I don't have the exact date and time that she said it, but my buddy Cheryl made the statement that the "I'm too busy" excuse is like the newest status symbol. I had to throw it in my cell phone's notepad feature for future usage immediately. It's so true, and somewhat sad. I recall saying to my friend Mona only days ago that, "Hey, I'm really not THAT busy! What are people SO BUSY doing anyway?" She concurred. And unlike me, she's even a mom.

That new excuse haunts me in meetings and daily in the hallways of campus. People will complain about practically anything, but they are just too damn busy to do something about it. Supposedly. Allegedly. What ever happened to it being your JOB to stay on the up and up? Only those paid uber well have to truly work at keeping their jobs, like presidents of college and countries? The rest of us, with or without kids and spouses can get by with, "I'm too busy." Huh. I think the next time people accuse Obama of not doing anything, I'll say, "Hey, he's busy taking care of his kids like you are! OH SNAP!"

Now, if you ARE busy, awesome. If you truly don't have one extra hour to yourself each day, then you are an uber hands-on mom who's probably trying to do too much, but hey, whatever. On the flip side, if you aren't all that busy and I'M PICKING UP YOUR FREAKING SLACK AT MEEINGS, then there will be hell to pay. Seriously. Since I'm truly not "that busy," I throw myself in the mix to help out with various sub-committees. So, maybe just us single kids should be on committees then?

It's called Time Management.
It's called Multi-Tasking.

Like, right now, after my lunch "break," I assessed the rest of my stuff that was due last week in my classes. Then I dorked around online, checking Facebook, creating a sign-up sheet for my 3pm class today as well as updating my Peer Review handout for that very class. Now, I'm blogging. I have time; I've even thought ahead to next week and mentally prepped for what will be going on. I'm not like this everyday, but still.

This semester, I will have taught 7 courses... two online English 120s, an on-campus English 120, World Literature online, an on-campus English 110, FYE 101 once a week, and I wrapped up my English 105 (an 8-week course) a few weeks ago. Have I assessed everything within at least two weeks of it being due? Yes. Do I update my handouts as I go along? Yes. Do I redo my syllabi every semester? Yes. Am I planning, here and there, what to do with my spring courses? Yes. But you're correct; I live alone, so I have time. However, when I have a child or get married, I don't think I necessarily can just ditch all those things and still be above-average as an instructor.

I realize I'm going to step all over some people's toes with this rant, but it's really smacked me upside the head lately...

I may freak out the next time I hear anyone say, "I'm too busy to do X" or "I'm on seven committees already." Really? REALLY? ISN'T EVERYONE BUSY? YET EVERYONE'S ON FACEBOOK. AaaaaaagggggggggHHHHHHHH.

---Idea: Having students post the essay on Facebook. Take a screen picture of it. Hand in for bonus (or require it)?
---WC page = They have to link their sources to Delicious.com and then put that link in their paper?