The semester is over--almost. There's still the grading yet to be done. But grades aren't due until the 17th. And I got a fairly good start to the grading this morning while the kids finished up their exams. And their make-up exams.

I have a very simple policy about missing exams--don't bother me with details. About 2/3 of the way through the semester I have a make-up morning--at 6:30 AM.

If there are still exams to be made up by finals time, they can do that after they complete their final, and as long as they don't go beyond the two hours alloted for the final.

I had one girl who was obviously making all sorts of vows about future behavior and keeping up with exams. She was writing non-stop for the full two hours. (The average time needed for the comprehensive final and the short exam on the last unit was about an hour.)

Then I had a chance to socialize with some more of the department members whose regular schedules did not mesh with mine, including the department chair. As I expected, my chances for the spring depend on how registration goes.

It's been a very enjoyable semester.

And the secretary is quite happy with the tickets. She's used them in the past and knows how good the seats are--and the parking.

But the best news of the day was in the mail--an announcement that the smallish discount grocery store (fairly close by) that has been sitting empty since Katrina (and the cleanup necessitated by a couple of feet of water) is reopening tomorrow! Once again I have a convenient place to get good produce and whatever minor stuff I need.