Welcome back! or Go away! ??

Many of you know that I follow WLBT-3 meteorologist Barbie Bassett through her own personal blog, Barbie's Forecasts & Faith. I think she is an amazing woman and mother - she has such a way with words, and people. She seems to be one of those people that cannot be brought down, no matter what. I aspire to be more like her - to look at the positive side of every situation, and to look to God for the answers when I don't have them on my own.
Barbie posts some weather forecasts and weather-related information on her blog, but she primarily posts stories about her family and her personal walk with God. But, some of the most shocking posts on her blog are related to her professional duties as WLBT Chief Meteorologist. On several occasions, she has shared emails from her viewers - both fans, and foes. I AM AMAZED AT THE THINGS SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY (write)!!!
Like Barbie, I get a lot of emails, mostly from students, but I usually keep them to myself, too embarrassed to admit the things that people have said about me. Today, I decided that it is time to share some of the things that YOUR leaders of tomorrow have on their minds. Here's two emails that were in my Inbox when I returned to work from Christmas break yesterday:
1.) "i just want to say thanks for that lovely d in your class now i have to repeat that class over and my gpa is messed up and has me on probation as well . i do not known why u think that an online class has to be that hard and when u seen that it was a blank page submitted why didn't u email to if there was some kind of error with the submitting because what i had on that page was some work but why it did not get to u i do not known , but it is a lost call with u."
Since I'm in the Alphabet business now, I thought I should extend the offer to my friends and family as well! Why should I GIVE letters to students only??!!! Are there any blog-followers out there who are in dire need of a letter? Apparently, I have some tucked away somewhere, and I just freely pass them out. So, get yours while they're free -- it would be too much trouble to actually earn them.
Here's the very next email that was in my box:
2.)"Hey Ms. Leggett. I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your class this semester. I thought you were just an awesome teacher that actually made psychology fun and interesting.(haha) Really have enjoyed your class I wish I could have taken your human growth class, but I just took what I could. Hope you have a nice holiday.
P.S.
Your a great teacher don't give up on these kid's. I can see where they would be a challenge."
Boy did that one come at the right time or what?!! Wow
And this is how my days go... the little feedback that I do receive is so contradictory... like a roller coaster. It is so difficult to devise my classes to quench the thirst of the "good" students who really want to learn, but to also tolerate the "bad" student who is only keeping my classroom desk warm just long enough to get his/her financial aid refund.
FRUSTRATING is an understatement.
Tomorrow begins Day 1 of the Spring semester. I'll go over the syllabus and explain how COLLEGE works to the students who show up for the first day of classes. Of course, that will be only the "good" students - those who want to learn, who want to be in college, who want a degree, and who want to BE somebody. The others - well, they'll come dragging in next week sometime, and they'll be the ones who fail or nearly fail because they were not present to hear the rules and the explanation of tests and assignments; they'll be the ones complaining because they chose not to come to class and they missed all of the "answers" that were given out and therefore that mean ole Mrs. Leggett GAVE them a D... or an F... or whatever she felt like that day. humph. College. Who would have thought it would be like this? WORK and RESPONSIBILITY, that's crazy. College is for free internet, free socializing, good cafeteria food, great dorms to shack up in, lotsa partying, and most of all, financial aid refunds and a free "get out of work" card - for at least 2 years, if not 7 or 8... geeeez!

my other life as a Psychology teacher

Most of you know I am a Psychology Instructor, but just in case you don't, let me explain: I am a Psychology Instructor.
Seriously, I began my career (that sounds soooo grown-up and non-applicable to me, but it is what it is, I guess) as a Counselor, which I absolutely loved, but the lure of Academia (i.e., Summers OFF!) got the best of me after Jax was born and I transfered to full-time faculty in August of 2007. Last summer was my very first one to be off, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time at home with Jax.
Anywho, back to the Psychology part. I really enjoy teaching Psychology, although I find my students don't have anywhere close to the amount of enthusiasm, love and adoration for Psychology as I do.
That gets on my nerves.
Idk how ppl cant like Psy! (Let me decipher: "I don't know how people can't like Psychology!" For those of you that don't know, that's what I call Text Language, usually used when text messaging others, but it is also the kind of stuff I often get when I assign a formal paper, ha. I mean, this IS college!! ugh, kiz these dayz!)I can really feel a Soap Box coming on, so I better hurry and get to the point before this post becomes a novel.
So, ANYWAY, in Psychology, we have been discussing Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. Now, I can usually get a few students to jump on the psychology bandwagon when we get to the Freud discussions because... well, because he's just plain weird and for some reason that makes his ideas really really memorable. We've also been discussing Freud's unique ideas regarding what he called the Oedipus Complex. Ah-ha! See? You do know a little about Psychology!!! - You remember that, don't you? It's also called the Electra Complex in girls. See, I told you, weird=remembered.
I have been trying to describe how the Oedipus Complex may have been described in an eccentric and extreme form by Freud himself (and in textbooks) but in actuality, some of his ideas can be recognized in everyday occurances in small scale. I found this video on YouTube, and I just thought it was sooooo cute! I didn't share it with my classes, but I just had to share it with someone... so here ya go! Check it out! It's too cute, and probably true. It's a great example of Freud's Oedipus Complex in action.
(Sorry, I don't know how to embed videos from You Tube right here on my site; I'd be super happy if anyone out there knows how and would like to share that little bit of info with me! For now, just click the words "this video" and you will be taken directly to the video. I hope you have speakers so you can hear the narration!)