June 30, 2007
Chrissie turns the big 4-0 today! Drop by and wish her all the best, as I do.
Happy Birthday my friend, and may the next year bring immeasurable blessings... in straightforward and entirely pleasant ways!
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June 27, 2007
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June 26, 2007
I sure hope she takes after her mom. Dad is on the left, below:
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Anyway, we are mostly settled. Oh yeah, the house still looks like a box tornado hit it. Boxes in every room. But everyday the number of boxes decreases, and every day we get a little closer to "settled".
This weekend we focused on the backyard. We planted tomatoes and peppers and flowers. We ripped out a bunch of trash (dying annuals) that the previous owners planted to make the house pretty. Oh, and we mowed the lawn. Yep, we bought a lawnmower. We also attacked the honeysuckle bush that grows over the top of our patio's arbor. It was far to heavy for it's own good, and the growth underneath is dying from lack of sun, so we cut it way back.
We're also trying out different types of squirrel repellent. I hate the little bastards. They ate ALL of our apricots, and are currently trying to duplicate that feat with the plums. DH says he's like Ralphie, and he wants a BB gun for Christmas.
I don't think he'll shoot his eye out, do you?
The list of things we want to do to the house keeps getting longer, as we get settled. However, it's also getting pushed back by the list of things we NEED to do in the house.... like when the hot water in the shower mysteriously stops working all of a sudden...Needless to say, DH is now known far and wide as MASTER PLUMBER. It was a $25 repair, the plumber would have charged me AT LEAST 10X as much.
Things at work are settling down, too. My book chapter is in. Not quite on time, but certainly not the last one, either. I have been busy doing the part of my job that I refer to as "the other stuff": student business, community outreach, etc. I sure as hell like this stuff better than being in the lab.
I know I haven't blogged about it much, but I have been keeping up with the news. This Jessie Davis case has made me sick. What the hell kind of asshole kills the mother of his child, and his unborn child when his wife already knows about them? He had nothing to gain from killing Jessie and Chloe. Not a damn thing. And now his little boy will grow up without either of his parents.
And I must tell you, I am so glad this whole Paris Hilton crap is over. I STG I now know why people in other countries hate us and think we're weak. We watch a billionaire's daughter get chauffered to and from jail. And this is SUPPOSEWDLY IMPORTANT. Never mind that people are fighting and dying in places most Americans can't find on a map, a rich blonde is going to jail! Stop the presses!
Give me a friggin' break.
I'm still on the Fred bandwagon. The more I hear from Fred, the more I like. And the thing is, Fred and I may disagree on some issues, but he has the cojones to get the job done. I really believe it. Like Reagan, there's something about Fred that tells me he's got an agenda, and nothing is going to stop him from making it happen. The comparison to Reagan, is especially apt, I think. Not even because Fred is also an actor. But maybe that gives him an edge, too. He has ties outside of Washington, he's in touch with the rest of the world. I mean, heck, he has a BLOG! He actually blogs (sometimes, the majority of the posts are excerpts from his daily commentaries). And he's already spoken out on a number of very touchy issues that others won't touch: Cuba, Israel, National Health Care.
I suppose that's about it for now. I'm sure I'll think of something else later....
Oh, and it's been one year since we lost Acidman. I still have him on the blogroll, listed as the "Evil Fairy Godfather" which, in many ways, he was to me. At least in the blogworld. Rob was always good for a laugh, and he always spoke his mind, a rare enough trait in this world. Rob introduced me to many many folks I am proud to call friends, and made me feel welcome when I was just a noob.
Rob wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but he was always a gentleman to me, and I loved him for it.
Why, Rob, did you have to drink so much? And leave the party so early? We loved you just as well sober. And I know you wanted to spend more time with Sam and Quinton and Mommie.
I wish I could have met you. I tried, you know. God damn food poisoning. I thought we'd have more time, and more chances.
In my mind's eye there's a beach and a bar out there somewhere, and a guitar with soft strings, and wimmin with red toenails aplenty.... rest in peace. Or not. I suppose raising hell is more your style.
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I was wondering how things were going for ya'll.
Have you seen the "Fred On?" I almost peed my pants. June 21, 2007
Helen and Angus found out what flavor(s) of twins they're getting.
I'll let her tell you, though.
Now that I know, however, it's off to the yarn store for appropriate baby-colored yarn. I already have a pattern in mind.
I wish all you people would just quit having babies, already! I'm already behind with their presents! (j/k)
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June 14, 2007
I love you Daddy. Have a wonderful day!
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June 13, 2007
h/t Ith
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June 11, 2007
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June 05, 2007
A few weeks ago, during my fairly usual rant to CTG about my day at work, she suggested I take blog keys and post about it. The particular story in question was going to be a lot of work to type up and make coherent, though, and I didn't have the time to write a freaking essay. But I have another story for today that isn't so complicated. ItÂ’s definitely something smallish to mark that first tentative toe-dip into blogging.
I am a middle school math teacher (ah, that explains a lot, doesn't it?). I teach in a district where the primary student populations are Armenian and Hispanic. I have a student named Greg who really needs to be in Special Education, but his parents refuse to allow the placement. Greg is Armenian. Greg's mom is adamant that he just needs more patience and tutoring.
Now, my take on Special Education is that too many kids are lumped there for stupid reasons. I have a lot of students who have phantom "auditory processing disorders" who I suspect are just 12-year-olds who are too distracted to pay attention. Yes, I know that makes me a bad person who is going straight to hell.
Greg will avoid reading whenever possible. He will come up to my desk and ask me to tell him what to do rather than read the instructions. Ask him to read out loud, and he will clumsily sound out words. I'm not convinced he understands what he's reading, either. He doesn't often follow directions, at least. Clearly, information has trouble getting into his little head.
I am currently working with my students on a project requiring the definitions of acute, right, and obtuse triangles. I have done this project every year since I started teaching 4 years ago, and I know that every time, I get many definitions for acute, right, and obtuse angles. This year, I was convinced I would keep them on the straight and narrow. No more glossary definitions. Students scanning the glossary for "acute" will find the definition of "acute angle" above "acute triangle". It's depressing how many of them will just seize on the first similar-sounding item. Bless them for thinking to look in the glossary, but not today.
I gave a loooong, way over the top talk about how they could avoid the fate their predecessors had not. We were going to copy (gasp!) the definitions straight out of the text. I instructed my students to copy them onto a lined paper for homework. I interrupted those kids AT LEAST six times to make sure they were tracking on the correct page. “What are we NOT going to do?” “Use the glossary”. “What page are the instructions on?” “Page 404”
The next morning, Greg came up to my desk with a gigantic grin on his face. “Mrs. Cheese, I finished my homework!” I was suitably enthusiastic and congratulatory. He then proceeds to shove the paper in my face and ask, “Did I do it right?”
Sigh. I hate that. But itÂ’s Greg. Greg needs that kind of affirmation.
So I look for “acute”, as that will tell me all I need to know. As I feared, I saw a picture of an angle. Then I looked at the text. “Did I do it right?” he asked again. Sighing, I looked up at his hopeful face.
“Well, Greg, aside from the fact that it’s in Spanish…”
“What?” gasped a Hispanic student at Greg’s group, “Lemme see!” A very confused Greg handed the paper limply to his group mate. “Oh my God, it’s in SPANISH!” pronounced Carlos. Carlos then proceeds to show the paper around to his Spanish-speaking friends. A ripple spreads over the kids.
Now, a good teacher would have put a stop to this. A good teacher would have taken one look at GregÂ’s face, which was just now starting to register that, the ruckus? It might not be a good thing. That's what a good, compassionate teacher would have done. What was I doing? Laughing so hard that I had to turn my chair towards the wall.
Mystery solved below: more...
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June 01, 2007
Second, VW shares more toilet humor from Tot.... (drink warning!)
Enjoy!
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