drama queens

I just have to take a break from the drama queens. They’re out in full force today – "If I don’t have that form RIGHT THIS MINUTE I’ll LOOOOOSE MY JOOOOOOOOBBBBB!!!!" Yeah, I’m sure your school just handed you that five seconds ago. And if it’s not forms they have to have RIGHT NOW,  it’s getting their programs done right this minute or it’s getting their licensure paperwork to the state right this very second – never mind that their degree isn’t conferred till August and they have another week of classes – THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR LICENSE RIGHT THIS MINUTE OR THE WORLD WILL FLY OUT OF ITS ORBIT AND INTO THE DARKEST REACHEST OF DEEP ICY SPACE!!!!!!!!!! And they will DDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, by the way, don’t be rude to my student worker when I’m out to lunch and you HAVE TO HAVE THIS FORM RIGHT THIS MINUTE,  or I’m shoving you right to the bottom of the stack. I know perfectly well that you didn’t fax it to me a week ago. The fax has yesterday’s date. I think you may get shoved to the back of the line just for that.

Speaking of drama queens, K’s student worker is really really REALLY getting on my nerves. She’s like queen of the drama queens.  She always has a situation. A major terrible situation that we have to all hear about and sympathize with her about. She has problems with her classes, she has problems with her boyfriend, she has problems with her roommates, she has problems with her car, she has problems with everything anyone could possibly have a problem with, and it’s always the end of the world and it’s never even remotely possible that she’s brought any of it on herself. The world is out to get this poor child. And we all have to hear about it. She was sniffling at K’s desk a few minutes ago and I was rushing to and fro as fast as I could so I could pretend I didn’t notice. I just don’t want to hear about it!!!! 

She also spends her days yakking on her cell phone – which has the weirdest, most unnerving ring ever, like someone shouting something and it scares the hell out of me every time it rings – and playing on K’s computer. K is gone all week and didn’t leave her enough to do. Last time K left, she didn’t show up for most of the time K was gone, and I REALLY hoped K would get rid of her, but she just gave her a stern talking-to. My summer student worker is wonderful, and needs a job for the fall. I’m SO hoping Drama Queen will quit.  

Obviously, I’m having One of Those Days. When everyone seems to have completely lost their minds. I sent someone a program of study last week, a list of the classes he’ll need to get his teaching license. He emailed me back today because he had some questions. His main questions were listed in an attached letter that was  four pages long and contained FOOTNOTES. He asked me to tell him specifically what he needs for his license. The program of study IS what he needs. It lists every class. You really can’t get more specific than that. He also felt that he shouldn’t have to do all that coursework since he holds two undergrad degrees, two masters, a three-year non renewable license from another state and a "statement of status eligibility" from yet another state (he included footnotes in there for both of those). He wants to know what tuition will cost, what books will cost, where he can find housing, how long it will take him, and about ten zillion other things. Then he includes eight more questions about specific breakdowns of diversity at our university, mostly regarding male Hispanic students. He would like data broken down in these eight areas for the last ten years. And he notes that this should be a simple request, since it only includes eight demographic-specific statistical amounts.  Apparently you can have too much education!

And he also notes that if I don’t have this breakdown of diversity data at my fingertips or stored within my computer-brain, I should forward his questions on to the department chairperson, or if necessary, to the university president’s office. I emailed him back a much more polite and helpful reply than I thought he deserved, and I sent him a link to our Ask The Dean page for all his statistical needs. Along with links to the registrar, housing and student accounts for all his other information needs. I didn’t note that he’s going to have to do his own damn legwork. After I thought about it, I sent my response on to the Dean and my New Boss. Because the eight-question-diversity-quiz was kind of weird.  

Someone else emailed me asking if he can teach health with a history license. No, I wanted to say,  but you can teach astronomy with a cosmetology license! Who knew!

And a very interesting woman dropped by just to say hello to me, so that I will know who she is when she’s taking classes in the fall. I told her it’s very  nice to meet her, but I do hope she won’t be offended when I don’t in fact remember her next time she drops by. In September. Because it’s a pretty good bet that I’ll have one or two other people in my office between now and then. Although she was wearing a shockingly filthy shirt, so I’d remember that  if she didn’t change into a clean one before she came back by. Then she looked at a picture I have of Baker B holding Stella and asked if Baker B is my son.  Well, thanks!! NOW I’ll remember her, but not in a good way. It doesn’t help that it’s the worst picture of Baker B ever, and he looks like a vampire. It’s adorable of Stella – she was just a teeny little kitten in it and he’s holding her up to the camera – but it’s horrible of him. So I look old enough to be a 40-year-old vampire’s mom! Great!!! Yep, I’ll certainly remember you, Filthy Shirt Woman!

Okay, I think that’s enough of a break. I need to get out of here so that I can enjoy the incredible weather we’re having.  Well, I think it’s incredible – it’s 86 degrees outside!!! Yay!!!! But of course I’m in the minority. Most people aren’t as thrilled about the heat wave as I am.  It doesn’t often get this hot here, though, so I’m loving it. It just doesn’t get too hot for me.  SO, sorry for everyone who ISN’T enjoying the heat wave. Naturally, it’s FREEZING in my office, so I need to go outside even more.

And, some more photos of Lexington. From WEEKS ago. 

{And an edit to note that, oh, look, you can tell exactly what  I couldn’t spell and had to copy over from Word! Because they are all in a weird font. Now you can jeer and laugh at my very poor spelling skills! I’m using the WYSIWYG thing.}

Cool downtown buildings. All pretty and historical.

And, of course, my lovely Witch House:

WIth my car parked in front (the Civic) – just waiting for me to move in! This is where Baker B was parked so that he could hop into the car, roll down the window, and hear the Witch House portion of the ghost tour. For free.

A top story window.

And – the inside!!! Why of course I could move in right away. No problem! I can’t believe they’re asking nearly $300,000 for it. Yikes.