Calm Before the Storm: Weekend Coffee Share

If we were having coffee today, I would tell you that this past week was not quite as crazy as the week before. This is the last weekend where I can enjoy some calmness. August was a crazy month of traveling. Other than spending three more weekends at the delta, I am staying home for a while!

My classroom before the students arrive.

If we were having coffee I would take you on a quick tour of my lecture hall before all the classes begin on Monday. You will notice it is empty, except the instructor before me left his or her coffee mug. But, I will get you a fresh cup. On campus, we have lots of coffee choices: Starbucks or Java City. We may have some competition with groggy students clamoring for coffee after moving into the dorms all weekend.

Monday, I go back to teaching in that classroom after taking the spring semester off to satisfy the state’s requirement for retired annuitants. The photo of this classroom shows peace and quiet. On Monday, 80 students will be staring back at me while I explain the course to them.

I can’t wait…

…That is, if I can find a parking place. Before, when I taught at night, parking was not an issue. Even though I have a faculty parking permit, parking during the day is challenging. In two weeks, the parking issues usually calm down.

I will also be teaching on Wednesday mornings. Being able to teach part-time (two classes per semester) and still draw my pension is one of the best “career” choices I have made.

If we were having coffee, I would show you a bunch of photos from my 5-day trip to Salem and Portland, Oregon. It was wonderful seeing my cousins and helping get my daughter get situated in her new apartment. Her internship starts Monday.

Speaking of the calm before the storm, here are two photos of our room addition. This part is going fairly quickly. They started August 3rd. In two weeks, we have to vacate our bedroom. Get ready to pack and move!

Foundation poured

Frame is up.

I hope your weekend was calm if that was what you were hoping for! The key to calmness and balance is to pace yourself. Sometimes, the pace is hectic but that is part of the charm of life!