Sunday came and went far to quickly, but it turned out to be the most beautiful day of all.
We left the hotel room later than expected, and decided to ask for late check out so that we didn't need to feel rushed. We had breakfast at the hotel's resteraunt (a nice breakfast buffet.)
When we packed and left, we headed over to the Woodland PArk Zoo, which was perhaps one of the neatest layed out zoos I've ever visited. Everything branched off a large loop, so it was easy to keep track of where you were and where you'd been. Many of the exhibits had several vantage points, yet each view was, for the most part, hidden from the other views. FOr example, you could look at the lions from one place, and then walk a little farhter a long and look into the same enclosure, but the place where you had stopped to look before was hidden from view, so you didn't see a bunch of people staring in, you saw the vegetation and the animals. Very cool.
Grant especailly enjoyed the gorillas.
After the zoo, we went back to Pike Place MArket and got some sea food to take home. Grant got Salmon (and smoked salmon for Belle) and I got Crab.) Yummy!
WE headed for the airport earlier than planned, but there was a lot of traffic so that was a good thing.
All in all, it was an amazing trip. I love traveling. I love traveling with Grant. He makes things so special, and if I havn't mentioned it before, he and I make great travel partners. We like to travel in the same way, see the same sorts of sights....Thank you, Grant, for the wonderful trip!
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Saturday in Seattle
Ok, I am super tired, so I am going to make this quick.
We had another great day today. It was cool, but rained very little.
We went to City Center first. This is like a huge park, originally designed for the World's Fair, and it has museums, theaters, a carnival, and teh Space Needle.
First, we went to the Pacific Science Center. Very neat. Grant and I both liked the Butterfly Garden the best. - Like an atrium but with tons of butterflies. it was very awesome. I also liked the water playground outside, it was like a court yard with water exhibits, like high powered water shooters. We saw a Kiliminjaro Imax that was included in our City Pass.
We had Lunch at the Center House, which is like a big mall food court in the middle of city center. They have cultural festivals inside all year and this weekend was a Turkish festival.
Next, we went to the Science Fiction Museum. (Guess whose idea that was?) It was very diverse; it talked about all kinds of sci-fi, books, movies, tv shows etc. Of course, grant loved all of the Star trek stuff.
Then we went to the Experience Music Project. The interactive stuff was cool, but there wasn;t enough of it. The also had individual pods you could rent that told you more about each exhibit. Very neat, and coul;d be very cool if you were fans of the main people that gave the information. (Wilson Phillips, for example, did a lot of the information.)
Suprisingly we were done earlier then we expected. So we headed up to the Ballard Locks and watched some boats go through. Then we went to Discovery PArk, which was formerly a Naval BAse. Discovery Park was beautiful, with Fall coloring the trees red and gold. We found some little ponds and a place to look out at the bay.
Next we had dinner on the water front. Grant had coconut crusted salmon and I had crab legs....yummy! Perhaps the best crab I have ever had!
We ended are evening by going up to the top of the Space Needle. It was cccccold, but the view was awesome. Grant and I split a hot chocolate and enjoyed the sights.
Ok, Gonna get some sleep now! (o:
We had another great day today. It was cool, but rained very little.
We went to City Center first. This is like a huge park, originally designed for the World's Fair, and it has museums, theaters, a carnival, and teh Space Needle.
First, we went to the Pacific Science Center. Very neat. Grant and I both liked the Butterfly Garden the best. - Like an atrium but with tons of butterflies. it was very awesome. I also liked the water playground outside, it was like a court yard with water exhibits, like high powered water shooters. We saw a Kiliminjaro Imax that was included in our City Pass.
We had Lunch at the Center House, which is like a big mall food court in the middle of city center. They have cultural festivals inside all year and this weekend was a Turkish festival.
Next, we went to the Science Fiction Museum. (Guess whose idea that was?) It was very diverse; it talked about all kinds of sci-fi, books, movies, tv shows etc. Of course, grant loved all of the Star trek stuff.
Then we went to the Experience Music Project. The interactive stuff was cool, but there wasn;t enough of it. The also had individual pods you could rent that told you more about each exhibit. Very neat, and coul;d be very cool if you were fans of the main people that gave the information. (Wilson Phillips, for example, did a lot of the information.)
Suprisingly we were done earlier then we expected. So we headed up to the Ballard Locks and watched some boats go through. Then we went to Discovery PArk, which was formerly a Naval BAse. Discovery Park was beautiful, with Fall coloring the trees red and gold. We found some little ponds and a place to look out at the bay.
Next we had dinner on the water front. Grant had coconut crusted salmon and I had crab legs....yummy! Perhaps the best crab I have ever had!
We ended are evening by going up to the top of the Space Needle. It was cccccold, but the view was awesome. Grant and I split a hot chocolate and enjoyed the sights.
Ok, Gonna get some sleep now! (o:
Friday, October 22, 2004
Friday in Seattle
We had an amazing day today! What an awesome city. There is so much within walking distance that it made things really easy. We were up and on our way to the waterfront by 9:00. We parked in an all day lot for $7 between Pike Place Market and the waterfront.
We headed up to Pike Place Market first and found a little coffee shop that had a pancake and egg breakfast special.
After we ate, we walked down first street about 9 blocks to Pioneer Square, which is a Historic District; one the oldest parts of the city. We signed up for the Underground Tour at eleven, but we still had a half an hour, so we walked arond Pioneer Square and up to a neat little waterfall garden that is sort of hidden. It was cool. We also checked out the underground bus terminal.
The Underground Tour was very cool. Apparently, when they first built Seattle, they bult it write on the ground, which was a problem since the entire area was a huge mud flat backed to basically a cliff...the hill grade was like 45%. Being at sea level on such swampy ground caused all sorts of problems, particularly with sewage, especially when the tide came in.
In the late 1800's a fire burnt down a large section of down town Seattle (like, 3 by nine blocks or something). So they had to rebuild the town. Business owners began rebuilding immediatly at seal level, so they could open their buildings. City planners, however, had a different idea. In a large section of the down town area, the lined the streets (just past the side walk) with large, thick walls one story tall. They filled in the streets between the walls with dirt from the hills and rebuilt the street on top, 12 feet above the original street. Using steal I beams and brick arches, they created new sidewalks as well. Business Owners who had rebuilt already found their main, street level entrances on the second floor of their businesses. (The knew this was coming, so they purposly designed the second floor doors much more ornate then the "first floor." For many years, the underground sidewalks were still in use, creating arcades for shoppers to use in inclement weather. Eventually they became abandoned. Bill Speidal discovered them and created a tour to try to bring so noteriety to the historic Pioneer Square (which had become the slummy part of town....the phrase "skid row" was coined here, as the main logging area where lumber was "skidded" down the hill was located in this area, which was full of salloons and "entertainment houses" and was for other reasons as well, becoming very undesireable. Anyway, Speidel's tour become so popular that it continues today...39 years later....you get to go uunderground and see the old tunnels, and learn all of this fascinating stuff. It really was VERY cool and VERY interesting.
Do to Pioneer Square being named a national historical district, and through the work of dedicated people, Pioneer Square is becoming a better neighborhood. Lots of shops and resteraunts are opened now. Some are even renovating their "basements" (orininal first floors) and are using them for offices, storage space, or even customer areas. Its very neat.
While we were on the tour, we walked by Longhorn's BBQ, and it smelled so good we ended up having lunch there. Yummy very good.
Then we walked back to the underground bus stationand took it for a few stops. Its almost like a subway...subway tunnels, for sure, but busses drive through them.
We walked back to Pike Place Market and checked out the produce and fish stalls. Very neat, very crowded...would be great if we lived close by so we could take advantage of the fresh food!!!!
We went next down to the wateer front and bought our city pass from Pier 55. We also got reservations for the 2:45 harbour tour. We had like 30 minutes to kill so we decided to go to the Aquarium. We did the beginning of the Aquarium and then went back to do the harbour tour. Even though it was over cast and drizzly at times, you could see well, and we learned a lot of interesting things from our very enthusiastic (read, somewhat annoying at times) tour guide.
After our boat ride we went back to the aquarium and finished that. The sea otters were so cute! But they made me miss Belle. Also, there wsere people walking dogs everywhere! Even in Pike Place Market!
After the Aquarium, we headed down to Pier 50 and took a commuter ferry back and forth to Vashon, 25 miuntes each way.
When we got back to Seattle, we stopped at one of the fish resteraunts and got some clam chowder to share. We went to visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (we saw it on "Road Trip" on the Travel Channel so we ducked inside.) There are actual Shrunken Heads and 2 mummified bodies!
Finally, we went to the dome IMAX and saw the Imax movie "The Eruption of Mt. Saint Helens," at 7:00. We got back to our car at 7:35, exactly 10 hours after we had parked (10 hours maximum parking...so we got back right when our ticket expired!
We're back at the hotel now, chillin. Resting our feetsies.
So far so good. We are really enjoying Seattle. Grant and I are such good travel partners! (o:
We headed up to Pike Place Market first and found a little coffee shop that had a pancake and egg breakfast special.
After we ate, we walked down first street about 9 blocks to Pioneer Square, which is a Historic District; one the oldest parts of the city. We signed up for the Underground Tour at eleven, but we still had a half an hour, so we walked arond Pioneer Square and up to a neat little waterfall garden that is sort of hidden. It was cool. We also checked out the underground bus terminal.
The Underground Tour was very cool. Apparently, when they first built Seattle, they bult it write on the ground, which was a problem since the entire area was a huge mud flat backed to basically a cliff...the hill grade was like 45%. Being at sea level on such swampy ground caused all sorts of problems, particularly with sewage, especially when the tide came in.
In the late 1800's a fire burnt down a large section of down town Seattle (like, 3 by nine blocks or something). So they had to rebuild the town. Business owners began rebuilding immediatly at seal level, so they could open their buildings. City planners, however, had a different idea. In a large section of the down town area, the lined the streets (just past the side walk) with large, thick walls one story tall. They filled in the streets between the walls with dirt from the hills and rebuilt the street on top, 12 feet above the original street. Using steal I beams and brick arches, they created new sidewalks as well. Business Owners who had rebuilt already found their main, street level entrances on the second floor of their businesses. (The knew this was coming, so they purposly designed the second floor doors much more ornate then the "first floor." For many years, the underground sidewalks were still in use, creating arcades for shoppers to use in inclement weather. Eventually they became abandoned. Bill Speidal discovered them and created a tour to try to bring so noteriety to the historic Pioneer Square (which had become the slummy part of town....the phrase "skid row" was coined here, as the main logging area where lumber was "skidded" down the hill was located in this area, which was full of salloons and "entertainment houses" and was for other reasons as well, becoming very undesireable. Anyway, Speidel's tour become so popular that it continues today...39 years later....you get to go uunderground and see the old tunnels, and learn all of this fascinating stuff. It really was VERY cool and VERY interesting.
Do to Pioneer Square being named a national historical district, and through the work of dedicated people, Pioneer Square is becoming a better neighborhood. Lots of shops and resteraunts are opened now. Some are even renovating their "basements" (orininal first floors) and are using them for offices, storage space, or even customer areas. Its very neat.
While we were on the tour, we walked by Longhorn's BBQ, and it smelled so good we ended up having lunch there. Yummy very good.
Then we walked back to the underground bus stationand took it for a few stops. Its almost like a subway...subway tunnels, for sure, but busses drive through them.
We walked back to Pike Place Market and checked out the produce and fish stalls. Very neat, very crowded...would be great if we lived close by so we could take advantage of the fresh food!!!!
We went next down to the wateer front and bought our city pass from Pier 55. We also got reservations for the 2:45 harbour tour. We had like 30 minutes to kill so we decided to go to the Aquarium. We did the beginning of the Aquarium and then went back to do the harbour tour. Even though it was over cast and drizzly at times, you could see well, and we learned a lot of interesting things from our very enthusiastic (read, somewhat annoying at times) tour guide.
After our boat ride we went back to the aquarium and finished that. The sea otters were so cute! But they made me miss Belle. Also, there wsere people walking dogs everywhere! Even in Pike Place Market!
After the Aquarium, we headed down to Pier 50 and took a commuter ferry back and forth to Vashon, 25 miuntes each way.
When we got back to Seattle, we stopped at one of the fish resteraunts and got some clam chowder to share. We went to visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (we saw it on "Road Trip" on the Travel Channel so we ducked inside.) There are actual Shrunken Heads and 2 mummified bodies!
Finally, we went to the dome IMAX and saw the Imax movie "The Eruption of Mt. Saint Helens," at 7:00. We got back to our car at 7:35, exactly 10 hours after we had parked (10 hours maximum parking...so we got back right when our ticket expired!
We're back at the hotel now, chillin. Resting our feetsies.
So far so good. We are really enjoying Seattle. Grant and I are such good travel partners! (o:
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Arrived in Seattle
So far so good. Everything has been workingout so well for this trip....bunch of funny little coincidences...dog class being canceled this week so Belle wouldn't have newstuff to practice this week while we were gone for four days Thanks rain gods), No class tonight (Thanks Dr. Brown), last day of conferences so I get done with teaching at 1:00 (thanks school district and the gods of fate that put os un the first week of conference scheduling) our totally cool flight out of long beach that was easy, and stress free (thank the spirits of small airports) and the fact thaT Enterprise upgraded us for free to a Luxary car...
This trip must be written in the stars!
We have email at our hotel so check here when you can for updates...when I can!
This trip must be written in the stars!
We have email at our hotel so check here when you can for updates...when I can!
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Have I mentioned that my neighbor is an ass?
Yeah, my neighbor is an ass. He pisses me off. He is so rude. And he always has an asshole thing to say.
Like, when Belle ran over into his yard to sniff around when she was like 3 months old and still getting trained. I go over and say, "Come on Belle, cute puppy." He comes out and says, "You better not get her used to coming over to my yard. I don't want her around my dog." Ass. First of all, like I would want my dog in his yard, inhaling his evil fumes. Second, like his dog didn't come over when she was a puppy a few times...we didn't say anything nasty. Not to mention that the family's previous dog attacked our previous dog when I was in grade school. So who shouldn't trust who? BESIDES, it just isn't a very neighborly thing to say. Most considerate people might say something like, "Oh is this your new puppy? blah blah blah...just be careful while you are training her...my dag is getting older..." You know? I mean, this is the first thing the asshole has said to me in like, 3 months.
Whatever.
So I avoid the guy like poisen, but try to be kind to his son, who so far isn't quite as stuck up as the rest of the fam-damily.
Anyway, I come home today and their dog is out sitting on the very apex of our cul-de-sac, right smack between our houses. (I should say that this neighbor lives right across the street, at the end of the cul-de-sac...would you like the address?)So I go up to say hi to the old dog...can't take it out on her that her owner is, well, did I mention he's a bit of an asshole?
On my way up, she barks at me, and then sniffs and then I pet her...and ooooh did she love it....as all doggy's do....and out comes, yup, you guessed it, the asshole. (By the way his name is Kevin. Would you like his last name?) While I was petting her, I was saying (to the dog, not to Kevin), "see, I'm not scary! See, its just me!" SO I look up and smile a friendly, neighborly smile, and the asshole says, "Well, she's supposed to bark to let me know if there is anything out here." (As in, to warn you that I am arriving home? I wasn't anywhere near their yard...does the ass hol consider the whole end of the cul-de-sac his territor.
So giving Sandy (would you like to know the breed?) one last scratch behind the ears, I look up with my best, Killing-the-asshole-with-kindness smile (which I have practiced on numerous occasions in parent-teacher conferences with parents who, for example, never return notes or initial their child's homework and then want to know why their child isn't doing well in class,) I say, "Well, then, she's doing a good job!" And I about face and head inside.
Ug....he makes my skin crawl every time I see him.
Did I mention that this guy is an asshole?
Like, when Belle ran over into his yard to sniff around when she was like 3 months old and still getting trained. I go over and say, "Come on Belle, cute puppy." He comes out and says, "You better not get her used to coming over to my yard. I don't want her around my dog." Ass. First of all, like I would want my dog in his yard, inhaling his evil fumes. Second, like his dog didn't come over when she was a puppy a few times...we didn't say anything nasty. Not to mention that the family's previous dog attacked our previous dog when I was in grade school. So who shouldn't trust who? BESIDES, it just isn't a very neighborly thing to say. Most considerate people might say something like, "Oh is this your new puppy? blah blah blah...just be careful while you are training her...my dag is getting older..." You know? I mean, this is the first thing the asshole has said to me in like, 3 months.
Whatever.
So I avoid the guy like poisen, but try to be kind to his son, who so far isn't quite as stuck up as the rest of the fam-damily.
Anyway, I come home today and their dog is out sitting on the very apex of our cul-de-sac, right smack between our houses. (I should say that this neighbor lives right across the street, at the end of the cul-de-sac...would you like the address?)So I go up to say hi to the old dog...can't take it out on her that her owner is, well, did I mention he's a bit of an asshole?
On my way up, she barks at me, and then sniffs and then I pet her...and ooooh did she love it....as all doggy's do....and out comes, yup, you guessed it, the asshole. (By the way his name is Kevin. Would you like his last name?) While I was petting her, I was saying (to the dog, not to Kevin), "see, I'm not scary! See, its just me!" SO I look up and smile a friendly, neighborly smile, and the asshole says, "Well, she's supposed to bark to let me know if there is anything out here." (As in, to warn you that I am arriving home? I wasn't anywhere near their yard...does the ass hol consider the whole end of the cul-de-sac his territor.
So giving Sandy (would you like to know the breed?) one last scratch behind the ears, I look up with my best, Killing-the-asshole-with-kindness smile (which I have practiced on numerous occasions in parent-teacher conferences with parents who, for example, never return notes or initial their child's homework and then want to know why their child isn't doing well in class,) I say, "Well, then, she's doing a good job!" And I about face and head inside.
Ug....he makes my skin crawl every time I see him.
Did I mention that this guy is an asshole?
Survivor Up Till Now
Ok, I must say I am not terribly pleased with this season of Survivor. Uh uh. The girls/guys thing ticked me off. Not having three tribes ticked me off. Eliminating two people so early on ticked me off. Nobody is particularly endearing. The only guy I really liked was Brady, and he got kicked off. So now I'm just kinda...blah. I mean, I know as I grow to like, or more likely, hate, more people, I will find the show more interesting this season, but for now, there's no one I like, no one I hate, just a bunch of really boring people, in my opinion.
The boys are annoying, because they voted soley on the old young alliance, with the old winning out...which nomally, I would root for, but in this case, the young guys, for the most part, seemed nice, weren't cocky or conceited (the major reason I tend to hate the "young" crowd) and they were actually very hard workers. Most of the older guys are annoying, dumb, and out of shape (as witnessed by their inability to win competitons and their decision on who to vote off.)
The girls, sigh. I don't know. They're very flaky. Dolly, the nice girl, got voted off. Sigh. I just don't know. (Twila really does look nice with her hair braided, by the way.)
So now that the teams made it one more week (oh had Brady made it one more week...) strategies will have to mix up. We'll see.
FOr now, I am uninspired. sigh...
Maybe I am just not devoting enough attention to the show. Maybe the fact that I am watching the show while doing homework or grading papers? But I think not...usually, those other things get pushed off to the side becasue the show is dull this time around. Too bad. The format is awesome. I just wish they had a more entertaining cast this time around.
Amazing Race....I need Amazing Race....
The boys are annoying, because they voted soley on the old young alliance, with the old winning out...which nomally, I would root for, but in this case, the young guys, for the most part, seemed nice, weren't cocky or conceited (the major reason I tend to hate the "young" crowd) and they were actually very hard workers. Most of the older guys are annoying, dumb, and out of shape (as witnessed by their inability to win competitons and their decision on who to vote off.)
The girls, sigh. I don't know. They're very flaky. Dolly, the nice girl, got voted off. Sigh. I just don't know. (Twila really does look nice with her hair braided, by the way.)
So now that the teams made it one more week (oh had Brady made it one more week...) strategies will have to mix up. We'll see.
FOr now, I am uninspired. sigh...
Maybe I am just not devoting enough attention to the show. Maybe the fact that I am watching the show while doing homework or grading papers? But I think not...usually, those other things get pushed off to the side becasue the show is dull this time around. Too bad. The format is awesome. I just wish they had a more entertaining cast this time around.
Amazing Race....I need Amazing Race....
Friday, October 15, 2004
Has it been forever since I blogged?
Actually, I succeeded in blogging 4 times in september, which averages to about once a week which isn't too bad. Ah, summer's over and real life has begun again.
Belle is working hard in her novice training class. While she is very good at doing all of her commands when we are alone, she is having no success when any other dogs around. (Except at the class where it is more formal and everyone is working with their dogs...) She did do well the other night with Kaya barking behind the gate, but we still have a long way to go with her. Not that she is a bad puppy. She just has ADHD. She gets so excited when other dogs are around that she can't focus on me or Grant. I know. She is still young.
So far, I am enjoying first grade. The lack of independence is a bit frustrating, and I have a few kids that are absolutly driving me crazy (don't I every year?...I think its just the nature of the beast!) But it is very rewarding, too.
One thing I really like is having only 20 kids. Beyond just the logistics of less grading. Here is the truly best part. I feel like I really know each of my kids. It is manageable. I can remember their quirks and ticks. WIth 30+ kids, I was constantly writing myself notes.."remember to tell parents this at conference..." where as with 20 kids, I have a very clear profile of each of my studnets in my head. I can easily categorize them in my head, and as a result, I turly feel like I better teacher. It is sincerely a great thing. It really should be funded to max the classes out at 20 all the way up, to at least junior high. It makes a huge difference. Not just in the logisitcs like "I have more time to assess each child" but also to really know them. Its very cool.
My birthday has come and gone and I am now 26. Sigh. It has been a very nice birthday week. I am feeling so spoiled. I got almost everything I asked for on my birthday list...the only downside is that I had planned on half of the list still being their for Christmas.
I got a hot water dispenser so that I can have tea at work.
I got a yoga mat so that I don't have to pick dog hairs off of my sweaty palms in the midst of my sun salutation.
I got a subscription to a scrapbooking magazine...something I really want to get ack in to.
I got my very own set of luggage...so I can travel everywhere and not have to borrow suitcases, and it is a very cool shade of navy blue.
I got a bouquet of flowers delivered to my school.
I got a gift certificate to Old Navy.
I got stickers and books for my classroom.
I got a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.
And (which is quickly becoming my time consuming addiction and I haven't even started it yet...) The Sims 2. I have been reading forums and discussions and the manual...but I haven't played the game yet...
(see what I mean?????? Spoiled Rotten! - And very much loved!!!! I am the luckiest lady!)
Also, Grant and I are taking a mini vacation to Seattle next weekend. It was either that or San Francisco, but we decided to go for someplace new, that we'd never been to before. Happy Birthday to me!!!
Also, I finished the Dark Tower 4, 5, and 6....so now I just have book 7. Which I am 17th on the watiing list at the library (and they only ordered 7 copies in the whole system!) I don't want to buy it becasue I want to buy the boed set when it comes out. Sigh So I am on hold.
Which is good because I have been majorly procrastinating on my classes. (As in, spending the weekend doing my papers because I come home from school and read!!!)
I swear, if it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done!
(I also use the weekend to catch up on my shows. I haven't watched Survivor yet, or 7th Heaven, or the Surreal Life from last Sunday.)
But I guess I should use this temporary hiatus I've been given (no 7th dark tower book, papers all graded, no major assignments...unless you count that pesky online short answer midterm...and no means to start sims 2 until we get a new computer which should happen next month becasue the game is to advenced for this here two-year-old computer...) to, well, I don't know, clean up the three inches of accumulated dog hair that has piled up in the corners (gross!!! I blush!!!), yeah I know...clean the house. Sigh.
And perhaps use getting off at 1 for parent conferences to actually file the papers that are stacked in random piles all over my classroom. Its getting hard to find the first graders! I jest...
Life in the sims is so much easier. You just hire a maid to come clean up for you for 70 simoleans a day. She'll even unclog the toilet for you.
Yeah yeah yeah.
well, I best take miss belle out for tonight's practice session. Its cool, its fall, I am sleepy, and if I sit here looking for more information on the sims or typing away on my blog, I'll never get around to wathcnig 7th heaven, and, in reality, I'd like nothing more then to just curl up i bed and go to sleep. But no! The puppy must come first...I would never neglect my puppy! Ah shit...its nine and I have to go feed her! Just kidding, Grant. Danny fed her when he got home. (45 minutes ago...hee hee...)
If your still reading, Thanks for reading...
Belle is working hard in her novice training class. While she is very good at doing all of her commands when we are alone, she is having no success when any other dogs around. (Except at the class where it is more formal and everyone is working with their dogs...) She did do well the other night with Kaya barking behind the gate, but we still have a long way to go with her. Not that she is a bad puppy. She just has ADHD. She gets so excited when other dogs are around that she can't focus on me or Grant. I know. She is still young.
So far, I am enjoying first grade. The lack of independence is a bit frustrating, and I have a few kids that are absolutly driving me crazy (don't I every year?...I think its just the nature of the beast!) But it is very rewarding, too.
One thing I really like is having only 20 kids. Beyond just the logistics of less grading. Here is the truly best part. I feel like I really know each of my kids. It is manageable. I can remember their quirks and ticks. WIth 30+ kids, I was constantly writing myself notes.."remember to tell parents this at conference..." where as with 20 kids, I have a very clear profile of each of my studnets in my head. I can easily categorize them in my head, and as a result, I turly feel like I better teacher. It is sincerely a great thing. It really should be funded to max the classes out at 20 all the way up, to at least junior high. It makes a huge difference. Not just in the logisitcs like "I have more time to assess each child" but also to really know them. Its very cool.
My birthday has come and gone and I am now 26. Sigh. It has been a very nice birthday week. I am feeling so spoiled. I got almost everything I asked for on my birthday list...the only downside is that I had planned on half of the list still being their for Christmas.
I got a hot water dispenser so that I can have tea at work.
I got a yoga mat so that I don't have to pick dog hairs off of my sweaty palms in the midst of my sun salutation.
I got a subscription to a scrapbooking magazine...something I really want to get ack in to.
I got my very own set of luggage...so I can travel everywhere and not have to borrow suitcases, and it is a very cool shade of navy blue.
I got a bouquet of flowers delivered to my school.
I got a gift certificate to Old Navy.
I got stickers and books for my classroom.
I got a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.
And (which is quickly becoming my time consuming addiction and I haven't even started it yet...) The Sims 2. I have been reading forums and discussions and the manual...but I haven't played the game yet...
(see what I mean?????? Spoiled Rotten! - And very much loved!!!! I am the luckiest lady!)
Also, Grant and I are taking a mini vacation to Seattle next weekend. It was either that or San Francisco, but we decided to go for someplace new, that we'd never been to before. Happy Birthday to me!!!
Also, I finished the Dark Tower 4, 5, and 6....so now I just have book 7. Which I am 17th on the watiing list at the library (and they only ordered 7 copies in the whole system!) I don't want to buy it becasue I want to buy the boed set when it comes out. Sigh So I am on hold.
Which is good because I have been majorly procrastinating on my classes. (As in, spending the weekend doing my papers because I come home from school and read!!!)
I swear, if it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done!
(I also use the weekend to catch up on my shows. I haven't watched Survivor yet, or 7th Heaven, or the Surreal Life from last Sunday.)
But I guess I should use this temporary hiatus I've been given (no 7th dark tower book, papers all graded, no major assignments...unless you count that pesky online short answer midterm...and no means to start sims 2 until we get a new computer which should happen next month becasue the game is to advenced for this here two-year-old computer...) to, well, I don't know, clean up the three inches of accumulated dog hair that has piled up in the corners (gross!!! I blush!!!), yeah I know...clean the house. Sigh.
And perhaps use getting off at 1 for parent conferences to actually file the papers that are stacked in random piles all over my classroom. Its getting hard to find the first graders! I jest...
Life in the sims is so much easier. You just hire a maid to come clean up for you for 70 simoleans a day. She'll even unclog the toilet for you.
Yeah yeah yeah.
well, I best take miss belle out for tonight's practice session. Its cool, its fall, I am sleepy, and if I sit here looking for more information on the sims or typing away on my blog, I'll never get around to wathcnig 7th heaven, and, in reality, I'd like nothing more then to just curl up i bed and go to sleep. But no! The puppy must come first...I would never neglect my puppy! Ah shit...its nine and I have to go feed her! Just kidding, Grant. Danny fed her when he got home. (45 minutes ago...hee hee...)
If your still reading, Thanks for reading...
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
With Liberty and Justice for All
I received this email from people that I dearly love, so I just want to say up front that I don't mean to offend anybody...I know that I think too much, and that on surface value, the following email doesn't sound too bad. You read it, and think, hmm sounds good, so you forward it along. But it just bothered me so much that I HAD to say something. ::wink, wink::
I received the following email today:
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. What do you think about this?
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. .
I AGREE!!!!
Ok. Now. Here is what has been running through my mind all day long.
1) 14% is a rather large amount. Not a majority by any means, 14% is certainly a significant chunk, none the less, particularly in a country the size of America. If I had a 14% chance of getting a disease, I'd be pretty worried. 14% chance of winning the lotto? Pretty sure I'd buy the ticket. I'd be satisfies with 14% of a pizza!
14 people out of 100. 7 people out of fifty. That's a decent number of opinions.
If you are in the 12% of the population that is over 65, should your voice not count?
If you are one of 26% of the population that has a college degree, should your voice not count?
If people hadn't fought for Liberty and Justice during the Civil Rights movement for the 12.9% of the American population that is African American, think of what life would be like today...America, still segregated...a concept we now scoff at when it applies to other countries.
And 14% of our population...14%! - do not believe in God. That IS a significant statistic. That's a significant number of people who if, in the spirit of nationality and patriotism, choose to recite their entire pledge of allegiance, are required to state words that are meaningless to them. A disheartening thought, considering that the pledge is supposed to be a unifying and patriotically meaningful anthem.
(Statistics taken from: 2003 US Census
Religious Tolerance
2) Ok, now this is truly that part that pissed me off the most. I deeply sympathize for the person who originally wrote the email...how mortified they must feel to have something so hypocritical and anti American floating around the internet that they have written. However just as they have the right to say what they want...
Here is the quote, again, from the email: "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
Yes. Take a moment to reflect.
Let's break down the pledge, shall we? The pledge, mind you, in its original form, written in 1892 by Frances Bellamy, a Christian Socialist and Baptist minister.
I pledge Allegiance to my flag (I promise my loyalty to the flag, a symbol of my country)
And to the Republic for which it stands (the flag, as a symbol of my government, one of the people)
One Nation, indivisible (singular and unified)
with Liberty and Justice for all (Every citizen is entitled to freedom, and the responsibility such freedoms come with, as well as justice, the right to be treated fairly and equitably.)
Most people know that "Under God" was not in the original pledge, and with reason. You may or may not know that our forward thinking reverend Bellamy originally wanted the pledge to finish "with liberty, justice, and equality for all" but feared it would be rejected because African Americans and Women were still not considered equal.
(So perhaps, a better change would be back to its original intent? - but I digress...)
Obviously "United States of America" was later added to the pledge, but considering this is an oath to the government of that country, adding the name of said country would be appropriate.
So back to the quote that so inflamed me. Would you like to read it again? "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
So let me get this straight. The author of this email wants to know, first and foremost, if we agree with the pledge, and urges us to pass it on if we do. And yet, within the same email, the author slanders their own pledge, mocks its inherent message, by asking 14% of the population it represents to "sit down and be quiet."
"Sit down and Be Quiet." The same words that I am sure thousands of Abolishinists heard. The same words that thousands of suffragettes heard. The same words that millions of people must hear every day as they fight for what they believe in.
In a country where our joy, our honor, our pride, our very nationality, depends on people being able to freely express their beliefs, in freedom and democracy, in God, gods, science, or humanism; someone is using that very pledge - the pledge that defends our rights to our own beliefs and to speak freely of them without fear of persecution - to tell people to "sit down and be quiet."
The author either does not understand the words he or she says when reciting the pledge, or does not believe them. How can a person, in the same message, claim their allegiance to a country that promises individuals the right to their beliefs, and then tell 14% of those individuals to "sit down and be quiet?"
I recognize that the author isn't telling people they they aren't allowed to not believe in God.
But what the author is telling those 14% of the people is that rather than voice their opinion regarding a NATIONAL PLEDGE, they should "sit down and be quiet." 14% of the people that flag represents in a national capacity (not a spiritual capacity) should "sit down and be quiet" rather than express their belief about what such a pledge should contain.
Does the author have the right to tell people that? Of course. Just like, in a country like ours, people have the right to express any belief, mainstream or not, politically correct or not, respectful or not.
But I have a right to defend my country, and the ideals it has set forth. Our founding fathers had faith in the people, and so do I. I would never, ever, use our pledge in such a disrespectful and hypocritical manner as this author did. I know what my pledge means, and I understand the republic for which it stands.
I believe in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I received the following email today:
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. What do you think about this?
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. .
I AGREE!!!!
Ok. Now. Here is what has been running through my mind all day long.
1) 14% is a rather large amount. Not a majority by any means, 14% is certainly a significant chunk, none the less, particularly in a country the size of America. If I had a 14% chance of getting a disease, I'd be pretty worried. 14% chance of winning the lotto? Pretty sure I'd buy the ticket. I'd be satisfies with 14% of a pizza!
14 people out of 100. 7 people out of fifty. That's a decent number of opinions.
If you are in the 12% of the population that is over 65, should your voice not count?
If you are one of 26% of the population that has a college degree, should your voice not count?
If people hadn't fought for Liberty and Justice during the Civil Rights movement for the 12.9% of the American population that is African American, think of what life would be like today...America, still segregated...a concept we now scoff at when it applies to other countries.
And 14% of our population...14%! - do not believe in God. That IS a significant statistic. That's a significant number of people who if, in the spirit of nationality and patriotism, choose to recite their entire pledge of allegiance, are required to state words that are meaningless to them. A disheartening thought, considering that the pledge is supposed to be a unifying and patriotically meaningful anthem.
(Statistics taken from: 2003 US Census
Religious Tolerance
2) Ok, now this is truly that part that pissed me off the most. I deeply sympathize for the person who originally wrote the email...how mortified they must feel to have something so hypocritical and anti American floating around the internet that they have written. However just as they have the right to say what they want...
Here is the quote, again, from the email: "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
Yes. Take a moment to reflect.
Let's break down the pledge, shall we? The pledge, mind you, in its original form, written in 1892 by Frances Bellamy, a Christian Socialist and Baptist minister.
I pledge Allegiance to my flag (I promise my loyalty to the flag, a symbol of my country)
And to the Republic for which it stands (the flag, as a symbol of my government, one of the people)
One Nation, indivisible (singular and unified)
with Liberty and Justice for all (Every citizen is entitled to freedom, and the responsibility such freedoms come with, as well as justice, the right to be treated fairly and equitably.)
Most people know that "Under God" was not in the original pledge, and with reason. You may or may not know that our forward thinking reverend Bellamy originally wanted the pledge to finish "with liberty, justice, and equality for all" but feared it would be rejected because African Americans and Women were still not considered equal.
(So perhaps, a better change would be back to its original intent? - but I digress...)
Obviously "United States of America" was later added to the pledge, but considering this is an oath to the government of that country, adding the name of said country would be appropriate.
So back to the quote that so inflamed me. Would you like to read it again? "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
So let me get this straight. The author of this email wants to know, first and foremost, if we agree with the pledge, and urges us to pass it on if we do. And yet, within the same email, the author slanders their own pledge, mocks its inherent message, by asking 14% of the population it represents to "sit down and be quiet."
"Sit down and Be Quiet." The same words that I am sure thousands of Abolishinists heard. The same words that thousands of suffragettes heard. The same words that millions of people must hear every day as they fight for what they believe in.
In a country where our joy, our honor, our pride, our very nationality, depends on people being able to freely express their beliefs, in freedom and democracy, in God, gods, science, or humanism; someone is using that very pledge - the pledge that defends our rights to our own beliefs and to speak freely of them without fear of persecution - to tell people to "sit down and be quiet."
The author either does not understand the words he or she says when reciting the pledge, or does not believe them. How can a person, in the same message, claim their allegiance to a country that promises individuals the right to their beliefs, and then tell 14% of those individuals to "sit down and be quiet?"
I recognize that the author isn't telling people they they aren't allowed to not believe in God.
But what the author is telling those 14% of the people is that rather than voice their opinion regarding a NATIONAL PLEDGE, they should "sit down and be quiet." 14% of the people that flag represents in a national capacity (not a spiritual capacity) should "sit down and be quiet" rather than express their belief about what such a pledge should contain.
Does the author have the right to tell people that? Of course. Just like, in a country like ours, people have the right to express any belief, mainstream or not, politically correct or not, respectful or not.
But I have a right to defend my country, and the ideals it has set forth. Our founding fathers had faith in the people, and so do I. I would never, ever, use our pledge in such a disrespectful and hypocritical manner as this author did. I know what my pledge means, and I understand the republic for which it stands.
I believe in the Pledge of Allegiance.