Swinging the Big Ax

Finished grading finals - I'm now figuring out the course grades, always an exercise in judgement. There are few surprises, except that I'm always surprised at those students who don't bother to read the part of the syllabus that says, "Do not think that just because YOU quit showing up for class, I'M going to drop you from the roster. If you're going to drop out of the class, YOU have to do the paperwork..." There's always a couple of F's for those who simply quit showing up.

And there's always a couple who were in there trying their DARNDEST, and who were just in over their heads, mostly because - I suspect - they can't read sufficiently well to decipher the textbook. Frustrating and sad.

And then of course there's those who just don't give a rat's ass.

Between grading, I made gingerbread: I'm making a gingerbread-butterscotch trifle for Christmas luncheon. Love the way the house smells. I'll make the custard tomorrow for it, in between totting up final grades for the last of my classes, and ironing table-linen.