the cutest nephew

Drew, 10 months

I just got back yesterday from a delightful visit to Idaho. I think maybe I saw my parents, my brother, my sister, and my brother-in-law. I'm not quite sure since most of my attention was spent on my nephew... Oh, OK, I had a great time with everyone else, too, but for obvious reasons, the rest of us came in second place. 

they call me Lenient

My lucky lucky students. I don't know if they realize how lucky they are to have an insecure first-year college teacher. Katie, to herself...well, OK, out loud to her computer: 

Katie: Wow, these quiz grades are not so good. I better see what the average is...

Computer: ##.#% average for quizzes.

Katie: Crap. That's not good. I must not be a good teacher.

Computer: You could change all that if you dropped their lowest quiz grade.

Katie: But would they then think I am too lenient? A pushover?

Computer: It's possible, but the other possibility is that they think you are a bad teacher because their grade really doesn't reflect their learning and effort in the class.

Katie: Wow, you're smart.

Computer: Yes, I know. Thank you. 

Katie: OK, I guess I'll drop their lowest quiz grade.

Computer: Yep, it's looking better now. I'm glad you made me change their percentages.

Katie: Thanks. At the risk of being too lenient, I do feel better now about their grades.

Computer: Wow, you're smart.

Katie: Now you're being sarcastic. I need more coffee.

See, it's good to talk these kinds of problems out with...

Wow, I need more coffee.

yep, I'm old

Now, I know I'm not old old. But the following story really does show the difference between me and these young-uns.

I was attending a music education student retreat a little while back and part of it was scheduled for Friday 5:00-9:00 pm. Well, after a pretty long week, the session, though good, was getting long. At break time, I was in the women's bathroom and a younger girl I know came in. I said, "Man, it's hard to have these kinds of things on Friday," which meant that I was getting pretty tired. Her reply: "Oh, I know! [wait for it...] I have three parties that I'm missing."

I, of course, just smiled.

Yep, there's you and then there's me.