Preparation for the semester is going well.

Trying to stay focused rather than be distracted by the state of the nation. 

 Just under three weeks until semester begins...😖

 More work today! Yay, progress. Also, I'm still working on the story, but here is the photo!

 

I did some minor prep work since my last post, but today I seriously buckled down and started to get ready for Fall classes. I managed three hours! Feel pretty accomplished.😀

I've been trying to stay away from sitting in my office working on my computer for hours everyday, and as a result the summer has been glorious, but I know I have to start doing something soon or I will have to do a mid-August marathon. 😭

So I have finished all minor tasks and AY 2025-26 is totally done. Later in the summer, I will do a deep dive and extensively revise my foundations class. It really needs it! I had planned to wait a year but after this spring I am deeply aware it has to change.

 Except for a couple of minor tasks, the spring semester is over! Much to write but it will keep.

 May 1. One more class next week and then it's grading fun!

There are 3.5 weeks of classes left and then two weeks for grading and Spring semester 2026 will be done. I am looking forward to late spring and summer.

I have a cold! 😑

Many things I want to write! They will keep, I guess.

I should be writing here more. I don't make the time, and recently Harry has been sick and that takes priority. He had surgery for a hernia last week and is doing very well. :-)

My classes started the day of Harry's surgery, and so far, so good.

Nationally, everyday is more outrageous than the day before. The fascist regime has a masked, armed gestapo trampling people's rights. Trampling is too mild a word. The regime and its enablers snivel and tell lies. Supporters dwindle, but those who remain are hardcore. Scary. Sick. Stupid.

 My Fall classes are done! Switch to grading marathon.

This makes me ill. The only human garbage is Trump and his evil administration.

 December 1. One week of classes left! The semesters click by.

Only three weeks left of the semester! Unreal. Grades are due 12/18. I've had pretty good classes and happily -- there was no reason for the summer apprehension I felt about teaching toleration after a hiatus of seven years.

So yesterday was my birthday. I am 64 now! How can this be?

It is quite remarkable to be teaching a class after a seven-year hiatus and have nearly daily examples appear in the news! Earlier this week I was struggling with class material, and the question: At what point does tolerance become complicity? How do I convey such difficult philosophical content to the impressionable, anxious young people in my class? Hard as it is, I do feel honored to have been entrusted with leading this important class right now.

Those cartoons are coming once I catch up. 

It seems people who identify as transgender, people who are homeless and undocumented migrants in the US under this idiotic oppressive regime = people with mental disabilities, gypsies and Jewish people in Nazi Germany. 😭

 

 I want to write here so much! I have drawn two cartoons that I want to post as well, but *no time*. I will share this, though: I am fantasizing adding this as an email tagline - Indoctrinate them? Can you show me how? I can't even get them to follow assignment guidelines.

The semester started yesterday and I had my first class today. Harry barked for about the first 15 minutes. Otherwise, it was OK.

I have a slogan idea, inspired by this: IF I AM FAR LEFT, YOU MUST BE A FASCIST. 

I dreamed about my father a little over a week ago. It was very realistic and impactful. He was as he was five years ago, during the Summer of 2020, using a manual wheelchair, speaking well, very sharp. He was in the hallway of his house, talking to someone on the phone. He said he and my mother were moving.

I have my classes ready on Brightspace and the syllabi are in good shape. I am teaching Toleration after seven years of hiatus, so there is much to do in terms of reading and assignments updates. I got a new smartphone. After a decade (at least) I will miss my cute little mini, but it could not do so many things. I drew one panel of a cartoon. Not sure whether to share now or wait until the whole series is done.

 A couple nights ago, I had an anxiety dream. I have not had one in several years! My classes started and I was totally unprepared. No syllabi at all. I guess it is time to get busy!

 As summer clicks by, I am beginning to think about getting ready to teach this Fall...

Finished grades. Monday my wrist pain was terrible, but with less computer time, it is a lot better. We had our gas meter updated and they discovered carbon monoxide was not venting from the boiler and hot water heater, so tomorrow we are getting a new system. I'm pleased that it isn't the middle of winter, but we are in an unseasonably cold snap. This is the least of my worries, of course. What is disturbing? The actions of the alarmingly fascist regime and the idiots among us who are in oblivion (or, grudging admission, possibly cheering?).