Cousins

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Finals: Day Four

Colds, distress, fatigue, and frayed nerves replaced the lighthearted joviality that Monday's students exhibited.

One of my students came prepared for any eventuality.

Tests for me to grade!

Goodbye, Room 204! See you next semester.

Quotation of the Day

"When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt back your head and laugh at the sky." 

~Buddha   .

One of the best compliments I ever received was when Dr. Tsui thought I was Buddhist. I do love Buddhism, though.

Vegan Pizza Night

Faux pepperoni, Daiya mozzarella-style cheese, basic tomato sauce, and store-bought crust

First Day of Finals

We have finals this week. In one of my classes, the students are giving presentations, but in my two sections of OB, we are having a traditional final. One section took their final Monday, the other is scheduled for Thursday. This has created a scheduling nightmare since students don't understand why they can't easily take the exam with the other section. (The primary reasons are fairness and fire codes.)

Now that I am done with my own schooling, I rarely have those anxiety dreams where I find out that I have to take a final exam for a class I've forgotten to attend all semester, but I do have different school related anxiety dreams. The night before last, I dreamed I didn't have enough copies of the exam for the students.

The final yesterday was late in the day --4:30-7:00--and the students were very funny before the exam began, as you can see in the pictures. Shouldn't they be fretful and sad right before a final? ; ) We all had an awkward moment when a bewildered and rather panicked young woman came into the classroom. Her class usually meets in at room at 5:25, but everything is moved in time and space during finals. At first, I thought she was confused about the schedule. "You know, it's finals week, right?" It was clear she wasn't going to leave until I helped her, but I had very little information to go on. I tried to encourage her to find a computer; instead, she decided to share with me the saga of the scheduling snafus related to her class's final. Luckily, some students in the atrium were able to assist. Meanwhile, the fun and games from my students devolved into scowls and boos.

The end of the semester always comes with mixed feelings. Like the students, I feel relief that we've completed the term and are heading into a break, but I am often sad to say goodbye to my students, and it's particularly true with this group.

a "lucky exam" shirt

having too much fun!

Julie and Katie

Yesterday, we went to Eileen's for a holiday party. Her girls, Julie and Katie (Welsh Springer Spaniels) are adorable! They are the only attendees who would allow me to photograph them! ; )

Eco-Avenger!

My Liberal Identity

You are an Eco-Avenger, also known as an environmentalist or tree hugger. You believe in saving the planet from the clutches of air-fouling, oil-drilling, earth-raping conservative fossil fools.

Take the quiz at
About.com Political Humor

Bath Time!

Walter had a bath yesterday.