Sometimes I love having LMK work where he does. He gets really neat gifts including:
- hand made Korean Christmas ornament (last year)
- Olympic souvenir (complete with Chinese writing)
- Russian chocolates
I got an observation/walk-through by the AP yesterday.
My room was in chaos. The kids are finishing their book projects and there is stuff everywhere. My room is trashed. The janitors must hate me. I had kids on the floor coloring game boards, a group in the back designing the set of their puppet show, still others typing their script, some working on their model - chaos with a capital C. In fact, it was just getting to the "Mrs. is going to lose her shit if she doesn't get some order" point when AP walked in.
As she's leaving, AP looks at me and whispers, "Nice job!"
WTF!?
Did I mention I'm getting my Christmas/anniversary gift this weekend?
I didn't!? Well, shame on me.
This summer, I noticed that my wedding band had cracked. Honestly, I'm not all that surprised. It was a $100 ring (all we could afford at the time) and I'd bent it up. I never, never take off my wedding band. My engagement ring comes off nightly, but I don't take off the wedding band. Anyway, I mentioned it to LMK and didn't think any more about it.
This past weekend we were at the mall so he took me in to see about getting it fixed. It would have cost $75 more than we paid for the ring to get it fixed. For $25 more, I could get a new ring with bigger diamonds. Well! Hmmm... decisions.
We pick up the new one Saturday. I'm excited. :o) But I miss my old ring.
The program is done.
Thank goodness.
LMK and LMP helped me tear down the sound system. Where was my team? They left when the kids left. Thanks a frickin' lot.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
The play will finally be over tomorrow. The principal came in to watch the dress rehearsal today since she's going out of town tomorrow and won't be here to see the performance.
It was good...but.
We really need something in the back to break up the plain black curtain. So I've spent my evening making something to hang in the back to break up the plain black curtain.
Where's my team?
Gone. Next year, I'm not doing any part of the program. It's someone else's turn.
I've really wanted to change my hairstyle for several years. 
I have basic basic hairstyles that I wear on a daily basis. The half up, half down pony tail which is my mother's favorite. The basic pony tail, but of course, I have hairs that hang down or that have been broken so it gets looking crazy fairly quickly and the french twist with the banana clip thingie. I never wear my hair down for three reasons.
- I hate it in my face.
- I play with it, making it frizzier (if that's possible).
- It's hot.
There are only two problems with the Re.ba cut. It's time intensive - which I am not in the morning. I want to shower and go. I like my sleep. Plus, I'm hair challenged. I can't braid, I can't curl. I'm just not talented. I blame being left handed. Thus, the Re.ba cut has resulted in a return to my three standard "styles".Then before we went to the beach, I got my hair cut again. I loved the length (after some adjustment), but never left it down because it was still hot. Plus, my bangs have a mind of their own.
Now, I'm thinking the Victori.a Beck.ham cut BEFORE she went nuts and cut it all off. You know, the angled bob.
But with bangs...and maybe curly. I would like the front to be between my chin and my shoulder. That's a good length in front for me due to the double chin. If I go too short, I look like a pumpkin since I do have a round face. Heh. All of me is round (sorry honey, couldn't resist that one).These are the ones I really like.
Any thoughts? Remember, ROUND face, double chin.
Well, 1 flu shot and three vials of blood later I am done with my doctor's visit. She's checking some basic things to make sure it's not something out of the norm and then she'll schedule my sleep study. His and hers CP.AP machines. I'm so excited. Riiiiiight.
Oh, and I've gained 20 pounds since school started. Stress eat much? Maybe this time will be the time I buckle down and actually commit to losing weight.
Ha.
Yeah.
Right.
A little Friday recap.
- Ordered 6 pizzas for my kids since they had the highest percentage of students who tested out of the multiplication tests.
- Served 4 pizzas and drinks to 16 hyper children
- Cut them off after 6 pieces. We had play practice and I was picturing sick kids. Ick.
- Got vitually no teaching done due to bullying assemblies, book fair browsing, play practice, and pizza.
- Worked on play costumes after school
- Still have more to do on them
- Room is trashed
- Noticed LMP's new hickey. Ick.
- Went with LMP to get a cell phone.
- Waited while LMP purchased purple cell phone.
- Watched LMP play with her phone
- Realized LMP now has cuter phone than me - damn practicality
- Ate dinner at great new Mexican place
- Watched LMP play with her phone
- Watched Jeff Dun.ham special
- Watched LMP play with her phone
Tomorrow is a trip to the doctor (to see why I'm so frickin' tired) and Chipot.le and a movie.
Sans teenager.
It will be strange and different, yet fun.
Evidently I'm getting "that director voice". Heh. Sorry.
Or actually, no I'm not. I suck as a teacher, but I'm the one getting the newsletters churned out every month so that the others don't have to do them.
We also have a program to do for the PTA next Tuesday night. I pushed to get the program ordered. I made totally legal copies of the songs for everyone. Cough, cough. I nagged to get parts given to kids. I went and purchased stuff for costumes. I stand in front of the stage and run the practices while others sit and grade papers. I stayed after school to learn how to run the new sound system. I will be making up the sets. (Ok, glittering something up to hang on the back of the curtains). I will be the one running around like a chicken with my head cut off next Tuesday night trying to get everything right. It looks and sounds pretty damn good, if I must say so myself.
So yeah, maybe I am getting "that director voice." That happens when you're the DIRECTOR!
Christmas Around the World. Thoughts?
I'm thinking about a Christmas Around the World project for December. Partners or individual projects. Every student/pair gets a country to research. Then we need some sort of final project (God help me). I'm just in the beginning phases of the planning, but I'm thinking it could be cool. It would be neat to do some sort
The book projects are making me crazy, but I'm trying to deal with the chaos. I hate chaos in my room. Chaos = noise. Some days I can't take the noise, some days are ok. However I constantly live in fear that someone is going to walk into my room with a clipboard. I'm figuring they'll wait until the week of Thanksgiving and then they'll be annoyed that we're watching a movie or doing something that they don't think is "educationally relevant."
So, to recap. Thoughts on Christmas Around the World projects?
Ten Predictions for the Next 4 Years (mine are more like hopes)
- NCLB is improved if not scrapped altogether.
- Raises for teachers.
- The war in Iraq/Afghanistan will end.
- Gas prices will rise again, but not as much as $4. Sheesh.
- Americans become less hated in other countries (i.e. stop being so obnoxious...sheesh)
- Unemployment rates will rise in the near future, then begin to go down.
- Major health care improvements. Maybe not national health care, but at least some regulation of the insurance companies. Sheesh.
- Medicare changes. Good, bad, indifferent something has to change.
- Major economy changes. (I hope.)
- Gay rights will become a hot button issue, again.
P.S. The tax break we were told about for buying our Pri.us? Phased out in 2007. SON OF A B! I'm beyond ticked.
So, LMP is eagerly anticipating the new Twi.light movie.
Me?
I've never read the books. They SOUND like my kind of book. I had just never heard of them until this summer when we were at the beach, beating the heat in a Books.A.Million and they were advertising the release of the last book. It sounded like as big a deal as a new Jan.et Evanovich book. But again, I haven't read the book.
Maybe I'll put them on my list for this year's beach trip. If we go to the beach this year. Money is tight, we may have to skip it. Which will stink because I was really looking forward to going again and perhaps taking LMP.
Does anyone know anything about a tax break for Pri.us owners? That may pay for our week at the beach.
Ever since I caught this on Y.ouT.ube it's been stuck in my head.
How amazing would it be to work at that school? I probably couldn't do it though. I'm struggling with daily di.fferentiation. Or so I'm told. For now I would settle for attending his conference. That would be inspirational to say the least.
How many days until Christmas break?
If you need the lyrics, check here.
Thank goodness it's Friday. Has it seemed like the longest week ever to anyone else?
I went to LMP's play again tonight. She did a great job, I'm so proud. LMK wasn't bad either. Ok, ok, I laughed my tush off. Who knew Loui.s Car.roll was so funny!?
The meeting with the admin was ok too. They're still pissed about something we did a month ago. MOVE ON. Sheesh. Sounds like others are in hot water too, but it still stinks.
things couldn't get worse, they do.
Meeting tomorrow with admin.
Socks is in the kitty hospital.
Life sucks.
Before the different stuff, I would just like to point out that even the janitor commented today that no one smiles, no one is happy, no one says hello anymore. The morale, she is dropping!
My room was a sauna today and I literally cannot open my windows. They're so heavy I can't lift them. It was 80 in there before I muscled it open.
Also, am I the only one that got sniffley when Barack Obama thanked his wife and kids and promised them a puppy? I'm so weird.
Now.
Enough about school!
I thought I would share my tv obsession with you. TV seems to be my escape these days. I can just turn my mind off for hours at a time.
New (at least to me) Shows I Love
- The Big Bang Theory
- Privileged (I've loved Jo.Anna Garcia since R.eba)
- 17 and Counting
- The Starter Wife
- Gossip Girl (LMP loves it, I have my issues with it, but I watch it with her)
- The Ex List
- How I Met Your Mother
- Samantha Who?
- America's Next Top Model/Top Design/Project Runway/Top Chef
- Desperate Housewives
- Amazing Race
- The Soup
- Ugly Betty
- Survivor
- Jon and Kate, Plus 8 - I can't seem to shake some of the things I've read and seen about the show. I enjoy watching the kids, but at what price? Plus, I'm tired of seeing all the great things they get to do with a family of 10 that I can't do with a family of 2 (now 3).
- The Ex List - Booooooooooooring. It better start getting good quickly.
- House - He's so mean and everybody dies! I must be a masocist.
Did you? We got up early and didn't have to wait at all. I'm saving my sticker to show my kids tomorrow.
In other news, rumor is we're to note diff.erenti.ation EVERY DAY in our lesson plans. Seriously? Seriously! What happened to, "This is going to take time?" or "We're not expecting you to start doing this all at once."
I love it when people talk out of both sides of their mouth. Just one more reason to vote and make your voice heard.
Woohoo! I'm still in this.
Today was uneventful. We took the quarterly writing test in the morning and went to see LMK and LMP in their play in the afternoon. I also sent all my plans for the next week or two to the admin. and I met with the gifted coordinator just to play CYA. I'm learning CYA is a way of life around here.
The play? Very fun. There were minor mistakes here and there, but it was great and my students LOVED it. They've all got a crush on one of the cards now. Oy vey.
Have I mentioned the hamster? LMP got a hamster back in September. She's a cute little thing. Socks is in love with her. Actually, I think he just wants to eat her. Either way, he spends a heck of a lot of time mesmerized by Pheebs.
On the second day!
Sheesh. Spent most of the day at play practice watching LMK and LMP (Lawn Mower Princess as the younger daughter has now been dubbed). They are in the school play.
It was fun to see and I wanted to check things out since my kids are going on their first field trip tomorrow. To see the play.
It ought to be interesting.
Why do I think the administration will be in to observe me tomorrow? Just to mess with me.
I know, I know it's been more than a month. I apologize. DRAMA.
What the hell. Let's give it another whirl.
Allow me to sum up my week.
I suck.
Wait, my mother doesn't read this. I'll use my away message for IM (that has since been banned by my mother). "LMQ sucks at her job. Tell your friends. "
No really, my meeting with the administration (both of them) after Wednesday's informal observation boiled down to you're sucking - we know you can do better. Do better!
Um. Thanks? I knew that last year.
It doesn't help that my friend got observed the day after doing the same thing with one minor tweak and received a glowing evaluation.
What the hell? Seriously. What. the. hell.
Anyone with great suggestions on "challenging the gifties" would be my bestest friend.
Now, it's back to googling.
Di.ffere.ntiation can bite my shiny metal ass.
It's going to be a long month.