Kelly in Kansas

This rain is supposed to be snow!!!! I'm afraid we're going to pay for this in March when we want the 70 degree weather.

The 60 mph winds this morning were also interesting .. . .

Labels: rain, weather, winds

We experienced the very outer edges of the big storm today but it felt like the first day of fall. Instead of being a warm, steamy rain, it was a cool fall-like rain. And I am certainly ready! I love living where we have four seasons. All I wish for is a little more snow but I certainly can go places to find that at the appropriate times of the year.

So far I am on top of everything at school even though a few students who are trying to jump ahead of the curriculum are creating a few issues we will get resolved so that it works out best for them. Our program is increasingly judged by the success of our graduates not only in obtaining full-time employment but also on their scores on the national exam required by the state. I wish there were more ways to help them understand how critical that is to our even maintaining a program to offer them.

I'm still overwhelmed managing some people issues with colleagues but know that, in the end, the truth will win out. It's a good thing that some cliches are true.

Labels: fall, graduates, program, rain, September, summer, weather

Marcia's sister recounts the tornado.

Labels: Carol Stark, damage, Joplin Globe, Marcia, tornado, weather

With a sustained effort late into the night, grading is at last done. Just a bit more content planning for the rest of the semester and the time will fly by.

One of the features my university does not have is a gateway and/or checklist for students to review prior to taking online classes. Some students are still having trouble just saving and sending files correctly - even with specific instructions. The "digital natives" definitely only know their personally-relevant pockets of tech info and aren't always as "eager" to learn something new that has to be done a certain way to work for everyone. For example, to keep track of student work that is submitted as Word or PowerPoint files, they are expected to follow a specific naming paradigm. If the assignment directions are in a Word file, I name that file the same as they are to hand in with an "xxx" in the file name for them to replace with their initials. But, guess what, it's not unusual even late in the semester for them to send me a file that has defaulted to their title on the first line of their file - something unworkable when you're dealing with groups of 20 to 30 files of the same assignment (ie you can't have 25 files that say The_1920s.doc and keep everything straight.) And, despite
putting a heading on the actual page that says "Your Name Here" and "Date Here", they often erase that or, I'm guessing, start with a new file and forget all the guidelines.

Whether the students plan to teach or to go into other careers, they will run into network systems that have definite rules that don't take files and/or input that "almost fit". And, students have several ways to not only check that the file is named right on their computer but also to confirm it was submitted correctly. I highly suggest to them -not- to do anything but browse for the file on the computer and NOT to put anything in the blank boxes on the dropbox screen (we've gone from Blackboard to ANGEL on my campus). The early common mistake was to "name the file" in the blank box "correctly" but send me a file without their initials or the proper file name. And, I try to encourage them to use Open Office if they don't have Microsoft Office. The Microsoft Works people don't seem to understand how to do a "save as" and then send me a file that has .doc.wps which means they haven't followed directions and have typed in the extension instead of chosing it. Even pointing them to online videos doesn't seem to work. I'll just keep revising my instructions and once they don't get points for a file I can't easily open, they usually figure it out. And, once they figure it out, there is usually a chance to resubmit based on previous work. But I think the main issue is that most who take online are still not aware of the tech required despite the up front info I give them and also think it will be easier than an in-person F2F class. Of course, some of these same students are surprised when there are books required for their online history course.

Yesterday I received a friendly email from one our tech-savey librarians who didn't realize he was suckered into helping the student who refuses to learn and keeps finding new people to help him. Of course, this student forgot to tell him that he had a whole folder of information on blogging in his ANGEL site and that we had spent class time on it earlier in the semester. This student found it easier to go to complain to someone than review the material. He also made it clear from previous comments that he hadn't been regularly accessing the course ANGEL site as stated in the syllabus and multiple times in class.

Today I can focus on some more fun aspects of my work. A colleague with whom I'm working on a grant project just called and updated me on what I need to know for my trip to Baltimore this week. I then go from Baltimore to the University of North Texas for an alumni event. Should be fun and my first non-stop (Baltimore to Denver) flight in years. At last with Southwest it should go smoothly.

We're having one last bout of winter weather and I'm enjoying my last fires at the farm. There are clouds but no rain, thank goodness. It looks like it will be another week before the morels are up - we just simply haven't had the warm spring days to get them to pop.

And, I'm going to have to figure out how to get rid of that armadillo that was rummaging around the front yard last night. Argh!

Labels: Baltimore, cold, farm, fire, grading, grants, Southwest, students, tech, Texas, University of North Texas, weather

I arrived back from DC last night and ran into large snowflakes about 30 miles from home. Some folks were being too cautious given the semis that could come up behind us at any time but that was the only real challenge. Not having freezing rain coming down was a definite plus. I think the Tahoe made all the difference - it's heavier than my Explorers were. If I had been driving an Explorer, I'm thinking I probably would have slipped off the road.

I need to finish grading work from this semester. I finished up an OAH newsletter article this morning and then went to Joplin to pick up a Fed Ex package from Santa Fe that required a signature.

Also, a dear friend who is only 40 has been diagnosed with cancer. Luckily, it's small and early . . . . .

More later . . .

Labels: DC, Explorer, snow, Tahoe, weather

The trip to Santa Fe was outstanding - not only the food, Pasqual's is a favorite, but also spending time with colleagues/friends and working with the teachers in Santa Fe as they begin their adventure as part of a Teaching American History grant. They explored western history and seemed keenly interested in more closely exploring New Mexico history.

We have 3 TAH grant applications successfully submitted and I'm helping with some others.

I heard a report on controlling stress this morning and it underscored some of the things I'm trying to do - take pleasure in the small things (ie chopping food for a meal) and don't be afraid to stay in a hot shower a few minutes longer. Since Shadow's been gone, I've been working especially hard to slow down. I stayed at the same place I did when Shadow was with me (the reservations were made when I thought he would still be around) and so some of the memories were a bit difficult but that is just part of what will be happening as I deal with all of this.

I'm hoping to get home tomorrow but the weather may not cooperate. Luckily, I only hit fog about 50 miles out of where I planned to stop. Hopefully driving mostly interstate will mean the roads should be in better shape. It will be interesting to see what I wake up to tomorrow. The worst of the storm isn't supposed to hit here until Monday.

Labels: Santa Fe, Shadow, TAHPS, weather

If only George Clooney had been there . . .

I woke up with a horrendously red left eye and a right eye that wasn't much better. Although the allergies were still hanging on, I had hoped to get a great deal more done today. Yesterday, I had gone back to using my soft contacts because I was tried of not being able to read at a close distance with my gas permeable ones - the doctor warned me at first I could strain and read and eventually my muscles just wouldn't do it any more. I think my mistake was not putting in a new pair - I can usually wear a pair for a week and thought I had only worn the last pair a few days but didn't give much thought to the solution being old given that I'd rinsed them what I thought was properly before I put them in yesterday morning. And, I so enjoyed not having to look for my reading glasses.

I can still remember how excited I was in 4th grade to find out I had to get glasses. Just like the cute boy in my class that we used to chase around the building. I picked out little gold wire rim frames that now I realize look like granny glasses. The good news in junior high was that once I proved I could keep my braces clean, I was able to get contacts by the time I was in 9th grade.

I still haven't adjusted to my bifocal glasses but will have to given that I can't wear any contacts until I go see the eye doctor - who's in the nearby city about 45 minutes away - so a tough call to get back for classes on Monday but I'll have to try. This was also a day it wasn't fun to not have anyone around to take me to the emergency room. Poor little Shadow didn't understand what was going on.

For some reason, I thought my eyes would get better as the day wore on although they actually became much worse overnight. As the doctor explained today, it's likely that I was initially allergic to something and then "obtained" an infection while my eyes were irritated. She said she couldn't tell and to go to my eye doctor on Monday.

I hope he can help me figure out what is up so I can wear the bifocal contacts. I do like them much better overall and am just too stubborn to quit trying - although today's experience will certainly slow me down quite a bit.

In hindsight, I should have started with a new pair and could have maybe saved myself all this grief. Of course, I had told myself I would try them for one day and see how I did before trying to go back to wearing them every day. Before when I had switched solutions, I already had eyes that were a little bloodshot - which I hadn't noticed at first given that I can't see the whites of my eyes until after my contacts are in and I'm then standing too far away from the mirror. Oh well. I am human after all.

I ordered myself a coffee press online so that I don't have to go to Sonic or Starbucks just to get iced latte - which I discover is primarily coffee and milk.

It is supposed to stay in the 80s this week - I'm guessing we will have a fast cool down once the fall weather really hits. The nights are much cooler but with these allergies I won't be using the attic fan anytime soon.

Labels: allergies, coffee, contacts, ER, eyes, George Clooney, weather

It's Saturday morning, the first of September. While we're all usually more aware of the time when we take time to look at the clocks on our computers, I'm not sure we're always as aware of the dates. I find that more of a challenge lately because too much time seems to slip by too quickly.

My friend and I apparently missed our opportunity to see No Reservations at the first run theater and there are no other movies that interest me. The Bourne movie does but I need to make sure to see all of its predecessors from beginning to end to understand it.

I read someone else's blog entry that relates to a colleagues comment about some of my blog entries that focus so much on weather. I hadn't given much thought to so many places where people live (esp. cities) where weather just isn't a factor. Right now, we're watching the weather not only for storms but for signs that it will finally cool down - which it did significantly for the first time last night - below 60. It's actually cool outside this morning - and I don't just mean a cool breeze in the distance. :-)

Fall may actually be my favorite time of year although I love the winter when there is a good clean snow on the ground - it's like a time of renewal. For most of my live the ebb and flow of the seasons and the academic year have been the guiding factors of the "time" in my life - quite different than the year-round jobs most of the world deals with on a daily basis.

This is a work weekend so that I can take off a few weekdays for a long-postponed family event. It already feels productive, however, which is a good thing.

I'm off to the farmer's market in town. I missed the one in nearby town which had some outstanding fried green tomatoes. Wonder what is left today - so late in the season. I primarily have herbs left in my own garden - a giant basil plant and rosemary that is doing okay plus some sweet banana peppers. I had some outstanding cherry tomatoes but the big tomatoes didn't do their thing this year. As with every year, I either have too much time or not enough time for the garden.

And, more good news, the cit is finally getting serious about the fixing the clogged drainage situation that goes on for about 1/2 mile behind my house and the neighbor's house. A new development behind us just chose to push everything - including large tree trunks - onto our property rather than staying back a few feet and keeping it on their own property. I'm still not understanding why the city can't force the developer to fix the problem he created but he's certainly not scoring any points with the neighbors.

Labels: catching up, city, drainage, seasons, September, vacation, weather, work

Where did the weekend go? Am almost done with the big project.

Caught up with colleagues long-distance today. Paula gave me a hard time about discussing the weather too much but then dovetailed it into a discussion of environmental history.

So what about visuals of the latest weather?

Labels: flooding, Kansas, weather, work