Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Spooks, anyone?
So for some reason my mentalfloss links took me to an article about the top creepiest places in the United States, which was an interesting read, and one thing led to another and the next thing I know I'm on a website of the most haunted places in Georgia (random state, I know). Anyway, reading the description of some of these places is quite a scream (let me say now: I do not believe in ghosts, so it's hard to take most of this seriously) and one description in particular really cracked me up: It says "Atlanta-Six Flags: People have seen a little girl wondering around pretending like she is lost. If you follow her she will lead you so far into the woods you won't be able to find your way back, and then she disappears." Anyway, my query is this: if she leads you into the woods so far that you can't find your way back, then who is coming back to tell the story? Really? LOL.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Summer Reading List, Anyone?
So I'm posting a lot today because apparently, I have a lot to say (whether anyone wants to listen or not is besides the point). Anyway, this is just FYI, but yesterday whilst talking to Bets, she asked me what I had planned for the summer--besides Chicago, besides getting a part-time job--and I was like "I guess I'll just chill and hang out and stuff," which I know is the most intelligent, thought-provoking thing a person could ever utter. Anyway, it seems like fate decided to step in and take over, because as I was browsing mentalfloss's weekend links, I found a link to a great blog "Marc and Angel Hack Life" which is where I got the list of things to do on the net site, and which is also where I found a list of the bloggers' 40 Modern Books Everyone Should Read. So I read the list (and the handy descriptions of each book) and decided to compile my own summer reading book list based on their list. I picked 14 of their 40 that looked interesting to me, for whatever reason. Here they are:
The Road Less Traveled--Scott M. Peck
Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25 and the Search for the American Dream--Adam Shepard
The Joy of Simple Living--Jeff Davidson
Influence: The Psychology of Persuation--Robert Cialdini (although Mame says if I get any more persuasive I'll be manipulative)
Managment of the Absurd--Richard Farson (the blogger recommended it for teachers, so why not?)
An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned But Probably Didn't--Judy Jones
Freakonomics--Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People--Steven Covey (this was the only one I'd actually ever heard of)
Personal Development for Smart People--Steve Pavlina (as opposed to Personal Development for Dummies? LOL)
The Now Habit--Neil Fiore
Ignore Everyone--Hugh MacLeod
Eating Well for Optimum Health--Andrew Weil (I've been wanting to eat better for years, I just need someone to tell me how to do it because I'm too lazy to plan my own menus).
A People's History of the United States--Howard Zinn
Career Renegade--Johnathon Field
I Will Teach You to Be Rich--Ramit Sethi (It's supposed to be targeted towards 20-somethings with no real financial knowledge, which would be me--which would be something Bets and I talked about last night as well)
Anyway, Bets, you're a librarian--ever read any of these or seen 'em? I'm wondering if Plaquemine Library will have some of these. I hope so, because I want to read them. Who knows? I might even blog about 'em. Yes, that is a threat. :)
The Road Less Traveled--Scott M. Peck
Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25 and the Search for the American Dream--Adam Shepard
The Joy of Simple Living--Jeff Davidson
Influence: The Psychology of Persuation--Robert Cialdini (although Mame says if I get any more persuasive I'll be manipulative)
Managment of the Absurd--Richard Farson (the blogger recommended it for teachers, so why not?)
An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned But Probably Didn't--Judy Jones
Freakonomics--Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People--Steven Covey (this was the only one I'd actually ever heard of)
Personal Development for Smart People--Steve Pavlina (as opposed to Personal Development for Dummies? LOL)
The Now Habit--Neil Fiore
Ignore Everyone--Hugh MacLeod
Eating Well for Optimum Health--Andrew Weil (I've been wanting to eat better for years, I just need someone to tell me how to do it because I'm too lazy to plan my own menus).
A People's History of the United States--Howard Zinn
Career Renegade--Johnathon Field
I Will Teach You to Be Rich--Ramit Sethi (It's supposed to be targeted towards 20-somethings with no real financial knowledge, which would be me--which would be something Bets and I talked about last night as well)
Anyway, Bets, you're a librarian--ever read any of these or seen 'em? I'm wondering if Plaquemine Library will have some of these. I hope so, because I want to read them. Who knows? I might even blog about 'em. Yes, that is a threat. :)
25 Ways to Procrastinate Online
It's not my original work, so I'll direct you to the original blog, which has the better title of "25 Semi-Productive Things I Do Online When I'm Trying to Avoid Real Work." It's actually pretty neat and now I want to try some of the links!
http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/02/08/29-semi-productive-things-i-do-online/
http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/02/08/29-semi-productive-things-i-do-online/
Graduation, Ethnic Cuisine and Tangi Lanes
I was walking down the hall from the teacher's workroom to my classroom and I overheard one of our custodians asking another teacher how her weekend was. The teacher's reply? "Too short."
I know exactly what she means. My weekend literally flew by, because I don't think I stopped once in the past two days. Here's what happened:
Saturday I drove to Hammond for Southeastern's graduation. I picked up Doug in Loranger (he has no vehicle--his fault, but I felt sorry for him--my fault, LOL), and we sat through the two hour and so commencement together. We joked that we should have been friends with more liberal arts majors, since the college of Arts and Humanities was called first, instead of being friends with science majors, since Science and Tech was LAST. But that's what you get when one of you is a Biology Ed major and the other is a Physics major (or PhySUCKS,as I like to tell him). Anyway, afterwards we were going to go eat at Mariner's, but Trammie (one of our graduating friends) invited us to New Orleans to celebrate with her and her family--so Doug and I gamely went along. And by gamely, I do mean we were the best of all possible sports--crammed in Trammie's car, with her and her parents, on an hour and half drive in the rain, with Tram driving (like riding the Wild Mouse) and I had NO seat belt because her car ate her middle backseat seatbelt... oy vey. :) But we love Trammie, so we went. It was an interesting ride, really, because Tram's parents' English is about as good as Doug's and my Vietnamese. There was perpetually two conversations going on at all times: Tram to her parents, and Tram to us. LOL. And every so often, Tram's mom (who shared the back seat with Doug and me) would look at us and begin to laugh... I'm not sure at what, but we just smiled back. Her mom loves me though, she's always hugging on me and feeding me when I go over to their house, so I don't mind she she laughs at us for random reasons. I'm pretty sure we're amusing sometimes.
Anyway, we went out to this Vietnamese resturant and ate some really good "foods" as Tram says. The waitress bought out this stove looking thing and placed it in the middle of the table and there was a big platter of (raw) thinly sliced beef, a tray of assorted veggies, and big bowls of rice noodles. They also gave us a stack of things that looked like plastic doilies, only it was rice paper. We cooked our beef at the table, then dipped the rice paper in a bowl of steaming hot water to make it soft, then put the beef, rice noodles and whatever veggies you want onto the rice paper, roll it up like a tortilla (a very flimsy, floppy tortilla) and then dip in one of the "fish sauces" provided. That was the first course. The second course was a hot soup, kind of yellowish base with okra, shrimp, crab, squid, pineapples, cucumbers, and some other veggie I couldn't identify. Then to drink we had hot, unsweetened green tea, which was very good and kinda cleaned the palate after all those other interesting tastes and textures. Anyway, I sampled it all and liked it all except the squid, which was cold and kinda squishy. Doug, who is less adventurous than I when it comes to food (a fact he freely admits) only ate beef and rice noodles on the rice paper and skipped the soup (he said soup makes him sick, which he blames on this gray soup he ate in the Phillipians). I really enjoyed it, and Doug said he did too.
Trammie dropped us off at my car in Hammond, and I drove Doug out to Ponchatoula to a friend's house so he could go to his graduation party (we knew a lot of people that graduated Saturday). Then I came home and fell into bed almost immediately because I was exhausted.
Then Sunday I woke up, went to church from 10-11:30, then went to Baton Rouge to pick up Tram, we drove to Hammond, picked up Doug, went out to IHOP for lunch, then went bowling for two hours at Tangi Lanes. I am a horrible bowler (my best score for the day was a 68) but Doug and Tram are moderately good and highly competetive, so it's amusing just to watch them try to beat each other. I teased them and told them that I am really a pro-bowler, and if bowled like I *usually* did, they would be crushed into oblivion, but I cared about them to much to do that to them. LOL. Once we went bowling with Tram's boyfriend Phu, who actually is VERY good at bowling, and he whooped all of us. It was hilarious how awful we were compared to Phu.
Anyway, after we bowled I dropped Doug off, and Tram and I stopped by my little sister's house to visit for like 5 minutes, and then I drove Trammie home and went to the night service at church and then went home, called Bets and talked to her for awhile, and then went to bed because today was work! Last week of school and I'm currently giving final exams. Yippee!!! Two weeks until Chicago, with Mame and Judy!!! I'm so excited about my trip!!!
And then I have to find a part-time job for the summer. Bets suggested I check the library, so I think I'll swing by there after work either today or tomorrow and see if Mr. Dan has any open positions. I'll keep you posted!
I know exactly what she means. My weekend literally flew by, because I don't think I stopped once in the past two days. Here's what happened:
Saturday I drove to Hammond for Southeastern's graduation. I picked up Doug in Loranger (he has no vehicle--his fault, but I felt sorry for him--my fault, LOL), and we sat through the two hour and so commencement together. We joked that we should have been friends with more liberal arts majors, since the college of Arts and Humanities was called first, instead of being friends with science majors, since Science and Tech was LAST. But that's what you get when one of you is a Biology Ed major and the other is a Physics major (or PhySUCKS,as I like to tell him). Anyway, afterwards we were going to go eat at Mariner's, but Trammie (one of our graduating friends) invited us to New Orleans to celebrate with her and her family--so Doug and I gamely went along. And by gamely, I do mean we were the best of all possible sports--crammed in Trammie's car, with her and her parents, on an hour and half drive in the rain, with Tram driving (like riding the Wild Mouse) and I had NO seat belt because her car ate her middle backseat seatbelt... oy vey. :) But we love Trammie, so we went. It was an interesting ride, really, because Tram's parents' English is about as good as Doug's and my Vietnamese. There was perpetually two conversations going on at all times: Tram to her parents, and Tram to us. LOL. And every so often, Tram's mom (who shared the back seat with Doug and me) would look at us and begin to laugh... I'm not sure at what, but we just smiled back. Her mom loves me though, she's always hugging on me and feeding me when I go over to their house, so I don't mind she she laughs at us for random reasons. I'm pretty sure we're amusing sometimes.
Anyway, we went out to this Vietnamese resturant and ate some really good "foods" as Tram says. The waitress bought out this stove looking thing and placed it in the middle of the table and there was a big platter of (raw) thinly sliced beef, a tray of assorted veggies, and big bowls of rice noodles. They also gave us a stack of things that looked like plastic doilies, only it was rice paper. We cooked our beef at the table, then dipped the rice paper in a bowl of steaming hot water to make it soft, then put the beef, rice noodles and whatever veggies you want onto the rice paper, roll it up like a tortilla (a very flimsy, floppy tortilla) and then dip in one of the "fish sauces" provided. That was the first course. The second course was a hot soup, kind of yellowish base with okra, shrimp, crab, squid, pineapples, cucumbers, and some other veggie I couldn't identify. Then to drink we had hot, unsweetened green tea, which was very good and kinda cleaned the palate after all those other interesting tastes and textures. Anyway, I sampled it all and liked it all except the squid, which was cold and kinda squishy. Doug, who is less adventurous than I when it comes to food (a fact he freely admits) only ate beef and rice noodles on the rice paper and skipped the soup (he said soup makes him sick, which he blames on this gray soup he ate in the Phillipians). I really enjoyed it, and Doug said he did too.
Trammie dropped us off at my car in Hammond, and I drove Doug out to Ponchatoula to a friend's house so he could go to his graduation party (we knew a lot of people that graduated Saturday). Then I came home and fell into bed almost immediately because I was exhausted.
Then Sunday I woke up, went to church from 10-11:30, then went to Baton Rouge to pick up Tram, we drove to Hammond, picked up Doug, went out to IHOP for lunch, then went bowling for two hours at Tangi Lanes. I am a horrible bowler (my best score for the day was a 68) but Doug and Tram are moderately good and highly competetive, so it's amusing just to watch them try to beat each other. I teased them and told them that I am really a pro-bowler, and if bowled like I *usually* did, they would be crushed into oblivion, but I cared about them to much to do that to them. LOL. Once we went bowling with Tram's boyfriend Phu, who actually is VERY good at bowling, and he whooped all of us. It was hilarious how awful we were compared to Phu.
Anyway, after we bowled I dropped Doug off, and Tram and I stopped by my little sister's house to visit for like 5 minutes, and then I drove Trammie home and went to the night service at church and then went home, called Bets and talked to her for awhile, and then went to bed because today was work! Last week of school and I'm currently giving final exams. Yippee!!! Two weeks until Chicago, with Mame and Judy!!! I'm so excited about my trip!!!
And then I have to find a part-time job for the summer. Bets suggested I check the library, so I think I'll swing by there after work either today or tomorrow and see if Mr. Dan has any open positions. I'll keep you posted!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Screaming in the Face of Sheer Boredom...
If possible, this last week of school is even more boring than the LEAP testing weeks. With the exception of two classes, my students and I have reviewed all of the material for the final exams next week, and I am "youtubed" out, after surfing the web finding amusing clips for us to watch/listen to in our free time. The Friday Happy Hour post is two hours late. I have read every new article in the news section of Mentalfloss, and even read a few "real" news articles of the interwebs... I have looked at Icanhascheezburger until the cats with bad grammer are no longer funny, and I read an entire wikapedia article on Steve Buscemi... I even read the critical reviews of "Fargo." AND my physical science class and I boxed laser printer cartridges and it didn't even take us the whole hour.
The only thing that keeps this day from being completely mindlessly dull is that Judy finally emailed me (she was in Louisiana, cleaning out her old house this week which is why she didn't get to me sooner) and said that of course we're still on for Chicago, she's excited about seeing Mame and I, and then gave me her cell phone number, which used to be (when she taught at SLU) protected by the equivalent of a Presidential Guard--and that's only a slight exaggeration. And I was stoked when she gave me her personal email address. :) Anyway, Mame and I are excited--seeing a new city and an old friend--and I am excited because this week is almost over. And then after next week, this particular experience will be over. At least for now.
Only five more hours to go, plus lunch.
The only thing that keeps this day from being completely mindlessly dull is that Judy finally emailed me (she was in Louisiana, cleaning out her old house this week which is why she didn't get to me sooner) and said that of course we're still on for Chicago, she's excited about seeing Mame and I, and then gave me her cell phone number, which used to be (when she taught at SLU) protected by the equivalent of a Presidential Guard--and that's only a slight exaggeration. And I was stoked when she gave me her personal email address. :) Anyway, Mame and I are excited--seeing a new city and an old friend--and I am excited because this week is almost over. And then after next week, this particular experience will be over. At least for now.
Only five more hours to go, plus lunch.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Funny
Oh, one more thing--again courtesy of Mentalfloss (I'm telling you, it's an amazing site) the best flow chart I've ever seen:
Oh, and this is hysterical as well: http://www.mcbidz.com/mcvidz/video/1682/SNL-Skit--Seinfelds-History-Class
Short n' Sweet
I got hired at the Iberville Math, Science and Arts Academy for next school year!!! Woo hoo!!! Don't really have time to elaborate, but with that coming up and school here ending in less than two weeks, I am feeling really good. Coming up next: Chicago, IL! I still haven't heard from Judy (since March, anyway) but I assume she still wants to meet up with us, since it was her suggestion and all. I emailed her yesterday, but busy woman that she is, she may or may not get back to me soon.
Anyway, final exams, signing paper work for my new job, and the Windy City! I can't wait!
Anyway, final exams, signing paper work for my new job, and the Windy City! I can't wait!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A Slight Rant
Feeling much better today! Yay! I finally feel like a human being again.
I think it was the cheeseburger that did it. Yesterday I got this super intense craving for a cheeseburger, so I got one. I only ate half of it (that's my appetite, for ya), but afterwards I got tons of energy and I just started feeling normal again. Yay for cheeseburgers!
Okay, so maybe all the Robotussin is not out of my system yet, which would explain the above paragraph. But whatever.
This is the LAST instructional week of school and any day now I'm supposed to hear from Iberville Parish about a possible position there next year. I'm really anxious to hear whether or I'll be going or staying--and I need to know soon so I can tell my employers. They said they would call me either yesterday (they didn't) or today (they haven't) and I'm trying to decide whether I should call them myself this afternoon or tomorrow if I haven't heard from them. I really do need to know, but I don't want to be a bother. I wish I had taken a college course in self-assertion. :|
In better news, SLU's spring graduation is Saturday, and I'm going. Doug and I have tentative plans to hang out, as three of our friends are graduating--Maddie, Mamie and Tram. I am so excited for them! But in a way, it's seems surreal. This means that we're all adults now... how strange is that?
Anyway... I'm really looking forward to the weekend, because the last bit of school is NOT easy. You would think this would be wrapping up time, and all we'd be responsible for would be silly things like preparing the students for the final exams and making the tests, etc, but in reality, I'm juggling IEP stuff, pre/post test stuff and EOCs.
And on top of that, I have to get a part-time job over the summer because I won't be getting a pay check for three months. Yippee. In the middle of an economy slump, I have to look for a three month job. But enough about that--I'll worry about it when I come back from Chicago, because money troubles or no, I'm going to the Windy City.
Ready-to-throw-in-the-towel-for-the-summer,
~Heather
I think it was the cheeseburger that did it. Yesterday I got this super intense craving for a cheeseburger, so I got one. I only ate half of it (that's my appetite, for ya), but afterwards I got tons of energy and I just started feeling normal again. Yay for cheeseburgers!
Okay, so maybe all the Robotussin is not out of my system yet, which would explain the above paragraph. But whatever.
This is the LAST instructional week of school and any day now I'm supposed to hear from Iberville Parish about a possible position there next year. I'm really anxious to hear whether or I'll be going or staying--and I need to know soon so I can tell my employers. They said they would call me either yesterday (they didn't) or today (they haven't) and I'm trying to decide whether I should call them myself this afternoon or tomorrow if I haven't heard from them. I really do need to know, but I don't want to be a bother. I wish I had taken a college course in self-assertion. :|
In better news, SLU's spring graduation is Saturday, and I'm going. Doug and I have tentative plans to hang out, as three of our friends are graduating--Maddie, Mamie and Tram. I am so excited for them! But in a way, it's seems surreal. This means that we're all adults now... how strange is that?
Anyway... I'm really looking forward to the weekend, because the last bit of school is NOT easy. You would think this would be wrapping up time, and all we'd be responsible for would be silly things like preparing the students for the final exams and making the tests, etc, but in reality, I'm juggling IEP stuff, pre/post test stuff and EOCs.
And on top of that, I have to get a part-time job over the summer because I won't be getting a pay check for three months. Yippee. In the middle of an economy slump, I have to look for a three month job. But enough about that--I'll worry about it when I come back from Chicago, because money troubles or no, I'm going to the Windy City.
Ready-to-throw-in-the-towel-for-the-summer,
~Heather
Monday, May 10, 2010
Still Coughing...
Missed two days of work because of this virus thing... it's bad. Back today, not quite here mentally, but physically.
Anyway, nothing interesting to say. Trying to wrap everything up this week, and get all my final exams typed up with the study guides. Also, have IEP stuff to do, and I should be hearing from Iberville today or tomorrow about a position in August. We'll see what they say.
~Heather
Anyway, nothing interesting to say. Trying to wrap everything up this week, and get all my final exams typed up with the study guides. Also, have IEP stuff to do, and I should be hearing from Iberville today or tomorrow about a position in August. We'll see what they say.
~Heather
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Cough Sniffle Hack
I. Am. So. Sick.
Blech.
At school, celebrating the fact that we only have two instructional weeks left, and this week is "wrapping it up" week. Next week will be all about reviewing for the final, and then week after that IS finals... and I think I may be looking forward to it more than the kids. LOL. Who says teachers don't earn their summer breaks? If anyone tries to take it away from me, I'll kill 'em. :)
In other news: re-watching and re-reading The Lord of the Rings. I'm on book one right now, but on the second movie (what can I say, the movies go faster and Viggo is HOT). I'm watching them in bits--a little bit here, and little bit there. Much like I read the books. The amazing thing about the Lord of the Rings is that it never gets old. Ever. I could watch the movies over and over again and still be fascinated. When I read the books I'm still on the edge of my seat, wondering how Frodo is EVER going get to Mordor, and how the Fellowship will survive, and, I do confess, I skip the scene where the men of Gondor frighten Smegol and turn him back into Gollum because in my heart of hearts, I always secretely wish that Gollum would have been redeemed. Even though I know, as Samwise Gamgee says "You can't save him." Still... Smegol/Gollum was almost lovable at times. And I believe for one brief moment, his loyalty to Frodo trumped his passion for the Ring. For one brief moment...
I read somewhere that Tolkien never intended his LOTR books to be so popular. In fact, he supposedly created them on a whim, to prove that an epic myth could still be written. But then again, you have a guy who created a whole world, with distict races and working languages (yes, his Elvish is considered a real language--it's got grammatical structure, spelling, and it can be spoken) and you've got to wonder: you did this for FUN? Geez man, what do you call work?
But I'm glad he did it. Because if he hadn't, I wouldn't have these amazing books to read or movies to watch. And thank you, Peter Jackson, for not making the Lord of the Rings movies suck. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for casting Craig Parker as Haldir because he is the hottest elf on the planet. :)
See? The cold meds are making me loopy. I just wrote a whole post about Tolkien and all I could end it with was "Craig Parker is an amazing kiwi elf."
Blech.
At school, celebrating the fact that we only have two instructional weeks left, and this week is "wrapping it up" week. Next week will be all about reviewing for the final, and then week after that IS finals... and I think I may be looking forward to it more than the kids. LOL. Who says teachers don't earn their summer breaks? If anyone tries to take it away from me, I'll kill 'em. :)
In other news: re-watching and re-reading The Lord of the Rings. I'm on book one right now, but on the second movie (what can I say, the movies go faster and Viggo is HOT). I'm watching them in bits--a little bit here, and little bit there. Much like I read the books. The amazing thing about the Lord of the Rings is that it never gets old. Ever. I could watch the movies over and over again and still be fascinated. When I read the books I'm still on the edge of my seat, wondering how Frodo is EVER going get to Mordor, and how the Fellowship will survive, and, I do confess, I skip the scene where the men of Gondor frighten Smegol and turn him back into Gollum because in my heart of hearts, I always secretely wish that Gollum would have been redeemed. Even though I know, as Samwise Gamgee says "You can't save him." Still... Smegol/Gollum was almost lovable at times. And I believe for one brief moment, his loyalty to Frodo trumped his passion for the Ring. For one brief moment...
I read somewhere that Tolkien never intended his LOTR books to be so popular. In fact, he supposedly created them on a whim, to prove that an epic myth could still be written. But then again, you have a guy who created a whole world, with distict races and working languages (yes, his Elvish is considered a real language--it's got grammatical structure, spelling, and it can be spoken) and you've got to wonder: you did this for FUN? Geez man, what do you call work?
But I'm glad he did it. Because if he hadn't, I wouldn't have these amazing books to read or movies to watch. And thank you, Peter Jackson, for not making the Lord of the Rings movies suck. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for casting Craig Parker as Haldir because he is the hottest elf on the planet. :)
See? The cold meds are making me loopy. I just wrote a whole post about Tolkien and all I could end it with was "Craig Parker is an amazing kiwi elf."
Friday, April 30, 2010
The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas
I think I just found my new favorite song. :)
If you haven't noticed already, there are a few things that I am borderline-obsessed with. One might be CSI NY (though I'm in denial), but the other DEFINATELY is mentalfloss. Ah, mentalfloss--where were you in my youth? If I had known about this site/magazine, it's possible I would be even more hopelessly nerdy than I already am.
Anyway... mentalfloss never fails me. Today under the Morning Cup o' Links, I found this link: http://flavorwire.com/86872/mixtape-10-songs-for-science-nerds, which is all about the top ten songs for science nerds(duh). Anyway, it's great... I haven't listened to each clip all the way through, but the few I have are awesome. My favorites so far are "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby and "Why Does the Sun Shine (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas" by They Might Be Giants. I definately recommend checking it out if you like music, or if you like science, or if you like both!
Also--here are the Friday Happy Hour Questions that I love so much (also from Mentalfloss):
1.What movies have you marched out of?
2. Have you ever had a pet with an interesting name, or a good story behind the moniker?
3.What’s the most inappropriate question you’ve ever been asked in a work setting?
4.Did any of you own anything worse (than random jerseys from sports teams)?
1. I have never walked out of a movie, but I did walk out of a seriously disturbing play during college once. It was written about this woman who was struggling with suicidal urges and eventually kills herself, which sounded interesting, but the play was really abstract and the actors liked to run through the aisles and get in your face a lot… and I just didn’t like it. At intermission, I took a bathroom break and didn’t come back.
2. Having had several pets, I think a few of them qualify for interesting names: I had cats named Mr. Meow, Ugly (who wasn’t ugly at all), Lil’Cat (who was a very fluffy and fat) and lastly, Padme, named for Luke and Leia’s mum.
3. I had a co-worker once loudly ask me if I was a lesbian (in front of several customers) because a female friend of mine gave me a rather expensive gift. I found it rather sad that the only thing she could correlate with a nice gift was that a sexual favor was required in return. Also, in college once, I had a male professor ask me in a round-about way if I were dating anyone and then proceeded to make inappropriate sexual comments afterwards.
4.The wierdest thing I ever had was the walls of my room plastered (literally) with Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett pictures that I had photocopied from books, magazines, etc. Now, I know it’s not unusual for a kid to have celebrity pictures on her wall, but this was the nineties and none of my friends had ever even HEARD of these people. I got some wierd looks.
If you haven't noticed already, there are a few things that I am borderline-obsessed with. One might be CSI NY (though I'm in denial), but the other DEFINATELY is mentalfloss. Ah, mentalfloss--where were you in my youth? If I had known about this site/magazine, it's possible I would be even more hopelessly nerdy than I already am.
Anyway... mentalfloss never fails me. Today under the Morning Cup o' Links, I found this link: http://flavorwire.com/86872/mixtape-10-songs-for-science-nerds, which is all about the top ten songs for science nerds(duh). Anyway, it's great... I haven't listened to each clip all the way through, but the few I have are awesome. My favorites so far are "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby and "Why Does the Sun Shine (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas" by They Might Be Giants. I definately recommend checking it out if you like music, or if you like science, or if you like both!
Also--here are the Friday Happy Hour Questions that I love so much (also from Mentalfloss):
1.What movies have you marched out of?
2. Have you ever had a pet with an interesting name, or a good story behind the moniker?
3.What’s the most inappropriate question you’ve ever been asked in a work setting?
4.Did any of you own anything worse (than random jerseys from sports teams)?
1. I have never walked out of a movie, but I did walk out of a seriously disturbing play during college once. It was written about this woman who was struggling with suicidal urges and eventually kills herself, which sounded interesting, but the play was really abstract and the actors liked to run through the aisles and get in your face a lot… and I just didn’t like it. At intermission, I took a bathroom break and didn’t come back.
2. Having had several pets, I think a few of them qualify for interesting names: I had cats named Mr. Meow, Ugly (who wasn’t ugly at all), Lil’Cat (who was a very fluffy and fat) and lastly, Padme, named for Luke and Leia’s mum.
3. I had a co-worker once loudly ask me if I was a lesbian (in front of several customers) because a female friend of mine gave me a rather expensive gift. I found it rather sad that the only thing she could correlate with a nice gift was that a sexual favor was required in return. Also, in college once, I had a male professor ask me in a round-about way if I were dating anyone and then proceeded to make inappropriate sexual comments afterwards.
4.The wierdest thing I ever had was the walls of my room plastered (literally) with Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett pictures that I had photocopied from books, magazines, etc. Now, I know it’s not unusual for a kid to have celebrity pictures on her wall, but this was the nineties and none of my friends had ever even HEARD of these people. I got some wierd looks.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Boom De Ah Dah...
Today a friend of mine who is in education came by to observe me. It was great seeing her, I haven't seen her in quite some time. Anyway, today she got to see my Earth and Life science classes, and even took part in some brainstorming we're doing for an Earth Day Song--based on the "Boom De Ah Dah (The World is Amazing)" song from the Discovery Channel. My kids are really getting into it--today we brainstormed our favorite things about the planet (I made them concentrate primarly on environmental things, like trees and sunshine, but allowed them to throw in "technology" as a catch all for human contributions). Tomorrow, we're going to work on finishing our brainstorming and putting our ideas into a song format. When we get the whole thing finished, I'm going to video them singing it. Hopefully we can get some music! That would be awesome! I'm as excited as they are. :)
In other news, Prom is tonight and I'm chaperoning. I didn't even go to my own prom in high school, so this will be a new experience. I only signed up because I got guilted into it--not that I mind hanging with the kids, but I confess I'm a bit of a homebody when it comes to afternoons. I much prefer to go home and stay home rather than stay out late. And I was planning on staying here until the prom started, but the more I think about it, the less likely that seems. I think I'm going to go home (even though I live 45 minutes away) and then just come back. Four hours of hanging out here with nothing to do just isn't my style.
UNLESS... I can find a friend in BR who has nothing better to do and hang out with them for awhile. That would be feasible... but I'll probably just go home.
In other news, Prom is tonight and I'm chaperoning. I didn't even go to my own prom in high school, so this will be a new experience. I only signed up because I got guilted into it--not that I mind hanging with the kids, but I confess I'm a bit of a homebody when it comes to afternoons. I much prefer to go home and stay home rather than stay out late. And I was planning on staying here until the prom started, but the more I think about it, the less likely that seems. I think I'm going to go home (even though I live 45 minutes away) and then just come back. Four hours of hanging out here with nothing to do just isn't my style.
UNLESS... I can find a friend in BR who has nothing better to do and hang out with them for awhile. That would be feasible... but I'll probably just go home.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday Happy Hour
Just thought I'd add: every Friday, one of the bloggers on mentalfloss.com (awesome website, btw) does a series of un-related questions meant to spark conversation. I try to answer them on my off hour every Friday and then read other people's responses. Last week, a friend of mine who recently moved to Ohio called me up and said "I'm reading something on mentalfloss..." and proceeded to read me my entire post and then ask if it were me. She said "I thought this sounded like my Heather." LOL. So... anyway, it's a great blog, and a great forum, both for discovering things about yourself, and for reconnecting (indirectly) with old friends. Who knows what (or who) might turn up?
Here's a link to today's blog--read the questions and answers, some of them are really neat. Sometimes it makes you wish you could meet the people who are writing these answers!
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/53792
Btw, below are today's questions and MY answers:
1. What’s a relatively insignificant event that changed your life forever?
2. What character from a book would you most like to spend a weekend with?
3. Did you ever participate in ‘Take Your Daughter/Son to Work Day,’ either as a child or parent?
4.Did your college have any unique graduation traditions the rest of us should know about?
Okay, so relatively insignificant event that changed my life forever: when one of my oldest (and best) friends decided to move from Louisiana to Maryland, I went by her house to help her pack the last bit of her belongings. Even though I was very sad that she was moving, I expected it to be a rather traditional throw-things-in-boxes-and-label-them night. What I didn’t expect was for her to ask me, casually, if I would like to spend the summer in Europe with my college’s study abroad and then proceed to pay for the entire thing (except my spending money). It changed my life forever, because up to that point, I’d never even been on a plane! Now I’m a travel bug–I go somewhere new every summer (on my own dime), and it’s all thanks to a good friend!
If I could meet (let alone spend the entire weekend with) any character from any book, I think I would like to spend time with Anne Shirley, circa the Anne’s House of Dreams days when she was newly married, no children, and still as fresh-faced as ever. I would desperately like to know if I fit into the “race that knows Joseph” because Anne reminds me so much of myself as a child and even as a young woman that I think we would get along. I must admit that meeting Cornelia Bryant would be almost an additional perk. And I would love to meet Capt’n Jim and read his “Life Book!”
I don’t have children, but when I was a child my mother took me to work with her one day as a part of a “job-shadowing” activity my school was doing. She worked at a Super 10 retail store and I don’t remember much of the day except that she got me to help her stock shelves and clean the floors. If it was a ploy to keep me college bound, it worked. Even though I have worked fast food and retail while I was in college, I managed to stick it out and graduate and now am a high school teacher. No more stocking shelves!!!
No unique graduation traditions here, I didn’t even decorate my cap (couldn’t think of anything original, and by the time I did, my dominate hand was in cast and I didn’t trust anyone else to do it). Sorry!
posted by Heather on 4-23-2010 at 11:01
Go read 'em and answer 'em for yourself!!!
Here's a link to today's blog--read the questions and answers, some of them are really neat. Sometimes it makes you wish you could meet the people who are writing these answers!
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/53792
Btw, below are today's questions and MY answers:
1. What’s a relatively insignificant event that changed your life forever?
2. What character from a book would you most like to spend a weekend with?
3. Did you ever participate in ‘Take Your Daughter/Son to Work Day,’ either as a child or parent?
4.Did your college have any unique graduation traditions the rest of us should know about?
Okay, so relatively insignificant event that changed my life forever: when one of my oldest (and best) friends decided to move from Louisiana to Maryland, I went by her house to help her pack the last bit of her belongings. Even though I was very sad that she was moving, I expected it to be a rather traditional throw-things-in-boxes-and-label-them night. What I didn’t expect was for her to ask me, casually, if I would like to spend the summer in Europe with my college’s study abroad and then proceed to pay for the entire thing (except my spending money). It changed my life forever, because up to that point, I’d never even been on a plane! Now I’m a travel bug–I go somewhere new every summer (on my own dime), and it’s all thanks to a good friend!
If I could meet (let alone spend the entire weekend with) any character from any book, I think I would like to spend time with Anne Shirley, circa the Anne’s House of Dreams days when she was newly married, no children, and still as fresh-faced as ever. I would desperately like to know if I fit into the “race that knows Joseph” because Anne reminds me so much of myself as a child and even as a young woman that I think we would get along. I must admit that meeting Cornelia Bryant would be almost an additional perk. And I would love to meet Capt’n Jim and read his “Life Book!”
I don’t have children, but when I was a child my mother took me to work with her one day as a part of a “job-shadowing” activity my school was doing. She worked at a Super 10 retail store and I don’t remember much of the day except that she got me to help her stock shelves and clean the floors. If it was a ploy to keep me college bound, it worked. Even though I have worked fast food and retail while I was in college, I managed to stick it out and graduate and now am a high school teacher. No more stocking shelves!!!
No unique graduation traditions here, I didn’t even decorate my cap (couldn’t think of anything original, and by the time I did, my dominate hand was in cast and I didn’t trust anyone else to do it). Sorry!
posted by Heather on 4-23-2010 at 11:01
Go read 'em and answer 'em for yourself!!!
Random stuff...
Listening to my students quote random movie lines as part of day two of most-of-the-school-is-away-on-a-field-trip. I am currently typing up notes for my classes so that we will be ahead next week (less work this weekend, yay!).
Also, I bought my laptop to school today to show my remaining students a movie (can't find the single TV in this school). Anyway, it seems to have a problem--wouldn't start, then did a system recovery, and then when it finally did start, informed me that my anti-virus had an "incorrect" update which was causing all the problems and I should immediately fix it. Unfortunately, there is no wi-fi here and no way to fix the problem without an internet connection. So after it froze up on me, I turned it off and am currently trying to figure out when I'll have time to run by the library to use THEIR wi-fi. My house only has dial-up. BLECH. As soon as I can, I'm fixing that.
And now I'm perturbed, because that lap-top is (literally) part of my livelihood and it will be very difficult to do without it. Plus it was expensive, and if I have to pay to get it fixed, it will be more so. I'm hoping a simple net connection will be enough to save it. Hopefully.
Looking for a internet cable here.
~Heather
Also, I bought my laptop to school today to show my remaining students a movie (can't find the single TV in this school). Anyway, it seems to have a problem--wouldn't start, then did a system recovery, and then when it finally did start, informed me that my anti-virus had an "incorrect" update which was causing all the problems and I should immediately fix it. Unfortunately, there is no wi-fi here and no way to fix the problem without an internet connection. So after it froze up on me, I turned it off and am currently trying to figure out when I'll have time to run by the library to use THEIR wi-fi. My house only has dial-up. BLECH. As soon as I can, I'm fixing that.
And now I'm perturbed, because that lap-top is (literally) part of my livelihood and it will be very difficult to do without it. Plus it was expensive, and if I have to pay to get it fixed, it will be more so. I'm hoping a simple net connection will be enough to save it. Hopefully.
Looking for a internet cable here.
~Heather
Thursday, April 22, 2010
I have no chemistry with this subject...
I am so bored.
9/10s of my students went on a track field trip that lasts today and tomorrow. So today I have had a total of... letsee... seven students all day long. You would think that a "free day" would be fun, but I'll tell ya... after about two hours, the internet gives out on ya. And as far as actual work--I could be grading papers, or studying for my chemistry ceretifcation test--well, who wants to do that? Besides, even if you don't have many students, you still have to watch them. I spent an entire hour downloading braille books for one of my kids. Yowza.
I am so ready for this weekend, but not ready for that chem certification test that I will most assuredly fail. Yesterday everyone told me to stop being so pessimistic about it, but there is a difference between being "gloomy" and being realistic. As in, after five and half years of college (not to mention 12 years of school before that), I think I know when I have prepared adequetly for a test or not. Let's just say... I haven't.
I haven't studied for the chemistry praxis, therefore I will probably fail it. Unless a) I manage to guess extremely (superbly) well on every question (pick C!) or b) a bunch of English majors sign up to ceretify in chemistry thus giving me an advantage (no offense, my English major friends). Otherwise, I'm pretty much screwed. I was looking through a practice book I purchased in January (and just picked up today) and realized that I don't remember how to balance equations, forgot my gas laws, and couldn't draw a Lewis structure to save my life.
The only thing that keeps me from not showing up for the test Saturday is the belief that, if I'm going to throw $150 down the drain, I should at least attempt the test so I will know what's on it the NEXT time I decide to take it. IF there is a next time.
I never wanted a chemistry certification anyway. If I had my druthers, I'd be taking that elusive math course over the summer to get my math ceretification (I can pass that, LOL), or at least be taking a crack at the history praxis, which I think I could actually do better on than the chemistry, despite the fact that I'm teaching chemistry this term and my history minor is in European history (and the cert test tends to focus on Asian and United States history, from what I've heard).
If my appalling lack of knowledge in an area that I teach scares you, I apologize. I really do my best in my one section of chemistry (and thank God for teacher's manuals with the answers and explanations). Know this--the subjects I AM certified in (namely, biology and all related sciences), I know like the back of my hand. And I make a pretty good algebra tutor as well. And I've been known to correctly answer my students' history questions when they were studying in my class one day. LOL.
Chemistry is blech.
9/10s of my students went on a track field trip that lasts today and tomorrow. So today I have had a total of... letsee... seven students all day long. You would think that a "free day" would be fun, but I'll tell ya... after about two hours, the internet gives out on ya. And as far as actual work--I could be grading papers, or studying for my chemistry ceretifcation test--well, who wants to do that? Besides, even if you don't have many students, you still have to watch them. I spent an entire hour downloading braille books for one of my kids. Yowza.
I am so ready for this weekend, but not ready for that chem certification test that I will most assuredly fail. Yesterday everyone told me to stop being so pessimistic about it, but there is a difference between being "gloomy" and being realistic. As in, after five and half years of college (not to mention 12 years of school before that), I think I know when I have prepared adequetly for a test or not. Let's just say... I haven't.
I haven't studied for the chemistry praxis, therefore I will probably fail it. Unless a) I manage to guess extremely (superbly) well on every question (pick C!) or b) a bunch of English majors sign up to ceretify in chemistry thus giving me an advantage (no offense, my English major friends). Otherwise, I'm pretty much screwed. I was looking through a practice book I purchased in January (and just picked up today) and realized that I don't remember how to balance equations, forgot my gas laws, and couldn't draw a Lewis structure to save my life.
The only thing that keeps me from not showing up for the test Saturday is the belief that, if I'm going to throw $150 down the drain, I should at least attempt the test so I will know what's on it the NEXT time I decide to take it. IF there is a next time.
I never wanted a chemistry certification anyway. If I had my druthers, I'd be taking that elusive math course over the summer to get my math ceretification (I can pass that, LOL), or at least be taking a crack at the history praxis, which I think I could actually do better on than the chemistry, despite the fact that I'm teaching chemistry this term and my history minor is in European history (and the cert test tends to focus on Asian and United States history, from what I've heard).
If my appalling lack of knowledge in an area that I teach scares you, I apologize. I really do my best in my one section of chemistry (and thank God for teacher's manuals with the answers and explanations). Know this--the subjects I AM certified in (namely, biology and all related sciences), I know like the back of my hand. And I make a pretty good algebra tutor as well. And I've been known to correctly answer my students' history questions when they were studying in my class one day. LOL.
Chemistry is blech.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Diva
So I haven't blogged in awhile, mostly because this week was LEAP/iLEAP/GEE testing and as a test administrator I was not allowed to get online during testing (I suppose that might somehow compromise the security of the tests). And in the afternoons, we spent most of the time watching movies, running around on the track (well, they did), or watching Wierd Al Yankovic on Youtube... so, no blogging.
That, and I've just been really busy lately. Thankfully, I've almost mastered the standard (still avoiding that really steep on-ramp at Government Street), but I'm doing really good and not nervous about it so much any more. Besides teaching, which is wrapping up for this year at least, I've been thinking about the trip to Chicago, trying to decide what kind of part-time job I want to get over the summer, and watching way too much Mork and Mindy. :)
And CSI: NY, of course.
Oh, and I bought a new Annie Lennox CD--well, it's an OLD CD that is new to me because I just bought it. Annie's first solo albumn, "Diva." I LOVE IT! I currently have "Why" stuck in my head. :)
I bought it for the "Walking on Broken Glass" song, which is a favorite of mine and was the last thing I ever sang to my Lil' Cat (who died last year--moment of silence in his memory, please). He liked to be sung too, and enjoyed most songs EXCEPT he really hated "You Light Up My Life" for some reason. And he loved Melina Kanakaredes--he once rubbed a picture of her off of the wall (I had the entire cast of CSI:NY on my wall in college). My new kitty cat doesn't seem to have any celebrity crushes (she's too full of her own self).
Anyway, back to the "Broken Glass" song, I've always wondered if Annie Lennox got the idea for that song from the original Little Mermaid. Remember, she turned human under the condition that every step she took felt as if she was "walking on broken glass?" And in the end of the original tale, she does NOT get the prince and winds up throwing herself to the sea and turning into sea foam? Anyway, Annie's song is about unrequieted love, so maybe...
That, and I've just been really busy lately. Thankfully, I've almost mastered the standard (still avoiding that really steep on-ramp at Government Street), but I'm doing really good and not nervous about it so much any more. Besides teaching, which is wrapping up for this year at least, I've been thinking about the trip to Chicago, trying to decide what kind of part-time job I want to get over the summer, and watching way too much Mork and Mindy. :)
And CSI: NY, of course.
Oh, and I bought a new Annie Lennox CD--well, it's an OLD CD that is new to me because I just bought it. Annie's first solo albumn, "Diva." I LOVE IT! I currently have "Why" stuck in my head. :)
I bought it for the "Walking on Broken Glass" song, which is a favorite of mine and was the last thing I ever sang to my Lil' Cat (who died last year--moment of silence in his memory, please). He liked to be sung too, and enjoyed most songs EXCEPT he really hated "You Light Up My Life" for some reason. And he loved Melina Kanakaredes--he once rubbed a picture of her off of the wall (I had the entire cast of CSI:NY on my wall in college). My new kitty cat doesn't seem to have any celebrity crushes (she's too full of her own self).
Anyway, back to the "Broken Glass" song, I've always wondered if Annie Lennox got the idea for that song from the original Little Mermaid. Remember, she turned human under the condition that every step she took felt as if she was "walking on broken glass?" And in the end of the original tale, she does NOT get the prince and winds up throwing herself to the sea and turning into sea foam? Anyway, Annie's song is about unrequieted love, so maybe...
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
STELLAAAAA!!!
http://www.buddytv.com/personalityquizresult/csi-ny-personalityquizresult.aspx?result=100000080&ucid=600536849
Suh-weet.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Weekend/It's the Weekend...
So, Stella doesn't die (I knew she wouldn't) and the episode was actually really good, even though I never seriously feared for her life. You can read the review of the ep, "Rest in Peace, Marina Garito" here: http://www.csifiles.com/content/2010/04/review-csi-new-york-rest-in-peace-marina-garito/ or watch the entire ep on CBS. com here: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_ny/. I'd recommend doing both, if you're in to forensic/drama primetime TV. :)
AND we found another box turtle yesterday as we were leaving the school. I haven't talked to my friend yet to see if she took it home with her. Maybe her other turtle could use a friend? I don't know.
I know one thing--I had so much trouble getting out of bed today and I am ready for the day to start (my prep period is 1st hour, so my day hasn't started really yet) so that I can go home and relax (somewhat) over the weekend. I am so tired, and there is so much to do, and I really don't want to be here today. It's spring fever. They should never give us spring break, it makes it that much harder to come back! Five more weeks until summer. :) And next week is testing, which is dull but not difficult, and then on April 26 we're taking the kids to the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, so I'm looking forward the the field trip as much as they are. Woo-hoo! We get to GO somewhere! :)
So ready for summer, Chicago, and no more 5:30AM wake-ups.
I hope you all have a good weekend! Luvs!
AND we found another box turtle yesterday as we were leaving the school. I haven't talked to my friend yet to see if she took it home with her. Maybe her other turtle could use a friend? I don't know.
I know one thing--I had so much trouble getting out of bed today and I am ready for the day to start (my prep period is 1st hour, so my day hasn't started really yet) so that I can go home and relax (somewhat) over the weekend. I am so tired, and there is so much to do, and I really don't want to be here today. It's spring fever. They should never give us spring break, it makes it that much harder to come back! Five more weeks until summer. :) And next week is testing, which is dull but not difficult, and then on April 26 we're taking the kids to the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, so I'm looking forward the the field trip as much as they are. Woo-hoo! We get to GO somewhere! :)
So ready for summer, Chicago, and no more 5:30AM wake-ups.
I hope you all have a good weekend! Luvs!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Of CSI and Reptiles
Today I am impatiently waiting for 3:15 because... CSI NY came on last night (that is MY show, LOL) and I didn't get to watch it and now I want to watch it online. Normally I would catch it whenever I got a chance, but one of the main characters was put in danger last night, and while I don't think they "off-ed" her, I still want to watch and see how it all goes down. Anyway, I'm also waiting impatiently for the review to come out on CSI FILES. I am such a goober.
In other news, my co-worker of mine found a little water turtle yesterday and set him up in an aquarium in her room. Today my director came in and said we were nixing the turtle because they carry samonella (sp?). I don't see why it's such a huge deal--the bacteria is found lots of places and only affects those with really weak immune systems--and it's hardly likely the kids would be handling the turtle anyway. But I guess, being a school, we can't take chances. Anyway, I don't know why it bothers me so much that the cute little turtle is going away, but it does. If my friend doesn't want to keep him, I think I'm going to ask her for him. Poor little guy. I could always keep him at home and release him into the bayou when he gets older. We used to keep water turtles for pets all the time when I was kid.
Anyway... between CSI drama and water turtle drama, this is making for a long day. I'm exhausted already and it's not even 9AM.
In other news, my co-worker of mine found a little water turtle yesterday and set him up in an aquarium in her room. Today my director came in and said we were nixing the turtle because they carry samonella (sp?). I don't see why it's such a huge deal--the bacteria is found lots of places and only affects those with really weak immune systems--and it's hardly likely the kids would be handling the turtle anyway. But I guess, being a school, we can't take chances. Anyway, I don't know why it bothers me so much that the cute little turtle is going away, but it does. If my friend doesn't want to keep him, I think I'm going to ask her for him. Poor little guy. I could always keep him at home and release him into the bayou when he gets older. We used to keep water turtles for pets all the time when I was kid.
Anyway... between CSI drama and water turtle drama, this is making for a long day. I'm exhausted already and it's not even 9AM.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
An Update
I am so excited--I was struggling with how to get my visually impaired students to diagram Lewis structures of molecules when I had an epiphany--I asked the art teacher. And she said "Use clay or play-doh." So that's what I'm going to do--today in Chemistry we're going to use clay to make 2-D models of Lewis structure molecules. It may be a little messy (and I'm wearing beige today--yikes) but it's okay! I am just happy that they get to do it.
I know Play-Doh or clay probably seems so obvious to you, my readers, who I trust are more creative than I. But being rather used to using my left brain, sometimes it's hard for that old right brained thinking to kick in. When I was younger, I was very creative with drawing and building things and I was also a fairly decent creative writer. But as I said, these days I spend more time thinking with my left brain--math, science, logic--and I guess I'm getting a little rusty.
Actually, over the Christmas break, I bought myself a book on creative writing prompts for teachers or writers and have been doing it for fun in my (limited) spare time. Just because I'm a biology/math major doesn't mean I can't enjoy my right brain!!! But lately it's been collecting dust on a shelf because I'm engrossed in "The Nazi Doctors" by Robert J. Lifton (Holocaust studies being my OTHER passion). Which, despite being historical, is also pretty much a left-brained book.
I resolve: in my next bout of free time (whenever that may come) I will take the book out and do a few more writing prompts. They're really fun and the book itself is a wonderful compliation of funny prompts and zany illustrations and colors, colors, colors. I need some distraction. :)
One right-brained scientist, coming up.
I know Play-Doh or clay probably seems so obvious to you, my readers, who I trust are more creative than I. But being rather used to using my left brain, sometimes it's hard for that old right brained thinking to kick in. When I was younger, I was very creative with drawing and building things and I was also a fairly decent creative writer. But as I said, these days I spend more time thinking with my left brain--math, science, logic--and I guess I'm getting a little rusty.
Actually, over the Christmas break, I bought myself a book on creative writing prompts for teachers or writers and have been doing it for fun in my (limited) spare time. Just because I'm a biology/math major doesn't mean I can't enjoy my right brain!!! But lately it's been collecting dust on a shelf because I'm engrossed in "The Nazi Doctors" by Robert J. Lifton (Holocaust studies being my OTHER passion). Which, despite being historical, is also pretty much a left-brained book.
I resolve: in my next bout of free time (whenever that may come) I will take the book out and do a few more writing prompts. They're really fun and the book itself is a wonderful compliation of funny prompts and zany illustrations and colors, colors, colors. I need some distraction. :)
One right-brained scientist, coming up.
Short n' Sweet
Haven't written in awhile--I'm still here, though. I just didn't have any good net connection over spring break, and although I was technically back yesterday, we spent all day in meetings, so I didn't have time to write.
I really don't have time now, but I feel badly if I don't put SOMETHING down.
In other news, I finally bought the standard I've been wanting. A 2010 Focus, five speed stick. It's beautiful and drives like a dream. Unfortunately, I've only been driving it for about a week, and driving a standard in general for about two weeks... and I drive in rush hour traffic and up the Mississippi River Bridge and all kinds of things like that. I think I'm in that "sink or swim" phase. It was rather ironic today--after nearly getting stuck on top of the MRB twice, I was pulling into my job and what comes on the radio but "19th Nervous Breakdown" by the Rolling Stones. I think if that had played while I was crossing that bridge I would have stalled the car from laughing. It was so ironically appropriate.
Well, I have to go. The break made me lazy, and as a result I have a ton of stuff to do before classes start at 9:00AM. Talk to you later!
I really don't have time now, but I feel badly if I don't put SOMETHING down.
In other news, I finally bought the standard I've been wanting. A 2010 Focus, five speed stick. It's beautiful and drives like a dream. Unfortunately, I've only been driving it for about a week, and driving a standard in general for about two weeks... and I drive in rush hour traffic and up the Mississippi River Bridge and all kinds of things like that. I think I'm in that "sink or swim" phase. It was rather ironic today--after nearly getting stuck on top of the MRB twice, I was pulling into my job and what comes on the radio but "19th Nervous Breakdown" by the Rolling Stones. I think if that had played while I was crossing that bridge I would have stalled the car from laughing. It was so ironically appropriate.
Well, I have to go. The break made me lazy, and as a result I have a ton of stuff to do before classes start at 9:00AM. Talk to you later!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Plants and Interesting Edibles
Didn't I tell you that this week would dddrraaaagggg by? Well, it is. Yesterday was fun--after testing, we took the kids outside on the school track and stayed out there for two hours. That was super nice--bright sunshine, nice weather, the kids enjoyed it. We walked around the track (well, some of them ran) and someone bought a two-seater bicycle and me and one of the other young teachers rode it around the track, and then one of my students wanted to ride it with me, so we took another turn around the track. It was fun.
In other news, the plants my life and earth science classes planted are starting to sprout. I was worried--I'm not the best person for growing stuff. And the kids have been subjecting them to rather creative watering, LOL. Anyway, it was heartening to see the tiny sprouts today--yay us!
In recent news, I read a lot of mental floss (great magazine, great website) and came across an article (http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/50525) that talks about a guy who is making cheese from his wife's breastmilk and asks the reader to submit their opinion on that. I thought it was rather gross myself, but found myself (and others like me) quickly labeled as close-minded or squemish. In fact, most people say they thinking drinking human milk makes more sense than drinking cow or goat milk. I remain unconvinced. After all, as another commenter put it, "I eat cow meat, but not human meat." I dunno... read the blog and decide for yourself.
In other news, the plants my life and earth science classes planted are starting to sprout. I was worried--I'm not the best person for growing stuff. And the kids have been subjecting them to rather creative watering, LOL. Anyway, it was heartening to see the tiny sprouts today--yay us!
In recent news, I read a lot of mental floss (great magazine, great website) and came across an article (http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/50525) that talks about a guy who is making cheese from his wife's breastmilk and asks the reader to submit their opinion on that. I thought it was rather gross myself, but found myself (and others like me) quickly labeled as close-minded or squemish. In fact, most people say they thinking drinking human milk makes more sense than drinking cow or goat milk. I remain unconvinced. After all, as another commenter put it, "I eat cow meat, but not human meat." I dunno... read the blog and decide for yourself.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Bah humbug?
So... it's Phase One of LEAP testing here at my school, and since I'm not assigned to moniter testing today, I'm stuck in my classroom teaching all week. I'm one of the few teachers who I think are actually doing real work this week, out of necessity, not necessarily out of choice. I'm even giving tests this week, which makes me about as popular as Hitler right now.
Well, what can you do? They were so far behind when I got here that I'm not sure sitting out a week would be good for them. Especially the week before the holidays: as any teacher knows, holidays have a way of erasing what little retention high schoolers have. That, and the fact that there's only one TV here for the entire high school to share (to my knowledge, anyway). Odds are, if I wanted to show a flick one day, somebody else would be using it. The TV sat largely unused for the last several weeks, but right around the time I find something fun for us to watch, suddenly everyone and their mother needs it. LOL. Such is the life of a teacher in a very small school.
Did I mention I was planning a trip to Chicago this summer? Well, it's still on. I'm planning on going with my friend, Mamie, and possibly my cousin Tiff in late May, after school lets out. I would like to be back in Louisiana in time for summer term at SLU, I need to pick up one more math class to have a math ceretification (since the odds of me passing this danged Chemistry Praxis are slim--I HATE CHEMISTRY). Anyway, I would rather have a math cert anyway. Math and Biology are cool, Physics is tolerable, Chemistry is stupid. At least, that's my take on it.
Anyway, back to the Windy City--when I get there, the first thing I'm going to do is scout out a marketplace and buy some food so I don't have to eat out every night--that's where the expense is. Walking tours, subways or the L for longer trips, an occasional taxi or bus if I can't get around it--I'll save my money for museam admissions, entrance fees to attractions, souveniors and the occasional treat-myself-out-to-something-fancy. That's the way to travel. I think I mastered to art of frugal (yet fun) tourism last year on my road trip to the Grand Canyon--Maddie and I packed all of our own food, and ate MRE's every single night, except when we were crashing at my cousin Helen's house in Santa Fe (two nights). We allowed ourselves one fast food stop, and two resturant stops on the entire trip. We left with $800 between us and came back with $300, and that's counting gas, admissions prices, lodging fees, everything. Are we great or what?
Anyway, enough about that. I am tired and not looking forward to this week, which is sure to last FOREVER since it's the week before the holidays. At least I have Friday off--my doctor cancelled on me last week and I had to reschedule for this week. YAY!
Heather-who-is-grumpy-this-morning.
Well, what can you do? They were so far behind when I got here that I'm not sure sitting out a week would be good for them. Especially the week before the holidays: as any teacher knows, holidays have a way of erasing what little retention high schoolers have. That, and the fact that there's only one TV here for the entire high school to share (to my knowledge, anyway). Odds are, if I wanted to show a flick one day, somebody else would be using it. The TV sat largely unused for the last several weeks, but right around the time I find something fun for us to watch, suddenly everyone and their mother needs it. LOL. Such is the life of a teacher in a very small school.
Did I mention I was planning a trip to Chicago this summer? Well, it's still on. I'm planning on going with my friend, Mamie, and possibly my cousin Tiff in late May, after school lets out. I would like to be back in Louisiana in time for summer term at SLU, I need to pick up one more math class to have a math ceretification (since the odds of me passing this danged Chemistry Praxis are slim--I HATE CHEMISTRY). Anyway, I would rather have a math cert anyway. Math and Biology are cool, Physics is tolerable, Chemistry is stupid. At least, that's my take on it.
Anyway, back to the Windy City--when I get there, the first thing I'm going to do is scout out a marketplace and buy some food so I don't have to eat out every night--that's where the expense is. Walking tours, subways or the L for longer trips, an occasional taxi or bus if I can't get around it--I'll save my money for museam admissions, entrance fees to attractions, souveniors and the occasional treat-myself-out-to-something-fancy. That's the way to travel. I think I mastered to art of frugal (yet fun) tourism last year on my road trip to the Grand Canyon--Maddie and I packed all of our own food, and ate MRE's every single night, except when we were crashing at my cousin Helen's house in Santa Fe (two nights). We allowed ourselves one fast food stop, and two resturant stops on the entire trip. We left with $800 between us and came back with $300, and that's counting gas, admissions prices, lodging fees, everything. Are we great or what?
Anyway, enough about that. I am tired and not looking forward to this week, which is sure to last FOREVER since it's the week before the holidays. At least I have Friday off--my doctor cancelled on me last week and I had to reschedule for this week. YAY!
Heather-who-is-grumpy-this-morning.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
For the Weekend...
Some more pictures that I took last week, just to keep the blog updated over the weekend... myself washing off my feet in the bayou (picture one); the mud footprint I made after overwhelming nostaglia--we used to do that all the time when I was kid (picture two); a thistle that my mother found particulary beautiful (picture three); and more of those yellow flowers that I love so much (picture four).
There you go. :)
~Heather
~Heather
Friday, March 19, 2010
Friday Cont.
Looks like it's going to be an easy day. In my physical science class, we went over our equations in preparation for next week's quiz, and then my one student in third hour didn't show, so I got a free prep period... and probably, my one student in sixth hour will not come either (he rarely does on Fridays) so that's another free period... seventh hour is shortened on Fridays so our residential kids can catch their buses home, and fifth hour has notes to finish from yesterday, and fourth hour is watching a movie that ties in with the lesson. So... easy day.
I work at a small school. Did I mention that? The low classload is nice somedays, but somedays I wish I was in a regular class with 30 kids. That way, I'll have some of their attention all of the time. In a one kid class, if the kid is bored or not in a cooperative mood, it makes teaching very, very hard.
We just had a fire drill, so I helped the music teacher get her kids out. One of the little ones kept asking me if I had a watch on, and every time I would answer "No," he would say "Why not?" That conversation went on for awhile. He's a cutie.
I work at a small school. Did I mention that? The low classload is nice somedays, but somedays I wish I was in a regular class with 30 kids. That way, I'll have some of their attention all of the time. In a one kid class, if the kid is bored or not in a cooperative mood, it makes teaching very, very hard.
We just had a fire drill, so I helped the music teacher get her kids out. One of the little ones kept asking me if I had a watch on, and every time I would answer "No," he would say "Why not?" That conversation went on for awhile. He's a cutie.
It's FRIDAY...
I love Fridays. :)
End of the week. For me, it means I get two days of NOT waking up at 5:30 (or earlier) every morning. Two whole days of NOT eating a proper breakfast when I hate to eat after I've just awoken. And best of all, one whole day relatively free of scrambling around to get lessons for my kiddies.
I do like teaching (I think I mentioned that before). If I didn't, I certainly wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now--teaching six different subjects a day. For those of you not in the education field, that means six different lesson preps, six different sets of notes and activities, six different sets of tests to grade... SIX. Count'em. And while I'm at it, let me just say that the average teacher in the average public school only teaches about 3-4 subjects at one time. Leave it to me to be an overachiever, right?
Six subjects is hard, especially as a first year teacher. Especially coming in half way through the school year (I got this job in January). Basically, that means I don't have any notes saved up from previous years, no cute activity ideas--it's just me and the teacher's edition of my textbooks, slogging through, coming up with whatever will give me something to do for the very next day. And whatever google can supply for activity ideas. Suffice to say, I don't have a lot of free time, so I use the weekend to catch up on my rest and do some thing UN-work related, at least until Sunday, when I have to do everything for Monday... you get the picture.
But hey, I'm doing it. Right? And if I can teach here, I can teach anywhere. That's what I tell myself.
Speaking of doing things that nobody else really wants to do, my dad is teaching me how to drive stick-shift. My official reason for learning is that I may want to buy a standard for my next car (they're cheaper), and it would help to know how to drive one before I got one. But the real reason is, I must confess, my competitive nature. I refuse to have something that I cannot do, that I have not at least attempted. There are lots of things I cannot do, or that I cannot do well, and I know this because I have tried to do them. But I hate to assume (or have people assume for me) that I cannot do something when I haven't ever taken a crack at it. After all, I am a firm believer that one CAN do just about anything if they try hard enough.
And I want to learn stick shift so I can say "I can drive stick!" even if none of my friends see the need to learn in this day and age. Plus, learning new skills is good for you--it fights senility and Altzheimers and all that fun stuff.
And also, because there's something cool about a stick shift. In the words of a Bruce Springsteen song "Well Billy bought a Chevy '40 Coupe Deluxe/ Chrome wheels, stick shift, give her gas, pop the clutch..."
Thank you Bets. :)
~Heather
End of the week. For me, it means I get two days of NOT waking up at 5:30 (or earlier) every morning. Two whole days of NOT eating a proper breakfast when I hate to eat after I've just awoken. And best of all, one whole day relatively free of scrambling around to get lessons for my kiddies.
I do like teaching (I think I mentioned that before). If I didn't, I certainly wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now--teaching six different subjects a day. For those of you not in the education field, that means six different lesson preps, six different sets of notes and activities, six different sets of tests to grade... SIX. Count'em. And while I'm at it, let me just say that the average teacher in the average public school only teaches about 3-4 subjects at one time. Leave it to me to be an overachiever, right?
Six subjects is hard, especially as a first year teacher. Especially coming in half way through the school year (I got this job in January). Basically, that means I don't have any notes saved up from previous years, no cute activity ideas--it's just me and the teacher's edition of my textbooks, slogging through, coming up with whatever will give me something to do for the very next day. And whatever google can supply for activity ideas. Suffice to say, I don't have a lot of free time, so I use the weekend to catch up on my rest and do some thing UN-work related, at least until Sunday, when I have to do everything for Monday... you get the picture.
But hey, I'm doing it. Right? And if I can teach here, I can teach anywhere. That's what I tell myself.
Speaking of doing things that nobody else really wants to do, my dad is teaching me how to drive stick-shift. My official reason for learning is that I may want to buy a standard for my next car (they're cheaper), and it would help to know how to drive one before I got one. But the real reason is, I must confess, my competitive nature. I refuse to have something that I cannot do, that I have not at least attempted. There are lots of things I cannot do, or that I cannot do well, and I know this because I have tried to do them. But I hate to assume (or have people assume for me) that I cannot do something when I haven't ever taken a crack at it. After all, I am a firm believer that one CAN do just about anything if they try hard enough.
And I want to learn stick shift so I can say "I can drive stick!" even if none of my friends see the need to learn in this day and age. Plus, learning new skills is good for you--it fights senility and Altzheimers and all that fun stuff.
And also, because there's something cool about a stick shift. In the words of a Bruce Springsteen song "Well Billy bought a Chevy '40 Coupe Deluxe/ Chrome wheels, stick shift, give her gas, pop the clutch..."
Thank you Bets. :)
~Heather
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Oh, BTW...
Here are two really good pictures I took on Sunday. I am by no means a photographer, but it was so pretty over the weekend that even I was inspired. My mother and I went for a walk on a quest for "beautiful and interesting things," and found several of both. Here are two of my favorite pics, and if you like those, I'll add more later.
Just the Facts
So I just sat here for five minutes trying to think of a new and creative name to call my blog. I couldn't do it, so I fell back on "Musings," which is almost cute if you consider that my blog name is "dannicalliope" and Calliope was the head muse. At least I think she was. It's been awhile since I took epic lit and classic or not, I've never been overwhelmed with the desire to read the Iliad, the Odessey, or the Aeneid again. Such torture should only be inflicted once in a life time.
Anyway, because this is the first post, let me get started by giving you a little back ground info on myself. My name is Heather. I go by Dannicalliope because it's a combination of my middle name and a really cool Greek muse name--I made the combo back in college (yes, while I was forced to read all the epic literature) and it stuck, mostly because I don't have enough energy to come up with something new, and because it beats the heck out of "polychrmtcbttfly" which was my high school invention, which nobody ever got (too cyptic, I guess, and then most people don't know what 'polychromatic' means anymore). I am pretty young, fresh out of college and working my first real job--as a science teacher. Yay! Go me. That's what I went to college for, and I like science, and I like teaching. I've always said it was the perfect career for me--I get undivided (well, sort of) attention all day long, and I'm paid to talk about my favorite subject. What could be better? Sure, there's the headache of grading stuff and keeping track with the copious amounts of paperwork involved in the education field, but all in all, it's a great job. At least, so says the fresh-out-of-college-still-wet-behind-the-ears me.
Anyway...A little more interesting stuff--I like to travel and try to go some where new every year. When I was growing up we never went ANYWHERE except Texas, which is where my aunt lived. And once my dad took a job in Arkansas, and we moved there for awhile. Maybe like, two times, we went to Mississippi to see some kin folks. Anyway, point is, we mostly stayed in our little home state of Louisiana--which was fine for me. I never really wanted to go anywhere, until I went to college and decided, on the spur the moment (literally--thanks to my good friend Bets!) to take a study abroad trip to Austria. And that's when the travel bug bit. Since then, I have made it my business to get out of the state every summer and go somewhere new (or at least, revist someplace I haven't been in awhile). Last year, my college buddy Madison and I took a 9 day road trip to the Grand Canyon (super fun) and this year, another college buddy Mamie and I will make our way to the Windy City. Only this time, I want to fly. Road trips are great, but I want to spend most of my time in Chicago, and not getting there.And... what else? I can't think of anything, and at any rate, my kids will probably be coming in soon. I had some extra time on my prep period (can you believe that?) which is the only reason why I even started this today.
Until next time...
Rather uncreatively yours,
~Heather
Anyway, because this is the first post, let me get started by giving you a little back ground info on myself. My name is Heather. I go by Dannicalliope because it's a combination of my middle name and a really cool Greek muse name--I made the combo back in college (yes, while I was forced to read all the epic literature) and it stuck, mostly because I don't have enough energy to come up with something new, and because it beats the heck out of "polychrmtcbttfly" which was my high school invention, which nobody ever got (too cyptic, I guess, and then most people don't know what 'polychromatic' means anymore). I am pretty young, fresh out of college and working my first real job--as a science teacher. Yay! Go me. That's what I went to college for, and I like science, and I like teaching. I've always said it was the perfect career for me--I get undivided (well, sort of) attention all day long, and I'm paid to talk about my favorite subject. What could be better? Sure, there's the headache of grading stuff and keeping track with the copious amounts of paperwork involved in the education field, but all in all, it's a great job. At least, so says the fresh-out-of-college-still-wet-behind-the-ears me.
Anyway...A little more interesting stuff--I like to travel and try to go some where new every year. When I was growing up we never went ANYWHERE except Texas, which is where my aunt lived. And once my dad took a job in Arkansas, and we moved there for awhile. Maybe like, two times, we went to Mississippi to see some kin folks. Anyway, point is, we mostly stayed in our little home state of Louisiana--which was fine for me. I never really wanted to go anywhere, until I went to college and decided, on the spur the moment (literally--thanks to my good friend Bets!) to take a study abroad trip to Austria. And that's when the travel bug bit. Since then, I have made it my business to get out of the state every summer and go somewhere new (or at least, revist someplace I haven't been in awhile). Last year, my college buddy Madison and I took a 9 day road trip to the Grand Canyon (super fun) and this year, another college buddy Mamie and I will make our way to the Windy City. Only this time, I want to fly. Road trips are great, but I want to spend most of my time in Chicago, and not getting there.And... what else? I can't think of anything, and at any rate, my kids will probably be coming in soon. I had some extra time on my prep period (can you believe that?) which is the only reason why I even started this today.
Until next time...
Rather uncreatively yours,
~Heather
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