Dang It, Dog. We Got This. Even Though You Continue To Give Me the Furry Shoulder.

I don't know why Glamis the Wonder Dog is acting all miserable and such; after all, I started my morning after an 11-hour sleep (I needed it) by taking her for a 4-mile walk. Yes, I then left her for the office, but when I got home, we wrestled with her favorite sock toy for a while and (evidence is here) she now has a cover for the furniture, so she's also back onto it (a compromise so she can get to the bay window to soak in the sun while the Christmas tree is up).

I'm back at it. I have my last two classes this week and the writing is coming in (the final projects and all the Oh-My-God-Dr. Crandall-I-Forgot-To-Submit work that sneaks its way in).

I am okay with this. I am at a location for where I am the evil empire assigning, but Chitunga is a senior in college receiving. He and I went back and forth on last-minute, end-of-the-semester stress and I have to say: he wins! He's taking a postmodern philosophy course and sent me a copy of his final reading assignment. I read it and was like, "I think I understood 1/4th of the point in the article." Seriously, postmodernists make up language and scribe it in a way that is nearly impossible to comprehend. My theory on this is that some are justifying their careers by assigning writing that points out the simplest truths in the most complicated ways. It is truly awful writing and as esoteric as it gets.

That's his problem, however. I've been there and done that. I'm proud of him for always taking the classes that are named by LeMoyne students as the hardest ones. He doesn't shy away from challenges.

So, last night began the grading bonanza. I did as much as I could (hence the furry dog shoulder). I will awake this morning to do even more, having to block out a chunk of time to get ready for a workshop with 45 7th graders on Wednesday.

As for the holiday season around the corner, I will improvise. Typically, I'm on top of my shopping game, but this year I'm a little lost as to what to do. I haven't even begun to think about what might work (except for A Flake Like Mike and A Cracker For Dave, the Crandall holiday tradition: that's a priority, to the chagrin of my sisters).

From today onward, we enter the hold your breath phase of the semester (perhaps coined by Dr. Beth Boquet or Sonya Huber). Academic calendars are fickle beasts and the BIG work comes in the last weeks of school. That is the nature of the beast.

On a good note...Abu and I will be presenting with Beth Boquet at NCTEAR in Alabama this February, and I just learned that Dr. Marcelle Haddix will be there, too. This is magic and joy. Syracuse and Fairfield unite! Go, Dr. Tonya Perry who is making this happen!