Random Thoughts

when you’re having fun. And, if the last week is any indication, even when you aren’t!

I have not had a chance to sit down and write about the NWP Conference. Or what’s going on at work, Moodle-wise. I am going to do both real soon here. I promise!

There are none, of course.  I am not even sure where I have been and what I have done that I haven;t posted here for 2 weeks! Let’s see if I can do better now!

In my day, dorm essentials included a typewriter, towels, and bedding.  We didn’t have refrigerators or coffeemakers or microwaves.  (I went to university in the Stone Age, I guess!) So imagine my surprise today when I received a sales flyer advertising their “dorm essentials” — including a 37″ HDTV!  I wonder how much of this is marketing and how much indicates a new reality, in which 37″ HDTVs are considered a necessity.  I am sure it is mostly hype, but how long it will be before it isn’t?  I am getting old.

I really have no excuse for not posting here lately.  I am just feeling a tad overwhelmed and unable to focus on anything for too long.  I am finishing my summer classes next week, am making a conference presentation on the 15th, test students on the 17th and start teaching on the 19th.  This is going to be a bad month for posts, I’m afraid!

But that being said, I am excited about my classes in the fall.  We will be using blogs and wikis more.  I am anxious to get started!

Well, I was gone for a week.  I thought I would have a chance to post while I was gone, but internet access was limited by having to go to a coffee shop to do it.  And then there was so much stuff I HAD to get done that I didn’t do anything extra at all.  Didn’t even really check email.

But now I’m back home.  I have a ton of stuff to get done, but I think I will get a chance today to catch up on my reading and do some writing.  I have missed it.

For years and years I was amazed that my kids never picked up the instruction manual for any piece of technology; they would just play with it until they figured it out. I could never imagine doing that. But today as I was working with Blackboard and Wimba, I realized that I don’t read the book anymore, either. I am not sure when this happened, bt it has definitely happened.

I looked at many of the others in the course with me — all people about my age or younger. They are where I was a few years ago. I understand now why my kids used to get frustrated with me sometimes!

Anyway, this was something that struck me today. I need to pay attention and see how true it is.

The semester is over. I am now trying to clear away the pile of things that got put to one side so I could finish the semester. I am getting to the bottom of all that, so I will soon be able to read and think and blog again.

Probably not.  But in case you did…  It is the end of the semester.  Life is crazy.  I will return!

Or at least it seems to be passing my blog by!  I am not sure what is happening, but I can’t seem to write.  It isn’t anything major, I don’t think.  Just lack of focus and being busy.  And maybe a little lazy!

I am busy working on several projects at work — my summer course, a plan for an online certificate program and the final changes to the curriculum proposal that is in committee now.  It is all pretty easy and fun, but I am letting it keep me from blogging.

Charles suggested that I might think about a doctorate in Rhetoric and Composition.  There is a big part of me that thinks I would enjoy that.  There is a program at New Mexico State that I will look into more. I am not sure if it is all face-to-face or not.  It looks like it is, but I am not sure.  If it is, I probably can’t do it — except maybe in summers.  But thanks, Charles, for reminding me of this possibility.