It's back to work with a vengeance! but I have to admit it could be a lot worse. I really enjoy my job for the most part, although some things like grading papers is neve rany fun. but when I get a note from an advisee saying how much she appreciated what I was able to do for her then I feel that perhaps it's all worthwhile. If only every student understood that their professors were working hard for their success!

the other part of life is that I really do wish that spring would turn the corner. We have had a very unsettled week, with snow and hail and rain and sun and wind, and cool temperatures throughout. Soon spring will be here and the weather will be warmer.

Last Sunday was Mothering Sunday in England. I sent my mother a huge bunch of flowers for her special day. She really appreciated that. Her conservatory is coming along just fine since my brother has finally started work on it!

Nothing much else to report this week!

Friday is almost over and now I am wondering where my week has gone! Tomorrow we go back to Pullman and work starts again.

I have started reading a fascinating book Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion, and the battle for America's Soul. Rather a pretentious, all-encompassing subtitle but it is about the battle between creationism and evolution as taught in our schools' science classes. It is quite scary too. But a definite "must read'.

Not much else to report except that I have recently started exchanging stories about my life with an old classmate from Scotland. We happened on each other through Friends Reunited and are having fun reminiscing about our lives! We apparently were in the same Latin class at Ayr Academy!

Another lazy day. up late, late breakfast, hottub, watched a movie before lunch ...!!
Went into town and did a little shopping at TJMaxx. Bought a couple of shirts, a skirt and a pair of jeans. Nothing really exciting to report, but am feeling quite relaxed.

What a lovely decadent day! I did NOTHING! other than eat, read, and eat some more! What a treat. I found this book review at the NYTimes today. Sounds interesting and I think I will add it to my ever-lengthening list of books worth reading!

http://nytimes.com/2009/03/17/books/17kaku.html?8dpc

It's spring break! We are in Lolo, Montana for the week. We drove over yesterday, and so today was our first full day. It's funny, but I got a bit bored in the afternoon and fidgety and couldn't quite figure out what to do for a bit. but we went for a walk, and then drove into town for a few groceries and other errands. It is jsut so nice to not have to think about any work.
Things are lurking in the background of my mind, but I refuse to let them come in - at least for a couple of days. It is nice to be back in Lolo. The weather is cold and unsettled - we saw a few snow flurries and some rain. But it's relatively warm - around 50 degrees during the day today.

It's time to blog again. I am not sure where a whole week went, but i was busy submitting two more grants. Enough already, no more this semester. From now on, I iwll just concentrate on my classes. About 6 or 7 more weeks to go. We put the clocks back this weekend but winter still has us in her grip. It has snowed off and on all day today, and I think I shoveled about four inches of the sidewalk and driveway.
This past weekend G'pa and I had two social events - that's not common for us. On friday night we went to a 50's and 60's dance at the UUCP church. they had a live band playing all the songs from my teenagehood! It was great fun!
then on Saturday evening we joined a couple of friends at a wine club lamb and wine pairings dinner. We had a great 5 course dinner and four different wines to try out with it. I was so full by the end of it!
that's aobut it for now.
I'll try to check back in before another week is past.

I just got back from Sleeping Lady resort in Western Washington near Leavenworth. It was a retreat for WAToToM - Washington Teachers of Teachers of Math. It was a great weekend - way too much food! And very good to boot! Good people, good interactions, good work done!

I heard tonight that my oldest grandson won lots of medals at a state meeting of UIL. He is a math whiz! A genius!
Here's the website for UIL - University Interscholastic League - http://www.uil.utexas.edu/
The results aren't posted yet but they should be soon.

I am also reading a new book - see my bookshelf- Speaking Truth to Power, by Anita Hill. It is a fascinating account of an important sexual harrassment case that I remember quite clearly. I am very interested to read her account of it all. She will be at WSU later this month to speak.