Multi-Tasking

I'm sitting out here on a black folding chair with my lap top on my, well, lap. I'm on Blackboard, grading papers, making quizzes, and preparing for this (short) week's assignments. And I'm blogging. I'm not in my house; no. I'm sitting on our front driveway, with a folding table full of white elephants that we've collected over the years. I'm sitting underneath a portable, blue "pop-up" tent that my husband put up, and I'm hoping it won't rain. And I'm enjoying the quiet breeze that tickles my skin. The sky, darkening some, promises rain, although I don't know whether that promise will be kept soon.

I'm multi-tasking.

I also have a somewhat mild case of cabin fever since I haven't really left my house much recently, especially over the last three weekends, particularly because of my son, then my, being sick. Today, I took some Tylenol Multi-Symptom cold meds (because I'm still not feeling great), and decided enough's enough. I have things to do, papers to grade, lessons to plan. If I'm not better (although I'm taking antibiotics, so hopefully, I soon will be better), then I at least have to simulate that I'm better so I can get stuff done. It's been rather productive, thank goodness.

My mom came over to help watch my son, although he's napping now. My husband is starting to put out some Christmas decorations. And I sit here, quietly, grading papers and waiting patiently for some customers who might want to relieve me of these white elephants on my driveway.

Can I Scream?

Can I yell, clenching my fists and waving them like a madwoman? Can I groan, covering my face with my hands in hopes that all goes away? Can I wail and stomp my feet like a frustrated toddler? Can I bury my head in the sand like an ostrich, theoretically of course since ostriches don't really bury their heads in sand.

Why, you ask, do I seem frustrated and angry? I'll tell you why. I'm so sick (pardon the pun - not quite intended) of the flu season! I admit we've been lucky that we haven't been hit (yet) with the actual flu (H1N1 or regular), but it seems as if it's been just as bad. My son is sick AGAIN. He woke up this morning with a barking cough, a runny nose, and a slight fever. This time the lovely culprit is croup (which is really just the name of the symptom caused by one of those wonderful things we call viruses). I mean, seriously? C'mon! He was sick last week with an ear infection and a cold (and I got sick thanks to that). A month before that, he had another ear infection, small cold, and a really nasty case of hand-foot-mouth disease. Oh, and did I mention that his nails are falling off? Yes, that's right. On his hands, one has fallen off completely; another is half-way off. I discovered two more nails that are starting to peel, and I see signs of the same on his toes. We're going to see a dermatologist tomorrow morning.

Today when we went to the doctor's office, one of the nurses saw him and, eyes widening, said, "Now what?!" We've been there three times in the last two weeks. ARGH! I don't want to get sick again, so I've been doubling up with vitamin C, zinc, B-complex and all natural stuff. But I feel awful for my munchkin. It seems as if it's been one thing after another. I'm ready for this flu season to be over. Wake me up when it's done, please.

Another assigned topic: ALL CLASSES

So, just because I've been asked for more assigned topics, here's another one. You may use it for this week or next week.

Finish this thought: ___________ is the best feeling in the world.

(And no mind in gutters, please!)

Write one paragraph that begins with that line. The rest of the sentences in the paragraph should describe that feeling.

Here's mine:

Receiving an unexpected hug or kiss from my son is the best feeling in the world. I am sitting on the sofa at home with the laptop on my lap. My two-year-old son is sitting next to me watching Ni Hao Kai Lan. All of a sudden, he smiles at me and leans over, planting loud smacks on my arm. Then, he stands up (on the sofa) and throws his arms around me, laying his head on my shoulder. It makes my heart melt. I stop grading and hold him for a few seconds, knowing full well that in a matter of years he won't be offering up these moments of affection so easily. He doesn't say "I love you" very well yet, but this is just as good. It's one of those moments that erase easily any sleepless nights, back-talk, stubborn "no's," or pull-your-hair-out episodes. I live for these moments.

Extra Credit: Miami Book Fair

It's here! The Miami Book Fair International, which takes place every year at MDC's Wolfson Campus (by Bayside, Downtown Miami), began today. Every night this week, they have a scheduled author /event. Then, the street fair, which is the highlight of the event, opens its doors this Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15. I strongly urge you to attend as it will be not only educational but fun (gasp!). There are many events, such as readings, discussions, children's events, and yummy food, and everywhere you look you'll see books, books, and more books (in several languages, too)!

Take a look at the website: http://www.miamibookfair.com/.

If you go and attend one of the readings or forums, write a review of it, and you'll receive extra credit. :)

Blog Assignment: ALL CLASSES

Hi guys,

Here's a topic for this (or next) week:

Pick a time when you felt an overwhelming fear and write one paragraph describing and narrating that moment. Begin your paragraph with a topic sentence (e.g. A moment in my life when I felt an overwhelming fear was when __________.) That is just an example, but remember that it has to tell the reader what your paragraph will be about.

Here's mine:

Last week, I had an experience that, up to now, has been the scariest in my life. My husband had gotten home, and my son had already had dinner. It was before Halloween, so we had some candy in our plastic orange bowl appropriately dubbed "the Halloween bowl." In it were pieces of foil-covered chocolates, small yellow boxes of Dots, some miniature versions of favorite candies, and one or two individual-sized Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. I felt like picking on something, so I opened up a box of Dots and my son decided he had to have one. Since he'd had them before without a problem, I didn't hesitate to give him one. Meanwhile, my husband had prepared himself a cheese sandwich and my son promptly asked him for "more, " meaning, he wanted what daddy was having. My husband didn't see him chewing, so he assumed my son had already eaten his candy. Moments later, my son begins gagging and trying to cough. As I look up at him, I notice him bent over our coffee table and his face was turning purple. My husband leaped over our sofa to him, picked him up, turned him upside down, and started patting his back and doing the finger sweep. Nothing was coming out and my son's face was turning a darker shade. I scrambled in circles to find the phone and dial 911. When the operator answered, I blurted: "My two-year-old is chocking!" At that moment, I heard my son cry, his sobs coming out almost hysterically. My husband had kept flipping him upside down and doing the sweep until finally the candy had dislodged, and my son had spit out the un-chewed yellow Dots. I have never felt so scared and every time I think about how wrong that could have gone, I feel the same panic overcome me.

Checking In

Well, mid-semester is upon us and I'm checking in on how everyone's doing. Remember to keep your blogs up-to-date, including assigned topics. The last few weeks have been free topics, but for my ENC 1102 - you guys have an assigned one this week. You have to "review" one of the author presentations that you enjoyed or in which you learned something new and interesting.

I have left you all in good hands next week while I'm away at the writer's conference next week. I'm really excited about it because 1) I have a manuscript consultation (my first!) and 2) I get to improve on my writing and learn new things that I can bring to you guys. :) I'm also looking forward to the opportunity to catch up on grading!

Check your Blackboard accounts as I will be communicating via Blackboard!

In Search of Healthy Horizons

Okay, so maybe that title is a bit melodramatic, but I find it funny how the age-old saying "when it rains, it pours" just rings true sometimes. After having that small sinus/ear/throat infection, my son came down with a pretty nasty case of Hand-Foot-Mouth disease. That was not the best way of spending a week, but I breathed a sigh of relief when he finally began eating well and the rash on his face (his entire chin/mouth area had scabbed from the rash/sores), hands, and feet cleared up. Well, just when everything seems to be going back to normal - he went back to school yesterday and "pushed" me out of the door - I go and break my little toe! I had never broken a bone in my life - until now, that is. It's a small fracture, nothing big, and it could have been worse. So far it seems as if this minor fracture won't set me back much, and I'm very thankful for that. I just find it funny how everything piles up so close together. Oh well.

Oh yea, and while I was at the Urgent Care center, waiting (and waiting...and waiting), cases of flu kept being confirmed (regular flu, not H1N1, but from what the nurse was telling me, they're not exactly testing for H1N1 there anyway). Fun. As soon as I got home, I drank some Airborne and took more vitamin C - just in case. The LAST thing I need is to come down with the flu!

Other than that, the semester is well underway. We're swiftly approaching the mid-way mark, and registration for the winter 2010 term should begin soon (I believe it's Nov 3). I hope everyone's settling nicely and no one is getting overwhelmed with midterms approaching.