November already!

Oh, how quickly things change. When I posted a week ago, we were having some unusually cold weather. Yesterday, we broke the record high set in the 1930s when we hit 92 degrees. The temperature changes have been pretty dramatic!

What hasn't changed is that we're still pretty busy. I'm excited to report that I did manage to get the essays graded and returned on Friday, which has allowed me to focus more this week on my own work as a student. We're also watching a movie in class, so my prep time is reduced, too. I've been pleased to see that the students are enjoying it (their Journals about it were great). I spent a lot of time screening possible films to show, and wasn't totally satisfied with my choice. But, so far so good! We'll see how our discussion goes on Friday when we finish it and how well they use the film in their essays.

I've been working hard on my three major final projects/papers, and I finally feel like I'm making progress. I'm trying to decide now if it makes more sense to try and do a little bit of work on each project each day, or if I should focus on one project each day. Maybe I'll experiment. Thankfully, I am really interested in two of these projects; the third, I'm having a harder time with. At least I have all my topics going and the library research in full swing. I may find that I'm in over my head, though, on part of the third one. I guess I'll find out! I hope to finish at least one paper before Thanksgiving.

Mark has also been very busy. He's had concerts each of the last three weekends (one with SASO, one with the Sierra Vista Symphony, and one with UA's marimba band). He's also working hard on preparing DVDs to send with his applications for doctoral programs. The deadline turned out to be earlier than he thought (December 1!), so he's a little stressed about it. But, I've learned that he is always able to pull things together in time, and he sure has been spending a lot of time practicing, so I know he'll make it happen! He's also getting ready to head to Indianapolis for PASIC next week. He always enjoys the convention, and he'll also have the chance to talk to the professors at the schools he's applying to. While he's gone, I'm going to drive up to Phoenix and spend Friday night with my great aunt and uncle there. It should be a nice break for me (I hope I can get ahead enough to actually take the day off!).

It's really hard to believe that it's November already, but I've realized that not believing it doesn't make it any less true! We've both got our work cut out for us, but it seems like what needs to get done always gets done. Here's hoping!