Oh, a day off during Easter Break. Feels great.
So, I officially took yesterday off from work. It felt sooooooooooooooo good.
The main chunk of my day was visiting school where I did my post-doc. I had a Dr’s appointment there (yearly checkup for dermatology), and since I was in the area, I got together with a friend that I haven’t seen this school year. She took the same class that I’d taken with Preparing Future Faculty. So, it was good to swap teaching stories. She is also looking for post-docs and getting her thesis finished. So, that was good to hear.
I also stopped by my old lab and had a quick 45 min chat with my good friend there. We’ve also had trouble getting together this semester. My weekends are just too filled with frantically preparing for upcoming lectures this semester, and when I had time on Spring Break and then this break, she has had family visiting. It was good to see her too. I look forward to spending the day with her in May when classes are over and I’m on my short break before summer research starts.
Other than that, I did some Wii fit and caught up on my Dancing with the Stars. 
HB is on a special project right now – I can’t talk about it – which means he is pretty much gone 4-5 weekdays. It is a little weird having him gone so much, but we are managing. And it is right career move for him. High profile but VERY high risk.
Let’s face it, we are both overachievers/perfectionists and workaholics, so our schedules mesh pretty well right now.
Okay, now it is time to face the exam grading that I didn’t do yesterday. They are looking pretty good right now. I’m a bit worried that the exam was too easy….
…. but how do I know if it is too easy, or if I did my job teaching and the students learned the material really well? This is the problem with having a departmental goal of having a class average of a C for Intro Bio courses. It is “acceptable” to have a B average for an upper division. I’m just hoping I don’t get in trouble if my Intro Bio average is too high this semester.
*sigh*
I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Oh, and on a flower note: I bought some purple tulips yesterday. So, look for some photos on Easter. I will definitely take enough of a break this weekend to get some close-ups. And now that I’ve told you about it, I’ll actually get it done. 
Squirl says:
I”m glad you got a chance to do some visiting. I’m sorry that you and HB aren’t seeing each other much during the week. I know I need to get used to that, but it still sucks.
Can you reuse the tests and lab work if you teach the same courses again? Maybe you won’t have to do so much work after this.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Looking forward to the flower pictures.
Danielle says:
It will definitely be easier next year for me Spring semester, because I’ll be back to teaching 2 lecture sections of the same course. And I won’t have the course where I have to write the lab manual, set up the labs, and grade all of the lab reports.
Instead, for lab, I’ll be back to having someone else deal with the manual, the set-up, and most of the grading.
That is what is keeping me going right now – the knowledge that it will be easier next year.
Mindy says:
Teaching, in general, was way easier the second year! Of course, I was at the other end of the spectrum, but I still think the structure is the same… just different material. As for the grading… YIKES!!! I have never understood the logic of having a goal for the class average of a certain grade. As teachers, shouldn’t we want all of our students to master the material presented? Just my opinion… Take it or leave it… My last principal left it…
I have to say you’ve peaked my curiosity. I know you can’t say what you’re hubby is doing, but can you clue me in to what line of work he’s in? Hmmm… Sounds very prestigious… Since I’ve been at home with my boys, my hubby has been working ridiculously long twelve hour shifts, five days a week. It’s not easy. Is it?
One other thing I noticed that we have in common…. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE “Dancing with the Stars”. Who are your faves this season? I’m also a “So You Think You Can Dance” Fan. I was green with envy when I saw you caught up with the tour!!!
Mindy says:
Uggh… I hate it when I typo stuff that I post! Should’ve been… I know you can’t say what YOUR hubby is doing,…
One final thought… I can’t wait to see your new flower pics. Purple is my favorite color, and tulips are my favorite flower. Perfect choice…
kalki says:
Your husband is a spy, I just know it.
Danielle says:
I’ll share that with him Kalki.
He’ll like it.
Funny thing along those lines, these 2 guys who knew HB peripherally at our 5 year (or was it 2?) high school class reunion were convinced he was in the FBI or CIA. hehehe
Jenski says:
I hope HB’s special project is going well and that your grading is done.