Sniffing the Roses

Smelling the roses is not really what these two, Chloe and Mitzi, are doing. No they are on lizard patrol. Chloe jumped up on the little wall to have a look and then noticed the roses. Both of them are positive there is a lizard somewhere in this yard! So today I caught them doing their best to find one to chase. And Max, he could care less. It just takes too much energy to chase a lizard. So the two females are the hunters.

I am grading, grading, and grading student papers. This month has brought a tsunami of student drafts to grade. Some are quite good; others, well not so much. I am excited, though, that the student who I nominated for "Student of Distinction" from the English Department has been selected.

She sent me this email last Friday evening: "Carol, I have received my invitation to the Student of Distinction Banquet. I look forward to being apart of the ceremony and receiving the award. Thank you for this opportunity and honor. It's still hard for me to believe I am receiving this award. You've done a remarkable job of inspiring me to do well. Thank you for everything. Your appreciative student, Kassie"

I had not received my invitation to the banquet, so I was so elated when I opened my email and read her message.

I had to get assertive yesterday when an email came through from the college explaining that -- oh my, two students had been nominated, but only one could be selected -- I flipped because my student had already received her invitation to the banquet at the end of the month. I quickly started firing off emails to the Chair of the English Department and to director who oversees the giving of the awards and the banquet.

Thankfully my chairperson realized that I was willing to go to war over this one and she and the Director of Student Activities decided to make two categories for our one department (now I'm hoping folks from other departments will not get all bent out of shape when they realize that the English Department was allowed two slots). So I am grateful that my student never even had to know that for a few moments I thought she was going to get bumped from this award. After receiving the invitation that would have been a serious blow. The banquet is Wednesday, May 31 and you can be sure I'll take photos.

The sun has not even set and I'm actually getting this posted. This is a rare moment.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun, and Chloe, Mitzi and Max), aka Carol