In defense of the Liberal Arts..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberal Arts Majors aren’t all wishy washy…

The fact of the matter is that college should be an opportunity for students to learn to think — really think.

Most employers want employees with good critical thinking skills and good oral and written communication skills.  These are the sorts of employees they can train to do other stuff, because they can learn, think and adapt to new situations.  In technology-based jobs, the tech students learn in school is outdated by the time they get a job.  In “business” schools, modes of business and the economy will change by the time they get out of school.  The real hope for our future seems to be encouraging students to acquire the skills they need to be flexible in their employment — i.e. liberal arts majors.

A recent study I’m too lazy to link to (hey, this is a blog, not an academic paper — lay off, or go find it yourself) that certain liberal arts majors are better at developing the skills employers say they want — among the more successful majors are philosophy, political science and history.  The reason for this is that those majors require a lot of writing AND critical thinking.  In essence, employers want employees to be able to make arguments and assess situations — and those disciplines require that.

So — while China may be cutting majors that “don’t pay”, it’s to their long-term determent, because those non-paying majors are the source of creativity and innovation.

Boycott!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If a tacky store, cheap merchandise and desperately unhappy employees are not enough to keep you away from Mills Fleet Farm this holiday season, consider this. Mills has banned the bell ringers for the Salvation Army from their retail locations. The reason: It “may” encourage other organizations from asking to use Mills locations.

A bit about Mills. These are family members who cant even stand themselves. In Minnesota we call them Fleet Farm….in Wisconsin, Farm and Fleet each decorated in the same blaze orange and almost exactly the same, but operated by two asshole brothers that couldn’t stand each others company.

Do we all remember the attacks on 9/11/2001? Mills gas stations were the first (and only) retail chain to offer gas at well over $10.00 a gallon………until they were accused on television of price gouging.

I had the misfortune of having a stolen identity in the early 90′s……one of the places checks were written was Mills in Brooklyn Park. The manager called me and physically threatened me on several occasions. I had already sent him an official affidavit explaining I was not the culprit. I finally had to have a sit down meeting with the city prosecutor to get Mills to stop.

Would Jesus, Buddha, Mohamed or Santa Claus think that this is the time of year to stop helping the most vulnerable people in our society?

Last year, my 8 year old son pulled his last two bucks out of his pocket and put it in the red can. I didn’t ask him to or tell him to. It was just simply clear to him that he is more fortunate and he should help.

Something that escaped the mighty corporate Grinch.

Professor’s Serenity Prayer

 

 

 

 

 

 

…. left to go in the semester, then the bliss of finals week. Until then –

The Professor’s serenity prayer:

God, please grant me the patience to teach the ones that want to learn,

the courage to write off the ones who don’t give a shit,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

ps… if you could send the grading fairy around, I’d be most thankful.

Trouble saving tips for faculty…

… ’tis the time of the year for stress in the halls of academia…

We have too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it in… For us, Finals start in 2 weeks.. eeek!

Here are a few tips I’ve learned in 8 years of full-time (5/5) teaching:

• Use whatever electronic calendar your college uses — mine is Outlook.  Put all of your classes, office hours and grading or research time into it — then you can tell staff folks who want meetings with you to look at your calendar and make an appointment.  It saves endless e-mails back and forth.
• Use the course management software grade book.  It keeps you from having to answer “what’s my grade” questions… which are a complete time suck.
• Find someplace else to do your most intense work… your office is NOT that place.  Folks will stop by, the phone will ring etc.  I dress a lot like a student and hide out on campus well away from my office — I call it my “study hall” and it works.
• Final papers don’t need extensive comments.  They never come to pick them up, don’t waste your time.
• Alternate activities.  Today I’m working on new online courses AND grading for the current hybrid course.  Flipping back and forth helps keep you fresh.
• Have something to do that’s different for your off time.  I’m reading a trashy book about a girl who is paying her way thru Columbia as a model — and watching Friday Night Lights on Netflix with Andy.  Escape is your friend.
• Remember that grades will be due soon and you’ll make the deadline — then it will be over — I promise.

 

Why I trust Andy…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This says it all — or, enough for public consumption .

Thankful..

This year, like many years, I have a lot to be thankful for..

A happy healthy family — both the Ross clan and the Smith/Tran clan are happy and healthy.

My own health is good — clean PET scan and all.

My friendship with Andy keeps growing, we never run out of things to talk about or places to explore.

My divorce from the ex is civil and we remain on speaking terms.

Just today, my sweet cousin Oliver turned 30 — and we went to his surprise party… so fun!

I’ve had some spectacular trips in the past year — and enjoyed every one.

My students, on the whole, are kind, considerate and work hard.

My colleagues, on the whole are smart, kind and caring.

My administration, on the whole, has their hears and heads pointed in the right direction.

I have a job I love and things I love to do when I’m not working.

Things could only get better if I came home to find George Cluny desperately in love with me or a few million dollars on my coffee table..

Since those things aren’t going to happen, I think I’ll keep on living the life I have.

Black Friday

If I hear one more mention of Black Friday, I’m going to puke and crap myself in one convulsive sick-spolsion.

Black is not a holiday color. Black is the color of the hearts of the Wall St. bankers who are counting on you to be out there financing your 2012 away while sipping a $9.00 latte.

If you are really that desperate to get out there and work some of the Thanksgiving “Super Committee” off you ass, then go find someone who needs your help.

Shame on all of us!!!!!!  

 

Advice for Breast Cancer Patients..

… eat avocados — if you’re doing chemo.

I’ll tell you the basics and hopefully my experience will help you if you need it… understand that I’m a Dr…. of philosophy, not a physician and that all of my experiences could easily be unique to me…

I was diagnosed with stage 2b breast cancer, aggression level III (really aggressive) — ductal tumor on the left side.  I had a lumpectomy, followed by a mastectomy on the left — nothing on the right.  They removed 7 lymph nodes.  I did A/C and then something else for chemo for four months, no radiation.  My cancer wasn’t hormone receptive or genetic — so I have no follow-up treatments.  I’ve had clean PET/CT scans and bloodwork for 3 years this month.

With all that as background — here are a few hints and tips for breast cancer patients.

• Your tastes will get more sensitive, eat subtle flavors like avocados… trust me.  I miss the way they used to taste.
• Drink lots of water before and after chemo.
• Accept that your hair will fall out.
• Decide what you’d like to do when your hair falls out — and then understand that you’ll eventually be comfortable being bald.
• Being bald is convenient.
• As soon as you can, get a good prosthesis — Nordstrom’s is the best, if you have one close.
• Your good prosthesis may develop bubbles at altitude (who knew), it also begins to sag and wear out, so you’ll need to replace it about once per year…. your insurance will probably cover it, plus bras.
• If you decide not to do reconstruction, you may choose to do so at a later date and your insurance must cover it.
• Wear comfortable clothes to chemo — bring a book and plan to nap.
• Don’t be afraid to go out without your fake boob — I do it more often than I’d like to admit.
• Make sure you have a close circle of friends and family watching out for you — you’ll need some help.
• Make sure you get along with your oncologist.
• If you aren’t comfortable with your treatment, speak up.
• If you’re nauseous a lot, speak up over and over again until they get it under control.
• Your port is your friend — and it’s 100% under the skin.
• Make chemo buddies — someone to chat with while you’re getting your infusion is so pleasant.

It would have been 21…

 

21 years ago yesterday I married my best friend — sadly, things changed for us and we didn’t make 21 years.

We loved, laughed, grew and grew apart.  During the good years we were one another’s rock, inspiration and soft place to land.

I know I wouldn’t be Dr. Patty without him.  Even though he didn’t like my chapter on selective conscientious objection, we discussed the whole dissertation as it was in progress.

I won’t write in public about the reasons for our split.  Suffice it to say it was mutual and not for reasons you see on TV (abuse, neglect, violence, cheating).  It has been quite polite, which is an amazing thing to say about a divorce.

I wish my ex all the happiness in the world.  I hope he finds someone to spend the rest of his life with — or that he’s happy without that someone.  I know he’s a very special person and he’ll always have a place in my heart and my history.  I also hope he knows that if he needs me, I’ll be there for him — as a friend, because that’s what we ended up being best at — being friends.

My Breast Cancer Journey, part 3

Website for this image

… Support is vital — and deserves it’s own post.

It’s not easy being the one who loves a cancer patient.  There are multiple doctors office visits, tests, stress and worry.  Not only is the person you love sick, but you’ve got to be the one thinking in practical terms… will the insurance cover it?  Can we pay the bills if she can’t work?  Is she going to die?

The ex was with me when I got the first bit of cancer news — so I didn’t have to tell him.  As I soon found out, telling people was the hardest part.

The worst part was telling mom.  Pam had been gone for about 7 years and now I had to tell her that her other daughter had breast cancer.  She’s a nurse, she knows what that means — she’s also someone who has lost one daughter already and she knew what kind of a special hell that was.  That was probably the most difficult phone call of all to make… of course Mom handled it with her usual grace and kindness — but I could tell by her voice that she was shaken.  I just hated that she had to face the possible death of her other daughter — that really wasn’t ok with me.

I also had a decision to make — about how open I should be at work.  My college is a very supportive place.  We’re colleagues and friends.  There is little competition between faculty and almost no jealousy or back-biting.  We really are kind of our own dysfunctional family, and now I had to decide how much to tell and to whom.  In the end, I decided to be very open about it — not because I felt the need to tell everyone, but rather because I didn’t want there to be questions or concerns that folks wouldn’t want to share with me.  I also didn’t want the “who knows what” stuff to be in my head — so before school started I wrote an e-mail to the whole department telling them what was up and that I’d be coming back to work bald as a cue ball.

As an extension of that decision, I had to decide what to tell my students.  It was clear that there was something wrong with me.  It wasn’t clear how I would react to the chemo, if I’d have to cancel classes or even get someone to take over some or all of my teaching duties.  I wrote a letter explaining it all and put it on the front page of my syllabus.  I wanted to let students know that if they had a problem with it — if it brought back bad memories or whatever — that they should choose another course right away because their philosophy prof is also a cancer patient that semester and there was no changing those things.  Their reaction was amazing.  They were concerned for my health from the first day of class — they offered all kinds of “herbal” supplements  (wink wink) and were kind and considerate of my time and energy.  They were outright amazing and kind and I’ll always love them for that.

A few people were extra-special support for me — of course, the ex because he lived with me — and mom, because she’d have it no other way.  They helped in many ways I saw and didn’t see…

My tutor and friend Sara was especially helpful.  She was taking my 7:45 ethics class at the time and outright said that if I didn’t come to class, she’d better hear from me or she’d be breaking down my door by 8:00 AM.  My colleagues were also quite helpful, offering meals, rides and other practical support in case I needed it.  The ex, mom and I were a pretty tight little team, so I didn’t need much but I knew the folks I could call if I needed something.

During my Cancer World experience, Andy wasn’t in my life — but as we’ve become best friends ever, the subject of my cancer returning comes up.  Today was the third PET results appointment since we’ve been best friends ever — and it was interesting to see how things changed.  During the first one he was waiting to get my “normal” text — and we went out for coffee afterward.  The last time he came in for the results and then waited for me outside — this time he was right next to me from the waiting room to the end of the appointment.  We had a good conversation with Dr. W — and I’m sure that if it comes to it, Andy and Dr. W will get along just fine… kind of a weird concern, but it’s important that my main support person and my oncologist get along.

The scary thing about going from having hubby to hubby being the ex wasn’t concerns about money or my future, but what would happen if my news wasn’t good during one of these appointments.  Last night Andy and I had a long talk about that — what if… and I’m not scared anymore.  Sure, I don’t want to die — and I’d hate to end my beautiful friendship with Andy, but I also know that if the cancer returns he’ll be right by my side until the end.  period.  He’ll make me food I can eat, he’ll take care of the details and hold my hand when I need it.  We’ll go out as a weird bald pair and have fun, take photos and live life until it’s over.  As someone who has faced cancer before, I can’t ask for anything else.  Medicine can only do so much to make a cancer patient’s life better, their support system has to fill in and do the rest.