Originally, I was planning to write this post about the cancellation of MathFest 2020. It was the right decision for all kinds of reasons and I am sorry its loss. Yet it seems so insignificant compared to the events in Minneapolis. I keep flipping to the news—alternately feeling outrage and guilt but always sorrow. IContinue reading “May 30 Day 83: I’m Sorry”
Category Archives: reflections
May 29 Day 82: Strange and Beautiful
I’ll try and be less frivolous tomorrow. For now, I choose to post pictures both strange and beautiful.
May 24 Day 77: Shine Your Light
Finding balance in isolation has been a challenge. My foci have been: creating community within my classroom and my professional association, sharing space and supporting priorities of family members, and meeting my commitments. Since March 9, my number one priority has been to survive the jarring upheaval that was this academic year in the timeContinue reading “May 24 Day 77: Shine Your Light”
May 23 Day 76: A Brief Respite
I’ve been pushing pretty hard lately and I admit to being a little resentful of the grading, lack of student interaction, and extra work to prepare for a board meeting. If this were in “the before,” I would be flying home from DC after two days of important work with amazing people—energized and ready toContinue reading “May 23 Day 76: A Brief Respite”
May 20 Day 73: Time Expansion
Have you ever noticed that projects expand to fill the time available? Today I only had one hard deadline and several soft ones. The hard deadline? Teaching from 3:40-5:40 pm. I thought I was ready to go this morning—just a few minor adjustments to the learning management system and it would be on to biggerContinue reading “May 20 Day 73: Time Expansion”
May 19 Day 72: For Math and Love
This week has a lot due dates and deadlines converging. I’ve spent a fair few too many late nights trying to get ahead of regular work so that I can add in the special requests. I’m not complaining. It is a privilege to participate in these ways: Working with colleagues to create a special awardContinue reading “May 19 Day 72: For Math and Love”
May 17 Day 70: Small Celebrations
Sometimes I need to celebrate little things. Rather than rising early to start work, I stayed snuggled under my covers and began grading. Finishing the first of three Matrix Algebra assignments before ever getting up, pushed away the gloom and burden of grading—tricking me into feeling optimistic about work for the rest of the day.Continue reading “May 17 Day 70: Small Celebrations”
May 14 Day 67: Streaking
Did the title make you look? WordPress would have me believe that a compelling title is all I need to make it in the blog-o-sphere. So let’s test that hypothesis. What were you thinking when you read the title? Petri dishes and inoculating loops? Lights across the sky? Naked runners? Hair highlights? DuoLingo? Honestly, it’sContinue reading “May 14 Day 67: Streaking”
May 12 Day 65: The Smell of Rain
There is something comforting about the smell of rain through the bedroom window, especially on a day filled with teaching and zoom obligations. Yes, I know there is a word to describe the smell, petrichor. As my microbiologist husband reminds me, I should be thanking the soil bacteria, Streptomyces, for producing geosmin, the molecule thatContinue reading “May 12 Day 65: The Smell of Rain”
May 8 Day 61: Leadership
Look around you. Who is leading? Who gets to lead? And how are they doing at it? The COVID-19 crisis has elevated some leaders to new heights while exposing serious flaws in others. So what makes someone an effective leader? In my opinion, they need to have: a clear and well-articulated vision; the ability toContinue reading “May 8 Day 61: Leadership”
Math Belongs to All of Us 