tricks to staying way longer than you ever wanted

i've been meeting with students all day long about their writing projects for the classes i'm teaching. mostly, i've been trying to justify why meeting the minimum requirements really is only fitting of an average grade. but i did everything that you asked for, in my mind, isn't special. it's just average and it deserves a C. i used to feel bad about these things when i first started teaching. now the conversations just make me remember what it felt like to be in the other chair thinking god, this prof is a total ass-hole. i don't feel bad about it anymore. i just realize it's all part of the process.

yesterday, i said to a student regarding his conference time: you aren't going to stand me up are you? and he replied, using my last name only, that of course he would be here and to have more faith in him. it's been about an hour since he was supposed to have shown. i'm only sad about the fact that i wasn't at all surprised. bright kids who can't sort themselves out really do get to me the most. when no manner of cliche i believe in you-s are going to make any bit of difference. it will likely take failing out to convince him, and by then i'll be long gone -- from here and from his memory of people who often told him he could do it.

so, instead of leaving with an enormous stack of papers in tow. i've gone to the coffee house for a latte. hoping that i'll power through the rest of these responses. knowing, at least, that i'll have to stay and work until this drink is gone.

sip. siiippp.