Lots of Little Things

Done with classes. I've just got two finals to give. Whoopee!

The stacks of grading have invaded my office and are beginning to assert their presence. I may need an emergency escape plan.

I've been asked to be the interim graduate director next year while the person that is our graduate director is overseas. Yikes! Seems like a really cool thing that I'd be interested in doing, but I worry that it's going to take me away from my research too much. But it comes with a course release, and it seems like it would show my university and any others that I'm interested in in the future that I can work with graduate students. But haven't I shown that in other ways?

Speaking of course releases, the deans and administrations just approved a reduction in teaching load from 3-3 to 3-2 this year, but now I've heard that it's likely they will take that away. Big bummer. I'm not sure what we're going to learn at this budget meeting today. I'm almost certainly going to be there, but I'm hoping that it's not just a vent session.