The brief adventures ... of Boxie

So, I found a box in my mail today.  She asked if she could come home with me, and told me her name was Boxie.  I told her yes, and here she is in my truck:

When we finally made it inside, she was so happy, she jumped for joy!  I had to catch her:

Here's Boxie getting to know the kittehs, Dobby and Buttercup.  They're not too sure they're pleased about another member in the household...

Here she is hanging out in the craft room, inspecting the paper and the Forest o' upside-down punkins...

Ah, waiting for dinner to warm up!  Boxie is really enjoying that Black Cherry cola!

So cute! All snuggled up on the couch!

Boxie stole the kitteh perch.  Dobby was not much pleased...

That Boxie is trubble, I tell you!  She's whispering to me about the presents she's hiding!

No help for it!  Gotta find the presents!

Look what Boxie was hiding!  A little package all wrapped up so pretty!

Ready to discover the presents!

What a good Boxie!  She brought me a star!

And what's this? An envelope?

It's a pretty, pretty picture!  What a sly Boxie to be hiding such treasures!

Here's Boxie proudly displaying her gifts!

Boxie told me she came from Ms. Alyice, the Dabbling Mum, and the Grab Bag Project.  And she said to spread the word that she has lots of friends who want to come visit! Boxie and I think you should go check it out! :D

Thanks very much to the Dabbling Mum herself, Alyice Edrich!  I had so much fun discovering the art!  That Boxie is a sly one to hide such treasures!

RLW

And the session is now in full swing!

So I started teaching my final class of the session today. It's a very small class--I have 12 enrolled, 8 made it this morning.  so that's very much awesome.

Don't wanna do it no more...

...and so I'm not.  At least for now.  See, I've spent the last 3 hours trying to do the schedule for the class that starts Monday.  And it's not hard (in fact, it's mostly done, I just have to condense a few weeks from the full-session schedule) but I just don't wanna do it.  And since it's Friday night, I'm not.  Instead, I'm going to ponder my latest project(s)for a bit, while I watch The Proposal (very cute so far.) I watched The Ugly Truth earlier.  Also cute!  This is probably contributing to my inability to concentrate on school.  And really, it's Friday night, so why was I trying to work? Oh yeah, I remember, I panicked for a moment! I have another class starting Monday! eek!!! Eh, I'll get it all worked out. I always do.

But anyways!  Back to my crafties!!!  So, I'm working on an entry for Plaid's Trick Your Pumpkin contest.  So I took an exacto knife to the Michaels pumpkin I bought yesterday.  It was fun. Now, I need to figure out what else to do.  I have some ideas... we'll see!  And, I found a stack of Ikea tealight holders I bought ages ago, and decided to play with them, too!  I made a punkin!  It's cute.  Pics later.  And I bought a bird house that I started painting earlier today. Not sure exactly how that's going to end up, but I'm sure it'll be cute.

So I think I'm going to play a bit more in my craft room. I can't wait to see what I come up with!  hee hee hee...

RLW

Super Crafty Fun Weekend!!!!

Yup, I had a super-crafty-fun-weekend! and it was grrrrrreeeeeeeeaaaaat!!!!! (insert Tony-the-Tiger voice here...)

Okay, so, first, I decoupaged a box that that I'm using as a jewelry box for the pieces I want to sell (you know, rather than the cardboard box I had them in).  I even put a little handle on it and mirror inside it! It's really cute.  Here it is:

[caption id="attachment_200" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="All finished!"]
[/caption]

Now, of course, getting to this point, what with the Mod Podge and the cutting and the mess (you should see my sweat pants--covered in modgy fingerprints.  Oh yeah--and I used paint, too!) was quite a bit of chaotic fun!

I started with all my shtuff...

[caption id="attachment_193" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Like how I laid it all out so nicely for a pic? :)"][/caption]

And then, of course, about half-way through, I realized I needed more shtuff. No pics of that, though... So then I got to painting the inside.  Also, no pics.  There was far too much mess going on to pick up the camera. I'm gonna wait a few more months before I get paint on it.

And then I had to measure.  Well, sort of.  I did measure the sides so I wouldn't waste too much paper, cause it was all pretty and stuff! But of course, I only measured the one time, and so my measurements aren't all spot on. My father would be so disappointed (he's a pro at the measuring thing...) But in the end, I did find a use for most of those left-over paper bits I did end up with (more on that in another post. Tomorrow, maybe...)  So, after all the measuring and the cutting and the modgin' and the podgin' was done, I ended up with this:

[caption id="attachment_195" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="kinda cool, if I do say so myself...."][/caption]

So then, for the finishing touches.  I really wanted a handle on it, and I had visions of a suitcase like handle, but I have no spare suitcases, so I had to improvise something else.  I also wanted it to have a bit more interest goin' on up top there, and I have these large chip-board butterflies.  I have no clue where they came from, but they've been in my stash for awhile. So I took some of that paper and 'podged it up, and painted the ugly cardboard sides.  While I was at it, I took a length of pink ribbon and raided my bead stash for some large hole beads.  I found some great wooden ones, and strung those on the ribbon.  Then, to the toolbox I wandered!  With the help of my trusty staple gun, I attached the ribbon, and then used my E-6000 epoxy to attach the butterfly on top.  And wah-lah! A handle and some interest!!!

[caption id="attachment_196" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="gotta love E-6000!!!!!!!"][/caption]

As the glue dried, I was pondering the inside.  Okay, truth be told, the glue wasn't so much dried as still very glue-y when I thought "Hey, a mirror would be cool!"  And it just so happens, I had a perfect mirror to use!  Back to the E-6000, slapped some dollops on the back of the mirror, press it into the inside top, prop it open, and then a few minutes later, discover that the glue from the butterfly is now dripping onto the coffee table.  Oops!!!  So I flipped the whole mess upside-down! Eventually, it dried.  well, the butterfly bit did.  I discovered the next day, after I closed the  lid for a few minutes, that the mirror bit was still oozing.  So, back open it went!  Finally, that all dried.

Then, I realized, there's no easy way to see yourself in the mirror if you're playing with jewelry, since it just flipped all the way open... so, I had to add some catcher-thingies... I'm sure they have an actual name, but I know not what it is.  Anyway, I used more ribbon, E-6000, and eyelets.  And let me say, I need a punch that will punch a hole in ribbon... that was not fun... and in retrospect, this part should get done BEFORE the mirror goes in... But I made it work:

[caption id="attachment_197" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Just hammer those eyelets in there! And use the E-6000 to make sure they stay!"][/caption]

And that was it!  Here's some more close up shots, after the fact:



[caption id="attachment_202" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="And finally, filled with stuff!"][/caption]

You know, I'm really tempted to make another one to use as a purse. It's too cute!! And more on the rest of my crafty weekend soon!

RLW

What a week!!

My, my, my, what a week it has been!  And you know, this week started out all sluggishly and stuff, what with the holiday and days off and really havin' trouble getting back into the swing of things.  Some of my students really had a bit of a hard time; and I honestly can't blame them... Long weekends are nice. But, that all worked out in the end.  And now, it is Saturday, September 11th, and we all have to remember the horrible events of 9 years ago. Not that we could forget.  I mean, come on--the first major attack on US soil in how many years?  Yeah, we're not gonna forget that.  So, if you haven't yet, take a few minutes today and think back. What were you doing that day?  Yeah, for my generation, this is like Kennedy's assassination or the moon-landing for our parents' generation--we all know where we were and exactly what we were doing when we heard the news.  And we'll never forget.

Now, on to happier thoughts! And back to my week!  So, this was the last week of Beads-n-Blessings Art with Heart Viewer's Choice contest, and I have awesome friends who helped me win that!!!  And I have to say, I am in some gorgeous (!!!!) company!  I mean look at those pieces!!!  I want the Twister necklace (well, really, I'd rather know how to make the Twister necklace myself...)  So hey, I have bragging rights now!  And as a friend pointed out to me yesterday, I am now an Award-Winning Artist (yeah, I have trouble really taking that seriously... LOL! after all, I'm still working on considering myself an artist!)

And, I managed to complete 3 projects this week!  The new phone case, the patchwork table, and another piece that I'm still waiting on it drying fully.  I'll post pics and the story on that as soon as I get it all done.

And, I woke up today to learn that my little table has been featured on Creating the Hive!  How cool is that!!!!! And people like it !

Okay, yeah, I'm having a "They like me! They really like me!" drama moment here...



And I think I'll just leave you with that.  Have a great day!

RLW

When decoupage goes wrong...

Okay, so I've found a new hobby that I kinda love (like I needed another one of those...) and of course, up until last week, I was out of school and going a little stir crazy. So I decided it might be fun to decorate my iPhone's case (I had a very boring gunmetal gray Incase slide cover thingy.  Good for protection, not really my style...) Now, me being me, I don't really like to measure and be exact and stuff.  I'm much more an "eyeball it" kinda gal (also, this is how I bake! LOL!) So of course, god forbid I should actually measure anything to cover this case, what with all it's very annoying curvinesses and whatnot. After 2 or 3 attempts, it was apparent to me that using scrapbook paper or anything remotely stiff like that would not work for me at all.  So I had to let it lie for a few days while I pondered some more.

As I pondered, I remember that I have a largish stash of tissue paper.  So, I found me some bright pink tissue paper, pulled the case off the phone, and went to town.  After about 5 layers of tissue paper, lots of Mod Podge, an hour or two of painstaking whittling (essentially) with an exacto knife (yeah I know, I won't measure but I'll use an exacto knife with great glee after the fact!) I had a nifty looking pink case.  It's weird, you can actually still see some of the gray through the layers of paper, and it took on a kind of weird fabric-y look.

And then, to put the finishing touches on it, I used some iridescent-y butterfly stickers I had (I think I picked them up at Dollar Tree... I love the Dollar Tree...) And of course, then I needed to add a few more layers of Mod Podge to protect the whole mess.  And because Mod Podge stays a bit sticky, I sprayed the whole thing with an acrylic lacquer to protect it.  Here it is, in all its finished glory (and with a bit of Tim thrown in...)

[gallery columns="2"]

Where's the problem you ask?  Well, first, I can't seem to get the case off the phone since I put it all back together.  Not that I need to, but still... and second, it still doesn't seem to have totally set, if you will.  It has some odd creases and crack-like things (not actual cracks, but crack-like), and some bits are perfectly smooth while others seem to have picked up a bit of a pattern from somewhere.

So, I'm pondering ripping the whole mess apart and starting over. But we'll see.  After all, I can't get the case off the phone.  This could be a problem...

RLW

The Life of the Adjunct...

So, I was just reading this debate info over at the New York Times page, on Professors and retirement and new professors and whatnot (here's a link.) I admit, I didn't read the WHOLE thing (it's several blog entries and their comments, plus the original Chronicle of Higher Education article here) but I read a goodly portion.  At least enough to get all nervous and ancy again.

Okay, here's the premise: What with the crappy economy and all, older profs aren't retiring (mostly) before they're in the 70s.  Now in the English department, I remember that the old joke is that English profs don't retire, they just die (sounds really morbid, but really, it's a tribute to how much most profs love their work--they teach till they can't teach no more... for example--I've been teaching 10 years.  In that 10 years, in the Tampa/St. Pete area Community Colleges, I can recall maybe 8-9 TOTAL positions available in my field, and 5 of those happened this year!)This isn't necessarily a bad thing--the not retiring until later in life, thing, I mean--because, ideally, the universities and colleges are retaining smart, motivated, engaging professionals who LOVE their jobs.  And most of these individuals are in that category.  But, there're also the deadwood profs who are sticking around because of financial fears, and this is a drawback.

Another thing discussed in many of the responses, is who is replacing these full-time, tenured professors once they DO retire. Unfortunately, most of them are being replaced with 2 or 3 adjuncts, instead of one full-time, tenure-track prof. I call this "unfortunate" NOT because adjuncts aren't worthy professors (far from it.  I'm an adjunct myself, and I am a KICK ASS prof) but because the lot of the adjunct is so very grim.  Dire, even.  Okay, admittedly, there are some crappy adjuncts.  Just like there are crappy full-time profs, and crappy police officers and office managers and fast food workers and, well, you know, crappy workers in EVERY job imaginable.  And yes, there are a few adjuncts who hate their jobs (they don't really stay adjuncts for very long...)  But consider this: the lot of the adjunct professor.

I'll use myself as an example, and I'm going to be absolutely frank here.

As I said, I've been teaching for 10, almost 11, years.  Since right out of grad school. I have a Masters in English, and do have vague plans to get a PhD. Now, for the most part, I love the classroom (admittedly, this coming session is not something I'm terribly looking forward to, but more on that in a minute or three.) I love interacting with my students, imparting my knowledge to them, and learning from them.  That's the reason I became a teacher in the first place, whether we're talking my preschool days or my college days.  I love working with students.  It's a blast!  And consider, every 16 weeks, my routine changes.  That is AWESOME!!!  And, I love working with like-minded individuals who challenge me to be the best English prof I can be, and to learn more about, well, everything.  I've been fortunate to work, primarily, with colleagues and administrators who really are keeping the idea of learning in academia.  So, that's the positive.

Here's the negative: A regular full-time faculty member's load is capped at 4, maybe 5 classes, depending on the institution.  Now, yes, they also have other duties they're required to discharge, including advising and committees and whatnot.  And, they're compensated accordingly (at least at the institutions I'm familiar with.) This compensation takes the form of what I consider to be a very nice salary, and benefits--you know, insurance, vacation days, sick leave, all that good, fun stuff. Now, here's the negative I was talking about: I am an adjunct.  Technically, I'm a "part-time" professor.  That's what adjunct means (actually, you can go here for a full definition of the word.  Let me tell ya, reading that was depressing...).  I teach for 2 colleges; 4 classes at one, 3 classes at the other.  PLUS, I do my own fair share of student advising.  I keep office hours, both face to face and online. Admittedly, I don't have to worry about committees, but if I want to have a larger voice and presence in the institution's life, I should attend some. And I would!  I think it would be fun!  But, I don't have time.  Mainly because, as I mentioned, I teach 7 classes at 2 colleges.

Do I do this for my health?  Hells no!!!! Truth be told, I'm probably one of the unhealthiest people I know (laziness and lack of time.  But I am working on it!) I do this, the teaching 7 classes, just to make ends meet.  And I live, horribly but predictably, paycheck to paycheck.  I have no health insurance (thank you, Obama, for making that a possibility in my nearish future), I have no savings, and because of how academia works, I really have no funds going into social security (we have a social security replacement thingy--Tiaa-Cref...) I have no vacation days (although, yes, I do get quite a bit of time off in between classes.  That's not as nice a thing as it sounds...) I have no sick days (if I get sick and can't teach, my pay gets docked.) And, since I have no insurance, I only go to the doctor for the REALLY serious issues, when I can't avoid it anymore...

Because I'm single, childless woman, I'm not eligible for ANY public assistance, and because my job is classified as temporary/part-time or whatever, I can't get unemployment in my between months (and fyi--there are 2 months where I don't get a paycheck AT ALL.) And I need stuff.  Biggish stuff... Expensive-ish stuff.... (like a new car... eek!!!!) How I'm going to get said biggish, expensive-ish stuff, I've no clue... I'm sure I'll figure something out.

I'm not writing this post to complain.  Really, I'm not.  Because honestly, if I don't like it, I can get out and go elsewhere and get a job.  It might take me a while, in this economy, but hey, I have a master's degree, which basically means I am a DEMON on the research.  I can get shit done.  Trust me... So eventually, I'd be employed,and I'd probably be employed with bennies and everything (oh, paid vacation days, how I have missed you...) Rather, I'm writing this post because in all my online travels, I've never seen anyone give a frank, full depiction of the life of the adjunct.  Actually, I take that back, there was this blog post I read a few months ago... but yeah, I can't find that blog post now.  Too bad, it was pretty good.... And I think a frank, full depiction of the life of the adjunct is a very beneficial thing to have somewhere, because we put up with a lot in order to stay in a profession that is, for many of us, a labor of love.

Okay, so why am I not really looking forward to this coming session?  Well, mainly because of the 5 full-time positions available this year, I interviewed for 4 of them. And obviously, since I'm still an adjunct, I didn't get the job.  And that hurt.  And no, it doesn't really help that I know another worthy adjunct got the job.  Dammit, that was supposed to be mine! (just sayin') I'll get back into it, I'm sure, and it's not my students' fault I didn't get the job, so that's what I'm going to keep in the forefront of my mind this week as I prepare for classes (all 7 of 'em...) I am looking forward to seeing the students.  So I guess that's something...

So speaking of preparation, I should really get back to that...

RLW

UPDATE (8/30): I am happy to report, as of the 1st day of classes last week, I was all nervous and weird and stuff, which, in my world, means that all is at it should be.  I'm still happy to be in the classroom. so, you know, yay! and stuff... ~RLW

Cooking?

So, I'm trying to eat healthier, to lose weight (cuz, well, I need to) and feel better and save money and whatnot.  The sad part is, I used to cook all the time in grad school (broke college student, anyone? Anyone? No? okay...) but then I moved back home (literally, back into my old bedroom in my parent's house...eek!  No, really, I very much appreciated that I could! But still, I had so much stuff!!!!!!) Anyways, after leaving Orlando and moving back in with mom and dad, I didn't really cook too often anymore.  There was no need, because Mom cooks most everyday.  And when I finally got my own place again, I was teaching 3-4 classes AND working full-time...  So really, not much time.  So I never really got back into cooking.

So now I'm not teaching as much (okay, now I'm not teaching at all... SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER, BABY!!!!!!!!!!) and I am, quite frankly, overweight, and I'm gonna be broke here soon, 'cuz I don't get paid when I'm not teaching (the joy of being an adjunct).  So, gotta get cooking.  Literally.  And hey, it saves me money, and I eat healthier!

I made my first ever pot roast a few weeks ago.  Amy and Sara said it was good.  Amy's is better (but also, she's got a family of 5 and cooks CONSTANTLY! And feeds me quite often... :) Love her!) And then I made a lasagna, but really, I don't think that counts, because lasagna is, at heart, a baked good, and I can bake my butt off.... So a good friend of mine, Deb (of "My Deb has Moved") is also a very good cook, and before she left, she gave me a number of pointers for makin' dinner fancy-ish but simple (orange-cranberry-glazed pork chops... oh so yummy.  with HOMEMADE scalloped potatoes.  OMGGOOD!!!!!!!! I didn't even know I liked scalloped potatoes!)  I also made my first steak a few weeks ago, marinated in orange juice and teriyaki glaze, and I've been eating a lot of chicken marinated in various things, as well.  See, that's kinda the thing. I am REALLY good at planning meals, and marinating meats, and all that stuff.  But the actually cooking, the heat and stuff, yeah, that sometimes gets me... When to saute, when to broil, etc... and there will be NO frying (one, not real good for me, and two, kinda scary!)

But, my friends on Facebook are stepping up and offering suggestions on HOW to cook things, and giving me links to helpful hints.  They rock! So tonight I had chicken quesadillas.  YUMMY!  Tomorrow, no idea, but I'll figure something out!

Eat well!

RLW

The Crafting season has begun!!

Well, for me, at least. My crafting season is the month between classes. I'm making earrings, working on a peyote stitch necklace (should be fun!  You can see the inspiration for this necklace here), I may cross-stitch a bit, I'm making some cards, and I'm wondering how to pay all the bills. But I'll figure it out!  I always do. I'm going to enjoy this month off, and maybe next week, I'll do some work to get ready for Fall Session. Or maybe not.  Maybe I'll take 2 weeks off... and decoupage!

So I'm watching Heroes for the 1st time.  I'm on Episode 5 or 6.  Can I just say, thank god for Netflix!?!?!  See, this is one of those shows where they, very meanly, leave you HANGING at the end of each episode!  UGH!!!!!

Okay, I'm over that now... Overall, pretty good show.  Lots of cuties...and a pretty good story.

Ah, vacation.  There's something to be said for a vacation.  Now if only I could go somewhere... Maybe next August.  Maybe this Christmas!

Have a great day!

RLW

My Deb has moved....

Or at least, I think she has.  I helped her pack some more stuff yesterday, so I'm hoping she was able to finish up and get out of here today. I haven't heard from her yet, and if she was still packing, I didn't want to interrupt...

See, my friend Deb is moving from Florida back to Arizona. :(  She doesn't really want to, but kinda has to at the moment. So, because she didn't really want to move, she was kinda dragging her feet about the whole packing thing.  Add to that that she lives in a 2600 square foot house; she has a lot of stuff.  Gorgeous stuff.  The type of stuff I can only hope that I may one day have. And as we're packing stuff, she'd tell me the stories of where things came from... Absolutely amazing. She gave me some wonderful treasures as we were working, things that I hope to one day be able to give to people I love (the vase, especially--gorgeous silver with a ring of yellow, blue, purple, and red tiles set in just below the rim.  beautiful!)

But to top it all off, she gave me the ENTIRE contents of her spice cabinet, fridge, and pantry.  7 boxes, and the big cooler... I sent things home with Amy, took stuff to my mom, and I still have an entire cookie sheet full of spices that have no home.  And see, since I'm heading into my broke month, this is the best possible gift she could have given me, since now I essentially don't have to worry about groceries for ages.

I hope Ms. Deb is doing okay, driving all the way to Arizona. I'd hoped to be able to drive with her, but my school schedule made that impossible. She is truly the most generous woman I know, and I'll miss being able to see her as often as I'd like.  This isn't truly a parting, since we do still have phones and email and Facebook, but it's not the same as her being here.

So, Ms. Deb, drive safe, be good, and have fun.  Don't forget the pics and my postcards.  I hope you made it out of Florida!

RLW

:( so now what?

Well, all the teaching positions have been filled, and not by me... which begs the question... what does one do after having been so focused on a thing, training for it, hoping and praying for it, and then being denied that thing?  Well, if you're psycho and unbalanced, I imagine that you do all manner of not okay sorts of things, and while I may very occasionally entertain such notions (really, who doesn't from time to time?) I'm certainly not the type to do them.

But the question still remains: what the hell do I do now... See, I'm broke... I have to teach as many classes as I do each session (more than the full-timers) just to make ends meet... and now I'm facing the necessity of a new car... a new computer... the large-ish hole in my kitchen ceiling (okay, not really a hole, but an unsightly mess all the same...) the scary downstairs bathroom... you know, all the stuff that adult-type people need to take care of.. Only, there's no extra fundage.... I'm in no danger of losing my home, as I know a lot of people are, so yes, I know that in that respect I'm blessed and I should just shut the hell up... But I feel a bit betrayed... I mean, I've been an adjunct for 10 years, and I love teaching... But I'm not sure I can keep doing it (not because they don't want me there, but because I'm in my mid-30s now, and I'm feeling the need for a bit more stability...)  So what do I do now?

Where's that Prince Charming Disney promised me as a kid?  I could really use him right about now...

Okay, yes I know, I am a strong, independent woman, a feminist, and I need no man (on offense guys! I do like you, and you are handy to have around. :)) but I will be the first to admit--I suck at the whole money thing... I just don't get it...

So, I need a plan.  I'm sure I'll come up with a plan, I just hope I come up with a plan that allows me to sleep (the 8-class session comes to mind as a HUGE mistake.  but it was fun!) I've been doing research, pondering the various tracks I could take starting with an MA in English Literature.  You know what I've discovered?  I'm qualified to teach... and do research... and that's something I'm good at... so, you know, surely there's something out there.  I actually have two friends both looking into getting their paralegal certifications, and I have a cousin who's a paralegal, so I'm thinking I might pick her brain.  Because as I understand it, paralegals, in addition to their other duties, do research... but then there's that whole office thing... gives me the heebie-jeebies...

And I'm applying to a few online colleges and tutoring companies. That should at least take the edge off the financial situation... and who knows, maybe the jewelry thing will really take off!  (I have a new shop name, btw--Definitive Designs by R.Wilson... kinda cool, huh?  A friend came up with it!)  I'm still making earrings and bracelets, I'm working on some lanyard ideas, and I just bought some polymer clay!  I can't wait to play!!!! (ooh! I rhymed!  maybe I'll be a poet!  okay yeah, not really... :))

So I'll keep you posted.  Thanks for reading my wallow in self-pity.  I promise I'll get it over it soon....

RLW

Welcome to the wonderful exciting world of online classes....

For the first time ever, I'm teaching an online class... I've been teaching for years, and I love it, and I use technology wherever I can in my classroom (cuz I love that too...) but this summer is the FIRST time I've ever taught online.  Wait, I take that back.  There was that one time, a few years ago, teaching for a spin-off of Phoenix.  The "environment," if it could really be called that, was all email.  It was hideous.  So hideous I don't even have that mess on my resume.... So, really, this summer is my FIRST time teaching an online course in a real, honest-to-goodness academic online environment (SPC uses Angel...)

So, this online class.  I knew it was going to be a lot of work.  What I did NOT know was exactly HOW MUCH work we were talkin'... I consider myself a rather good teacher, and I really enjoy my work--this is my passion.  And in a F2F class, I have no problem making a TOTAL fool of myself if necessary (I think it stems from starting out in a preschool...) And I honestly think that my F2F students really get a lot of info that they need, but that I don't always realize I'm giving them--you know, like what not to do, where to focus their efforts, etc--usually simply by the WAY I say things, my tone of voice, my expression and gestures. Lo and behold, the first set of essays from my online class, not exactly what I was expecting.  And all because they didn't get all those unconscious verbal cues.  So I've spent much of the last week trying to revise guidelines to be that much more specific, and addressing questions from my students (they're wonderfully forbearing with me). I've never had to think so much in a class as I have this session (admittedly, teaching my first online class in an accelerated session, probably not my best idea), but I'm actually finding that I'm becoming a better teacher.

Will I continue teaching online classes? Well, yes, mainly because that's where academia is moving, and I don't want to be left behind.  But will I ever leave the classroom? That big echo-y room where I am the QUEEN?  Hells no.... I love it too much!  And I'm getting used to teaching online, getting more used to using all the tools Angel has that I've been able to ignore up to this point. And I'm actually having fun! (yes, I have an odd sense of fun).

I'll keep you posted on my progress!

RLW

ummm... eek?

So, I have an interview today.  An interview that REALLY matters to me... more than any of the others I've had this year...And I'm terrified that I'm going to do something to F it up.  Which begs the question... why do I do this to myself?  See, intellectually, I know that I can do this.  I've BEEN doing this for 10 years... TEN YEARS!!! And in addition to all the getting ready for school business that I had to take care of this week (classes started this past Monday) I've also spent the week planning for this interview.  I have to do a 10 minute lecture demo, a 10 minute online assignment walk-through, and then the interview itself. I have my PowerPoint on Fused sentences all ready, it's even been proofread by two of my colleagues, and I've completely revamped the Lesson 8 info in my online class.  And this is my 3rd interview of the year, so really, I KNOW that I can do this...

But OMG I WANT MY MOMMY!!!!!!  I know, part of the problem right now is that I don't even need to leave here for another 45 minutes... I'm showered, hair's washed, outfit is planned... still have makeup and stuff, but by this point in my life, that takes AT MOST 5 minutes.... So what do I have left to do? Freak myself the F out.... that's it.... Plus, this is the campus where I've been an adjunct for 5 years, it's just up the road from my house, it's beautiful, the people are awesome and I SOOOOOOOOOO want to work there.  It's home... The other three interviews--two were for campuses I'd never been to, and the other is my second home, but it's 45 minutes to an hour away from me... Really, that's its only detraction....

I'm an adjunct.  What that means, in a nutshell, is that I do GREAT HEAPING GOBS of work for very little money.  But I love it. In fact, I don't think you really stay the type of adjunct I am for long if you don't absolutely LOVE teaching...  Cuz, really, it's a thankless job.  No bennies AT ALL, and you're not "guaranteed" classes each session (although that's not usually too much of a problem--adjuncts outnumber full-timers, and there's usually more than enough students to go around...) And I've been doing this for 10 years... for two colleges.... Yeah, I'm a little crazy...

But now I have a chance for all that to change, and I just HOPE and PRAY that I don't screw it up royally! So, you know. eek!!!!

RLW

Whew! Am I glad that's over!

Okay, so it's not really over.  Well, Spring session at SPC is over... but I'm still in the midst of exams at HCC--have one more to give on Monday, and THEN it's over.  Then I have a lovely 4 days off before the fun starts all over again for Summer session!  Joy!!! Okay, really, I'm okay with it... but I do wish we had a bit more time between Spring and Summer.  Cuz, see, we get this lovely month off after Summer session (which is always when the creative finances come out to play... but that's another post altogether...)

So, let's see here.... Okay, I want to give some kudos to my SPC students, they (mostly) did really well.  and so far, so have the HCC students.  We'll see how the Monday students do.  But I wanted to mention one student in particular (who's partially to blame for me starting a blog...) and the idea he prompted me to start looking into earlier this week.  Although, I have to say, at the moment, it's still just an idea, and I haven't had a chance to look into it... So, I always offer my students extra credit in the form of a writing / reading journal.  Very few of them take me up on it, and fewer still do well on it, usually not realizing the difference between a writing journal and a diary.  But every once in a while I get a most awesome gem.  A few sessions ago, it was the journal of an artist, who incorporated her artwork with her thoughts on the various things she read or saw, and it was just one of the coolest looking journals I've ever seen. It was also well written, because she was (and is) a particularly conscientious student.

This past session, the journals I received were good, but in general by no means spectacular.  Except for one particular student. This particular student, Chris, asked if a blog would be okay. I thought the idea sounded brilliant, not least because then I could read it throughout the session, and not be inundated by it at the end, but also because I remembered this guy from the Comp 1 class he took with me, and I remembered the wonderful insights he had on the quotation assignments I did that summer, and how I was always a bit sad to see his work end. He has such an interesting voice, that I literally couldn't wait to see his work.

So, what was the idea he prompted, you ask?  I'm getting to it, I'm getting to it! (yes, I love a good tangent...) Okay, so in Chris's last post on the journal blog (which you can find here...) he mentioned that he would like to take a class in "blogging (or perhaps online writing)" which triggered in the dim recesses of my memory the graduate work that a friend of mine was doing a few years ago.  In fact, her dissertation is on blogging.  I've not had a chance to read it, but I'd certainly like to, particularly since she's brilliant, and I've found myself, over the last week, itching to write something here (curses on having too much work...)  (Oh, Chris also said I was unafraid to try new things. Seriously, she could teach the instructors of my more technical classes a few things about being innovative. Office hours on Skype was particularly great."  That just plum tickled me... Seriously, that's like the best compliment I could EVER possibly receive as a professor.) Okay, so back to the idea Chris prompted... I often try (and rarely succeed) to incorporate info on resume writing in my classes, because it's important, and well, I used to be a resume writer.  So that, I know.  But the minute Chris expressed a wish to see a class on online writing, I got to thinking, what exactly would that entail?  I know that there could be (and probably is, at some other institution) a full class already developed for this.  And I think there's a definite need for it.  Think of all the different types of online writing there is--emailing, blogging, commenting, Skype, twitter, Facebook, MySpace, online courses... the list literally goes on for days... These are just things that I've used, and I freely admit, I'm jumpin' in the boat a bit late here (for instance, I'm teaching my FIRST EVER online class this summer...) And the caliber of writing I've seen online runs the gamut from brilliant, both technically and contextually, to downright dismal.  I've seen blogs from people trying to be legitimate, and who probably have very good ideas, that I quite frankly COULD NOT make heads or tails of! And let's not get started on the tech aspects of the whole deal... So, what would one include in class on online writing, or, more specifically for me, a module on online writing?  This should, ideally, be a thing that occurs AFTER the basics of Academic writing have been covered. And obviously, those same guidelines I request that my students follow in their academic papers would be relaxed in a class on online writing, but what else would be included?  Definitely a tidbit on tone, and persuasive arguments (some of the comments I've read on various articles and whatnot are appalling! So rude!)

I know that this is something that I'm going to have to ponder for a while, and I'll keep you posted on my progress.  This definitely seems like something that needs to be included in the curriculum...

~RLW

End of Term Mania

Well, the end is nigh. the end of the session, that is.  And as usual, I can't get motivated.  So instead, I started working on a beading project!  Cuz, you know, I don't have ENOUGH work, let's make more! I mentioned in my last post that I had finished the piece for the Art with Heart contest, but the piece I ultimately created wasn't AT ALL what I had originally planned.  Normally, I'm okay with that.  But this time, the idea of the original design just will not leave my head! The original plan was to have the cab-and-filigree focal hanging from a beaded arrow-shaped bib-type necklace thingy... I can see it in my head, I promise. And it was awesome!  But as I worked on that piece, as will often happen, I just kept changing my mind and redesigning. So I ended up with the crazy cuff-type bracelet instead (speaking of that piece, I still need to name it.  I suck at names...)

So, this idea is stuck in my head, and I'm trying to realize it in actual beads.  I've started with a square stitch, done in sections to make it good and tight.  It's about 4 inches long, and every few rows, I'm decreasing it by a few beads.  The kinda fun part about this one, though, for me, is that I'm literally using every color seed bead in size 11 that I have.  All of them.  Even the black.  Initially, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but the more I play with it, the cooler it looks. Now, to consider the focal.  I have a vague idea that I'd like to play with the skulls (I have a lot of skull beads.  I love them... apparently, it's kinda my thing...), but I really want to do all the shades of pink with my little wooden skulls.  Another project I can see in my mind, and let me tell ya, it looks cool.  But what to do with this one?  Since I'm totally not sure, and I have a feeling this will be an ongoing, evolving project, I'll just have to keep pondering. In the meantime, I have a request for a lanyard I need to ponder, and several sets of essays and whatnot to grade over the next week.  Oh, and lets not forget getting ready for summer session! oi....

RLW

Pricing myself...

Yeah, yeah, I know what some of you are thinking... that's NOT what I'm talking about... What I AM talking about is pricing my work. Whether it's my work as a resume writer, my work as an employee and professor, or my work as an artisan, I have trouble pricing myself.

For example: It took me, quite literally, years to figure out what I should charge for my resume services.  I knew what the company I used to work for charged (thousands....) and I knew I was good at my work, but what to charge?  And more importantly, what will people pay? I finally hammered out a price list that I feel comfortable with, and I have it in writing on my resume business cards. Unfortunately, I still have trouble sticking to it.

Another "pricing" issue I have when it comes to myself is when I'm looking for a job... you know, that part in the interview where they ask the dreaded, "well, how much are you looking to be paid" question? I hate that part. I suck at that part.  Thankfully, in academia, that's a moot point, as it pretty much depends on what level of education you hold.

And finally, the problem I'm having most often lately, is deciding how much to charge for a certain piece.  For example, earrings.  I love to make earrings, because for the most part, it's an immediate gratification kind of a craft. Unlike bead weaving, where the piece takes shape over several days sometimes, I can make a nice pair of earrings in about 15 minutes to an hour, usually.  And I think I make some pretty kick-ass earrings.  But what to charge for something that is, to me, an easy craft? Yes, there are the purely logical concerns--how much did I pay for the supplies, etc., but that doesn't reflect the skill required to put the piece together, or to imagine how this bead will look with that chain and that focal and toss it all together in the melting pot of my brain. That's where I begin to have issues.  After I figure out the purely logical stuff--you know, in order to make a profit, I have to charge at least x amount of dollars to cover the cost of the piece, what do I then charge for my time and skill? That's my concern...

Consider, I don't want to overprice a piece, because then it will never sell, and no one will ever see the work, and I would ultimately rob myself of any other sales.  But at the same time, I don't want to underprice a piece, making it seem, in the eyes of the consumer, to be "cheap." How does one hit on the happy medium? Well, so far, I've relied on my best friend and her husband, basically asking questions like "How much would you pay for this?" For earrings, I've settled on a fairly simple stratagem of starting with a base of $10, and then, depending on how complicated and involved a piece is, going up from there.  But what about necklaces?  And bracelets other than the elastic variety? Those pieces are more time-consuming to make, and to plan.  And bead-weaving?

I have a bracelet I recently made for the charity beading contest Art with Heart over at the Beads-n-Blessings blog... it's a rather fussy and involved affair of woven Toho's and delicas (I think I love delicas) with bugles and fringe and a cab and filigree focal (pics later, still need John at Paparazzi Entertainment to take 'em for me...).  It's a beautiful bracelet (although Amy did say it was over-the-top 80s but awesome) and I don't think I'll sell it, simple because I don't really want to part with it just now.  Several weeks worth of work and planning went into it's creation.  And although I'm not planning to sell that piece, several people have asked "how much?" Which is really what brought me to finally writing this article.  I created the piece mainly to see if I could, and because I enjoyed it. How do I put a price on that enjoyment?

So, as I continue to struggle with this whole concept of pricing, while I also devoutly wish someone would just come do it for me, I'm trying to keep track of the things I can control easily--like the cost of supplies (got all my receipts in a file folder. whoo-hoo! LOL) In the meantime, I'm just going to continue enjoying beading and learning new techniques, and worry about the rest of it later.

RLW

Facebook and Midsummer Night's Dream....

So, I'm sitting here in class, and my students are watching A Midsummer Night's Dream... I love the play-viewing week, because I get so much done. usually.... Today, not so much....

See, I think the problem is general grading fatigue, and the access to a laptop, where, I admit, I usually have Facebook open on a tab.  And my friends are wonderful, and intriguing, and awesome, and.... really, I don't have enough positive adjectives to describe... But that's almost the problem--I have wonderful friends who post really nifty stuff that I want to investigate, and for some reason, I cannot focus on the grading I need to do (okay, so also, I'm sitting here in semi-darkness.  You ever tried to read mediocre handwriting in the dark? Not fun...)

But that brings me to another thought.  I love Facebook.  I have a lot of friends and colleagues who have a love-hate relationship with Facebook, and I've often wondered why.  For my colleagues, I know that it has a lot to do with how much time our students "waste" on the site, especially when they're in the classroom (I teach in several computer labs) supposedly listening to us, participating in the course discussion, or otherwise engaged in learning. For my friends who aren't also colleagues, though, I'm not really sure.  But again, I think it falls back to time "wasting".  Cuz, yeah, Facebook can be a huge timesuck.  Think about it--we have all those great games (yes, I like and play the Zynga games... my Farm is cute!), we can send silly gifts (my favorites of all of them remain the "send-a-sperm" that were making the rounds when I first got onto Facebook), and we can check in with ALL of our FB friends.  But that last, that's the real reason I love love LOVE Facebook! See, I had a HUGE group of friends in highschool, and then, as tends to happen, we all lost touch.  Well, most of us.  I've discovered small pockets kept in touch (like my 2 best friends and me).  Since we've all gotten on Facebook, though, we've reconnected, and we're reforging those relationships we had momentarily lost over the last 16 (gasp!) years.  We're having picnics, Ikea trips, we're meeting new friends through our old friends, and we're supporting each other in our endeavours.  I think we're becoming better friends for the long separation, even though most of us aren't in even the same state anymore. So, I love Facebook.  I love to get up in the morning and see what new things my wonderful friends have thought of (it helps that my "morning" is about noon-ish in the real world.

Okay, back to reading poetry based on "Hazel tells Laverne." Yes, I'm mean.  I make them write the occasional poem.  I'm happy to say, they actually do really well with it!

RLW

Why a blog?

So, I've told a couple of people I've started a blog. Most are enthusiastic (although my mom's comment of "for people to read?" cracked me up. her emphasis was on the "people" part...) but the question I keep getting asked is "what's it for?"

Honestly, I hadn't really thought that far ahead, and if I had, I think it was just for me. Like I said, I'm an English teacher, and so I tend to both read and write profusely.But, I don't just want my blog to be about teaching.  Yes, I'm a teacher, but I'm not just a teacher.  Likewise, I make jewelry... but I don't want my blog to be just about jewelry... So I guess, if I must categorize myself (although, really, I defy categorization...) I would say that my blog is about me.  About my interests.  About the ins and outs of my life (but not necessarily the daily minutiae of that life).  Some things I hope to discuss is the difficulty I have in pricing myself, the oddities of discussing plagiarism in college classes, what I want... but that's just the tip of the iceberg.  There's so much out there that's interesting to me, and there's so many things I ponder.  So I guess this blog is about my ponderings...

Should be fun, huh? :D