Laura McCullough

This has been one of the worst days in years. All I want now is to spend 12 hours in one place with a good bed and no problematic texts or calls or emails. Just 12 hours, please.

Sounds good to me!

I have submitted my grades and my gen ed assessments.

I am now weeping with relief. It was a more stressful semester than ever, and I had to take several mental health days.

But I survived. And my students did very well.

Now to prepare for three trips in one week. <sigh>

But done!

The Gen Z generation is so much more open about things that my generation would never consider or talk about. It gives me hope.

The guy said “It just is!“ She kept asking why, and he didn’t have a good answer. Finally, he said “It isn’t fair because I can’t hit you back.“

It was fascinating that he had absorbed the message that boys don’t hit girls, but he also recognized the unfairness of it when she tagged him.

I witnessed an unusual encounter as I was walking home the other day. A male-female couple were holding hands and chatting. The guy said something, and the young woman whacked him on the shoulder. He said a fake “ow!” and then said “That’s not fair!” She responded with “Why isn’t it fair?”

Dragon Magic was really good too. That was @kellydmcc.bsky.social ‘s favorite. I was thinking of rereading the Beast Master books next!

Last night I finished the last of Andre Norton’s Magic series. I especially enjoyed Octagon Magic and Fur Magic. I gave up on Lavender Green Magic since I thought the main character too stupid about life. A kid probably wouldn’t have that problem.

They were a great gentle read for these times.

...That shows your true character and for that I say thank you, because everyone believes professors are these perfect humans with no flaws of what
they teach."

💖💖💖

From a student: "Laura, I felt you greatly helped show me that it isn’t scary to be wrong, as sometimes during lecture you would even get things wrong, and you would fix them and explain why you went wrong...

Feets!

I had a delightful day at a local conference, seeing one of my undergrad professors and my doctoral supervisor. Good to see them continuing to keep physics education moving forward!

The Prince’s Bride

Tonight’s dinner finds me pairing a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with a bowl of Lucky Charms in whole milk.

Living the dream, here.

Uff da. Didn’t need tonight’s added stress on top of the existing piles. But I got my poster finished and can print it tomorrow, so there’s one thing taken care of.

I’m not sure why I agreed to go to a local conference and present. Momentary lapse of judgment, clearly.

One of my students explaining why they weren’t in class last week.

This is a delightful analogy for a crappy feeling:

"I have been unable to sleep or breath for the last week from an unknown sickness. I felt microwaved: cold in the middle and hot/sweaty everywhere else."

And then she attached two pictures of ducks with babies.

I've got 20 minutes before class, but I'm taking 5 to just appreciate these wonderful students. <sniffle>

#2 cont'd:
Your good news of the day is I relearned how to ride a bike! P and I went on a long bike ride around town today, ending at the library where we saw a lot of ducks including baby ducks!"

#2 cont'd:
You have led by example, shown you can stop, you don't have to do it tired or hurt. So, thank you, for reminding me that it is not a failure to take a day off.

#2 cont'd:
The problem with this sentiment is that when you are always in pain, and always tired, you learn to ignore the warning signals your body gives you to slow down, to stop. I've learned that to be successful I must keep going, blazing through the flashing red lights and blaring alarm bells.

#2 cont'd:
Growing up I've always been told "sometimes you just have to do it tired or do it even though it hurts". The classic, "you can do hard things," the motto of every cancer child.

#2:
"I wanted to thank you. For everything really, but mostly for showing that it's okay to take a day. That it's okay to very much be struggling. Thank you for reminding me that I can take time off and still be successful.

Among other things, I deal with chronic pain and chronic fatigue.

#1 cont'd:
I also wanted to let you know you are doing the best you can and are still doing a great job. You are a great professor and an even better person. I hope today helps give you a little reset!"

#1:
"I just wanted to reach out and let you know I’m going through some tough mental times this semester too. Sometimes it helps me to know that I’m not the only one struggling, so I just thought I’d share.

[Long post] Friday I took a day off for mental health and told my students that it was for mental health.

I just checked my email and now I'm crying. Two students from different classes sent me notes on Friday.

First bike ride of the season! 11.3 miles with a stop for errands. My legs will hate me tomorrow, but at the moment they are enjoying the hot tub.

I very nearly had to stop on one hill but managed it in the lowest gear with much panting and some swearing.

I joked that it was good I wasn’t grading his quiz today!

A palpable hit, direct to the heart.

From a student: “Hey Laura, you know RateMyProfessor? Your first rating was posted six days before I was born!”

Which was my fourth year teaching.

Ouch.

Yesterday the dandelions popped up, and today the anthills popped up. It is finally spring!