School has begun

School has officially begun. So far, everything is going well. I haven't noticed any behavior problems that I am going to have to deal with, even though my largest class is two-thirds boys. I'm going to have to make an extra effort to pay attention to the girls in that class.

Tuesday night my graduate classes begin. One class doesn't even have a book! I figure it should be pretty easy.

My latest news is that I am going to be teaching a course at Tulsa Community College. I never really thought I'd be teaching college. I'm only teaching Basic Math (think 2nd-7th grade math), but I don't know how much homework to assign these adult students. Obviously if they are in this class they need some practice at this, but I don't want to give so much that they quit.

A Dread of Morning

I fear every morning that I will do something that I will regret. I fear that I will kill a dog.

Soon after I moved in last year, my neighbors got a new dog--a dachshund. This annoying little SOB is let outside early each morning. Usually it is around 6 o'clock, but sometimes it is earlier or later. The dog has no manners! It runs out the door barking, and often doesn't ever shut up! I'm sorry, but some people are still trying to sleep at 6 o'clock! When I'm on summer vacation, I really don't want to be up at that time. It's even worse during the school year, on Saturdays or Sundays, when this happens. If I'm lucky enough to fall back asleep after the dog's first outing, it is only about an hour later when the cycle is repeated.

I really do hate this animal. I want to talk to the neighbors about it, but (not to sound mean) they are not the kind of people who would understand my problem. Anyone have a suggestion of how to shut this dog up without my being charged with animal cruelty?