The Semester Has Started!!

The semester started Monday for ISU and today for DMACC.   ISU started off very well.    I'm teaching HS 275 (health methods for elementary ed students) for what feels like the millionth time.   I only have one section but I have 45 students in it.  And we aren't in a very large classroom.   It will be tricky to do a lot of my activities during the semester.    I'm teaching HS 375 too (health methods for middle/high school teachers).   I only have thirteen students this semester when I'd prefer 20.   I also have KIN 232 (fundamentals of team sport) for PE majors.   I have 29 students.  It's a new format for the class as it now includes both indoor and outdoor team sports.  In past decades, the class was divided and one class was offered for indoor sports and a separate class was offered for outdoor sports.  

I am overseeing the grad students that teach this semester.   It will be my sixth year supervising that population.   I'm not overly thrilled with the new crop of students.   Holy cow they are needy.   I have one grad student that was stumped when it came to creating an attendance sheet for his classes.   I tried verbally explaining how I do it in Word document (just create a table) and he was dumbfounded.  I tried explaining how to do it in Excel.   More confusion.   Here is someone working toward their Master's degree and needs help with one of the easiest tasks.   We also have some language barriers with some students too.  

Swim & Gym is scheduled to start September 13.   I'm still hiring employees and registering families.  I'm basically needing to hire brand new employees this semester because most others are student teaching.  

I'm also supervising student teachers which usually doesn't happen in the fall.   I have two to supervise until mid-October and one to supervise the second half of the semester.    Not my favorite part of the job but oh well.

I have two online classes for DMACC.   Sports Diversity and Personal Health (high school students) started today.    I teach an evening class on Monday nights.   It's also Personal Health but for college students.   I haven't taught that class in a classroom in two years (I think).  

Gavin started school today.   I feel like I should be shocked that he's a junior but I'm really not.   Considering all the big changes over the summer with getting a job and driving his own car, I accepted that he's almost done with high school.   I think next year will be a bigger shock.    He made an odd announcement tonight about a possible career.   He mentioned becoming a chiropractor.   I wasn't expecting that.   He needs to rethink some classes he wants to take next year if he wants a healthcare career.    We'll see if it sticks.

Gavin is taking chemistry, honor's math (algebra II), Spanish IV, AP English Composition, Classical Film (eye roll), weight lifting PE, and history.   He has a study hall too which is nice.   He's now transitioned to only working weekends for Hy-Vee.   Some weekends he'll work both Saturday and Sunday.   Some he'll only work one day.

The other BIG news is that I've become more public about my consideration for gastric sleeve surgery.   I'm still not 100%.   I'm working through the steps of being eligible.   I have dietitian meetings coming up as well as a consultation with the surgeon in September.   I also have a psych evaluation.  On Monday I had chest xrays completed.   I have to have an EKG and some labs done next month.    I may have the opportunity to have the procedure done the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.   Or it could happen in December when my jobs slow down at ISU and DMACC.   I wasn't planning on it happening until spring break in 2017.    I'm not 100% with the expedited timeline.  I've voiced that a lot with the personnel.  

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

Back to the Grind...

Today is my last day of vacation and I'm back on contract tomorrow.    Sigh.   The week should be pretty straightforward since I designed the agenda but I do have a lot of meetings being added to most days.   Good news is that my syllabi are done for my ISU classes.    I haven't done anything yet for DMACC.   I'm slotted to teach three classes but one of them has low enrollment.   It's the class that would actually meet in person if it goes.   DMACC doesn't start until August 25 so I have plenty of time to make the syllabi and get my online information ready.

The past weekend was spent with a trip to Cedar Falls to see Alissa graduate from Allen College.   It seems odd that we are all done with our post-secondary education.    (Yes, LeAnn  I know you're working on your masters but we're all done with the first phase.)   I'm hoping and confident she will pass her boards when she takes them later in the month.   Dan was able to go with me to the event so that was nice.   He's rarely been around family so I'm hoping he can join me more often.   He's planning to come to Czech Days on Saturday.

After the semester starts, I'm beginning the process for Invisalign.   I did my homework with the insurance company.    Today I'm feeling more passionate about it because my front teeth hurt.    They hurt more often lately and it's irritating and concerning.  

I'm not making great headway into "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".   We are still making good progress through Netflix though.

"American Sniper"--much better than I expected and a very sad ending.   I didn't expect to like the story but it was very good.  

"The Maze Runner"--I was surprised with how scary the movie and story was as it unfolded.    I'd like to read the series some day.  

"Fifty Shades of Grey"--no worries.   I watched this while Gavin was at work.   It was OK.    I like the lead male actor's depiction but did not care for the lead female's acting.  

I currently have "Beloved" waiting to be watched.   I'm not sure I'll watch that today or later in the week.    Gavin and I want to go and see "Anthropoid" in the theater due to it's WW II connection.   I think it has a Czech connection too.    I was hoping to see "Sausage Party" with Dan too.  

I'm actually OK with a new semester starting.   It will be nice to get regular paychecks again.   My new financial-related goals are:  getting a different vehicle by October, buying new bedding for my room as I'm sick with how uncomfortable my bed has been this summer, and starting the process with braces.   I'm also excited to build up my savings further.  

Braces...Again!?!?

Greetings:

Yes, I got the dreaded recommendation to get braces or Invisalign.   I've had a crooked tooth for years (my own fault for not continuing to wear my retainers at night).   It's moved more and I've actually had some pain with it so I mentioned it yesterday at our sixth month check-up.   Turns out they are concerned about bone loss in that part of my jaw and the teeth around that problematic tooth are a little loose.   I had never noticed they were loose until the dentist had her fingers in mouth and were examining things.   FYI, it's not like they are super loose but they are moving WAY more than they should be.   I am going to contact my dental insurance tomorrow and start making a plan of action.    Invisalign is only like 7K...looks like I need to turn in my pop cans for some money.  

I've started reading "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".   Thanks to LeAnn I have some decent books to read.   I did read "The Bridges of Madison County".   It only took a few days.   It's a very short book.  I'm actually glad I saw the movie first in this case because the book was quite romantic but a little boring.  I'm sure I would have stuck it out and completed it since it was so short but it was nice to know how the story ends before touching the book.  

I'm actually watching the Swedish version of "The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" at the moment.   My coworker owns the trilogy and swears the Swedish version is better than the American version with Daniel Craig.   I'll be the judge of that.   So far it's pretty good but it requires the reading of sub-titles.

This year I am feeling much more prepared for Gavin to start school.  Usually I'm rushing to get his athletic physical done, pay the registration fee, etc.   Other than a couple school supplies, he's ready to go.   I need to attend an open house type of event on August 17 so I can pay for his school pictures.  Ankeny has them taken before school starts.   They are also assigning them Chromebooks this year for the first time.   I won't have to share my laptop with him anymore, in theory.

I had to go into work today for a meeting related to student teaching supervision.   I felt really out of place as I was the youngest one in attendance.   Most supervisors are retired teachers.   And most of them were pretty unhappy after today's meeting.    We are now using a database system for the student teaching process and the training for it was horribly organized.   I know how to use it (somewhat) because I played around with it in the spring.   I have to go in tomorrow to help a new grad student.   I'm not going to rant on here but she's going to hear about how unhappy I am to come in tomorrow.    She has to miss all of the new grad student orientation so she's panicking about some things.   And she should be.

We have a hog roast to attend this weekend for football.   It's for juniors and seniors only.    All families are introduced and the coaches are going to speak to everyone about the mission, expectations, etc.   We were asked to go to Sioux City this weekend with Dan and his family but I didn't want to miss the football event.   It's Dan's birthday on Saturday too.   He's the big 4-2.  My gift to him was a ticket to see Jim Gaffigan.   It was a funny show.  

Guess that's enough of an update for now.