Thank you, Moron!

I appreciate idiots like this taking themselves out of the teaching job pool. I can only hope he didn't go to MY school. I can't believe people continue to be SO STUPID.

Police: Joliet High School Teacher Solicited Student for Sex

A man employed last semester as a student teacher at Joliet West High School has been arrested on suspicion of sending pornography and attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with a local student.

Doug A. Schreiber, 22, of the 1700 block of Glenwood Avenue in Joliet, was arrested Friday evening on a charge of indecent solicitation of a minor, a Class 2 felony.

Joliet police said Schreiber worked as a math instructor at Joliet West during the fall semester and now is employed as a math teacher at Rich East High School in Park Forest.

"On Thursday, we were contacted by a 15-year-old and her parents in reference to material she'd been sent by a former teacher," Chief Fred Hayes said.

Hayes said the Joliet West student said Schreiber sent her instant messages and pornographic images on her computer and text messages on her cell phone.

"It appears he was contacting her trying to arrange a sexual rendezvous," he said.

Police took four laptop computers from Schreiber's home when they searched it Friday. Schreiber was booked into the Will County Jail and released Saturday on a $5,000 bond. On Monday, the computers were scanned by forensic investigators.

"We strongly feel there are other possible victims," Hayes said. "The offender had a MySpace account he was using to exchange messages in attempts to lure potential victims. After adding someone as a 'friend' on the Web site, he provided them with an e-mail address and cell phone number for communication."

Rich East and Joliet West high schools were closed Monday, but police planned to interview staff on Tuesday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective John Ross at (815) 724-3045.

the last mountain

Bless Ed Hillary. What a great man, more for his amazing ability to remain humble and grounded and work to improve the lives of people he held dear in Nepal.

 

 

The Anti-VDay Candy Crusade!

Because that day of pain and stupidity is rapidly approaching, I give you the following EXCELLENT LINKS!

 

Bittersweets (http://despair.com/bittersweets.html)

Cryptogram (no actual merchandise, but make your own pics in "Goth" mode and save, or use frilly colors with evil messages. http://www.cryptogram.com/hearts/)

Austen!

Oy, Sally Sparrow is in Northanger Abbey tonight! I thought that chick looked familiar...she plays Isabella Thorpe, the airhead.

Ugh, though, the guy that plays Isabella's brother looks like such a chump. He looks like one of the pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean. I'm sure I've seen that actor elsewhere. NO! He's been in Robin Hood on BBC...a-ha! Played ROY.

Cheeseheads

Well, it's about fucking time, idiot Packers! I was starting to worry that 12 year old Eli and his team of man-whores was going to beat you.

The Only Obstacles are the Ones You Put There

As I mentioned a day or so ago, I did sign up on a whim for a dating site. The whole "this is the year I get a damn date" thing, I suppose. I can't really use the whole excuse of being too busy. I graduated, after all. For the last year and a half, at least, I've been content to not want a thing to do with humans of the male persuasion.

My friend Kathy, the one that does the metaphysical stuff, has often told me that whatever you want is possible, but you have to believe. Don't sabotage yourself by thinking or acting negatively. Energy attracts like energy. You don't have to be into metaphysical stuff to realize that. How many of us have been around people who are consistently negative - emotional vampires if you will - and just how taxing that is? Likewise, there are those people who light up a room and you're happy to be around. I've had to cut some people who were consistently boo-hoo birds who refused to help themselves, because WHY do I need that energy? And  you also have to think about what benefit you get from hanging on to the bad stuff. You may not think of it as a "benefit", but maybe it's the sympathy you get from others by having a pity party.

I'm starting to seriously think about this in regards to my dating situation. To be honest, I've had benefits from not dating and harping on it. I can make it to be a funny thing, sure, but I also rip on guys a lot. I'm only two or three days into this dating site and I'm already feeling HIGHLY ambivalent about it.

I've been thinking in my mind about the pros and cons of dating. What is there to make this whole dating thing worthwhile? Seriously? That rare glimmer of hope of luuuurve? Sex? An occasional sweaty grope where the guy gets off, but I don't?

I'm single. I don't have to compromise. I can do what the hell I want when I want. Say what I want. Not have to worry about hurting someone's feelings. Better yet, not have to worry about my own getting hurt because of some lying, unfaithful git.  No weakness.  No bad sex.  No potentially life threatening diseases due to icky genitals. No lies. No awkardness, fumbling around for the right thing to say or do. No wondering, lying awake at night. No longing. No holding back on saying "I love you" because you know the minute you do that the other shoe will drop and he'll be off. I see so many people in shitty relationships and unhappy, yet afraid of being on their own, so they settle for being miserable with someone instead of possibly being happy alone.

And what are the benefits of dating? Does the benefit outweigh the risk? I just can't think of anything that will balance out all the negatives I just listed. I mean...WHY? Why should I? I've gotten so complacent, so...happy in my present state, that I seriously wonder why should I change it?

I admit it...

I'm conducting a "social experiment". A co-worker was talking today about a dating site one of her relatives used and the name just cracked me up: http://www.plentyoffish.com (as in "plenty of fish in the sea"). Completely free. Bonus.

I decided what the hell and did a profile.

I have talked to a couple normal people, but I'm a little perturbed by the number of skeevey 40-something men who have contacted me. AND, for god's sake, a freaking 53 y.o whose profile is for "intimate encounters" (aka slambamthankyouma'm). I'm sorry, BUT GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME YOU SKEEZEY WEIRDO OLD DISGUSTING PERVERT! Hello, my profile says "looking for mr. normal" and that I am interested in "dating" (not casually hooking up with some gross-hairy-eared 53 y.o. who probably has too much Viagra and too many venereal diseases. I'm 30, but I feel like I'm 20. Sorry, but I question why older men feel the need to chase after skirts more than 10 years younger than them. I get that nasty "Peterson" vibe (you know, that former Plainfield cop who's most likely killed his last two younger wives). Are you looking to be a Svengali?

My profile also says I would rather have 27-36 y.o., too.

I am already knocking out people who
- obviously don't care about their appearance (thank you Mr. Caveman who looked...like a slobby caveman). As Buffy once said to the First Slayer "you really want to think about what image you're sending"
- can't spell worth shit, use excessive netspeak, or use proper English (for obvious reasons)
- guys who have pictures in their profiles featuring themselves...and some other chick. UH, HELLO?

My co-workers and I were laughing it up looking over some of these guys today. We'd click and go "NOOOOOO!" and exit on the bad ones.

Gut Flora

I had fun reading about gut flora on wikipedia. Then I went off on tangents about the swallowing process and vomiting.

 

Yech.

Geektastic

Putzed around and found a teaser trailer for "The Dark Knight". Shut it, bitches, you know Christian Bale is ...hot. To say the very least.

 

There is apparently a "Harvey Dent" campaign website. Hm. Just a front page though.

 

 

Interview #2 (Substitute Teaching)

Holy fucking prep schools, Batman!

 

*agog*

 

It was like walking into the school from Dead Poets Society.

 

JEEBUS.

 

All hail the Chicago North Shore, apparently...

Jane Austen: Persuasion

This is really good so far. I am quite impressed with this new version of it!

But damn, they've managed to make the girls' hair styles so severe. The hair is so yanked back, their ears stick out.

Wasn't as impressed with the preview of Sense and Sensibility that I saw. I don't know that much can top the version put out with Winslet and Thompson.

Quite possibly, my favorite scene in MAAN

from the Much Ado About Nothing ...

the dancing pool-side scene, Bea and Ben's running commentary on Hero and Claude.

Bea:
Ben: Are you enjoying yourself?
Haven't had this much fun since Children in Need

[unintelligible]
Bea: Stick it out to the bitter end.
Ben: Touching, isn't it?
Bea: A marriage of true minds
Ben: That misty faraway look in their eyes...
Bea: Like conjunctivitis.
[Ben laughs]
Bea [pretending to be Hero]: Oh Claude...
Ben [pretending to be Claude]: Oh Hero...
Bea: Say to me those three little words...
Ben: Me...Love...You
Bea: Blah blah blah...
Ben: Blah blah blah blah blah. [sighs, observes Claude and Hero smooching it up] Oh god, here we go...
Bea: Well, at least when they're kissing, they're not talking.
Ben: Oh, they're trying though!
Bea: I can't think of anything worse than to have someone say they love me.
Ben: Me, too.
Bea: Well, that's something we've got in common then.
Ben: Not much, is it?
Bea: No, not much.
[Claude kneels and proposes to Hero, Ben and Bea look on, incredulous]
Ben: Oh, Claude, is this what I think it is?
Bea: Here we go...

PBS

Oooooh yes. I just clicked on the brief preview for tonight's "Persuasion". Oh hell yes. They got a hottie to play Captain Wentworth. GOOD dialogue from what little I saw, too.

Too bad they didn't show any of ASH playing the idiot father...!! Hee!

8pm!


ARRRRGH! Billie Piper is playing Fannie in Mansfield Park on January 27th. HAHAHAHHA

One hour

Only one more hour until I can reasonably leave the office for the week. *bangs head on desk*

 

SO.

 

FUCKING.

 

BORED.

 

This headache I have, too...ugh. I wish there were someone waiting for me at home, to make me a nice coldpak and massage the sides of my face.

 

OMG

SOMEBODY. For the love of god. EMAIL ME OR SOMETHING.

 

AMUSE ME.

 

NOTHING TO DO. DYING OF BOREDOM.

 

WANT ALCOHOL AT LUNCH. BAD.

Pain

I am so UNBELIEVEABLY BORED.

 

There is nothing to do at work.

 

There HAS been nothing to do at work.

 

So much for the supposed "deadly busy" we were going to have.

 

Oh my god. How many hours until lunch?

 

How long until I can get the fuck out of here?

 

I could do teaching applications, but right now my brain is too tired. I was up too late absolutely pitching a fit over that Shakespeare Retold thing.

Bloody hell!

And that's Billie Piper (probably as Hero) in Much Ado About Nothing as well!!!!! Double score!!

Brit Boys

I just got "Shakespeare Retold: Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth" from netflix. Much Ado has Damian Lewis in it.

I think I might either laugh myself to death or ... squee to death.

Dear God.

A million bountiful THANKS

THANK YOU, UNIVERSE, THANK YOU!

 

*sweeps arms up and bows down*

 

Nama-friggin-ste!

Chicagopedia!!!

This rocks.

 

I love the "LSD" reference. If you're not a Chicagoan, you're probably thinking "LS-WHAA?"

 

 

I must be fucking out of my mind

But I am seriously considering giving the corporate job the heave ho if they don't let me do the part-time thing so I can teach fourth quarter.

JESUS.

Seriously, though, that teaching gig is MINE FOR THE ASKING. They are just waiting for me to come back about what my office job is going to say. Goddamnit. I have a meeting with my supervisor at work tomorrow morning. I bet I'll find out one way or the other then.

I've already been sending out feelers elsewhere. I called the place I used to do temp work with and re-opened my file and emailed them a more current resume. One of my current co-workers is going to ask her mom (a head of HR/recruitment for Marriott's north shore properties) if she can be on the lookout for something for me. I have an application for Starbucks - don't knock it. I'm counting on them to live up to their 100 best places to work for schmaltz what with the benefits even for part-timers.

I've done some more thinking. I can push back everything, up to and including, my wish to find an apartment by August. Let's face it, I'm probably not going to know WHERE the fuck I'm going to have a full-time teaching job until late. I'm not going to stress myself out and try to do a move AND start my first full year of teaching at the exact same fucking time. *sigh* While it pains me mentally, I can shove this back.

The only real sticking point is the possible loss of health care coverage if I do have to leave my company. I'll just have to fucking deal with it. I need the goddamn experience on my resume. To have this school on my resume will carry some considerable cache - - it's fucking stupid not to realize that.

I will make this work if I need to and want to bad enough. Why? Because that's the way I am. I didn't get that "strength" tattoo on my thigh for nothing folks...I'm chock full o' will power.

I'm setting up all my yearly check-ups as well, to get those done before my health care coverage goes in case I do jump ship.

If I really am up shit creek, I will ask my dad for the bail out money for my SRP Loan at work. I'm going to call up the investment company and ask about the process for what happens to my money once I do leave the company. Is it a cheque? Does it roll over to some other thing (I have a Roth IRA I could roll it to)? I'm fairly certain it can't stay where it is once I'm no longer employed at the company, but I could be wrong. Fucking plan did squat in the last quarter. It was painful to see the stock market.

Oh and FUCK. I do still need to get my resume out to Kilroy! *adds another thing to to-do list*

Things

Ah, the nights when I have to pop two advil in order to sleep because my uterus and ovaries are in rebellion. Add to that the joy of it being one of those days when "Super Plus" absorbancy is still not enough.

 

Fuck.

 

I had been contemplating how nice it is not to feel so damned rushed anymore. No school. No lesson plans to write. No classes to attend (although I had been signed up to take a linguistics course until the car fiasco).

 

I'll more than likely get bored it presently...

 

*moan* Right. Where is that advil?

Inauspicious (?)

As I mentioned a couple days ago, the office supervisor is not looking too receptive to my possible going part-time, were I to be offered this part-time teaching position at the richie-rich school district.

Obviously, I think she's being a retard, but that's beside the point. I'm not overly angry or even, really, disturbed by it. What will be, will be. I'm going to be out of there eventually, whether it's three weeks from now or come August.

It goes without saying that getting that job at the school would be fantastic and great to put on my resume. I've got more than one person telling me the hell with the office and take it if I've been offered it, but financially, my hands are tied up.

I just can't see how I can afford to take the school job (which would pay out somewhere around $13,500) as it is only part-time and would be done by June. What do I do after June? Get a temp job at crap pay and no benefits until I - HOPEFULLY - secure full time employment again in August? I don't even know if I would be eligible for benefits at the school as a PTer. Add in to the mix that I took out a small loan from my SRP fund at work and if I leave prior to its being paid off via the weekly deduction from my pay check, then I have to pay in one lump sum immediately upon termination of my employment. That's around $800 at this point. After the $1500 fiasco with my car, I just can't afford that.

And regardless of what anyone else thinks about this, I got some pretty significant SLOW DOWN! signs from a tarot spread I just did. Shit, I had all these reversed cards that were just saying one thing over and over - this is NOT the time to leap off into the financial unknown and I need to wait for a better opportunity.

If I weren't so financially run down from the whole student teaching period...c'est la vie. It sucks, but I think I'll live. Besides which, I really REALLY REALLY want to get an apartment by August. There's no way in hell I can do that if I can't get the equivalent of a full-time paycheck between school and work. I just can't. I think I'm going to have to be cautious at this time.

I'll look at the interview tomorrow as a learning experience, and maybe see if they need summer help or if there's some other way I can get involved. Tutoring?

WGA Strike

I will admit that I know next to nothing about all the the terms the WGA is striking for, but you know what? Those writers are entitled to receive money from THEIR WORK. Uh, HELLO? Their creativity, their thoughts, their writing, their ideas...someone is making money hand over fist with dvds and digital downloads, and it isn't them.

Jesus Christ, AMPTP, get your heads out of your collective asses and pony up the fucking money.

I want new television shows...chiefly "Life". Why? Because I lust after Damian Lewis and his crazy zen fruit-eating Charlie Crews. Until then, I shall have to watch the Forsyte Saga and loathe/pity Lewis' Soames Forsyte. Dude, he sounds like Rufus Sewell in his native accent. Mmmmm. British. Bangers n mash.

Oh, and Sully, I know about the return of Rose possibly being a bad move. Yes, she did go out perfectly. I suppose this goes along the lines of a Joss Whedon belief: sometimes you don't give the fans what they want, but what they need. Oh well, we shall see.

Hey, is there someplace one can make donations to the striking writers?

Hmmm

General Daily Horoscope for everyone

As the Moon enters philosophical Sagittarius at 9:13 am EST, we have an opportunity to consider our long-term goals. We are still in a powerful phase, although interpersonal issues may settle down for a bit as the Moon moves toward a conjunction with sweet Venus this evening. Mars remains retrograde until the end of the month, but even if we continue to feel sluggish, it's time to push forward. A little positive attitude now goes a long way.

Caucus

Pfft.

 

"Female and religious" voters propelled Huckabee. Hey, you morons, have we NOT figured out yet that religion and politics don't mix? After EIGHT years of the current fuckwads, you still don't get this? Republican polits aren't religious, they're more in it for the power.

 

You lose, everyone loses, when you think you can mix religion and politics.

 

IDIOTS.

Really Stupid

I just talked to my supervisor at work about having an interview for that school district, and the possibility of working here part-time in the event I get offered anything. She said she would bring it up to her boss (our department head), but she was fairly certain the answer would be that I would have to make a choice. In other words: quit here or not take the teaching job.

 

You know, I would love to be able to quit here, but I can't afford it if all the teaching thing is right now is long-term sub for this semester only.

 

Her reasoning was that we're going to get really busy here (supposedly) and we'll need everyone here flipping over documents quick as can be.

 

-- We're dead here, nothing is going on yet

-- You're going to let ME go - someone with experience - and waste time and resources looking for a replacement who will not have any experience and need to be trained, therefore taking up the time of my co-workers to train them?

 

Maybe I'm a little biased in wanting to have a half of two different cakes here, but that just strikes me as foolish. You're going to be wasting MORE time by giving me this ultimatum rather than taking advantage of my physically being here 8-12 or whatever.

 

Of course, this could all be a moot point if I don't get offered the job anyway.

 

But still.

 

Help

I'm bored.

New day thaaaaaank goodness

I never want to relive a day like yesterday. Period. End.

 

Of course, my car is going to have another expensive repair soon when I have to redo the back brakes. Note to self: start saving money for that NOW.

 

Goals (not resolutions) for This Year

 

1. Move the hell out if I can. Preferably around May, but definitely no later than August. I need, for my own mental health at this point, to get back out on my own and away from my family. I need to work like crazy to get the cash to do it (seeing as how all the "extra" money I had just got wiped out by the damn car). I would love to live in Evanston, I think.
2. Find a good school job - preferably somewhere that would be a nice short commute if I live in Evanston..!
3. Get a better iPod. Seeing as how people are still gabbing on the phones like jackdaws on their personal phone calls at work!!!

I hope this is good

Because I need good news.

 

I just got a call on my cell phone from the Uber Rich North Shore School District (TM). I've got an interview next Monday for the long-term substitute position.

 

Keep your fingers crossed, people. I could really use some good news after the bullshit I've had the past 1.5 days of 2008.

Just when you think

you're getting ahead - NO.

 

Today was the last straw for my car's driver's side latch mechanism. Sidestepping the whole argument I got into with my brother this morning, the piece of crap is at the Ford dealership getting fixed. Along with the windshield wiper fluid hose. AND new tires.

 

What is the price? Just over a grand.

 

Just what I wanted to spend my Christmas money on. Yes. So much for the nascent idea I had about purchasing a new Mac laptop.

 

I'm tired, I'm cranky, and I'm fucking sick of the holiday hoopla followed by the post-holiday blah. I am completely boycotting Christmas next year. Seriously. If I can, I'm leaving the fucking country.

 

I hate this weather. I hate everything today.

Happy Freaking New Year

My ears are still ringing.

 

No, not from noise makers. From the stupid fucking fire alarms. I've been up for about an hour already because the alarms just started blaring off in the house I'm watching.

 

I'm glad I slept with clothes on (wife beater and shorts). I shot out of bed and went running through the house, but there was NOTHING. No smoke, no scent, no flames....nada! Just the alarms...BLARING. LOUDLY.

 

I tried resetting them...tried pulling them. Couldn't figure out how to do that. Called the owners up in Texas at just before 6am.

 

Finally wound up calling non-emergency fire. "What's the address?" "OH, I don't know...! 1050...I'm RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOUR VISITOR'S ENTRANCE." (Which is true.)"

 

Two dudes - neither of them hot, where the fuck are the hot firemen? - show up. I open the door with a non-jovial "Happy New Year". "Not really," one of them says. "Yeah, that's what I thought," I said.

 

So the two guys start checking the alarms, the furnace, etc., etc., and arguing about the fire alarm models and how they work. I decide to sit with the dog, who's been remarkable sedate throughout the whole thing, just chilling on the couch. That dog would be useless in a real emergency. Maybe not. He licks everything, maybe he could lick a fire out. Who knows.

 

Long-short of it: electric thing must be fucked up in the alarm circuitry. Get an electrician. Yeah, I'll be right on that. Called the owners back and told them that.

 

Jesus. Now I am exhausted again. I was wired, obviously, while the alarms and omgamigonnagetblowedupwtfisgoingon?! feeling was upon me. I almost started crying on the phone because I felt like a complete nincompoop.

 

I can still hear the alarms in my ears. *moans* Goddamn.

Happy New Year

May it be healthy and happy. (Well, it's gotta be happier considering this is the year DUMBYA is finally out of the office he was never truly elected to!!!)

Applications Galore

I've begun 15 online applications for school districts all up and down the north shore, as well as into the northwest suburbs. Jesus Christ.

 

I've got to go back into each of them and answer all the short-essay questions. This is gonna take HOURS.

 

Fuck me, Grayslake has about a DOZEN short answer-essay questions! It's not even, IMO, that fabulous of a school district!!

Pet sitting

I really wish this dog would STOP LICKING ME.

God, if ever there was a cure for the temporary insanity had about possibly wanting a small dog, this is it. Dog wanted to take his biscuit and eat it outside. Okay, fine, freeze your ass off, crazy.

Boof. I'm tired and feel lazy. Need to go to the gym this afternoon after I meet with my friend.

Apply Now!

Well, I just applied to the long term sub position my friend told me about at Uber North Shore High School District XX.

 

We'll see what happens!

Doctor Who

TIMELORD, BITCHES!

 

*screams and runs about*

 

Oh, please, Holy You Tube, bring forth out of your virgin manger a pirate copy of Voyage of the Damned....AAaaaaAAAaaaamen!!!

I found a new blog

And yummy! I was googling for a suitable ginger cookie recipe and found this place.

Extremely Ginger

Brit tv/cinema

Dude, British tv/cinema cracks me up. You see all these actors and actresses popping up in shows you like.

 

For instance, the guy who plays Owen (?) in Torchwood was just on an episode of Inspector Lynley Mysteries I just watched....along with the guy who plays evil Sir Guy in Robin Hood. HA HA HA HA HA HAAAA!

 

And how I have - FUCKING SWEET - sorry, I just got distracted by stuff Rodney Yee is doing. Yes, I have a new yoga intermediate video of Rodney Yee's. SWEET. Doing inversions and crap.

 

I am SO GLAD to be done with student teaching so I can finally get my fat(ter) ass back into the gym and yoga. Oh god, how I have missed yoga.

WHOOOOOO!!! ROSE!!!!

Three episodes this coming season will have ROSE BACK!!

Not to ruin anybody's opinion...

But I did get my tattoo. I don't think I mentioned it around here yet.

 

Got it this past Tuesday. Took freaking FOUR hours. I was ready to hit somebody by the end of it.

 

It's still in the process of healing. Some flaking of the skin will be going on.

Comments

Just wanted to say "sorry" about my horrid lack of approving comments of late! I kept meaning to, but have been running about like crazy.

Ay ay ay!

Will be so glad to just sit down and get some REST this coming week (I hope). I have my xmas shopping done for the most part.

Still need to finish baking cookies and crocheting a freaking huge afghan for my mother.

ACK!

Reso-wha?

This article cracks me up.

Be it resolved: More sex in 2008
Sex & Relationships | Remove factors from your life that contribute to diminished drive, such as bad nutrition habits, lack of sleep and stress

So, sex is healthy (assuming you're not fucking someone whose genitalia are about to drop off from some gross disease) and we should have more of it?

GREAT! Sign me up!

Oh, that's right: I think most guys are childish idiots.

Is it just me, or would legalized prostitution really be a god-send? Come on, the government is always wanting tax money. They could tax the bejesus out of this, and no one would complain. Set up a nice little place, keep it clean, make sure everyone's got their rabies shots in order - dude, what's not to love?

And think about it: we could really have sex-ed classes! No more learning from cheesey pornos or grainy amateur videos! Take Sex Positions 101 Class once a week for two hours for 16 weeks. Tuition only $2,000! No partner? No problem! Select a stud from the house stables! (Please note, I want full equality here: we ladies should have a fine assortment to select from as well!)

You may think I'm being a little Swiftian here, but actually, I don't see why we don't legalize the oldest profession in the world. Morals schmorals. Give people a safe and professional standardized outlet for some of these urges, I say. It's not going to increase cheating - - that stuff happens already regardless.

I could use some SexEd 101. It's been...a while. *ponders* Feb 1....2004? I think? Maybe? Oh hell, I can barely remember. Every time I try to imagine myself engaging in that activity, I practically start laughing. I look ridiculous in my own mind. This does not bode well for ending my trip through the love-desert.

That and the fact that I've seen far too many fucked up relationships. Who needs it! (Ah, but see, those legalized institutions would clear all that up in a jiffy! No muss, no fuss. No relationships! Just a matter of business!)

Lost Causes

Boy, I can tell what is going to bust my chops as a teacher. When kids (AND their parents) make a big fuss about setting up a time to meet with you to get extra help because they - wah wah wah have ADHD - and then don't fucking show up.

 

This may be completely un-PC of me, but I think a lot of this ADD and ADHD is made up - just people looking for an excuse for Susie or Timmy to get special treatment when they're just fuck-all LAZY.

 

So, this kid was supposed to come in this morning for help reviewing for the final. I had confirmed with him TWICE last week. Does he show up? No. I ask him where he was during class, he's like "Oh, no, it was this afternoon, not the morning." Ok, whatever.

 

So I wait this afternoon for twenty minutes. He doesn't show. Idiot. You flunk my final and I am NOT going to feel sorry for you. In fact, I sort of hope you fail it. Punk.

 

I know of at least two kids who are going to bomb the final for sure, though. In the morning class, it's the kid who has been excessively absent (and his parents yank him out for vacation, too - smart move) and hasn't handed in jack shit. In the afternoon honors class, there's one kid who's just fucked around and been generally obnoxious in class, asking off-topic questions all the time. His mom is a headcase, too. She thinks her darling boy shouldn't have to take the final until he can get his test scores up.

 

Uhhhhh....what?

 

Yeah.

 

Same kid is not doing well in Honors Biology either. It sounds like both science and English teachers would be relieved to put the kibosh on him continuing with honors next year. Honestly, the kid just doesn't have the requisite study skills or attitude.

You'd better lay your money dooooown...

I went to the store and actually bought a Vogue magazine.

 

Normally - NO. Never. I mean, how the fuck does a magazine full of stick-thin glassy-eyed heroin-sheik twits appeal to me? Answer: it doesn't.

 

That said: it had Penelope Cruz on the cover. I DIG Penelope Cruz. Dude, if I were a lesbian, she'd totally be it. PC is the shiznit. I love the Almovodar movies she's in. She hasn't gotten anything but shit in American cinema (Captain Corelli's Mandolin? Puh-lease.)

 

AND...well, they totally went Espana in the photoshoots of her. They had MATADORS. *drools* Okay, fucking HOT matadors - like real ones - with tight asses in those ridiculously tight matador pants. (Wait a minute, is this where we got "gaucho pants" from, too...?) Holy crap. Rowr. I held one page up and just stared at this guy's butt for a minute. It was that good.

 

Hysterical, too. One of the quotes they pulled out on the page is this:

 

"Spanish bullfighter heartthrob Cayetano Rivera Ordonez, who has a cameo in Manolete, says his sole role in the forthcoming film was 'to flirt with Penelope. And, well, that doesn't require much acting.'"

 

MMmmMMMMmmmmMMMMMmmmmm Ordonez

FIN (almost)

I

 

IS

 

GRADUATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Still have two more days of the Great Cathol School, however.

Holee fuck

I have been baking cookies since the minute I got in the door from school. And I STILL HAVE TO WRITE UP THE FINAL EXAM BY TOMORROW MORNING. FUCKITY FUCK FUCK FUCK.

 

Bonus: I  HAD MY EXIT MEETING WITH MY CTs and SUPERVISOR THIS MORNING. I AM IN THE CLEAR, BEYOTCHES!

Three More Days

Just that much more.

 

And then I won't have to look at these crazy religious banner filled hallways.

Food!

I made a batch of peanut brittle tonight. I should go see if it's fully set. I used the recipe right on the back of the raw peanuts package. Mmmeh. I like Alton Brown's recipe better. It's a little tricker - seriously, you have to slam that shit out of the pot and onto a silpat mat QUICK or you are going to have rock hard shit in that pan - but it sets better.

 

Peanut Brittle. It is SO easy to make, people. Try it and you will never get the shit from the store. I never even liked the shit until I made it. Yum-ee. Put a teaspon or so of cayenne pepper in it too, makes the mouth HAPPY.

School's out!

It's an ICE DAY (not a snow day). I was able to fitfully sleep a little more today. I kinda feel hungover right now, although there was seriously no alcohol involved. I just sleep crappy.

Have a stack of fucking shit to grade. Must start now.

Fucking A. This means I have to cram SO MUCH shit into one less day at school. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

OH, and my tattoo appointment got canceled as well, damnit, because of the ice. Sandy called me this morning to let me know the shop is closed today. Fuck again. I just hope we can get an appointment scheduled before the end of the year. It is hugely important to me that I get this tattoo done before the end of 2007.

You see, 2007 is my "Strength" year. Numerology thing. Take your birth month, day and current year - add those numbers up. That tattoo is based off the tarot card for "Strength".

Next year's, get this: the Hermit. Think less about being alone and focus on the Hermit's purpose: he lights the lamp of knowledge and leads others to it.

Don't ever say there wasn't a purpose or some guiding force in life (even if sometimes said force acts like a fucking diva).

Yoga

I went to the yoga studio tonight. First time I've been back there since August. I'd gone a couple weeks ago to the community center where Wendy is now. Woo, yoga! Happy thought for day is yoga.

 

Oh god, why am I up so late writing a fucking test? Gah. SO TIRED. Still have to find a fucking paper.

 

Is it bad that I hope we have a late start tomorrow possibly because of bad weather? I could do with an extra hour of sleep, damn it.

 

P.S. TATTOO!

Cookies

Made a whole bunch of cookie dough today. It's in the freezer, ready to be pulled out and baked when the need arises. I'm going to bring cookies to school for my classes on Friday.

 

Oh, and Golden Compass? HA HA HA HA HA! Oh, you stupid little religious nutjobs. It always cracks me up; you give such great free publicity to the things you want people to ignore by creating a ruckus and making loud protestations.

 

It's a fucking book, and now it's a fucking movie. If you don't like it, THEN DON'T FUCKING READ IT OR WATCH IT. Oh, but that's too easy, you want everyone else to lockstep with you. FACE IT, not everyone drinks your purple kool-aid!

 

And now...need to go off and find a goddamn ginger cookie recipe. I can't remember where I put the ones I had found.

Charlie - Life

DUDE. My Charlie had better win this out. I am watching "Life" and ..... Jeeeezus! Come on, Charlie. I'm sitting cross-legged glaring at the tv.

OMG

MY FEET ARE SO FUCKING COLD THEY ARE BLOCKS OF ICE!!

 

I HATE WINTER!!!

hiding

I'm hiding out in the telephone room/closet. Ahhh, blissful non-Mass silence. I've gotten some grading done. This is fabulous.

Evading...

Trying to evade the last stupid Mass here. Do I feel like spending an hour and a half in a freaking Advent Mass? I THINK NOT.

 

I could spend my time better: like grading papers, which I've got a ton of!

Stuff

I have 41 hours of vacation time left for work. I need to double-check which days I took off for the rest of the year. I have TEN!!! class days left. Well, 12 if you include the two pre-final exam review days. Which I'm not, because those will be cake.

 

Schweet.

 

God, I still have so much shit to do.

 

Hey, did I mention I got my hair cut yesterday? Pretty short. I left my front and sides about the same length, but the back angles up. A bob, basically. Kathy said the salon had been doing those a lot recently. It looks pretty sassy, although I'm still getting used to it. She really cut it in at the back so that you get the full effect. She also razored it, so I have some pricklies at the nape of my neck.

Is there any more proof needed...

that religion turns people's brains to fucking diseased mush?

 

First: Sudanese Muslims call for teacher to be executed (aka the "teddy bear" incident)

 

Second: Jehovah's Witness 8 y.o. boy refuses blood transfusion (because it would make him "unclean") and therefore dies. Boy's aunt was his legal guardian - she's a wackjob JW, but the actual parents are not.

 

Oh, I also love the new religious banners made by students here that say "Thinking is not as important as love" according to St. Therese something-or-other. Yes, love is important, but THINKING IS IMPORTANT AS WELL!

Blokes

Is it just me, or is Damian Lewis just the hottest thing? Deee-amn. I love him in "Life". And holy shit, did not know he's British.....

Ow

Oh my god. I went to yoga yesterday morning. I've really missed it, but there is a price to be paid for not going for THREE MONTHS. Jesus. My arm and upper body strength is SHOT. It hurts to raise my arms now, too. Gawd.

 

I won't be neglecting yoga like that again!

Travel

I took a look at the Trek cycling tours website. Ooooh boy, that was a mistake. A bicycling tour in Provence? Divine!

 

If the lack of money isn't laughable enough, the fact that I would have to bike like a goddamn maniac from now until June when it goes would be. I am in NO shape for a biking tour of between 10-50 miles a day. Maybe my legs are, but I know my...delicates are not. Not after last summer's fiasco in Milwaukee. Of course, most of that pain was due to the fact I was stupidly on a mountain bike instead of a road bike...

Do this

I made Red Wine Poached Pears with Marscapone Filling for dinner yesterday and finally got around to eating one of them. SOFUCKINGGOOD.

 

Make them. I didn't even make them *correctly*. You're supposed to core them and stuff them with the marscapone filling, but I couldn't figure out how the hell to stuff them, so I just served the marscapone on the side.

 

6 firm Bartlett pears (DO NOT USE soft-ripe ones, they'll fall apart)

1 bottle red wine

1 vanilla bean, whole

2 cinnamon sticks

2 bay leaves

2 cups sugar

2 (8 oz) containers marscapone cheese, softened

1/2 cup heavy cream

pinch cinnamon

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons butter

 

Peel pears, leave stem intact. In a large saucepan, bring wine and an equal amount of cold water to a simmer. Split vanilla bean lengthwise and add to wine and water mixture. Add cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and sugar, to taste. Add pears to liquid and simmer for about 20 minutes or until tender. Cool pears in liquid to room temp. You can refrigerate them in the poaching liquid until ready to fill.

 

Remove stems from pears and set them aside. Core pears with an apple corer, leaving pear whole.

 

Whisk together marscapone cheese, heavy cream, pinch cinnamon and powdered sugar until smooth. Transfer to a pastry bag, or if you do not have one, use wax paper tightly wrapped into a cone with the corner snipped off. Pipe filling into cored pears and finish by putting the stems gently into the marscapone filling on top of the pears.

 

Bring sauce up to a simmer and reduce by half. Add butter to reduced sauce and stir until combined. Spoon generously over pears. Cool to room temperature before serving.

A Thanksgiving, of sorts

So, spent yesterday evening baking pies and prepping other things for today. Got up early today and kept on going. Turkey took FOREVER to finish. We finally ate about 6:30 or 7pm. No pie yet. We're over at my dad's.

 

My grandma is really, really bad. It would be a blessing for her to pass today, as the hospice thinks she will. She hasn't been able to eat or drink (if she tries, she throws it back up) for at least the past two days. Since yesterday, pretty much, she's just been on hourly doses of morphine to keep the pain managed and to keep her unconscious. It was pretty hard on Tuesday to be here and hear her say she was hungry, but being unable to feed her because we all (and she did, too) that it just wouldn't stay down.

 

She can't even swallow now. She's just making gurgling sounds.

 

This is a cruel way to go. Cancer really really sucks.

 

My dad is is none too good shape, either. I guess he started crying today when the hospice worker told him it would probably be today and to just keep her doped up. I'm telling you people, in my 30 years of living, I have only seen my dad cry ONCE. That's probably going to be the part that freaks me out the most.

 

And my brother is in the fucking room praying the goddamn rosary. Fuck me, that's freaking me out, too. When the fuck did HE go all holy-roller?

 

If you ask me, god pretty much sucks for allowing people to die in this much undignified pain.

Tired

So EXHAUSTED today.

 

My B class should be known as "B" for "Busted/Broken". What a useless class.

 

I can't wait for noon tomorrow when it is officially HOLIDAY time. I am getting a manicure/pedicure and then I am going to DRINK LIKE A FISH while I prep food.

Hello to the Netlands

First, why have I not been receiving some notices to approve comments? Yeeesh.

SECOND, my international minded peeps, check out: HUBWEAR . The "one way" questions kills me. I know I'd love mine to be one way! Guess which codes I used? Yeah, tough question, right?

HOLY JEEBUS

I have my oral exam tomorrow. I don't know if I'm nervous or not. I mean, part of me wants to freak out. The other part is going "FUCK IT". I am allowed to bring in five index cards with me regarding the questions (see below). I've slapped some shit down, but I think I'm going to mainly be relying on my ability to Blarney. Full half of these questions are stupid - I HANDED IN MY PORTFOLIO FOR YOU TO READ. What do you want me to tell you about five of them for AGAIN? I'm just going to tell you the same shit I wrote down!!

 

One more damn hoop. I am so ready to be DONE. I have nothing planned for my morning classes tomorrow. Oops. Nothing really planned for this week. I know what I have to cover, but I have no activities planned. Again, oops. Ah well, it's a short "week" - Mon, Tues and noon dismissal (25 minute classes) on Wed. I can bullshit for that much, right. After the break is when I need to kick my ass into high gear though. That's my last major book - Fahrenheit 451. Oh dear. Just get me through these next three days...PLEASE.

 

I could have invited one of my other profs to the board for my oral. I was just thinking. The one I really would have invited would have been Jack Pinnix. Dude was awesome and the best teacher I could have had when I first started the program. I wish he hadn't killed himself. God damn. He was seriously the best, and I hope he realizes that now wherever he's at. He was never a faker, and had so much great insight. Peace out, Jack.

 

1. Describe how literacy/language arts education has changed over the last two decades with respect to theory and pedagogy.

 

2. Provide an overview of your cumulative portfolio. Select five of the College of Education's performance outcomes/goals and describe the ways in which you have achieved these outcomes. Include a reflection on the influence of specific program coursework in your achievement of the specific outcome.

 

3. Summarize the content of your major research paper. Indicate how this knowledge will impact your teaching.

 

4. Provide of an overview of a major curriculum unit you have prepared.

London

I shouldn't have checked.

 

There are $500ish tickets to London from Chicago. In February, but WHO CARES?

Iron Chef!

YAY! Symon won! I totally wanted the bad ass from Cleveland to win!

Ratatouille

Oh my god. The Ratatouille movie is KILLING me. I am feeling fuzzy thoughts for...RATS.

Damn anthropomorphizing.

If you want crap, but it from China!

Okay, seriously. Our government is, surprise-surprise, failing us yet again. WHY are we still doing business with China? They suck for any number of reasons, but all this toy bullshit is just beyond ridiculous.

 

Now they're recalling toys BECAUSE IF INGESTED, THEY GET METABOLISED AS GH-FUCKING-B?!

 

If I had a kid, you can be damn sure that I wouldn't be buying any "made in China" toys. Hell no. That kid would just have to make do without.

 

And then the added gall of a Chinese town or county thinking they will sue Mattel for "defamation"? (Did anyone else hear about this yesterday?) That town or whatever can go fuck itself.

 

DEAR CHINA,

 

THANKS FOR THE STIR-FRY, TEA AND CONFUCIUS, BUT YOUR MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS ARE POISONOUS SHIT. Ban me from ever visiting, I don't care. Don't wanna go there ever.

 

 

More Evangelicals Concluding God is Green (WTF?)

Anyone catch this headline on the online news vendors? Yeah, morons, welcome to the real world. You idiotic FREAKS.

HATE

I FUCKING HATE PEOPLE WHO WHISTLE IN THE DAMN TEACHER'S LOUNGE. YOU'RE NOT A BIRD! PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO WORK!

 

I HATE THE STUPID SCREECHING HENS IN HERE, TOO. SHUT UP! PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO WORK! OH MY GOD!

Calendar Time

Can you believe it's already November 5th? CRIMINY.

 

It also means it's calendar buyin' time. I love calendars. Especially ones of Britain and Ireland. Speaking of which: SHOP!

Did I mention...

I PASSED that god-awful social sciences: political science test from early October?

HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA *draws breath*

OH my gawd. I can't believe I passed it, but I did. There were maybe five genuine poli sci questions on it, I swear. I got something like 30 more points than needed, which I think is pretty good.

I will be able to pull the trifecta people: English, history AND government. Right-wingers everywhere, lock up your kids! Because I's a gonna edumacate your chillen!

On a complete aside, the sheer number of parents who don't - you know - actually PARENT astounds me. Every week I hear of something stupid a parent does. The parent that claims education, values, whatever is important. Trust me, folks, your kids aren't going to know or appreciate the value of hard-work, dedication, integrity, accountability, etc., if all they have to look at is your pitiful example. I've got parents pulling kids out of classes for a week or more to go on some fancy pants cruise, vacation or attend a wedding. Better yet, a parent whose real concern in DEMANDING a make up exam well past the deadline is not because the are concerned about the child's education. No, no, no. It's because if little Joe or Mary doesn't get that good G.P.A., the car insurance (for the brand new car mummy and daddy bought their darling) will be higher.

YOU PEOPLE ARE PATHETIC.

Also: still hate sitting through 90 minute masses. Please send booze. I'm telling you, halfway through I wanted nachos, a beer and several chasers.

I did nothing today. That was bad. Because now I have waaay too much grading to get done tomorrow. Egads. I just needed a day OFF though.

Cojones!

http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=69606

Gotta love the cats

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1322921#

The Ginger People - Stem Ginger Gingerbread

The Ginger People - Stem Ginger Gingerbread

Hey, does anyone have a kickass ginger cookie recipe? Preferably one that used THREE types of ginger?

Pets

Wow. I just read this article on slate about questionable veterinary practices. Looks like with everything else, vets are also trying to get the most income on unnecessary tests as well!

 

http://www.slate.com/id/2176521/pagenum/all/#page_start

 

What really bugs me are the claims on yearly vaccinations. I never even thought of it that way, and I totally have to agree. If you build up a life-long immunity with ONE, why the hell are we required to spend all that money over and over again on yearly shots?!

 

Pfft. Forget that, I'm not going to feel bad for not taking my cats in for shots. Never again, not unless there is something seriously wrong.

And the lights are on...

I finally get the "taco" thing. Taco Hell is doing their stupid promotion thing. Jesus. They can keep my taco. That shit is toxic!

In other news. Very fucking tired.

Have been having a horrible time sleeping this week and I don't know why. I sleep really lightly, and keep tossing and turning. Today, it's finally caught up to me, and I was so tired at times, that my eyes were unfocused and I was dizzy. NOT GOOD.

I picked up some Advil Nighttime and just took a couple. Hopefully that will help keep me knocked out.

And now? Bed. And hopefully sleepy sleep.

Loud and Annoying

The teachers lounge is filled in the morning with yelling, gossiping hens. ANNOYING. Jesus, don't you people ever SHUT UP?

Bionic

I'm diggin the Bionic Woman show. Diggin' the cute CIA agent boy more they got to play in tonight's ep.

Not a fantastic start...

Talk about staying one step ahead here, and flying by the seat of your pants.

 

Today, I did the briefest of brief cruises about Expository writing. I know what it is (duh), but teaching it is another matter. I was re-reading my info over it last night.

 

So I was already feeling shakey about that, and then I could NOT sleep. I kept flailing in my sleep. Then, around 2am, I got a horrific case of cramps. Damn it all. I managed to swallow down some advil and then I just squirmed in pain for about an hour until I was finally able to fall asleep.

 

Unsure of material, crampy, sleepless and cranky. What a fantastic way to attempt to teach. I was SO CLOSE to throwing in the towel and calling in sick. Kept having to give myself a pep talk this morning: fake it till you make it.

 

And then, the mother of one of my students emailed questioning her daughter's score on the essay. Good student, really, but she handed it in LATE. Per my C.T.'s already long established procedures, late material is only worth 1/2 the possible points. So, thankfully, my C.T. was able to quickly and effectively counter the parent on that, but it still sucks. These parents would be better off telling their kids to do their work ON TIME. Believe me, when you get to college, your professors are going to laugh in your face.

Lovely

I have wine.

This is a good. Check that. Great.

Tired, so tired

People, I can't tell you how tired I am.

I am eyes nearly rolling in my head tired. I could not fall into a restful sleep last night. Certainly didn't help my teaching today. It seemed like *everyone* was sluggish today. My afternoon C.T. and I were looking at eachother with a dumb expression on our face, clutching the desks. The kids were comatose, too. Yeesh.

I got most of my shit in order for tomorrow. Time to tuck off to bed. *yawn*

One more thing:

I AM SICK ALREADY OF CHRISTMAS! There is Christmas shit overtaking Target already. It's not even Halloween for Chrissake! It's like everyone completely fucking forgets Thanksgiving, too.

That said, I made the mistake of looking at the Harrods website (yes, that Harrods, Harrods of London). OH, I weeep! I'm not a major fan, but I do love the tins they package cookies in. I have a cookie tin up on a shelf in my room that is just cute. Has a drawing of a postman pulling letters from the big red letterbox. I was thinking of possibly buying a cute tin of something that pictures something super-Britishy for Christmas. Or a Harrods tree ornament?  Exchange rates and shipping rates, however, may bar that from happening. Did I hear this right - the Canadian dollar is worth MORE than the U.S. now? *disgusted* THANK YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE BUSH. Yah, bastard wants another $46 mil for his illegal fucking war while the rest of us slave away for peanuts?! FUCK YOU!

Sad and Pathetic

It's terribly pathetic that mid-way through my
semester of STUDENT TEACHING (as in, not fully
fledged) I am already dreading and procrastinating at
grading these damn paragraphs of my students.

I know, I know. I don't mark them down over what I
haven't taught them. But the writing is ATROCIOUS. I
think I could run out of ink in my red pen.

No. Not going to run out of ink. Will resist. Will
only mark up one or two examples of things they did
wrong on their respective paragraphs, then tell them
to be on the lookout.

If they're ever to write well, they need to WRITE AND
WRITE AND WRITE MORE.

Cathol

can go boink itself!

Does anyone have any idea how hard it is for me to not
run screaming in my placement every time I hear some
crazy ass "Right to Life" march thing at school?

Why not "RIGHT TO MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS AND
YOUR OWN GODDAMNED BODY"?

Bitch, please. If you really respected ALL life, then
how about ensuring that those babies get cared for
after they're born - including the little darkies most
of you whitebread city folk don't give a rat's ass
about. How about ending a senseless and falsely run
war for profit in the middle east? How 'bout? How 'bout?

So tired

Too damn tired to do a fucking thing.

How Does it Feel?

Hey, Diamondbacks,

YOU SUCK TOO! HA HA HA HA HAHAHHAAAAA

Schadenfreude

Let's face it: it's gotta suck to be a Diamondbacks "fan" right now.

 

HA HA HA HA HA HA! SUCK IT!

 

 

London Calling

London (or Britain in general), it would appear, is intruding upon my thoughts again. The weather is gray and rainy. Nigella Lawson is on the food network and they showed some London streets. Dear Lord, Nigella has such unhealthy eating habits, though. (Oh, and Ina Garten's show did fish n' chips.) Bridget Jones's Diary is simultaneously on A&E. And Kilroy is hosting a carnival about cities: London, specifically.

Oh my God, I'm just having a Brit craving right now. :( I miss it! I miss you, Mum!

I'm hoping something will miraculously happen wherein I can travel within the next six months. Our profit sharing check from work comes out the first week of December. I'll probably have to use most of that to recover from the financial depredations of not having worked full-time for four months, though. Tax filing time will happen early February and hopefully I'll get something from that.

The most oddball thing is that I qualified as an entrant in this local radio station thing. It's the XLC treasure chest. Basically, the entrants all get a key. Whoever has the key that opens the treasure chest, wins it. There are some other prizes as well, like gift cards and such. But I think the chest has $5K. That, in my opinion, would be swell. I THINK I AM THE MOST DESERVING PERSON!

It's "Habanero"

One mutha bright sweater

Steve Carell

I totally need to see Dan in Real Life. Heh.

Dasvedanya

Shiiiiiit. I just saw "Eastern Promises", the Russian
mob movie with Viggo Mortensen.

THAT was some nasty violence. Up close and real personal.

Don't wanna be here

I am in no way, shape or form prepared to be at school today. I don't want to deal with anywith. It's Homecoming week here, too. Really, is now a good time for sports? NO.

 

I still want to watch the game on Saturday. But more for the sick fascination of watching something die, slowly and painfully. I don't know that I want to be in Wrigley surrounded by thousands of angry drunks. WELL THEY SHOULD BE ANGRY. Seriously, if someone ran on to the field and bitchslapped Soriano, I would cheer. What a waste.

 

I feel like my sports heart has been ripped out.

Reason Eleventy Million Why I Hate Catholicism

Voice post to come soon.

The strain is unbearable...

I WANT TO WATCH THE GAME NOW. I AM FREAKING OUT.

Of course

Of course Fox sports is picking us to lose. But, much like everything else, Fox sucks.

 

I am going to spontaneously combust - this game is driving me nuts already and it hasn't even been played.

 

Zambrano, you need to be a man tonight. Dempster: you drive me and everyone else in Chicago nuts, but you need to prove all the doubters wrong and make everyone play whiffle ball when you go to close.

DeRosa Blog Update

Yeah, for those of you who are psycho like me: HE UPDATED AND HE USED HIS SEXY PIC!!!

Cubs

Seriously, I think I'm going to burst with this madness. Game. Tomorrow. OMMFG. *flails*

Bad Day for a Quiz

For the students, really, but I don't feel so hot either! So, I administered my first quiz today. It was on the first half of our parts of the sentence schtick. It's a darn good thing my C.T. told me to make it worth a lot less. If not, these kids would all be failing.

I guess now I get to tell these kids that this is what happens when you don't take notes like you're supposed to. They were all "lah de dah" half the time. And they were like "you're not going to have the diagram models up on the wall????!!!!" Uh, no. The point is for you to KNOW this stuff, Einsteins.

I don't know how many times I've told them, you will NEVER EVER EVER infinity find your subject in a prepositional phrase. So, I put in what I thought was a "gimmee" question on the quiz. "True or False: You can find a subject in a prepositional phrase. " The second class all go it right, but my first class? It's like I never even taught them. Half the time they're not awake anyway.

A lot of the diagrams were atrocious, too. I'm going to have to inundate them with diagramming homework for the next four days. I know diagramming is the ass-end of exciting, but come on. When did I ever show you diagram models with crooked lines? YES, it DOES matter if your line for an adjective or adverb is straight or if you make it "L" shaped because the L shape means something completely different! Like: indirect object!

My C.T. was astounded when I showed her some of the quizzes. I told her I felt so bad and was wondering was it me? She told me to go over the stuff again, assign more diagramming, but that she thought I gave them every opportunity to ask questions and they were the ones not taking notes. Hell, I practically begged them to ask me questions.

Today, I told them that if I wrote it up on the board, then they'd better be taking notes. They grudgingly took out their notebooks. (Don't even get me started on this one kid who habitually doesn't bring a freaking pencil or pen to class. Seriously, I'm going to start keeping tabs on how often he does this in the next week. If it gets insane, I will forbid him from asking someone else for a pen, and then I'll tell him he's got a choice. He will either serve a detention for habitually coming to class unprepared, or he can take a detention and either get a pen from someone or from his locker.) Tomorrow, when they get their quizzes back, especially the first class, I am going to tell them again: 1) TAKE NOTES and 2)ASK QUESTIONS.