Day Off

BI 103 is underway and seems to be going well.  Students took off in the course pretty flawlessly, with some completing the first week’s assignments before the week even technically began.  Our veteran group of graduate teaching assistants are as enthusiastic and prepared as always; and students have had very few questions or concerns with the remote format. Office hours may be a bit lonely this term.

Since we have been teaching remotely now for over a year, it is easy to work every day of the week without a day off, the perfect recipe for burning out.

So we took a day off making media with just a bit of email and Canvas work.  I got to spend time doing one of my new favorite things: photographing rocks.  These are small slabs, straight cuts through mined rocks, before they are shaped and made into cabochons for jewelry.  I like this rougher stage; with a wash of water, secret worlds and hidden landscapes spring to life.

And holding something millions of years old in your hand, an object that far pre-dates and may post-date us, puts everything in perspective.  These are a few photos from today, most are agates and jaspers.  The slabs are small enough to fit in my hand but are worlds all of their own.