Yesterday was proclaimed a day of hope because of rainbow magic. And that meteorological phenomena of reflection, refraction, and dispersion came through for me. Let me explain. How can you not find hope in your heart when you learn about the expansion of two families. The birth of a sweet girl yesterday and a babyContinue reading “November 20 Day 257: Heart-work”
Monthly Archives: November 2020
November 19 Day 256: Rainbow Magic
I looked up from my desk, and there it was. A bright rainbow against the dull grey sky. And it made me smile. I stood up to take the picture and marveled at the beauty of physics in action. Thank you Mother Nature, for bringing color into my life. Rainbows bring magic and hope. WeContinue reading “November 19 Day 256: Rainbow Magic”
November 18 Day 255: Not Exactly Hump Day
When teaching a Monday/Wednesday schedule, Wednesdays feel more like Fridays than a typical “Hump Day“. Teaching is over for the week; yet the work never stops. There remains endless report writing, agenda setting, meeting attending, meeting facilitation, class planning and of course, grading. So does that make Tuesday the new Wednesday? And Friday the newContinue reading “November 18 Day 255: Not Exactly Hump Day”
November 17 Day 254: A World of Worries
There is plenty to worry on each day. Health and safety of family, friends, students, and me. Managing workload. Missed adventures. Long term impacts of the pandemic on careers, productivity, and life experiences in general. As I started to write about these concerns, I realized the stories are not mine to tell. And many areContinue reading “November 17 Day 254: A World of Worries”
November 16 Day 253: Tacoma You’re Beautiful
Tacoma is in the 253 area code so how could I not celebrate this wonderous, gritty city on the 253rd day since starting remote emergency teaching last March. We have the Puget Sound, the Mountain, Point Defiance, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Tacoma is a city filled with generous artists, makers, and don’t forget #TacomaMath folks.Continue reading “November 16 Day 253: Tacoma You’re Beautiful”
November 15 Day 252: Anticipation
I went food shopping Saturday night at 9 pm in anticipation of Governor Inslee’s Sunday 11 am announcement (still to come this morning). Safeway had already removed most of the shopping carts in preparation of limiting store capacity to 25%. Paper product and pasta sections were looking mighty scant. I don’t think the pattern ofContinue reading “November 15 Day 252: Anticipation”
November 14 Day 251: Being Festive
We played. We explored. We laughed. And at the end of it all, we lined up on the stage for the “festival photograph” you see above. Today’s Julia Robinson Math Festival (JRMF) at the University of Washington Tacoma was a great success. Postponed from spring 2020, public health considerations did not allow for an in-personContinue reading “November 14 Day 251: Being Festive”
November 13 Day 250: Quintessential Remote Learning Question
My late night habits are catching up with me. In this afternoon’s faculty meeting, I dutifully zoomed in; I listened to the initial updates. I knew I was tired—so much so that I did not turn on the camera. My “resting zoom face” looks like a scowl and I didn’t want speakers to think itContinue reading “November 13 Day 250: Quintessential Remote Learning Question”
November 12 Day 249: Anti-symmetry
Worked with colleague. Hopeful for understanding. Combinatorialized. Generalized. Determinants. Motzkin numbers.
November 11 Day 248: Full of Thanks
Thank you to those that have served. Thankful for this holiday. Thankful for my family and friends. My plan was initially to try and catch up on work. I found I couldn’t focus. After a few essential errands and emails, I did nothing (or practically nothing) for the rest of the day. I snuggled underContinue reading “November 11 Day 248: Full of Thanks”
Math Belongs to All of Us 