1. Today I had my first teaching evaluation since I was a teaching assistant at the University of Arkansas. It was horrifying! I do not get stage fright when I'm singing or teaching. I get a little nervous at the beginning of a conference presentation if it's a scholarly paper instead of creative, but it's over the minute I start talking. I get a little nervous when I'm a lector because I'm always afraid I'll forget it's my turn to get up and just sit there, holding up Mass, but when I start reading, I'm fine again. But this evaluation was like an out-of-body experience! I felt like I was watching myself teach from above. Like my lips didn't work. Like I didn't speak English. But my department chair (who was doing the evaluating) said I didn't seem nervous, and I think I'll get an okay review. I get evaluated again on Tuesday in the other class I teach. I'm not as nervous about that one even though I don't have as good of a lesson plan.
2. I am still going on my National Novel Writing Month novel. I have to not think or talk too much about it. I think that will break the spell. But so far, I'm keeping up my daily word count goals, and it's moving along...ugly in places (most places), but THERE. It's neat.
3. Everyone around us got snow this morning, but Sackets Harbor was snowless! Everyone keeps telling me I'll hate the snow, but I don't believe them. I'm a bad snow driver, and I'm sure I'll hate shoveling, scraping off my car, and waiting for the cold car to warm up...but I can't imagine being tired of the sight of snow. It looks like a huge sheet of blank paper. Hope. Opportunity. Possibility.
4. I love my president. Not for any particular reason of the moment. Just in general. Every once in awhile, I just have to say it again.
5. After work, I played music with our dean, head librarian, and another English professor. Tomorrow, the rest of the faculty/staff musicians will be there to play some more. It is possible that I have the best job in the world.
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