Musings

I'm back

2009-03-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

After a year of enjoying the good life, not working, God in His infinfite wisdom dropped a job in my lap. I said I would not go back unless God dropped a job in my lap and He did. (Why doesn't HE make me a smaller size?)

So I am teaching 6th grade Science and Social Studies at new to me school. I know strange combination. I'm one of those teachers who has extremely broad certification!

The faculty has been great and I've been warmly welcomed. OH! I forgot to tell you that I started at the semester, as in mid-year, as in angry children who did not want to move from their overcrowded classes to the room of the unknown teacher. For the most part the kids and I have settled in and it is okay.

I did say for the most part. A few days ago, the teacher next door took away one of those paper game things that kids do from a student we share. She showed it to me and I briefly looked at it, and should have been alarmed, as it had Hit, Stab, Kill and a list of names. It just didn't register with me. So the thing was thrown away and I didn't think much about it. Later on the kid is in my class and is playing with a new version of that one. I just told the kid to put it away and get busy with the assignment. (I know I should have looked more closely)

Well another teacher found the thing and let the Assistant Principal know and the kid is now in an off campus placement. I found out my name was on the list more than the AP's! Now that I've had some time to think about it, I'm bothered. The kid will return to my class after the off campus placement time is up, becasue as I was told nothing actually happened. Or I can file a grievance to have the kid placed elsewhere. The Kid would really like to be back with the former teacher, and I would hate to think a hit list was a reward to return to a class.

I'm not afraid Kid. But I am unsettled. Has anybody else out there been on a "hit list"? I would love some experienced advice!

Other than that I'm enjoying being back and had forgotten how much I have missed teaching. It's never dull and never boring and never the same way twice!

Food

2008-09-04T16:39:00.000-07:00

I love food and my friend over on Letters From Glome posted this and I thought it was fun and interesting, so here you go.

100 Things You Must Eat Before You Die

The directions:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Here are the hundred foods.

1. Venison--.
2. Nettle tea - what the heck is that??
3. Huevos rancheros--Yes
4. Steak tartare--why would I eat that? I've seen Mr. Bean eat it.
5. Crocodile Okay so it was alligator close enough
6. Black pudding--Would NEVER eat it.
7. Cheese fondue--
8. Carp--daddy liked to fish
9. Borscht--
10. Baba ghanoush--What is it?
11. Calamari--Yes
12. Pho--.
13. PB&J sandwich--Of course
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns--Yes!! Yum!!
20. Pistachio ice cream--Yes
21. Heirloom tomatoes--Yes
22. Fresh wild berries--Yes
23. Foie gras--no but it fun to say
24. Rice and beans--Yes
25. Brawn, or head cheese--Would NEVER eat it.
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche--It's in my fridge right now.
28. Oysters--Yes, does the sauce count??
29. Baklava--Yes
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut--Yes
35. Root beer float-- Yes.
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat--
42. Whole insects- don't the parts count? probably I have swallowed a bug or two
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk--Yes
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala--Yes, so yummy...
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut--Yes
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal--Ummm, yes.
56. Spaetzle--Yes
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine--
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores--Yes
62. Sweetbreads--I would NEVER eat this.
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian--It is quite an experience
66. Frogs’ legs my mom likes those
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake--shouldn't those be separate as they are sooooooo goooood!
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain--
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette--in gumbo
71. Gazpacho--Yes
72. Caviar and blini--but not at the same time
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost--Yes, It's really sweet and caramel-y for a cheese.
75. Roadkill if I did I was unaware, maybe the high school cafeteria, or that guy I dated in collge
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie--Yes
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini--
81. Tom yum--
82. Eggs Benedict--Yes
83. Pocky--Yes, I have some in the pantry
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.--I wish.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare--I've eaten rabbit. Is that the same?
87. Goulash--Yes
88. Flowers--Yes, as in chrysanthemum tea
89. Horse--Yes, school cafeteria
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam--Yes
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa--
94. Catfish--Yes
95. Mole poblano--I've had mole & poblano
96. Bagel and lox--
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta--
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake does unagi in nsuchi count??

So there are my responses
How about you??

Dealing with change

2008-06-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

I've been in my new home several months now, and have experienced a deep depression. Probably the worst episode to date. It is difficult to put to words to the despair that I have felt. And it is not a logical reaction to the situation. The house is lovely, the people here are friendly.

There are days I never get out of my pajamas, but spend the day on the couch watching countless reruns, or I sit reading. My favorite time of the day when I can fall asleep and I dislike awakening.

I did go to the dr and was once again put on medication.

Where Did the Time Go?

2008-02-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

Let's see, it has been months since my last posting. So let me catch you up. No, that will take too long, so I will just restart.

I am no longer teaching. We have relocated. Hubs has a new job, and I am taking at least a semester off! Maybe forever off!

But here is a brief recap of the last few months and I am sure you will understand my lack of posting.

School ended, we flew out for Mom-in-law's birthday party she turned 90! Sadly 2 weeks later she passed away, while I was on my retreat with my gal pals. She was cremated so the memorial service was later.

I left from gal pal retreat and drove cross country to see son #3 and take him the cradle his grandpa made, all 3 of my boys slept in.

Drove back cross country and visited many historical sights. Fort Bridger, Keirney Arch, Winter Quarters, Iowa, Cabelas and more Cabelas!

Flew out to attend the memorial for Mom-in-law.

Drove out to Charleston to visit son #2, met up with my Internet buds in Savannah.

Flew my mom out and visited with son #1, took Mom to visit her cousin, and to Vicksburg. Mom left early because of a possible hurricane.

Son #2 moved back for a short time, (just long enough to go through a hurricane & not the one that Mom fled from)

School started, flew out for high school reunion, and grandson #3 was born (he's the 4th grandkid, but the 3rd boy). Son #2 moved out, son #1 takes a new job.

Finish first marking period, fly out to help with new grandson, Hubs accepts a new position with a new company.

Son #1 and family move closer and have Thanksgiving with us, house hunting, resigning from school, get the flu.

Find a house, buy a house,son #3 moves to a new place and he got a new job, Christmas, Mom's cousin passed away, New Years, pack up the classroom, movers pack up the house, movers unload at new house, more flu, find a doc, and a chiropractor, unpack, get a library card. Yes I have a lovely library in my new town, read, unpack, read, unpack.

Sit down and write this. Or should I say rewrite this, because I can't seem to make the other one publish.

Good Night all!

What the heck?

2008-02-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

I just wrote a long post, it got saved,as a draft, I wanted to edit and now I can't figure out how to make it post! The help stuff was not useful either, the links did not wwork, so I feel very frustrated!

Learning to have car claustrophobia

2007-06-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I leave on the second of my summer get the heck out of the swamp trips. A friend and I are meeting some other people in Hot Springs for our first ever girl gathering! I am so excited! Sonic Sue, my pal, was a librarian, is a red head and cannot pass a Sonic Drive In without getting a Route 44 Diet Coke. I drink vanilla Dr. Pepper.

We plan on visiting the Southern Living house while in Hot Springs and enjoying non swamp weather. I only know 3 of the other 10 women who are coming, Sonic Sue only knows 2 of us and Margarita Prairie Rose almost everybody. It should be interesting.

After that Sonic Sue and I will drive to Utah to deliver the family baby cradle to my baby, whose wife is having a baby! Sonic Sue has never been to Utah so this should be fun. We'll do the touristy stuff, then drive back.

After that I have two days of workshops, and a day of defensive driving class. Then off to the lake for the 4th, then back home for a couple of days. Then off to South Carolina to visit Middle Man, my #2 son, and his son. Margarita Prairie Rose wants to come along. It would be fun.I have to go to the beach. I don't care what beach, just a beach! I need ocean, I need waves and sand, and a book. It soothes my overworked, underpaid, self.

Then my mother has the bright idea of me flying, we load up a rental truck of furniture and drive across country delivering to my kids. I had a better counter proposal, of drive the truck here to my place, via #3's house and then take some stuff up to #1's house and we'll see how Middle Man's life is and get him his stuff when he settles down.

Okay so why don't I just fly to all these places? Because I don't usually go to cities with major airports, and then I'd have to rent a car. So I travel by car. Even with fuel prices the way they are, it is still cheaper!

So by the time school starts I'll be fearful of any trip in a car longer than 10 minutes.

I'm changing departments when school starts and that will be interesting. Now if only the powers that be would tell me exactly what I'll be teaching. But that would be cheating!

A Mix of Good & Bad

2007-05-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

Let's see there was jury duty and I was not selected, I have VERY STRONG opinions about people who drink and drive. I would not have been a good juror, so I'm glad I wasn't selected.

Tuesday I drove to the town with a mall, and got in a fender bender. Everyone was okay, I just felt stupid, and I got the ticket, I was in the wrong. My husband was out of town, so it was disconcerting. Today I took the car to the shop to have it repaired. It'll take over a week!

Wednesday, the car would not start, so I got a ride to work and back. I asked the neighbor if he would jump the car for me. 1 1/2 hours later with 3 grown men and a couple of friends it started! I drove it around to recharge the battery, dropped off the friend who decided to keep me company, and became ill on the way home. I decided to take a sick day on . . .

Thursday, I get a call to have the car appraised, it is only blocks from where I live, so I do that, no problem starting the car. I start the car to go back home and the battery light is red! I call onstar who advises me to get to the nearest dealer, which I do, they check the battery it is a bad battery. (BAD BATTERY, BAD BATTERY) Luckily for me I have the receipt, the battery is only 4 months old! They check everything out and I am on my way!

Thursday cont. . . Hubby and I decided to pay the extra $ to fly out of the smaller, but much closer airport. We arrive and our flight is delayed until after our connecting flight takes off, so be drive like crazy to the BIG CITY, pay to park the car and dash into the airport to find our connecting flight had been delayed almost 3 hours! (When it rains, it pours) Eventually the plane comes in, and we fly off to land in the middle of the night at our son's town.

Friday was graduation day, our d-in-l graduated with honors, had earned two bachelor's degrees! We are so proud of her! We went out to dinner and as we approached the restaurant, Son gets in a fender bender! OY! We went shopping for a combined graduation/birthday/Mother's Day present. So we bought a computer for the kids and spent the evening getting everything hooked up.

Saturday, a phone call telling us that Hubby's mum has taken a turn for the worse. So I make a bunch of hurried travel arrangements so Hubby can fly out the next day. We had some girl time and guy time, and had fetal photographs taken of the baby, a boy, due in early September. Fascinating. I also checked online and found I had passed a certification test so that I can teach an additional subject!

Sunday was spent flying, me home, Hubby up to his sister's to see his mum. I arrived home exhausted!

Monday, back to school, state scores were returned, I was pleasantly surprised! My kids did well. Hubby called and his mum is doing better, car is in the shop (I already said that). Went out to dinner and now I am home and resuming my life. OH! I have a dentist appointment and Friday I go to court to beg for defensive driving.

Like I said it's a mix of good and bad. I'm counting the days down until school is out! Aren't you?

Collapsing on the Sofa

2007-04-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

How do I begin to describe this week? On Sunday my sister called to tell me her hubby has bone cancer. That was a total shocker! He'll have 6 months of chemo, so far he is exhausted and depressed. I really feel he will pull through, but that this is gonna take time.

Monday I get a call from my mother's "partner in crime" Mom is now on an anti-depressant, and they have found the source of her pain and now she's doing the rounds of Docs.

Strange I don't really remember Tuesday. It must have been a good day.

Wednesday, Backpack Boy blew it. Please understand that I work very hard to convince kids to open a book and read it, but with Backpack Boy, I must take the books away so that he might participate in class. So I gently took the book away. He said then he would leave my room, I said no problem, that was a mistake on my part. He wanted the book back. He wanted to lose himself someplace on campus and continue reading. I held firm and continued to say no calmly. He loomed over me and in a threatening tone demanded the book be returned, again I replied in the negative. I turned my back to get the walkie-talkie to call for assistance, and Backpack Boy headed out the door, shouting BITCH at the top of his lungs and other phrases of profanity, he also slammed the door shut. several of the kids reassured me that I was not the B word. a couple of boys had been ready to jump to my defense if need. This took place in my "active" class. But the class was great, they were quiet and let me get the report written very quickly.

I went home and found that the father of a dear friend had passed away.

Thursday morning he appears at my locked classroom door to demand that I return the book I stole from him. I had enough foresight to give the book to the principal. When he found that I no longer had the book, he turned and cursed the length of the hallway. An administrator and his teacher herded him into the office.

During 4th period I had a student who was talking back to me say "It's not my fault if you didn't take your medications on time", Well he left my classroom too and will be returning on Monday (I have jury duty). And later that same day the Mouth of the South would not stop talking so I escorted her to the councillor's office.

Friday was a sad day I had a male student go into meltdown mode. We walked all over campus to find the Admin Asst, so that he could talk with a guy. And finally with out sharing much a student trusted me enough that I found I needed to make a report to CPS. That one broke my heart.

Today I have been emotionally numb. But we did finally find the wall paper border for our guest bedroom, and I ate homemade ice cream!

I'm sleepy, but can't seem to fall asleep. I hope yours was better than mine.

Bracing for Exams

2007-04-15T18:10:00.002-07:00

This week students across the state will be taking the dreaded TAKS. I hate it, the kids hate it, the parents hate it, and I can't think of anybody who even thinks the tests are that valid.

So yesterday I had the "privilege" of taking a state standardized test myself. I had tougher rules to follow than the kids do. NO GUM! CELL PHONES MUST BE OFF AND GIVEN TO THE PROCTOR, WATER BOTTLES CANNOT HAVE LABELS, failure to follow these and other instructions could cause immediate failure.

The test wasn't all that bad, I felt like I was playing the tricky question game! I treated each answer as a true/false. That helped and of course I did not answer the way I thought on some some of the pedagogue questions, but the way "they " want. We were allowed 5 hours to take the test, I was done in 2. The young man who left right after me, said it was his 3rd time to take the test. I'll let ya know how I did, in 6 weeks.

Spring break was not good for me, I was ill with the doc thought was diverticulitis, but I had a colonoscopy and I do NOT have diverticulitis. Of course we still don't know what caused the pain, but I'm still here.

My slacker girl has really become a nice person. The Mouth of the South continues to prattle on, Backpack Boy is still having problems, with everything, and I fear is getting worse. He was removed from my class, because of inappropriate behavior and language in the class preceding mine. As he left the room, he shouted his hopes for our collective eternal reward, which was not positive.

I'm actually looking forward to making the change into a different department. It will be much less stressful, test wise, and I like all the people in the department. Of course nothing is "official" but when asked what I needed for next year, I replied that IF I was to teach social studies, I would need a set of maps, he told me to price them and submit a requisition!

Since we finished with the carpeting, we've started putting up new wallpaper border in two rooms, that has been fun. Taking the old stuff off, has not been fun. Now if I can only find a good border for the other room!

I shall try to update more often. It has been hectic, my bro's company downsized and now he's looking for new employment. My mom hurt herself in a fall and was not using her pain meds correctly. Add to that I was getting phone calls from friends in the old home town about mom. The my bro calls and tells me I have to go out and take care of mom! I did chat with Mom today and she is doing much better, but I was really frustrated to find out that ALL of her savings is gone! She had a very nice nest egg! It went to my bro's kids who have problems of their own and Mom loves to feel helpful, so she forks over the cash. Funny the last time I asked her to join us on a trip she told me no, she wanted to save that money so I would have more to inherit. I remember telling her that money would not buy memories or time.

So that is where I am!

Three Little Words Game

2007-03-10T22:10:00.000-08:00

Just Three Words
One of Geek’s favorite reads, JLee at Neurotic Me, challenged everyone to try this one; you must answer with just three words. Let’s see if I can limit my tendency toward being verbose.

1. Where is your cell phone? in my purse

2. Boyfriend/girlfriend? BL =,husband

3. Hair? dyed brown with blond highlights

4. Your mother? lives in California

5. Your father? died of cancer

6. Your favorite item? books of scripture

7. Your dream last night? can’t remember now

8. Your favorite drink? Caffeine Free Vanilla Dr. Pepper ( I know it's more than 3)

9. Your dream guy/girl? one I married

10. The room you are in? Computer room upstairs

11. Your fear? loss of control

12. What do you want to be in 10 years? happily retired somewhere

13. Whom did you hang out with last night? Friend, Hubs Missionaries

14. What are you not? sleepy, patient, thin

15. Are you in love? every single day

16. One of your wish list items? new couches, chair

17. What time is it? sometime after midnight

18. The last thing you did? climbed the stairs

19. What are you wearing? comfy, cool jammies

20. Your favorite book? HOw can I choose?

21. The last thing you ate? unsalted cheese tots

22. Your life? pretty darn good

23. Your mood? kind of lazy

24. Your friends? are very eclectic

25. What are you thinking about right now? only three words

26. Your car? Grey Buick SUV

27. What are you doing at this moment? typing some answers

28. Your summer? hot and humid

29. Your relationship status? I’m happily married

30. What is on your TV screen? just cleaned it

31. When is the last time you laughed? early this afternoon

32. Last time you cried? I don't remember

33. School? Spring Break, yay! ( Amen I cannot say it any better)

That was kinda’ fun; maybe I should start talking that way everyday. I’m only kidding myself… I couldn't’t do it; I like to talk entirely too much. Still, y’all should give this one a try.

The Joys of Insomnia

2007-03-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

Okay it's ween almost two months since I last posted and I feel badly that I haven't written more, but I didn't want to complain about the same old, same old.

Yes I am still overworked. Yes I am still underpaid, Yes I am still under appreciated, but a few nice things have happened.

In my class with the Mouth of the South, one of my female slacker types, has for some reason decided that what I have to say may have some value, so she has taken it upon herself to get the class quiet. She does not take crap for an answer! I just smile and give her two thumbs up.

Mouth of the South is somewhat quieter, meaning she settles in, and I have turned her seat so that she is not facing the rest of the class. That has worked fairly well for the last couple of weeks. She is sitting next to a student she does not like. ( I admit it was fun to put her there! Sweet revenge)

We recently had an academics meet and the students I coached in one of the forms of dramatic readings, did well. Of the 6 2 recieved Superior, the highest rating, 3 received Excellent 2nd highest rating and the last one recieved a good. She stepped up at the last minute and agreed to read. With only a couple of days of practice, she did well.

We are putting in new carpeting this week. Mostly because I am on Spring Break (plus we got a great deal!) and can be here at the house. So if you have ever had carpet laid and have a ton of books, you know that we have been packing boxes like crazy! Add to this the satellite decides to go out after we have unhooked eveything, moved it 8 feet and rehooked everything up. They are sending a repairperson on Monday which is good, I'll be at home packing up boxes and shifting things around!

Tweo of my kiddos have lost grandparents in the last couple of weeks, so I've had kids sobbing on my shoulder literally. A couple more have gone into meltdown mode and sent to the councellor.

Backpack Boy has decided that this is an issue woth doing battle over. By that I mean, I do not allow backpacks into the room for several reasons:
1. weapons could be hidden in there ( I'm really not paranoid,, but it thefirst thing everyone in my building says)
2, stuffs gets stolen from backpacks and purses. I don't allow purses either.
3 THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM! I get tired of tripping over the darn things.

Backpack Boy has been in my class for more than a year ( He is a repeat "offender" ) and is well acquainted with the rule. So whenever I remind him of the rule, he gets explosive and with a look that could melt glass, he leaves the room. He is one of 4 in my class who are "emotionally disadvanted" or what ever the current phrase is. As he leaves I get on the walkie talkes and let them know in which direction he is headed.

My good kids I don't write about nearly enough. Currently the kids are all reading the Gordon Korman series, The Falconers, and The Kidnapping. So eveyday kids come to ask for those books. A lot of my good kids aren't the most competatively academically, but are just sweet people. There are several boys who hug me on a daily basis. Some of them have even commented on my hair, I started curling it, nothing else. This week a student shared the last birthday cupcake from another kid's birthday. I had a student BEG to read a book, Satch and Me, and whe he finished it loaned it out to someone else! I haven't read it yet, but that's okay I have a stack to read.

More good stuff, a few parents have approached me about having their child placed in my classroom. I just tell them to talk to the counsellor. Even nicer, was some kids who are not old evough to have been at my school but are asking can they be in my class. It is great for the ego!

I am one of very few who kknow what they will be teaching, and most likely I will be teaching social studies and world geography. I can either take a test or 4 credit hours of history to meet our districts qualifications. It seems stupid to me, as I have a minor in history. But go figure??

See what insomnia can do for you? You suddenly find the time to update the blog!
I hope you are enjoying your Spring Break, if not now then in the very near future! I also Internet shop when I can't sleep, or read. I hope y'all are doing well

Update, I am still here

2007-01-17T17:14:00.000-08:00

Finally, I have returned. With the new granddaughter and Christmas and my son getting a divorce, and he's taking a new job on the other side of the country, and he's moving (duh) to say the least, I have been overwhelmed! I mean I still am.

TC, is not in my class!!! YIPEE. I won't go into details, but she is no longer my problem to deal with. 6th period has not changed much, except I still have the Mouth of the South, who NEVER stops talking unless she has fallen asleep. I sent her to the AP yesterday so the rest of the kids could work. It was amazing, within TWO minutes they were quiet and working hard. But she was back in class again today and the AP told me tell her twice to be quiet and after that send her to me! WOO HOO!!

We gave benchmark exams, the ones I thought would pass did, and the ones I didn't think would pass didn't! Surprise! So now I have to crunch numbers and return a report to my principal.

The powers that be have announced that we will be combining the Literature and Writing classes. I don't like it! I don't wanna do it, but I will. I was able to attend 2 workshops, over a 3 day period last week. I also went to the dentist, so I missed 4 days! The workshops were great! All about writing and very do-able!

The dentist, well that is another story, I have to get my gums scraped! EEEWWWWWW. I am so looking forward to that. (Sarcasm) And I have to have a crown replaced. I inherited the bad mouth. My gran had gum problems, my dad had to have tons of dental work done, and I inherited their genes. Oh Gran is on my mom's side of the family! Genetics aren't they a hoot??

Other than that we're all fine and healthy, except for my mother-in-law who fell and broke her hip. She lives in a different state, so I all I can go on is the report of my sis-in-law who says she doesn't look great and the doc who says she's doing great!

No major dramas at school, just the usual. But I am still here. I hope you are too!

Welcome Baby Girl!

2006-11-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

Something rather unusual (at least in our family) happened yesterday. Our first granddaughter was born! I am a mother to 3 sons and 2 grandsons, but yesterday the first girl born! Her middle name is the same as mine and my mother's (Sue) and her nickname will be my maternal grandmother's first name Lena!

She entered this world just prior to 6 pm, weighing 6 lbs. 8 oz, 19 3/4 inches in length with a head full of hair. I think she's beautiful, so does her other grandmother and her "Paw-Paw", her brother, her daddy, her mother, and anyone else who has seen her.

Yes I've already bought her some books! It was a great way to start the Thanksgiving break!

On a secondary note, the Chap stick kid has transferred out of my class! Two students chose to transfer in (due to an overcrowded class) I've had 3 new students assigned to me. So far my educational miracles for the year have been to see several students who did not like to read, read enough to get their Accelerated Reader points and have carry over! Another student asked if he could be a student aide for me! I was delighted.

Also I am reading Kelly Gallagher's books Deeper Reading & Reading Reasons. Both have given me a shot in the arm especially for my class of apathetic students!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'll play along too

2006-11-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

Found on Mindful Teacher.

Wanna play? It's simple. Copy, paste and if you've done it, bold it.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumpedIt was a reverse bungee, called catapaulting!
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in

This Week and Other Complications

2006-11-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

Friday was not a good day with my last two classes. I was so frustrated I was ready to start swearing! I mean seriously swearing like a drunken sailor. Just the usual, not following directions, coming to class unprepared, kids wanting to be a lump. And then today, I spent an hour and a half trying to track down a med sent through the mail. I had a fit on the phone with about 6 reps from the mail order pharmacy, and the med was here in the house. LB put it in a safe place and didn't tell me it had come. I am so humiliated, I feel ill.

So I've come to confess my sins openly. Oh! And this Friday is my yearly observation, it will be done by our new Asst. Principal. He's the same age as my son! I'm feeling overwhelmed, humiliated, and sick. I might be coming down with a bug. Sometimes I get so frustrated I hyper myself until I become sick. I seriously am feeling "puny" They say confession is good for the soul and I guess I feel better.

No, it's that feeling of wanting to do everything right and good and falling FAR short of the mark. It's not like I'm obsessive-compulsive. I'm not a neat freak. You should see my desk and my living room, kitchen etc. Wait, maybe you shouldn't, I'd rather you think I'm a bit better than that.

I know the holidays are upon us and I have that to deal with. I don't like the changes that will happen with our Language Arts dept next year. I want to feel rested and I don't. Yes I am sleeping, no I am not eating well, because I'm trying to lose weight. It's not that I don't well, I just don't eat much.

What I really feel is powerless, and impotent. I feel my choices are being taken away. Like the pharmacy thing. I have used a local pharmacist for years! I would have remembered filling the prescription. LB was the one who got the mail that day and forgot to tell me. I know it's not a big thing, but I don't like the mail order pharmacy. Sure I could use the local pharmacy, but then I would be paying the full price of the med, which is ridiculous as anyone who has had a prescription filled recently can attest to.

I have one class that frustrates me so much. It's as if some one put all the apathetic kids in one class. Sadly it seems as if all the 6th periods at my school are that way. I've tried everything I can think of, bothered others to get input and finally arranged for the counsellor to talk with them. The bottom line is they don't care. Counsellor offered a movie and popcorn party if they started showing improvement! Right, like that will happen.

Here's another good one. I recently had a conference with both Mum and Daddums, their primary concern was their child be allowed to put on chap stick in class as the "Chap stick Kid" henceforth known as KC, because that child has lips that chap easily! Also the aroma of my class bothers KC. I have a candle warmer in my room and use a cinnamon candle. I read some research stating that cinnamon helped to stimulate the brain.

I told the parents, regular chap stick no problem, but makeup is a problem. Care to guess who had a makeup mirror out to tend to her face??? Mums and Daddums had told her that was okay.

Okay I guess that I have ranted enough. I hope my next blog is much happier. By the way, how was your week?

A big thank you to TMAO of Teaching in the 408 http://roomd2.blogspot.com/ After I read his blog, reality slapped me in the face and maybe my week wasn't as bad as I thought.

Super Teacher

2006-10-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

Today I felt like Super Teacher! This is what I did. I spent the morning doing number crunching for a report about how well my classes did on a practice achievement test. I do mean all morning! Then I wrote lesson plans for a sub as I will be attending a workshop tomorrow, actually it's a weekend workshop and I'll be driving 6 hours to get there, and we start after dinner!!

The Alternative Placement Center (for long term placements) emailed me and they allowed my student to take the work home (They are NOT supposed to do that!) so I redid 4 weeks worth of assignments, for said student. I have two students who will be in our on campus APC tomorrow, so I had to prepare assignments for those two.

I also submitted grades for progress reports and placed a book order.

The students? You are wondering what the students did, while I did all that? They did a "cold reading". They had two stories to read and answer questions, but they could not ask for assistance! Just like achievement testing! OY!

After I got home my principal called to tell me I had neglected to write how I intend to address the scholastic short comings of some of my students. We bantered a bit and I spouted off a few ideas I had. And as I was doing that I could clearly see a scene from Norma Rae.

It's that scene where her husband is complaining that nothing is getting done at home. So she throws something in a pot and says, "You want cooking? You got cooking!" Then she throws some clothes in the sink, turns on the water and says "You want washing? You got washing!" Then she runs to the ironing board turns on the iron and begins to iron, and says "You want ironing? You got ironing! Now if you hitch up my nightie, we can make love too!"

I swear I think I met myself coming as I was leaving the building!

I want to teach, not dissect reports about who is what minority, or economic level. I want to teach to get their brains engaged and there is so much paper work to do, I frequently think I'm not a teacher. All this number crunching makes me really grumpy!

Plus the very threatening student, who was sent for 20+ days to APC, returned after successfully serving only 5 days! That Child, aka TC, was disrupting their program. TC REFUSED to enter the assigned class! Seriously pitched a fit and refused to enter the room. TC spent the day sitting in the office waiting for the principal to return. When Principal returned, TC continued to sit. TC will soon be returning to my classroom! I am so thrilled (NOT)

I am feeling so overwhelmed it is not funny! I'm going to start singing "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrows."

That's how my day went, how was yours??

School Shooting

2006-10-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

I am really bothered by this most recent school shooting. Maybe because 3 in one week is too much to bear. Maybe because this one was so random. Whatever the reason, I am feeling the same type of emotions I felt after Columbine.

I had not owned a cell phone until Columbine. Two days after Columbine I had a cell phone and a plan for my students. Strangely one class asked what we would do in similar circumstances. I told them and they said they felt better knowing something was planned.

My classroom setup at this school, is entirely different, and I don't know what I would do. I know what the district plan is, and what the plan is if someone came on campus. But I don't have a plan for my room. That bothers me.

I am bothered to think that a plan is needed. I am bothered that a peaceful and law abiding people, the Amish, were the victims of such an attack.

If I though a good cry would help, I'd cry.

I became a teacher with hopes of being able to help shape the future. I am now a teacher who hopes a survival plan will not be needed. I've heard that if one is prepared, one should not fear. I don't know how to prepare for this. I DON'T WANT TO PREPARE FOR ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I know I need to be prepared.

So my fellow educators, how do you feel? Maybe if we talk to each other, some of our fears will be dispelled. This blog is my safe place to be open about these fears. I hope that you reading this will feel a safe haven to share your thoughts.

As an after thought I'll post the URL to my classroom blog. http://narrative-nation.blogspot.com Just in case you want to read what the kids are thinking.

It's been a week!

2006-09-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

That is really what I meant, it's been one heck of a week. It had it's ups and ended on more of a down note.

My 7th grade class has read the poem IF, by Rudyard Kipling. You know If you can do this you will be a man my son. Yeah that one! They did NOT get it! I was frustrated and they were frustrated. I had an idea. We broke into groups and each group had to "translate" one stanza into "their" language. That went surprisingly well. Next idea, make them write their own version, but use the ending phrase responsible adult. WOW! Most of them blew me away. I read each version aloud to the class and they were impressed with each other.

My 8th graders read Brer Possum's Dilemma, and a brief article about crime scene investigation. They then had to evaluate the crime scene for poor Brer Possum. I was amazed and all but one class did very well. In that class only 1 student came prepared. Of course that was the day we all got emails about the high failure rate.

I emailed my principal about that one class and was basically blown off. Our failure rate should only be 12%. For some students, mine is the only class they are not passing. I'm very old fashioned, I want the kids to think and write and read. I REALLY like to see the work they have done, with their name on the paper! Call me strange.

We had a student OD at school and was taken away by ambulance. We had a student climb onto the roof and into a tree and refuse to come down. I don't know if they had to call in SWAT. One of my students who was sent to another campus because of a behavior problem will be returning early, as THEY cannot handle her. Like I can?? A student stood up in class and said I was a crap teacher. Another student will be placed at the alternative campus, so I get to write up a month's worth of lessons, just for that one. A co-worker's son has gotten in trouble with the law and she is searching for "placement" for her son. "Placement" comes with a heavy price tag!

But I did have a student stay after class to tell me she understands what I mean when I say reading takes place behind the eyes. And a faculty member's daughter asked me what bus I ride. A student whom I have never taught, shared her book of poems with me. I knew she was hurting, and now I have a better understanding of her pain. It's nothing out of the ordinary, but it was poignant and I remembered those feelings I had at that age.

Like I said it's been a week. I'm feeling fairly low. I was ready to throw all my stuff into a huge pile and have a bonfire. I read a lot of blogs tonight and that helped. It seems to have been a rough week for lots of us. How was your week?

It wasn't bad enough the first time?

2006-09-22T23:28:00.000-07:00

We sat through a (ho hum) boring inservice prior to school beginning. Our district bought copies of the book for each one of us. The presenter had us follow along as he read the book to us! Now we have to form small groups and write up chapter summaries. We came, we saw and listened, and now we get to write book report?!

Our CTA rep is blowing a gasket and may get upclose and personal with our super.

I believe it is important for us to say on top of our craft. I read the research and glean what I can use and what I can't use. I also spend humondo amounts of time reading YA Literature so that I know what to push them into as they explore the world of literature.

Why do I feel punished and down trodden?

I Feel Like a Real Teacher

2006-09-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today I felt like a real teacher! I know it may sound strange that as a teacher I don't always feel like a real teacher. Sometimes all the other stuff that a teacher has to deal with gets in the way of teaching, but today, was like a gift!

I taught the Robert Frost poem "The Road Not Taken". The kids paid attention. They focused, the comments were pertinent, and they were able to "dig deep" as I tell them to see what Frost was writing about, about choices and how the choices they make effect their life.

They understood! I was amazed. I felt like for once I had connected in a very real way with them and they with the poem. It was wondrous! The questions they asked were good, and I feel great about the day.

Funny that something so simple would be so profound. But just the poetry of Frost, what appears simple can be so much more complex. How it happened, I really can't say. Why it happened, I don't know. I know that days like this should happen, and I'm glad they do.

Today I am so grateful to be a teacher. I saw a miracle, the miracle of learning.

Evening Ramblings

2006-09-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I haven't written in a month! School in back in full swing. My classes are pretty good, just the usual stuff to deal with. We've had a couple of pep rallies & I really don't understand the whole cheerleader thing.

I remember cheerleaders from my days in school and they actually got the crowd to cheer instead of being entertainment. Call me strange, but I enjoyed participating at games and yelling with the cheerleaders.

Maybe it's living in the south that makes people believe that cheerleading is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING in a young lady's life. Perhaps it's sour grapes on my part for not being a cheerleader in my youth. I did run for mascot and lost, but then again I didn't need to qualify for the Olympics to participate. I really don't get it.

I went to a meeting about a "special" student today and I'm not sure why we all met. Lumpia has problems, everyone knows it, Lumpia does not want to change at this point in the game and is mad that she is in a meeting with all these adults who ask nosy questions and expect answers. I saw enough eye rolling to last me all year. I felt sorry for Lumpia's gran who attended the meeting. It was obvious Gran wanted to help , but Lumpia is the one calling the shots.

My students read silently (yeah right) as they prepare to take Accelerated Reading tests over the novels they have selected or ignored and are now desperately trying to cram it all in.

We're bracing for the first round of practice exams (gag). It was suggested in a recent faculty meeting that we find the person who decided that THE TEST was the end all be all and shoot that person. Of course I wonder how do I even attempt to meet the needs of students who are reading at such a variety of levels. I"m hanging in there and doing my best, but. . . .

Maragrita Prairie Rose went to a workshop called MAX teaching and has raved about it to me, so she is sending me the book and I sent her lots of great reads to try with her kids. It's a fair trade I'd say.

We're also coming up on Renaissance Festival time and I am looking forward to putting on the hoop skirt and dragging my Cossack with as we have a day or two in another time period.

I guess that is it for now. Let me know how you are doing. I'm going to sleep at 6 pm any more, but I sure am dragging, I think age is catching up with me!

Getting Back in the Saddle

2006-08-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

Once again as an educator I am trapped in the whirlwind of back to school inservices. As an educator I wonder why administrators place us in poor settings for learning to occur. I've been through two all day inservices,this week, where I was cramped, and uncomfortable.

I don't do any better than the kids at sitting quietly for long periods of time. I fidgeted, tried to take notes and pay attention, but to no avail. I got up between the sanctioned "breaks" to move, and ease my cramped tired body.

It is not that the workshops weren't good, or helpful, in an abstract way. Some stuff I can use, some is not applicable. I brought a book, my palm pilot, loaded with games, and a bag of candy. Well I bought the candy during our lunch break, and it came in handy for the rest of that workshop and again today.

I am annoyed that there is no time to start practicing and applying those things that might really be helpful. I am annoyed that I feel rushed through these workshops at a faster pace than I am comfortable with. There is NO chance or opportunity to ask questions. This is the time of year I feel just like another animal in the herd.

I feel that way because no one at my district has ever (to my knowledge) asked us, the teachers in the trenches, what we feel we really need. It's all about the numbers and the testing and the breaking down in to specific groups. Is it any wonder, that at least in my mind, the educational system looks like a Picasso?

I love what I do. I know that teaching is an art. I am crafting individuals. Yes that stretches me pretty thin with a pupil load of 140 per day. I won't even go into what happens when I have at risk, or special ed kids in class. Yes, I have a bunch!

I teach reading. My goal is to make reading more palatable for those who dislike it. For those who like it, to begin to love it. For those who love to read, help them to find new authors and to stretch themselves.

Okay I realize I've really rambled, but then again I am just getting back in the saddle of the school year.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

2006-08-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

I go back to work at the end of this week. I did not have the summer I had planned. Somethings were great and others less than happy. Tonight I just felt a need to write.

I read a lot of books, and I love doing that. I enjoyed watching DVD's, something I rarely do during the school year. I've picked up two new shows to watch. I'm watching a BBC show called Life on Mars. It's quite interesting. I've finally discovered the show Without a Trace and have thoroughly enjoyed that.

I've spent quality time with friends. The road trip that I posted about earlier with Margarita Prairie Rose, was one I shall never forget! I spent a week with my sister in the BIG city. I was sent to a fabulous workshop called Capturing Kids Hearts, and got to stay in a nice hotel.

I've listened to my son and his soon to be ex-wife as they have gone through separating and moving out. Kids, who knew that being the parent of adult children would be such a challenge??

I've found out I am going to be the grandmother of a GIRL!! A rarity in the family and that she will have the same middle name as my mother and I! Yes I have been buying pink clothes and having fun!

I have watched and helped a friend as his wife has dealt with some mind altering side effects to a prescription drug. Not pretty, not pretty at all, and I learned that if you spend enough time listening to someone else's irrational fears of conspiracy, you may start to think that way yourself!

I've discovered the joys of massage and have begun my own addiction to getting massages! I've found a new haircut, and tomorrow will get my "greys" covered up.

Sadly, I did not get to the beach once this summer, nor did I go home to visit friends and my mother. I also did not begin that diet and exercise program,and did not get all the closets cleaned out, but I did go through and get rid of a lot of stuff.

I'd say it's been a pretty full summer. What did you do for your summer vacation??

Names, or a Rose by any Other Name

2006-06-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

I think that Shakespeare may have been wrong, when he had Romeo say that a rose by another name would smell as sweet. Okay only partially wrong, it would smell as sweet, but with the wrong name would we even bend down to smell it? Names and words are important.

I'm back from my trip and want to write about the many adventures we had, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a name for my friend. Screen names or blog names are unique, and reflect the individuality of the person. I had no problem with my screen name, or my husband's screen name, or the screen "identifiers" of the students I write about. Heck, I even came up with two screen names for my friend's husband; but for this special friend it has been so hard!

I tried anagrams of her name, and they were not flattering! One thing about this friend is that she is ALWAYS RIGHT (except on rare occasions, when she is not) so I tried to have that phrase translated into Latin, because Latin is a classic language, but it just didn't fit, somehow semper rectus, did not bring up the best picture. We both have undergraduate degrees in English, so words mean a lot to us. I tried the anagram of always right and the two that were "possible" Gail Tsar Way and Galaway Shirt, weren't right either.

So we tried her favorite gem, Garnet, but that didn't fit, although we pondered Argent an anagram of garnet, and did some research on the word,but that wasn't it either. She liked the concept, Argenta wasn't too bad, and we felt we were closer, but still not there. We've chatted on the phone, and looked up a gazillion things that she fancies, but still we weren't quite on target.

I've been thinking about her screen name and it important to me for her to have a good screen because she has been such a good friend. We met because our children became friends. We both have sons, only sons. We did cub scouts together, helped each other raise the boys, stood by each other through a variety of life's challenges. We've been through so much together that to try and list it, would fill the Internet.

Our relationship has grown over the years to be more like sisters, and since neither one of us have sisters, only brothers, we've formed a "club". We are the founding charter members of "The Sisterhood of the Cheese Breadsticks".

We would go shopping or run errands and need to talk, but there wasn't a place to sit and talk in the grocery store or wherever, so we would go to a local pizza parlor, order cheese breadsticks and a coke, and could sit and talk. It became a tradition. Now that our sons are married we have extended the membership to include our daughters-in-law.

The initiation is simple, it takes two of us, we take the daughter-in-law out for cheese breadsticks, at any pizza parlor. We each hold up a cheese breadstick and one of us recites our ritual, "To the men who brought us together". After that we eat the cheese breadsticks. We also share the sum of our wisdom about marriage. That can be stated in two sentences. First, it takes two people to make a marriage work and second, one cannot choose the mother-in-law they will have, only the mother-in-law they will be. We've also added a third piece of advice and that is that short women should not wear strappy sandals.

I haven't quite resolved the name issue, but I'm leaning toward Margarita Prairie Rose. It has meaning and I think fits her.

Let me know what ya think. How did y'all pick some of your screen names? By the way Margarita Prairie Rose is also an educator. By the way cheese fries can be substituted for the cheese breadsicks.

Road Trip

2006-06-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

I've returned from my trip. It was not exactly the vacation my friend and I had planned. At this point I won't go into details about the problems, but let me say this we put 4,000 miles on the car in about 9 days. I'm now autophobic. PLEASE don't ask me to get into a car and drive more than 30 minutes. However since the trip ended up the way it did I am glad that this friend and I could endure it together.

Originally we had planned to see Vicksburg, drive the Natchez Trace, see Chicamauga, the Biltmore Mansion, go to the Great Smokey Mountains, visit Breaks Interstate Park, and of course visit with a few friends along the way. Well that didn't quite happen. The Sunday morning Margarita Prairie-Rose flew into town was complicated by a few things.

We had planned to pick my #2 son up at the airport when Margarita flew in, but there was a change in plans, (the first of many). Before I left to pick up Margarita Prairie-Rose, my son called to say the friends who had picked him up the day before, where throwing a party for him and they would bring him home. Meanwhile, MPR's parents had called to say they would not be taking the trip after all. This made for massive amounts of frustration on both our parts. MPR and I were both starting this "adventure" out, but not with the best of circumstances.

MPR has a saying "things usually work out if you let them", and as usual she was right, mostly. First MPR"s dad called to say that his doctor did not think it was a good idea for him to tramping around in the mountains of Kentucky and Virginia meeting with other distant members of the family, to lay a wreath on great great, great (I don't know how many greats) grandfather's grave. See back in the early 1800's this particular grandpa had been murdered and buried way up in the hills. I've seen and now driven those hills & I would not have carried him back . So MPR had everything dumped in her lap to take over at virtually the last minute.

My #2 son made a brief appearance at the house. He came in about midnight, we forced him to take us to breakfast, after he arose the next morning, and then he was off with his buds and we didn't see him until just before we pulled out early the following morning. If I'd known he wasn't going to stick around, I'd have left earlier.

We drove ALL day and barely stopped, but made it to Alabama to visit a friend of MPR's. We had fun, went out to eat great Mexican food. Who knew the Mexican food in Alabama would be so good?? The next morning I had to buy new sandal's as mine had broken. I was only in the shoe store 30 minutes, which is very quick for me!

Then it was off to the mountains of Virginia. Now I have been on mountain roads before and these were quite the roads. 10% grades, 30 miles an hour, and the whole time the Dueling Banjo's song from Deliverance was running through my head! I notice many mobile homes in the area and pondered how those were brought up the mountains? When that happens they close the road down.

I could just imagine asking Johnny why he hadn't been to school only to find out that everyday a new mobile home had come up the mountain. Great excuse right. "Um the road was closed 'cuz Cousin Bertha Bob got her new mobile home, and the next day Uncle Jerry Ray got his, put in. Then my granny got hers, after that the people that bought Granny's old trailer had to move it over to their place. It could go on for weeks!"

Eventually we made it to Breaks Interstate Park, got out room literally two minutes before the front desk closed.

Maragrita Prairie Rose had breakfast with the extend family members and I slept! The we loaded up in vehicles to visit the gravesite. It was up in the hills, and was a unique experience to see all these distant relatives. Flowers were placed on the grave and Margarita spent lots of time with her extended family as they showed her many local family tie ins.

Eventually we left and drove to Asheville NC where we stayed and the next day toured the Biltmore Mansion. WOW! I want a summer house like that! We went and spent the night with more old friends and then began the long trek to be home by Father's Day. We made it! But I whimpered every time I got in the car. Eventually we drove back south to my place. And then I drove back to the BIG city so MPR could catch her plane. Due to road work it an hour to go the first 15 miles! But after that it was smooth sailing.

Since we spent most of the time in the car we had lots of time to talk and talk we did. First Margarita would talk about a problem I listened and gave advice, then I would talk, she would listen and give advice. It went back and forth like that the whole trip. I think either one of us could driven other people nuts, but our friendship has always been very give and take and we seem to naturally take turns when dealing with the frustrations of life and dealing with adult children, their spouses and our husbands.

So if you ever need to make a trip and know it will be harried call Margarita Prairie Rose she is the best! She gives sage and sound advice!