The 2012 Winter Semester (they officially call it Spring but since it starts in the winter, I call it what it is) is about to wrap up. I’ve got a final to administer and a final to take tomorrow. Then it will be over.
Sixteen weeks. Typically they pass without too much trouble but that was not the case this time around. Let us list the things that happened.
1. The loss of two classes.
I lost two of the four projected classes for this semester. Combined with an ongoing budget problem that I can’t seem to get under control, this pretty much made moving into the new two bedroom apartment impossible. In retrospect, I suppose it has been a bit of a blessing.
My mother said, “You are going to inherit the house when I pass, why not stay?”
Yes, there is the stigma of a forty year old man living with his mother. On the other hand, it is balanced by having an office that I can use during the colder months.
2. Relationship Stress.
Trinity and I had our share of problems which has led to her imminent move into an apartment of her own. I will be remaining behind. In many respects, I think this is for the best. I can be a notoriously difficult person to live with. She, I think, needs the additional independence in order to feel better about herself.
We’ll move forward and see where the relationship goes after the move out.
3. Various illnesses and ailments.
My brother went into the hospital for his own medical issues, which I won’t get into. Toss in my own health, which hasn’t been the best over the last sixteen weeks and what you have is a hot mess that chewed up a lot of time.
4. Lifeguard Instruction.
On a more positive note, I served as lifeguard instructor for my summer employer this spring. This is my first experience with team teaching and there is a lot to like about it. The additional influx of money arriving every two weeks was helpful and I believe that the job has made me a better lifeguard. It also highlighted some ongoing weaknesses in my own understanding of the profession.
There is room for improvement as well, however, my employer has a stringent social media policy. More to the point, even if they didn’t, such opinions are not fit for public display. I’ll want to ponder on those opinions privately for a bit.
5. The Promotion Effort with the Summer Employer.
I applied for promotion with my summer employer. At this time, I can only reveal that I will be working with my summer employer. More info will follow soon enough but after a very long process, I think we’ve reached a position both sides are comfortable with.
It was a long process and it did not proceed in the manner I had envisioned. It was a costly process in that Trinity and I both believe that the stress of pursuit may well have put additional strain on the relationship. I’m still processing what it all means.
6. The Writing Effort.
I managed, at last, to move forward with a project which is nearing readiness for submission to market. The only reason it is nearly ready is more due to the market’s own submission guidelines than any effort on my part. The market only needs a thousand word excerpt plus an outline and a paragraph long summary.
Hopefully we’ll have some luck.
7. Struggles in Spanish 102.
Spanish 102 proved to be as difficult as predicted. I had endless trouble and never enough time or energy to get anything done properly. If I can make a C in the class, I’ll be satisfied enough. However, I will be retaking the class again either this Fall or this Winter.
My knowledge of Spanish is, for the average American, actually tolerable. I can read it in fragments. I can speak very simple sentences. If it is spoken slowly enough to me, I can understand simple sentences. I’m probably right about where a five year old speaker is.
Which really isn’t good enough for me. I want to do better.
So it has been a long haul and I’ve been fortunate enough to have two classes of relatively decent students for the journey this semester. Now I’m looking forward to the summer.
Hopefully some sun, some laps in the pool and whatnot will recharge the batteries.
We’ll see.
Respects,
Steven Francis Murphy
Author of The Limb Knitter and Tearing Down Tuesday
Kansas City, Missouri
Those that done said stuff