Day 3 - 295 -- Waiting

Another week has passed. There seemed to be consensus at the office that people feel they've fallen behind and that the pile of work and grading is more than daunting -- and seems insurmountable. These are common feelings at this time of year for all on campus. I looked at the calendar and was surprised that we were into the last quarter of October. How does that happen? My week has been filled with meetings and appointments that have cut into the time allotted to grading. So -- it seems the weekend will see that and little else -- other than laundry and housecleaning chores.

To add to the stress, there are two low pressure systems headed this way -- one out of Ontario and one coming up the eastern coast of the US. A rainfall warning is in place locally for 50-80 mm/2 to 3 inches or more. Wind warnings are in place for areas northeast of here, with some windier conditions to occur locally. The anticipation of a storm and  expectations of power outages, flash flooding and property damage add to the anxiety of midterm time. When I arrived home tonight, I packed a 'go bag' in case we have to leave the house. The temperatures should be warmer with the tropical air from the south, so if just a power outage we won't be cold, just not able to do laundry, cook or make a good cup of tea. However, other damage could mean we need to relocate temporarily. I was a Girl Guide and still live by the 'be prepared' motto <smile>. So -- bags semi-ready to go. Charged electronics are at the ready -- iPod for the quiet times in a power disruption and phone charged in case landline is lost. I'd rather be prepared than not -- it helps me to sleep during the night.

When thinking of the sitting and waiting aspect of an impending storm, a couple lines from a song lyric came to mind. The song is from the '80s, but I found a video of the singer/songwriter that is more recent and shows him without the crazy '80s hair <smile>. Enjoy!

Right Here Waiting -- Richard Marx