The Amazing Race

The new season of Amazing Race starts in just a week and a half...

Get this - three of the racers are from Huntington Beach, and two racers are from Fountain Valley!

This post contains offensive language...

I am fucking pissed off.

Ok. So. I am trying to be understanding. But... aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

Ok... let me back up. Today, after school, I glance over at my Writing Process board, which has black butcher paper on it. From across the room, it looked as though there were white streaks on the board, so I go over to look closer, and realized there were tears in the black paper, showing the white under the first layer.

HUH?

So I think back to earlier in the day, when my class had their first mall of the year. A mall is when students get to bring in stuff - homemade items, gently used toys and books, etc. - and sell them for classroom money. In addition, students can create games to entice customers. I remembered that one little darling had a dart board on the writing process board. However, having taught 5th grade for a few years now, and having had many many many Benedict malls, I didn't panic about seeing the dart board there. I figured the student who had attached the dart board used a push pin or something equally logical.

But no. The effer taped it up. TAPED IT UP. ON THE BULLETIN BOARD. right on my BLACK BUTCHER PAPER. Then, after the mall, they proceeded to tear the tape off. Hence, the white marks were four different places that tape was ripped off of the butcher paper, ripping the top layer of the butcher paper off.

Ok. So. I am trying to be patient. Forgiving. I am thinking over how I can appropriately deal with this on Monday when I see him again. I have two other teachers who have suggested kicking the kids ass.

But seriously, right? Its a kid. Right? Kids make mistakes, right? Sigh. I can help him learn from his mistakes. I need to give the kid a break - being that it is just a mistake.

Except that I just keep thinking... after he tore off that first piece of tape, did he stop tearing the tape off? No. Did he come to me? No. He proceeds to tear the fuck up on my B-board. In FOUR DIFFERENT places. He doesn't stop after one... or two.... or even three tears.

Then, when he sees the damage, does he come to me? Oh no. He just saunters his ass out to PE.

god damn it.

The Sample People

Ok - you know the sample people at Cosco? The ones who make samples of the food products and then hand them out? OK. I am sure that they are very nice people. And I am sure that this isn't true of everyone who gives at samples. And I REALLY don't mean to sound bitchy.

But seriously.

Some of those people are weird. Seriously. Yesterday, I was walking down an aisle, and I here a Sample Lady saying, "Right down this aisle, half way down on the left." I get closer, and realize that there is NO BODY THERE. She is talking to herself. Out loud. Not loud enough to be pimping her product, but not quiet enough that she is just practicing the spiel to  herself.

The whole situation was kind of... creepy.

 

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"No day but today!"-
- Rent

Halloween

Halloween is turning into such a festive season. The key word being season - with people decorating their yards weeks ahead of time to theme parks having special events through the month of October. I know a lot of people have turned Halloween into a season,  but I am feeling it more so in recent years, as people around here are putting up orange holiday lights, scary snow globes, and other assorted items on their lawns - much like Christmas.

I like it. Especially here. Without the leaves to signal the changing season, it is a nice way to ring in the Fall.

I think I'll have apple cider tonight.

 

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"No day but today!"-
- Rent

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.

This summer has been crazy. Not the most productive for me, and I find myself again disappointed with what I didn't manage to get done.

Including on this blog.

Its been a long run of fleeting thoughts of "I should blog about this," or "I should blog about that...." and of course, I don't blog about any of it.

Tomorrow, we leave for Disney World. I am so excited. I LOVE Disney World. And then we go on our Carnival Cruise. I am so excited. I LOVE to cruise.

So of course, I will be updating the vacation blog, hopefully with Grant's help. Check that out.

Summer Televison

I am watching Power of Ten right now - It is this new game show on CBS.

Why I love it: You get to guess what a percentage of Americans feel about certain topic. I do pretty good at it, in general - of the 6 questions that have been asked so far, I've been close (enough to win each round) on all questions but one (of course, that was the million dollar question, but whatever! )

Why I hate it: Well, you know how I just mentioned that I answered 5 of the 6 questions right? Well, the show is 46 minutes over. It is one of those drag them out game shows with lots of time between the questions discuss whether or not you should go on (a potentially gain ten times what you currently have), leave with what you have, or guess, and if you guess wrong, your current winnings are divided by ten. It is what I hate about, say, Deal or No Deal, or even the 2nd night results show of American Idol (which I fast forward through most of.)

See the problem with gameshows these days is that the stakes are so high, and so much money is given away, that they can't afford to move much faster. Unfortunately, the result is a show that is almost painfully slow for me to watch. I feel like I waste so much time - seriously - like 48 minutes of my life, for like 10 minutes worth of show.

But - I enjoy it much more then, say, Deal or No Deal, because there is a little more thought to it, then "pick a number!"

I can do some fast forwarding.... (o:

Big Brother:

I am so anxious for tonight's episode. There has been a big shake them up in the house, and it looks like Eric might be out the door. I am stressing. Eric fucked up big time by telling Dick Amber's story. On the other hand, I really don't think it is fair that his game was blown by the stupid airplane banner. Especially because, although he screwed up with telling Dick, he wouldn't have voted against his group if America hadn't told him too (Eric is America's Player - he has to do what America tells him to.)

Oh wait! (I am watching now!!!) Eric didn't TELL Dick the secret, he just told Dick that he KNEW a secret about Amber! Now, it sucks that he told Dick that (and that he sensationalized it by saying "it is such a horrible thing...." That was a dick thing to do.... but he didn't tell the secret, he didn't use it... Amber is so irrational!!!!!!!!

I really am hoping that the Eric/Dustin alliance pulls through.

Anyway here is who I hate in order right now - although I admit that this changes by the hour.

Dick. You know what? He's just a Dick.
Amber. She is whiny. She's not logical. She is a stupid player.
Danielle. She's so fruuuuuustrating. And she let's daddy do all her dirty work.

Jen and Kail are kind of annoying. If Jen keeps Eric in tonight, she will go way up on my scale of who I like.

Jessica, Jameka, Zach - Not a strong opinion, (although Jameka annoyed me last week with her religious understanding of what it meant to play POV). But again, if they keep Eric in, that will improve their likability.

Eric. Sigh. He bugs me with his verbal diareah, but he is America's player, so his votes had to be cast. That in itself isn't enough, becasue that is what he signs on for, and what he gets paid for, but I also think it is extremely unfair that the airplane banner calling Eric a lier was not fair at all.

I am pulling for Dustin. He is a good player.

Ok I have to go watch the show...

2 years!

Grant and I have been married for two years! It is so funny. I can't imagine my life without him. He has certainly been a part of my life for a large part of it - considering we first met in the summer of 1994 - Our relationship constitutes 13 years of friendship, 6 years of romance, and 2 years of marriage. Wow.

So what does all that give me? SOmeone who knows me better then sometimes I know myself. SOmeone that I trust implicitly. Someone who shares my everyday life and my exotic adventures. Someone to hold me at night and to kiss goodbye in the morning. Someone who makes me feel incredibly lucky every single day.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,,,

It is finished.

The last few days

So, our bathroom - at least the major stuff, is all done now. I think it turned out pretty well! The shower is heavenly - huge and pretty and wonderful. Unfortunately, that made the area where the toilet goes a bit narrower, but it is ok. We just need to do some last minute detail work and it will be complete once and for all.

I have been watching "Kathy Griffin - My life on the D-list." That show is so funny!

Oh - and Big Brother - Dick as HOH!!!! Yes!!!! I want Jen out...

Ok - I am off to meet the girls from work for lunch, and see Princess Brooklynn - I don't even want to think about how much she has grown...

Sometimes it works out...

I was thinking about old friends the other day. You know, friends that you've lost touch with over the years? You think, "Maybe I should get in touch with them..."

Sometimes you do, you make that step. It is actually pretty easy with email now. So you exchange a couple of emails and then things sort of just drift off again...

But sometimes, you click. Sometimes, you renew an old friendship and in many ways, it is like you never left - you're as close as ever - maybe even closer.

That is awesome when that happens.

Right, Angie?

I didn't title this blog yet because I have no idea yet what I am going to blog about. Since I have no purpose in writing this particular entry, it could be incredibly dull. I don't know how to spell at all.

I had some super weird dreams last night. Strange, I tell ya! Wacky....

Our bathroom is almost finished being redone. I can't wait until it is complete!

I just caught up on the past few video blogs on Rosie's site. That cruise seems like such a awesome experience for those families. I also watched a couple of Ross the Intern's talky blogs, as well.

Yup, this blog is going no where fast. I was reading other people's blogs the other day and I was totally in awe of the way other people do their blogs. That is what I love about blogs - you do what makes sense to you - what is meaningful for you. Sometimes I think my blogs are stupid, but then I go back and read old entries and think, "that's pretty cool..." 'cause it represents who I was that day.

Tomorrow, Grant and I are taking Andrew and Cori to Disneyland. That should be fun. I hope it doesn't get too hot! I still have not been on the submarine ride yet. I am thinking September, after school one day.

I went to my classroom yesterday to get started. This might actually be the year that I do some exciting stuff (furniture-wise) in my classroom that I've always wanted to do. We'll see. I will keep you posted.

Bye for now...

Down in the dumps

I am feeling super gloomy. Very grumpy. I am not sure why. I've just been in this perpetual bad mood. And it is the middle of summer!!! It sucks. I know I should snap myself out of it. Make myself cheer up. But I don't. I don't want to. I don't have the energy or the motivation. Stupid, huh? sigh. It makes me very tired all of the time.

So anyways, I am trying to figure out how to make my classroom function better this year. My biggest dilemma is trying to figure out how to organize my digital projector. I don't use it as much as I would like, and I think that is because it is not easily accessible. Every time I want to use it I have to get it out and set it up. I would like it permanently set up some how, but I am not sure what I want to set it up on.

Also along this line, I am trying to figure out if there is a better way to organize my overhead projector. Lots to think about.

5 days until Harry Potter comes out. Then it will all be over. Sigh.

Food for thought

“I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we’re really talking about peace.” -George Bush, June 18, 2002

“War is Peace” -Big Brother in George Orwell’s 1984

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Book 5.

I have no read through the series several times, but I never get bored. I love JK Rowling's writing style. The books are so entertaining and interesting to read.

I am feeling rather gloomy now, as I have just finished the book, though. I am feeling very anxious about book 7 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I don't know how it is going to end, but I know that there is more sadness to come. Also, I am dreading the end of the series, because the books themselves are so fantastic. I wonder what Rowling's future writing plans are, or if she is done.

I wonder if my questions will be answered. I wonder if I will be satisfied with the ending. I hope, after so many gloomy endings, that Book 7 will end with triumph and joy. Harry deserves that. I love that he has a hero complex.

I am trying so hard to avoid spoilers. I want to read news and websites, but I am so afraid I will read something that I don't want to know yet.

Michigan - Michelle's wedding

Michelle's wedding on Saturday, June 30, went very well. As far as I know, it went off without a hitch. Steve, Michelle's husband, works for a caterer so they actually did all of their own food! I think they took on a lot, but it was a very nice wedding. I also got to see Scott and Carlene and Tina and Brittany and Paige. That was cool. One of Steve's friends, Grant was really awesome to. He was so cool with my mom. A really cool guy.

The wedding was in Burton/Grand Blanc, and we stayed in La Pere.

We got back to the house yesterday afternoon. Mom's house is like a game's dream. Thwy have just about every game system. We played some wii, and Guitar hero, and Karaoke.

I'm getting caught up on this season of Big Love - since I do not have HBO, I need to either watch it at someone else's or wait until it comes out on dvd. I love this show, and I hate that it is only one season a year!!!!