Bring on the Spring Semester

I've been meaning to blog for days but have legitimately been busy due to prep for next week.   Usually when I get home, I have no motivation to turn on my laptop so it's been a slow process.   I'm still at work (shhh) and figured I'd finish this entry. 

My first piece of excitement is the fact that I bought a piece of furniture.   When talking to Mom, I realized that I never really purchased any furniture in the past.   It was either used/handed down or someone else bought it.   Captain Dipshit bought our bed, new living room furniture, and dresser so I'm actually surprised with how much furniture came with me to the apartment.   Anyway, I got a graphite colored loveseat.   I fell all adult-like making a big purchase like that.   We don't get it til January 16 though. 

 

Some day I hope to buy another nice lounge chair of some sort for the living room.   We'll never fit a couch but then again I'm not sure how many more years I'll live there anyway.   I'm hoping the color and style will easily match to other furniture if I buy more things in the future.

I'll note that I'm not really listing my points of excitement in any order.    In December, Dan and I decided to change our relationship status on Facebook.   It was discussed in the fall  but didn't take place and I guess I was surprised it happened in December.  I unfortunately had a couple "friends" act negatively when they saw the announcement so that was interesting.   Can't say I've communicated with them much anymore.   In theory I should have mentioned this before the loveseat but oh well.  I don't want to copy and paste. 

Let's talk the spring semester:

• I'm teaching two sections of HS 275 back-to-back.  Fairly easy as the content is repeated but the amount of grading skyrockets since I have about 70 students between the two sections.
• I'm teaching KIN 236 which is the Fundamentals of Individual Sport and Fitness.   It's the first time the class has been taught as we've merged two classes into one.    I have to include weight training, which makes me nervous as it's not my fortay.   
• Swim & Gym will start on February 2nd.   Just reminded myself to complete background checks.   Sigh.  
• I'm overseeing the grad students again.   We have a start to the semester meeting tomorrow.   In my head I have an agenda.   I'll organize things better in the morning.   
• I have an all day meeting on Friday and was asked to present during it about my teaching style and strategies.   I'm focusing on how we've added online components to our physical activity classes.  
• I am supervising two student teachers.   Both are located in the Des Moines area.   Both are strong students but it will be interesting to see them in high school settings, especially in the area of Des Moines they are assigned.
• I am teaching PEH 110 (online) for DMACC again.   It's only for high school students.   I still need to record some video and audio to try and better the class.   I learned a lot about high school students last year...they need more hand-holding so I'm hoping some audio with my presentations will help them.   If they bother to listen to the audio....
• I am teaching PEH 178 again for DMACC (online).   It's a sport diversity class.   I made a buttload of adjustments and changes last semester.    It should be easy to implement since I did all the hard work in the fall.   
• And sadly I'm teaching PEH 120 for DMACC.    It meets on Wednesday nights.   Everything else is online.   It's a personal training class.   Yea...I know maybe 25% of what I should to teach the class.   I'm helping my boss out since the instructor for the class is leaving DMACC.   Just irritates me that I'm going to look less than competent.   Sigh.   I haven't even done the syllabus or prep yet because I'm beside myself.   There was a chance it would be cancelled but no such luck.    I shouldn't complain because I'll be teaching 8 credits for DMACC which should pay very well.   It should help me save up money to survive the summer when I don't have full time work.   

I guess not working for the Red Cross is sort of a godsend because I'll have plenty to do between the two institutions.    (Ya, I just taught CPR for ISU an hour ago so it's not like I'll have a break from teaching Red Cross content.)

I was scared to death this past weekend because my back gave out.   It was the same sensation that I dealt with in 2011.   All I did was walk out of the bedroom and when I stepped into the hallway, BAM my legs gave out.   Luckily it was much better within 24 hours.   It was weeks of agony back in 2011.   I kept moving even though it hurt like hell and I think that helped a lot.   My only complaint now is that my left leg is super tight.   I think my back is back to being fine but may be out of alignment so my lower back is pulling on my left hamstring.    It could be my I-band too.   I'll take that over my back giving out though.   And thanks to all this crap, I'm barely noticing my plantar faciatis.  (Not spelled right but too lazy to fix it.) 

OK, time to pack up and work from home.  I want to record some lectures for DMACC and I have to use my laptop.   It would probably look more professional if I did them from my office but oh well.

Happy 2016!!