Subterranean By Design...
---Three and a Half / Respecting Shayna---
2003-11-05 - 10:47 p.m.
What a freaking day. In the office at 9, out of the office at 10. And no, it's not the happy way. Some days you just have to get stuff done, and I achieved some semblance of that today. The strange thing was that I never even realized how long I was there. Once I was out the door it dawned on me that 13 hours had just been spent in Wells Hall.
But it started off as "not so Well"s hall. First I bumped into someone on the road, but it was at a very low speed (inching up at a stoplight) and then it turned out to be a fellow math grad and no damage was done. Whew. Numerical came and went. I got my analysis assignment back and it was most disappointing. First off, I had only turned in seven of the ten problmes assigned. Next, I got the big fat line through three of my "solutions" with a nice NO on different parts of each proof. It's aggravating how you can work through a problem very logically (and seemingly very carefully) and have your work thrown back at you like an overdrawn Visa. To pour salt in the wound, Lappan proceeded to point out a mistake I had made (of course he did this anonymously, I assume others must have made the mistake) and then remark that these were the kinds of mistakes we shouldn't be making at this point. Not a good sign. And Lappan is the man. If I can't learn this stuff from him, then I could be in deep. So I took my three and a half, felt pissed off for about half an hour, and then shrugged it off. Dwelling on the beat downs gets you nowhere.
This class is now in the process of owning me for the second straight semester. It really makes me consider if I'm cut out for this grad school lifestyle. Do I think I can do better in the class? Sure. What will it take? Buttloads more worth of studying. I look at some of the people in the department, and I just couldn't live the way they do. I need things like social interaction, emotional stimulus, and in general, something other than my studies. I enjoy my studies, indeed, but there isn't a thing in the world that I could devote every inch of my being to. The question for me now is, can I pull this thing off and keep the lifestyle I desire? I certainly feel that I am qualified to teach college level courses, it's just whether or not I have the juice to gain the certification.
But immediately following the big A, I took on the Wednesday version of the crossword puzzle, and gave it the royal squash match. That did some good to raise my spirits. Creating my worksheet went really well, but my students were again down about the whole "series" subject. I heard about the most awful statement today from one of my favorite students. He said "I'm just gonna be a business major." What a thing to say! Maybe a business major is tougher than it sounds, but I have never heard of anyone who really made a difference that majored in business (I'm sure someone could give me an example). Business. How general is that? It's like saying you're going to major in "Stuff."
Also, reading the editorial section of the State News (which makes me laugh/fume each day, without fail) gave me a good chuckle. A student was apparently upset that the administration made a request to the students that they act civilly after the U of M game. The student made the following comment:
"It is embarrassing to me that the university continues to have no faith in its students. Sure, we Spartans have crossed the line a time or two, enjoying our postgame celebrations a little too much, but it is ridiculous for the leaders of the university to assume that after every big game, the Spartans are bound to destroy something.
As an alumna of the university, I have faith that the legacy started by Tom Izzo that "Spartans act with class" will continue."
Acronyms such as WTF and ROFL were made for people like Shayna Levine. OK lets see, the students rioted in, I believe 1999 when the basketball team lost to Duke in the Final Four (not the final game). They rioted again, last school year, after a win in the Sweet 16 over Maryland, and then AGAIN after losing to Texas in the next round (both games less significant than the Duke game). So along comes the U of M game. It's in East Lansing. The Spartans sit at 7-1 and the Wolverines at 7-2 or something like that. It is arguably the school's biggest football game in the last ten years, as Big Ten and possible national title implications hang in the balance. Sounds to me like a classic recipe for a good old MSU riot. So the University issues a statement of some kind asking students to act responsibly. That's all. But poor Shayna is flabbergasted and indignant that the University doesn't trust the MSU student body to act responsibly. Why the heck wouldn't they trust the students? They sure are a bunch of fuddy duddy's, aren't they? Students practically walk around in chains I suppose. I didn't even notice any heightened security at the game. If I ever came face to face with Shayna I'd have a nice week old worn sweat sock to shove down her whining throat. Then perhaps a bitch slap to finish the job. And then I'd tell her that I totally respect her, and ask whether the words or the actions meant more to her.
So the rest of the night I got a start on one of my assignements that's due Monday. Upon leaving Wells, I noticed the moon was looking badass for the second straight night, thanks to the passing clouds. I jammed it up to some VH on the way home and am about to put my nose back to the grindstone. Tomorrow promises to be another day of hard labor.
Song currently on WinAmp: Weird Al's "Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota." His first epic tune, I believe. It's a true classic of his.
Two Steps Forward - Two Steps Back
