The Joint Mathematics Meeting 2021 is a virtual affair and will be my first national conference of the pandemic. It officially starts tomorrow morning but today was the MAA Board of Directors meeting that is held the day before. I’ve just finished planning my first two days of attendance. There is a learning curve forContinue reading “January 5 Day 303: Notable Firsts”
Author Archives: Jenny Quinn
January 4 Day 302: A New Start
It’s the first Monday of a new year and the first day of winter quarter classes after an all-too-short break. So, how did you approach it? Me? I moved forward with determination, optimism, and hope. I refused to be weighed down by the problems to be solved, promises to be kept, or schedules to beContinue reading “January 4 Day 302: A New Start”
January 3 Day 301: Time Machine
It has been more than fifteen years since my family moved to Tacoma, WA. I left a tenured position to follow my husband to the Pacific Northwest. At the time people thought I was crazy to leave without a replacement position—but keeping my family together was more important than a job or a title. Besides,Continue reading “January 3 Day 301: Time Machine”
January 2 Day 300: Getting Back To It
University of Washington winter quarter starts Monday, January 4 so it is time to get serious about teaching once again. I switched teaching assignments at the last minute to help fill an unexpected gap. Originally, I was scheduled to teach TMATH 308 Matrix Algebra —a fully enrolled synchronous remote section at 8 am on TuesdaysContinue reading “January 2 Day 300: Getting Back To It”
January 1 Day 299: and a Happy New Year
2020 was a year like no other. Sometimes it is hard to see the bright side when important activities are getting cancelled right and left. In the cover image, family members selected a Zoom background of a place they would like to visit. Mark and Anson picked locations from their hearts to which they wouldContinue reading “January 1 Day 299: and a Happy New Year”
December 25 Day 292: Christmas Break
Just a short post to say, I am spending the next few days with my family. Even though we have been together since Thanksgiving, this is the first time I feel like I can take a break from work and simply enjoy time with them. So that is what I intend to do. Today wasContinue reading “December 25 Day 292: Christmas Break”
December 24 Day 291: Not a Creature was Stirring
The dinner dishes are washed and it’s finally time to wrap the meager presents I have accumulated for my family this Christmas. I did not do much shopping and half the things I ordered online have yet to arrive. There are stockings to fill, pictures of coming gifts to print, and presents to wrap. IContinue reading “December 24 Day 291: Not a Creature was Stirring”
December 23 Day 290: Ode to Tacoma’s 12 Days of Christmas
Christmas is coming. I’ve been working on a Tacoma version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. What do you think? I am in need of original photos for 11, 9, 4, and 3 but I hope I have captured the spirit of Tacoma. Twelve geese a-gliding, Eleven sailboats sailing, Ten seals a-bobbing, Nine locks safeguarding,Continue reading “December 23 Day 290: Ode to Tacoma’s 12 Days of Christmas”
December 22 Day 289: Recreate to Celebrate
What a fun social “hour” hosted by the MAA Special Interest Group for Recreational Math (SIGMAA REC). I was there for more than three hours–chatting, playing, and meeting friends. I had an intimate conversation with a dear old friend, just the two of us. I had different small group conversations about math clubs, covid, andContinue reading “December 22 Day 289: Recreate to Celebrate”
December 21 Day 288: Solstice
Today has the least light and most dark of the year. That means tomorrow things will start to brighten—imperceptibly at first but the little gains will accumulate and bring those beautiful bright long days of summer.
Math Belongs to All of Us 