Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I am not superwoman

I haven't written forever.  I just don't have time.  At first I missed it, but lately I don't even think about writing.  Monday and Wednesday I teach at State from 9-3:15.  I get there at 8:00 and leave at 5:00.  On Friday I only have to be there until noon.  Except every other Friday there's an internship class that goes from 12:30 to about 4:00.  On Tuesday, I'm at Grossmont until noon, sitting in an ESL class, interacting with students.  I get home, grade a few papers, and then head over to State for my linguistics class.  On Thursday, I'm at Grossmont until 2:30 and then I can catch up on grading.  And on Saturdays, well that's pretty much all grading.

It's okay.  I love it.  I love every piece of it.  I don't get tired of it, and I smile all the time.  Or at least most of the time.

Last Thursday morning, I opened an email from the co-head of the English department at Mesa College, and he asked if I could teach a developmental class at UCSD on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-8.  (Technically, none of the major universities offer developmental classes.  In fact, they do, but those classes are taught by faculty from community colleges.)

This is a great opportunity, and after talking it over with Duane, we decided it's in our best interest to go ahead and say yes.  Since that time, I've been taking care of paperwork, building curriculum, etc.  You have to jump through a lot of hoops to get hired at community colleges--TB tests, finger printing, many, many papers, etc.  I suppose it's like this at any job.  At any rate, I did all of this at Grossmont, but there was no huge rush as they weren't offering me a job.  They just need it on file.

As a result of administrative details, I haven't had much time for lesson planning or grading.  And now I'm behind.  Plus, I still have more administrative details to take care of this afternoon--a trip to get fingerprinted and then a few more papers to sign.  So I was putting all of my stuff in the car, and I put my laptop bag behind the trunk and remembered I had two more books to put into the car.

Um-hmmm.  I forgot the bag.  I felt a clunk when I backed out of the garage.  Got out, looked around for what I hit.  Nothing  I got back in and started backing out again.  Now I knew there was something wrong.  I got out and started looking at the tires.  None of them were flat.

At this point, an angel (in the form of a neighbor I don't know) yelled that my suitcase was under the car.  Sure enough.  There was my laptop bag, wedged in the undercarriage of my car.  I wondered about the state of my laptop, but oddly enough I didn't freak.  My neighbor suggested that I pull forward slowly and see if the bag unwedged.  Under her direction, I did so.  The bag was free.  Bent in odd directions and covered with sludge, but free.

Immediately I checked the laptop.  The laptop was undamaged.  I hugged my neighbor.  I am rejoicing.

I am grateful that my laptop works.
I am grateful that Duane insisted I buy a good quality laptop bag.
I am grateful that my neighbor saw what happened.  I don't think I ever would have looked under the car.
I am grateful for all the opportunities God has given me.

I decided to take the morning off and grade papers.  I could have made it to class, but I am not superwoman. I am not.  I can't do everything.  I think I can, but I can't.