I know it’s a few days until the equinox and the official start to the Spring, but I feel like tonight I am putting Winter (or at the very least winter quarter) to bed. Yesterday I administered the final oral interviews for Abstract Algebra. After struggling through teaching for three remote quarters (Spring 2020, AutumnContinue reading “March 19 Day 376: The End of Winter”
Author Archives: Jenny Quinn
March 18 Day 375: Totaled
The outcome of Sunday’s adventure is the sweet, practically perfect Subaru Forester, which we affectionately named Persephone, is considered totaled. Now the dilemma: do we look to replace it with a used car or consider buying new. I understand Subaru has 0% financing through the end of the month. And they do hold their value.Continue reading “March 18 Day 375: Totaled”
March 17 Day 374: Baiting the Reader
There is something intoxicating about a social media post that a lot of people read. It confirms a belief that the time putting words on the page is well spent. In my limited year-long blog writing experience, I have learned that posts are popular for various reasons: Voyeurism. Show a car crash and people clickContinue reading “March 17 Day 374: Baiting the Reader”
March 16 Day 373: Finally Got It Figured
No teacher likes to wait in office hours for students to show up and ask questions. This quarter I instituted a rule that if no one arrived with questions in the first 15 minutes, I was not obligated to stay. Tonight was my last evening drop-in hour for Winter Quarter 2021. The oral final examContinue reading “March 16 Day 373: Finally Got It Figured”
March 15 Day 372: Ides of March
No soothsayers warned me to beware. I think I needed them yesterday. Seriously, things are looking up. First, thank you all for your warm birthday wishes and serious concern. At least I will have a good story to tell in the future—and that is worth something. The car is at the repair shop; we areContinue reading “March 15 Day 372: Ides of March”
March 14 Day 371: We Are OK
Umm, this birthday isn’t going to plan. My son Zachary and I went to record a Math Around Town piece in the Salishan neighborhood and the trip home was exciting—but not in a good way. As we entered I-705 from the 7 extension near the Tacoma Dome, a vehicle from the I-5 N ramp blewContinue reading “March 14 Day 371: We Are OK”
March 13 Day 370: Celebrate with Friends
It was a glorious day. I spent the afternoon with my husband Mark and friends Sue and Paul. We celebrated my birthday, which is officially tomorrow. Yes, I am a particularly lucky mathematician to have a birthday on Pi Day. We shared lunch at a charming bistro Citron, in Parkland, checked out the Russian marketContinue reading “March 13 Day 370: Celebrate with Friends”
March 12 Day 369: One To Go
I received an urgent e-mail from my husband yesterday afternoon. My healthcare provider’s vaccine clinic was liberally interpreting “educator” to include higher education faculty and they had appointments available. I immediately got online, signed up for the next available appointment, drove to the clinic, and received my first Moderna shot. It took maybe 60 minutesContinue reading “March 12 Day 369: One To Go”
March 11 Day 368: Spring is Near
I know Spring is practically here when the sun shining in my eastern window is a nuisance during my 8 am morning zoom call. It got more pronounced for the next 20 minutes: With the start of Daylight Savings Time this Sunday, the glare will be an issue at 9 am instead—slowly creeping back toContinue reading “March 11 Day 368: Spring is Near”
March 10 Day 367: An Afternoon in the Sun
Mostly I leave the house for three reasons: To go for walks or make Math Around Town recordings; To pick up take-out food; or To shop for house and food supplies. There are some days when I barely leave the second floor, let alone actually go outside. Today was different as I attended to longContinue reading “March 10 Day 367: An Afternoon in the Sun”
Math Belongs to All of Us 