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I'm supposed to be grading paper #3. I have only 20 students (19 really because of the phantom student), so you'd think it would be that difficult to get the papers graded. Right. Paper #3 was supposed to be a Compare & Contrast. The students made no bones about dumb they thought this particular assignment was, and now they're punishing me for going through with it.

The papers are terrible. I've read 9 so far. Five of them had to go on the re-read stack, as in I have to re-read them again later in hopes that a little distance will enable me to form an opinion that won't get me fired. Of the remaining four, one wasn't bad. A little unfocused, but I don't expect too much from the second draft. The other three were really weak. It was hard to find something good to say.

I collected the assignment last Friday. My personal policy is to return everything by the next class period. I've so not lived up to that with this paper. I still have 11 to go, and two of them made up the evening's entertainment the other night between DH and my mother, which frightens me.

I'm supposed to be grading papers, so instead I spent a long time on the phone with my cousin; I'm paying veeeerrrry close attention to the stock market in case there's any activity that I should be aware of; and I made myself a birthday cake. Perhaps I'll go work on Show 'n Tell--my Angel episode guide is a little outdated.

This is parent-teacher night at DH's school, so he won't be home until very late. There'll be plenty of time to get the papers finished, yes?