David, Boris and TP

Well, here I am again. In bed, alone, with cold feet. Actually, I'm not alone: I have David Attenborough's biography Life on Air, a stuffed Kiwi bird named Boris and a roll of toilet paper in bed with me.

What do these three items have in common? Well, that's an interesting story...

Years and years ago, my mother read Attenborough's book and loved it. She recently (as in a few months ago) recommended it to me as a good read and I have been trying to find it in either a book shop or at one of the libraries. On my last trip into town I found it, and have been dutifully working my way through it. I've learned a lot from Attenborough's programmes on the BBC; ours is definitely a learning-oriented household. I may have never seen a Spongebob marathon, but I can quote Walking with Dinosaurs word-for-word. (And Lord of the Rings, but shhhh.)

Boris the Kiwi bird was a gift from my boyfriend for my last birthday. His real name (the toy, not my boyfriend) is Boris the Perv, because...well...he's pervy. We had a talk about this, and he has since reconciled himself to life at the bottom of the bed/on the floor. I usually manage to rescue him, but not always. I am not thrilled when I wake up to a bird beak wedged between my boobs. Or legs. Awkward...

The toilet paper is in my bed because I have a cold. Not because I'm a bed-wetter, or have a portaloo in my bureau or whatever. I ran out of tissues earlier today and was too tired and lazy to walk to the store to replace them. (Although I did walk out of my required film screening, and I did walk to the corner dairy for sustenance). I hate having colds. I never look as sick as I feel, so I end up schlupping around like a zombie who looks like a normal, if slightly unfocused, human being. Arghh. I also sound like Yoda because the goop in my head (yes, that IS a technical term, thanks) makes me mix up my words. Thank God I don't have any presentations; it's always fun to explain to the class - with a straight face - why you sound like the offspring of Yoda and Chewbacca.

I promised the Beloved Boyfriend that I would go to bed early. And I meant to, honest. But, well, I had a little freak-out regarding my History paper (already turned in) and my half-finished Anthro and Film papers, due next week. Sigh.

Goodnight. Or rather, goobnit.
WolfGrrl

Am I a Grade-Grubber? How to Tell

Apparently I'm entering the advice business.
We are all (unfortunately) familiar with Grade-Grubbers: those people who, when the professor announces extra-credit for an exam or the TA polls the class on redoing an assignment, snap their hand up faster than Hermione Granger and demand to know the cut-off limit for the extra credit/retest/accumulation of further points. There was a girl in my geology lab, first semester freshman year, who, when the TA offered to let the students who were unhappy with their latest test grade retake the test in his office after class, wanted to know if she could retake even though her grade was 99/100. He looked stupefied that she'd want to, and told her no. These people are the ones I am talking about.

Now, I've sent my share of emails to professors and TAs asking them to re-evaluate an assignment because I feel the grade I received was one I didn't deserve. However, I exercise *common sense* when doing this (as with all relationships of this sort, err on the side of caution when asking for favors and your chances of receiving them when you need them improve drastically). My rule of thumb for making a fuss (or sending a politely worded email of confusion) is to only pick scenarios where I am either aware of a gross discrepancy in grading (I participate directly, every day, and receive a lower grade than someone who never speaks or shows up for class) or scenarios where the principle is significantly more important than the actual grade. I don't make a fuss over something worth ten points, or if my grade will only rise by two points. (Hint: people that do are edging into GG territory.)

So how to do you know if you're a Grade-Grubber? Most people know, but if you're particularly clueless here are a few helpful hints to get you started:

1. The GG constantly checks with classmates to ensure a sufficient margin of "over-achievement" is maintained. (The guy who asks everyone around him what they got on the assignment, then sits back looking smug once they answer.)
2. The GG begins all arguments/dialogues with a variation on "In my paper..." or "The professor really liked it when I said..."
3. The GG makes everything a competition. ("Oh, it only took you ten minutes to shower? I can do it in five if I'm in a rush." "I bet I can finish my paper before you and have ______ edit it for me.")

These are the most obvious warning signs offhand, but as with Identifying the Teacup Human there are many more. Grade-Grubbing is most prevalent in overachieving individuals, or ones who are highly competitive. I, being resentful of comparatives (and also dangerously addicted to them) try to avoid these people. Besides, they're extremely irritating to talk to, and often leave me feeling nauseated and frustrated. If you think you are a Grade-Grubber, I have one further piece of advice: Seek professional help. Immediately.

Oh. And don't come near me.
This is WolfGrrl.