Good News for Fall Semester

After all the craziness of wrapping up the summer session (which is ongoing), I am ecstatic that for the first time in two or three years I have been assigned a section of American History I! I have been stuck teaching American History II at both colleges for the past two years or more. I certainly don't mind teaching that class, but I am much happier to teach American History I. And, after teaching the same class over and over again for so long, one tends to get burned out. Obviously, American History I is a better fit for me because that's the time period I deal with most intensely on a day to day basis. So, now I'm definitely looking forward to fall semester.

Trying to Wind Down the Summer Session

Summer session at the two community colleges for which I teach is almost at an end. This is the roughest semester I've had in a long time, at least from an administrative standpoint. The students, with a few exceptions, have been pretty good. I, on the other hand, seem to have lost at least half of my mind. Summer session is always a little harder than a regular semester. You are basically teaching the same course in half the time. Fall behind on grading assignments and you feel like you're digging out of a never-ending foxhole to get caught up. There are other issues that add to this.

1. The colleges operate on different calendars. I've spent most of the summer confused about where my classes actually are. It's so ridiculous, even if it seems simple.

2. Even though I am trying to teach a class in half the time it would normally take, the colleges always take a one week mid-summer break. And, of course, they take their breaks on different weeks (see #1). I think they take this one week break just to make things that much more difficult on the instructors, but maybe that's just my opinion.

3. My final issue is of my own making. One of the colleges for which I teach, runs four separate summer sessions (an 8-week session, a 10-week session, and two 5-week sessions). So, when I set up my class this summer, I set it up based on the 10-week schedule. Problem is, as I just found out this week, it was supposed to be an 8-week class. So, my grades are supposed to be turned in this week and my students still have three regular assignments and their final exams left to complete. My supervisor has given me a way out of this situation and has said not to worry about it (basically, "shit happens"). I find it very disturbing, however, that my normally highly organized, detail oriented, German brain has failed me this time.

Here's to a quick end to this summer session and a two week break until fall semester begins. Hopefully, I can regain my normal sense of direction before embarking on another academic odyssey.

Hot, humid, a chance of rain - let's go to a reenactment!

Yes, you read the title of the post correctly; I am going to a reenactment this weekend even though the weather seems less than ideal. It's our annual trek to Fort Macon to take part in a weekend-long living history program sponsored by the 1st NC Volunteers/11th NC Troops. We'll have about 7 guys this weekend, interpreting the US and CS navies, as well as the US Marines in the waters in and around Beaufort Harbor and Fort Macon. This is always a nice event, but this weekend looks to be very hot and humid, with chances for thunderstorms both days. Could be interesting. As one of my friends once said, "It's against my religion to go reenactin' in the summer." Funny thing is, he'll be there this weekend too. So, if you happen to be on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina this weekend, come on down to Fort Macon. The program runs 10-4 both Saturday and Sunday, and there will be plenty to see.

Brief Book Review

I just finished reading Stephen Chapin Kinnaman's The Most Perfect Cruiser. I was asked to review this book for the Nautical Research Journal. This will be the third review I've written for that journal in the past 18 months (previously having reviewed biographies of John Paul Jones and Gustavas Vasa Fox).

I have to admit that I was very skeptical about this book from the outset. I had never heard of Dog Ear Publishing, so I did a little research. I assumed they were a vanity press, but found out that the company actually is just a self-publishing organization. They will publish any manuscript for anyone, and have varying packages depending on how much the author wishes to pay. This fed my skepticism even more. However, aside from some flaws that I attribute to the publishing process, this book isn't really all that bad. In fact, I was impressed with the author's focus, clarity, and research. Rather than simply relating the exploits of the CSS Alabama (I mean, do we really need another one of those books?), the author focuses on the construction of the vessel, and secondarily, other Confederate vessels in England. The book deals mainly with politics, logistics, and personalities. It really is a quite pleasant and engaging book to read.

The aforementioned flaws include a number of typos, an often too conversational style to the narrative, and other simple stuff like that, as well as a non-professional endnote style (but at least it has endnotes!). This book could have been published by any number of presses with a little reformatting and better editing. While not an academic jewel, it's still worth a read.

This Just In......

I just received in the mail a copy of the new book The Sea King: The Life of James Iredell Waddell by Gary McKay. Dr. McKay wrote to me last year after seeing my blog, and told me of the project he was working on. Last week I received an email from him informing me that the book had been published and that I would be receiving a copy. Hearty thanks to Dr. McKay for my autographed copy of the first full-length biography of one of the Confederacy's most successful raiders! The book is so new in fact, that I could not find it on the publsher's web page (even though it's already on Amazon). I look forward to diving into this book as soon as I finish my review on James Bulloch and the construction of the CSS Alabama.

Follow This Blog on Facebook

Just wanted to let everyone know that you can now follow my blog on Facebook. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see the link for Networked Blogs. You can click there and follow me if you are on Facebook.

Blog Maintenance

Just wanted to let you all know that I've deleted a few blogs from the Sports Blogs roll near the bottom of the page. A few of those folks hadn't posted in quite a while so I decided to drop them and just leave the better ones up there. Of course, some of the blogs devoted solely to the Steelers have been somewhat slow lately, but they'll pick up near the end of the month when training camp opens.

I also realized that it's been a month and a half since I posted anything in the "My Career" series. I got through eleven posts, which basically had me through grad school. I do plan to eventually do a couple more posts to bring the series up to the present, but have no definite plans when that will happen.

Thanks to all of my readers who keep up with the blog. I hope you will continue to check in and see what's going on. Posts have been slower lately because there's less happening for me this time of year, but I promise not to become a "slogger" (a term I invented, meaning a slack blogger).

Long Weekend

I hope everyone out there had a fabulous July 4th weekend! It turned out to be rather busy around here. On Friday, my brother and I continued working on a seemingly never ending project, cleaning out my dad's old shed so that we can demolish the addition he added onto it a few years ago and rebuild the old part of the shed, which is still in good shape. We've filled up a 30 cubic yard construction dumpster and then some with all of the crap that he hoarded over the years. I am making conscious efforts to NEVER collect as much stuff as he did. I realize I have a sizable library and music library, but those are much easier to deal with than a shed full of tools, construction supplies, old Marine Corps stuff, and various odds and ends.

On Saturday our crew descended on Fort Macon to provide cannon demonstrations for the public. We had more guys at this shoot than we've had all year, which is odd for a holiday. The visitors were out in force as well; the numbers of spectators at our demonstrations were the best we've had all season, and both parking lots at the park filled up by 10:15 a.m. Of course, this led to a lot of traffic issues and stupid/inconsiderate/angry people, but all in all it seemed to be a real good day. Due to scheduling conflicts, this was probably my last Fort Macon shoot for the year.

Today I took some time to catch up on a few things around the house, and get ready to head back to work tomorrow. I hope that you all had a great weekend, and that you will continue to have a safe and enjoyable summer. It will be over before we know it!