Violins

If I were the self-pitying type, I'd be crying today with some violin accompaniment. Fortunately, I'm not. My family has been at the beach all day while I have been totaling and entering final grades. I also printed out (and set up online) materials for my class that's starting tomorrow. I'm keeping my "eyes on the prize", as they say, thinking about how having everything finished will allow me to enjoy our vacation. My middle son called earlier to find out what we were doing later. I wasn't sure why he was asking; I usually don't do anything except work on Mondays. Oh, yeah! It's Independence Day! I had been so engrossed in my work I didn't even remember.

Taking on three summer classes was entirely my choice, so I have no real regrets about the amount of work I've been doing. While I probably don't need to do so much online scoring, I do often feel compelled to grab the work when it's available because it isn't always. I finished my current work around 4:00 this afternoon, so there's still time to do something with my family this evening. From here on out, until we leave for vacation later in the week, my life should be pretty smooth. Only nine students are signed up for my class that starts on Wednesday, so that one might not be a go. (Usually there must be ten students for the class to happen.) I'm fine either way.

Despite the current political climate, I'm more proud than ever to be an American, and the way I chose to exercise my freedom today was to work hard to help the economy. Obviously, it's not as altruistic as I may be making it sound; it just happens to fall in line with what I want to do, at least the vacation part. However you decide to enjoy your freedom, I hope you have a great time. I could remind you that not everyone has the choices we have, but I know you know that already.