Way back when I was in college, I knew a woman who was, to borrow a phrase from Terry Pratchett, as self-centered as a gyroscope. (She probably still is; I've been ignoring her Friend requests.) When she told me she had gone to a professor after the final and informed him that she had to have a B in his class, I was astonished. Such a thing had never occurred to me. He gave her the B. I assume that, like many others, he was hoping that giving her what she wanted would make her go away, but that was like paying the Danegeld.

I never asked for an extension. I'm not sure I knew they existed. But I skated through school on my native smarts and figured I was the problem if I wasn't able to do the work. The only time I asked for anything special was in a stats class, when I asked not to be in a group with my ex/ongoing/what-month-is-it-are-we-dating boyfriend, because I seem to have a type for men, and bossy know-it-alls is it, and I wasn't yet up to coping with them as well as I did in the end.

I missed three weeks of problem sets junior year because I was having a career crisis. Which feels so ridiculous now but that is being 20. Came out of with a decision to become a teacher, best decision I have ever made, so worth it.

Some professors were lenient. Some weren't. I did three problem sets and a final exam in a week for three of the classes and got As and Bs. Got a D in the other. No arguing.

But it definitely is not Kids These Days. It is a combination of culture of the school, culture of the students, and so forth. Some schools probably have more assholes than others, but I would bet that the vast majority of Kids These Days aren't assholes no matter where the school.

In other news, I don't know if I over indulged at Friday night Buffistas last night or if I'm actually coming down with something, but I have been feeling like absolute crap all morning. Lots of nausea, little bit of vomiting, dull headache, and no appetite. Feels like a hangover but I swear I did not drink enough to have a hangover 15 hours after bedtime. Shame because there's a lot I have to do so now after my nap I probably have to be very productive and won't be able to go to dinner tonight with other Buffistas.

My secret fear is that I somehow gave food poisoning to my entire guest list last night, but wife and kid seem fine so leaning towards no.

Oh no, Gris! I'm sorry you're feeling so terrible. If it helps to ease your mind, we're all fine over here. Are you a definite no for tonight, or is there still a chance you can make it?

The city spelling bee is on public TV here. It's kind of fascinating to watch, but also kind of stressful. The winner of this goes on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Aw, a kid just got a word wrong ("facile"), but there was no sign of the Comfort Counselor from the 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee.

Oh no, Gris! I am fine, too, and so is J. So you definitely didn't poison us. It was so great to meet you and your wife and kids and friends. Thanks for hosting us!!

And so awesome to meet Liese and Zenkitty as well! YAY! I'm really looking forward to dinner tonight. Sorry that it sounds like you won't be able to join us, Gris.

One of our faculty usually tutors a kid every year for the national spelling bee. Don't know if any of his tutees win the big prize, but it's kind of interesting to know.

does anyone here have an etsy store?

You know, it never occurred to me to ask for an extension(s) on the difficult programming course I took a couple of years ago. Didn't even cross my mind, even though in fact I had three different jobs during it and astonishing little help from the TAs.

Clearly I am Not With It.