Today's showing: The beach
Players: Bella, her girlfriend Stella, and respective chaparones
The Crew
Loving our Lives
Requisite Hole
Players: Bella, her girlfriend Stella, and respective chaparones
The Crew
Loving our Lives
Requisite Hole
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Saturday, February 28, 2004
today i found out that my great-grandfather really liked the drink old-fashions. so much so, as a matter of fact, he had the recipe, exactly the way he wanted it fixed, printed on the back of his business card. my mom then told me he was a 'particular man'. the lovely beau just said he must have been quite a drinker.
think they'll do it for a cosmo?
think they'll do it for a cosmo?
Thursday, February 26, 2004
i would like to say today that overzealous, over-peppy 22-year-olds can really make a girl violent (nothing against 22-year-olds in general- the cynical, depressed ones are great company).
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
the regular greuling commute: 1 hour
today's unbearable commute in sheets of rain and 50 mph wind: 2 hours, 15 minutes.
today's unbearable commute in sheets of rain and 50 mph wind: 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
yesterday one of my students had to go to the nurse with a "headache". i had my suspicions about the validity of the ailment, but who am i to stand in the way of getting one student out the door when given the real chance?
anyhoo, after school yesterday i happened to glance said student cruising across the campus of the high school next door- surrounded by friends, seemingly headache-free.
today he walked into class, and i immediately began an interrogation-style line of questioning "did you or did you not leave the class yesterday with a headache?", "what was your location immediately following the school day yesterday?", etc. being that he's already done time, he was apparently both comfortable and amused with this sort of questioning. for some reason, he was completely tickled by the fact that i had seen his location and after that, remained calm for the rest of the period (a blessed miracle, for this particular student). it's so funny what can hook in some of these guys. you really just never know (which should be my theme statement of the year or something). anyway, just another tuesday.
anyhoo, after school yesterday i happened to glance said student cruising across the campus of the high school next door- surrounded by friends, seemingly headache-free.
today he walked into class, and i immediately began an interrogation-style line of questioning "did you or did you not leave the class yesterday with a headache?", "what was your location immediately following the school day yesterday?", etc. being that he's already done time, he was apparently both comfortable and amused with this sort of questioning. for some reason, he was completely tickled by the fact that i had seen his location and after that, remained calm for the rest of the period (a blessed miracle, for this particular student). it's so funny what can hook in some of these guys. you really just never know (which should be my theme statement of the year or something). anyway, just another tuesday.
Monday, February 23, 2004
Republican "Education Secretary" calls the National Teachers Association TERRORISTS
i wish i had witty, biting words. i wish i had well-thought out arguments. i wish i had loads of educational background to argue. but really, it's pointless. they are totally fucking insane.
really, what have we come to if we're calling teachers terrorists (for, mind you, speaking out in opposition to this stupid-ass-non-funded-highly-mandated No Child Left Behind Act)? we're talking about teachers here, mr. education secretary. whatever. i think it's time to just throw in the towel.
i wish i had witty, biting words. i wish i had well-thought out arguments. i wish i had loads of educational background to argue. but really, it's pointless. they are totally fucking insane.
really, what have we come to if we're calling teachers terrorists (for, mind you, speaking out in opposition to this stupid-ass-non-funded-highly-mandated No Child Left Behind Act)? we're talking about teachers here, mr. education secretary. whatever. i think it's time to just throw in the towel.
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Friday, February 20, 2004
i'm baaaaaack
back from a totally enchanting five days in mexico. i haven't been since i was 18 years old and went solely to drink alcohol legally (more on that another time). ten years later and i have a different goal in mind.
we stayed at a cliffside hotel, watched dolphins from our balcony, took a hot tub every day, were the ONLY tourists in all of these touristy towns, ate lobster four out of five days, took naps, read four books, bought all sorts of crazy candy for my kids, and rested the mind. made the greuling 10-hour drive home in one day, and i'm happy to report bella muddled through without us.
pictures to follow shortly. as for now, i am going to ruin my mind with the tv set that i have been deprived of for allllll this time.
back from a totally enchanting five days in mexico. i haven't been since i was 18 years old and went solely to drink alcohol legally (more on that another time). ten years later and i have a different goal in mind.
we stayed at a cliffside hotel, watched dolphins from our balcony, took a hot tub every day, were the ONLY tourists in all of these touristy towns, ate lobster four out of five days, took naps, read four books, bought all sorts of crazy candy for my kids, and rested the mind. made the greuling 10-hour drive home in one day, and i'm happy to report bella muddled through without us.
pictures to follow shortly. as for now, i am going to ruin my mind with the tv set that i have been deprived of for allllll this time.
Thursday, February 12, 2004
a helpful hint to my dear readers:
taking a class online is convenient, yes. having a professor that is not terribly familiar with computers and keeps you at the orientation for 2 hours to explain how to click on different parts of the web page is beyond frustrating.
otherwise, i am just exhausted. burnt beyond any sort of reasonable standards. need a break. thank goodness our mexican destination is currently reporting 75 degree temperatures.
taking a class online is convenient, yes. having a professor that is not terribly familiar with computers and keeps you at the orientation for 2 hours to explain how to click on different parts of the web page is beyond frustrating.
otherwise, i am just exhausted. burnt beyond any sort of reasonable standards. need a break. thank goodness our mexican destination is currently reporting 75 degree temperatures.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
so? guess what?
the lovely beau and i are headed to mexico on saturday. sort of a last-minute decision, but a last-minute decision that i am behind! quite frankly, nothing sounds more appealing than 72 degree weather, a beachfront hotel, a pool, lots of naps, some books, and some adventure.
this will be the first time we've left the belle, so my mothering anxiety is turned up high. fortunately, i suppose, i'm too tired and busy to give it much thought.
in school news, i was asking the students yesterday the different ways we tell stories-- writing, reading, in songs, in poems, and the oral tradition. they lost their shit!! because i said the word "oral" in class. they couldn't settle down-- i finally had to say "oh, i forgot that i'm with middle-schoolers and EVERYTHING has a sexual connotation".
the lovely beau and i are headed to mexico on saturday. sort of a last-minute decision, but a last-minute decision that i am behind! quite frankly, nothing sounds more appealing than 72 degree weather, a beachfront hotel, a pool, lots of naps, some books, and some adventure.
this will be the first time we've left the belle, so my mothering anxiety is turned up high. fortunately, i suppose, i'm too tired and busy to give it much thought.
in school news, i was asking the students yesterday the different ways we tell stories-- writing, reading, in songs, in poems, and the oral tradition. they lost their shit!! because i said the word "oral" in class. they couldn't settle down-- i finally had to say "oh, i forgot that i'm with middle-schoolers and EVERYTHING has a sexual connotation".
Sunday, February 08, 2004
this evening, posthipchick would like to leave you with a few pieces of advice:
1. always take a bath by candlelight. that way, if there is anything questionable in the bathtub, you won't see it.
2. nap with an animal. no matter how bad your insomnia is, their breathing and relaxed state will rub off on you.
words of wisdom for your necklace of knowledge, little ones.
1. always take a bath by candlelight. that way, if there is anything questionable in the bathtub, you won't see it.
2. nap with an animal. no matter how bad your insomnia is, their breathing and relaxed state will rub off on you.
words of wisdom for your necklace of knowledge, little ones.
Saturday, February 07, 2004
Today My Blog Is 1
Today my blog is one and I have an entire year's worth of data to remember how, umm, interesting this past year has been. It's been a long road.
What has happened this year?
* Lost both my grandparents
* Graduated college
* Spent a horrific summer learning to become a teacher
* Got the Belle and learned to be a dog person
* Met hordes of new people
* Became a teacher
* Started graduate school
It's really been quite a year. Perhaps one of the most eventful so far. Most of the time, I've been feeling like this baby hawk featured, just learning how to ride the air.
Today my blog is one and I have an entire year's worth of data to remember how, umm, interesting this past year has been. It's been a long road.
What has happened this year?
* Lost both my grandparents
* Graduated college
* Spent a horrific summer learning to become a teacher
* Got the Belle and learned to be a dog person
* Met hordes of new people
* Became a teacher
* Started graduate school
It's really been quite a year. Perhaps one of the most eventful so far. Most of the time, I've been feeling like this baby hawk featured, just learning how to ride the air.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
how about a 'no teacher left behind' act to help us comply with bush's 'no child left behind'?
if you don't know much about no child left behind (aka NCLB), it basically is a mandate that all teachers must be credentialed by 2006, and all schools must be performing at a certain level. if the school is not performing at a certain level, students have the option to change districts to a school that is performing well (all costs paid for by the district they are transferring from). you can only begin to imagine the chaos that would ensue if this comes to pass. of course, there is no additional money being offered to help schools, teachers, or students to assist them in this endeavor.
so, part of my situation, being in Teach For America, is that I am an uncredentialed "intern" and have to be working towards my credential, in my particular case, at a particular state school. now, with budgets being cut and all, the school is not able to offer enough courses for all the teachers that need to be credentialed. so you're pretty screwed, is the message i've received after spending ALL GODDAMN DAY on the phone with the people from the college. you might wonder 'how can they do this?' and i have to tell you, i stare at the sky with the same wonderment. how can they tell you to do something and then not offer the something you have to do? i don't seem to have any options at this point, except (and i quote from the head of the department) "to go and beg and plead".
great. isn't life good? aren't you glad they make it so difficult to do a job that, last time i checked, nobody really wants to do? oh, and throw in that high-paying salary, and i'm sure you'll all become teachers.
if you don't know much about no child left behind (aka NCLB), it basically is a mandate that all teachers must be credentialed by 2006, and all schools must be performing at a certain level. if the school is not performing at a certain level, students have the option to change districts to a school that is performing well (all costs paid for by the district they are transferring from). you can only begin to imagine the chaos that would ensue if this comes to pass. of course, there is no additional money being offered to help schools, teachers, or students to assist them in this endeavor.
so, part of my situation, being in Teach For America, is that I am an uncredentialed "intern" and have to be working towards my credential, in my particular case, at a particular state school. now, with budgets being cut and all, the school is not able to offer enough courses for all the teachers that need to be credentialed. so you're pretty screwed, is the message i've received after spending ALL GODDAMN DAY on the phone with the people from the college. you might wonder 'how can they do this?' and i have to tell you, i stare at the sky with the same wonderment. how can they tell you to do something and then not offer the something you have to do? i don't seem to have any options at this point, except (and i quote from the head of the department) "to go and beg and plead".
great. isn't life good? aren't you glad they make it so difficult to do a job that, last time i checked, nobody really wants to do? oh, and throw in that high-paying salary, and i'm sure you'll all become teachers.
