No Focaccia bread in the making today. I did not even look up the recipe in the book. I am slacker. But I did clean my whiteboard, all of the desks in my classroom, and made the room smell generally like Clorox. Probably the first time it has smelled that way since the beginning of the school year.
I came home only to vacuum some more. Felt like I should take a nap instead. Alas, I did not. But I did make some fried rice for dinner. Not a bad Friday Lenten sort of meal. Pretty quick too.
More impressively, I enrolled in my last education course. Barring any major malfunctions with my TWS, I should be done with all this alternate route work on June 16th. I think that is wonderful. Downer is that the last week of that class falls right when I jet off to Disney. Maybe if I am really an overachiever I could be done with all of the work before I even head out there.
Booked a flight to Disney and for a wedding at the end of July. I need to work out how to get up to Maine the following weekend. Also, I am excited to be on the back 10 weeks of the semester. How cool is that?!?!
But that only eclipses the fact that Andrew will be here in 24 hours. yey! I booked us a little get away...to Kansas City. Should be relaxing. Plus, I don't have any work to do. I just can't contain myself.
Day 62
Only 2 more days until Andy comes home. I am sooo excited. For some reason I am also really tense about everything. Not sure why - but sure as heck my shoulders are tense all day long.
No more students. They checked out last Friday come to think of it. They have only been here because well we ask them to be here. All of my grades are done. I might spend my teacher work day cleaning my classroom. (Sometimes I think my students live in a barn.) Maybe I will do some redecoration too. I found some Gorilla Tape that works fantastically on cinder block. Then I will work on some lesson writing. Just found out that there is a Forensics tournament tomorrow. They need my room at 3pm - I guess that means I should be out of there by 2, right? Good, I did not want to stay until 3 anyway.
I have an urge to make focaccia bread. Actually I have an urge to make all sorts of breads. Not sure why. Bread is untouched territory for me. I do not really make dough unless it is pizza dough. What is life all about except for trying something different - maybe I will pick up the ingredients on the way home from school tomorrow.
It's 8 pm - and I am beat. I think I must have something wrong with me. Come to think of it - I am tired at 4 pm when I get home from school. Not like ugh, that was a rough day tired, but I feel sleepy tired. Weird, I know.
Going to find something relaxing - no knitting, I feel to sleep to keep track of my knit and purls at the moment. But early to bed is appropriate I think.
No more students. They checked out last Friday come to think of it. They have only been here because well we ask them to be here. All of my grades are done. I might spend my teacher work day cleaning my classroom. (Sometimes I think my students live in a barn.) Maybe I will do some redecoration too. I found some Gorilla Tape that works fantastically on cinder block. Then I will work on some lesson writing. Just found out that there is a Forensics tournament tomorrow. They need my room at 3pm - I guess that means I should be out of there by 2, right? Good, I did not want to stay until 3 anyway.
I have an urge to make focaccia bread. Actually I have an urge to make all sorts of breads. Not sure why. Bread is untouched territory for me. I do not really make dough unless it is pizza dough. What is life all about except for trying something different - maybe I will pick up the ingredients on the way home from school tomorrow.
It's 8 pm - and I am beat. I think I must have something wrong with me. Come to think of it - I am tired at 4 pm when I get home from school. Not like ugh, that was a rough day tired, but I feel sleepy tired. Weird, I know.
Going to find something relaxing - no knitting, I feel to sleep to keep track of my knit and purls at the moment. But early to bed is appropriate I think.
Day 60
We have hit the 2 month mark. How wacky is that? I can not believe it has gone by so quickly. Well maybe I can. Teaching really makes the time fly by.
Speaking of teaching - we are pretty much at the end of the 3rd quarter. Grade reports will go out - and most likely, they will ruin some of my students' spring break. I don't really mind though (is that a heartless thing to say?). This week is going to the dogs though. They smell break and do not want to do anything. I keep reminding them of their quiz right before break, though. We'll see how that turns out.
Also on the teaching front, rumors fly. The high school is going to take the brunt of the cuts. Why? Because the budget committee is filled with a bunch of elementary school teachers. Not that I do not see their job as important but why not make the cuts across all the schools? Even more rumors - two of the four first round cuts will be math teachers. Funny, the math department has not grown in size over the past 6-9 years. Cheers to bigger class sizes, no overloads, and less math teachers. Oh well.
More teaching, I finished the 25 page teacher work sample paper for my alternate route certification. It is not due until April 26th. I guess I am an over achiever but I did not want to worry about it while Andy was home. It took me nearly 15 hours to complete all the writing. I still feel it is totally useless. But by summer's end I should have an honest to goodness real license. Job - who knows...
I am just about 3/4 of the way done with book 4 of the Dark Tower. Stupid paper took up most of my weekend - thus less reading. I also took up knitting again. Going to try to make another blanket. I made up my own pattern of swatches that I will sew together at the end. I watched a whole bunch of movies - Julie and Julia (I really liked it), The Mummy - Tomb of the Dragon Emporer (silly flick but entertaining), I Love You Man (awww Paul Rudd), and something else I am sure. I have added more of the oscar nominated films to the netflix queue so I am excited about that.
Only 2-3 more days and I get some Andy time. Only 2 more days of school. Goodness I could use this break!
Speaking of teaching - we are pretty much at the end of the 3rd quarter. Grade reports will go out - and most likely, they will ruin some of my students' spring break. I don't really mind though (is that a heartless thing to say?). This week is going to the dogs though. They smell break and do not want to do anything. I keep reminding them of their quiz right before break, though. We'll see how that turns out.
Also on the teaching front, rumors fly. The high school is going to take the brunt of the cuts. Why? Because the budget committee is filled with a bunch of elementary school teachers. Not that I do not see their job as important but why not make the cuts across all the schools? Even more rumors - two of the four first round cuts will be math teachers. Funny, the math department has not grown in size over the past 6-9 years. Cheers to bigger class sizes, no overloads, and less math teachers. Oh well.
More teaching, I finished the 25 page teacher work sample paper for my alternate route certification. It is not due until April 26th. I guess I am an over achiever but I did not want to worry about it while Andy was home. It took me nearly 15 hours to complete all the writing. I still feel it is totally useless. But by summer's end I should have an honest to goodness real license. Job - who knows...
I am just about 3/4 of the way done with book 4 of the Dark Tower. Stupid paper took up most of my weekend - thus less reading. I also took up knitting again. Going to try to make another blanket. I made up my own pattern of swatches that I will sew together at the end. I watched a whole bunch of movies - Julie and Julia (I really liked it), The Mummy - Tomb of the Dragon Emporer (silly flick but entertaining), I Love You Man (awww Paul Rudd), and something else I am sure. I have added more of the oscar nominated films to the netflix queue so I am excited about that.
Only 2-3 more days and I get some Andy time. Only 2 more days of school. Goodness I could use this break!
Day 55
State Testing has been really draining. Watching students test for 6 hours out of the day is really mind numbing.
Upside - I have about 3 pages written for my Teacher Work Sample. That covers the majority of one factor of the unit I did last semester. I still have 6 more factors to churn out. I hope I can manage to get a sizable amount (maybe 3 - 4 more factors) done over the weekend. Then I do not have to worry about spending all the time of spring break worrying about the paper. I really want to enjoy Andy's time home.
Only a week to go.
Upside - I have about 3 pages written for my Teacher Work Sample. That covers the majority of one factor of the unit I did last semester. I still have 6 more factors to churn out. I hope I can manage to get a sizable amount (maybe 3 - 4 more factors) done over the weekend. Then I do not have to worry about spending all the time of spring break worrying about the paper. I really want to enjoy Andy's time home.
Only a week to go.
Day 52
Only 8 more days and we will hit the 2 month mark for this deployment. How quick did that move. I am glad February is over. The month was totally useless.
Today was day one of state assessment testing. I think if you had asked me to watch paint dry or proctor state assessments - I would have a seriously difficult decision on my hands. I guess the upside is that I am not really teaching anything for a couple of days. But the days are wasted - I am trying to get myself going on this Teacher Work Sample but it is jerky. Jerky as in start and stop, not jerky like an a hole is jerky. I can type a little bit. But then I have to get up to check students, at which point I have forgotten what the heck I was typing about.
As for reading news - I am about halfway through Dark Tower 4. I am in the midst of when Roland tells his backstory. I was much more intrigued as they passed through Topeka. King does a pretty good job of describing Gage Park, the zoo, rose garden, and the train. It was part of the story that I could really visualize. See - being sent to Kansas hasn't been all that bad. At least I can say I have been somewhere that Stephen King wrote about.
I think I will make this the end of the post. I want to catch 24, take out Silvio, and then go to bed. I am keeping my fingers crossed that for the first time in a while I will actually go to bed when I say I am going to bed. Anyone want to take any bets?
Today was day one of state assessment testing. I think if you had asked me to watch paint dry or proctor state assessments - I would have a seriously difficult decision on my hands. I guess the upside is that I am not really teaching anything for a couple of days. But the days are wasted - I am trying to get myself going on this Teacher Work Sample but it is jerky. Jerky as in start and stop, not jerky like an a hole is jerky. I can type a little bit. But then I have to get up to check students, at which point I have forgotten what the heck I was typing about.
As for reading news - I am about halfway through Dark Tower 4. I am in the midst of when Roland tells his backstory. I was much more intrigued as they passed through Topeka. King does a pretty good job of describing Gage Park, the zoo, rose garden, and the train. It was part of the story that I could really visualize. See - being sent to Kansas hasn't been all that bad. At least I can say I have been somewhere that Stephen King wrote about.
I think I will make this the end of the post. I want to catch 24, take out Silvio, and then go to bed. I am keeping my fingers crossed that for the first time in a while I will actually go to bed when I say I am going to bed. Anyone want to take any bets?
Day 51
This past week has been a blur.
Driving around in the new car has been fantastic. It is a great vehicle. I still don't have a name for it. Could I just be that low on my creative juices to not be able to come up with a name? Happy car was such a great name. Is there some sort of cut-off for coming up with a car name? I feel like if it goes another week or two and I do not get inspiration - then that's it...it's nameless. But that would be horrible. Oh well.
School has been alright. I have felt really tired lately - so I have been going home early. I think it comes down to the saying the same lesson 5 times in a row. Mind-numbingly painful. At least this week we are finally taking the state assessment. But my students really do not care about it. Would you care about an 80 question multiple choice test that has no bearing on your educational progress? They don't see money coming into the school for meeting AYP as bearing on their educational development. I'll be happy to get back to at least teaching 2 different lessons a day.
Thursday night I had another new teacher meeting. That was 2 hours that I probably won't get back. At least there are only 2 more of these meeting left in the semester. The next one is not until April. Hurray!
Went to my first FRG meeting. Yep - been in the army nearly two years. First official FRG event attended. It was nice to get out of the house. Also good to chat with some other wives about what is going on.
Spent about 4 hours on the road yesterday. Now the new vehicle is totally complete. Crossbars installed for our next move (now we can store things on top of the vehicle) and running boards. Yes, I'm short - sometimes I need a little boost.
I managed to get all of my lessons and work ready for the week after spring break. I intend on spending portions of this week working on my Teacher Work Sample. Monday through Wednesday will be spent watching students take tests on computers. I think I should be able to manage some sort of attempt at starting the darn thing, right? I really have no desire to write another 25 page paper. But I suppose it needs to be done. Aren't 10 classroom evaluations throughout the year enough? Now I am starting to get angry about it. My apologies.
Andrew is coming home in 2 weeks!!!! Goals: Clean house (I'd rather do that than write this paper), Get tags for the new car, Write a huge chunk of this paper, get some exercise in (i hope it gets a bit warmer outside), maybe get in some knitting, finish reading book 4 of Dark Tower, oh and update more.
Driving around in the new car has been fantastic. It is a great vehicle. I still don't have a name for it. Could I just be that low on my creative juices to not be able to come up with a name? Happy car was such a great name. Is there some sort of cut-off for coming up with a car name? I feel like if it goes another week or two and I do not get inspiration - then that's it...it's nameless. But that would be horrible. Oh well.
School has been alright. I have felt really tired lately - so I have been going home early. I think it comes down to the saying the same lesson 5 times in a row. Mind-numbingly painful. At least this week we are finally taking the state assessment. But my students really do not care about it. Would you care about an 80 question multiple choice test that has no bearing on your educational progress? They don't see money coming into the school for meeting AYP as bearing on their educational development. I'll be happy to get back to at least teaching 2 different lessons a day.
Thursday night I had another new teacher meeting. That was 2 hours that I probably won't get back. At least there are only 2 more of these meeting left in the semester. The next one is not until April. Hurray!
Went to my first FRG meeting. Yep - been in the army nearly two years. First official FRG event attended. It was nice to get out of the house. Also good to chat with some other wives about what is going on.
Spent about 4 hours on the road yesterday. Now the new vehicle is totally complete. Crossbars installed for our next move (now we can store things on top of the vehicle) and running boards. Yes, I'm short - sometimes I need a little boost.
I managed to get all of my lessons and work ready for the week after spring break. I intend on spending portions of this week working on my Teacher Work Sample. Monday through Wednesday will be spent watching students take tests on computers. I think I should be able to manage some sort of attempt at starting the darn thing, right? I really have no desire to write another 25 page paper. But I suppose it needs to be done. Aren't 10 classroom evaluations throughout the year enough? Now I am starting to get angry about it. My apologies.
Andrew is coming home in 2 weeks!!!! Goals: Clean house (I'd rather do that than write this paper), Get tags for the new car, Write a huge chunk of this paper, get some exercise in (i hope it gets a bit warmer outside), maybe get in some knitting, finish reading book 4 of Dark Tower, oh and update more.
Day 43
I spent most of today at a dealership in Wichita.
First, never trust Google directions from Manhattan to Wichita. It tells you take the most obtuse roundabout travel route. There is another route that can get you with a half hour to spare. Plus, Google tells you that same route will take a half hour longer than the route it wants you to take. Sometimes you steer me very wrong dear Google maps.
Back to the action. The dealership was fantastic. All of the salesmen there were kind and attentive - compared to the dealership we went to in Kansas City a few months ago. It is one of the first Volvo dealerships in the country. How crazy is that!
This was my first foray into purchasing something without Andy here. Needless to say a bit of a mishap. Everything went along swimmingly until it came to the loan. I tried first just to get the vehicle on my own - but with the mortgage and my teacher's salary it didn't work out. But my credit is great from what they told me. So I said okay, let's include Andy and his income. Here comes the whammy - it's Saturday. If you don't fit the easy bank formula for the understaffed bank on Saturday, you are not going to get financing. Me and my power of attorney (ie, extra bit of paperwork) were not going to win the day on this one. Can't process it on Saturdays. If it was Monday, no problem. But I can not get there on Monday.
Plan B. Call up USAA. I will sing their praises up and down the snowy streets of the Little Apple. They are a fantastic bank. Right there, on the spot, I (and my power of attorney) get approval for the loan with a lower monthly payment then the dealership was giving me (which was pretty dang low to begin with). Then, USAA squares away all of the insurance paper work as well. I did it all by myself on the phone. The salesman was impressed - he said I was extremely professional on the phone. I guess because I didn't get entirely mad at the situation and start yelling and screaming at people. That is an accomplishment for me - normally I would have been an uncontrollable mess. Wow - zen and buying a vehicle.
This trip started at 9 am. By 4 pm, I moved everything from Happy car to a new black XC90. Happy Car has served me well, and I think will now have the opportunity to serve someone else well. But we have been ready for a new car for a long time. The time was right. Goodbye Happy, and welcome to the family - well damn I don't have a name for this new car. I'm sure one will come to me in time.
Since I passed most of the day in the dealership, this means that tomorrow I have to spend the day hunkering down on work. Boo.
First, never trust Google directions from Manhattan to Wichita. It tells you take the most obtuse roundabout travel route. There is another route that can get you with a half hour to spare. Plus, Google tells you that same route will take a half hour longer than the route it wants you to take. Sometimes you steer me very wrong dear Google maps.
Back to the action. The dealership was fantastic. All of the salesmen there were kind and attentive - compared to the dealership we went to in Kansas City a few months ago. It is one of the first Volvo dealerships in the country. How crazy is that!
This was my first foray into purchasing something without Andy here. Needless to say a bit of a mishap. Everything went along swimmingly until it came to the loan. I tried first just to get the vehicle on my own - but with the mortgage and my teacher's salary it didn't work out. But my credit is great from what they told me. So I said okay, let's include Andy and his income. Here comes the whammy - it's Saturday. If you don't fit the easy bank formula for the understaffed bank on Saturday, you are not going to get financing. Me and my power of attorney (ie, extra bit of paperwork) were not going to win the day on this one. Can't process it on Saturdays. If it was Monday, no problem. But I can not get there on Monday.
Plan B. Call up USAA. I will sing their praises up and down the snowy streets of the Little Apple. They are a fantastic bank. Right there, on the spot, I (and my power of attorney) get approval for the loan with a lower monthly payment then the dealership was giving me (which was pretty dang low to begin with). Then, USAA squares away all of the insurance paper work as well. I did it all by myself on the phone. The salesman was impressed - he said I was extremely professional on the phone. I guess because I didn't get entirely mad at the situation and start yelling and screaming at people. That is an accomplishment for me - normally I would have been an uncontrollable mess. Wow - zen and buying a vehicle.
This trip started at 9 am. By 4 pm, I moved everything from Happy car to a new black XC90. Happy Car has served me well, and I think will now have the opportunity to serve someone else well. But we have been ready for a new car for a long time. The time was right. Goodbye Happy, and welcome to the family - well damn I don't have a name for this new car. I'm sure one will come to me in time.
Since I passed most of the day in the dealership, this means that tomorrow I have to spend the day hunkering down on work. Boo.
Day 41
Yikes. I am remiss - but that is not a new story.
Mom came out to visit last Saturday. It felt really comforting to have someone else in the house. Even nicer that she decided to help out with all those little chores around the house that I have been awful keeping up with. Most nice - having actual dinners during the week. Silvio enjoyed the company and not being locked up in his crate all day long.
Needless to say, I am lonely and sad by myself again. The stress has built up again today. I feel it in my shoulders and neck.
I just need to keep my cool through tomorrow afternoon. Yesterday and today all of my students have been more than wacky. I am trying very hard to be the zen master. So I spent half of my classes not talking. Waiting for them to settle down. You know what - I'm okay with that. I told them if we don't cover everything, that's cool with me. You are still having a test next week. It's up to you if you want to know what is going to be on it. But I will not talk over you.
This weekend looks to be exciting. We may or may not be getting a new vehicle. I feel excited about it - but also really intimidated by it. I don't have my person by my side to help with all of the decisions. I hope that I can get us a good deal.
There is so much more I could write but my brain is muddled after a full day of teaching and driving mom back to Kansas City and then back to Manhattan. I think turning to bed early is a good idea.
Mom came out to visit last Saturday. It felt really comforting to have someone else in the house. Even nicer that she decided to help out with all those little chores around the house that I have been awful keeping up with. Most nice - having actual dinners during the week. Silvio enjoyed the company and not being locked up in his crate all day long.
Needless to say, I am lonely and sad by myself again. The stress has built up again today. I feel it in my shoulders and neck.
I just need to keep my cool through tomorrow afternoon. Yesterday and today all of my students have been more than wacky. I am trying very hard to be the zen master. So I spent half of my classes not talking. Waiting for them to settle down. You know what - I'm okay with that. I told them if we don't cover everything, that's cool with me. You are still having a test next week. It's up to you if you want to know what is going to be on it. But I will not talk over you.
This weekend looks to be exciting. We may or may not be getting a new vehicle. I feel excited about it - but also really intimidated by it. I don't have my person by my side to help with all of the decisions. I hope that I can get us a good deal.
There is so much more I could write but my brain is muddled after a full day of teaching and driving mom back to Kansas City and then back to Manhattan. I think turning to bed early is a good idea.
Day 30
Wow a whole month. Gone, over with, kaput.
I was hoping that Andy's R&R would come up over the summer. It does not seem like that will happen. More likely, it may fall in March. March is the best month if we can not get a summer month. I have a whole week of Spring Break, and if Andy's leave matched up with that in some manner it would be fantastic. The downside is that I think I am finally settling into this whole - by myself routine. I fear that R&R coming up this soon will totally throw me off. Everything that I have worked for this past month will need to be redone when Andy leaves to go back there. It will probably take me most of April into May to get myself all figured out again.
I feel a bit odd talking in terms of months. That would put me nearly halfway through 2010 already. Crazy thought.
I think I might be able to apply for my initial teaching license this summer. Yep - upgrade that restricted license to an initial one. That is if in fact I can pass this Teacher Work Sample and my last class on the Exceptional Child. Haha exceptional - far from it really. I have not started this Teacher Work Sample. I keep putting it off. I have everything at my fingertips. I should not mention it again unless I actually have starting working on it. It is due April 26. Huh, April - the way I am talking...that is not that far off.
I watched The Inglourious Basterds last night. Mr. Tarantino - why must you be so bloody? I do not think the movie was bad, I just did not catch on to it like Kill Bill. I must say though you have a talent for picking some fantastic music to accompany your stories.
I am 3 episodes into the second season of the Tudors. Watching instant Netflix is wonderful. I really like this series. Sometimes a little too sexual but that's what it was all about for King Henry. Interestingly enough, my next DVD from Netflix will be The Other Boleyn Girl. I can see how the two compare. Not sure when I will get to watch it because I have Parent - Teacher Conferences this week. After that, Julie and Julia will be coming. Hurray for a foodie movie.
Currently, I am mad at the Weather Channel. Can you not get a forecast even close. I'd really like another snow day. I am serious. I would actually do some sort of work if I had one. I doubt it will happen. With that in mind, I should get my behind to bed so that I am ready for the start of another week.
Day 26
I am still sick. Still going to work because I feel horrible leaving this group with a substitute unless I really have to - like on Friday when I have to go for a day long seminar.
But the topic for today's post is the interesting debate that my 6th hour class got into. No - it has nothing to do with mathematics. Apparently while I had been reviewing the topic of lines, which I assure you is not a light subject, my students got into a bit of a debate about STDs - specifically gonorrhea. The group was good enough to let me finish my review before attacking me with this lively debate and asking for my opinion.
Do boys get gonorrhea?
The boys say no, the girls retort yes - how can a girl get gonorrhea from sex if her partner didn't have it before?
For some reason, I get to be the tie breaker. I tell them girls get it and boys get it, although it can lay dormant in boys for longer than it would in girls. I really think you should discuss this with your health teacher.
Can we go to see the health teacher? But what about getting it from a toilet seat? Yeah, what about toilet seats?
Yes, you can catch it from a toilet seat. The disease has a certain length of time before it "dies" from being in the air too long. The disease likes fluids. Why don't you go see the health teacher?
We really can?
:::sigh::: Yes go see the health teacher. (A group of 4 go.)
They all come back so happy and proud of themselves spouting out std statistics. And proud of me - seems I know a thing or two about "stuff".
Nice way to end the day even if I don't feel well.
But the topic for today's post is the interesting debate that my 6th hour class got into. No - it has nothing to do with mathematics. Apparently while I had been reviewing the topic of lines, which I assure you is not a light subject, my students got into a bit of a debate about STDs - specifically gonorrhea. The group was good enough to let me finish my review before attacking me with this lively debate and asking for my opinion.
Do boys get gonorrhea?
The boys say no, the girls retort yes - how can a girl get gonorrhea from sex if her partner didn't have it before?
For some reason, I get to be the tie breaker. I tell them girls get it and boys get it, although it can lay dormant in boys for longer than it would in girls. I really think you should discuss this with your health teacher.
Can we go to see the health teacher? But what about getting it from a toilet seat? Yeah, what about toilet seats?
Yes, you can catch it from a toilet seat. The disease has a certain length of time before it "dies" from being in the air too long. The disease likes fluids. Why don't you go see the health teacher?
We really can?
:::sigh::: Yes go see the health teacher. (A group of 4 go.)
They all come back so happy and proud of themselves spouting out std statistics. And proud of me - seems I know a thing or two about "stuff".
Nice way to end the day even if I don't feel well.
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