And it begins

Or actually, *has begun* - summer semester, I mean. Yesterday was the first day. I have four in one class and five in the other, the smallest classes ever. (Four is enough for a class to "go," especially if there is at least one person who needs it for graduation).

Still no word on my pay schedule. My chair reassured me that that was because there was still a tiny outside chance I might get paid normal professor wages (instead of adjunct pay) and not that there's any chance an exigency will be declared where my pay will be a hearty handshake and the warm glow of knowing I helped out students (but still I worry).

I dunno. I admit it, I like small classes. Less stressful, grading is a lot easier, the logistics of things like getting copies made (can be done in-house rather than having to go to Print Shop) is easier. Getting a vehicle for field labs is easier. Not sure how all the labs will work since most of the ecology labs I have are scaled for a group of at least 20, but we'll see.

Also still no word on a budget for fall. I am pretty much expecting a pay cut because higher ed got socked yet again when a state budget was finalized. I'll be happy if they don't lay any of us off. (Blessed are the pessimists for they shall be pleased with very small things). Once again I find myself asking: how did we get here and how do we get out? about a lot of things in the world today.

I suspect some of the low summer enrollment is the result of the uncertainty about state budgets and the uncertainty about a lot of things. Some of it is changes in the financial aid rules that mean the non-loan programs don't support summer school classes (which just seems odd to me; I try to make my summer sessions as comparable as possible to the normal semester if it's rigor they're concerned about. And anyway: something that gets someone out of school faster, and hopefully into a job where they are contributing to the system rather than drawing from it is a good thing in my book).

I also think fewer departments are offering classes this summer. Which we hoped would mean more people in OUR classes but I guess a lot of students just opted not to do summer. (Also, my soils class, the major that it is a big service class for, that major very commonly does summer internships, and I guess demand was not what we hoped).

My knitting/crafting mojo has returned. I SUSPECT it's partly linked to the FINAL resolution of my GI issues (conclusion: it's perimenopause, nothing to worry about, and one or two small things I can do to make it less-bad if it comes back) and to the fact that whatever was really bothering my allergies quit flowering. I had started the "Flamethrower" socks (an undulating pattern that works well with striping yarns) over break and finished the first of the socks last night. I'm using a Biscotte et Cie. yarn, one of their striping ones. The colorway is called "Bonbons Pyramide" - apparently the inspiration was a sort of "wedding cake" made of confections (the yarn is a strong pink, yellow, and a chocolate color). So I'm thinking of them as my "party cannon" socks, because Flamethrower and because I think Pinkie Pie would be down with the idea of a pyramid of bonbons.

I also want to get back to working on Raven. And start the second (last) sleeve for Hagrid sometime - I need to finish up the sweaters I have hanging around (also Starbuck) so I can start a new one. I want to work down some of my yarn stash this summer.....which meshes well with the need to economize a bit and not buy NEW yarn nearly so much. (I'm not going to say "no new yarn" because that kind of all-or-nothing thinking makes me sad).

I also cut the fabric for the last three blocks on the current (green and floral) quilt over the weekend (and Purlewe! I subbed one of the fabrics you traded me - the yellow art-nouveau-ish one - for one of the ones I HAD been thinking of, that one worked better than what I had). I also think I have a backing for this one - while hunting for fabric in the basement, my mom and I ran across a huge piece of pink calico (like, five yards) that I am guessing was bought for curtains for my room that never materialized. So I washed it up and sent it back to me, and I am pretty sure there is enough to make a good backing, at least for a handquilted quilt (you need a bigger "edge" for things that go to a longarmer). But since I don't have ready access to someone who does longarming now, I guess I buckle down and do more handquilting.....