Just Me

I can't help it.

I gotta be me.

80's Music

Growing up, I didn't listen to a lot of current music - I preferred oldies - bubble gum, 50's K-Earth 101, listening to mom and dad's records, picking out my favorite songs... Close to you, One Tin Soldier, The Twist, The Lion Sleeps Tonight...

So 80's music, well, I never really knew, could never really sing along, never really considered this music a part of my life...

But music, well, music isn't really like that for me. Music gets inside of me, it sets a mood, it reminds me of things... like scents... music makes me nostalgic.

Without me even realizing it, 80's music filled my blood, carved a place in the time line of my life. It played in the background at the malls when I went Christmas shopping, it played in the movies I went to see with my family, with my cousin Betty, and eventually, alone with my friends. It played at Bullwinkle's fountain show, on TV commercials, at Knott's Berry Farm's shows in the Good Time Theater, on the radio in other people's cars. 80's music was all around me.

So now, when I'm driving to work, and 80's music comes on, I get slightly annoyed - because in general, I like to sing along, and as mentioned, I can't sing along to most 80's tunes - but there is something about the commonality of 80's music that floods me with memories - and makes it so hard to turn the dial. How could this music that I spent a decade actively ignoring have such a powerful impact on me?

Because I hear it... and I'm in grade school again, twirling in my uniform jumper, running barefoot at the park, playing "traffic," on my bike with Tammy, creating stage shows with the neighbors, The band I made with Sarah, The spy game with the colored badges, sneaking up the neighbors trees, eating waffles with peanut butter and syrup with Danny D., and of course, unending laps at the roller rink....

Nostalgia, so powerful.

Sims 2, Dawson's Creek, and High School Musical 2

SO, The new Sims 2 EP came out - Bon Voyage... and I LOVE it. I love taking my Simmies on vacation... it is so cool to just relax and have fun with them, without feeling like I am wasting time when I could be increasing my Sims knowledge or skills. And I REALLY love the new lots... I have never been so excited about building... I am going to create some kick ass vacation lots.

I'm in the middle of Dawson's Creek, Season 3. I am so in love with Joshua Jackson, it is unreal.

Also, I was watching the Dance-Along version of high school musical. I was just thinking, in general, how neat those kids are - Ashley Tisdale, Zac Effron, Vanessa Hudgens - I mean, here they are hugely successful with the same age group that adored Brittany Spears and Lindsey Lohan... and yet, there staying out of trouble. What happened? What is the difference? I mean, in a way, I feel sorry for the Brittany's and the Lindsey's. I can't claim to understand what celebrity is like... but anyone who is so addicted to drugs an alcohol like those girls... sigh. What a horrible place to be.

But those Disney channel kids, (granted, Lindsey Lohan was a Disney girl), but these high school musical kids, they're so put together. I mean, they have to dig to find dirt on these kids, and the worst they can do is publicize a personal, private photo that one of them took for their love. I mean, the media, the publicists chastising about mistakes made.... whatever... To be perfectly honest, I think their relationship is sweet and I feel badly that the picture was leaked somehow. In any case - props to that group for doing something right, for staying positive and keeping their lives real.

Back to School

Back to school,
schedule, routine...

I'm feeling pretty crummy about last year - over all, in many ways, my worst year teaching - because it was mostly self inflicted - when I was excessed, that was the worst - but I had no choice in that, but yes, that was the worst year - but last year, my personally worst as a teacher.

A learning experience. So many things that happened that I will not let happen again.

So now, here is my new year, a fresh start, a chance to try again.

Thursday morning - so nervous - as always, to start a new class - to make a good impression, to make the right impression. I think I did ok. By nine, the nerves were mostly gone, only to resurface slightly Friday morning.

I am looking forward to when I know all my kids, when I feel comfortable coming in... the first few weeks are always like putting on a new pair of shoes - and knowing that soon, they will be soft and comfortable, but for now they still feel a bit stiff and awkward.

I also have so many ideas to plan better lessons. My GOAL this next week is to really go slow and explain procedures carefully - how I want assignments done - and to really have higher expectations for my students. I really want to try to instill a sense of pride in my students regarding their work - always a week area of mine - and not accepting mediocre is something I am going to try.

So - we'll see where this year goes, right?

Perfect Cruise line

My Perfect Cruise line would have:
Carnival's food
Carnival's prices
Princess's Anytime dining
Royal Caribbean ship's layout and decor - particularly the atrium pool area.