* random bullets of crap
You know how, back in the winter months, your calendar for 3 seasons ahead looks all empty and pristine and everything seems possible? Even though school will be starting and you know what that is like – what with the getting the syllabi together and meeting new students and getting classes going and re-reading or at least skimming the texts and getting new readings and finding out what’s wrong with your classroom and – oh – teaching a new class with new texts and…. So you know that is going on. But you look at the calendar with all those lovely blank spaces (because you don’t write down all that school stuff – okay maybe you do but I don’t…) and you say – hey – I can go to that 4 day meeting and I can facilitate this event over here and I can present at this thing and oh, sure, I can do that. And then, in the middle of August, you look at your calendar and scream.

But today I am home and thus ends the madness that was August 28 – September 27.
Herewith – RBOC about being on the road.
- I have written it on the syllabus, and announced to students every week in every class that I would be gone from this date to this date, so if you need to meet with me do it before this date. Because I will be gone. As in not on campus. As in not able to meet with you. So why the string of emails last week from people needing to meet with me – during the week I was not on campus? (Although I had a lot of travel over those 4 weeks, I missed only 2 days of classes – lesson plans were still in place and assignments still due while I was gone.)
- All that writing I was going to do while on the road? Not so much.
- All that grading I was going to do? See above.
- The staff at the Enterprise car rental place in Philadelphia is tops. They were friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. They made me happy.
- The Cleveland airport is sorely lacking in electrical outlets, at least in the D concourse.
- Everybody everywhere needs to give me free wifi.
- I don’t mind if people walk slowly or stop and gab with their friends in the airport. But, uh, could you folks move to the side so those of us that have a flight to catch can get by? Just saying.
- People, the earbuds mean don’t talk to me. Seriously. And when I answer your question by saying simply “yes” or “no,” or acknowledge your comment with a quick smile and then look back down at my book, with my earbuds in, by the way… this is a social cue that means “not interested in talking now.” No, for real. That’s what it means. (okay, I really think I’m a nice person… I just don’t talk to people so much in airports. Okay, other places too. But really! I’m a nice person!)
- The cats welcome me home:
Little nervous cat: Mama! Mama, you’re home! Let me wind myself around you one hundred – no! two hundred times. Let me lick your arm. Again. And again. I love you, Mama. Why did you go? Oh! You know that game we play where I race to the middle of the room and flop on my back and look so cute and precious that you have to scratch my belly? Let’s do that! Again! And again! Oh, Mama, don’t ever leave me again. No one scratched my belly while you were gone, Mama. Well, it’s true I spent most of the week hiding under the bed… but if they really wanted to scratch my belly, they knew where it was. Ok, Mama, please scratch. Now.
Big laid back cat: Heeyy! What’s happening? Dude, you were gone? For a week? Daaannng. Well, welcome home, dude – how’s about some kibble while you’re up?
And now later tomorrow – grading.
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