Final exam...

28 April 2014: Today I gave a final exam to one of my sections of ENGL 204. The last student to finish is a young woman who has been kind of quiet all semester, but was definitely engaged. I could tell--at least I thought I could tell--that she was enjoying the class and getting something out of it. At least that's what I hoped. As she handed in her exam and got her things together, I told her that I hoped she had a good break. She stopped and said some lovely things about the class. She didn't need to say them (this wasn't flattery to get a good grade) but man, did they make a difference to me. Just a small gesture on her part, maybe, but it meant so much.

Spring in the yard

27 April 2014: I spent most of today inside grading papers, which kind of stinks, but I did get some joy from seeing this pretty tree blooming outside.

I'm also fond of this patch of tulips by the mailbox. I don't remember planting the yellow ones in the fall, though of course I know I did. They sprung up like a pleasant surprise. I don't even mind the dandelions that are everywhere. They complement the tulips nicely.

Fancy dinners at school...

26 April 2014: As part of my duties as a member of the SU Foundation Board of Directors, I get invited to the McMurran Society dinner held every year, honoring people who have remembered Shepherd in their estate plans or are sponsors of named awards/scholarships. I had the opportunity to sit at a table with some wonderful people. I won't go into the specifics of their connection to the school, but will say that not very long ago, they lost a family member who was quite young and have established a scholarship in her memory. They were wonderful people: friendly, kind, and funny. It always moves me to meet people who have had such a tragic loss yet go on with such grace.

To Kill a Mockingbird

25 April 2014: The folks at the Shepherdstown Film Society invited me to be introduce and lead a post-film discussion of their last show of the year, To Kill a Mockingbird. I've lead discussions for the Film Society before and it's always fun and interesting, though I confess to always being just a bit nervous beforehand--afraid someone will ask some intricate film-studies kind of question. Really, though, once people get talking, the job of leading a discussion isn't that different from what I get to do in the classroom on a good day: listen, answer some questions, pose some more questions, and help people think about important issues. It was a nice way to end a long week.

Capstones

24 April 2014: Thursday night, we had our department's last set of Senior Capstone presentations. We have twenty students this semester and all twenty did a fine job presenting their work. This week was long and tiring, but it's hard not to be thankful for a chance to see our students grow, mature, and complete senior-level work they can be proud of. It's a wonderful part of my job.

"Take the love you have for me and spread it around'"

23 April 2014: This video from the guy behind "Humans of New York" is so lovely.

Dinner with my "work husband"

22 April 2014: [Here comes another "just what I needed" post.] This week is kicking my butt (as did the week before). There just aren't enough hours in the day and I find myself cranky and impatient with those who are not stepping up the way they need to (yeah, I mean students--lots of them...not a majority, but a pretty noisy minority). I feel myself carrying all this tension and anxiety.

Yesterday, at the end of a long day at school, Tim, my "work husband," asked if I wanted to grab some dinner. I can't say enough about how lucky I am to have a friend like Tim in my life. And yeah, having dinner with him last night was just what I needed.

Late afternoon conference, Part II

21 April 2014: Remember the student from this post? He came back again on Monday to talk about another set of papers. He's done this all semester long. They still aren't where he or I want them to be, but darn it if he doesn't keep pushing and working. In a week where I've spent way too much time grading and dealing with students who are angry or flummoxed or just unhappy about their grades--students to whom I want to say, "And how come you didn't worry this much BEFORE you handed it in?"--it does my heart good to work with students like this guy.

"Easter Vision"

21 April 2014: This video is terrific. Give it a look!

Holy Saturday

19 April 2014: Even when I was a kid, I would struggle a bit about how to feel/act on Holy Saturday. It's a day that has always felt like it was filled with two diametrically opposed sets of feelings: the somber reflectiveness of Good Friday and the joyous anticipation of Easter. As a child, I can remember feeling that I still ought to be filled with "Good Friday" thoughts, but couldn't help being excited for Easter the next day. For me then, of course, Easter also meant hanging out at my cousins' house, Easter egg hunts, and candy--and that made the anticipation even more exciting--not quite Christmas-Eve-levels of excitement, but you get the idea...

This week I've found myself thinking a lot about the Holy Weeks of my youth, a youth spent in religious schools that taught me so much about myself, my faith, and my values. Even today I have vivid recollections of Holy Week chapel services--songs, verses, sermons that I still remember, that moved me so deeply when I was just a kid. So today something that I am quite thankful for are those times at church and school. I feel so very blessed to have grown up immersed in those worlds.

Good Friday

18 April 2014: Matthew 27: 45-54
"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elijah. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God."

First mow of the year

17 April 2014: Today I mowed the lawn for the first time this year. Now I am not going to over-romanticize the task, especially when the darn mower got stopped up a bunch of times (long, kind of wet grass). But here's what I am thankful for: that the weather was nice enough (if a bit cold), that spring is here, that the mower started and worked, that I had time to do it, that I am healthy enough to do it, and that I've got a home of my own to take care of. I am, in so many ways, a lucky person.

Double-header

16 April 2014: Coming home from work and watching the Yankees win the second game of a double-header (after winning the first game, too) was a sweet way to end the day.

"Major look!"

15 April 2014: I had dinner with some of my family the other night, including my nephew who uttered the malapropism I am using as my post title--when he meant to say "Made you look!" The kid makes me smile, as does his sister. The evening ended with the three of us enjoying a kitchen dance party to a Frozen/Sound of Music/Elvis/Beatles playlist.

Favorite tree

14 April 2014: My sister, her kids, and my parents are in town today and they stopped by campus this afternoon. Tara snapped pictures of my favorite tree on campus, which is now in full bloom. Every year, this tree makes me happy and thankful for spring.

Alumni Weekend, Part Three

13 April 2014: Sunday meant saying goodbye and heading home, but not before our traditional lunch at the Homeplace. (Group picture to follow, maybe? I don't have one, but maybe someone else from the group does?)

Alumni Weekend, Part Two

12 April 2014: Some of my best friends, their terrific kids, and a baseball game? What could be better?

Alumni Weekend, Part One

11 April 2014: When you have an awesome weekend with some of the best friends you could ask for, you also find yourself with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to "what you are thankful for" posts. So here and now, with a couple of days distance, I'll just pick what comes to my mind first for each day of my visit back to Roanoke College for my 15-year reunion.

For Friday, I'll pick the fun and ridiculous ride Jane and I shared as we drove down. She is my ideal road trip buddy, I think. We can be silly and serious, talk about the mundane and the profound, and there's never a dull moment. And she makes amazing playlists.

Baby Knope!

10 April 2014: It's probably unreasonable how happy a TV show can make me, but Thursday was a long day, smack in the middle of a long and somewhat stressful week. So Thursday night, coming home and watching Parks and Recreation would have made me happy with any old episode. But a hilarious episode that includes the news that Ben and Leslie are having a baby? Terrific! 

Catching up...

9 April 2014: Another long day, but it ended on a nice note, as I had dinner with a colleague I haven't had a chance to spend very much time with this semester. It was great to catch up with him (and to not have to come home, cook, and do dishes!).

Blue sky

8 April 2014: I woke up this morning feeling anxious and stressed about a bunch of things (nothing major...just stuff...) and thought, "Man, what a great way to start the day!" But I got up, got going, and knocked out a lot of work at my favorite work-spot (Panera, of course). And I started to feel better. Driving home on a wide open road, the bluest sky I've seen in months stretched out before me. Just what I needed.

I realize I end a lot of these posts with "Just what I needed." But I think that's okay--it says something about the way I think God works in your life. He sends you these little gifts and signs (big ones, too, of course), often just when you need them most.

Sister stuff...

7 April 2014: Yesterday (Monday) was a crazy-long day. Not a bad day--just long, tiring, and a bit stressful. So an unexpected phone call and nice conversation with my sister was just what I needed.

"I taste a liquor never brewed – "

6 April 2014: (Yet another "Yay, it's springtime!" post. Sorry!) We are starting Emily Dickinson in my ENGL 446 class this week. On Sunday, in anticipation of both that and some lovely weather forecast for this week, this poem was on my mind, making my day that much better.

I taste a liquor never brewed – 

From Tankards scooped in Pearl – 

Not all the Frankfort Berries

Yield such an Alcohol!

Inebriate of air – am I – 

And Debauchee of Dew – 

Reeling – thro' endless summer days – 

From inns of molten Blue – 

When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee

Out of the Foxglove's door – 

When Butterflies – renounce their "drams" – 

I shall but drink the more!

Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats – 

And Saints – to windows run – 

To see the little Tippler

Leaning against the – Sun!

I taste a liquor never brewed –  From Tankards scooped in Pearl –  Not all the Frankfort Berries Yield such an Alcohol! Inebriate of air – am I –  And Debauchee of Dew –  Reeling – thro' endless summer days –  From inns of molten Blue –  When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee Out of the Foxglove's door –  When Butterflies – renounce their "drams" –  I shall but drink the more! Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats –  And Saints – to windows run –  To see the little Tippler Leaning against the – Sun! - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15389#sthash.Wqp0GPTs.dpuf

I taste a liquor never brewed –  From Tankards scooped in Pearl –  Not all the Frankfort Berries Yield such an Alcohol! Inebriate of air – am I –  And Debauchee of Dew –  Reeling – thro' endless summer days –  From inns of molten Blue –  When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee Out of the Foxglove's door –  When Butterflies – renounce their "drams" –  I shall but drink the more! Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats –  And Saints – to windows run –  To see the little Tippler Leaning against the – Sun! - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15389#sthash.Wqp0GPTs.dpuf

I taste a liquor never brewed –  From Tankards scooped in Pearl –  Not all the Frankfort Berries Yield such an Alcohol! Inebriate of air – am I –  And Debauchee of Dew –  Reeling – thro' endless summer days –  From inns of molten Blue –  When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee Out of the Foxglove's door –  When Butterflies – renounce their "drams" –  I shall but drink the more! Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats –  And Saints – to windows run –  To see the little Tippler Leaning against the – Sun! - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15389#sthash.Wqp0GPTs.dpuf

Ukulele Songs

5 April 2014: I'm not exactly new to the game with this endorsement, but if you haven't already done it, you need to give a listen to Eddie Vedder's Ukulele Songs. It's such a beautiful album and was just want I needed as background music on Saturday.

Rude Mechanicals

4 April 2014: Another surefire sign of spring? The Rude Mechanicals' spring performance. I went with some friends on Friday night and laughed for about 90 minutes straight.

Release party

3 April 2014: Sans Merci, Shepherd's creative writing and art publication, had its annual release party on Thursday. It's one of my favorite events of the semester for so many reasons: it is a kind of kick-off to spring (at least in my mind), I get to see some great work from students in our Art department, and the students whose creative writing is in the magazine hold a reading. Easily the highlight of my day.

Paper conferences

2 April 2014: You know what's always fun? When a student comes in completely flummoxed about a paper--right down to the topic. Then you talk to that student, listen to what she has to say, realize that she has a pretty good idea and she just doesn't realize it yet. Then you help her see her great idea, work on an outline together, send her out, and you are both really happy and excited about that paper. That rocks. And I had it happen three times today.

Baseball's back!

1 April 2014: So the Yankees might have lost their first game, but darn it, I got to watch it on TV and baseball is back and spring is on its way and things are looking up.

"so sweet / and so cold"

31 March 2014: Best thing about Monday--the thing I am thankful for? That this little teaching trick still works so very well. Back to back classes that were amazingly fun and (yay!) educational.