This week I put in more long hours in lab on the 2.5 days I was allowed to be there. I finished the redox titration experiment and did about half of the next one, an argentometric titration. Argentometric means with silver, so I have blotches of brown silver staining on my fingers from where I unknowingly touched some of the solutions. That will wear off in a few days. Here's one of the solutions, showing the red-brown iron indicator color.
I just have the analysis of the unknown(s) remaining for next week and then I will do the final lab experiment, which is another titration. Next week, we are allowed to be on campus every day so I should be able to get this all done by Wednesday.
And then I have to start packing kits for general chemistry. Most of the supplies we ordered have arrived; we're waiting on the thermometers and a couple of other things. I have large bags of M&Ms and Skittles with me this weekend so I can sort them by color and pack little sample bags for the kits. I went to Lowe's yesterday evening and bought a box of metal nuts that will be part of another experiment. (Lowe's was pretty empty and everyone I saw was wearing a mask and keeping their distance. The more stressful part for me was using the self-checkout lane because apparently I forgot how money works! It took me a long time to remember how to pay using my credit card in the machine.)
Friday while working from home, I started going through the general chemistry lab schedule systematically. I updated the procedure handouts for the old experiments, checked over the ones I wrote this summer for the new experiments, revised the instructor's handbook and rubrics, and then posted links to the procedures on the LMS. I also programmed the weekly lab safety quizzes in the LMS. I only got four weeks done, but I feel like it was good to get started on this.
Only two students have responded to my email and video about textbooks. One student has emailed me four times on different topics. The other one couldn't find the book list on our bookstore website and I had to send him step-by-step instructions. I wish I knew if this was evidence that all the other students are having no problems with the textbooks rather than only these students have bothered to read my email.
I missed my appointment with the counselor on Tuesday. She called our house phone instead of my mobile and my husband (not knowing who it was) told her I was working. Then he didn't tell me she had called until an hour later. I emailed her afterward to apologize for the mixup, and she said I could reschedule, but I don't know if I will. I feel that I didn't get that much out of talking with her the first time.
I received a summons for jury duty in the mail. Because of course. I haven't been summoned in 17 years of living here. I was summoned once in Tucson when I was about 18, and I went and sat in the courthouse for a day but didn't get chosen for a jury. The report date on this summons is in October, but I have to send in the qualification questionnaire now. I did that online today and received an auto-response that one of my answers may qualify me for excusal. I'm supposed to check back with the system "periodically" to find out the court's decision. If I don't get excused, I'm going to ask for a postponement until next summer. I just hope I get it...how do I do jury duty while teaching classes?
One thing I found odd about the instructions in the mailing was the assumption that everyone will drive a personal vehicle to the courthouse. There was a map and pretty substantial instructions for parking in a certain city lot and taking our downtown free shuttle to the court building. I would probably take the city bus instead (well, maybe not during a pandemic).
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