Lots of Grading

It is currently Dead Week at ISU (not sure why DMACC doesn't use a fun term like that) so I'm buried in my usual grading.     I have the usual clothes baskets filled with binders sitting around the apartment.   I'm in a very good place with DMACC which is good because their final grades are due first.    My head is above water with ISU but I'll have a very busy weekend but I'm using my time at work nicely too.    I've noticed a nice change this semester as I have nice, consistent energy while at work.    I have the extra energy to get just a few more things done each day which has helped me reach more goals with the summer camp preparation.    I've also been able to tie up some loose ends with other tasks at ISU too.  

I FINALLY took my bike down the road and had it repaired.   It rode around with me in Elvira for like a week and then I realized I needed my back seats and cargo space for Easter weekend.    They only needed to do a general tune and and replace my pedals.    It was in decent shape despite how long it sat in storage.   I was concerned about the condition of the tires but they are good.    I walked to the bike shop last Friday and rode it back to the apartment.    It felt odd and clumsy to ride a bike again.   Dan has a bike here at the apartment now too.   We plan to add more biking to our physical activity.    I may need to buy a new bike helmet though.   It's old too and they technically expire.

I won a Distinguished Service award this week at ISU.  It was a nice little reception.    I left the award at work so I can eventually put it up on the wall.    I get my past office back in late May or June.   When I move back to that space, I want to hang that award as well as my diplomas.  I get a stipend too but I'm not sure exactly how I receive it.    Kinda sucks if it is merged with my paycheck because it will be taxed.   But I wouldn't mind it being included in my May pay since that paycheck is usually smaller.  

I am teaching a summer class for ISU which is nice for some income too.   Technically they should have canceled it because enrollment is low but some teacher education students need to have the class in the summer to keep on track for student teaching.    Tiny class, easier for me to teach.    I am on the books to teach an online class for DMACC too but it also has pretty low enrollment.    Not holding my breath but we'll see.

I have like 75% of my employees hired for the summer program.    (Contingent on them all passing a background check)    The stressor has been my aquatic staff.    I have not had one life guard apply yet.  I need to have at least three to meet state requirements for pool safety.    Blah.   I increased the pay rate so hopefully that gains some interest.  

Dan and I went to a concert this past weekend at ISU.    It was a very small gathering.   The lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket did a solo show.   They had the huge hit "Walk on the Ocean" that was played a ton on the radio.   His name is Glen Phillips.     Toad the Wet Sprocket is Dan's favorite band from the 90s.   We are going to try and go to an actual Toad show in July when they are in Chicago or Milwaukee.   The show was acoustic and intimate.    I wasn't feeling 100% but I'm glad I went.   The singer's voice was the same so that was nice and yes, he was pretty nice to look at.  

My next appointment for post-surgery is on May 15th.  I got a letter in the mail asking for another blood draw before that appointment.    Blah.   They want another check on my nutrient levels so I get it.    It's just hard for me to willingly wake into the Mercy clinic in Ankeny for the draw.   Luckily I don't have to fast so that usually helps.    I am snacking more and I can tell it's slowed my weight loss.    I'm not gaining weight but I've been stuck around the same weight for longer than I probably should be.    My clothing size is still changing though which is good.   I'm trying to just drink tea at night and not graze.    I'm usually not hungry at night I'm just going back to bad habits of thinking I need to eat if the TV is on.    

I'm pretty excited for May because of the upcoming 5K in Decorah, the Neil Diamond concert, and my Everclear concert too.    I'll be excited when grades are submitted too.  

I guess that's enough of an updated for now!  I'll leave some health teacher wisdom.

Holy Hamstrings

My hamstrings are killing me and I'm not quite sure why.    I played tennis days ago but I'm don't think that's the connection.   Standing, seated, or lying down...the muscle groups are not happy.  

I decided to take a night off from work tonight (aka no grading at home) so I could relax and hopefully go to bed early.     I was already asleep at 9pm (yippee) but the fire alarm went off throughout the building.   Based on the smell in the hallway, I'm assuming something burned in someone's kitchen.   I'm wondering if a sprinkler or something went off to trigger the whole building. It took fifteen minutes for the fire trucks to get here and it was obvious they weren't in any hurry.    Thank god the weather was nice tonight.    I was a good Samaritan and helped a bit with the guys next door since they are disabled.     They had two people working with the three gentlemen and the two workers seemed a bit frantic to get them out of their apartment.

I am currently buried in grading tasks.    The bulk (95%) is ISU-related.   I've kept up well with DMACC classes.    I have 90 fairly simplistic assignments to grade for my health methods class.    Should take me a 2-3 hours.    I also have about 75 more in-depth assignments to grade for that same class and those will take me much longer.    I need to tackle those tomorrow as they are more time sensitive.     I have about 25 moderate assignments to grade for my PE course too.    Sigh.   I haven't even started grading the teaching assignments that are taking place in all ISU classes yet.    Blah.  Ideally I'd like to have all that grading taking care of by Monday next week.    It's good that I'm not traveling for Easter weekend since I need to be grading for most of the weekend.

I plan to take my bike to a nearby bike shop this week.    I might do it on Thursday morning before I head to ISU.    I think I bought the bike in 2008 but I'm not sure.     I want them to do an overall check on it and prep it for recreational use.    I know I need a new pedal too.    Dan is keeping a bike here at the apartment too and we plan to start using the trails more regularly.    I'm curious to see how long it takes for us to bike to Saylorville Lake from the apartment.  

My weight loss has definitely slowed a bit.    I've been around the same weight for awhile.    It's still slow dropping though.     I have to be careful at night because my desire to snack is coming back when I'm watching TV.    I try to drink hot tea instead.   I'm letting my work take over too and I'm not working out as much either.    Bleh.    Just need to do some self-reporting since I'm not entirely thrilled with myself.

I finished reading "The Order of the Phoenix" so it looks like I only have one Harry Potter book left!   Whoo!    Considering my workload, I'm not reading for pleasure again until May.

We've been taking time to watch the occasional movie so here are some movie reviews:

The Hangover II:   Just as silly as the first Hangover movie so it was pretty funny.    The first was better but this wasn't too bad for a sequel.   The friend in the group that is a dentist (can't remember his name at the moment) is the one getting married in Thailand.     They end up partying in Bangkok and things get wild again.

Crazy, Stupid Love:  Steve Carrell is the lead actor in this movie about a couple going through a divorce and he tries to get back out in the dating scene with the help of another single guy.     Neat story about his kids are adjusting and how lines cross with various actors/actresses in the movie plot.
The Judge:   A serious movie that features Robert Downey Jr.   He comes back to his hometown for his mother's funeral and during that time his Dad causes an accident that kills a man.   Furthermore his dad is the county's judge so that causes more controversy with the death.    It causes the family to bond and brings up issues from childhood/teenage years.

Safe Haven:   Holy crap what a chick flick.    It is a Nicholas Spark book made into a movie.    I wasn't too impressed but there was an interesting twist at the end.

The Theory of Everything:   It's the biography of Stephen Hawking's life.    It was actually very good.   It's based off his first wife's book.    Explains his time in college and how they met.   It also shows his progression of his ALS and why he ended up in a wheelchair and why he can no longer speak.

Fireflies in the Garden:   A surprisingly great movie about an author's life.    He had a tumultuous childhood, especially with his father.    I do think it is fairly a true story.    Not sure why I added it to my Netflix list but I'm glad I did.    Ryan Reynolds is the lead actor.

And in the spirit of Easter...