England 5 -- Portugal 6

Euro 2004 has been a great excuse from news, blogging, etc. Just think -- 4 hours of footie a day, Germany go out at the group stage, and England reach the quarter finals looking like they are finally hitting some kind of form. Not so much. Personally, though, I think the ref was a huge part of the problem. Decided for the hosts whenever possible. He was absolute crap. Still, I've been almost unaware of the news for days. Been unaware of much in the way of work for days. It's been nice.

A random word about evaluations

What I've discovered: either my worst teaching is still really good, or I make myself likeable enough to my students that they still give me good evaluations. Or both.

So here's my new to-do list:

• Finish online class
  
• finish the bloody book review
  
• involve myself in at least three job search activities a week
  
• finish fixing the front garden
  

Sorry it's not more interesting, folks, but I haven't evenn seen the new Harry Potteryet. What with the football and a week of days in the 90s, I have not been too energetic. That must change as soon as the super-spouse goes back to work. The weeds wait for no medievalist, and the tomato plants are becoming bushy. Moreover, the dog and I need to lose 30 pounds, which means exercise for us both. Plus, a job in my discipline at a good college 25 minutes from my front door is opening up. I have CV padding to do. Plus, I may have to find work this summer. Ugh.

Thanks for the quiz, Rana!

Minerva McGonagall, Transfigurations.


Harry Potter Quiz: Which Hogwarts Professor Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

And for the rest of the evening, grading and boxing. Fun stuff!

It's the end of the quarter, folks ...

What Tim Burke said.

Coming soon (I hope): comments on what Laura and Belle are justifiably riled about.

Also, the latest in overpaid administrators. A colleague claims that the president of his college (one of the smallest in the state, with sliding enrollment and little success in gaining capital funding) makes more than the governor, due to what is at least an interesting situation. Named a finalist in a search for a new president for the Southern Nevada's community college system, the Board of Trustees granted the president a raise to keep her. The problem? The $25,000 raise came from discretionary funds, because the state had capped the president's wages. Also, the only people at the college to have raises in the past 3 years were administrators. Oh -- and the president and board had turned down many requests for student-oriented services and filling of empty positions, only to be asked to "do more with less!" Here's the real kicker -- it seems that there wasn't much threat that the president was going to leave. Ask not what an administrator can do for the college ...