Teaching

Teaching is keeping me busier than I thought it would. There was a time before the kids were born, I could just walk into class and start rambling with only my overheads for prompts. But since then, the outline (and much of the information) has diffused out of my brain. It doesn't help that having babies kills brain cells. I'm not sure where that happens, maybe somewhere between pregnancy and waking up every two hours as a zombie. The end result is me spending lots of time reviewing old information and replanning my lectures, this time around power point images. This week, I have to talk about photosynthesis and respiration, which is one of the more difficult concepts, especially for nonmajors. It involves a lot of chemistry and memorization. I'm going to take it a little easy on them and not have them know every chemical in the pathway, but still, I'll be impressed if they manage to understand the electron transport system.

Around this time during the semester, my students start dropping like flies. These are the students who did badly the first exam and now realize the material just gets harder. This is why I never turn down students at the beginning, even if my class is jam-packed. I tell them not to worry, that lots of them will drop later on.

Basically, I have 4 types of students: smart & lazy; smart & hard-working; not-so-smart & lazy; and not-so-smart & hard-working (no one is really dumb). The not-so-smart & lazy eventually drop or get deserved F's. The smart ones usually do well, but I have to watch out for the smart & lazy ones because they tend to cheat and argue with me about points. I don't have to worry at all about the smart & hard-working ones. The last group, not-so-smart & hard-working, is probably my favorite group. They're there everytime, jotting down notes, asking me questions afterward, and then they still get low grades. I do anything to help these ones out, and it's very rewarding for both of us to see their grades improve. Usually, though, the improvement is not that drastic, maybe from a C to a B.

Overall, it's been great. I've learned that young people are still wonderful. I'm learning to budget my time better. Most of all, as I go over the details of the cell or DNA (and even photosynthesis & respiration), I can't help but marvel at the intricacy of God's creation. I defy any evolutionist to explain how cAMP came into existence. This, and all of science, is genius, God's pure genius.

Be like George

Being a Christian reminds me of that one Seinfeld episode where George decides to do the opposite of what he normally does and ends up getting a good job, a girl, everything. Because if we do the opposite of our natural tendencies, we would get the gift of holiness. So many things that we naturally do is just the exact opposite of what God would have us do. Instead of being laborers who come home, watch sports, and leave everything up to their wives, God wants men to be active leaders in their household. Instead of worrying about our children and trying to prevent any pain from coming to them, He wants us moms to relax and trust Him (our love for them is just a fraction of His love for them anyway). Instead of exacting revenge on the many wrongs done against us, we're supposed to show forgiveness and mercy towards those who wronged us. We want to hoard money; He wants us to give it all away.

Left to our own devices, we end up at polar opposites from God. Just like George who needed that head-poking reminder from Elaine to stick to doing the opposite, we need constant reminding that our way is not God's way (thank goodness considering what a mess we've made of the world with our way). It ain't easy, though. But most worthwhile things aren’t.

Questions

My friend sent me this series of questions in chain letter fashion. I'm supposed to answer them and email them to my friends so that you all can know me better. I was going to ignore her but then I ran out of questions to answer for my normal FAQ.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30. Half of the week, I wake up early because of appointments; half of the week I sleep in till about 8:30.
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Neither, but if I had to choose, diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
4. What is your favorite TV show? Right now, the Olympics.
5. What did you have for breakfast? Tea and toast.
6. What foods do you dislike? Anything that tastes like dirt, ie. beets, carp. I also despise lamb.
7. What is your favorite CD at the moment? When I'm not listening to kiddie music, Dido.
8. What kind of car do you drive? Toyota Sienna.
9. Favorite sandwich? Pastrami, egg.
10. What characteristics do you despise? Thanks to my students, cheating. Also, Hypocrisy.
11. What are your favorite clothes? Sweats, t-shirts, and shorts.
12. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where WOULDN'T you go? Texas
13. Favorite brand of clothing? Don't have one.
14. Where would you want to retire to? Wherever the kids are, unless they move to Texas
15. What is your favorite sport to watch? The only sport I watch is the Olympics.
16. Pepsi or Coke? Coke
17. Are you a morning person or night owl? Night owl (note time of blog entry).
18. Pedicure or Manicure? Neither. My feet and hands look good just the way they are.
19. What is your best childhood memory? Riding my bike around the neighborhood with my sisters and stopping to pet dogs or collect leaves/rocks/anything.
20. Favorite flower? tulips, calla lilies, blue hydrangea.
21. Favorite ice cream? strawberry and jamoca almond fudge.
22. Favorite fast food restaurant? Inn-n-out.
23. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Target, Barnes & Noble.
24. Bedtime? Whenever I conk out.
25. What is your favorite color? Fashion wise, it's navy blue. With everything else, it's light blue.
26. Favorite magazine? The Week and Parents.
27. Totally useless tidbit? I have 11 moles on my right arm
Well, that's it. Now you know what makes me tick.

Things I never imagined saying

1. Don't stick your finger in your poopoo (also peepee).

2. Don't eat your booger (also snot).
3. It's not a monster; it's your brother.
4. Your underwear is not a hat.
5. Come here so I can smell your butt.
6. Stop eating the dog food.
7. Your weewee is not a toy.
8. No more pouring sand in your diaper.
9. It's just sand in your hair, not lice.
10. No, I will not put lice in your hair.
11. Okay, you can have the rest of my ice cream.

Poop Happens

After pooping in his diaper today, my son stuck his finger in the diaper and then wiped it on the carpet. Of course, that's nothing compared to the time when his older sis was one and a piece of her poo fell out of her diaper. She stuck it in her mouth, but it must've tasted pretty bad (you think?) because she didn't eat it. There's nothing like parenthood to get rid of your squeamishness.

Oh, by the way, Happy Valentine's Day!