Countdown

Each year, my department officially begins the end of semester countdown on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Naturally, countdown start day is one of our favorite days of the year... second only to the final day of the semester. :-)

As of tomorrow, we have 19 days left in the semester. For me, that translates into...

• 93 papers to grade (well, that's if all of the students actually submit their papers)
• 28 portfolios to grade
• 28 student conferences 
• 4 classes to set up (we are required to have all syallbi for next semester posted on the class websites before the end of this semester) 
• 12 teaching days (13 class meetings)
• 3 textbooks to review & 1 textbook committee recommendation report to write
• 2 departmental meetings (ugh)
• 1 all faculty meeting (double ugh)
• 1 committee meeting  
• 1 major field trip
• 1 nasty, stinky office refrigerator to clean (triple ugh)
  

Okay, I'm feeling much less enthusiastic after thinking about everything that has to be done... crap.  So much for that. Damn list.

Let's focus on the positive... 19 days! :-)