I Did Not Do My Homework

I don't think I'm ever going to learn that a class is NEVER what I expect it to be based on just the title. Next quarter I'm taking a class called "Mathematics Across the Curriculum" and I expected it to be something about using math in other disciplines as a teaching technique.

Today I read the class description -

"In this course, we will be doing math without solving any equations!! We will be looking at and understanding the precise mathematical definition of a knot. We will investigate different tools to determine when two knots are different and what this means. From the abstract theory, we will be progressing to knot theory applications in biology, physics, and chemistry, in particular, the effects of certain enzymes on DNA. We will hopefully have enough time to discuss the history of knot theory. No mathematical background is required, besides high school algebra and an openness to learn math using an extension cord!"

The recommended preparation is "Openess to use your mind to visualize a closed loop in 3-d."

I am so screwed.

Its Not Easy Being Green

We had a wee green visitor last night just in time for St. Patrick's Day. About nine o'clock daughter came into our bedroom and announced "THERE. IS. A. FROG. DOWNSTAIRS."

Being the brave, smart, clever, independent woman that I am, I looked at husband and said "Rodents, arachnids, and amphibians are YOUR job." After all, that is why I got married. So I never had to touch another creepy little home invader again. That and fixing the garbage disposal.

None of the kids wanted to touch it but they were all very concerned about its health and well being so husband captured it and let it go outside. Where it will most likely get eaten by one of the cats.

But I have to admit, it was a cute little thing.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

One More Quarter

I'm in the home stretch and can *almost* see the finish line - graduation is June 13th.

Of course I can also see t w o m o r e y e a r s of grad school on the other SIDE of the finish line but for now I'm pretending that there is actually an end to my career as a student. I'm in my happy place so don't mess it up for me!

This quarter was one of the best I've had yet. I didn't procrastinate to the point where I had to pull an all-nighter (or three) to finish, the Wetlands Field Trip project was SO MUCH FUN (and I rocked a 100% on it - shameless bragging), the Children's Lit class was a wonderful way to start thinking about actually teaching and my thesis is coming along nicely.

Even the one incredibly frustrating group project in Kid Lit taught me a lot about working with groups of people and how important it is for teachers to maximize participation and get kids interested in the materials.

I'm still pissed at a certain member of my group who is NOT a team player, NEVER listens to directions, and thinks doing something half-assed is acceptable. But I learned from the experience. I learned that I wish stupid people had something tattooed on their foreheads so I would know not to be in a group with them.

So I'm on break now and am not going to read/think about/look at/breathe on anything that even suggests the appearance of having anything to do with school.

For seven days.

Then it's back to the grindstone for the home stretch. It certainly is a marathon and not a sprint - and I'm really glad it's almost over!

Wetlands

Today was amazing. The perfect storm of learning, teaching, parenting, friendship, and SUNSHINE. I'm sure you are all aware that sunshine makes everything better. If you are not aware of that fact, you are a nocturnal cave-dwelling bat with no business being up and reading this. GO BACK TO SLEEPING UPSIDE-DOWN WEIRDO!

I'm taking a fabulous ecology class this quarter titled Nature in the Northwest and our culminating project is leading our colleagues on a field trip. Today we led a field trip thru some wetlands in our area and then took a field trip thru a forest. It was 60 degrees and sunny (thank YOU El Nino) and the absolute PERFECT day to be outside!

Daughter joined us as our official photographer and did a damn fine job if I do say so myself. Here are some of the better pics of the day.

Artsy shot of the fence at the beginning of the wetlands trail...

bird on a tree (I don't know what kind of bird, another student was in charge of the damn wildlife)...

me holding a glob of salamander eggs. I took one for the team - that nasty jelly stuff was, um, NASTY!

At first we thought this was a BIG fucking rat but our professor (brave, crazy man that he is) lifted the corpse OUT of the water and is pretty sure that it was a young muskrat. I have to say that the damn thing was the same size as our cats. *shudder*

Lichen which illustrates a mutualism in the biological community of the wetlands. Heh. I love college.

Nothing To See Here

Gone crazy, back soon.

Finals to study for.

Project to finish.

Thesis to outline.

Laundry to do.

Doctor appointments to keep.

Grandmother to take shopping.

Dog hair to vacuum.

Maybe I'll just run away to Tahiti instead...