A mac truck

That's more or less what I feel like I've been hit by. Turns out, though, that it's just the beginning of the semester. You'd think I'd remember what this is like -- I've been doing it a while, after all. This one has had its share of chaos, though, what with the implementation of a new campus-wide software system (by a mandate from above). In spite of the fact that this implementation was years in the making, and that you'd think the software management folks would be aware that people might actually want to look at, you know, their schedules and class rosters on the first day of class (shocking, I know), they were completely unprepared for the load on their servers, which caused untold problems the first couple of days of the semester. We're still dealing with load times of 5-10 or even more seconds per page, which doesn't seem like a lot until you're trying to see whether new students have added your classes, or to find the permission numbers we now have to give to students to add our classes instead of just signing add slips (this is supposed to be Easier for Everybody; it has become clear to me over the years that Everybody does not include faculty). However, this too shall pass.

And in spite of all of this, I do have students, and I even now have rosters (hooray for technology). I like my students, I like my subjects, and I am determined that this is going to be a good semester. Hear me now.

However, I'm still dealing with a lingering longing for the simpler days of summer, so I thought I'd share a few pictures of this past weekend's camping trip, by way of staying in that moment a bit longer (which I realize is not the same thing as staying in the moment, but I'm going to contend that it's a step in the right direction).

Did I mention that we packed our new very favorite camping meal ever? Tamales from our local farmer's market. It turns out that cooking them over an open fire makes them even yummier than when they're steamed. Who knew?
Add some cut-up red bell peppers and a hard cider, and you've got a meal fit for royalty. Especially when it's finished off with s'mores made with dark chocolate. Mmm...

Rick got to do some reading.
So did Older Daughter.
And when it got too dark to work on the mitts I'm knitting, I worked on my half-pi shawl.
The next morning, we went for a short hike.
We are definitely planning to go back.
In the meantime, I have now made it through half of this week, including an academic senate meeting today that was, as the first of the year always is, interesting, and during which I got to the thumb gusset on the second mitt. Only two more days to go on week 2. Is it time for a nap yet?