Day 18 -- Weekend Lineup

Another Saturday almost over. Today was filled with housework as is usual at the end of the week. I also spent much of the day working on preparing lectures for the coming week. This can be tedious, but it is also fun as it is somewhat like a puzzle. Placing all needed information in a logical order, adding examples and diagrams where useful -- all a mental challenge that can be quite fulfilling. Newer information from recent research can be added to update the text information, which is often older. Nutrition knowledge constantly changes with all the new research findings appearing each year. Some findings support existing understandings, while others turn common wisdom on its ear. These are always fascinating to share and to show students how our evidence base evolves in this newer science of nutrition. That part is exciting. So, I'm always on the lookout for information that can make the basics sing, rather than seem like material for rote memorization.

So -- as most educators, I was working outside of the time that most people believe we work. This is a vocation, not a job, so the many hours that one works every week are far more than commonly understood and moves the hourly rate to something much lower than it might seem on seeing an annual salary. For the most part, I do enjoy planning and delivering course content. Looking for new activities to help instil the material can be absorbing. It can all be exhausting, too, and leave one with little time for anything else.Still it has those moments that make it all seem worthwhile, like the time the graduating class told us all that we 'taught with love' -- it is good to hear that this is seen and understood <smile>.

The selection today relates to this process of earning a living. Again, not the original version but an updated version with the original singer and a colleague -- an interesting pairing. Enjoy!

Workin' of a Livin' -- Huey Lewis and Garth Brooks