Life as a TA

I've been a TA for four weeks now. I've counted. And there are definitely aspects that I like, and definitely ones that I don't. I love to teach the kids, and I really like it when they've learned something...like yesterday. I really hate all of the grading. I've decided that I need an assistant of sorts to grade for/with me. Then I wouldn't be spending 12 hours this weekend doing it. But that's not possible, so I should stop complaining...I've got at least another semester of it. I do like my students though. I like a couple of classes better than others. But all in all, they're not bad.

When I ask them questions, most of them answer and attach a ma'am on to it. It totally shocked me the first time someone did it. Actually, I laughed at him. There are quite a few corp kids in my classes so they're used to calling everyone ma'am or sir but most all of the other students are from the south and there's that southern thing where every authority figure/elder is called ma'am or sir. I still kind of giggle inside but I"m getting more used to it. And some of my students call me Miss Levy (of course said like the tax levy, not the way my last name is supposed to be said) and I remind them to call me Michaella. I'm not that formal! Heck, I have a fifth year senior in one of my classes. I"m practically a peer. Except I control their grade.

Life right now is teaching, going to class, grading and on Tuesday nights softball. I like playing and it gives me a couple of hour break from chemistry. The people on the team are very random and a lot of fun to hang out with. Its definitely just a social thing, not serious which is good. Although they don't like to win. So we just make sure we have more points than the other team at all times. And we have a good time while doing it!

I had a great time with Elizabeth last weekend! I'm afraid I dominated most of the conversation, so Elizabeth, I"m sorry! But we stayed up waaaaaaay late talking and hanging out. I got tipsy on coke and rum and it was a lot of fun. It reminded me of the great times I had at Truman and how special all of you really are to me. Cariss thought it would be a great idea to call me very early on a Saturday morning and we talked for a bit. As alumni gets closer, our phone calls have gotten more frequent. For a while there, we'd talk every 2-3 days. Then it turned into more like every day. Now sometimes, it several times a day. I think we're both really anxious for Alumni. I know I'm really excited. Counting down actually. 21 days till I leave CS for the first time since I've been here!!

That's about all I have. got to get back to the grading....
Miss you all and can't wait to see you at Alumni!

drinking and grading

Well, not so much grading. That's what I'm supposed to be doing, but I got distracted by the internet and House on TV. I did drink though. Grapefruit juice and gin. and I'm feeling it. I haven't drank in quite a while.

The grading part of this job takes forever. I've spent at least 6 hours already grading. And I still have 2 lab sections worth of labs to go. And they take forever. I thought the gin would help, but its a distraction.

That and House. I've gotten addicted to that show as well. But I will be unable to watch it because of slow pitch softball, which I will be playing on Tuesday nights. Whoever invented VCR's was a genious. I can tape House and Greys (which starts next week). Yay for me.

By the way, whoever put the CAPS button where it is wasn't thinking for drunk updates. I've hit it several times already. Annoying.

Other than labs, life has been the same. I have a homework set and a test next week. Don't see a lot of sleep happening. And I"m playing slow pitch softball where I"m pretty much the youngest person by 3-4 years. But most of the players are in their 30-40's and real people. Only 2 other grad students. Everyone is really nice though and I like playing with them. I played in a tournament last weekend and it was a lot of fun, but I was so sore afterwards.

I'm getting to know some girls better up here and I like them. They're fun to hang out with. But we only do something every 2 or 3 weeks. Sad. Liz is coming up next weekend! I'm so excited! I've started planning already. Although all plans are Liz's decision too. More to come later. I'm timed of typing and out of drink.

Have a great weekend/week all!!

school

I've decided that I would have done a whole lot better my second year and part of my third year at Truman if I had just studied. I think I thought I didn't need to. What an idiot I was.

I've been studying some Pchem for a class I'm taking now and it's not that hard of stuff. You just have to work on it. I wish I'd been this smart about studying back then. Oh well. Can't change the past.

Went for a run yesterday. Legs are sore today but in a good way. I think I'll go again tonight. I need to anyway. Get in shape for alumni... :)

Have a great Labor Day all. Enjoy the day if you get it off. I don't.