Day 10 - Teachers are eligible for the vaccine.
L. owes the IRS…
3/10/21. Wednesday - Spring Break at College No. 1 - Trying to get some work done this week.
10:30-12:00 – It’s raining today. I go downstairs and see that the dog pooped in the house, near the front door. Apparently, she didn’t want to go outside because of the rain, but I still take her out to go potty. It’s very wet outside and the dog is confused, but she eventually does her business. I get a broom from the garage and push up places in my outdoor canopy where the water has collected. If I don’t do that, the canopy will collapse in on itself. Back inside and I give the dog grapes for her treat.
Kitchen duty – the kitchen is a mess! Unload and load the dishwasher and drink my coffee. Fill the dog food dispenser. Sweep. I listen to What a Day and What’s Next.
12:00-2:30 – Blog posts
No dog walking, no yard work – still raining.
2:30-3:00 – Change into Covid-19 uniform. Wash face. Brush teeth. Moisturizer.
-L leaves for work
3:00-3:30 – I have some of L.’s leftover soup and read a Money Diary.
3:30-5:30 – I go to work. Although the Specialty Class 1A Chapter 7 script and musical clips are ready for recording, I still have to cross reference the content with the Chapter 7 Review Quiz. When I pull it up, I see that I need to make several revisions which involve adding new questions to the Quiz, ensuring that the content is reflected on the slides, and tweeking the AUDIO lecture so I remember to point out the answers to the questions. I listen to True Crime Garage.
5:30-6:30 -I make the changes then send L. the edits so she can revise the Google slides.
-I check email at College No. 1 and 2 and respond to a few students.
-I review a brief tutorial on You Tube regarding how to post “Announcements” to the “Home Page” in Canvas, then I post Announcements on both of my Home Pages [College No. 2] directing my students to the Discussion Board for the first time since the semester started.
-I check my DE class. The Anonymous Grader approved the Module 13 assignment, but left the Module 12 assignment ungraded. Is this an oversight? I can’t advance until Module 12 is graded. Frustrating.
6:30-8:30 – I record the Chapter 7 AUDIO lecture.
-L. returns from work.
8:30 – 9:30 - I talk to B. I internally debate whether or not to do an Insanity workout. I decide I’ll pass for today.
9:30-10:30-Yet another directive from my DE class is to attend a webinar addressing online teaching pedagogy. I’m retired law enforcement and used to have access to numerous webinars and trainings via the POST Portal. I return to the POST Portal to see if they have any trainings that are relevant to this assignment. Unfortunately, since I’m retired, I’m locked out of the POST Portal program. I try everything to gain access – changing my user name and password, following the steps, etc. – but give up after 30 minutes. I’m not going to spend any more time on this useless project.
10:30-12:30 – Dr. W. provided links to various websites that will fulfill the criteria of this particular [webinar] assignment. I click on the links and find they are all expired except one. When I go to that website, I find access to around 40 “shorts”, i.e., 20-minute videos. I watch three and note the titles. Most of the time, I hate these types of seminars; however, they’re quite good and I learn some great tips about teaching online.
-I read part of this week’s French Cinema assignment while I listen/watch the videos.
-I email Dr. W. the titles of the three videos I watched and then ask him about the Module 12 assignment. As politely as I can, I ask why Module 13 was approved and NOT Module 12, especially since I submitted them on the same day. Maybe it was overlooked? And BTW can you open Module 14? [I don’t actually say that last bit].
I tell Dr. W there’s no rush even though there absolutely is a rush because I’m tired of the “hurry up and wait” mentality associated with this program and so frustrated that I can’t advance to Module 14 until the Anonymous Grader decides he can spare the time to actually check the assignment. I hate being at the mercy of someone else. If left to my own devices, I would have completed this program in February.
12:30-1:00 – I have some apple slices with almond butter and a few grapes. Still raining. The dog poops in the house again.
1:00 – 2:30 – Buckle up, everyone – it’s going to be a bumpy ride! I go to the IRS website and do L.’s taxes. This is a “free” service for people who make less than $78,000 annually. You only have to pay a $13 processing/filing fee.
-Oh no!! L. gets hammered by the Feds due to the additional income she received from UI [Unemployment Insurance] and Door Dash. Taxes were not withheld from these entities. Additionally, the Art Studio did not withhold any State tax. The damage: $338 – Feds; $60 – State; $13 – processing/filing fee. I tell L. and she is NOT happy about it.
2:30-3:00 – I finish the French Cinema reading assignment and take the online quiz. 13 out of 13 – perfect score!
-I shut down for the night.
Take the dog out. Lock up. I leave the dishes in the sink again. Night time routine.
3:00-3:30 – I spend a half hour trying to load Indochine, the next French Cinema movie/assignment, onto my devices upstairs, so I can watch it in bed. Unfortunately, the movie software is not compatible with my Ipad or Netbook so I give up. Bed.