed, cheating on a paper. An entirely cribbed (verbatim!) paper was turned in for credit. At first I felt foolish, like I had been taken. But over a manhattan or two, I did realized that I was not duped. I caught the fraud and was not the fool here. However, I do resent being played for a fool. And by a very ingratiating student, too.
Rrrrrgh.
Although it is a heartbreaker to realize first hand that this stuff does happen, and that trying to be a great teacher won't always prevent this nonsense, I can't say that I'm any less enthusiastic about my position. The same day, another student told me I am "the bestest" for a silly little favor I did. Not that I really am the bestest, but that at least one student appreciates a kind gesture makes up for the bullshit that scamming assholes will pull.
There will always be both types of students. And as long as that is the case, I'll still love what I do.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Those who can't?
Today was my long teaching day. Lecture (the prof, not me) in the a.m., then 2 hours of discussion sections (mine) in the p.m. Long because there is lots of other business to attend to before, in between and after all of this. Anyway, having spent the day with students, I was given my weekly reminder of just how much I love teaching. I really really do. Maybe it's genetic - my mom's a damn fine teacher. Maybe it's just right. And I love that I love it.
I'm in my seventh (yeah, I said it, seventh) year of graduate school. I've been doing research for that long. And you know what? I'm really not very good at it. Actually, I'm a technical whiz in the lab. I'm really good at all the things a trained monkey could do with practice. But the ideas? The big picture thinking? Yeah, it turns out I pretty much suck at that stuff. The stuff that scientific careers are made of. I say all of this somewhat tongue-in-cheek, because I'm finally really ok with it. But it is true, alas.
The good thing, and point of all of this, is that eventually I will have a Ph.D. And what can one do with a Ph.D. when one is cognisant of the fact that they make a crappy scientist? One can teach! I took this TA position with the hopes of honing my teaching skills, bulking up the ol' C.V. and testing the waters as far as this teaching business goes. And I must say... it's going well. I love meeting with my students. I love hearing their ideas and seeing them discuss and learn from each other. I love getting to know them and being there to answer their questions. I really dig what I do.
It's really cool. After last weekend, I've been so energetic about doing the stuff I love. And loving the stuff I do. So I'm really thrilled with how much I dig this teaching gig. How rad!
If I had started this blog a few years back, one may have been able to chart my progression from diligently spinning my wheels to deep depression with the full realization of my mediocrity to the present. I've gotta say... all that other stuff was pretty crappy. And not that it can't or won't change, but I'm so happy with where I am right now. It gives me hope for the future. That I'll be happy with my career, and will make a difference and mean something to someone.
How awesome.
I'm in my seventh (yeah, I said it, seventh) year of graduate school. I've been doing research for that long. And you know what? I'm really not very good at it. Actually, I'm a technical whiz in the lab. I'm really good at all the things a trained monkey could do with practice. But the ideas? The big picture thinking? Yeah, it turns out I pretty much suck at that stuff. The stuff that scientific careers are made of. I say all of this somewhat tongue-in-cheek, because I'm finally really ok with it. But it is true, alas.
The good thing, and point of all of this, is that eventually I will have a Ph.D. And what can one do with a Ph.D. when one is cognisant of the fact that they make a crappy scientist? One can teach! I took this TA position with the hopes of honing my teaching skills, bulking up the ol' C.V. and testing the waters as far as this teaching business goes. And I must say... it's going well. I love meeting with my students. I love hearing their ideas and seeing them discuss and learn from each other. I love getting to know them and being there to answer their questions. I really dig what I do.
It's really cool. After last weekend, I've been so energetic about doing the stuff I love. And loving the stuff I do. So I'm really thrilled with how much I dig this teaching gig. How rad!
If I had started this blog a few years back, one may have been able to chart my progression from diligently spinning my wheels to deep depression with the full realization of my mediocrity to the present. I've gotta say... all that other stuff was pretty crappy. And not that it can't or won't change, but I'm so happy with where I am right now. It gives me hope for the future. That I'll be happy with my career, and will make a difference and mean something to someone.
How awesome.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Best. Weekend. Ever.
I'll begin an update on this weekend's trip to Kansas, though it may take several edits to complete...
As the title says - it really was the best weekend ever! I met up with Marissa and Sarah at the Kansas City airport. We then set out in our posh Cadillac for Harveyville, home of Nikol and her magical schools. After a few mishaps that I maintain were "short cuts," we found the schools and got the grand tour.
The schools are absolutely fantastic. Built in 1955, they have all the great architectural designs of the era. I'll get some pictures up at some point. There are lots of lovely wood built-in cabinets, one of which houses Nikol's mammoth yarn stash. There are tons of other fun details too, and we had fun exploring the nooks and crannies of the buildings.
Everyone else arrived as we were looking over Nikol's project designs. Everyone else included Jenn, Carolyn, Adrian, Amber, Rebecca, KellySue and Jen, who brought Brian to play with Ron, Nikol's man. I was meeting Adrian, Amber, Marissa, Rebecca, KellySue and Jen for the first time, and seeing Sarah, Carolyn, Jenn and Nikol again. It was an amazing group of fabulous women... I really can't imagine a more fun group to spend the weekend with.
When everyone had arrived, we ended up on the front porch for drinks and chatting, which brought the opportunity to meet the locals. At the risk of sounding terribly derrogatory, the locals in Harveyville, KS, are an exact charicature of what you would expect of rural yokels. Oh my. We were first schooled in the absolute dearth of entertainment for rural youth. Having discovered the presence of a large gathering of people (mainly female people!) - a carload of teenagers proceeded to drive up and down the road in front of the school no less than a dozen times. Lest we not notice their presence, they were thoughtful enough to alert us, using duck calls. Perhaps this is a local custom in Kansas. Perhaps teenagers are idiots everywhere. The hooligans were treated to Ron's high-powered spotlight, which, it seems, is not a teenager-deterrent. It did, however, work to draw more local youth, who arrived in a pickup truck. Yes, cars are indeed a rarity there. The two guys, one in a Bud Light shirt, and the other in a shirt that simply said "Rodeo" (and I suspect this did not refer to the Copeland symphony) got out and postured up the sidewalk toward us. Upon reaching the stoop, they stood there for a seemingly long time, with their arms crossed, looking for all the world like bouncers at a roadhouse. Finally, one drawled "Y'all live here?" To which Ron replied, without missing a beat, "Yeah, but I'm only married to these three." Ron is my hero.
Apparently a gathering of people signifies an invitation to the public in Harveyville. The two visitors soon summoned more of their ilk, which drove us inside. We retired to the gym with our projects, where we talked and laughed and knitted until way into the early hours.
Saturday brought more knitting, along with an abundance of excellent eating, drinking, giggling and fun. It also saw us embark on a mission to Topeka, for booze and tortillas. Marissa and I accompanied Amber, who braved the roadkill-riddled roads to get us to our appointed task. Topeka is an unfortunate place to have to go, and we were glad to get back to the happy coccoon of the school. Nikol made the endeavor well worth it however, with the astoundingly yummy enchiladas she whipped up on our return. More eating, laughing and drinking ensued.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the silent star of the weekend, Nikol's ancient pup Herman. Miss Herman was the most lovely hostess, seeing to it that we always knew where the food was, helping to untangle yarn, and generally providing love to all. She also does the cutest doggie trick ever - the stealth dog french. When you least expect it, she'll slip you the tongue. I suspect this is born of interest in whatever you may have just eaten, rather than a desire to be intimate. Although I would not tolerate such tongue-related behavior from most, Herman was such a lovely charmer that it was entirely adorable.
The weekend continued in this sublime vein until we all departed on Monday. The conversation, food and general atmosphere was never short of sublime. My recap here certainly does not do justice to the fantastic time I had. It was just so good to meet and spend time with all of the lovely ladies who were in attendance, as well as the two fine gentlemen. I had wonderful conversations and full-on hysterics with everyone. It was wonderful to get to know most of the ladies, and to spend time with those I already knew. Again, I can't imagine a lovelier group of people to spend the weekend with.
Since returning, I've been floating along in a state of bliss rather unatural for me. I was so inspired by everyone. It was such an experience to be around people who are really living life, doing things outside of the mundane existence. While I suppose anything would become mundane if repeated enough, I found inspiration in being around people who are open to the fun and magic that life has to offer. And every person there was an example of this. From Nikol and Ron who ventured out of the ordinary and bought schools in Kansas to turn into an artist retreat, to everyone else, who were all willing to jump in the car or on a plane to be a part of this weekend - every single person was a reminder that there is lots of stuff to do in life, and the regretable thing would be to miss it.
So thank you Nikol, for having us and for being such a lovely hostess and for making me a fat and happy piglet, and thank you to Sarah, Jenn, KellySue, Carolyn, Amber, Jen, Rebecca, Adrian and Marissa, for being such wonderful companions. It was the best.
As the title says - it really was the best weekend ever! I met up with Marissa and Sarah at the Kansas City airport. We then set out in our posh Cadillac for Harveyville, home of Nikol and her magical schools. After a few mishaps that I maintain were "short cuts," we found the schools and got the grand tour.
The schools are absolutely fantastic. Built in 1955, they have all the great architectural designs of the era. I'll get some pictures up at some point. There are lots of lovely wood built-in cabinets, one of which houses Nikol's mammoth yarn stash. There are tons of other fun details too, and we had fun exploring the nooks and crannies of the buildings.
Everyone else arrived as we were looking over Nikol's project designs. Everyone else included Jenn, Carolyn, Adrian, Amber, Rebecca, KellySue and Jen, who brought Brian to play with Ron, Nikol's man. I was meeting Adrian, Amber, Marissa, Rebecca, KellySue and Jen for the first time, and seeing Sarah, Carolyn, Jenn and Nikol again. It was an amazing group of fabulous women... I really can't imagine a more fun group to spend the weekend with.
When everyone had arrived, we ended up on the front porch for drinks and chatting, which brought the opportunity to meet the locals. At the risk of sounding terribly derrogatory, the locals in Harveyville, KS, are an exact charicature of what you would expect of rural yokels. Oh my. We were first schooled in the absolute dearth of entertainment for rural youth. Having discovered the presence of a large gathering of people (mainly female people!) - a carload of teenagers proceeded to drive up and down the road in front of the school no less than a dozen times. Lest we not notice their presence, they were thoughtful enough to alert us, using duck calls. Perhaps this is a local custom in Kansas. Perhaps teenagers are idiots everywhere. The hooligans were treated to Ron's high-powered spotlight, which, it seems, is not a teenager-deterrent. It did, however, work to draw more local youth, who arrived in a pickup truck. Yes, cars are indeed a rarity there. The two guys, one in a Bud Light shirt, and the other in a shirt that simply said "Rodeo" (and I suspect this did not refer to the Copeland symphony) got out and postured up the sidewalk toward us. Upon reaching the stoop, they stood there for a seemingly long time, with their arms crossed, looking for all the world like bouncers at a roadhouse. Finally, one drawled "Y'all live here?" To which Ron replied, without missing a beat, "Yeah, but I'm only married to these three." Ron is my hero.
Apparently a gathering of people signifies an invitation to the public in Harveyville. The two visitors soon summoned more of their ilk, which drove us inside. We retired to the gym with our projects, where we talked and laughed and knitted until way into the early hours.
Saturday brought more knitting, along with an abundance of excellent eating, drinking, giggling and fun. It also saw us embark on a mission to Topeka, for booze and tortillas. Marissa and I accompanied Amber, who braved the roadkill-riddled roads to get us to our appointed task. Topeka is an unfortunate place to have to go, and we were glad to get back to the happy coccoon of the school. Nikol made the endeavor well worth it however, with the astoundingly yummy enchiladas she whipped up on our return. More eating, laughing and drinking ensued.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the silent star of the weekend, Nikol's ancient pup Herman. Miss Herman was the most lovely hostess, seeing to it that we always knew where the food was, helping to untangle yarn, and generally providing love to all. She also does the cutest doggie trick ever - the stealth dog french. When you least expect it, she'll slip you the tongue. I suspect this is born of interest in whatever you may have just eaten, rather than a desire to be intimate. Although I would not tolerate such tongue-related behavior from most, Herman was such a lovely charmer that it was entirely adorable.
The weekend continued in this sublime vein until we all departed on Monday. The conversation, food and general atmosphere was never short of sublime. My recap here certainly does not do justice to the fantastic time I had. It was just so good to meet and spend time with all of the lovely ladies who were in attendance, as well as the two fine gentlemen. I had wonderful conversations and full-on hysterics with everyone. It was wonderful to get to know most of the ladies, and to spend time with those I already knew. Again, I can't imagine a lovelier group of people to spend the weekend with.
Since returning, I've been floating along in a state of bliss rather unatural for me. I was so inspired by everyone. It was such an experience to be around people who are really living life, doing things outside of the mundane existence. While I suppose anything would become mundane if repeated enough, I found inspiration in being around people who are open to the fun and magic that life has to offer. And every person there was an example of this. From Nikol and Ron who ventured out of the ordinary and bought schools in Kansas to turn into an artist retreat, to everyone else, who were all willing to jump in the car or on a plane to be a part of this weekend - every single person was a reminder that there is lots of stuff to do in life, and the regretable thing would be to miss it.
So thank you Nikol, for having us and for being such a lovely hostess and for making me a fat and happy piglet, and thank you to Sarah, Jenn, KellySue, Carolyn, Amber, Jen, Rebecca, Adrian and Marissa, for being such wonderful companions. It was the best.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
In other news
Not much has happened in the past week worth updating. I finished one sock, but haven't had much time for any other craftiness. I've been really busy keeping up with my teaching assistant position. It's going really well, and I adore my classes. The students are really great for the most part, and even the so-far unspectacular ones are way better than most. So, although it's time consuming in the biggest way, it's going really well. Yea!
H starts his new job tomorrow - another yea! He had this past week off and made much of his time. But now it is time to rejoin the working world (lest I really start pushing the housework thing!). Not only will this job free him of the EVIL that was his former supervisor, he is also now free of having to be at work at 7am. He has to be there at 9am! After 5 years of rising at 5:45am, I am giddy with this development! I can only think that this is a harbinger of very good things at the new job.
The other biggest thing in my life right now is my upcoming trip to Kansas! Although this may not be something that most would get their panties in a twist about, I am over the moon! A friend has written a knitting patterns book, and a bunch of us are converging upon her converted school-home for a weekend of testing knitting patterns and general girly fun. It should be the best time... I absolutely can't wait!
H starts his new job tomorrow - another yea! He had this past week off and made much of his time. But now it is time to rejoin the working world (lest I really start pushing the housework thing!). Not only will this job free him of the EVIL that was his former supervisor, he is also now free of having to be at work at 7am. He has to be there at 9am! After 5 years of rising at 5:45am, I am giddy with this development! I can only think that this is a harbinger of very good things at the new job.
The other biggest thing in my life right now is my upcoming trip to Kansas! Although this may not be something that most would get their panties in a twist about, I am over the moon! A friend has written a knitting patterns book, and a bunch of us are converging upon her converted school-home for a weekend of testing knitting patterns and general girly fun. It should be the best time... I absolutely can't wait!
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Stash from the Fest
It's now been a week since I went to the Flock and Fiber fest in Oregon, and I have finally taken pictures of the treasures procured there.
This is a "mystery batt" of various fibers. It has very soft shading to it, and will be nice to mix in with other fiber, or make some very humble yarn with.
This is sheep wool, dyed a lovely red with steaks of greens and blues. I'm envisioning mittens, perhaps.
These two lovelies are merino/tencel blends. I couldn't resist the colors, and they feel wonderful.
This is some natural yak's wool. It is so much softer than you can imagine. I thought yak would be coarse, but it's very fluffy and soft. I only got a little bit to play with - I should have bought more!
And this is a cotton/hemp blend. I was interested in spinning some plant fibers, so I got just a wee bit to try out.
Though it doesn't look like much, this will keep me plenty busy! And though I certainly didn't NEED it, I came across some unbelievably soft baby camel fiber at Weaving Works today and just couldn't resist that either. So I got some to toss into the mix. Stay tuned for LOTS of forthcoming yarn!
In related news, I finished spinning the fiber that Sarah dyed and gave me. It came out so much nicer than my green crap. What a difference the original fiber makes! I will take pictures of that once I have washed it and made it all nice and bouncy.
This is a "mystery batt" of various fibers. It has very soft shading to it, and will be nice to mix in with other fiber, or make some very humble yarn with.
This is sheep wool, dyed a lovely red with steaks of greens and blues. I'm envisioning mittens, perhaps. 
These two lovelies are merino/tencel blends. I couldn't resist the colors, and they feel wonderful.
This is some natural yak's wool. It is so much softer than you can imagine. I thought yak would be coarse, but it's very fluffy and soft. I only got a little bit to play with - I should have bought more!
And this is a cotton/hemp blend. I was interested in spinning some plant fibers, so I got just a wee bit to try out.Though it doesn't look like much, this will keep me plenty busy! And though I certainly didn't NEED it, I came across some unbelievably soft baby camel fiber at Weaving Works today and just couldn't resist that either. So I got some to toss into the mix. Stay tuned for LOTS of forthcoming yarn!
In related news, I finished spinning the fiber that Sarah dyed and gave me. It came out so much nicer than my green crap. What a difference the original fiber makes! I will take pictures of that once I have washed it and made it all nice and bouncy.
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