Three of my four classes are History (my major). The fourth is Economics.
One professor actually refers to it as "edumacation". This same professor, six weeks in, has yet to have us open a textbook. We didn't get a syllabus until three weeks in. That in itself isn't so bad, but the time in class has been spent listening to his stories on everything from healthcare reform to Seinfeld episodes, and the question of "how far away is the sun?" seems to be a recurring theme. It's a History class! Once when discussion of history did come up he referred to Martin Luther's
Ninety-Five Theses as the
Twenty-Five Theses. I guess he read the abridged edition. The upside of this professor is that he is a sweet old guy and entertaining.
My second history class unfailingly comes back to talk of religion. And no, not 'how the Catholic Church dominated the 16th and 17th centuries', or something like that. I mean 'Raise your hand if you are a Baptist... Any Presbyterians?' Seriously. I felt it was inappropriate and irrelevant to the course. But then, I am right in the buckle of the Bible belt so not shocking. (Okay, maybe a little.) I opted to not share my religious views as people often confuse 'atheism' with 'Satan-worshipping', which leads to awkward moments I'd just rather avoid.
The Economics class isn't too bad, though the professor skims through the book and will read the name of a section and tell us to read it at home. He'll pause to quickly read a definition. Sheesh, email the chapters and save us the drive!
I just had my first test in that class, which he assured us all would be "so easy that no one could possibly fail it". Well, luckily he graded on a curve. The highest grade in the class before the curve was applied was mine: an 83. My 'B' was the best grade. Insane. The next best grade would have been a 'C' before the curve. Yes, several people still managed to fail even after he adjusted the grades by adding 17 points! Other students were angry with me for overachieving and making a 'B'! The good news there is mine was an 'A' 100 thanks to the curve. (I actually frown upon that; it's sort of cheating don't you think? I would've been happy with the B I earned. Oh well.)
And then the fourth class is on the developing world. It is the one class that actually makes me feel like I'm actually in college and not warped into Bizarro World High School. I take about fifteen pages of notes in this class every time. The subject is really interesting and he actually sticks to the subject matter. And even though this is my toughest class it is also the one I am doing best in. (Hopefully that statement holds true following midterms!) He is a tough grader (as they should be- tough but fair) and I still managed to get a 97 'A' on my first paper. Not too shabby considering I have been out of school for thirteen years!
So there is the rundown on my edumacation.
Oh! Also school-related: I am no longer the favorite parent! Violet's Daddy has discovered the amazing parenting method of Give Her Whatever She Wants while he watches her on Mondays. So when they pick me up she starts telling me about how she spent half the time at the park, got to eat fries, got a new baby doll... Yeah. I can't compete with that. I'm Mean Mommy now that she has discovered that I've been holding out on her.
And apparently she's Irish, if you go by the necklace she has on there. Here she is on the steps at her friend Breanna's house. I call this one "Lemon Face Lollygagging on a Staircase". Duchamp, you've got nothing on this!
