5/26/2009 08:00:00 PM

Quest the incubator

Back from Quest. Pretty good, lots to think about... but everyone is preoccupied with the flu (strain A or something?) that is making its rounds among all the attendees of the youth track, sgls and youths alike.

I got lucky in the sense that a) I didn't start feeling sick until after I taught my first lecture class (ever!) this morning and b) my symptoms (so far) is a persistent cough, general feeling of fatigue, a feverish feeling, disturbed sleep, and some joint pain. My condolences to those who are vomiting/have migraines/can't eat/can't sleep, etc.

The general worry is of course, swine flu. Most likely just a flu-ish bug that is being spread, but that's the worry that people seem to have right now.

Even as I'm sitting here in my bed exhausted beyond all belief, I am still a geek. I find myself wondering how awesome it would be if I can somehow retrospectively create a map tracking the spread of the virus, starting from the youth who collapsed on the last day and seeing how it contaminated others (-if- he's the origin).

I'm so nerdy.

But also sad now, since I had to throw out the rest of my Sour Patch Kids (I shared them with the SGLs yesterday... more than one contaminated hand was in the bag!)

My sour patch children... the silent casualties of this whole pandemic.

All joking aside, even though we're all suffering from some symptom or another, it is worth it for the glory of Christ. You shall not shake us Satan! :shakes fist:

"I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." - 2 Corinthians 11

If I complain now, Paul will call me a wuss in heaven. That won't be happening, no sir.

5/06/2009 03:48:00 PM

Creative excuses I've heard during my teaching career

Here are all the popular excuses I've gotten so far from undergraduates, hoping that I will give them a grade they didn't work for, in order of WTF ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!:

  1. Death of a loved one - "I thought it'd be ok for us to plagarize off of each other, since our relative/friend/significant other passed away, and we were so stressed out. We were sure you'd understand!"
  2. I am in therapy - "I am hoping you may pass me with a temporary fail and grant me sufficient time to rectify my situation. Attached is an insanely general and vague email from some therapist with a Masters degree in EDUCATION saying that I have depression and anxiety issues, and therefore should be excused from missing all the labs this semester, not responding to your emails, ignoring my warning grade, and not bothering to come to you until there is one week left in the semester."
  3. I am a senior - "I know I was a total slacker this semester, but oh I am a senior and oh this is the last class I need to graduate and oh if you can just give me at least a C or something even though I know I don't deserve it and oh if you can just do that I would be eternally grateful to you and will sing your praises to all humanity and name my firstborn after you oh I would so appreciate it."
  4. It's Sakai's fault - "Professor Grace I swear I submitted all my assignments on time, I don't know why Sakai rejected all my assignments, I didn't know until I checked today that I got Fails in all my work (even though you told us to check routinely and come speak to you with any discrepancies), but yeah well here is what I have and I hope you'll just take all my work that's 10 weeks late and give me a good grade, kthxbye."

I'm sure as I teach I'll get increasingly creative ones. Looking forward to it!