Here is a photo of the last time I was ever at the Rose Bowl and a UCLA game in person. We won that year. In fact, we won every year I was in college. And what happens the year I graduate? WE LOST. WTF? Anyway. Here's to happy memories:
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Bartner is a Michigan alumnus.
Apparently, he got his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Michigan. Gasp. Sigh. MARCH!
Here is a photo of the last time I was ever at the Rose Bowl and a UCLA game in person. We won that year. In fact, we won every year I was in college. And what happens the year I graduate? WE LOST. WTF? Anyway. Here's to happy memories:
Here is a photo of the last time I was ever at the Rose Bowl and a UCLA game in person. We won that year. In fact, we won every year I was in college. And what happens the year I graduate? WE LOST. WTF? Anyway. Here's to happy memories:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I hope Santa and brought you many good things and happy wishes and thoughts. I am writing to report that I have just finished what, I believe, is the fastest packing in my life. I don't know when I started, but I am pretty much done, except for computer and toiletries, which consist of toothbrush and floss in a Ziploc bag, which is already in the bathroom. It is MERELY 2:35 a.m. on the morning of takeoff. Usually, I'm still stuffing items, trying to make everything fit an hour before we leave the house.
My luggage is blissfully empty of stuff because I basically used it to lug my books home. I used my carry-on luggage to put all my clothes in, but I am going to check it at the counter. I bought all of Wal-Mart's Veet (not the ones that come with the weird spray thing) cold waxes because only Wal-Mart sells it, I've found. There places might, too, but Wal-Mart is the constant right now. I am bringing my Chucks and my black purse with lavender ribbon that I got in London. Some Chinese condiments from our pantry and random things. But that's it. :)
I get to celebrate New Year's Eve in Boston in my PJs with the TV and multi-network/-channel coverage. Then, I get to spend New Year's watching the Rose Bowl either from the comfort of my couch with a bowl of salsa and guacomole (homemade, of course) and chips and in my PJs or at Game On, where the USC alumni club in Boston holds its game-watchings. SUPER exciting.
FIGHT ON! And Happy New Years! :)
My luggage is blissfully empty of stuff because I basically used it to lug my books home. I used my carry-on luggage to put all my clothes in, but I am going to check it at the counter. I bought all of Wal-Mart's Veet (not the ones that come with the weird spray thing) cold waxes because only Wal-Mart sells it, I've found. There places might, too, but Wal-Mart is the constant right now. I am bringing my Chucks and my black purse with lavender ribbon that I got in London. Some Chinese condiments from our pantry and random things. But that's it. :)
I get to celebrate New Year's Eve in Boston in my PJs with the TV and multi-network/-channel coverage. Then, I get to spend New Year's watching the Rose Bowl either from the comfort of my couch with a bowl of salsa and guacomole (homemade, of course) and chips and in my PJs or at Game On, where the USC alumni club in Boston holds its game-watchings. SUPER exciting.
FIGHT ON! And Happy New Years! :)
Saturday, December 23, 2006
New York photos
** part of an origami-filled Christmas tree at the Natural Science Museum :)
** at Times Square. :)
** It's Saturn! At the Hayden Planetarium at the Natural Science Museum
** the Apple Store
** Planet Earth ... looks like it's in space, huh? :)the 200th
I went to New York last weekend ... On the way back, the bus's engine stalled, and we had to wait for a replacement bus to drive from New York ... to Conneticut. It took about an hour and a half. We got back to Boston REALLY late.
I am headed to The Miami Herald this summer for a copy-editing internship! :) I'm REALLY excited, especially because this is the first internship that I passed the test for and got an offer. It elevated my self-esteem a lot. Like, a lot. So, again, super-excited. I also got an offer from the Merc in San Jose, but logistically, Miami works about better ... and it's also a better paper. What worries me is that I don't know Spanish, and I wonder how that might affect me on the copy desk. Anyway. Coincidently, both the ACES conference and the AAJA conference this year are held in Miami (April and August, respectively), so no worries for transportation! Christina got an offer from the Palm Beach Post, but she's still mulling over it. COME TO FLORIDA, CHRISTINA! We can hang out!
I'm leaving for the airport in two hours to fly home for Christmas. My suitcase is full of books. No kidding .... if I hadn't had to bring home almost all my books, I can just do with two carry-ons and an empty suitcase, but as it stands now, I am going home with two carry-ons and a half-full suitcase because it's filled with books. I mean, two semester of books that includes one history class that required a book a week. You do the math.
I'm posting New York pictures soon. :)
I am headed to The Miami Herald this summer for a copy-editing internship! :) I'm REALLY excited, especially because this is the first internship that I passed the test for and got an offer. It elevated my self-esteem a lot. Like, a lot. So, again, super-excited. I also got an offer from the Merc in San Jose, but logistically, Miami works about better ... and it's also a better paper. What worries me is that I don't know Spanish, and I wonder how that might affect me on the copy desk. Anyway. Coincidently, both the ACES conference and the AAJA conference this year are held in Miami (April and August, respectively), so no worries for transportation! Christina got an offer from the Palm Beach Post, but she's still mulling over it. COME TO FLORIDA, CHRISTINA! We can hang out!
I'm leaving for the airport in two hours to fly home for Christmas. My suitcase is full of books. No kidding .... if I hadn't had to bring home almost all my books, I can just do with two carry-ons and an empty suitcase, but as it stands now, I am going home with two carry-ons and a half-full suitcase because it's filled with books. I mean, two semester of books that includes one history class that required a book a week. You do the math.
I'm posting New York pictures soon. :)
Sunday, December 10, 2006
the top 25
Copying James (and apparently Sara and J. Christina), I'm listing my iPod's top 25. Don't judge me.
1. Holiday (Green Day) -- only because I listened to it on loop during the entire flight from D.C. to London
2. Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day) -- I listened to this during my first month and a half in London
3. A Postcard to Henry Purcell (from "Pride and Prejudice") -- I listened to this for about a month in London
4. Out of Reach (from "Bridget Jones's Diary") -- again, London
5. Other Side of the World (K.T. Tunstall)
6. Cheers Darlin' (Damien Rice) -- again, listened to it in London
7. Mamma Mia (from "Mamma Mia!") -- bought in London after hearing it live in Budapest
8. All By Myself (from "Bridget Jones's Diary") -- sang to myself in my single room in London. sad, I know.
9. City of Blinding Lights (U2, from "Devil Wears Prada") -- the instrumentals are awesome
10. Miss Misery (Elliot Smith, from "Good Will Hunting") -- such a good much with such good songs
11. Hang On Little Tomato (Pink Martini) -- thanks, Steven!
12. Because of You (Kelly Clarkson) -- the only "American Idol" winner worth listening to
13. Somebody Told Me (The Killers) -- London
14. Boston (Augustana) -- my life right now
15. She (from "Notting Hill") -- listened to a bit in London
16. You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban) -- a great belt-it-out-in-your-room music
17. Moon River (Henry Mancini, from "Breakfast at Tiffany's") -- lovely, but I didn't like the movie, though
18. Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson)
19. Mamma Mia [Bonus] (from "Mamma Mia")
20. Like I Love You (Justin Timberlake) -- good song
21. Come What May (from "Moulin Rouge") -- again, a great singing song
22. City of Blinding Lights (U2, from "Devil Wears Prada") -- this one might be the one on my C drive
23. The Kids Aren't Alright (The Offspring) -- took me YEARS to figure out that this was the song that the USC marching band was playing all this time
24. Mr. Brightside (The Killers) -- again, London.
25. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston) -- London, great singing song
So I listened to a lot of the songs in London ... walking, o the Tube, getting ready in the morning ... so a lot of the songs on the list reminds me of London. :)
1. Holiday (Green Day) -- only because I listened to it on loop during the entire flight from D.C. to London
2. Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day) -- I listened to this during my first month and a half in London
3. A Postcard to Henry Purcell (from "Pride and Prejudice") -- I listened to this for about a month in London
4. Out of Reach (from "Bridget Jones's Diary") -- again, London
5. Other Side of the World (K.T. Tunstall)
6. Cheers Darlin' (Damien Rice) -- again, listened to it in London
7. Mamma Mia (from "Mamma Mia!") -- bought in London after hearing it live in Budapest
8. All By Myself (from "Bridget Jones's Diary") -- sang to myself in my single room in London. sad, I know.
9. City of Blinding Lights (U2, from "Devil Wears Prada") -- the instrumentals are awesome
10. Miss Misery (Elliot Smith, from "Good Will Hunting") -- such a good much with such good songs
11. Hang On Little Tomato (Pink Martini) -- thanks, Steven!
12. Because of You (Kelly Clarkson) -- the only "American Idol" winner worth listening to
13. Somebody Told Me (The Killers) -- London
14. Boston (Augustana) -- my life right now
15. She (from "Notting Hill") -- listened to a bit in London
16. You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban) -- a great belt-it-out-in-your-room music
17. Moon River (Henry Mancini, from "Breakfast at Tiffany's") -- lovely, but I didn't like the movie, though
18. Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson)
19. Mamma Mia [Bonus] (from "Mamma Mia")
20. Like I Love You (Justin Timberlake) -- good song
21. Come What May (from "Moulin Rouge") -- again, a great singing song
22. City of Blinding Lights (U2, from "Devil Wears Prada") -- this one might be the one on my C drive
23. The Kids Aren't Alright (The Offspring) -- took me YEARS to figure out that this was the song that the USC marching band was playing all this time
24. Mr. Brightside (The Killers) -- again, London.
25. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston) -- London, great singing song
So I listened to a lot of the songs in London ... walking, o the Tube, getting ready in the morning ... so a lot of the songs on the list reminds me of London. :)
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Christmas song and holiday cheer!
I have a love affair with Christmas songs. They make me happy. :) I like singing them even if it's not Christmas. "Silent Night" is the best. And "Christmas Song." And "I'll Be Home for Christmas." All-time favorites, all. Which makes it even MORE exciting that I have tickets to go see the Boston Pops HOLIDAY AT POPS concert on the 18th! :D It's so exciting. You have no idea. I grew up with this concert; I've watched it since I was in school and dreamed that one day I would get to see it in person. And now I am! I love Boston. :)
Boston is getting a little too cold for my comfort. It snowed on Monday. It didn't stick, though, but it accumulated a good inch on the ground for the most of the day. It flurried again on Friday, but not too much. Sorry about the lack of complex sentence structure; my brain is basically fried from writing papers and taking copy tests. Anyway, back to the weather. It's now consistently dipped below freezing, and the wind chill makes the temperature in the teens. Last night, when I checked online, it was 5 degrees out. It was so cold, my face almost froze. Brrrrr.
I am going shopping for a warm, winter hat today. And warmer shoes. And socks (I think). Definitely hats and shoes. It's really cold. I am considering getting a woolen face mask. It's cold. Brrrrrrr.
I've been purusing (perusing?) the L.L. Bean online catalog and put their large tote with zipper in my bag. I carry way too much crap in my messenger bag, and it's not working out.
Sorry about neglecting the blog. It's been a hectic few weeks, what with reading a massive load of history books, writing and stuff ... I'm basically done on Monday, so that's when I will rejoin civilization.
Just a quick note that I've been following the James Kim saga, along with the rest of the nation and world and found it depressing and sad, to say the least. I can't imagine going through what he went through and his motivation to find rescuers for his family. Part of the reason why my paper for my bilingualism class was late was because I kept reading news reports upon news reports of his death and his family's ordeal and it was saddens me even more.
On that note, I'm going to go wash some dishes and shower and head out for a terrific (and cold) winter shopping experience. With my maxed-out credit card. :)
Boston is getting a little too cold for my comfort. It snowed on Monday. It didn't stick, though, but it accumulated a good inch on the ground for the most of the day. It flurried again on Friday, but not too much. Sorry about the lack of complex sentence structure; my brain is basically fried from writing papers and taking copy tests. Anyway, back to the weather. It's now consistently dipped below freezing, and the wind chill makes the temperature in the teens. Last night, when I checked online, it was 5 degrees out. It was so cold, my face almost froze. Brrrrr.
I am going shopping for a warm, winter hat today. And warmer shoes. And socks (I think). Definitely hats and shoes. It's really cold. I am considering getting a woolen face mask. It's cold. Brrrrrrr.
I've been purusing (perusing?) the L.L. Bean online catalog and put their large tote with zipper in my bag. I carry way too much crap in my messenger bag, and it's not working out.
Sorry about neglecting the blog. It's been a hectic few weeks, what with reading a massive load of history books, writing and stuff ... I'm basically done on Monday, so that's when I will rejoin civilization.
Just a quick note that I've been following the James Kim saga, along with the rest of the nation and world and found it depressing and sad, to say the least. I can't imagine going through what he went through and his motivation to find rescuers for his family. Part of the reason why my paper for my bilingualism class was late was because I kept reading news reports upon news reports of his death and his family's ordeal and it was saddens me even more.
On that note, I'm going to go wash some dishes and shower and head out for a terrific (and cold) winter shopping experience. With my maxed-out credit card. :)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Thanksgiving break!
Oh, man. Thanksgiving break has officially begun for me. I just e-mailed in my paper on Charleston, and now I am eating dinner in peace and no stress for the first time in about two weeks. It's going to be glorious. James is going to be in Boston for the weekend!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
the Thanksgiving crunch
The last paper I have to write before Thanksgiving break is giving me the fits. It's about Charleston, S.C., and how it fits the characteristics of a typical Atlantic city, unlike Boston. It's for my history colloquium, and it's crazy hard. A lot of reading to go over. The structure should be pretty straightforward, but there are a TON of reading to go through. Ugh.
The paper is due the same day as a dress-up day at the school, so it's going to be a double-whammy Tuesday. I bought a suit for the occasion on Tuesday. Should be exciting. My very first suit. :)
The paper is due the same day as a dress-up day at the school, so it's going to be a double-whammy Tuesday. I bought a suit for the occasion on Tuesday. Should be exciting. My very first suit. :)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
sick, sick, sickity sick
I've been sick for seven days now, but the end seems near.
It all started last Thursday, when I got a flu shot. Me, healthy, adult. Flu shot. Apparently, getting my first flu shot equates to getting my very first flu. I worked on Friday, and everything was fine. My arm was a bit sore, but it was OK. On Friday afternoon, I got this horrendous sore throat. Stuffy nose followed. I got a bit better on Saturday, meaning that the sore throat was gone, but the stuffy nose was there, and the sneezing started. On Sunday, I called in sick to work because it just wasn't happening. Plus, getting 27 kids sick -- not so good. On Sunday, I started on decongestants. It worked ... and then I ran out of medicine. On Monday, I developed a slight fever, and I got more medicine (generic DayQuil). New symptom: Because my nose was stuffed up, I was having a hard time breathing. It rained on Monday. I called in sick. Fever is no good, either. Tuesday afternoon, a miracle happened. The nose decongested, and all is almost well. I returned to work Wednesday in time for the field trip to Discovery Museum, but I still had runny nose. TODAY, oh, TODAY. I almost lost my voice. I croaked my way through school. My students kept asking, "are you sick?" Yup, I am! I'm still sick from the two days I wasn't here. It was a little helpful, though. I told the kids that it hurts to speak loudly (very true), so they will have to be quiet. Anyway, I think I've regained my voice, but the yellow phlegm started today, so that's fun.
Just as a side note: While I was sick, I wrote one six-page paper (should be eight ... ), one four-page paper and read 366 pages of slave history. I got about a total of six hours from Friday until Monday afternoon. Thanksgiving crunch sucks.
It all started last Thursday, when I got a flu shot. Me, healthy, adult. Flu shot. Apparently, getting my first flu shot equates to getting my very first flu. I worked on Friday, and everything was fine. My arm was a bit sore, but it was OK. On Friday afternoon, I got this horrendous sore throat. Stuffy nose followed. I got a bit better on Saturday, meaning that the sore throat was gone, but the stuffy nose was there, and the sneezing started. On Sunday, I called in sick to work because it just wasn't happening. Plus, getting 27 kids sick -- not so good. On Sunday, I started on decongestants. It worked ... and then I ran out of medicine. On Monday, I developed a slight fever, and I got more medicine (generic DayQuil). New symptom: Because my nose was stuffed up, I was having a hard time breathing. It rained on Monday. I called in sick. Fever is no good, either. Tuesday afternoon, a miracle happened. The nose decongested, and all is almost well. I returned to work Wednesday in time for the field trip to Discovery Museum, but I still had runny nose. TODAY, oh, TODAY. I almost lost my voice. I croaked my way through school. My students kept asking, "are you sick?" Yup, I am! I'm still sick from the two days I wasn't here. It was a little helpful, though. I told the kids that it hurts to speak loudly (very true), so they will have to be quiet. Anyway, I think I've regained my voice, but the yellow phlegm started today, so that's fun.
Just as a side note: While I was sick, I wrote one six-page paper (should be eight ... ), one four-page paper and read 366 pages of slave history. I got about a total of six hours from Friday until Monday afternoon. Thanksgiving crunch sucks.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
whoa, BCS
OK, keeping in mind that I know enough about the BCS to talk about it but not to REALLY understand it, here is what I THINK is going on.
* Louisville lost to Rutgers on Thursday, so Louisville is going to get bumped down below USC.
* Arizona beat California, so California is going down the standings ... bad for us because we play them next week.
* Georgia beat Auburn, so Auburn is dropping from No. 6 ... good for us because we're 7th
* Florida had a REALLY close game (down to the last few seconds with a blocked field goal!) with South Carolina, so I'm hoping they just stay put
* K-State just upset Texas, so Texas is going to drop from No. 4 in the BCS.
So that leaves Nos. 3 (Louisville), 5 (Texas) and 6 (Auburn) potentially open, so HOPEFULLY is we win tonight over the Ducks, we can leap over Florida and take No. 3 or stay behind Florida and take No. 4.
Again, rankings, not my thing. But, oh, the drama! :)
Fight on!
* Louisville lost to Rutgers on Thursday, so Louisville is going to get bumped down below USC.
* Arizona beat California, so California is going down the standings ... bad for us because we play them next week.
* Georgia beat Auburn, so Auburn is dropping from No. 6 ... good for us because we're 7th
* Florida had a REALLY close game (down to the last few seconds with a blocked field goal!) with South Carolina, so I'm hoping they just stay put
* K-State just upset Texas, so Texas is going to drop from No. 4 in the BCS.
So that leaves Nos. 3 (Louisville), 5 (Texas) and 6 (Auburn) potentially open, so HOPEFULLY is we win tonight over the Ducks, we can leap over Florida and take No. 3 or stay behind Florida and take No. 4.
Again, rankings, not my thing. But, oh, the drama! :)
Fight on!
Friday, November 10, 2006
blogger is having issues
I think Blogger is having problems with its e-mail-posting system because the last two times I tried to post via e-mail, the entries didn't show up. Just now, when I tried to e-mail a post in, my "Still here" entry from Monday jumped to the top. WTF? So confused. It's never happened before.
Anyway, this is what I wrote from my e-mail that Blogger is not posting, apparently:
I am taking a class on how to teach bilingual students and another class on Lincoln's speeches. woohoo! :)
I also bought my first Christmas present on Wednesday on Amazon. They're already showing Christmas commercials on TV. And it's not even Thanksgiving! I feel I should preemp everyone by buying a Christmas tree on Labor Day. That'll show 'em!
Anyway, this is what I wrote from my e-mail that Blogger is not posting, apparently:
I am taking a class on how to teach bilingual students and another class on Lincoln's speeches. woohoo! :)
I also bought my first Christmas present on Wednesday on Amazon. They're already showing Christmas commercials on TV. And it's not even Thanksgiving! I feel I should preemp everyone by buying a Christmas tree on Labor Day. That'll show 'em!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
my apartment is really hot
and I am sweating. I just opened my window in hopes that the cold outdoors would slowly filter in.
I am supposed to be writing a short summary of my hugely huge paper-presentation, but I am dawdling instead.
Recently, I've been feeling a bit blue about teachers. Not the teaching profession, mind you, but the people who educate and disseminate information to kids. How do you respond when a teacher tells you on Friday that she didn't know the voting age was lowered to 18 in a Consititutional amendment? What do you respond when teachers mispronounce simple words such as drawing (draw-ring) and frustrated (fuh-strated)? I am at a loss and feel so alone. :(
Now that I'm depressed, I'm going to go researching stuff about literacy in the second language. Should be loads of fun.
I am supposed to be writing a short summary of my hugely huge paper-presentation, but I am dawdling instead.
Recently, I've been feeling a bit blue about teachers. Not the teaching profession, mind you, but the people who educate and disseminate information to kids. How do you respond when a teacher tells you on Friday that she didn't know the voting age was lowered to 18 in a Consititutional amendment? What do you respond when teachers mispronounce simple words such as drawing (draw-ring) and frustrated (fuh-strated)? I am at a loss and feel so alone. :(
Now that I'm depressed, I'm going to go researching stuff about literacy in the second language. Should be loads of fun.
Monday, November 06, 2006
I wrote this through e-mail earlier, but .... anyway, the point is, I'm still alive ... which is always a good thing.
Howdy guys. I'm still here. I think I have narcolepsy. It's a little frustrating that I can't stay awake. I think something's wrong with me. Other than the allergies, the chronic cough (what? you didn't know? ask someone and catch up!), the flat feet and other foot ailments, the scoliosis, the vision problems and the brain malfunctions around paper time ..... I think I have narcolepsy.
I bought two little notebooks at Target the other day, and I wrote down my paper-writing schedule for the next two weeks ... basically, through Thanksgiving. All I need to do is to get through Thanksgiving. Because that is when my history-from-hell colloquium's load REALLY lessens. The big paper is due on Nov. 21. After that, I have one more paper for one of my ED classes and a paper-presentation for another ED class.
I register for classes on Thursday. It's a sorta scary proposition as I don't know what I will be taking like I usually do.
Also, it's getting REALLY cold here. And I hear from other people that it's only going to get colder. Brrrrr. There isn't even SNOW yet. Officially scared. Shiver.
I bought two little notebooks at Target the other day, and I wrote down my paper-writing schedule for the next two weeks ... basically, through Thanksgiving. All I need to do is to get through Thanksgiving. Because that is when my history-from-hell colloquium's load REALLY lessens. The big paper is due on Nov. 21. After that, I have one more paper for one of my ED classes and a paper-presentation for another ED class.
I register for classes on Thursday. It's a sorta scary proposition as I don't know what I will be taking like I usually do.
Also, it's getting REALLY cold here. And I hear from other people that it's only going to get colder. Brrrrr. There isn't even SNOW yet. Officially scared. Shiver.
Still here.
Howdy guys. I'm still here. I think I have narcolepsy. It's a little frustrating that I can't stay awake. I think something's wrong with me. Other than the allergies, the chronic cough (what? you didn't know? ask someone and catch up!), the flat feet and other foot ailments, the scoliosis, the vision problems and the brain malfunctions around paper time ..... I think I have narcolepsy.
I bought two little notebooks at Target the other day, and I wrote down my paper-writing schedule for the next two weeks ... basically, through Thanksgiving. All I need to do is to get through Thanksgiving. Because that is when my history-from-hell colloquium's load REALLY lessens. The big paper is due on Nov. 21. After that, I have one more paper for one of my ED classes and a paper-presentation for another ED class.
I register for classes on Thursday. It's a sorta scary proposition as I don't know what I will be taking like I usually do.
Also, it's getting REALLY cold here. And I hear from other people that it's only going to get colder. Brrrrr. There isn't even SNOW yet. Officially scared. Shiver.
I bought two little notebooks at Target the other day, and I wrote down my paper-writing schedule for the next two weeks ... basically, through Thanksgiving. All I need to do is to get through Thanksgiving. Because that is when my history-from-hell colloquium's load REALLY lessens. The big paper is due on Nov. 21. After that, I have one more paper for one of my ED classes and a paper-presentation for another ED class.
I register for classes on Thursday. It's a sorta scary proposition as I don't know what I will be taking like I usually do.
Also, it's getting REALLY cold here. And I hear from other people that it's only going to get colder. Brrrrr. There isn't even SNOW yet. Officially scared. Shiver.
Monday, October 30, 2006
papers. woohoo.
Still here. I wrote a paper about the effect of parent involvement in
student achievement. And tonight I am writing about women pirates,
whaling and the gender and racial issues involved in those. woohoo.
Thanksgiving is coming up. It's very exciting.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
quitting
I called today and quit my part-time job. No more. It's a bit of built-up frustration and a bit of overwhelming amount of work and commitments. But it's time. Funny, though. The last job I quit was in high school, in it was also after about three months. After I hung up the phone with the store manager, I felt a weird sense of disappointment, sadness and relief. I like the relief. I'm not sure if the other two are good signs. Either way, my life is gaining more stability now, and that's good. It needs that.
I'm sorry that I haven't been writing as much the last month. I was overwhelmed and confused and frustrated. I'll try to do better. It's because of my lack of organization and the lack of stability that I had to ask for an extension on my first paper for one of my education classes. It's not a good feeling. I haven't had to ask for an extension since .... first semester junior year? But the thing that bothered me about the extension is not that I asked for one, it's that I had to ask for one because I didn't even know there was a paper due. Sure, I'm aware that one is due at some point because the professor handed out topic suggestions, but I had no idea it was TOMORROW.
So that's bad. I need to get my life in order.
On the other hand, I taught third graders adverbs Wednesday. As predicted my me and my lead teacher, there were about 10 kids who got it. The rest just kinda looked at me like I was insane. No biggie, kids. I didn't get it until high school. You got awhile to pick it up. I thought the lesson went well, though, and I got mostly positive feedback from the lead teacher. Her main concern is that I wasn't using positive strategies to curb behavior and lack of attention. I thought that the group work was more chaotic than I planned for, and I planned for a lot of chaos, but the lead teacher said it was fine. I guess third graders aren't quite used to having to work in groups for classwork yet. The lead teacher did say that my thinking the night before to assign tasks (writer, speaker, corrector) in the groups would've made it less chaotic. I think the keywords in third grade are "specific instructions."
Overall, a crappy week.
I'm sorry that I haven't been writing as much the last month. I was overwhelmed and confused and frustrated. I'll try to do better. It's because of my lack of organization and the lack of stability that I had to ask for an extension on my first paper for one of my education classes. It's not a good feeling. I haven't had to ask for an extension since .... first semester junior year? But the thing that bothered me about the extension is not that I asked for one, it's that I had to ask for one because I didn't even know there was a paper due. Sure, I'm aware that one is due at some point because the professor handed out topic suggestions, but I had no idea it was TOMORROW.
So that's bad. I need to get my life in order.
On the other hand, I taught third graders adverbs Wednesday. As predicted my me and my lead teacher, there were about 10 kids who got it. The rest just kinda looked at me like I was insane. No biggie, kids. I didn't get it until high school. You got awhile to pick it up. I thought the lesson went well, though, and I got mostly positive feedback from the lead teacher. Her main concern is that I wasn't using positive strategies to curb behavior and lack of attention. I thought that the group work was more chaotic than I planned for, and I planned for a lot of chaos, but the lead teacher said it was fine. I guess third graders aren't quite used to having to work in groups for classwork yet. The lead teacher did say that my thinking the night before to assign tasks (writer, speaker, corrector) in the groups would've made it less chaotic. I think the keywords in third grade are "specific instructions."
Overall, a crappy week.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
ALIVE! ... but very cold
I'm alive! Well, after my ridiculous allergy bout with beechwood .... but that's something I'll have to tell y'all later. Right now, I'm starving and in need of substenance (did I spell that right?). And change so I can go to work. And stuff. School is going well. One of the kids got his first secret admirer notes a couple of weeks ago. It caused much drama. :) Classes are going OK. This week in my really hard history colloquium, we're reading the professor's book. I hate it when profs do that. And wouldn't you know it -- there are no used copies of the book on sale at the bookstore .... when there are MANY STILL available for the other 10 (or 15 ... something like that) books that we had to read. But I'm done griping.
Again. I'm alive. And breathing. And I bought a warm jacket to tide me through the fall ... snow'll have to wait. It's REALLY, REALLY cold in this city. It's OCTOBER. Argh.
Again. I'm alive. And breathing. And I bought a warm jacket to tide me through the fall ... snow'll have to wait. It's REALLY, REALLY cold in this city. It's OCTOBER. Argh.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
I swear, I really CAN take care of myself!
I have another fun Mass. General story to tell. Oh, the fun that awaits you! :)
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
what have I done?
I have so much reading to do, it's a little hard to comprehend. My goal this semester is not to procrastinate and actually do work in a timely manner, like Mrs. Chapman (MOMC) used to admonish us in high school.
The internship is going pretty well, I think. The kids are cute, and you can already tell which ones are going to be obnoxious when they grow up and which ones are going to be the preppy ones. It's amazing to me. They're in the third grade! For their morning work, they had to do a couple of math problems and correct some sentences, and last Friday's had a question that they had to write an "addition fact" with the answer 6. This kid wrote down -6 + 12. I asked him later how he knew it added to 6, and he said he just knew. Wow. He isn't very good at speaking and reading, but it just amazed me.
Anyway, I'm going to some reading for class tomorrow.
The internship is going pretty well, I think. The kids are cute, and you can already tell which ones are going to be obnoxious when they grow up and which ones are going to be the preppy ones. It's amazing to me. They're in the third grade! For their morning work, they had to do a couple of math problems and correct some sentences, and last Friday's had a question that they had to write an "addition fact" with the answer 6. This kid wrote down -6 + 12. I asked him later how he knew it added to 6, and he said he just knew. Wow. He isn't very good at speaking and reading, but it just amazed me.
Anyway, I'm going to some reading for class tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
totally lame ... but doing it anyway
(stolen from Christina .... thanks, Christina!)
(and I should be reading for my class that is in 30 minutes)
I have.....
( ) Smoked a cigarette (did not inhale; does that still count?)
( ) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car
( ) Stolen a car
( ) Been dumped
(x) Shoplifted (I was 8! It was a pack of Snoopy gum.)
( ) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight (with a sibling... which I'm not sure counts?
( ) Snuck out of your parent's house
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
( ) Been arrested
( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Lied to a friend
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
(x) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
(x) Gone to Washington, D.C.
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with only coins (did it once with a tip)
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain
( ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Made a bonfire on the beach
( ) Crashed a party
(x) Gone roller-skating
(x) Ice-skating
( ) Smoked a cigarette (did not inhale; does that still count?)
( ) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car
( ) Stolen a car
( ) Been dumped
(x) Shoplifted (I was 8! It was a pack of Snoopy gum.)
( ) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight (with a sibling... which I'm not sure counts?
( ) Snuck out of your parent's house
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
( ) Been arrested
( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Lied to a friend
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
(x) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
(x) Gone to Washington, D.C.
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with only coins (did it once with a tip)
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain
( ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Made a bonfire on the beach
( ) Crashed a party
(x) Gone roller-skating
(x) Ice-skating
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