The Manly Night Out

Hooked up with Jason from Thoughts of a Limemonkey at Grinders last night for some cold ones. I had not seen him since he recorded the first public reading of Tearing Down Tuesday. We shared war stories of various types, to include our own frustrations with the writing business. It was good to see him again.

The Teaching Front

Well, I’ll be taking over a peer’s class this coming Friday. I’ve got a week to prep lectures, some of which are in need of revision. I will be in that class for at least a month, possibly longer. For reasons I can’t get into, I’m hoping that the peer, who is The Boss, comes back soon.

In my own classes I’m two meetings away from the end of the first eight week American History One course. I’ve graded most of their interviews with a historical figure and to be honest, I’m fairly disappointed. Some students took the project for what it was and pushed hard on it. Others didn’t put any effort in at ally. Others still wrote fluff thinking I would not read it.

Grades are doled out accordingly. This is a first draft so they have a chance to improve their lot, but I suspect results will be uniform.

My American History Two class is about to move into Theodore Roosevelt and Progressivism. TR is someone I like talking about. Progressivism not so much. I think we can safely say that he is one of the first of the Imperial Presidents in many ways, the archetype for the Presidency through the 20th Century. I am going to try to give them their second test before Spring Break.

My second eight week American History Two class starts after Spring Break. They’ll receive the same essay assignment as the first eight week class.

Spring Break Plans

Trinity and I aren’t sure what we are doing for Spring Break yet. The temptation is to drive down to the Gulf of Mexico and throw ourselves into the ocean. Yet it seems more likely that we will probably stay around the area. Plans include a trip to a Bed and Breakfast we are both fond of and a trip to Stroud’s (really, really, good food). We had pondered a trip to Lambert’s in Sikeston, Missouri, Home of the Throwed Rolls but once I saw where it was on the map, I decided that perhaps that was further than we wanted to drive.

Powell Gardens is a possibility and maybe (I’ve not told Trinity this yet) a run out to KU to look at the campus museums.

We should have memberships at the Northtown Community Center by then so we’ll both be in the gym over that week as well.

Summer Job Hunt

Well, the hunt for summer jobs is already on. I’ve been looking at Federal Temporary jobs with the National Parks Service. There apparently are some local options that might be viable. I’m going to put in for a few of them.

Outside of that, the only thing I know is that I have no desire to work security again this summer. World’s of Fun is also out. So I’ve got some pondering to do.

So it goes.

Respects,
Steven Francis Murphy
Author of The Limb Knitter and Tearing Down Tuesday

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