Dream to Excel

When the alarm went off this morning, I awoke from a dream in which I was cutting and pasting student records in Excel.

Help me.

Dreams and memories

I awoke this morning from a vivid dream in which I'd been playing with my dog. In reality, she died while I was away at college as an undergraduate. It was nice to spend time with her this morning, but I really missed her when I woke up. I rummaged through some old photos this afternoon, and they brought back memories of my dog and the house I grew up in. That house also went away when I was an undergrad; my parents sold the home after Spring Break my freshman year. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to the only house I'd ever lived in; I didn't know when I walked out the door at the end of break that they were going to sell. But in my dreams, when I think I'm at "home", it's still that house.

Here is Muffin (named for her toasty brown color) in one of her favorite spots, a grungy old rocking chair. Will ya take a look at that shag carpet?

She also loved to sun herself in the backyard. My mom spent a lot of time gardening, and in the center of this photo, you can see the roses (Sutter's Gold, I believe) that made orange roses my favorite.

Muffin loved to look out the door. I think meerkats remind me of her in this stance. And, my gods, I grew up in the stereotypical 70s household. Wood paneling! Slipcovers! Shag carpets! You can even catch a hint of the humongous console TV off to the left . You can also see the mantel where the stockings were hung with care and glimpse the tree I used to climb.

And this picture is just to prove to Kirsten that I have legs!

For what ails ya

Nothing is quite like a quiet beach at sunset.

2007 Review of Books

This year, I only read 28 books. That may be my lowest total for any year in my entire life. I guess searching for a job, moving to another state, and starting a new job had an impact on my reading. Oh, let's be honest... extraneous web-surfing and obsessive watching of Battlestar Galactica DVDs had an effect, too. I'm hoping to read much more this year, but let's take a look at the best of last year first:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling - this is a no-brainer. I cannot remember the last time I so eagerly awaited the publication of a book. I only regret that we did not spend more time with Snape. Ah, Snape... love the character, love Alan Rickman and envisioning him while I read...Snape....
• Old Man's War - John Scalzi - I really enjoyed every aspect of this book: the universe, the characters, the writing. I look forward to spending more time in Scalzi's world.
• The Thief; The Queen of Attolia; The King of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner - these books are found in the YA section of your local bookseller, but they're great books no matter what age you are. I was told that they were good, but they were spectacular. Of all the books I read this year, these are the ones I give the highest recommendation to you to read, if you haven't already. Now if we could just convince Turner to write faster! The books may not demand sequels, but I'm not ready to let go of the world and the characters yet!

Here's to great reading in 2008!

Conned

Greg and I returned from Austin yesterday. It was a good trip, a nice mixture of work and vacation. Now I'm feeling a bit of post-con letdown. Yes, I know it was a "conference", not a "convention", but it rather serves the same purpose for me. I saw many people I haven't seen in months, if not years. It felt good. But it also feels good to be home.

Austin - day 1(.5)

Greg and I flew into Austin yesterday, after a slight weather delay in Phoenix (of all places). I finally got to meet Maureen and her husband Bob, who generously treated us to Texas BBQ. A wonderful way to start our Texas working vacation.

Today was the first full day of the AAS Meeting. My presentation was today, so I can relax the rest of the week. Today went by in a blur: saw an astronaut, saw a Nobel Prize winner, attended a speech by the NASA administrator, shook hands with a NASA director, chatted with old grad school friends, got a hug from an old prof, cheered on many former TAs, judged student posters for a prize, and listened to two current grad students vent their frustrations for about 45 min (each - I think they're ready to graduate).

We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Weather

As in "Enjoying the Weather" - 2008 started just like 2007 ended: clear and sunny. That worked out nicely, as dear David was visiting from Switzerland. It would have been cruel if he didn't have sun shine upon his trip. Here are some recent pics:

Greg and David in Ocean Beach.

Views from Bird Rock:

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As in "Under the Weather" - I've been battling allergies or a cold or something. Slight earache, slight sore throat... just enough to make me feel blah. Of course, it isn't like I have to prepare for a conference or anything. Or want to be healthy to get on a flight on Monday. Oh, wait....

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As in "Stormy Weather" - It's gloriously gray and gloomy this weekend, though. Coziness-inducing. Mmm... maybe it's time for curative cocoa.

Privileged

Stolen from a lot of people, this meme is based on the work of Dr. Will Barratt, apparently.

Bold (with asterisks to help it show up)for what applies; italics for what might apply.

1. Father went to college

2. Father finished college

3. Mother went to college

4. Mother finished college

5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.

My ex -brother-in-law was an attorney - does that count?

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers

Dr. Barrett's Measure of Social Status rates firemen lower than high school teachers, so no.

**7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home

**9. Were read children's books by a parent

**10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18

Ballet, for two years

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively

Let's see... I was considered fat even though I was the ideal weight for my height. And women with Ph.Ds in physics abound in the media, eh?

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college cost.

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs.

16. Went to a private high school

**17. Went to summer camp

Two summers, mandatory for high school marching band. I know some of the cost was ameliorated by fundraisers.

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18

**19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels

Sometimes even something as high class as a Best Western!

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18

Most new, but some was made by hand or were hand-me-downs

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them

My parents did not buy a car for me, nor my siblings.

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child

I remember one painting - original or not, I don't know.

**23. You and your family lived in a single family house

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home

I don't consider someone to "own" a home until the mortgage is paid off, so no.

**25. You had your own room as a child.

Yes, once my sister moved out (when I was around 4).

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18

27. Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course

28. Had your own TV in your room in High School

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 18

31. Went on a cruise with your family

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

I grew up in California, so heating bills isn't quite an accurate measure. I do recall how much time my parents spent at the dining room table once each month doing the bills, though.

Happy New Year!

It's 2008. How weird does that sound? Plenty weird.

My major goal for 2007 was to find a job and move back to California. As I now live in San Diego, I think I'll consider 2007 to be a success. My goals for 2008 are a bit more modest:

• To lose the weight I gained during 2007.
• To take another long road trip.
• To reclaim time for myself. (This will likely be the tricky one.)

Here's to hoping we all have a wonderful 2008!

And some chocolate

Today started off with a breakfast featuring these fresh-baked cinnamon rolls:

(Yes, I'm having a good baking week. )

And then there were many presents. I received chocolate and books and chocolate and a CD and chocolate and clothes and chocolate and kitchen supplies and chocolate and gift cards and chocolate and a necklace and chocolate. Spent the rest of the day watching basketball, cooking dinner, and having a cozy evening with Greg. Just perfect! I hope you had as wonderful and bountiful a holiday as I did.

Happy Holidays!

I hope you all have joy and beauty in your life.

From Astronomy Picture of the Day and The World at Night:

37

Today is my 37th birthday. I had a great day. Greg took me out to breakfast and then on a mini-spree at Mysterious Galaxy. In the afternoon, we walked around tide pools exposed by one of the lowest tides of the year. (Thanks to Voidmonster for pointing that out!)

From San Diego - D...

From San Diego - D...

From San Diego - D...

Then there was mexican food for dinner and the opening of presents: books, gift cards, jewelry, gym gear... I'm a spoiled brat! And now, a cozy evening at home wrapped up with LOTR and this cake. Lucky me! Thanks, everyone!

From San Diego - D...

Done

Well, the first semester at my new college is over. The exams, the grading, the paperwork... all done. Some perspectives from the new job:

• Teaching in the city sounds very different from teaching in the suburbs. Really. In my office, I hear sirens and construction and traffic all day long.
• The leaves turn pretty colors here. There weren't any leaves at the previous campus, unless you count cactus spines.
• The new colleagues are nice.
• The administration here seems more "student-centered" than "administration-centered" to the point where I've seen deans help students with minor paperwork and the president fetch a piece of needed equipment. Nice change.
• Community college faculty and staff everywhere seem devoted to helping students get through the semester. Deaths in the family, work schedule changes, losing jobs, children getting sick... students have so much going on in their lives, and there is a whole structure here to support them. There are campus health services, as well as mental health services, provided. The trick is getting the students the help they need.
• We'll see how the trend emerges in subsequent semesters, but the students at my previous school seemed more scientifically literate than here. And that's a horrifying thought.
• Love my new students, though.
• The weather is better. ;)

Now to do my Christmas shopping for Greg! Let's see... what to get him... hmm?

Good Job

A few of my astronomy students told me that they've decided that they want me to teach all of their classes. Another astro student says that it was his favorite class ever. And one of my physics students, whom I talked into staying in the class after a disappointing first midterm, earned an A in the course.

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the right job.

Top kicker

Sadly, it isn't often that student athletes show up in physics classes. That's why I'm so excited that one of my best students from last spring was named the nation's top kicker. If I recall correctly, he wrote a paper on the physics of kicking for my class. ;)

Congratulations, Thomas!

Feasting

Greg's parents kindly take us out for Thanksgiving dinner every year. However, that doesn't allow for leftovers! So, today I made our belated Thanksgiving meal: ham, cranberry sauce, dressing, peas au gratin, scalloped corn, and rolls. Sure, it took a few hours, but I won't have to cook again for days! And, because whole milk was called for in one of the recipes, I had hot cocoa made with whole milk for dessert. Mmm... decadence.

It rained all day Friday, a pleasant change. On Saturday, clouds still filled the sky.

From San Diego - D...

Today, it was all blue and sparkly.

From San Diego - D...

Sounds

I woke up to the sound of rain. I shall go to sleep to the sound of rain. It's one of my favorite sounds.

Speaking of sounds, my office is next to the men's restroom, and something (I think it's the door) sounds like a TIE fighter screaming over the Death Star. I hear this all day long. Makes me twitch. Sometimes life is very strange.

I'll concentrate on the soothing rain now.

Musings during an exam

One of my students is wearing an Arizona State sweatshirt. I was very confused about my location for awhile.

So often we complain about "kids these days", but I've found that their parents are equally, if not more, irresponsible. For example, I have a student missing the quiz today because her parents decided to surprise her with a trip for her birthday. I've had parents phone their students during class and, in one case, I actually grabbed the phone and scolded the mother (a repeat offender who was afraid her daughter was lying about her whereabouts). In one instance of a power struggle during a divorce, I've had a father hide a daughter's shoes and car keys in an attempt to keep her at home. (She showed up to class in slippers.) I also had to write letters to her father stating that she had to be in class on particular dates when he wanted her to go on family trips. Parents regularly schedule flights home for break as early as possible (gotta get the good rates!), and pay no attention to students' final exam schedules. If you think the students are pulling scams, I've seen them in tears in my office because their profs won't reschedule exams and their parents don't want to eat the fees from the airlines. So for all my friends with kids, remember that responsibility does begin at home and that you want your kids to become independent adults with their own lives, even if you're still helping them pay for school. And paying for their schooling does not give you control over their lives or their professors.

The student I made the deal with remembered to bring a scantron and a pencil today. Unfortunately it looks like he forgot to study. However, chocolate chip cookies for everyone during the final quiz!

I hear them calling my name

Argh! There are fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies cooling on the kitchen counter. But my kitchen is so small that I need all that counter space! Gotta do something about those cookies then. What to do... what to do? ;)

We'll see how many are left to give to Greg's folks tomorrow.

Short Week

For reasons that aren't entirely clear to me, classes only met on Monday this week. I'm not complaining. With my first day off, I had breakfast with Greg at a coffee house by the sea and chatted briefly with a student there. Then I wrote two quizzes. Got a haircut. Did some grocery shopping at Trader Joes, where I was amused by the number of people FREAKING OUT because they sold out of turkeys yesterday. Corresponded with distant TAs. Corresponded with distant former students. Made dinner. Kind of a mellow day. I feel restless, though. Like there is something I should be doing that I haven't done. Gosh, I hope it isn't important!