Writing, and life update
First, I have more of "In Loco Parentis" written. Actually, I have had a number of false starts and pieces over the past year, none of which are suitable even for beta eyes. One thing I notice, in fact, is how I tend to throw out random plot twists the more I have no idea where a story will go next, and while some are dramatic, none of them in the long run help propel the story forward. They just get progressively more ridiculous until I give up in despair.
But over the past week, I have managed to get about 3000 words which almost match the rest of the story. I focused on the main issues my two point of view characters have, and it seemed to help a bit.
I don't know if any old betas are still following here, but if you are, or if you're just interested in becoming one, and would like a look at the new stuff, please let me know. After this much time has passed, I feel weird emailing someone and saying "Hey. Remember me?" I know how much life changes and all that. But I'll upload it to google docs for anyone who wants to wrestle with it. Just send me an email address in a private message.
Second, a work rant. I think now that the newness of teaching has worn off, I am starting to shift my priorities in a healthy way. I hadn't realized how much time outside school I was spending on grading, class prep and the like, but I find now, I resent it and am not doing myself or my students any favors. I also find myself hating some of them for things that really are not their fault. They can't read. I find myself frustrated by this, but it is not now nor ever was my responsibility to fix this for them. The powerlessness of it gets me, though. And the helpless behavior it engenders. I actually had a student wander in my classroom last week while I was in the middle of a class discussion and thrust a paper at me, as if I would know what she wanted. It was her class schedule for Next Quarter, which begins in three weeks. "Um yes." I explained patiently. "You need to come back in July, dear." I managed not to smack her, but I really, really wanted to. How can someone be this stupid and live? She's got to be in classes now, in order to have received a schedule for next term like this. Surely she knows there are a couple of weeks until finals? But then I had someone who has missed three straight weeks of class express amazement she had been dropped, when the cut off point is two weeks straight. (Someone can come once every two weeks and remain enrolled. The student will not pass, mind you, but he or she will not be administratively dropped, either. Gotta love for profit education.)
Okay. Rant over. Life is otherwise pretty good. Wee Hob has learned the value of reading over his Civil Air Patrol packing list for his weekend pre-encampment Field Training Exercise. He got yelled at pretty good. These military types are good for him. Also, this unit is focused on search and rescue, and he has several older guys who want to grow up to be medics, which is making him lean that direction, too. I like this trend a lot. Much more than "I want to be in the infantry so I can be on the front lines and shoot things and blow stuff up."
And my Beloved is a wonderful, wonderful man. I am very lucky. I am also spending more time with him, now that I am not taking home so much thankless work. Which is also of the good.
It's also been fun, this past week, to read the doings here, even if I am sad to find I don't always understand your doings now. Know that even when I don't comment, I wish all of you well. And I'm sure I'll be commenting more as other procrastination kicks in.....
But over the past week, I have managed to get about 3000 words which almost match the rest of the story. I focused on the main issues my two point of view characters have, and it seemed to help a bit.
I don't know if any old betas are still following here, but if you are, or if you're just interested in becoming one, and would like a look at the new stuff, please let me know. After this much time has passed, I feel weird emailing someone and saying "Hey. Remember me?" I know how much life changes and all that. But I'll upload it to google docs for anyone who wants to wrestle with it. Just send me an email address in a private message.
Second, a work rant. I think now that the newness of teaching has worn off, I am starting to shift my priorities in a healthy way. I hadn't realized how much time outside school I was spending on grading, class prep and the like, but I find now, I resent it and am not doing myself or my students any favors. I also find myself hating some of them for things that really are not their fault. They can't read. I find myself frustrated by this, but it is not now nor ever was my responsibility to fix this for them. The powerlessness of it gets me, though. And the helpless behavior it engenders. I actually had a student wander in my classroom last week while I was in the middle of a class discussion and thrust a paper at me, as if I would know what she wanted. It was her class schedule for Next Quarter, which begins in three weeks. "Um yes." I explained patiently. "You need to come back in July, dear." I managed not to smack her, but I really, really wanted to. How can someone be this stupid and live? She's got to be in classes now, in order to have received a schedule for next term like this. Surely she knows there are a couple of weeks until finals? But then I had someone who has missed three straight weeks of class express amazement she had been dropped, when the cut off point is two weeks straight. (Someone can come once every two weeks and remain enrolled. The student will not pass, mind you, but he or she will not be administratively dropped, either. Gotta love for profit education.)
Okay. Rant over. Life is otherwise pretty good. Wee Hob has learned the value of reading over his Civil Air Patrol packing list for his weekend pre-encampment Field Training Exercise. He got yelled at pretty good. These military types are good for him. Also, this unit is focused on search and rescue, and he has several older guys who want to grow up to be medics, which is making him lean that direction, too. I like this trend a lot. Much more than "I want to be in the infantry so I can be on the front lines and shoot things and blow stuff up."
And my Beloved is a wonderful, wonderful man. I am very lucky. I am also spending more time with him, now that I am not taking home so much thankless work. Which is also of the good.
It's also been fun, this past week, to read the doings here, even if I am sad to find I don't always understand your doings now. Know that even when I don't comment, I wish all of you well. And I'm sure I'll be commenting more as other procrastination kicks in.....