Another low yield entry, I’m sure. Mainly just mundane stuff.

I will say this much though. I’ve seen more and more of my enemies float down the river of late. Some of my detractors took a pretty big hit when Realms of Fantasy announced they’d cease publication in April. I do not bear any ill will against RoF (I’m not a fantasy writer but the loss of that market means that the assholes will be competing for slots in markets I am interested in) but one pain in the ass in particular who mentioned me in their blog will suffer as a result.

Petty perhaps to take a bit of glee in that suffering.

Yeah. :) Petty.

[Cue Manical Cackling and Mustache Twisting]

The Student Front

This morning I made it to Computers in Design and got the first assignment turned in. Granted it was late so I took a hit grade wise (as I should) but it was done right. I can make up the points. We’re moving onto the next assignment which is some use of the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator. If I can get them converted to JPEG I’ll see about posting them to flickr and then here at the Pondering Tree.

Already in two weeks I’ve learned more about Illustrator than in two previous classes. My instructor is pretty good, laid back and easy to understand. His voice doesn’t grate on my nerves (unlike my first instructor) nor does he play favorites in such a way that it actually affects your grade (every instructor, whether you like it or not, probably has favorites).

I’ve got some reading to do for American Literature, all female writers this time out. I have two reading logs to do by next Wednesday as well.

Lord I’m busy.

The Teaching Front

When will I learn that I have to review the notes before I walk into a classroom to give my lecture? How many times do I have to make the same mistake? I’m a historian for Christ’s sake. Avoiding repeat mistakes is my job. So I’ve got my notes for killing off Custer locked and loaded for tomorrow. I’ll review them before I go to bed, which previous practice indicates is the most effective way to go.

The study guides are ready though there are already missing a couple of terms. I’ll brief the students on them in class when I hand them out tomorrow.

I have some other teaching issues I’m dealing with but they fall under FERPA privacy guidelines. No, I’m not in trouble or dealing with an angsty student (though I’ve had some of the later in previous semesters). Dealing with these issues will be a bit of a challenge. Too bad I can’t blog about them.

Other Fronts

In seven days I’ll be airborne with Trinity along side for our weekend in New York City. It is my understanding that Timbrook2 will be there as well as some other members of the Overseas Cheeseburger Gothic Contingent. Trinity is so excited she is doing cartwheels.

Given the grief she has received from some coworkers lately, I advised her to use the NYC trip as salt and to go rub it in their various psychological wounds. I’m told this has been somewhat effective.

Pretty mundane entry over all. I did finally finish Meet You in Hell concerning Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick and the Homestead Steel Mill strike. Good book worth reading. I’ll have to write something up at Good Reads in the next couple of weeks.

So it goes.

Respects,
Steven Francis Murphy
On the Outer Marches