Aujourd'hui

Truth be told, yesterday sucked. I ended up brooding and as a result, by the end of the day, grading was still 7/8th undone. I finally went to sleep, aided by some motrin and hope for tomorrow, feeling quite like Scarlett O'Hara upon Rhett's departure.

Today was decidedly more productive. In addition, certain myths were broken. Myths that i created to justify my procrastination

1) No, you don't need a red pen to grade, let go of that safety blanket
2) No need to be surrounded by people buried in books so you can feel justified to be grading
3) No visit to coffee shop needed, that 4 bucks latte only helps the economy
4) No break is really required between grading two papers; it's painful, just get it done, kinda like waxing, yikes, but yeah.

Took me 1.5 hours to do the 7/8th, whereas the first 1/8th took 2 hours. You see what i mean? Mind over matter, baby, that's what i am talking about. Doesn't hurt that i can speed-read.

I am very happy to report that an unlikely contender came from behind and beat all the veteran front-runners. Yes! I was secretly hoping for something like this. Only goes to show that age is but a number when it comes to brain-power. The boy happens to be seventeen, but i knew he had it in him from the very first day, even though he did not display any such performance beforehand. Oh, we always know. A novel and brilliant response here, the usual rote steps missing there, you know, the tell-tale signs of higher order thinking.

All well that ends well. So good luck young mister CG, here's hoping a brilliant future to you!

I shall treat myself to some scotch now, which i had some trouble getting. I got carded and had no id with age on it. It went like this:

Me: Um, oops, sorry mister, here's my other id (university pic id, says faculty in big letters)
Manager: Hmm, it seems that you may be over 21 but i still need to see some proof of age.
Me: Oh come on, i am a professor at a university, do you really think i am below 21?
(and if such is the case, shouldn't i just get the scotch as a reward of some sort?)
Manager: No, the law says if you appear to be below 21, you have to produce a state id showing proof of age.
Me: I promise i will have it next time (making sad eyes)
Manager: Ok. Please remember to have it on you as you do have that youthful look.
Me: Yes! Thank you!

Soon i will be under the happy influence of mister JW, so it is time that i bid you good-bye. And just so there is no confusion, i want to go on record with the statement "No, i am not drinking to drown my sorrow". Eh, i got no proof, so you just have to take my word for it i guess.

:-P