I left Xavier this morning just as it started to Rain. I capitalized the word because it was a really heavy one.

So there I am, on the Interstate, going 30 mph, along with everyone else. It was raining that hard. Luckily, the torrential part abated about the time I got out of the CBD (central business district) area. By the time I got to the high rise, there had been another torrential bit. But after that it let up, at least where I was. Those clouds were pretty black for a while.

After lunch I took off again--this time to the chiropractor. His office is a bit over 25 miles away. No rain on the drive there, but a large raincloud had settled over the area so most of my drive home was with wipers going. At least it wasn't like the morning.

Driving on the interstate in torrential rain is not my idea of fun.

When I was grading yesterday I put a note on one student's vocab quiz, suggesting she come talk with me. She was glad to, and it was a good conversation. She's been using a small dictionary, which doesn't have many of the terms that are in the text. I reminded her that I have a link to a good online dictionary, or she could go to the library. Then I went through the drill of looking up words, AND paying attention to the part of speech.

All these words are right from the text.

Next, I pulled a book off my shelves, opened it at random, and told her to read and stop if she didn't know a word.

Oh boy--did she stop at a doozy. The book was talking about the different ways of castrating men. Castrate was the first unfamiliar word for her.

Actually, we ended up in an interesting discussion about "why." She has a good curiosity. And she knows now that I'm rooting for her--and I expect I'll see a bunch more of her during my office hours.

Little by little the students are stopping by with questions, and end up chatting about themselves.

That is what I've missed while on Katrina leave.