Thanksgiving

Sarah and I have had a great Thanksgiving break so far. Even though we haven't done much out of the ordinary, we've really enjoyed having a house full of guests. We've played games, watched movies, gone shopping (boo!), and eaten. We've eaten a lot. Our pets have especially enjoyed our guests. Lots of extra attention would make anyone happy, I guess.

Um... what?

I was proctoring an intro psychology exam the other day (watching students and answering questions) when I had an interesting interaction. A student raised her hand to get my attention, so I walked over to see if I could answer her question. I'd already answered a few of her questions that day, so I wasn't really expecting what happened next.

Student: Um...what? Points at question #36.
Me: I looked at her expectantly, waiting for her question.
Student: Alternates between looking blankly at me and blankly at the question.
Me: Um...could you maybe rephrase your question?
Student: Panicked look.
Me: I think this question is just asking you to explain what effect tranquilizing drugs have on your brain.
Student: But...I've never done drugs! How am I supposed to know?
Me: Um...I think this question is asking less about personal experience and more about what your book says...

Did you feel that?

Last night I watched the big LSU-Alabama football game. It was on late. Sarah was asleep. The house was quiet and still. I felt a weird sensation. Some shaking. It got a little stronger and persisted. My train of thought went like this:

1 second in: What is this, an earthquake?

3 seconds in: Interception! No!!

5 seconds in: Hey, that hanging light fixture is swaying. I think this is actually an earthquake!

7 seconds in: No!! No one is ever going to believe me!

It immediately brought me back to the only other earthquake I've experienced. I can see it vividly. I was three years old (almost four), and Mom and I were over at Grandma and Grandpa's house watering their plants because they were away. I was sitting on their stairway with my head between the rails, and I felt the stairs move underneath me.

Me: "Mom! The stairs are moving!!"

Mom: No, silly.

It turned out that I was feeling a 5.0 earthquake centered about 225 miles away in Cleveland, OH. The one I felt last night was the same distance away, and it was of a similar magnitude (5.6). But, Sarah, the light fixture WAS moving. It was!!

busyness as I see it

Here's the view of my academic to-do list from my corner of the world.

1. Thesis journal submission
2. Quals
3. Diss. proposal
4. False signaling project
5. Ovulation paper
6. Behavior change project
7. Anthro & trees project
8. Anthro & disease project
9. Self deprecation project
10. Romanian orphans project
11. Consulting
12. EP write-up for Monitor

This stuff is all due yesterday.