All the deadlines of classes used to make my head spin. I'm not done yet, and I'm sure I will get that old familiar feeling once I start back. It sounds like some people missed out on a good time. I'm glad you got to reap the benefits, and glad your friend was sufficiently house-warmed.

It's so nice to see you checked in. You're living my dream life right now, you know. Well, except you're separated from your hubby. Is it too far apart for weekends together to be feasible?

You do realize that you're the first to answer that
I would cure the seminar by reminding the class that 1) their mark is based on participation 2) the purpose of a seminar is for the group to teach themselves and 3) sit there after reminding them and say nothing - perhaps try stress where syrup hasn't worked.
You might want to pull one or two of them aside after class and ask them what their concerns are, or if you're reading too much into it (which I doubt). I don't see you as an oppressive figure - in my case I'll typically remind the group that I'm full of crap so that they don't feel threatened (38 with grey temples seems ancient to them).
The best icebreaker I know is to litter the seminar with pop culture references. For example, during the Genesis seminar I mentioned that I pictured God as Cartman driving around yelling "respect ma authoritay". Or Don Giovanni / Othello being ancient versions of the Jerry Springer show.
Good luck, I had one prof blow up at our seminar because he felt that he had to do all the talking, since then I'll leap into any 3 second span of silence that I can find.

Sounds like exciting times!!  Enjoy it.

It sounds like your friend's party turned out wonderfully despite those last minute cancellations. It seems that people are so lacking when it comes to the manners departments anymore.

Good luck with your quiet class. I hope you can get them to come out of their shells.

Interview with the Vampire? I couldn't stand the movie, and I must confess that I didn't realize there was a book. :whocares:

Glad you are loving your subjects. I spent at least two or three years after graduation reading the reading lists I could not finish in college. Judi

bribe the quiet class...nothing works better than candy...but nostalgic stuff...pixie stix, sour patch kids...licorice vines...sugar daddy's ...maybe ask the age old question before a quiz...how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop? Each test paper would include the sucker...think outside the box!

Old Norse?  Is this really one of your subjects?  I am impressed!  I like old Norse history.