End of Semester Fall 2019

As usual, I find myself at the end of the semester wondering how it could have gone by so quickly. Here are some of the things I've been up to since my last post in October.

When we had good weather, I tried to remember to go out on the back porch and enjoy it--working, reading, drinking tea. Some of the books I liked this fall were: The Japanese Lover, The Gown, Ordinary Girls, Stuck in Manistique, The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris, and A Wolf Called Wander. I can't remember if I've mentioned it here, but I also joined a Mock Caldecott Award book group this year, so we meet once a month to discuss picture books that are eligible for the award. The book is led by one of the librarians on campus, and mostly attended by other librarians and children's literature professors. I totally love it.

tea, Kindle, and fresh air on the balcony

As always, another highlight of fall in BG is watching the leaves change--such a rainbow of colors, even on my daily commute:

just starting to see some yellow leaves

red leaves at sunset

I think these might be called fire bushes?

I even love the look of the fallen leaves collecting on the ground.

my favorite corner--so many different trees in one place

And I went to a few more football games (or parts of games--the football team's not great, but I'm definitely a fan of our marching band and their excellent drumline instructor!). If you want to see more pics and videos of the Falcon Marching Band (FMB), check out their Facebook page. 

Mark loves it when
I make him take selfies :-)

drumline in the stands

Mark with the drumline on the field

The drumline plays for the student section during 4th quarter

halftime show

halftime show on band day, joined by high school bands 

On International Night, I joined
International Programs & Partnerships
to hold flags when our team ran on to the field.

The marching band also played an indoor concert of this fall's music.

On November 11, we got our first snow of the season! This was earlier and bigger than our average first snow, and I was pleased to have the day off (for Veteran's Day). It's always nice when we can enjoy the snow from inside our cozy place with nowhere to go.

We got about 3-4 inches!

Notice the icicles? 

snow on campus

Later in November, while Mark was at PASIC, I went to the World Student Association's International Dinner. The English Department generously purchased a table for us again this year, so here I am with the grad students and other faculty who joined us. The students who coordinate this event do a really nice job, and it's always fun to see my current and former students all dressed up to attend or participate in the program and/or fashion show.

English Department table

One of my students in a kimono. 

As the holiday season is upon us, Mark's played a few Christmas themed concerts, including one that I was able to go to in Bluffton, and I've been looking for other ways to soak in the holiday cheer. So a couple weeks ago, I went to the Nutcraker on Ice at the campus ice arena. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was free and sounded festive, so I figured I should check it out. It was kind of like a dance recital--amateur skaters of all ages and levels doing a program for their families and friends. Interesting to see, but once was enough. :-)

These were some of the more advanced skaters.

Some of the younger skaters.

the curtain call

This tree is in the middle of the soccer fields;
I noticed it walking home from the hockey arena.

Last week was finals week, and even with my two finals scheduled for Thursday and Friday, I was able to finish grading by the end of the day on Friday--woo! It always takes some time for it to settle in that the semester is over, and I don't get the same kind of closure I used to since my admin work is ongoing, but still--it's a change of pace, and I always appreciate that. My classes were really great this semester, so it's also a bit bittersweet to let them go.

This week, I've got some quiet days in the office to catch up and take care of some projects I hadn't made time for, make notes about this fall's classes for next time I teach them, and start thinking about my spring classes. Then I'll be ready to head back to ABQ for Christmas with family!