It was a day filled with interesting events -- well, at least events besides grading <smile>. I left the office for a medical appointment that had to be rebooked last week. The waiting time was not too bad -- only two ahead of me and this time is was just two. While waiting, I proofed a draft exam, only to discover the version that I felt was pretty much ready to go had three questions that were duplicated in the multiple choice section. Good that I had some relaxed time to read it in one sitting. I then went to the grocery store for a few items and met two colleagues from work -- we had some short catch-up chats. There were a few items that are only found at our second store, so I headed over there. When I got into the parking area, I was faced with a large ladder truck with lights flashing and a large crowd of people outside the doors of the store. Not knowing what this was about, I just headed home. Interestingly, it was a group of people ready to record a Christmas song for a contest with money going to a local charity. Very cool -- but on the surface that is not what it looked like.
Given the early onset of darkness since time change, seeing the full picture of what is around me isn't always possible. Even seeing pedestrians on campus has been difficult since the crosswalks have been moved due to the large construction project. Now they are not by the light standards but are between them, so light is at a premium. People wearing all dark clothing doesn't help. I tend to do this with my dark jeans and black jacket, so I must provide a similar surprise to other drivers when I'm out walking. This isn't far from not seeing the repetition in a list of exam questions or catching typos regardless of the number of times proofing occurs. The brain sees what it expects to see. Training ourselves to look for the unexpected takes some work and likely works best when not overly tired. <smile>
The selection today deals with the need to find a light to see clearly -- not only for ourselves but also for those around us. Enjoy!
Light a Candle -- Neil Young
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