October 21

The usual mishegoss

1978

What matters is the quality of each passing day, down to the most mundane details: comfortable clothing, nourishing food, and pleasant surroundings. I don’t mean luxury, just “enough”.

1986

Mom’s weekend with us was tiring but in some ways an improvement. On the down side, she talked incessantly about (a) taking her back to her apartment and leaving her there or (b) not taking her back to Spring Grove. I was not about to do either, but five minutes later she would plead again. We did, however, go out shopping and managed to get a few things, though she was tremendously negative and indecisive. She also called Spellman House about moving there and helped me with the laundry, etc. It would have been fairly pleasant except for the “broken record”. But she did go back to Spring Grove, and I didn’t have to drag her. We discussed her coming again this coming weekend. This is playing havoc with my work. I had to take two days away from the office, and got hardly anything done.. Oh, well. It will pass.

I wish my sinuses would dry up. By the way, I woke up at 2:30 AM. Now it’s after 4. Ho-hum.

1993

Halfway through the semester, and I have two good classes (Material Culture and Childhood in American Culture) and one that’s not working yet (my Diversity class). Part of it is them - many, too many, do not do the readings and sit just there while a few people discuss. But the real problem is that it’s a new course and it’s just not right yet.

1997

A good start to the day. Kiddo 1 was up on time and we made an unhurried exit. I don’t have to be in my office until lunch time, so I enjoyed a good workout and a long meditation. It’s not even 10 AM yet.

Scouts were excellent last night. We had a brief business meeting and some good discussions. Truly fine. AT is coming out of her shell more, and told me she would like to go to college. It was a really wonderful, energizing meeting! Really gave me a boost, just when I was feeling rather burnt out.

Comment 2023

I started my Girl Scout leader career when Kiddo 1 was not quite six (1988), as Cookie Mom for her Brownie troop. The next year I was the leader, and stayed with the same bunch until the last ones graduated from high school in 2000. Watching them all grow up was unbelievably rewarding. As a college professor, I usually saw students for a semester or two, and then - Poof! - gone. But taking a couple dozen girls from first grade to young adulthood - priceless.

2006

Skipping that conference turned out to be the swellest idea ever. I didn’t work out or swim (note to self: next time ditch the fitness gear) but I did:

Read the chapters in Friedman
Catch up on my email and commenting on student journals
Watch a movie
Plan a retreat for tomorrow
Finished early enough to do some TAX-FREE shopping (yay, Delaware!)
Had a nice walk in the fresh air
Did a much-needed project review

The project review was by far my major accomplishment. While I was doing it, I realized why I am feeling so stressed: I AM DOING TOO MUCH.

Hopefully, this will be a step toward a smoother few weeks ahead.

Switching to Blackboard has been a major headache. I wish I had the time to do a feature by feature comparison, but I don’t. 

Next escape: Rehoboth? Harper’s Ferry? Williamsburg?

Comment 2023

Does anyone hate Blackboard more than I do? I doubt it.

2024

This was so much fun! I end up looking a score of pictures of rhinoceros eyes, and they are so beautiful and varied. For the final drawing, I used the “upside down” technique I learned a couple of weeks ago.

Inktober 2024 day 21 rhinoceros.