Thursday, November 24, 2005
Graphic Addiction
A picture is worth a thousand words, and so I find them efficient as well as wonderful. This is probably why I am adding so many of them lately. Even if I can't always focus, I can find a graphic that adds to my message (or at least looks cute sitting there next to it.)
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Home
Despite the fact that I live and teach in Utah; there's something wonderful about returning home. I love seeing my family, and it seems like it's been forever since I saw them last. I'm here from today until Saturday at 6 am. I'm looking forward to a somewhat insane (but FUN) couple of days.
My sister with three kids is also in town (J). She lives in KC now, and so I don't see her nearly as much as I once did. (That and the fact that I live in UT. Married sister (T) lives in town. Twin sister (M) still lives at home (she's moving out this summer). Mom and Dad are here as always.
Note: Graphic on right is not actually my home, but a person's house is her castle, right?
Yesterday
Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life. I can't even get very specific because it was all because of school stuff. I wish parents truly understood that I love each and every one of my students. I would never dream of retaliating against any of them. That's not my personality, and I have no idea why anyone would ever get that idea. I've racked my brain thinking how anyone could think that. I've even gone out of my way to make sure that some of my students get extra positive attention.
I'm trying to forget things at school so that I can have a good Thanksgiving break. The only problem is that teaching has become more than just a job (I kinda think it always has been). It makes me so sad that people can be so hateful. I do understand that men and women love their children deeply, and that love makes them do and say things they might not otherwise do or say. I do hope that when I have children I'll try to give the teacher the benefit of the doubt. (Only time will tell since I won't have any children until I'm actually married, and who knows when that will be)
I'm trying to forget things at school so that I can have a good Thanksgiving break. The only problem is that teaching has become more than just a job (I kinda think it always has been). It makes me so sad that people can be so hateful. I do understand that men and women love their children deeply, and that love makes them do and say things they might not otherwise do or say. I do hope that when I have children I'll try to give the teacher the benefit of the doubt. (Only time will tell since I won't have any children until I'm actually married, and who knows when that will be)
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Brand New Day
I woke up this morning, went to the gym, and exercised. Hurrah to a bright new day! I went a whole 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer and felt like I could it again. On second thought, though, I decided that I didn't want to overdo it on the first day, so I got off. The minute my feet touched the floor, my legs turned into jello. (Trite, but true) I wobbled my way out the doors, took a shower, and still felt like I could meet the world. Miracle!
After my shower, off I went to the library for my weekly pilgrimage. I got a whole new installment of books to last me through long waits for flights, longer airtime, etc. I always pray for buried book treasure, and today I found it. I believe I found an unread Barbara Michaels and a previously undiscovered Agatha Christie (my tastes run toward brain candy and mysteries).
I actually made it to school and was productive, too. I rearranged my bookcases based on genre (Wohoo!) I worked on the communal puzzle (fast finisher). I almost worked on my lesson plan for Monday (I finished that this evening.) I spent most of the time listening to a book on tape. The title of the book is something like King of Shadows or Shadow King; it's by Susan Cooper. In between tapes, I transferred back to my car and started the long journey home.
I have very little memory of what I did with the rest of my day. I think I spent it reading, watching one of the Matrix movies on T.V. (last time roommate and I had been watching it and had been interrupted). That's about it. Except for the pumpkin pie.
Yep. pumpkin pie, and not even Thanksgiving yet. I went to Macey's for either fruit or fat (I wasn't quite sure at the time which, preferably both). I left Macey's with frozen veggies, nerds, laffy taffy, lite cool whip, and a pumpkin pie. How do I do these things? (Noone knows.)
Anyway, luckily I've had help eating said pie and am now off to bed. Good Night!
After my shower, off I went to the library for my weekly pilgrimage. I got a whole new installment of books to last me through long waits for flights, longer airtime, etc. I always pray for buried book treasure, and today I found it. I believe I found an unread Barbara Michaels and a previously undiscovered Agatha Christie (my tastes run toward brain candy and mysteries).
I actually made it to school and was productive, too. I rearranged my bookcases based on genre (Wohoo!) I worked on the communal puzzle (fast finisher). I almost worked on my lesson plan for Monday (I finished that this evening.) I spent most of the time listening to a book on tape. The title of the book is something like King of Shadows or Shadow King; it's by Susan Cooper. In between tapes, I transferred back to my car and started the long journey home.
I have very little memory of what I did with the rest of my day. I think I spent it reading, watching one of the Matrix movies on T.V. (last time roommate and I had been watching it and had been interrupted). That's about it. Except for the pumpkin pie.
Yep. pumpkin pie, and not even Thanksgiving yet. I went to Macey's for either fruit or fat (I wasn't quite sure at the time which, preferably both). I left Macey's with frozen veggies, nerds, laffy taffy, lite cool whip, and a pumpkin pie. How do I do these things? (Noone knows.)
Anyway, luckily I've had help eating said pie and am now off to bed. Good Night!
Friday, November 18, 2005
24 Hours of Fitness
Last Night
So . . . guess who just joined a fitness club. Yep, me. Last night, on the way home from school, I saw a sign boasting $0 enrollment fee (an exaggeration at best). However, the sign and my high cholesterol were catalysts to get me inside the club.
Once inside, I met J. Yes, helpful sales associate (although here I think they have some fitness-related name) J. is the only boy I've met who reminds me completely of my ex-boyfriend, the one from Southern California. J. proceeded to tell me all about the different fitness solutions they had available, etc., etc. I let him go on for what seemed like FOREVER, and finally, I asked him how much all this would cost. (I think I caught him off guard.) He asked if I would like to tour the facilities. I told him that I wanted to go over pricing. Now. He suggested that if I looked around first, I would realize the value the price was later. I told him I wanted to know the prices. Now. I explained that I realized that policy was probably to tour first, tell the consumer the cost later, but I didn't care. I also promised to stay for the tour. (This seemed to make him feel a little better.) Finally, I got what I wanted. We went over price options and payment plans, and I got to think about all of this while I went on the tour.
Of course, after all of this, I was a bit tired, but the experience continued. Oh, yes. Next, I decided to get the plan that included 5 personal trainer visits. Over the long run, it's a better deal. We worked out payment, which means I'll still be paying for my personal trainer in January (by which time I hope to be seeing major/minor results). We finally got everything set (a guy came over to help J. two times), and off we went to the cash register. The cash register was another annoying, time-wasting endeavor. J. somehow set the amount I would pay tonight as $40/$50 more than I had wanted to. At that point though, it was worth the money to leave the club. Did they engineer the whole thing to make me want to pay more? I doubt it, but they couldn't have done it better if they'd tried. One-and-a-half hours after walking into the club, I finally emerged, tired, but triumphant.
Tonight
I met J2. tonight. J2 will be my personal trainer. J2 is nothing like my ex-boyfriend, is married, and is efficient and competent. I like J2. I had my prelim session with J2. This was the part where we saw how overweight and out of shape I was. Fun, huh. I go back on Tuesday at 6 am. While I'm not looking forward to the hour, I am definitely looking forward to going back. We'll see how this works.
Well, I have to be going. I'm off to a Book of Mormon read-a-thon. I have to admit that I'm a big fan, but I'm a bit skeptical about this activity. I'm going anyway, though. It will be good for me, less I'll be behind with the challenge. Anyway, here I go.
So . . . guess who just joined a fitness club. Yep, me. Last night, on the way home from school, I saw a sign boasting $0 enrollment fee (an exaggeration at best). However, the sign and my high cholesterol were catalysts to get me inside the club.
Once inside, I met J. Yes, helpful sales associate (although here I think they have some fitness-related name) J. is the only boy I've met who reminds me completely of my ex-boyfriend, the one from Southern California. J. proceeded to tell me all about the different fitness solutions they had available, etc., etc. I let him go on for what seemed like FOREVER, and finally, I asked him how much all this would cost. (I think I caught him off guard.) He asked if I would like to tour the facilities. I told him that I wanted to go over pricing. Now. He suggested that if I looked around first, I would realize the value the price was later. I told him I wanted to know the prices. Now. I explained that I realized that policy was probably to tour first, tell the consumer the cost later, but I didn't care. I also promised to stay for the tour. (This seemed to make him feel a little better.) Finally, I got what I wanted. We went over price options and payment plans, and I got to think about all of this while I went on the tour.
Of course, after all of this, I was a bit tired, but the experience continued. Oh, yes. Next, I decided to get the plan that included 5 personal trainer visits. Over the long run, it's a better deal. We worked out payment, which means I'll still be paying for my personal trainer in January (by which time I hope to be seeing major/minor results). We finally got everything set (a guy came over to help J. two times), and off we went to the cash register. The cash register was another annoying, time-wasting endeavor. J. somehow set the amount I would pay tonight as $40/$50 more than I had wanted to. At that point though, it was worth the money to leave the club. Did they engineer the whole thing to make me want to pay more? I doubt it, but they couldn't have done it better if they'd tried. One-and-a-half hours after walking into the club, I finally emerged, tired, but triumphant.
Tonight
I met J2. tonight. J2 will be my personal trainer. J2 is nothing like my ex-boyfriend, is married, and is efficient and competent. I like J2. I had my prelim session with J2. This was the part where we saw how overweight and out of shape I was. Fun, huh. I go back on Tuesday at 6 am. While I'm not looking forward to the hour, I am definitely looking forward to going back. We'll see how this works.
Well, I have to be going. I'm off to a Book of Mormon read-a-thon. I have to admit that I'm a big fan, but I'm a bit skeptical about this activity. I'm going anyway, though. It will be good for me, less I'll be behind with the challenge. Anyway, here I go.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
An Inauspicious Start
Hurrah!!! Survived the day! This morning, I woke up (several times, actually), stumbled sleepily to the bathroom door and looked, only to find that M, the guest of a roommate, was taking a shower--at 6:20 in the morning. I waited only to realize that it would be faster to just go to school and the rest of the way ready there. You see, I basically live at school. I keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and face wash there. Since I take showers at night, I had everything (except makeup) in my classroom.
I stopped by Wal-Mart on the day to school. I needed to make sure I had deodorant--a definite must since I teach P.E. on Thursdays. I actually had good luck, asian pears were 2 for $1, not a bad price.
I spent the morning making sure my lesson plans, etc. were ready. I get observed tomorrow morning by some teachers interested in seeing Investigations taught. Ugh. I get observed Monday by my principal. Ack! This afternoon, I spent arranging my display outside my classroom and reorganizing inside my classroom.
Well, I'm still at school, and whether or not I really am, I am definitely done for the day. It's time to head home.
I stopped by Wal-Mart on the day to school. I needed to make sure I had deodorant--a definite must since I teach P.E. on Thursdays. I actually had good luck, asian pears were 2 for $1, not a bad price.
I spent the morning making sure my lesson plans, etc. were ready. I get observed tomorrow morning by some teachers interested in seeing Investigations taught. Ugh. I get observed Monday by my principal. Ack! This afternoon, I spent arranging my display outside my classroom and reorganizing inside my classroom.
Well, I'm still at school, and whether or not I really am, I am definitely done for the day. It's time to head home.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Energy Anyone?
Well, I've been trying a prescription to help me with the constant fatigue. After three tiring days, I have to admit I'm a bit skeptical. I'm not sure how long it should take to be effective, but I'm getting a little impatient. Although, it is midnight, and I'm sitting here blogging because I took a nap earlier and now can't sleep. Hmmm...not quite the effects I was looking for.
Overall, it's been a productive day. I spent the afternoon at school working on grading paper after paper and recording them two places: on paper and in my computer. Tomorrow, I'll need to spend the day cleaning my room. Ergh. I have people coming to observe me teach Math on Friday, and I don't want them to walk into a pigsty. Talk about pressure, I'm definitely feeling it. I also have to read over the lesson tomorrow morning. (If I can wake up that is.)
We've been in school awhile now, and I am still vascilating between feeling in complete control and wondering how I can provide my students the best education possible. I've had to stop putting in twelve-hour workdays, but I am trying to work smarter, not harder (yeah, it's not working too well yet, but I'll keep trying.)
Anyway, here's to tomorrow.
Overall, it's been a productive day. I spent the afternoon at school working on grading paper after paper and recording them two places: on paper and in my computer. Tomorrow, I'll need to spend the day cleaning my room. Ergh. I have people coming to observe me teach Math on Friday, and I don't want them to walk into a pigsty. Talk about pressure, I'm definitely feeling it. I also have to read over the lesson tomorrow morning. (If I can wake up that is.)
We've been in school awhile now, and I am still vascilating between feeling in complete control and wondering how I can provide my students the best education possible. I've had to stop putting in twelve-hour workdays, but I am trying to work smarter, not harder (yeah, it's not working too well yet, but I'll keep trying.)
Anyway, here's to tomorrow.
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