Monday, August 18, 2008

It's Real: The Week Before School Starts

Well, it's dawned on me that I have a ton to do this week to prepare for my classes. Moreover, I have to get as much Job Market Prep done as possible. (Sorry, Sisyphus. I put it off as long as I could, I swear!) I want to use the mornings before I go to work to get things done. Today, I spent the last almost three hours on emails to recommendation letter-writers alone. And that's all I've done. Sigh.

Can I just say that I don't know if I get an office, where the copy center is, which books were ordered for my second class that may well get axed today anyway, where to get a parking sticker, where the department office and mailboxes are or anything at this Community College? The website doesn't list such details, and the email I've sent to the no doubt incredibly-busy Department Chair has gone unanswered. These are mysteries I must figure out this week. I'm not panicking, but only because I've taught enough to wing it -- and maybe because I'm in pregnancy-induced denial. There's no doubt in my mind that this semester -- with teaching, working at the office, pregnancy/having the baby, and the job market -- is going to be one.wild.ride. Hang on, folks!

PS Our new lady cat is indeed a tortoiseshell, or so says Wikipedia. So Ms. Tortoise it is. Photos forthcoming.

2 comments:

Sisyphus said...

yay, cat pictures for everyone!

So, did you stop the other (office) job? Or are you about to be _really_ really busy?

And I just got a bunch more rejection emails :( so I'm surprised that you picked up multiple CC classes. The dept. nearest me even has a policy on their website that adjuncts get on a ranked list by order of hiring and a second section has to be offered all the way down the list in order --- and there is no possibility to take a third class. Gah. I'd be even happy with the one right now.

Earnest English said...

Sis, I've got the one office job and then the two classes. And the department chair sent us an email last week saying that he's got something like 15 uncovered classes right now. It's SO tempting to pick up another class because they don't pay much for each class -- and we just need money. But how much can I really do this semester? I don't really know the answer to that even. I'd like to see the baby occasionally (ha ha).

But maybe you just need to come down here. It's probably the difference between where you are and this sprawling place.