Well, I won my battle with the Program Director for my certification courses. We went back and forth via emails all week while classes closed and options dwindled. The issue revolved around me taking a class prior to its prerequisite, and the PD held to the tenet in the emails that he had to leave space for those who had the prerequisites, which I understood. The crux of his issues became whether I would graduate in the Fall.
I delayed responding to the email until I could look at the program tracker I’d made. After I did so, I said, “If I can take two summer courses, then I could potentially be done in the Fall, taking writing and two electives.” He continued to demur, and I knew what had to be done: I had to catch him in his office and talk about it face to face.
I finally did catch him as he was grading the last of the midterms, and he wrangled with the new PeopleSoft system (a program that, in a previous career path, I and my fellow convicts referred to as “PieceofShit”–it’s a terrible system). He did allow me to take Ethics before the legal writing course, but since he wrangled with me earlier in the week instead of trusting what I was saying, the selection of electives bites. He advised me to keep an eye on things opening up as they usually do, also for any possible new classes or sections. So, I won the battle.
Did I win the war? I’m such a glutton for punishment that I’m taking two summer courses and three in the fall. I’ll win, I always do, but there will be a lot of suffering. I have to take day classes to finish, and I haven’t let my boss know about that yet. He’ll let me, but it will suck because it will screw up the flow of the office.
Before I catch b.s. for the “trusting what I’m saying” bit, I know the PD deals with bullshitters and whiners all the time. I’m certain he gets bombarded with “please please please” and “but but but” emails right and left when registration commences for any term. I think he understood by the time we finished our conversation yesterday that I wouldn’t bother him if I wasn’t so ready to be done with school.
So that’s squared away, thank God.
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I got A’s on both of my midterms. I didn’t think I would for my research class, but I did, and I’m happy. 90 is an A. Got a 98 on my other. Moving right along…
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I’m such a glutton for punishment that I am hosting Easter dinner this year at our house. I did it so a) we don’t have to drive to either Moon Valley or Fountain Hills, b) I like cooking, and c) my Dad can come and go as he pleases instead of being trapped at either of the other venues. It shall be interesting, especially since my in-laws (the majority of them anyway) with their far left leanings drive my conservative father nuts. I also invited a dear friend and her young daughter who has hit on some rough times so that she can have a break from her family (I enjoy her company immensely).
My menu includes the following: poached egg brioche for an appetizer, served with peach bellinis; caesar salad (out of my Cordon Bleu cookbook–great recipe); honeybaked ham, roasted spring vegetables, scalloped potatoes, rolls, butter; an asparagus and pepper frittata for the vegetarians at the table; and an angel food cake with strawberries and whip cream for dessert. Relatively simple, but still quite a bit of work. I considered crudities also for an appetizer, but there’s going to be so much food I think anything more would be overkill.
My first stop after I get out of my half day is to stand in line for the ham. That ham is like crack, and a great once a year treat. I need to fine tune the yard so it’s neat, and hose off the back porch again. Then, I need to hone my shopping list. Tomorrow I will shop, make the angel food, assemble the scalloped potatoes, and set the silverware out.
Mama (God rest her) taught me well.
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I went to my dad’s house this week to borrow what we call the enchilada pan–a four inch deep, probably 10 x 10 pan one of Mom’s friends got for her at Sur la Table–that will be perfect for the scalloped potatoes. I also wanted to borrow the porcelain bunnies that Mom had gotten when my brother and I were little… but they were gone. This has become a common occurence in the house since Mom’s death: things disappearing from the house. #4 brother has them, I’m sure, just waltzed out with them, kinda like Mom’s old James Beard cookbook. I would never dream of *taking* anything from the house, but I have two brothers who just snitch things. I don’t understand that mindset.
I can’t get mad about it–it’s beyond my control. Dad’s still mourning Mom after two years, and he just doesn’t pay attention to these things anymore. He even admitted not too long ago he hadn’t really watched anything in the house. I’m better than I used to be–I used to be chronically angry at the light-fingered Louies in the family–but now I just can’t let myself care. It’s sad and frustrating, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
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I wish everyone a blessed weekend. Happy Easter!
