Write, Right, What??!!!

Greetings, fellow Earthings!

Where have you been? Oh wait--it's me I should ask. Where have I been? Writing. Traveling. Shopping. That's where I've been. Where have you been while I've been where I've been? I hope you are well.

I've been avoiding political banter as part of blogging. I am fueled with anger when it comes to today's world. I really don't want to blog about it. It takes a LOT of effort and energy on my part not to spew about the ridiculousness of our country's fine leaders. I have MUCH to say. I try not to say it. You can read of it elsewhere. Or, maybe here sooner than not. There's only so long I can bite my tongue.

I've also been bitter. Once I learned that the wife had stopped reading my blog like a year ago, I became jaded. If you can't get your own wife to read your blog, what's the point? It's taken me awhile to let go of the bitterness. The result, now that I'm over my bitter way of being? I've decided I'll write about her. Ha! That'll teach her. She gives me much fodder of which to use in a blog post. You just wait, missy....

Let's start with writing. (Madonna can wait until the end of the blog.) My job has morphed into this bizarre, no-title entity of which requires me to write/type/be witty a lot more than previously... every day is spent in front of a computer. I do NOT know how anyone sits at a computer all day. I find it so impossible that it led me to buying a standing desk. I'm supposed to be doing our social media, writing and up-keeping our website, spend oodles of time managing our electronic health record, writing policy and procedure, training staff.. in addition to anything else deemed appropriate. You get the drill. (I'd post the links to the stuff I'm writing but this blog is weird and I'm not sure my employer would want the two connected.) All this computer-work sounds fun and the increased writing/creativity IS fun and doesn't sound like a lot and it isn't...

....until you combine that with the side gig I picked up "teaching" (and, I do use that term loosely) three sections of a college class. One in-person night class and two on-line sections. Ninety students keep me hopping.

Whose idea was it to assign 90 students a paper the first week of the semester? Oh wait--that was me. I'm not sure what I was thinking but 90 papers to grade... and make comment, well that keeps me busy during the time I used to blog. Every week, I respond to ninety discussion entries on discussion boards. It's only far I chime in when they are taking the time to pour their hearts and souls out. There is also other homework but the discussion boards take the most time. I absolutely love reading what the students are writing. It's a whole different world in comparison to my college days. It blows me away.

Professor Addiverse

I have no idea if I'm doing a good job or not with the on-line sections as I've never taken an on line class. My evaluations are great but that doesn't actually tell me if I'm doing what an on-line class should "do." I'm thinking about taking one just so I can see what other professors "do." I'm open to suggestion. If you've taken an on-line class and have an opinion, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you, especially in regards to the things you DIDN'T like.

Lest you find me too whiny, let me assure you that much time has been spent traveling and shopping. Costco opened a store only two miles away from our house. Have you ever been to Costco? They are massive and they are chock full of items of interest and they are FABULOUS. We've gone there twice on "date night" because that's how much we like the place. We have so much more to explore. The last time we were there, they were turning off the lights. We couldn't figure this out... until someone finally told us the store was closed. Oops!

As for traveling, I have another side gig which requires me to fly places so I can survey other agencies. This is an awesome side gig, although I'm not sure the wife agrees, as she's the one who has to stay home with the dogs. I'm getting really good at the "I only need an under-the-seat-bag" means of packing--I gladly share packing tips as needed. Since these places tend to be far from the bigger airports, I get to take "baby planes" as means of getting to where I'm going. The next trip, which is not for quite some time but they plan ahead, requires me to fly to Dallas on a big plane and then to a town in the middle of nowhere on a baby plane. Here's to good weather and on-time flights.

On a different note, MJagger and I are supposed to go to a Madonna Concert on Thursday night. I say supposed to because we just figured out the concert doesn't start until 10:30 PM ON A SCHOOL NIGHT! Who starts a concert at 10:30 PM on a weekday night? How we missed the start time of the concert, I do not know but we both did. Talk about "....and, what?" We love Madonna but I'm not sure I love her that much anymore--we both gave a collective "WHAT?!!!" several times when figuring out this concert start time. Since the concert is downtown Chicago, we have to add 1.5 hours travel time from the concert. God knows she won't start on time, so if she starts at 11 PM, which is probably what will happen, we won't get home until 2:30 AM. Work starts at 8 AM. I will be one crabby patty. I know Madonna will be very disappointed in me, seeing as she is older than me and she's staying up into the wee hours.

Listen Madge: MJagger and I have to work the next day. Don't you believe in the matinee? I'd rather get into the groove on a Sunday afternoon. Besides, I have 90 discussion entries to grade.

The dogs are fine.
The wife is fine.
The tattoos are fine.
But, Madge--that isn't fine.

That's where I've been. That's where I'll be. Glad to be back. Get ready to read about the wife.