Frigid Mid-December Style. . .

The first of two photographs today, taken just after the school bus departed at about 8:35am.

A frigid day here at Totleigh-in-the-Wold. Perfect weather for the pajama day they have decided to have today at our son's elementary school! I kid you not. Now, I like the teachers and administration at our son's school. They have been most helpful, accommodating, and inclusive where our son is concerned during the last year. But you can't help but wonder when messages are emailed/sent home about stuff like this. And let's just forget for a moment that the very idea of pajama day runs counter to what I consider the dictates of good taste. Sigh. In any case, the weather is just how we like it in our neck o the wood. Cold, snowy, Norwegian sweater weather. Come to think of it, I'll wear one for my 2pm meeting on campus later this afternoon.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

And the second. The snow is so cold that it squeaks underfoot. Our high for today is predicted to be 18 degrees F./-7.7 degrees C. with similar temperatures and more snow on the way throughout the next week.

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Flannel and Suede Tuesday. . .

W hew! Almost three hours spent reading and providing feedback for 41 self-evaluative reflections submitted by students at the end of last week for one of my two courses this semester/term. A largely thankless task since most will pay no attention to the probing questions asked and suggestions made. There are ten such low risk (two points each) formative assignments between Week Two and Week 13 besides three collaborative projects (due at the end of Week Five, Week 10, and Week 14) and a semester capstone that students complete individually (due at the end of Week 15). The format is similar for all of the courses I teach whether face-to-face, hybrid, or asynchronous online. So, why spend the time providing feedback for the ether? To create a paper trail of sorts. That way, when students come to me with either belligerence or crocodile tears (it rarely varies) and complaints that they won't be able to earn their A+ -- a foregone conclusion out ahead of the invariable medical

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Fall Break Monday Style. . .

T he Young Master and I had some fun yesterday (Sunday) afternoon while digging out a few exterior seasonal decorations from the furnace room. Enlarge the top photograph to see what Mr. Bones is reading about at my son's suggestion. Personally, I would be happy to skip the Halloween decorations outside beyond a couple of jack-o-lanterns glowing on the front porch for trick-or-treat evening, but The Young Master, who turns 13 this week, still enjoys it, so what are you gonna do? He will be answering the door this year, however, rather than heading out himself. But fear not all you advocates of kids hopped up on sugary treats! His Tae Kwon Do studio has organized a trunk-or-treat for Saturday afternoon, in which our son will indulge following his morning classes toward Black Belt Recommended status (testing in December). Fall Break the first two days of this week, so a bit more work from home since, officially at least, the university is not closed for faculty and staff. J

Classic Style

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