Break Week

Today, I had to go onto campus. There was paperwork to do, and there is to be a power shutdown this weekend, so I had to turn my office computer off. Also, I wanted to do a bit of cleanup. (Things aren't anywhere near as bad as they were the last time I cleaned my office, but the chairman's new secretary is, um, vigorous in encouraging certain things to be done....)

It was spookily quiet on campus. I was the only person on the quad, walking from the bus stop to the Science Building; the only sound (besides distant traffic on Highway 157) was the skittering of windblown leaves over the brick and asphalt. The only other people I saw in the office area were the department secretary and one of the student workers. (One of the other professors showed up later on, but he wasn't there for long.) Both of them looked bored. I almost believe that they were grateful for the stacks of papers I brought out for shredding. (We are required to keep students' test papers for one year, and then must destroy them.)

I got my desk cleared off - or, at least, I got rid of unneeded papers, books, floppy disks (some of them 5-inchers) and the like. There is no longer any danger of paperslides, and the phone is not only visible from my chair, it is now within arm's reach. (It was far in the back, behind several stacks of stuff; I had to stand and reach over to punch the buttons. I don't use the phone much, but people do leave voicemail from time to time.)

After the break, two more weeks of lectures, then finals. I'm about ready for semester break....