A Day in the Life of Someone on Sabbatical

DD texted to see if I wanted to go to bookclub together, and I texted back to say I was actually at the college coming off of my 6th straight meeting. Before I hit up bookclub at Lucky's Steakhouse, I had to have dinner with a Psych department faculty candidate at Capital Prime another steakhouse clear on the other side of town. That's two too many steakhouses for someone who doesn't even eat steak. Anyway.

By the time I got to Lucky's discussions were underway, but there were so many lovely people I knew and I got to stop by the different tables for hellos and hugs. But even the lovely people looked at me funny when I said I'd already had dinner so I ordered a giant dessert to show I do eat. I am mature and self assured.

By the time I got home Nu and the puppies were asleep (school night) as was Big A (he's working tonight) and I sat there in the living room, with the radio on, catching up on email and beginning to feel queasy and kinda anxious. And then I figured it out and texted our college boy who was awake (college life).
 

It was M. Night Shyamalan night on WKAR's Michigan Matinee.

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My Term of Rest and Relaxation

I heard My Year of Rest and Relaxation was funny and thought it would be funny to read it now since I'm on a sabbatical (term not the whole year, but...).

But OMG, while I chortled in a few places, I was so saddened and depressed from this overall.

And... I worked on campus from 9-7 today, so I'm doing the sabbatical wrong too.




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Kin

This was sometime after I'd talked about Harraway and "Make kin not babies!" and C said  gesturing at dinner--"You mean like this? Like you do?" And it felt like this might be the best compliment ever.







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Senior Seminar Dinner

It wasn't easy, but it was wonderful.





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Now Cage-Free

I reached out to the iconic Marilyn Frye some time ago asking her to speak at the college, and she declined. She must have sensed my immense (fandom and) disappointment, however, because she asked if I wanted to have coffee. Did I? YES. (I interpreted that as tea, but if I had to drink coffee in order to meet her, I would have.)

I got to gush about her work, and tell her I've lost count of the number of times I meet old students who have forgotten the details of every other reading, but remember  "the birdcage." She was so warm and lovely and generously claimed to love the stuff I'm working on right now. We talked for a couple of hours at Chapelure, and then I floated home on a wave of happiness.



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Student Dinner

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Windows

At the first First Year Seminar meeting back in the last week August, I may have wished that our classroom had windows.

At every twice-weekly meeting since, my students have drawn me a window on the blackboard by the time I get to class.

I love them.



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Sophomore year

Hugged immoderately, embarrassed repeatedly, loved immensely, and all moved in for the year (on his Boss Day, no less).

We'll all miss him but Nu and Scout on a visceral level. (Huckie bear don't care.)










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Just One on Day One

They called a high of 90, but the first day of school required a blazer.

#LittleProfessional #SeriousScholar












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Before the Fall

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Bits and Bobs

Last class for this academic year, and our class went downtown to the new frozen custard place. I like joking that it's the closest thing we have to a Sri Lankan restaurant in Alma because its name is Serendipity.

On our way back we bumped into the sweetest, cutest, eight-week old puppy. His name is Yogi. LOOK AT THAT FACE! JUST LOOK! Yogi is a very good boy and trots along happily except when he's turning around to look for all the new friends who give him pets.

Full admission: I saw Yogi for the first time yesterday when I was turning into the parking lot at school, and I totally rolled down my window and screamed, "so cute, SO CUTE!!" I guess I'm practically a TLC song now.

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Honors' Day

I had five students present research this Honors' Day.

Also, today, AC (class of 2015) came to visit, and gave me this:

I love students.

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Spring Break "travel"

Nu's spring break doesn't coincide with ours, 

and the poor love has had a tame week of it.

She's been to Ann Arbor with Big A 

and tagged along to Alma with me

The highlight was having lunch

with her big sib two days in a row...

Here they are "being so cute" by 

not letting me take their picture.

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Symposium #4

I am amazed and charmed by what my students get up to every year.

(We were a bit bummed that we were assigned the lobby,

but then, the traffic turned out to be way better.)

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"Last Dance with Gorgeous George"

KB's title when she posted this to FB.

I'm lucky to have colleague-friends who crack me up.

And the original.

(My student had dropped her project mannequin off in KB's office 

as I was in class. I was moving him to my office, but I didn't realize 

that his pants were falling off and thus making me look extra perv.)

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Spring Term and the Loving is Easy

Scout came to class today

there was so much love

(from and for)

this baby.

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It's Kind of Silly, Really

How 

I end up 

loving every class.

Potter Park Zoo 

and then

I made them lunch

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Sari/Not Sorry

At work

'cos I read this

and it made me mad.

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Boozy Poppies

What you might do when
the kids are at school
and you and your work
friends are on break.

Just before I drank from the Solo cup
that held the paint-water
instead of from the Solo cup
that held the pinot.

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Together @ Sister Solidarity March, Lansing

I thought At's poster was a bit... leaky, 

but he got so many compliments on it.

Not to be too sappy about it,

but I love my students.

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