March 14: Daylight Saving Time, Mona Van Duyn, "Letter From a Father"

I just discovered that the Mona Van Duyn poem I posted last night was only the first section.  There are actually six parts to "Letter From a Father."  So, I will be posting a new section from now until Saturday.

Long day, and I still have a lesson plan and quiz to put together for teaching tomorrow.  Time just got away from me today.  And I'm still adjusting to having one less hour of sleep this week.

Marty is one tired saint tonight.

Letter From a Father

by:  Mona Van Duyn

II.

We enjoyed your visit, it was nice of you to bring
the feeder but a terrible waste of your money
for that big bag of feed since we won’t be living
more than a few weeks long. We can see
them good from where we sit, big ones and little ones
but you know when I farmed I used to like to hunt
and we had many a good meal from pigeons
and quail and pheasant but these birds won’t
be good for nothing and are dirty to have so near
the house. Mother likes the redbirds though.
My bad knee is so sore and I can’t hardly hear
and Mother says she is hoarse form yelling but I know
it’s too late for a hearing aid. I belch up all the time
and have a sour mouth and of course with my heart
it’s no use to go to a doctor. Mother is the same.
Has a scab she thinks is going to turn to a wart.

December 5: Turkey's In the Oven

My daughter's favorite

I just spoke with my wife.  We're having a Jennie-O turkey loaf for dinner tonight, since it's my daughter's favorite.  If my daughter has any say in it, we'll also be serving mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn.  It's her birthday.  She gets what she wants.  It's only fair.

This afternoon, I tried to administer an online course evaluation for my Good Books class.  I'd done all the prep work.  I e-mailed my students the link, including the course number.  I primed them with all the instructions.  It was going great, and then each and every student told me they couldn't log into the evaluation.  Well, I made an emergency call to the English department secretary who created the system and evaluation.  Turns out my Good Books class was somehow overlooked in entering the correct data.  Bottom line:  I couldn't do my evaluations today.

I think technology is wonderful at times.  I have a blog.  That proves I'm not a techno-phobe.  At other times, however, technology just seems to complicate a process that was working just fine.  The bubble sheets with the fill-in-the-dot answers and number two Ticonderogas are just fine with me.  Now, before I give my exam on Wednesday, I have to do my evaluations.  Not working that smoothly for me.  Still wouldn't turn down an iPad for Christmas, though.

Now, I have to get my Mythology final exam put together.  It took me almost three hours to do my Good Books final.  In addition to the Mythology final, I have to create a Mythology quiz for tomorrow, as well.  It's going to be a long night.

Saint Marty needs a vacation.