December 17: Drew Nigh, Low in the Sky, Final Grading

It was nearly six o'clock, but only grey imperfect misty dawn, when we drew nigh the wharf . . .

It is nigh 4:30 in the afternoon, and the sun is already low in the sky as I draw close to being done with grading for the semester.  Two stacks of papers left.  They're sitting at my feet right now, waiting the attention of my red pen.  Once I am done with them, all I have left to do is the math.  Lots of totaling.

So, you will forgive me if this is yet again an abbreviated post without much introspection.  I don't have time for introspection right now.  My goal is to have the first stack of papers done by the time I have to leave for my daughter's Christmas choral concert tonight.  That will leave the second stack for when I return home.

I think this is the latest that I have ever graded at the end of a semester in a very long while.  Usually, I'm pretty much done several days in advance of when final grades are due.  I'm reaching the exhaustion stage of this whole process.

Now, I must return to the red pen . . .

Saint Marty will see you on the other side.  Hopefully.

November 19: "Carol" Dip Monday, Classes for Next Semester, Hope

I have to make a phone call to the head of the English Department at the university this morning.  He sent me an e-mail about classes for next semester.  I'm hoping for another two sections of Introduction to Film.  However, I am a pessimist.  So, I am preparing for the worst.  I'm not exactly sure what the worst would be.  Perhaps Technical and Report Writing.  That is not an exciting class.  It's a good class.  Very useful.  It may even be the most useful writing class offered by the English Department.  However, having taught it many semesters in a row, I have burned out a little on resumes and cover letters and progress reports and proposals.

Plus, I've been a little spoiled the last few semesters.  Introduction to Mythology.  Good Books.  Introduction to Film.  I have had it good.  I can't remember the last time I've had to grade a paper.  I understand why the full-time professors avoid composition classes like herpes.  They are simply no fun compared to sexier subjects like film and poetry and fiction.

My question for Carol Dip Monday should be pretty obvious:

Will I be offered Good Books or Mythology or Film classes to teach next semester?

And the answer from Chuck Dickens is:

When he roused himself from his thoughtful quest, he fancied from the turn of the hand, and its situation in reference to himself, that the Unseen Eyes were looking at him keenly.  It made him shudder, and feel very cold.

Wow, that's not a very hopeful answer.  In fact, there is no hope in that little passage at all.  Unseen Eyes.  Shuddering.  Coldness.  That pretty much describes teaching Tech Writing.

Saint Marty better dust off his red pen.

I hope it hasn't dried up