Called a bluff

Tom, my co-worker and weight-watcher buddy, knows everyone and everything. At work, we tend to do a little eye-rolling when he name drops or expounds on a myriad of subjects. I've said I take much of what he says with a grain of salt. Now, he's a smart guy, and I don't doubt he knows a lot of people I don't know, but it's hard to believe everything he says.

A few weeks ago, I happened to mention to the hall-duty group I needed to look into getting a new car - one with front-wheel drive for starters, and one that got better gas mileage. Tom said,"Jim Price is a personal friend of mine, and he can get you into a Hyundai at $100 over cost." Yeah, OK. The next day, Tom brought in some brochures, and said he'd talked with Jim about letting me test drive a car. I said sure - I'd like to test drive a car sometime. That'd be great.

Today, after our weigh-in (down 22 pounds, btw), I followed Tom to the car dealership. Not only do I get to test drive a 2007 Accent, I get to keep it over the weekend! They bolted on a dealer tag, filled up the tank (yeah, that's right - filled up the tank), and said "See ya Monday evening." Ok, so maybe the guy does know the owner of the dealership. So, if Tom was telling the truth about the test drive, maybe I really can get a new car at almost cost. Hmmmm....

BTW - the car is pretty sweet.

So long...

Today was my teaching assistant's last day. Mrs. Ward has been in the school system for a long time, and finally had enough. She told me in January that she was going to start using up her sick and personal days, and when they were gone, so was she. Well, she meant it! We found out about 2 weeks ago that today would be it for her. I have her in class with me 2 periods, and my students wanted to do something for her. She's usually very cranky with them, but they know she cares. So, I had about 30 students and staff in my classroom 8th period today, having a going-away party for Mrs. Ward. The kids made her a card, and we all signed it. We took lots of pictures, and had a good time. I don't know who (if anyone) is going to replace her - I haven't heard a thing from administration about the job. I have heard from 4 other assistants that they put in for the position, so we'll see what happens.

On a sillier, slightly aggravating note - We have 2 new copiers in the building. Wait, amend that - we have 2 copiers in the building that work. Most of the copying has to go through the office staff - you put in your originals at least 24 hours in advance, and the office secretaries copy it for you. Not the best system in the world, especially if you need something copied at the last minute. The other copiers around the building are dinosaurs, and usually don't work. So, a couple months ago, we got 2 new copiers for 'emergencies'. We aren't supposed to use these copiers for big jobs - just the occasional job here and there.

OK, no problem. I have 16 students in my small group classes. I never make tons of copies - don't need to. I have used the new copiers. Everyone has. We have to put in the last 4 digits of our SSN to use the copiers. Today, I was told I was overusing the copiers, having made (ready for this?) 758 copies last month! I haven't made that many copies all year! Now, I'm on the copier police list. Evidently, if you don't log out of the copier when you're done (very possible I've neglected this on more than one occasion) then the next person, if they come in within a few minutes, can merrily copy away on your dime. Not cool.

I'm so glad this school year is almost over. This petty stuff gets old.

Sounds like a plan...

Blessings 4/1-4/8

1. Four days off for Spring Break - not as nice as 6, but whatcha gonna do?
2. Visits from husband and family.
3. Telephone call from TC (and he was in a good mood)
4. Reached the weight-loss goal I set for myself back in January.
5. Beautiful April snowfall.

Cue muzak "I'm Dreaming of a ....

White Easter"????

Woke up this morning to almost 3 inches of snow. It's beautiful, but totally not April. Wow.

Contagion!

Ok I always knew my kids were trendsetters, but this is just silly!

Last weekend, Dave took this picture of TC leaping off a rock and clicking his heels together:

I downloaded the picture (along with others) to my thumb drive, and took them to work. Kelly (math teacher on my hall) decided she really like the whole 'heel-click' thing. Saturday, she and a friend were in DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival and took this picture:

So, today in school, Kelly decided that she wanted everyone to click their heels in joy because Spring Break starts tomorrow!

I even got in on the act. It wasn't pretty, but I was pretty impressed that I could even get off the ground...

I just love silly stuff like this...

Perfect day for a car accident

I just have to report on the car crash demonstration we just had. I fully expect to field questions this afternoon, as to what was going on at the high school this morning.

We all go out to the football field, and sit on the bleachers. In front of us are two cars, supposedly just involved in an accident. Students, in various states of distress (fake blood, etc) are strewn about - both in the cars and on the pavement. In the distance, sirens can be heard. In a few moments, 3 state troopers, 2 unmarked cars, a local sheriff's cruiser, 2 firetrucks, 2 ambulances (ambulanci?), and numerous first responders are on the 'scene.' Next, we hear "thwocka-thwocka-thwocka", and here comes Pegasus, the life-flight helicopter.

For the next 45 minutes, we watch as the various people act out the rescue of those involved in the accident, and the roadside sobriety test of the 'drunk driver' who caused the accident. Jaws of life are employed, and a white Volvo station wagon is soon a convertible. Glass is smashed, doors are ripped off, and the injured are extricated and strapped to body boards. Three are taken to the waiting ambulanci, and one is put in Pegasus and airlifted. The last person taken out of the Volvo is placed in a black body bag. (query: do they reuse body bags? I don't think it matters to most, but this young lady was still breathing.) The point of this? Our principal gets on the public address system and says, "As we get ready for Spring Break, I want to remind all students that this could happen to you or your friends if you drink and drive." Happy *&^!ing Easter!

Several students asked the question "What would happen if a real accident happened right now somewhere out in the county?"

I told my homeroom students to hold on to their raffle tickets, for the "Ride on Pegasus" drawing to take place at the end of the day.

Spring Broken

Tomorrow is supposed to be the first day of our Spring Break. Not.

Since we had so many days out for bad weather this winter, we have to go to school tomorrow, as well as Easter Monday. No fair. I asked my 2nd period class on Thursday how many students were planning on being in school on Monday. One girl sort of hesitantly put up her hand. Other classes? Much the same result.

Administration told us we are to 'set the tone' for the day tomorrow. It is to be just like any other school day. Then, they go and schedule a (get this!) "Car Crash Demonstration" (??!!) first thing in the morning. This is in conjunction with a "Fair Weather Evacuation Drill" (??!!). So, the way I see it, right after homeroom, we practice evacuating our students (those who are there, and not at the beach) to the football field where we will be treated to a Greene County version of the Demolition Derby. THEN, we herd everyone back inside, where we are required to teach our classes as if nothing unusual just happened. Should be an interesting day...

Madison Moment:
Last week, I heard this story. I thought it was pretty funny.
A woman who lives on Main Street always flies the American flag from her porch. Evidently, her flag got a little ratty, so she replaced it with a new flag. A passing veteran noticed the new flag, and notified the local police that they needed to check on her. Evidently, she inadvertently hung the flag upside down, which is a distress signal.

Blessings

1. Having my sons visit last weekend. I'm so glad they are friends, and seem to enjoy spending time together. It's also nice that they want to spend time with me and their grandmother.
2. An unexpected day off last week. Mom had appointments scheduled for Friday that were cancelled. I already had approval and a substitute for the day. Sweet.
3. Pulled out my Spring and Summer clothes. Everything fits, and some things are TOO BIG!
4. Pig 'n Steak celebrated 20 years in business today. I think we should all be grateful...
5. My brother survived his bike accident in Oregon - with his memory intact.

Grumpy pants

This will be my last tirade about the 9-weeks test - promise. A little back story...

We (as a department) take turns making up the tests for the end of each quarter. Tom and I took the 2nd nine weeks, and did the test for it. Not a problem. Leah (another Earth Science teacher) did the test for the first nine weeks. Our illustrious dept. head, Lenny, should have done the 3rd test. He did not want to. (lip poked out, and shaking his head). So, Tom volunteered to do it again. What did he do? He gave me the released items from last years test to 'look over.' I took them home a few weekends ago, and marked some I thought should be included in addition to those Tom had marked. On Monday (a week ago) Lenny comes to Tom and says, "The office needs that test today!" So, I spent last Monday cutting and pasting questions, answers, and graphics for the test, and putting it all together in a usable form. Gave it to Tom, who gave it to Lenny, who gave it to the office to be copied. Neither one of them checked behind me. I made some mistakes on the test. Stupid, fixable mistakes - but mistakes, nonetheless.

After the test was copied, THEN Tom looks at it. He freaks out over the mistakes. Lenny says - don't worry, we'll just fix the problems. I apologize to Lenny, who tells me he blames Tom for not following through and authoring the test. Tom blames Lenny for passing the buck, and not authoring the test.

Fast forward to today. The kids took the flawed test yesterday. Lenny is going over the test with his class (I'm in there as a collaborating teacher), and as he goes through it, he decides he doesn't like a couple of the questions. Says those never should have been included. Makes some comments about how bad the test was. I apologize again - he blames Tom again. Tells me that I never should have been put in the position to put the test together, since I'm not the Earth Science expert. (I'm Sped, after all - evidently not just as a vocation, but I'm now part of the population!)

I'm grumpy about this.

Nerts

I hate 9-week tests. It's crazy to get so excited over barely passing grades on these things. The first 9-weeks, my students did poorly overall. I think my highest score was a 50-something. My department chair told me not to worry - these were Sped kids, after all - and as long as they scored over 50%, they had a good chance of passing the SOL at the end of the year. (Tells you something about that SOL, don't it?) So, I felt a little better. Then, my principal did a hall drive-by on me - letting me know that I had to do something to get my test scores up. What did I have to do? Start remediation classes right away in order to help these darlings, and get them to pass the SOL. OK, so my remediation classes started right before Thanksgiving. Every Wednesday morning, for the last 4 months, I've remediated my students for 30 minutes. Now, I'm supposedly going to get paid for this - not sure when, but money has been promised.

Second 9-weeks, my students did a little better. Instead of just about everyone failing the test, only 2 failed. Much better. Were these all the students I remediated? Not a chance. Only 5 were in remediation weekly. The others were in other remediation classes (because they failed more than one 9-week test.) My principal did the dance of joy, and told me to 'keep up the good work.' In other words, keep remediating every Wednesday morning for phantom pay.

Today, my students are taking the 3rd 9-week test. I graded my 2nd period class, and all but one student passed. Then, 8th period. These guys are lazy, and I have 3 girls who are absent more often than present. In this class, I had - guess what? - 3 failures. Meanwhile, Tom is sticking his head in my door, crowing: "One failure out of all my classes!" Like it's some kind of teacher competition....

crazy

Oh, to be young again...

TC and Dave came up for a visit this weekend, and they decided to go for a little hike on Saturday afternoon. A few miles outside of Madison, there is a mountain called "Old Rag." This mountain is unique, in that it is a granite outcrop - billions of years old. Very cool. (Yeh - there goes the Earth Science nerd again) Anyway, Dave and TC left around 11:00 to go to Old Rag, and hike to the summit and back. About a 9-mile hike. And 'rock scramble', as the website described it.

They didn't get back until just before dark - making me a little nervous. They had a great time, and Dave took many, many pictures of the trail and the rocks. I don't know if TC was sure what he was getting in to, but he gamely went along for the hike and scramble. He was a good sport - even paying for the entrance to the park - on his birthday weekend, no less!

It was a good weekend, and it was really good to spend some time with them.

After they left this afternoon, I went to the high school for the Spring musical - Oz. Several students in my classes were in the play, including the girl who played Dorothy. It was very good, and I was impressed with the talent level of the students.

Pass the Clorox, please!

This morning, about 6:30, I got a call at home from on of the school secretaries. "Mrs. L., I hate to bother you at home, but we have a situation in Mr. M's room." What? A situation? Are we going to DefCom 3? What does that mean?

Mr. M is the teacher in the classroom across the hall from me. His class is for students with severe/profound disabilities. Evidently, all but one staff person (a classroom aide) were down with a stomach virus today - Mr. M included. I happen to be certified to teach students with that level of disability, so I was asked to be in that classroom today - with my small-group assistant (who's worked in this classroom in the past), and that one poor assistant who was not sick. Turns out, she's like the Typhoid Mary of the virus - she had it first, about 3 weeks ago. Great.

The up side? I can wear jeans when working in that class.

I still had to teach my small-group classes, and have my home-room group. Other than that, I was in this classroom today. Fortunately, (for me - not for the students) all but 2 students were ALSO out with this virus. So here we were, three adults and 2 students. Had to be that way, because you must have 2 staff in that class at all times, in case of medical emergency (or diaper changes, where you have to have 2 people in the bathroom to lift a heavier student on to the changing table.) Too much information? Welcome to my world.

It was a relatively stress-free day, however. One student is very self-sufficient, so we mainly had to deal with the other. We also were able to go out after lunch and walk around the track for their PE time - something I never get to do on a normal day. The weather was beautiful today, so that was great.

I also decreed (being the head honcho for the day, and all) that we spend some time cleaning all surfaces and materials in the room. Since it was a nice day, we also had the windows open all day - getting the bad air out, and letting the good air in. I washed my hands more today than I have in the last week.

After being in this "hot zone" all day, I think bathing in Clorox might be good idea. The assistant principal thanked me this afternoon for helping out, adding, "Now I hope you don't get sick."

Me, too.

Blessings 3/11-3/17

1. Managing a full week at work without losing my mind


2. Two days of Spring-like weather


3. One day of snow


4. Catfish -- mmmmm


5. Held my last IEP meeting of the school year on Thursday. Unless you're a SPED teacher, you have no idea how good that feels.

Catfish Serenade

Semi-annual VFW Catfish Dinner tonight. MM-MM-good. Don't tell Ken - he'll hate that he missed it. (and no - fried catfish is NOT on my diet. Don't care. It's twice a year.)

While we ate, a quartet entertained us with a medley of tunes. Very eclectic. Following "One Day at a Time", came a vaguely tropical sounding instrumental. Then the group announces that, since it was St. Patrick's Day, they thought they should play "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." They put on their green baseball caps, and launched in to the instrumental chorus of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." Mom and I almost choked on our hushpuppies. After some fumbling around with music, and whispered discussion, the group started over - this time singing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." Good deal. Except, when they got to the instrumental bridge, once again we had "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."

Then, we heard a rendition of "Blue Hawaii." All this done with guitars and banjo. We figured we were in for a musical trip around the world. Next song? "Louisiana Saturday Night", and as we were leaving, "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You." Great stuff.

I am so full.

You just never know...

what's gonna happen.

Couple of random things: 7th period today, I left class to head toward the restroom. I heard faint sounds of music out in the hall, but didn't think much about it. When I opened the bathroom door, I see a student in the bathroom - practicing her violin. I guess the acoustics are good in there. So, I had a 'pee serenade.' Pretty classy.

Girl walking down the hall, wearing a T-shirt that says "Stop imagining me naked" Also pretty classy. I stopped her, and let her know that the shirt was not appropriate for school. She looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Maybe because this was at the end of the day, and no one else (evidently) called her on the shirt all day.

Yesterday, the weather was absolutely beautiful. Mid-70's, sunny. Spring, right? By the time I got home last night, the temperature had dropped about 20 degrees. This morning, it was raining and in the upper 30's. Rained all day, and started snowing around 2:30. Right now, we have about an inch of snow out on the deck, and the driveway is covered. Strange weather.

I have a student in my homeroom who drives me nuts. He's a nice kid, but very annoying. Ray doesn't have an 'off' switch. Everything he does, he does for attention. He's also in one of my collaborative classes. I see Ray as much as I see any student I teach. Have I mentioned - he drives me nuts.

The other day, Ray started talking about the show 'Southpark'. Now, despite the political incorrectness of the show, I am a fan. I think it's funny. Comedy Central ran a marathon of the series a couple weekends ago, and the students in my homeroom were talking about the episodes seen.
In one, Al Gore makes a guest appearance, warning everyone about the dangers of 'Man-Bear-Pig'. Of course, no one believes him that Man-Bear-Pig is real, so he goes to great lengths to convince the boys of Southpark that the threat is real. As Al says "I'm so serial". At the end of the show, Al goes off in a huff, saying he's just going to go make a movie about Man-Bear-Pig.

Ok, I guess you had to see it to think this makes any sense.

ANYWAY...Ray decided he and I would bond over our belief in Man-Bear-Pig. For the past week, Ray has been driving me nuts (yes, I'm so serial) with Man-Bear-Pig references. Mostly, he's just been saying the name whenever he thinks I can hear him, and giggling hysterically. Yesterday, in the middle of class, I glance over at Ray (who's been watching and waiting for me to look his way), and he holds up his hand where he's spent much time crafting paper 'claws' on his fingers. Today, when I went in my class for 8th period, there was a message on my board: "Man-Bear-Pig was here. GRRRR"
I'm hoping he will get another obsession before Monday, or I may have to hurt him.

This morning, on the school TV news channel, the three administrators of our school had their hair dyed. One purple, one red, and one orange. They did this because the school met a fundraising goal. So they walked around all day with Easter egg hair, and no one took them seriously. Good job.

Madison Moment

On Sunday afternoon, just after lunch at Blue Ridge, came a knock at the side door. Now, no one ever comes up the hill just to visit, and almost no one knocks at that door. I went to the door, and opened it to see whom I could see. (How's that there grammar?) Anyway, a woman was standing there with a copy of The Watchtower. With her, was a student from the high school. She looked almost as surprised to see me as I was to see her. After a few minutes of questions and answers (the total Witness drill) I accepted the copy of The Watchtower, and told the girl "See you tomorrow!" She looked a little embarrassed.

To be continued...(the bell for 6th period just rang)

Sigh...

Back at school. So far today, I've had about 5 things dumped on me. This week is going to be so busy! I guess I'm paying for 3 days away, last week.

We have about 10 teaching days left before the 3rd 9-week test. In that time, I have to teach my students all about glaciers, and the geological history of the Earth. In 10 days. The history of the Earth. Yeah. Rotsa ruck with that.

I came back from the conference with all kinds of ideas, and new technology promos. My principal has been running from me all day. Seriously. Every time he sees me, he turns the other way. He knows I'm going to hit him up for some budget money. Normally, I wouldn't mind if he left me alone (he's kinda annoying), but now he's just being rude! That's OK - I got friendly with our tech specialist for the county at the conference, and she's already said she'll go to bat for the HS to get some new stuff next year.

Blessings 3/4-3/11

1. 3-day workshop - time off from school. I forgot how re-energized I get when I go to conferences.
2. Adjunct to #1: beautiful drive both ways for the conference. The hour-long drive took me over the mountain and back each day.
3. Continued weight loss
4. The beginning (?) of Spring - maybe?
5. Talking to Ken and Dave (oh, TC? Where are you?)

I {{heart}} educational technology

Spent the last 3 days at JMU, at NTTI (National Teacher Training Institute),learning about all kinds of neat educational technology. Too bad my school system doesn't have any $$ to spend!

I do get one piece of equipment for my classroom when I finish all the requirements for the institute. Probably won't see it until next school year, but that's better than nothing. Very interesting 3 days, overall. I learned how to make a podcast! Whoo-hoo! Pretty cool stuff.

Hippo-head

Dave has a hippo on his head. College has been such an enriching experience for him!

Blessings 2/25 - 3/3

1. Weight loss of almost 3 pounds - total of over 15 pounds in 7 weeks!
2. Beautiful weather over the last 2 days.
3. Getting approved for a workshop at JMU I applied for
4. Hearing from my family.
5. Taking an hour off work for myself on Friday (and surviving my walk!)

It's all downhill from here

Literally.

Beautiful day today - sunny, in the 60's. I have Spring Fever. So, I decided I needed a break, of sorts. I have planning the last period of each day, from 2:15 - 3:00. I've been very good all year, using my planning time the way I should.

We can sign out from school for up to an hour without being docked pay or time. I've never done this - until today. At 2:20, I signed out. I had an appointment. With the afternoon.

I drove home, put on my walking shoes, and took off. I've been walking on the treadmill at the gym, and usually walk for an hour (over 3 miles.) I turned on my iPod, tuned to my hour-long walking music, and headed to town. It was great! Moving at a good clip, I made it all the way through town by the 30-minute mark. Turned around to head home, and realized I would be walking uphill all the way back.

'Bout killed me...

You're not as think as you tall you are...

I have a new student in my homeroom. He's 16, and very tall. He's hard to miss. For some reason, even though he is a 10th grader, he is placed in a 9th grade homeroom. Now, while he is tall, he thinks he is even taller. From the first day in class, he's been proclaiming his height as 6'8". He's a bit obnoxious about it. I have a little experience with tall people (Hi, Kevin!), so I'm thinking he's more like 6'3" or 4".

The other day, while on hall duty (and we're STILL not letting those students distract us), Suzanne spotted him going in to my room. Suzanne is 5'10", and also a pretty good judge of height (being on the lookout for a tall man, and all). Anyway, I told her his height fantasy. At that point, the bell rang, and we scurried off to our respective rooms.

Not 2 minutes later, Suzanne walks in to my room, toting a yard stick! Without a word, she marks off 6 feet on my wall with her pencil, and beckons tall boy. He stands against the wall, and Suzanne marks his height on the wall. Mind you, she's not yet spoken. Finishes marking the wall, indicates for gigantor to sit down, and measures from the 6' mark on the wall to the mark she just made. Turns to the class, announces "6 feet, 3 and 3/4 inches",and walks out.

Is this best teaching practices? Have I mentioned that Suzanne may be my favorite person - - ever?

BTW - Andre (an in 'the giant') informed everyone that her ruler was wrong. He is still insisting his height is 6'8". As mom would say, "Whatever blows your skirt up!

Winter's Last Blast (I hope...)

Woke up Sunday morning to 3+ inches of snow. Quelle suprise! (Betcha didn't know I was all international like that, huh?) Anyway, it was unexpected.

Needless to say, we didn't go to church. Before it got too late, I ventured out to buy the Sunday paper and a few snow day necessities. One thing I bought while out was a cheap snow shovel. Good choice! I got stuck turning in to the driveway. Couldn't go forward, couldn't go back. And no, I wasn't in my one-of-a-kind rear-wheel drive Jeep. I was in Mom's car, with front-wheel drive. Anywho, I got out my shiny, new shovel, and managed to clear the snow from around the front tires, and for a few feet beyond. That was enough to get the car in the driveway, and stowed safely in the garage. Whew!

As the day wore on, it became clear that the storm was not as bad one county over. The county where I teach. The county where I would probably have to drive to the next day. School was already cancelled in Madison, but was still on for Greene. OK, I have a shovel, and I'm not afraid to use it!

So I did. For almost 2 hours, I shoveled the driveway. I am woman, hear me groan...



Sure enough, school was on for today. And I was able to get out of the driveway. Life is good.

Blessings from 2/18-2/24

1. Survived a thermite reaction (more about that below)
2. Beautiful weather for much of the week
3. Early dismiss yesterday for work afternoon - got much done
4. Got in exercise 3 days this week
5. Stayed OP, even if the scale didn't move much this week

OK - the thermite reaction. Tom decided a couple months ago that he wanted to show the kids a thermite reaction in class. A thermite reaction is what some experts think was used to bring down the twin towers. Yeah, a little nervous-making. For a more practical application, a thermite reaction extracts native iron (pig iron) from hematite (rust, basically). Since we talk about ores and such in Earth Science, it has relevance (barely). He presented his request to administration, and made them very twitchy. Eventually, they gave permission, and we were on 'Go' for Thursday.

How it works: Thermite is a mixture of hematite (powdered rust) and aluminum powder. Hematite isn't scary, aluminum powder is. This stuff ignites when exposed to water. So, get some in your eye? Inhale a little too much dust as you pour the powder? Not a good idea...

Anyway, you mix the hematite and aluminum, and put the mixture in a small clay flowerpot (hole covered in the bottom). Put that flowerpot in another flowerpot, and suspend both in a ring stand. Stick a sparkler in the thermite for a fuse. Fill a coffee can with dry sand, and place under the suspended pots. Light the sparkler, and run like hell.

What happens? Well, the sparkler ignites the thermite, which sets off the reaction. This reaction generates heat in excess of 2500 degrees F! As you watch this fireball, you can see molten material flowing out of the hole in the bottom of the second flowerpot, in to the coffee can filled with sand. Soon, the coffee can is glowing. When the reaction is over (about 2 minutes for this amount of thermite), you can see a white-hot lump of molten iron resting in the sand. When it cools, you have a lump of pig iron! Needless to say, nothing is left of the hematite and aluminum mixture, and the container flowerpot is ash.

Really neat, huh? Things went like clockwork 2nd period - everyone behaved, stayed back behind the marked line, the sparkler lit without incident. Yay! Fast-forward to 7th period...

All day, the wind was getting stronger. By 7th period, we had gusts up to 30 mph. Hard to light a sparkler in the wind. Tom enlisted my help - I had a large piece of cardboard to hold up beside his weapon of mass destruction to help block the wind. He decided to light another sparkler in the building, and use it to light the sparkler in the thermite. OK - let's look at that word "sparkler." Notice anything? Yeah, as he was trying to light the sparkler in the thermite, a spark ignited the reaction! I don't think I've ever run so fast in my life.

Don't try this at home...

just a little gassy

Followup on the water problem at school. Right after lunch (right after I stood in line to pee in one of the two available stalls) an announcement was made to evacuate the buildings. Evidently, while trying to fix the water pipe, the backhoe hit the gas line. Everybody was evacuated to various buildings around town by grade level. 9th grade homerooms (that's me!) trekked to the Primary School gym, where chaos reigned.

After 30 minutes or so, we were told we could herd the students back to the High School. Was the water fixed? No. Was the gas line fixed? No.

School was dismissed at 12:30 due to "utility problems." Ya think?

Hold your water...

The principal just announced that we have a broken water pipe. He's asked that, until further notice, everyone use the bathrooms by the cafeteria - all others are closed.

900 people, 4 stalls. You do the math.

Pi

I'm spending 4th period in Pi. Pi stands for 'Positive Intervention', and is a place in the school where students who are having issues can spend any where from 45 minutes to the entire day. It's designed to keep kids in the special education program out of ISS (In-School Suspension). As such, Pi is staffed by an assistant and a Sped teacher all day. I don't have regular Pi duty, unless the assistant is out for some reason. She is out today. Now, she schedules the students who are to be in Pi all day (discipline issues), and she knew she was going to be out today. As a result, no students are scheduled. However, teachers can send students to Pi throughout the day for short stretches - to take a test, to calm down, or just to get a problematic student out of the classroom. So, here I sit. So far, I've had one guy come in to take a test he missed last week. Otherwise, I've been just hanging out, wasting time.

I brought my flash drive, thinking I could work on some presentations for later this week. Evidently, Pi people don't need newer computers - there's no USB port on this one for my drive. So much for good intentions. I've checked and answered my emails, I've checked on my online class, and now I'm waiting for the bell, and lunch.

Oh, and the room number? 3.14

Surreal

Weighty topics

I mentioned in an earlier post that I'm attending WW meetings with a co-worker, Tom. He is a scientist, first and foremost, and is very opinionated. While it can be difficult to have a conversation with him (he knows everything about everything - just ask him), he is also a very kind person. He is very serious about losing weight, and is a good accountability buddy for me.

Last week he started talking about the fact that he bought a juicer over the holidays, and wanted to start using it. Evidently, his brother comes over regularly and juices up various vegetables. Lately, his brother has been buying and juicing organic carrots. So much so, he's turning a bit orange! Tom thinks this may be a good idea - he has dark Italian coloring, so he thinks it will look like he has a tan! This should be interesting...

Anyway, on Thursday, Tom was asking me how many points are in 5 large carrots (the number he wanted to juice up for the day). I looked it up, and told him they would be about 3 points - not bad (if you like carrot juice). Later that day, while I was on the computer in his class taking attendance while he got the class started, he walked over and opened his desk drawer next to me. In that drawer was the biggest carrot I've ever seen. It was ginormous! I started laughing, and had to make up a phony story to explain what I was laughing at for the students. Explaining to a class of ninth graders why Mr. D had a huge carrot in his desk was just too problematic.

Today, while at our WW meeting, we were both pretty happy with our losses for the week. While we were sitting, waiting for the meeting to start, Tom exclaims "Look! I'm crossing my legs!" I almost fell out of my chair laughing at him. He was so excited because he was able to cross his legs again. I guess you take your pleasure where you find it.

We've been trying to get a couple other teachers to join us at our weekly WW meetings - so far with no success. One teacher in particular has some health issues that make it important that she lose about 50 pounds. She has excuses every week about meeting us at WW. I told Tom this morning that I thought the real reason may be the cost of the program. While it's very reasonable (about $10 a week if you do a monthly pass), she's going through a nasty divorce, and has to be very careful with her finances right now. Tom wasn't aware of this, and decided to do something about it. Before the meeting started, he snuck (hard for a 280-lb man to sneak) up the front of the room and picked up a 'start-up' booklet. This book basically explains the program - giving food plan options and 'how to get started' tips, as well as a points calculator. I think the leader would have given it to him, if he asked, but he just got it for himself. With this book, you can (if you have the willpower) do WW on your own. He said he's going to give it to this teacher, as well as other material we get weekly. Is it wrong? Maybe - but either one of us could give her the material we have if we wanted to do so - this is my 2nd time with WW, so I have all the material from the last time. I'm making up a WW package for her this weekend of all my extra stuff. Maybe it will get her motivated to start losing the weight.

My totals so far this time around? 12 pounds in one month! Not too shabby.

Blessings for the week 2/11-2/17

1. 2 days off school, and 2 delayed openings. I got some sleep-in time!
2. Continued weight loss
3. Laughing with friends
4. Valentine phone calls from all three men in my life (and I mean my husband and sons!)
5. Friends who will give me a ride to work when I can't get out of my driveway

Home again, home again

The weather forecast for the past few days has been dire - a huge winter storm is on its way, and will dump snow and ice on us for at least 2 days this week. Up until yesterday sometime, the forecast was for this storm to hit sometime last night, and continue through today. I went to bed last night, with the revised forecast ringing in my ears, resigned to going to work today.

When I got up this morning at 5:15, sure enough, there was not a speck of snow or ice. I took my shower, got ready for school, packed my lunch, and made breakfast. As I was getting ready to leave (around 7:00), I picked up the remote to turn off the morning news. Just then, the announcement came that my school system was closed for the day. What? I'm dressed! I put on makeup! I already ate my breakfast, for cripes sake! Jeez...

It's now after noon, and all we have is rain so far. They (meaning the TV weather forecasters) are still saying we're going to get a bunch of ice. We could have gone to school for at least 1/2 day today. Now we're looking at (maybe) being out of school for most of this week. Now we're looking at making up days during Spring break or (heaven forbid) in June.

Planning ahead

The weather is supposed to turn bad again tomorrow night. This time, the forecast is for sleet and freezing rain turning into snow later on Tuesday. Here we go again with my piece of crap car.

This afternoon, after the bball game (we lost to Maryland, but it was a very good game), I went out to the store. I usually go on Sundays to get lunch and some dinner stuff for the week. When I walked in to Food Dog, they had a stack of 50-pound bags of Halite (Ice Melt). Great idea! I bought a bag, and hefted it in to the back of my Jeep. I figure, I can use it to help melt the ice on the driveway AND it can weigh down the back of my car and help with traction. Good idea, eh?

We'll see...

Blessings from last week 2/4 - 2/10

1. More snow, but this time no ice, so we were able to get out and about fairly quickly.
2. Related to #1, good neighbors who plow driveways and roads.
3. Continued weight loss
4. Even with a snow day on the day my IEP from hell was scheduled, I managed to have the meeting on Friday and get it done.
5. Ken was able to come up for a visit this weekend.

Where is everybody?

We had a day off school due to snow yesterday. This snow was very different than the storm we had a couple weeks ago. No ice, no freezing. Cavanaugh came yesterday morning and plowed our drive and road, so I was able to get out as early as yesterday after lunch. Even my sorry rear-wheel drive car had no problems.

Because of back roads and such, we have a 2-hour delay this morning. Now, in NC, a 2-hour delay meant the students were 2 hours behind, but teachers were to get in as close to normal opening time as possible. I never liked that unwritten rule too much, but it didnt' come into play very often. So I wasn't sure what time teachers were to report today.

Yeah, it's 8:30, and I'm the only one here on my hall. Evidently, I didn't have to be here until 9:30 - just like the students. Does that mean I get to leave at 2:00?

No school tomorrow! We have (so far) about 1/2 inch of powdery snow here in Madison. I think there is a bit more over in Greene, since they closed schools already.

We have two 'banked' days, so we don't have to make up the day. My IEP meeting from hell was scheduled for tomorrow, so I don't have to face that. Yeah, it will have to be rescheduled, but that just gives me a bit more time to be ready for it.

Today, Suzanne decided that we had offended the snow fairies last week by doing our snow dances (plus cartwheels) in the hallway in anticipation of a storm. We were hoping to go home early last Thursday, and not have to stay for Parent Conferences that evening. As it happened, the snow went to the south and east of us, and we got nothin'. Suzanne's theory today was that we had to sneak up on the snow fairies - use reverse snow fairy psychology - and make them think we WANTED to come to school tomorrow. So, in true Suzanne fashion, every time I saw her in the hall between classes she was singing some sort of warm weather, sunshine song. She finished up the day with a heartfelt version of "Tomorrow" from Annie. Very funny. And entertaining. AND.....it worked.

Bleh to Blessed

Today is a really grumbly day. Very busy. Very cold. I feel as if I'm one of those guys on the old Ed Sullivan Show, who keep tens of plates spinning all at once. Too much to do. Too little time. I keep breaking plates...

On my way home from work today, I needed to stop by the grocery store and pick up several things for the week. All I can think about is getting in, getting my stuff, and getting out quickly. On my way out the door, I meet a cart guy in the parking lot. Automatically, I say "hey, how are you? (not really expecting much response.) He answers "very blessed, thank you!" He then follows me out to the lot, on his way to pick up more carts. As we walk, he tells me how great it is that the days are getting longer. When I stop at my car, he stops as well, and hands me my bags from the cart. The whole time, he's talking about what a great day it is. As he hands me my last bag, he says "I'll put your cart up for you. You got your keys?" When I say I do, he says "Nice talking to you. You have a blessed evening, and stay warm" As he walks away, he stops at another car to help someone else with bags, and to bless a life.

Suddenly, my plates are all spinning once again.

Blessings 1/29-2/3

1. The bad weather skirted to the south and east, so we didn't have to deal with snow and ice.
2. Half-day workday on Friday. I got my classroom completely cleaned, and looking like someone could actually learn in there.
3. Losing weight at a healthy pace this week.
4. Finding time to exercise.
5. Having fun with friends at work (on Thursday, while we were 'monitoring' students in the hall between classes, the teacher who shares my class with me entertained us with an impromptu split and cartwheel.)

Busy, busy, busy...

I have so much to do for the next week - and here I am, spending time writing in this blog.

I have a new online class starting on Tuesday. Usually not a big deal - I've taught the course almost 20 times. Yeah, I found out they changed the text and the assignments. I have to re-write my syllabus by Monday night, and be a little familiar with the new text. I'm going to work on that today, and hopefully have it ready to go by the time I go to bed tonight.

I have an IEP due on Wednesday. This girl on my caseload is a huge time commitment. She has a low IQ, along with anxiety issues which preclude her full-day attendance at school. She's not so anxious, however, to keep her from getting pregnant a few months ago. Maybe if she had been in school all day, she would not be pregnant? Who knows.... Anyway, her meeting is bound to be a long one, and I really need to have my i's dotted and my t's crossed on the paperwork. I've already started it, but need to finish it this weekend. That will be my priority on Sunday.

I also have to prepare for a new unit in Science. That will also be done today and Sunday.

And....we have a b-ball game at UVA tomorrow afternoon!

So much for a restful weekend.

Blessings from last week 1/22-1/28

1. 2 days at home due to snow (OK, yeah, we have to make them up - but they were great while they lasted)
2. Talking to TC
3. Getting the SPED secretary to change an IEP date from today to 2/7. Much more time to prepare!
4. Losing over 6 pounds
5. As an addition to #4, staying on my food plan so that I feel better overall
6. Finding a $69 vest and a $79 jacket at Coldwater Creek online for $7.99 and $8.99. Such a deal.

Weight Watchers

I went back to Weight Watchers last week. I put off doing so, mainly because the nearest meeting is in C'ville, and I really didn't want to drive that far once a week to go to a meeting. After the holiday weight gain of 5 pounds though, I really needed to do something.

So, I started watching what I ate again this week - counting my points, and eating healthy foods. It's amazing how much better I feel when I eat right. I sleep better, have more energy, blah, blah, blah. I know this, but I loves me some pizza and fried chicken!


I was talking with some of the other teachers on Wednesday (after our long snow-weekend), and one of the teachers I collaborate with overheard our conversation. He came up, and asked if he could go with me to the meetings. Now, Tom is a big, mafia-looking guy. Probably weighs in at around 300 pounds. He teaches Earth Science with me, after (as he says) 'years in the nuclear industry.' He's a man who knows something about everything, and doesn't mind telling you what he knows. I take everything he says with just a pinch of salt. Anyway, he's disgusted with himself, and how much weight he's gained in the last few years. We make plans to meet on Saturday morning to go weigh in.

Now, the good thing about all this is - I don't have to drive all the way in to Cville every week. We're going to take turns driving to the meetings. Also, I guess it's good to have an 'accountability buddy' when you're trying to lose weight - although I've never gone on a diet with a guy as my 'buddy.'

Anyway, when we weigh in today, I've lost 6.4 pounds! In one week! Amazing. I know it's my body's reaction to my eating the right things after months of cramming junk in my mouth, but it's nice to lose those 5 gained pounds right from the jump. Now, I just have to set my sights lower, because I know I won't see that kind of loss next week (or any other week, for that matter.)


Tom weighs in for the first time, and finds that he, indeed, weighs almost 300 pounds. He's not happy, but is determined to try the program and get the weight off. We've entered a kind of competition: percent of body weight lost. I know (because he's a guy - no fair) he'll lose weight much more quickly than I will. He's also talking to other people at school, trying to get them to join us for our Saturday WW outings. I figure it this way: A group of us will meet every Saturday to weigh in, go to the 1/2 hour meeting, then go to IHOP for pancakes. It's a plan.

Had a bad day...

I didn't write about this a few weeks ago, mainly because it seemed like just a blip on the screen - no huge deal. A former student at the high school (he was, in fact in my ES class for a few weeks) evidently had an obsession with his ex-girlfriend, and had threatened to bring a gun to school because she broke up with him. He was being 'home schooled' because mom was blaming the school system for all his issues. I never had any problems with him, in fact thought he was a nice kid. He was only in my class for (maybe) three weeks before mom pulled him out. Anyway, we were all informed about the threat, and told to keep an eye out for the student. His ex-girlfriend is a student in one of my other classes, and she was out of school for several days during this incident. We were informed that he was in custody by the end of the day. He was not in custody for very long.

This morning, we found out that this same student evidently abducted his ex-girlfriend yesterday in a stolen car. The girl was reported missing around noon, and police were on the look out for both her and the car. Around 6:00 last night, a deputy and another officer stopped the car, and attempted to get the girl away from her ex-boyfriend. As the officer went toward the car, the boy started accelerating toward him - running him down. The officer shot at the car, killing the boy. The ex-girlfriend was still in the car, and suffered minor injuries from the ensuing wreck. Both she and the officer were treated for their injuries at the hospital and released.

Obviously, the entire school was buzzing with rumors and wild scenarios all day. The police aren't releasing much information at this time, so no one is entirely sure what happened. All we know is that there was a young life wasted, and another profoundly affected by the events of last night.

"For I am Costanza....

Lord of the idiots!"

I think I own the only Jeep that is not four-wheel drive. Not only is it not four-wheel drive, it is not front-wheel drive. Not a big deal, usually.

We got about 3 inches of snow here on Sunday, and then about another 10th of an inch of ice Sunday night and Monday morning. Our driveway was covered, and very slippery. Yesterday afternoon, I thought I'd try to get my car out, just to see how the driveway was. Bad idea! I got stuck in the driveway, just outside the garage. It took a bunch on rocking to get it back in the garage.

Today, school was cancelled again due to the condition on the secondary roads. Good thing - our driveway was still covered in ice. Rosalee came to clean around 10:00, and said her husband's truck had no problem getting up the drive. She said all the other roads were clear. Mom had an appointment to get her car serviced in C'ville at 1:00, so I thought I'd better try the driveway again. Bad idea! (are you getting the theme, here?) I got my car backed out of the garage, but my wheels started spinning almost as soon as I got the car backed out and turned toward the road. I was stuck - couldn't go forward, couldn't go back. So, I put the car in park, thinking I would give the sun and rising temps about an hour to do their work before I tried to move the car again.

45 minutes later, I go outside to try to move the car, and it's moved itself! Slid right down the driveway, turned sideways, and is now resting at the end of the driveway (just off the road) with the rear wheels in the bushes! Rosalee came to the window, and was in shock. I came in and told mom, who also came to the window to look. Mom expressed disbelief that the car slid, but Rosalee saw where I left it originally. Now, I not only have to get my car off the driveway, but out of the bushes.

We have nothing to help with traction - no sand, no icemelt, nothing. Rosalee found a bag of potting soil, so I started throwing it under my back wheels. After much spinning of wheels and throwing of dirt, I got the car out of the bushes. (We now have a HUGE rut in the yard to repair) I still had ice to deal with, and my car was not cooperating. For every inch I nudged forward, I would slide back 5. I was in danger of sliding right into the road. I get out the potting soil again, and throw it under the rear wheels. 15 minutes later - I'm back on dry pavement, and my car is parked.

By this time, it's 11:45, and mom needs to leave for her car appointment. She has front-wheel drive, which doesn't mean a whole lot on ice. But now we have potting soil on the driveway, and more traction! We get in her car, and make it down to the road without much difficulty. As Rosalee said, all the other roads are just fine.

By the time we got back from the appt in C'ville, the driveway was completely melted and dry.


"But suddenly, a new contender has emerged..."

No School!

Where's my sled?

Snow Day!

Our first snow this winter.

Mom and I went to church as usual this morning. The weather forecast was calling for snow, beginning after noon. We figured we wouldn't have any problems going to church, and then to lunch at Blue Ridge after. When we stepped out of the the church doors at noon, it was snowing like crazy, with about an inch already on the ground. It was a soft, powdery, beautiful snow. No ice, no sleet, no freezing rain. Easy to drive on. So, we decided we could go ahead to Blue Ridge, since we wouldn't have a chance to get out of the house later in the afternoon.

Driving Madison Road to Rte. 29 was not a problem. I can drive on snow - just don't make me drive on ice. 29 looked about the same as 230, so we took a right to go towards Ruckersville, instead of a left to go home. No problems - mom's car has great tires, and the road was not slippery at all.

As we start down the hill toward the county line between Madison and Greene counties, we look to the left at traffic heading north on 29. It's at a dead stop. Why? Because EVERYONE is having trouble getting up that hill! Trucks are sideways, men are out pushing cars, it's a mess. Uh, oh. That's the way we need to go home. What to do? What to do? Obviously, we're not going on to eat lunch. We need to get home. Without getting on 29 North.

Mom directs me to take the next right - her rationale being that it won't be as bad on back roads, because no one has driven on them and packed down the snow. Ok, I'm buying it. We end up making a big circle - going back toward Stanardsville, and then back onto Rte. 230 (Madison Road). The road isn't any worse than it was the first time we drove it, almost an hour earlier. Of course, now the snow is coming down really hard, and I'm not driving over 35 MPH. We make it home without incident, although now we're hungry.

Safe and warm, I make lasagna and salads for our lunch. Now, all I have to do is watch it snow out on the deck, and wait for word that school is cancelled for Monday.

One of the little girls at church this morning told Tommy she wanted to make a snow angel today. I think she's going to get her wish.

Blessings 1/14-1/20

1. Extra rest due to a shortened work week
2. Mom is feeling much better
3. Avoided a nasty stomach bug that is making the rounds at school
4. Call from Dave.
5. Better 9-week test scores
6. Cold weather is finally here (that may not make the list next week - be careful what I wish for!)

POETS!

Even though I only had to teach for 3 days (MLK holiday on Monday, and teacher workday today), this has seemed like an incredibly long week. We gave Science Department 9-week tests on Wednesday, and I had to read the same test aloud 4 times during the day.

50 questions.

Multiple choice.

Charts.

Aloud.

4 times.

Not fun. By the end of the day, I was not reading, but citing from memory. After reading a test aloud that many times, it becomes hard not to put inflection on the correct answer. Add to the fact that we reviewed for this test last Friday and on Tuesday of this week - I knew the material backwards and forwards. (I guess that's a good thing, since I teach the course.) Did my students know the material? Well, better this 9 weeks than the first. Only 2 students in my classes passed the first 9-week test. Not good. This time, all but 5 students passed. Much better.

We had a collaboration workshop (the 3rd in a series this year) last night at school. These sessions last from 3:45 to 6:15, and have been less than popular. So much so that administration cooks for us and serves dinner. Last night, we got spaghetti with meatballs, salad from a bag, rolls, and brownies. It was free, so I ate it. (Maybe not a good philosophy, overall)

Anyway - these sessions are to 'help' those of us who co-teach (regular education teacher with a special education teacher in a content-area class) be more effective as collaborators. Mostly, they turn into gripe sessions about what's not working, and how nothing anyone can say or do will fix it. Teachers make the worst students.

One of the biology teachers collaborates with the head of the Sped department. She can't stand working with her, and has no qualms about making her feelings known. Last night, Kim (head of Sped) was not able to be at the workshop. The biology teacher made several comments in the workshop about the lack of content knowledge Kim has, and how the students don't trust her teaching. Very unprofessional. One of the English teachers at my table wrote a very funny haiku about the comments. How does this affect me? I don't want it to, but somehow I think it will. During the workshop, I took a personal moment to use the bathroom. While in the stall, the biology teacher came in, took the stall next to mine, and proceeded to air all her grievances about Kim to me. (Excuse me - peeing, here!) She ended with, 'So, if you want to move to biology next year, and collaborate with me, that would be great.' Yeah, right. I want to work with a person who will trash me when I'm not around to anyone who will listen.

I live for these moments...

Blessings from the past week

1. The experiences my children are having in school. Specifically, NPR internships, Frat woes, CPR adventures
2. Discovering the wonder that is melatonin.
3. Doctors who will see mom without an appointment, and will prescribe a preventive antibiotic
4. Co-workers who make me laugh
5. Living in a house free of Christmas decorations - and it's not even February yet!
6. Finding the time to read all the books checked out of the library.

Life Experiences

I've bolded those things I've done...

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 jumped
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 of the moon
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 Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

I need to get busy...

MLK-stivus for the restovus

A three-day weekend! I'm so excited. I plan on doing as little as possible after being so busy during the holidays, and I especially plan on getting to know the inside of my eyelids a bit better.

al al al al ,al al al al aF

The first weekend of 2007. I guess tomorrow will be 'de-decoration' day. I dread it. I always enjoy putting up decorations, but hate taking them down. I remember the year that the Christmas tree stayed up through March! I don't think Mom would appreciate that this year. The fact that the temperature is predicted to be in the 70's tomorrow doesn't make me want to be inside, packing up lights and ornaments. But, I really do need to do it - wouldn't want to invite Goblins!

"[Goblins] were hideously ugly to begin with, and full of malice and ill will to human beings. They were supposed to live mostly underground, in mines or mountain caves, where they hoarded stolen treasure, sallying forth from time to time to frighten belated wanderers, or to work great harm to mortals who had, by some fault of omission or commission, given them the power to do so. Such power could be given, it was thought, if Christmas decorations were left up after Candlemas Day, February the second. If even so much as one leaf should be left lying in some corner of a house, a malicious goblin would have the power to enter through the keyhole and do all kinds of wicked things--set the chimney on fire, spill the milk, crack the wine bottles, smash the china, and even let loose rats and mice in the larder to eat up all the food."

-- Christine Chaundler, The Book of Superstitions

So, the tree comes down.


Not a bad week at work, overall. I'm beginning to enjoy the people on my hall. We all hang out in the hall between classes (supposedly monitoring students, but we don't let them distract us) and talk about intensely silly things. Suzanne, who teaches next door to me, has a wonderful tendency to break into song at the slightest provocation. She improvises opera with inane lyrics in her beautiful soprano, and she makes me laugh regularly.

The end of the first semester is coming up, along with the 2nd nine-weeks tests. I'm not a fan of this system, where we spend a bunch of energy getting kids ready for an inclusive test every 9 weeks, and then only give the test 10% weight toward the term grade. I resent giving up teaching time to review for a test that has little meaning to the students. It's all about the numbers, and crunching same to project student success on the SOL at the end of the year. The first nine weeks, I reviewed like crazy, and my students bombed the test. They just don't do well on standardized tests. They are SPED students, for cripes sake! It is so frustrating for them. Most of them are passing my class, and do well in group work, discussions, and class work. They just don't test well - never have. NONE of them passed their 8th grade Science SOL, and I'm expected to get them to pass the 9th grade Earth Science SOL. Now, I ask you....

And....cut. No more whining about things I can't control.

Spelunking

Dave has a great camera, and a minor in photography. Can't figure out why his pictures are so much better than mine! I stole these off his facebook - he owes me...I gave birth to him.


Ken and I at the entrance to the caverns. Don't I look fetching in my bright orange sweatshirt? It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!


Indiana Jones, watch out! All Ken needs now is his whip.



He has about 30 more pictures posted on his facebook. They turned out really well.

Luray Caverns

I have a really crappy camera, but I took a couple pictures while in Luray Caverns last Saturday.

I'm hoping I can buy myself a decent camera in the next few months. Happy something to me!

2007!

Happy New Year.

Today is a day of rest. All the fam is gone, TC left on Saturday, Ken and Dave left about an hour ago. I plan on mucking out my bedroom, and doing all the laundry I've neglected over the past two weeks.

We went to Luray Caverns on Saturday. What a marvel! Dave took about 60 pictures, and I can't wait to get copies emailed to me. Took the long way home down Skyline Drive. Very pretty. Again, Dave took tons of pictures.

I go back to work on Wednesday - not sure if I'm ready for that. Tomorrow is errand day, so today is really my last day of hanging out at home.

Resolutions? I have none - just planning on continuing what I started in 2006.