Monday again.

Well, it's Monday again. I had a great shopping weekend and went to work today feeling much better about myself than I did last week (please reference the post about Thursday's unfortunate outfit!). It always helps when you feel like you look nice!

A realtor called me to show the house today. She called me about 2:30 and wanted to bring her client by the house around 3:15. Yikes! Not a lot of time to pick things up! I raced home and did a whirlwind cleaning. Thankfully, we had had an open house on Saturday, so the house was clean underneath the messiness, and it wasn't too messy. I got everything neatened up. However, currently there are many, many things in very odd places. Here are some examples:

• There are Netflix movies in a Huggies box in Nick's closet,
• There is a laundry basket containing cleaning clothes and empty water bottles (?) in the front seat of my car,
• There is a whole bunch of random stuff in a Pampers box in Nick's closet (again in his side, because my side is too crowded!),

and my personal favorite:

• There are 3 Walmart bags full of dirty dishes in the corner of my garage!

See, the dishwasher was/is full of clean dishes and I didn't have time to empty it and refill it with the dishes in my sink, so I threw everything in Walmart bags and "hid" them in the corner of the garage! I'm not sure why I haven't done something with them yet...they're really not doing anyone any good out there!

It's a good thing people don't look too closely during walk throughs, or they'd find some interesting hiding places! Oh, by the way...the realtor signed her client in around 3:35. Nick said they were gone by the time he got home at 3:50. Not too promising!!

It Takes a Gallon

So here's the story from last week. This was my Thursday morning! And, let me add up front. These types of things seem to always be stories about me! It's just par for the course in my life! I gladly share, however, so that I might be able to bring entertainment to others!

This was last Thursday morning. Nick was working at the fire department. Austin and I always seem to run late when Nick has to work in the morning because he's not around to help us get ready to go. You'd think I would just get up earlier, but I just keep hitting that damned snooze!

Okay, so Thursday. I was rushing to get ready. I don't have a ton of work pants (or any kind of pants) that fit me all that well these days because I haven't purchased pants in a LONG time. I had already worn all my black pants that week and my other pants were dirty. I pulled out these pink capri pants that I used to wear. Now, they're about 1 size too small for my current bulk, but I thought maybe I could make them work. Also, Heartland was having a "Wear your Alumni Clothes Day," so I decided I could get away with the pink tight pants because I'd pair them with a black ISU t-shirt, which would disguise the belly overhang. Okay, so I'm wearing pink pants that are SO TIGHT, a black t-shirt, pink flip flops, and a ponytail. I got to Sherry's to drop Austin off for the day and saw Cecilia. She gave me this look that was part concern and part confusion. Later, she confessed that she was thinking, "Is Emily going to work today?" I said something to her about that being "Alumni Shirt Day" and she said she had forgotten. Off we went to work.

I had to stop and pick up a gallon of milk for our Slim Fast breakfasts, as it was my turn to get the milk. I ended up getting stuck behind a SLOW driver, so I was feeling even more late and flustered. Please keep in mind that during this whole time, my ever loving pink pants are DIGGING INTO MY STOMACH like no one's business, making me feel oh so pretty! I'm sure I was probably starting to sweat at this point, and you know my feelings about that.

Okay, so I get to work. I carry in my purse, lunch, and the gallon of milk. As I walk in, still mentally questioning my outfit choice, I pass by a coworker sitting at a desk who says, "It takes a whole gallon, huh?" or "Does it take a whole gallon?" or something just as witty. You know she was just trying to make conversation, but really? Really, Faye? Can we just not have a funny conversation about my gallon of milk? This comment was not required. I did not stop and look at her, thus making her feel like she had to come up with some sort of dairy-related joke! Anyway, it did NOT add anything to my morning!! I said something like, "Yeah...can't buy milk much smaller..." even though you TOTALLY CAN!! She said, "I know it!", apparently feeling my milk pain!

Milk incident behind me, I went about opening up my office and getting ready for the day. I noticed, however, that NO ONE ELSE was wearing any college-related garb! I felt totally out of place. I mean, The Big MC might be able to pull off wearing sweatpants, slouch socks, and t-shirts every day while the rest of us wear business casual clothes, but I just felt uncomfortable! I went to Cecilia's office and said, "No one else is wearing the alumni clothes! I might have to go change!" Being the awesome soulmate that she is, she said, "I might be able to go change..." I went back to my office.

At this point, I literally had tears coming out of my eyes because I'm a big emotional weenie. I started logging in on my computer when who should come in to comment on my outfit but Kath herself! She stuck her head in my office and said, "Well, that shirt is really appropriate for today...ha ha ha!" My shirt had the words "Kick me!" on the back of it, and we tend to feel pretty stressed out/yelled at during these last couple of weeks of enrollment! Ha ha. Good observation, Kath. I responded with some sort of nod or "mmmm" in her direction, but her comment did it. The second she left my office, I grabbed my keys and went home to change!!

Oh yeah. When I got back to work, I noticed an email from our HR lady saying, "Don't forget! Tomorrow is Alumni Shirt Day! Wear your Alumni apparel!"

I did not wear my alumni apparel on Friday. No thanks. We did get a great new motto out of this ordeal, though...

IT TAKES A GALLON!

Sunday morning fun

Good morning! Austin and I are having a lovely morning today. We had some eggs and juice for breakfast and have been playing and watching Playhouse Disney ever since. I have to mention here that the Playhouse Disney line up is pretty enjoyable, but they throw in these little 5 minute "minishows" between regular shows, and some of them are the best! I especially like "Choo Choo Soul...with Genevieve!" It's just a sassy lady singing either the ABCs or 123s while riding with some random kids on a train. Simple, but oh-so-soul-filled!

Austin just spent about 10 minutes playing with my flip flops. He really, really likes to put on people's shoes and try to walk around in them. He was actually doing a pretty great job with my flip flops, too! He was putting them on and walking across the room pushing one of his walker toys. Nice work, buddy! Wear those pink flip flops with pride!

The other thing that cracks me up is my son's dancing style! He's too funny. Apparently, he gets the Dancin' Fever whenever he hears the ending song on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I didn't know of this love before this morning (and it may have just started, because we don't watch that show very often). We had the show on and we were playing on the bed in the guest room/downstairs. This song came on because Mickey and his pals had successfully helped Goofy perform in his magic show (and, let's be honest...Goofy needs some help. I mean, the magic words were "hocus pocus" and he couldn't even remember them once during the entire episode until the very end! Get it together, Goofy!!). Anyway, the song basically goes, "Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog!" and everyone on the show dances. Austin starting dancing like a Solid Gold Dancer and saying "dog, dog, dog!" I had to keep rewinding the song so we could keep dancing. It was one of the funniest things!

I'm a bad blogger!

Okay, I know. I'm not blogging as much as I could be (or as much as my sister is!)! I'm sorry! It's been crazy around work still this week, even with the $75 service fee required! Between work, meetings at work, and doing things around the house, I haven't had a minute to get much else done! Sometimes I feel like I just can't catch up.

I'm really wanting someone to buy our house and us to move so at least that part of the Stuff in My Life will feel settled. That will make me happy right now.

As I'm typing this, I just got an email from the realtor. Magoun is still a possibility??? What??? Apparently, he hasn't purchased anything yet. He told Mike (the realtor) that our house has everything he wants except the backyard slope. FTL, Magoun! Let's move on already!!! Also, he's now "holding out" to see if we reduce it. I emailed Mike back to ask him whether or not we should maybe reduce the price by the cost of the resodding job. We'll see what he says...

Hey, maybe I'll go to college today!

Wow. It's Sunday already! Sorry I haven't posted on my blog since freaking Wednesday, but it's been INSANE at my job this last week! As you know if you know me well enough to read this blog, I work at Heartland Community College. School starts a week from tomorrow, as in August 18. Today is officially the last day of open enrollment, meaning you can enroll without having to pay a late fee...I mean...SERVICE fee. (Don't say "late fee"!!!! That's taboo around the ol' HCC!). Anyway, you can imagine that a lot of these people don't know how to register for classes online or don't have access yet since they're new students, so for them, Friday was really their last day to get their classes. Last week was also the last three orientation sessions for new, full time students, so we had a lot going on!

It was seriously nuts around the office. I mean, people waiting for 30-60 minutes to see an advisor only to be told, hey guess what? All the classes you want to take are totally full! Bummer! Also, we decided that Friday was obviously "Bring your parent to Heartland" day, as we had many, MANY overbearing, all up in the business parents with our students on Friday. This happens a lot, but Friday was really a banner day for these helicopter parents. It's not that we don't appreciate a supportive family for our students, but for the love of God, Mom/Dad...little Johnny is now 20 years old. Please let him come to school and make some decisions on his own!!! This is not your educational career!

All in all, the week went okay. Students got seen, classes were chosen, and enrollment ensued. We have many appointments to see next week for the really late enrollees, but since the SERVICE fee will be enacted for people without appointments, we're hoping to see less of those people!

Whew!

Mixed Reviews

I got an email today telling me that I could view my student evaluations from the online class I taught this summer. I've had a few incidents during the term that led me to believe that I probably would have some less than glowing evals. I was right.

I did have some good ones, though! Here's my faves:

Please list any additional comments:

• The instructor was very helpful and cared about teaching, the class, and each student.
• I wouldn't offer any. She did a great job!
• Nothing, I think she did a great job and really enjoyed the class.

Here's my biggest critic:

Discuss how valuable the instructor's supplementary materials (e.g., handouts, problem sets, and instructional materials) were to you.
Horrible!Unorganized, confusing, and the workload was ridiculous for a PSY101 class. She continuously changed course material and/or due dates due to technical problems on HER end. At least 3 of the assignments were identical to other assignments I found on the web that were assigned by other instructors at other US universities. Leads me to think that not much thought was put into the material, my tuition was not put to good use, and that Heartland lacks appropriate instructors.

What suggestions would you offer to the instructor to improve learning in this course?
Look for another job.

Wow, harsh!

Joke's on you, buddy. I get paid whether you liked the class or not!!

Wow...

Why are all of my August posts so Debbie Downer? Sorry, folks...here's hoping this month turns around soon! :)