Happy New (Academic) Year!

Top 10 things that make me grumpy at back-to-school time:

1. The town and university have an uncanny knack for starting construction approximately 3 weeks before the town quadruples in size.

2. The impending doom of listening to lame excuses.  Do students think I'm that naive? Do they believe themselves? Tip: Before you give me an excuse, try it out on your roommates/siblings/dog.  If any of them burst out laughing, don't try it with me.

3. Most of the drivers on the road have had their license for 5 years or less, turning the town into, more or less, a student-driving closed course.

4. To quote a colleague, "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."

5. Weighing the cost/benefit of going to a bar that is fun and plays good music, yet is crowded by sweaty, wasted college students who scream your name from across the bar. Yes, I can hear you and yes, I am ignoring you.

6. Gross public bathrooms. On campus, in restaurants, and especially in bars.  Seriously - who potty trained you? And how long ago?

7. I am your advisor, not your mother.  I will not do your work, look things up or make phone calls on your behalf...and neither should you mother, by the way.

8. Pedestrian traffic jams.

9. This. question. "So, do you work in the summer?"

10. Bouncers that give you a hard time even though you're (technically) old enough to be their mother. Yes, that is my real ID. You should not question it for the mere reason that no one under 21 would really have the cajones to use a fake ID that says that they're 37.

So. Not. Ready. For. This.

Top 10 things that make me happy at back to school time! :)


1. Liveliness!! Nothing beats the energy of students coming back from summer break. This is the only time they're excited about doing work.

2. On campus eateries are actually open, which pretty much triples the number of places to eat in the 'burg.

3. More people to talk to. Followed up closely by...

4. More people that listen to, and with any luck, care about what I say.

5. A new TA to harass! Teaching assistant, personal assistant...same difference, right?

6. The return of college sports and rivalries...and tailgating. :)

7. Seeing what kind of fun new outfits and hair styles the students are trying to pull off this year.

8. Being thankful that I don't have to study or do homework on Sundays anymore.

9. Music, frisbee and sports on the Drillfield.

10. VISITORS!!

Heeerree we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!