Intellectual stimulation

I was at a debate and Forensics Tournament this weekend. And with that comes the prerequisite stages of complete and utter exhaustion. I judged a lot. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were filled with rounds, most good a few bad. I got treated to a extemp round of Presidential Politics. I got to judge finals of persuade. I got to see many, many, many rounds of Lincoln Douglas and parliamentary debate. Most of them were good, although the final round was just above my comfort level, so it was hard to make a decision. That round really frustrated me and I'll need to talk about that later. It was so enjoyable to be challenged and to think, instead of the usual course of explain multiplication to freshman who are clueless.

Judging is hard work. It is super hard to believe I fielded 5 IEs and Parli. Damn, I had balls. I certainly don't have the same stamina I had then.

Also, I got to meet the new Kids on the team. Good kids, and I had some fun. I got the privilege of watching one kids defining moment. The team of Meti and Jen had never traveled before, they are a new freshman walk on team. Earlier, I had helped prep them out. Turns out they debate their way into finals (Novice). They end up winning finals. Meti come back from receiving his award and is welcomed to the team with handshakes, high fives and pats on th back. For a good ten minutes after, during the awards ceremony, he just stares at his trophy. Looks at, and ouches the edging. I could just see the gears in his head whirring. He's hooked. He'll want more-that taste of victory and the boost of self esteem is addictive.

The sense of Fun and causal confidence that I sensed was new and probably contributed to the newbies success. Hopefully that will continue to snowball.

So the next time he goes to a tournament, he'll read a little more, prep a little more, and the success he gets will spur the next increase in research and motivation. Hopefully that will continue to build until he's top notch. I wish him luck.

This weekend I did absolutely no academic work. I think I'm going to go to bed now and just get up at 4:00am.

Excitement

Yea! We are five eighths done with the school year!
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday I am judging a debate and Forensics Tournament at Webster University. Yea! I'm really looking forward to it, several alumni from Truman are judging at the tournament and I'll get to see old friends whom I havn't seen in two or more years. I'm also looking forward to watching the events. There are fewer things more pleasurable for me than watching a good Crit round or debate. I'm excited because I'm going to be one of the experts, one of the experienced judges. "Oh, we have Hobbs, feew, she knows what she is doing!"
Also, I'm getting paid which is exciting, $10 per round. If things go how I expect them to, I should earn around $100 this weekend. That will be mediated of course by the hour drive and the gas, but I'll pretty much be paid to see friends and do what I enjoy. If only if there was such a thing as a professional debate judge..... The money will be welcomed, it's not like I can work overtime at school.

Also, one of my friends who is also a MAE intern has started on the cedar chest that I commissioned (sounds fancy, right?) for my sister's wedding. You can see the design here. http://www.mywerkshop.com/home.php?pid=20080124094111727

Gotta go grade papers.

Nickerbockers

I really love my Human Body Class. The are smart, intelligent and I can use big words with them.
I can explain Latin terms, warn then about the hazards of Marijuana, and get them ready for college.

They like science, like dissecting and like the way I teach.
They are a good way to start off a rough day otherwise.

It is so tempting to spout and just lecture about everything I know, but that is not the best way to educate.

When a day goes well, it makes it all worth it.

There are some things that hurt physically. Like a bump into an old theater seat when the movie has already started. Or when I was showing Newton’s Three laws of motion on a skateboard and wiped out in front of the entire class. Both events left bruises on my legs. Nice big purple ones with tinges of green around the edges.

Today I got a hurt, but with no purple marks to follow it up. My advisor observed my class recently. While I was helping out students with a block and tackle (pulley) lab-a student came up behind me and pretended to hit me in the back of the head.

I would have almost preferred a physical hit. I could have caught the culprit, sent him/her to ISS and be done with it.

Now I have no idea which students to trust in that class.

A physical bruise would have healed better.

On the upside, I’ve got a lot more students who are putting more effort into their classes. I think I’m reaching them. They are making an effort and turning in assignments. I had one girl who really struggles with the topic and attitude asking questions and participating.

SHIT

This week, when I have gone home from work, I have spent all my time working on figuring out how to get my computer to do a necessary task. After 9 hours of cussing at it, it still won't do what it needs to do. There is a way to connect my computer to the research databases that Truman has. However, I have been unsuccessful. My adviser is coming tomorrow to discuss my proposal which I haven't written yet because I can't get access to descent research. I would have gotten more done if I had driven to K-Ville, used the library for 3 hours and then come back.

GRRR......

Added insult to injury:I got desperate enough to call one of my ex's for help. That was unpleasant!

Sara Bauer

She told me her first boy child is going to be named Jack.

So, yeah, My sister go married over the weekend in Ames Iowa. The wedding was simple, two attendees total. The reception was in the same place as the service, with no party at the end. They did traditional vows , and the preacher included "Wives submit to your husbands" bible verse that really peeves me.

Overall, it was a lot of driving, a lot of work, a lot of fun and wonderful to family again. I saw my uncle Steve's family whom I haven't seen in four years. I'm really glad that we were able to get the families together. It had looked like my grandma wouldn't be able to make it. My uncle Louis was having some pretty serious health issues all of a sudden, and Grandma was afraid to leave him. A similar situation happen last winter with my Great Aunt Marj. She was quite ill, and as a result Grandma missed my graduation.

The preacher wasn't all there during the service. He referred to me as Megan (!) and forgot to ask "Who gives this bride away?" to Dad. He was in the parking lot about to leave before he remember he hadn't had people sign the wedding certificate!

For the reception they had a slide show of Sara and Adam growing up. As I am her twin, I was in alot of them too. It was very cute to see us grow up together, as well as "naked toddler in bathtub" pictures. Hopefully I'll be able to get some digital photos of the shindig to post here.

It was a priveledge to hang out with Sara before the wedding ceremony. She was white as a sheet and cried with the "Something old, Something new, something borrowed, something blue". The something borrowed was a cottonball stuffed down her boobies (My idea!)

Mom and Dad handled the whole thing well. I didn't see them cry, I though I was facing the pastor most of the time.

Fortunately, I didn't get many: "So are you next?" questions. I was very glad of that!

OW!

My colleague went through 30 hours of labor before having an emergency Cicerian section.
I cannot imagine the pain.
Yikes, ow!