5 weeks of school over only 13 more to go. Week 6 looks to be the most energy consuming. Parent Teacher Conferences. Ugh. I really don't like spending all day at school only to get an hour off and then be back at school from 4:30 to 8:30 at night. Then do it again the next day. The only saving grace is the Friday we have off following the second evening of conferences.
Not much else to report. Almost done with the Mathematical Universe. My brother got me super cool stoneware that I wish I had more time to use. I spent some time putting together a package for Andy. I have not made one for him in a while. But I won't get to send it until Friday when I have off. It may just be the last package I have time to put together.
I have had run ins with lots of spiders lately. I am not talking the little kind. I'm talking 1+ inches kind. Thankfully, I have been the winner in all contests and contests have been outside not in the house. But I refuse to take any chances. Bug guys will be taking aim in just over a week to finally to ease my mind.
Lately, I have been getting these minor panic attacks - one over the spiders and the other over Kansas storms. I think the 90mph storm has set me off. Yesterday there was another bad storm at the start of the KSU game. For the entirety of the storm I was unable to function. I could not do any other tasks except fret about the storm. I think there is something really weird going on - not sure if it's hormonal, a side effect of deployment, or if I really have a problem. Only thing I know is that when we get orders to get out of here, I will definitely be a happy camper (that is no reflection of my not liking our house or actually liking the town here). Sorry double negative...
Probably won't hear from me until next weekend - after conferences. Who knows if I will even be able to think coherently then.
Day 253
I have managed to survive the first four weeks of school. Tomorrow we embark on week number 5. But that means there are only 13 more weeks left in the fall semester. The fall semester is so short. But that is alright. It brings me closer to having Andy home.
I have had a busy weekend. Friday was particularly long. I had school all day with a painful cough. I came home to try to wrap up my grading. Did that and napped for about a half hour. Then jetted out for the football game. I saw a lot of students there. I think they find it amusing that I am there. After the homecoming game, I signed up to chaperon the homecoming fun night. Believe you me by 9:30 I was ready for bed not for 2 hours of blasting music/karoake/raffles. I didn't get home until after midnight. Yikes.
Saturday - I woke up feeling awful. Throat was not working properly. I vacuumed and dusted the whole house - which probably didn't help. I got up on the ladder again to change light bulbs. I can't wait til Andy is home and he can change the lightbulbs. I'm not a fan of the ladder. I went to mass which was nice. I saw a lot of familiar people there. I guess this place is becoming more like a home. Came home to a load of laundry. Fun
Today - got up a bit late - still with some throat issues. I can't tell if if is an actual sore throat or some awful case of allergies. I talked to Andy for a bit, made some beef soup, and then mapped out the rest of the semester. This year it seems so much easier to be prepared for my classes. Last year, I could not get more than 2 weeks ahead. Now I know where i am headed for 3 months. Maybe it is because i am familiar with the text and understand how to pace the students a bit better. You may ask why all the planning for the end of the semester. When Andy gets home, I would really appreciate having as much free time as possible with him. These hours put in planning now will turn out to be a godsend later when we want to take little trips when he comes home.
I did get a whole new batch of books in the mail. I am currently reading Mathematical Universe. Have up on the docket: Quantum Evolution, Don't Take Away My Lemonade Stand, The Tao of Physics, On Food and Cooking, and Euler's Gem (written by my honors thesis advisor at Dickinson - David Richeson). I am super excited about reading these books even though they may seem a little on the dry = academic side.
Catch ya later - I am hoping this week will be a breeze.
I have had a busy weekend. Friday was particularly long. I had school all day with a painful cough. I came home to try to wrap up my grading. Did that and napped for about a half hour. Then jetted out for the football game. I saw a lot of students there. I think they find it amusing that I am there. After the homecoming game, I signed up to chaperon the homecoming fun night. Believe you me by 9:30 I was ready for bed not for 2 hours of blasting music/karoake/raffles. I didn't get home until after midnight. Yikes.
Saturday - I woke up feeling awful. Throat was not working properly. I vacuumed and dusted the whole house - which probably didn't help. I got up on the ladder again to change light bulbs. I can't wait til Andy is home and he can change the lightbulbs. I'm not a fan of the ladder. I went to mass which was nice. I saw a lot of familiar people there. I guess this place is becoming more like a home. Came home to a load of laundry. Fun
Today - got up a bit late - still with some throat issues. I can't tell if if is an actual sore throat or some awful case of allergies. I talked to Andy for a bit, made some beef soup, and then mapped out the rest of the semester. This year it seems so much easier to be prepared for my classes. Last year, I could not get more than 2 weeks ahead. Now I know where i am headed for 3 months. Maybe it is because i am familiar with the text and understand how to pace the students a bit better. You may ask why all the planning for the end of the semester. When Andy gets home, I would really appreciate having as much free time as possible with him. These hours put in planning now will turn out to be a godsend later when we want to take little trips when he comes home.
I did get a whole new batch of books in the mail. I am currently reading Mathematical Universe. Have up on the docket: Quantum Evolution, Don't Take Away My Lemonade Stand, The Tao of Physics, On Food and Cooking, and Euler's Gem (written by my honors thesis advisor at Dickinson - David Richeson). I am super excited about reading these books even though they may seem a little on the dry = academic side.
Catch ya later - I am hoping this week will be a breeze.
Day 248
On a somewhat random note, I have stopped making big meals for myself and have returned to the microwave/prepared meal option. Yes, I still bring my lunchables - Deli Select kind, not that weird processed salt filled kind geared towards small children - with me to school for lunch. I try to make meals on the weekends but the weeknights have been unpredictable lately. I don't really have a set time to come home, or I am home early and spend 3 hours grading or whatever.
But I guess what is the thing that concerns me the most is that (and don't take this the wrong way) - I still lost a couple of pounds over the past 3.5 weeks. I am not sure if this can be attributed to no soda drinking, which by the way I don't even have a desire to drink anymore. Even Coke or Ginger Ale, my two favorites, just seem way to sugar -y. I don't know if it is stress or what. I do not even get the chance to workout on a regular basis.
Maybe I should go eat a package full of cookies or something. Yeah I could do that.
Other news - had a meeting with my second year mentor. I really like her. She is a bit on the busier side. But I feel like she is so much more down to earth and that I can talk to her about issues and things. I guess that is good because it counteracts my not so good experience with PLC this year. Other than that, I am still wavering as to what I should do for next year. I feel like I am such a better lecturer that I belong in a community college setting with office hours - but my students are so....much fun. Maybe that is a consequence of the fact that I sit on the weekend and evenings talking to Silvio all day. Their conversation is better than no adult conversations.
Ack wine makes my stream of consciousness just a little off. I need to take out the garbage and take Silvio for a walk.
Check in later.
But I guess what is the thing that concerns me the most is that (and don't take this the wrong way) - I still lost a couple of pounds over the past 3.5 weeks. I am not sure if this can be attributed to no soda drinking, which by the way I don't even have a desire to drink anymore. Even Coke or Ginger Ale, my two favorites, just seem way to sugar -y. I don't know if it is stress or what. I do not even get the chance to workout on a regular basis.
Maybe I should go eat a package full of cookies or something. Yeah I could do that.
Other news - had a meeting with my second year mentor. I really like her. She is a bit on the busier side. But I feel like she is so much more down to earth and that I can talk to her about issues and things. I guess that is good because it counteracts my not so good experience with PLC this year. Other than that, I am still wavering as to what I should do for next year. I feel like I am such a better lecturer that I belong in a community college setting with office hours - but my students are so....much fun. Maybe that is a consequence of the fact that I sit on the weekend and evenings talking to Silvio all day. Their conversation is better than no adult conversations.
Ack wine makes my stream of consciousness just a little off. I need to take out the garbage and take Silvio for a walk.
Check in later.
Day 245 - September 11, 2010
Wow. Has it really been 9 years since that fateful day?? I remember it like it was yesterday. I was living in a quad with Dana, Laurie, and Margaret at Dickinson. It was a Tuesday and I was getting ready for my Intro to Women's Studies course. We had the television on in our common room. The news was on. And all of a sudden it starts. I remember remarking that it was something straight out of a Tom Clancy novel. (Indeed the scene is just like one in a Tom Clancy novel.) It all happened so quickly. We head out to class but you can tell the mood was not normal as everyone gathered around talking before class started. Our professor came in to cancel class. Sometimes there are events that are so much more important than school. I remember walking to the HUB. Lots of students just watching the tv's there in shock. I remember calling home that day to see if my uncle was alright - while not in the towers, he was nearby.
Today I think of it from a slightly different angle. Coldblooded massacre - that has been the reason for the start of two wars, and two tours of duty in Iraq for Andy. I am heartbroken in more ways than one this year. It is unfortunate that tolerance is not the way of the world. It is still filled with hatred for those who are different. I am not sure if it will be a problem that will ever be resolved. One can only dream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a slightly happier note - I wrote up a whole bunch of lessons. So I am set through Chapter 2 - which brings me to the beginning of October. I think that I might have some issues with my PLC group this year. Last year was pretty good. Interesting topics. But we have added several other teachers to the group this year. It seems I have already been called out for not "participating enough" by one of these new members (not by name I assure you - generalization of the new/young teachers in the group). I eased the tension by stating that "while I don't speak up frequently, as a new teacher I am here absorbing all that wonderful knowledge you experienced teachers are sharing". It was enough to get a chuckle from the group. But I think I will be on this teacher's "list" from here on out.
I love love love my faucet. The sink seems so much bigger and I can move dishes and pots and pans freely.
Big Love to my new cousin Declan. He's a cutie pie.
Hurray - Gamecock win over Georgia! We are now 2 - 0.
Today I think of it from a slightly different angle. Coldblooded massacre - that has been the reason for the start of two wars, and two tours of duty in Iraq for Andy. I am heartbroken in more ways than one this year. It is unfortunate that tolerance is not the way of the world. It is still filled with hatred for those who are different. I am not sure if it will be a problem that will ever be resolved. One can only dream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a slightly happier note - I wrote up a whole bunch of lessons. So I am set through Chapter 2 - which brings me to the beginning of October. I think that I might have some issues with my PLC group this year. Last year was pretty good. Interesting topics. But we have added several other teachers to the group this year. It seems I have already been called out for not "participating enough" by one of these new members (not by name I assure you - generalization of the new/young teachers in the group). I eased the tension by stating that "while I don't speak up frequently, as a new teacher I am here absorbing all that wonderful knowledge you experienced teachers are sharing". It was enough to get a chuckle from the group. But I think I will be on this teacher's "list" from here on out.
I love love love my faucet. The sink seems so much bigger and I can move dishes and pots and pans freely.
Big Love to my new cousin Declan. He's a cutie pie.
Hurray - Gamecock win over Georgia! We are now 2 - 0.
Day 243
I am in a funk. I am not sure how else to explain it. I just feel like there are very few coworkers there I can relate to or have a decent conversation with. So I sit and hang in my room - I refuse to go to the Teacher's Lounge at lunch. I'll just end up talking smack about my students - and I am really trying this year not to think ill of them. As much as I try, it isn't working. Some of them are just not making a great impression on me (don't take that the wrong way - this year is better than last year by far when it comes to students). But I feel a little left out of the loop. Like I am not involved. Believe right now I have no desire to add an extra curricular activity to my list - but I just feel like I have no roots. No connections. No one there really gets the whole army thing and I don't have any kids.
I guess some of it is partially my fault. I don't go seek others out for company - I sit in my classroom and grade papers over lunch. But I try my very hardest to be happy smiley face and say good morning or good afternoon to everyone. I suppose I'm just way to quiet or boring to have lots of fellow teachers want to initiate a conversation.
It just feels really odd in comparison to the two years at Brookdale. I got to really know the ladies/gents I was working with and it happened fairly quickly. It was so easy to shoot the breeze. Maybe I just am not in the right environment. But we will leave those thoughts for another ponder-ance. Maybe a few months down the road...
I guess some of it is partially my fault. I don't go seek others out for company - I sit in my classroom and grade papers over lunch. But I try my very hardest to be happy smiley face and say good morning or good afternoon to everyone. I suppose I'm just way to quiet or boring to have lots of fellow teachers want to initiate a conversation.
It just feels really odd in comparison to the two years at Brookdale. I got to really know the ladies/gents I was working with and it happened fairly quickly. It was so easy to shoot the breeze. Maybe I just am not in the right environment. But we will leave those thoughts for another ponder-ance. Maybe a few months down the road...
Day 240 - Eight months down
I wrote most of this entry out before i realized today is 8 months completed. We got to start month number 9. I can't wait.
Sitting here watching the VT vs Boise state game. Finally taking some time to relax. The past two weeks have been crazy. It seems like such a long time.
School started and I must say it has been a step up from last year. No real behavior issues to speak off- except for my 7th hour which has end of the day-itis. I am excited about the year is some respects and in other not so much- lets just say I got comfortable staying home with Silvio . But it is nice to only have 1 class to prep for. Major difference this year is the fact that the students are doing homework. So i have about 100 pages of work to grade nearly everyday. Crazy. I want to change that but not sure how.
Birthday weekend has been okay. Birthday day was long and somewhat painful. I did not plan to spend all day at school. Oh well.
Up this week: short school week- thank goodness. I bought a new faucet ( pseudo birhday present for both me and Andy) so i need the plumber to come in this week to switch out the faucets. Andy got me a santoku knife which i cant wait to use- but our knife block doesnt have enough space for it. Trip to bed bath and beyond maybe. There is a cooking class this week but it is in Topeka. Don't think i want to deal with a 2 hour road trip on top of a long day at school.
Catch ya later.
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.
Day 236 - Celebrate...
Because it's my birthday. Yep. Another year older. Spent 80% of the day at school. Long day with the students - then the school's present to me was a shortened schedule for the parents to walk.
I feel weird dealing with parents. Because most of them appear to me like my parents. And I am sure more than one of them thinks - well who is this crazy gal who looks like a student teaching my kid. Just weirds me out. But I didn't get my head chewed off so i guess that is a good thing.
Technically I am now older than Andy. Does that make me a cougar for the next two months until his birthday?
I promise promise more entries. School has been crazy - better than last year but crazy. I have tons of phone calls to make back to people and I am so happy about all the facebook messages I got today. It makes me feel so loved even though I am out here in tornado country by myself.
Anyway, I have some last minute stuff to take care of - but I think I might just go to bed.
More entries to come....I swear.
I feel weird dealing with parents. Because most of them appear to me like my parents. And I am sure more than one of them thinks - well who is this crazy gal who looks like a student teaching my kid. Just weirds me out. But I didn't get my head chewed off so i guess that is a good thing.
Technically I am now older than Andy. Does that make me a cougar for the next two months until his birthday?
I promise promise more entries. School has been crazy - better than last year but crazy. I have tons of phone calls to make back to people and I am so happy about all the facebook messages I got today. It makes me feel so loved even though I am out here in tornado country by myself.
Anyway, I have some last minute stuff to take care of - but I think I might just go to bed.
More entries to come....I swear.
Day 227 - First Day of School
Here we go. Another school year has started. Not liking the fact that it starts on a Tuesday. At least it was a half day. I believe I was sufficiently meaner than last year and gave a lot of evil eyes today. I just need to continue the trend. Wednesday I will read them the riot act and then I need to stick to my guns and catch them early on. I already have my eye on a couple of them.
I don't want to jinx it - I think this year might be a lot better than last year. Granted I will have more work seeing as my class sizes have nearly doubled in size. My last hour class has 28 students. I only have 25 desks but we made it work.
It was neat to have a bunch of students wandering the halls who actually knew me and said hello. I actually felt like some of the other teachers - ones who know bunches of students.
I got a lot of compliments as well. I wore a skirt - SHOCKING. I did my hair nice - compared to wearing it back all year. One of the other teachers actually said I looked a lot thinner. Yey, thank you. I didn't think anyone would really notice. Since Andrew has left, I have lost about 7 pounds and now I am working to maintain that. Was very nice to hear.
I feel quite exhausted today even though I didn't do much.
Hey - I'll have visitors tomorrow and that makes me happy. The more intriguing thing will be if I manage to be awake when they get here.
I don't want to jinx it - I think this year might be a lot better than last year. Granted I will have more work seeing as my class sizes have nearly doubled in size. My last hour class has 28 students. I only have 25 desks but we made it work.
It was neat to have a bunch of students wandering the halls who actually knew me and said hello. I actually felt like some of the other teachers - ones who know bunches of students.
I got a lot of compliments as well. I wore a skirt - SHOCKING. I did my hair nice - compared to wearing it back all year. One of the other teachers actually said I looked a lot thinner. Yey, thank you. I didn't think anyone would really notice. Since Andrew has left, I have lost about 7 pounds and now I am working to maintain that. Was very nice to hear.
I feel quite exhausted today even though I didn't do much.
Hey - I'll have visitors tomorrow and that makes me happy. The more intriguing thing will be if I manage to be awake when they get here.
Day 225
I had some fantastic visitors this weekend. We had loads of fun. I did not get a chance to write about my cooking classes. Send me evil email messages - maybe sometime I'll actually be good about writing that post.
I was supposed to get a call from Andy today. Unfortunately, there was a communications blackout. That means there is a not so good incident that has occurred.
Tuesday marks the start of school. Ugh.
Right now I am really tired, need to walk Silvio, and then I plan on passing out. Our exciting weekend has left me with little to no energy.
I was supposed to get a call from Andy today. Unfortunately, there was a communications blackout. That means there is a not so good incident that has occurred.
Tuesday marks the start of school. Ugh.
Right now I am really tired, need to walk Silvio, and then I plan on passing out. Our exciting weekend has left me with little to no energy.
Day 222
I have not fallen off the face of the earth. My body was recovering from the clean up job from the storm and my brain has not been able to stay on one topic for longer than 30 seconds lately. It's amazing I am prepped as I am for school.
I want to write a post about the cooking classes I have been going to. They really are fun and if your local grocery store offers one you should really try going. I think this is a new trend because I don't remember there being supermarkets that did that a couple of years ago.
Silvio is mad at me. I had my first day back to be professionally developed. He was alone for the whole day. He has been giving me evil looks all night. Not that I blame him - I would rather have been at home the whole day today.
So no post tonight - maybe I will be coherent enough to write one tomorrow or over the weekend. Sorry.
I want to write a post about the cooking classes I have been going to. They really are fun and if your local grocery store offers one you should really try going. I think this is a new trend because I don't remember there being supermarkets that did that a couple of years ago.
Silvio is mad at me. I had my first day back to be professionally developed. He was alone for the whole day. He has been giving me evil looks all night. Not that I blame him - I would rather have been at home the whole day today.
So no post tonight - maybe I will be coherent enough to write one tomorrow or over the weekend. Sorry.
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