3/11/08 souvenirs for my students

When I was in Vegas, I held my graduate class "long distance" using Skype software across the Internet. It was pretty fun and a very good thing to do for a class called "Communication Tools for Teaching and Learning." During the Skype chat, one of them said, "Now you know we all love souvenirs." Oh golly gee. Now what?!

That night at dinner (it was Tuesday night...check the Vegas blog for details), I told all my friends what the students had said. Some of us had just received our beverages and these cute palm trees were in the fruit. Someone suggested that I collect palm trees as my souvenirs. Fortunately, I have really great friends who were willing to make the sacrifice for my students and helped me collect 14 of these. My students were appropriately appreciative of the sacrifice made by my friends on their behalf.

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3/11/08 a wonderful surprise in my mailbox

After being out of town for a week, I finally got to the Post Office to check my mailbox. I really didn't have time to check it because I needed to be in Dixfield for the graduate course I teach, but I really needed to check my mail. So I went. My box was crammed full of mail. I've learned to go ahead and flip through it there at the post office in case there's a notice to pick up a package or something. Sure enough, I had a notice that I had a package. I really didn't have time to get the package either, but I wasn't expecting anything and I didn't know when I'd get back to the post office, so I got in line. Fortunately, it wasn't a very long wait at all.

It was a package from Kathy and Steve. They're my Texas friends that live in Pennsylvania now. I was so excited! I was ripping into it on the way back to my car and finished opening it as I was driving off to the graduate class. I couldn't believe it. It was the perfect gift!

Kathy and Steve make an amazing Christmas candy that's white chocolate bark with peppermint in it. They know I love it. Usually, I only get it at Christmas and it's a plate full like of broken pieces that are delicious to eat--sort of like peanut brittle. But look what they figured out how to do! They must've poured the candy mixture while it was still soft into Texas cookie cutters. I don't know how they got it out without breaking it. And then they packed it so perfectly and carefully that none of it broke in transit. Look at those cowboy boots and hats and armadillos plus the outline of the state. What a hoot!

Texas Independence Day was March 2. It was a Sunday this year. I made all 3 of my undergraduate classes learn and dance the Cotton-Eyed Joe on the Friday before. So today, I made my graduate students do the same, but then I shared my TID treat sent by my friends from Philly. It was delicious, but it's even better when you share.

3/11/08 How much snow can one library handle?

On Tuesdays, I teach a graduate class in Dixfield, about 30 minutes south of Farmington. We haven't been able to meet for the last few weeks: we had winter break, then there was a snow day, then I was in Las Vegas. I finally had a chance to return and this was the view out the library window.

And this is the back door entrance.

Now that's a lot of snow!

3/11/08 Harbinger of spring?

Do you see it? Up in the tree? We often think of the sound of birds as the first indicators of spring. Walking home today I heard a bird. And when I looked up, I actually saw the bird! Do you see it in the tree up there?

No? Here's a close-up:

It's a red-headed woodpecker! This picture doesn't do it justice. It was spectacular with its bright red head and brilliantly contrasting black and white body and head. It is definitely not the typical first bird of spring for me. But it is definitely easily heard and easily recognizable.