The End of Summer

I am now enjoying day one of my two week vacation from work.   (Technically it's not a full vacation as I still need to complete grading for both ISU and DMACC by the end of next week and turn in grades.)    ISU Summer Youth Fitness ended on Thursday.    It was a nice closure.    We didn't have any major illness or injury this year.   We did have some major behavioral issues but things got worked out whether the kid was dropped from the program or they shaped up and got better.

The Family Night event was OK.   Due to some major construction in the building, there was some navigation confusion with parents but everything worked out in the end.   (Side note--why don't people read signs?)   I had taken time to put up pretty simplistic and straightforward signs and parents seemed to ignore them.   My grad assistant has already asked to assist me again next year if it works with his contract.   That is a nice load off my shoulders because it's become more difficult to find a grad student that wants to work with kids and be present on a regular basis.   A lot of my undergrad employees are graduating in the next year so I'm going to have to hire a lot of new people for the 2017 session.    Bleh.

My summer DMACC class is ending next week.   Participation has been pitiful in the last two weeks.   It's online so it's not like I can see them face-to-face and tell them to do the work.    All I can do is send class announcements or direct emails.   They have a major assignment due on Monday.   I'm curious to see who turns it in.   My second independent study ends next week too for ISU.  I had a couple undergrads that needed to participate in health methods as they student teach in the fall.   It worked out well as they were able to practice teaching with the kids in Summer Youth Fitness.   They too need to turn in a major assignment next week on Wednesday.

I do plan on going in 1-2 times next week to clean my office.   It's a drag to do during vacation but it needs to be done.   I also have to attend a meeting for supervising student teachers on Thursday.   My next event of excitement will be seeing Jim Gaffigan on Sunday.   I bought tickets months ago and it's Dan's birthday present.   It will be my third time seeing the comedian.   Beyond that, seeing family for Alissa's graduation and going to Czech Days are the next big agenda items.  I'm trying to figure out if I can bop up to Waukon next week too.  Gavin having a car and being self-sufficient will help with my ability to leave.

After finishing "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", I haven't picked up another book.   I hope to read "The Bridges of Madison County" and "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" in the next couple days as the books are both short.   I've only watched one Netflix movie too and it was "Girl with the Pearl Earring" featuring Scarlet Johanssen and Colin Firth.   It's fiction based on an actual painting by the artist depicted in the movie.   I can't remember his name.    I have "The Maze Runner" and "Waitress" waiting to be watched at the moment.   I've seen "Waitress" twice already.   An odd but good movie about a woman dealing with domestic violence.  

Dan and I have passed our year anniversary.   We didn't do anything too special because we are both rather broke right now.   He's trying to work a lot lately because he's not getting enough hours because of low census at the hospital.   If someone needs a day off, he typically takes the shift.   It wasn't a big deal when I was so busy with ISU but bums me out a bit that I may not see him much during my "vacation".   I am also not thrilled about how he's been treated lately by the 13-year old son.   His ex had her boyfriend move in and Taylor also got a new X-box and he's chosen not to stay with Dan on Dan's assigned days.   The younger one doesn't want to do as much either it seems.   I hate how much the kids are dependent on technology and only equate technology with fun.   End of rant.

I guess that's it for now.  

I'm Ready for August

Yes, I'm ready for August and I know that's blasphemy because it means more summer passing by but I'm ready for the ISU summer program to be done.   We've had major issues with getting approval for our t-shirts.   It is ridiculous to not have the t-shirts at this point of the program.   Some rules changed with use of the phrase 'Iowa State University' as well as the use of ISU colors.   Factor in the issue that the director of marketing has been traveling and not checking approvals and appeals.   When I called the office last week and to check on progress they were irritated I was calling but they were sitting on a decision for two weeks.  I also found issues with our accounting, primarily the amount paid for benefits for my employees.    Someone had coded some employees incorrectly in our system and they weren't listed as current students.   It makes a huge difference with the amount of benefits they receive...sigh.   I'm not sure who made the error because it's someone above me on the totem pole.   I am hoping for answers early this week as well as t-shirts being ready.

I wasn't 100% satisfied with the trip to Dubuque last weekend.   It could have been worse, and it could have been better.   I just don't feel equipped to deal with Dan's kids.   I am still toeing the line between what I can and cannot do with his kids.   I almost did lose my temper when on vacation but it didn't happen.   I'm just uneasy about things if we ever decide to progress and move in together.  I feel bad for Dan right now because he found out his ex had a man move in (unemployed) so he feels she's using his child support to support an adult.   I admit that passed through my mind too as that's another person eating food, using water, using electricity, etc.

I finished my Memoirs of a Geisha book and it was quite good.   I'm glad I randomly pulled it off my bookshelf and gave it a go.  I decided to try The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo one last time and I did progress further into the book.   I got past some of the more boring parts and now I'm into the main mystery.   I understand why the beginning is structured so blah-like as they need to set up three different story lines.   I'm just happy to finally get into the series as I've held off from seeing the movie.

It was nice to have LeAnn visit yesterday.   We went to the farmer's market in Des Moines (first time this year).   I was happy to get some cucumbers.   Yes, they have already been eaten.   We got some kohlrabi for Gavin too.   My ability to cut up kohlrabi sucks though as I cut myself trying to peel it and slice it for him.   I'm sure we'll go at least one more time this summer.   I was happy to see one Corgi too.   It was nice to play some tennis too.   I'm not happy with how sunburned I am despite wearing sunscreen.  

Movie-wise, we haven't watched much of our Netflix.   The following movies are from the past weeks:

"Focus"--it features Will Smith.   He's a con man.  He trains someone to help him (female) but ends up parting ways with her.    They find each other again in the future and it messes up another con he's working on.    It was decent.

"The Pianist"--it features Adrian Brody.   I'm actually shocked I haven't seen this movie before as it's similar to "Schindler's List".   It follows a man and his family.    He's a musician (hence the title of the movie).   It's a true story too so they tried to follow the man's story closely when making the movie.   Tough to watch, just like "Schindler's List".  It will likely be added to my Christmas list as it's a movie I'd like to own.    I told Gavin it solidified the fact we need to take a trip to Europe at some point and learn more about the war and Holocaust.

"The Reader"--features Kate Winslet.   A young woman seduces a younger boy/man but then suddenly disappears and suddenly ends the relationship.    He finds her years later when he's in law school as she's on trial for war crimes in WWII due to her involvement with the Nazi party.   She was a guard for a concentration camp.   The movie shows how they reconnect after her sentence.    I do want to read the book too.

"The Edge of Tomorrow"---features Tom Cruise.  It's a futuristic movie about an alien invasion.  I'm not usually a Tom Cruise fan but he did OK in this movie.   Due to exposure to a certain kind of alien, Tom Cruise cannot die but when is killed, he restarts his life again at the same spot.   After redoing the same time frame over and over again, he does figure out how the aliens can be beaten so he works toward that goal.   He finds someone else that has experienced the same non-dying issue too and she helps him.  

I guess that's enough of a update for now!

Downhill Slide

Now that we've entered July, it is the downhill slide for SYF.   The program ends on July 28th.   It's been decent so far but has it's usual behavioral issues pop up.   We are having issues with ordering our t-shirts too due to some rule changes with ISU colors.   I need to start organizing the Family Night event on July 27.   I want to change the schedule for the evening so things flow better but I'm not sure much can be adjusted. 

I spent most of the morning finalizing my schedule for the graduate student orientation I hold from August 15-19.   I need a couple people to confirm their availability to speak to the students but it is set for the most part.    I hope to send it to the new and returning grad students tomorrow so they have early notice on what to expect for that week.  I am color-coding the agenda this time to make it easier for the students.    Some events/meetings only need to be attended by the new students, or those that only teach, or everyone, etc.   I didn't think past versions were too difficult to read but confusion has occurred.    (And these students are getting master's degrees or their Ph.D)

I've been reading a lot lately and it's glorious.   I finished the third Harry Potter book so I'll be obtaining the fourth book soon.   I actually meant to grab it before I left Mom and Dad's this weekend and forgot.   I also read "Darkspaces".   It another book by the author that wrote "Gone Girl".    It was funny that Dad was raving about his book "Gone Girl" when I was reading her other novel.   "Darkspaces" was pretty decent.   It definitely keeps you guessing since it's a murder mystery.

I am currently reading "Memoirs of a Geisha".   I remember hearing about the book years ago and I found it at a book sale in Des Moines.   I think I paid $0.25 for it and it was well worth the quarter.   The author actually sat down with the lady and recorded her verbal recollection of her years as a geisha.   It's an interesting perspective about the social ranks and societal norms.  I think I'll try to read "The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" for the last time after this book. 

I was able to attend Nicole's wedding reception on Saturday.   It was a very fancy affair but the set-up of the event fit the two of them well.   I was happy that Mom could go with me.    I heard from Nicole on Monday with a thank-you for their gift.    It wasn't much but then again, they didn't really have a gift registry since they recently combined households.    We have tentative plans to see ourselves in October when they return from their honeymoon. 

I was able to spend Sunday in Waukon too and it was lazy for the most part.   I was able to join the Smith breakfast and then we went to Riceville later in the day to have dinner with Tony and LeAnn.   Good food, some physical activity, and I got to pet a cool dog.   Not too shabby.   I am wicked sunburnt but luckily it never hurt too badly.  

Dan and I are taking his boys to Dubuque on Friday-Sunday for a mini-vacation.    I'm excited to go somewhere that focuses on swimming.   The indoor water park looks pretty cool.   I need to start my list for packing.   I want to bring snacks with so we aren't spending money on overpriced food at the resort.   Gavin has to work and has a football obligation too.   Saddness.

I guess that's all I have for my update.   I'll likely blog after the vacation this weekend.