A piece of (real estate) cake

We're taught that certain events or activities should stress us out. And some of these events do stress me out.

Stuff like tax prep. Or R01 submissions. Or finding a new hair stylist in a new city.


I was also told that buying a house would be extremely stressful. I've found that the process itself is actually not that bad. You find a real estate agent, they show you some houses. Some you like. Some you mock. Some should be condemned (the houses, not your real estate agent). Some of the houses get taken off the market before you even have a chance at them. Not that bad. Way easier than picking a grad school.

Once you make an offer, you have to wait around to see if they take it. Sort of like when you wait out in the hall for your thesis decision. Or, at some schools, when you have to wait for a PI to agree to let you in the group. Or waiting through any faculty meeting (UGH).

The inspection process is by far less painful than the song and dance routine at job interviews.

Now filling out and signing all the paperwork is certainly annoying, but it definitely was more enjoyable than grading!



Hmmm...I wonder if being a homeowner will be less taxing than crushing the dreams of premed students?

How to get an ulcer

While I don't actually have an ulcer, I am sure I'm well on my way. In addition to a whole pile o' unbloggable nastiness, here are some of the reasons I've been M.I.B (missing in bloggin') lately:

- class prep is totally kicking my ass

- a student had a mental breakdown in my class

- N.A. and I adopted a dog

- Said adopted dog thinks she is not house-trained and has a penchant for biting my toes.... and waking us up at 5 am. Every. Day.

- Did I mention all the unbloggable nastiness?

- N.A. and I bought a house


Hope to catch up with you all soon....

Flu policies

Well, my darlings, I got it. No, not swine flu. Regular flu. But still. This has got to be a record or something. Who gets the flu the second week of class? (Me.)

Here at PermaU, students are told not to go to class if they think they have the flu. Instead, a flu hotline has been set up for them to call in their symptoms. Tired? Achy? Sore throat? Fever? (Hmm...sounds like most freshmen after Thursday $2 shot nights). If you fit the symptoms, you are told not to go to class.

Although I appreciate that PermaU is trying to minimize the spread of flu (don't get me started about swine flu), there are a few flaws with this system. First, what ever happened to a doctor's visit? And really, how many undergrads keep a thermometer in their rooms? Of course it feels like you have a fever-- your dorm isn't air-conditioned, and it's been in the 80s!

What are your thoughts about flu minimization? Does your campus have a new flu policy? Or has your institution shut down completely because of swine flu?