Update time

Well, here's the latest. This morning, I had to scour my tub before bathing, because... you guessed it! The neighbors' bathwater had bubbled up during the night and left nasty black residue and grainy crap smeared in my shower. Excitement, let me tell you, has a name: plumbing problems. So, I cleaned my bathroom, showered, dressed, and called maintenance. I told them I'd be out most of the day, but that I would appreciate a slip of paper detailing their solution to my problem. I called when I returned home and did not find the aforementioned slip of paper, to discover that they were going to send plumbers (real ones) in first thing tomorrow morning to take care of this problem. That's a thing to find out about before they come over during your morning shower, certainly. Glad I called.

Sarcasm aside, real plumbers at least won't forget to reconnect any pipes, so I won't have flooding after the problem is fixed. And I've got detailed notes explaining what happened last time, so they'll be expertly informed of my bathroom's history. And when they've solved my problem, my neighbors will stop screaming.

Plot point number two: will couples who hate each other stop moving in near me? Please? Next door, and sharing a bathroom wall, apparently, is a 19 year old orphan with a second baby on the way and a verbally abusing live-in boyfriend. They've been having drain prolems as well, judging by the cur's mean-spirited screaming. It really is her fault, sir; entirely her fault. Maybe you should punish her by moving out and leaving her to make up rent by herself--no wait! She already does pay the rent alone. At least you can still move out and stop calling her a "stupid fucking whore" while she tries to quiet your child.

Next on the list, the fourth member of our IT group has arrived, and been properly introduced to everyone. Since I was so lost my first week, I accompanied her on the "get everything set up" errands and whatnot. As the semester creeps nearer, things are getting busier and busier. I spent all day today (and yesterday) running around carting five kinds of cables, a clipboard, a book of CDs, and a box of ghost disks. I only dropped it all once, and I was nowhere near the stairs. Miracles happen.

And speaking of the job, I now have my hours for the semester. 8-1 Monday and Wednesday. You may all join me in a round of silent screaming. And to think, I started my summer falling asleep two whole hours before I now need to be at work. After work, I have an hour for lunch, and then a two-hour class. Afterwards, I go home, crash, and burn. And do the readings for the day. Tuesday, however, I have only the one night class (he couldn't get the list down to 14, so we're reading 15 novels, which is, nevertheless, better than 17). Thursday, however, will be the proverbial day of doom. I teach my two classes, grade my two hours, and chat with my students before and after classes. A whole new kind of stress. Luckily, I get to follow that up with the relaxing task of writing all day Friday.

Orientation is next week, and I'll get the textbook then. And an overview of the assignments I'll be teaching. That's one whole week to do lesson plans for the semester, but I'm not complaining about lack of timely delivery. Not yet. The semester hasn't even started; it's far too early to be complaining. Although.... I may be able to complain before the semester starts about other things, like the faculty retreat, which I have to attend as an IT person, but from which I would otherwise have been exempt. *grumble, grumble, grumble*

I do, however, have my office beautified, rearranged, utterly organized, and overall spiffified. Not a word. Don't care. I have shifted my fourth of the office to create a welcoming environment for students seeking a conference with me, where they will not have to sulk in a corner before seeing me. I can, with the slight swivel of the eyes, detect the source of motion near the door, and can also, with a slight swivel of the chair, speak with all in the room. Without that swivel, though, my back is turned on everyone, so I may actually get some work done. I have hanging folders. Lots of labeled hanging folders. Blue. I have healthy snacks for much needed energy shots without trips to the snack machine. I have whole meals (well, canned ravioli and soup) in my drawer which will sustain me should I forget my lunch and be unable to leave the office. Of utmost importance, however, I have a pair of comfy flip flops for when my "teacherly" shoes need to come off.

And that is it. No more updates. I'm all out.

End.