Overwhelmed.

I feel like I'm playing catch-up all the time. Frankly, I've been, and still am to a certain extent, overwhelmed.



My mom has had TWO major spinal surgeries in as many months, and I have been her main support/advocate. My schedule is flexible enough that I can take her to the hospital, stay with her there, take her home, spend the night, do her laundry and shopping and so on.



I don't mind. She did it for me AND changed my diapers too! Although that was many years ago ;-)



Then, I am teaching Intro to Theatre online. This is how it came about:



I was teaching Intro to Theatre at X State when I was told about a full-time assistant professorship that looked to be tailor made for me! It was organizing, teaching and administrating all the Intro to Theatre classes! What I've been teaching and refining for 8 years! So I looked at the qualifications, and it described me to a T- except for having published. But, I thought, I have plenty of teaching experience and administrative experience-



Long story extremely shortened, I not only didn't get the job, I didn't get an interview. Didn't make the first cut. A friend who is on the search committee made a special point to talk to me and the bottom line is: they want someone who is published, who will bring fame and honor to XSU- not someone who can teach. They are looking for another professor like the one detested by students, who falls asleep in class- but, when he was hired, had published a book based on his research- and he now has tenure.



Not that I'm bitter.



My friend had the grace to say that she didn't think that those priorities serve the needs of students.



SO- I figured that was it, done with X State, on to something else. You see, once the "Intro Czar" was hired, the plan was to get rid of part-timers such as myself.



Then- I was contacted to see if I would be willing to teach Intro online for the Spring session.



Heck yeah, I said. I am ready to learn something new! And look- gas is $4 a gallon, and now I don't have to commute!



So, after saying yeah, I met with those already teaching the course and got some tips from them. And I signed up for a workshop called "Moving Your Course Online." The instructions said, bring your syllabus with you. Which I did. And it was never even referenced.



Meanwhile, I've learned that Spring session, instead of being 15 weeks, is the intensive 8 weeks version that is supposed to cover everything. And classes are starting in less than 3 weeks.



I go to the workshop. The other participants are saying, I'm nervous, I've got so much to do with this class before Fall-



I say, I'm teaching Spring. Intensive.



Nervous smiles.



Then another participant, after hearing the workshop leader go on about *small* groups of TWO or THREE students, asked, but what if you have a larger class?



The leader says- The research says it's best to have a class of 12 to 15; but, if you must, 20--



The questioner says- but what if you have a BIG class, say 50?



The leader says- Oh! Well, then get grad assistants! Aim for that 12-15!



I say nothing. I have 100 students enrolled at that moment. And NO chance of getting any graduate assistants. Hey, giving me, adjunct, the job, is a COST-CUTTING move.



Fast forward to now, about 3 or 4 weeks in. I have 94 students. I've never taught online before (I can't bring baked goods!). AND it's the intensive version. AND I had only 3 weeks to prepare.



I can see a light at the end of the tunnel now (I should hope so, the class ends at the end of this month!), but it's been a struggle. I put in 40+ hours in 3 days- Thurs, Fri, Sat- just this past weekend, which has meant that I can just about keep up now if I put in ONLY 4 to 6 hours a day.


And I've been subbing at the local K through 8 school when I can- which is where I am now. And going to my mom's after work-which I am doing tonight- don't know where I will find my 4-6 hours today.



AND I'm working on applying for a position at another university. We'll see if I get the interview this time.



Really, ideally, I think I would teach online, publish a wildly successful book or two, go do guest lecturer/artist spots, and laugh my ass off at X State for being so stupid as to NOT EVEN GIVE ME AN INTERVIEW.



Not that I'm bitter.