Mirror mirror on the floor. I love this picture, and felt like sharing. Enjoy.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Today on this addition of KRAP (Katie's Random Advice Post):
How to catch the bouquet:
How to catch the bouquet:
1) Show up for the wedding and wedding reception.
2) Be sure to wear a stunning short red strapless dress with laces up the side.
3) Shmooze with significant other's family and friends.
4) Dance.
5) Listen for the announcement "All single ladies to the dancefloor."
6) Stand on the dancefloor, waiting patiently while the bride chooses that exact moment for a bathroom break.
7) Hide yourself in the very back of the group of excited girls, as far away from the bride as possible.
8) Stay complete still while the bouquet flies through the air.
9) Stare dumbfoundedly as the bouquet falls into your open hands.
10) In vain, try to hide the bouquet from the signifcant other's family who has been anticipating our marriage since the first day my name was mentioned, take a picture with the random garter-catching man, and blush until your face matches your dress.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
I think I'll put the bed over there, next to the chalkboard
I may be exaggerating things, but I'm beginning to think I'd be just as well if I moved into my classroom. All of my school stuff is already there, yes, but why not just put my bed and favorite reading chair there too?
As it is, I've been spending more time there than at home (WITH SLEEPING!). I just can't seem to get ahead at any point. Whether someone sticks something in my mailbox that I have to handout, discuss, or fill out; whether my students make life difficult for me by making me have to plan different activities for different classes to account for SPED and new incoming students; whether my computer decides that it must fuck up my MS Word documents by implementing a mandatory 2.87 in. bottom margin on everything I print off; or whether I am completely stumped as to what I can do with my Basic Reading Skills students when there are 30 kids cramped in a small room and my only goal is to "stall" for the next couple days while their data is being entered into the computers.
I learn at least 5 new things every day. 5 new responsibilites. 5 new students. 5 new ways not to teach a lesson. 5 new ways for a student to piss me off. 5 new reasons not to wear a wrap skirt. 5 new reasons why chalkboards should be eliminated. 5 new objects in the room that the custodian needs to fix for me.
Oh, there's plus sides to be sure. Some of the students are total sweethearts and make me smile when they say hi to me in the hall or in the lunchroom. The staff has been nothing but helpful and they're a cool bunch to hang out with too (especially with a margarita on the side). I love having my own classroom, own desk, and basically being my own boss with the primary duty of bossing around young ones ;) And there's the compliments like this one, "I have to do the most work in your class." ::sigh:: Like music to my ears.
I may be exaggerating things, but I'm beginning to think I'd be just as well if I moved into my classroom. All of my school stuff is already there, yes, but why not just put my bed and favorite reading chair there too?
As it is, I've been spending more time there than at home (WITH SLEEPING!). I just can't seem to get ahead at any point. Whether someone sticks something in my mailbox that I have to handout, discuss, or fill out; whether my students make life difficult for me by making me have to plan different activities for different classes to account for SPED and new incoming students; whether my computer decides that it must fuck up my MS Word documents by implementing a mandatory 2.87 in. bottom margin on everything I print off; or whether I am completely stumped as to what I can do with my Basic Reading Skills students when there are 30 kids cramped in a small room and my only goal is to "stall" for the next couple days while their data is being entered into the computers.
I learn at least 5 new things every day. 5 new responsibilites. 5 new students. 5 new ways not to teach a lesson. 5 new ways for a student to piss me off. 5 new reasons not to wear a wrap skirt. 5 new reasons why chalkboards should be eliminated. 5 new objects in the room that the custodian needs to fix for me.
Oh, there's plus sides to be sure. Some of the students are total sweethearts and make me smile when they say hi to me in the hall or in the lunchroom. The staff has been nothing but helpful and they're a cool bunch to hang out with too (especially with a margarita on the side). I love having my own classroom, own desk, and basically being my own boss with the primary duty of bossing around young ones ;) And there's the compliments like this one, "I have to do the most work in your class." ::sigh:: Like music to my ears.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Happy Birthday to The Tricia!
Happy Birthday Tricia! Let me take you away from your grad school worries and carry you to a world of fun, pizza, and hard cider! A world called Old Chicago.
Happy Birthday Tricia! Let me take you away from your grad school worries and carry you to a world of fun, pizza, and hard cider! A world called Old Chicago.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Desire to draw first blood
Yeah, I've got a big sword. And I KNOW how to use it. Dammit.
Today, I'm ashamed to say I REALLY wished I was as rash as Inuyasha and could just bash a kid on the head for saying something annoying or stupid. My first two classes were fine, but when the third set of English students came around, something must have been in the air. There were a few of them that were unbelievably obnoxious. It took all the restraint I have (and that's saying a lot) not to just kick them all out of the room.
As it was I did kick one student out for a few minutes. He just would NOT shut up! I wanted to scream it at him: "SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU LITTLE TURD!" Thankfully, I held my temper and kept class going as smoothly as possible. I felt sorry for the other kids that were behaving; it must have been really boring to hear me repeatedly asking/telling the chatty corner to be quiet. Tomorrow I'll have to make some changes.
Change #1: New seating arrangement. I told the kids they could pick their spots, and if they didn't work out, I could move them. Well, one day into the seating arrangement and I'm already moving kids. I could have just assigned this chatty group seats to begin with, but I thought I would give them a fighting chance--that way I couldn't be called unfair. Shyeah right, that ends now. These kids are moving to the far reaches of the room (though I wish it could be the far reaches of space).
Change #2: Now that I know these kids better by name, you can bet I'll be curtailing their rude behavior ASAP. I can't let them get to me, and I can't let them disrupt the class, keeping us from getting into the material. So, time for a boost of confidence, and a boost of guts. These kids are going to know I mean business. It's funny that the rest of the classes, even the ones with kids in basic skills classes and the special ed kids, all seem to understand my limits and when to listen. I guess a few kids just haven't learned that lesson. Oh, they will. They will. Grrrrrr. Blades of blood!
Yeah, I've got a big sword. And I KNOW how to use it. Dammit.
Today, I'm ashamed to say I REALLY wished I was as rash as Inuyasha and could just bash a kid on the head for saying something annoying or stupid. My first two classes were fine, but when the third set of English students came around, something must have been in the air. There were a few of them that were unbelievably obnoxious. It took all the restraint I have (and that's saying a lot) not to just kick them all out of the room.
As it was I did kick one student out for a few minutes. He just would NOT shut up! I wanted to scream it at him: "SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU LITTLE TURD!" Thankfully, I held my temper and kept class going as smoothly as possible. I felt sorry for the other kids that were behaving; it must have been really boring to hear me repeatedly asking/telling the chatty corner to be quiet. Tomorrow I'll have to make some changes.
Change #1: New seating arrangement. I told the kids they could pick their spots, and if they didn't work out, I could move them. Well, one day into the seating arrangement and I'm already moving kids. I could have just assigned this chatty group seats to begin with, but I thought I would give them a fighting chance--that way I couldn't be called unfair. Shyeah right, that ends now. These kids are moving to the far reaches of the room (though I wish it could be the far reaches of space).
Change #2: Now that I know these kids better by name, you can bet I'll be curtailing their rude behavior ASAP. I can't let them get to me, and I can't let them disrupt the class, keeping us from getting into the material. So, time for a boost of confidence, and a boost of guts. These kids are going to know I mean business. It's funny that the rest of the classes, even the ones with kids in basic skills classes and the special ed kids, all seem to understand my limits and when to listen. I guess a few kids just haven't learned that lesson. Oh, they will. They will. Grrrrrr. Blades of blood!
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Enter the world of fantasy. Lately my free time (when not shopping or working on teacher crap) has involved nothing but fantasy. Book of choice: Star Wars: New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way. Game of choice: old school Secret of Mana (with Tricia) though I did just buy Dark Cloud and Champions of Norrath (more fantasy). Movies of choice: Inuyasha 1 & 2. ::sigh:: I'm so hopeless. (P.S. I saw this castle as part of a generic teacher poster display in one of the teacher's rooms and was like, HEY! I've BEEN THERE!)
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Why do I have homework?
I'm the teacher. It's so not fair that I have homework to do :P I'm busy prepping for tomorrow's classes. I have some of the day planned, and the room all set up, but I'm not sure what I'm doing for the last 20 minutes of class. Nor am I sure what to do with my 7th&8th grade combined reading class. I could do the same thing, but there are some 8th graders in both classes, so they won't be wanting to do the same thing. And so, tonight I will be brainstorming and coming up with a plan. And by tonight I mean, sometime between now and 11pm when I REALLY want to go to bed.
Because I want to sleep by then, I must make this a short blog entry. Wish me luck on my first day--I'm so going to need it.
I'm the teacher. It's so not fair that I have homework to do :P I'm busy prepping for tomorrow's classes. I have some of the day planned, and the room all set up, but I'm not sure what I'm doing for the last 20 minutes of class. Nor am I sure what to do with my 7th&8th grade combined reading class. I could do the same thing, but there are some 8th graders in both classes, so they won't be wanting to do the same thing. And so, tonight I will be brainstorming and coming up with a plan. And by tonight I mean, sometime between now and 11pm when I REALLY want to go to bed.
Because I want to sleep by then, I must make this a short blog entry. Wish me luck on my first day--I'm so going to need it.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Working for a living
Since I began employment at the middle school, I've been running my ass around town and all over the schools. I'm trying desperately to understand what I'm supposed to teach, how I'm supposed to teach it, and who exactly I will be teaching. As I'm only there for a quarter, some of the pressure is relieved, but I'm still finding it hard to keep up.
I've managed to put together my classroom when it comes to the basics, but I still have major decoration issues. That's the fun part. The hard part will be getting to the planning for the first week. But right now, for reasons of further stupidity, I have more urgent issues.
Urgent issue #1:
The St. Paul post office has been fucking around with my mail, or at least it was until I put my name on the mailbox. This would not be such a problem except that 2 very important items have somehow become LOST. Item 1: my social security card. Item 2: the checks I ordered. This has conequences. Do I wait and see if my SS card shows up back at my parents' house like the Post Office SAID IT WOULD? or Do I order a new SS card so that I can get that form of ID as soon as possible? As for the checks...that brings up another issue.
Urgent issue #2:
Whether it is the Post Office's fault (which I suspect it is) or the check company's fault, I have no clue. I called the check company and they redelivered my checks. I just got them today, and I'm quite happy with that EXCEPT for one thing. Yesterday, I received in the mail one booklet of checks from the checks I had ordered that were lost. Where were they? In Stevens Point, WI. WTF?!! So now I have no idea where the rest of the checks went, and if they are possibly in the hands of some fraudulent person. That means, I have to call the bank and void out all the checks. That's step 1.
Step 2 is that I have to call the check company again and reorder checks with a different number. There's simply too big a risk if I were to ignore the fact that 180 blank checks are roaming around the country with my name on them. They better let me have them for free, or there will be hell to pay.
Urgent issue #3:
Okay, this one is all my fault. With having a new bank and only using that check card, I haven't been paying much attention to my old bank account. Unfortunately, I had been using checks from that account for rent and loan payments. I could have SWORN that I had enough money in that account, but apparently I did not. So, on top of everything else, I have overdrawn from a bank that will charge me plenty for it too. The sad thing is, I HAD the money, just that it was in my savings, not in checking. Dammit, I suck.
In summary, I just seem to have issues lately. The next few blog entries may not be too pretty. Perhaps I'll try putting up more pictures--they may keep me from further blogs of venting.
Since I began employment at the middle school, I've been running my ass around town and all over the schools. I'm trying desperately to understand what I'm supposed to teach, how I'm supposed to teach it, and who exactly I will be teaching. As I'm only there for a quarter, some of the pressure is relieved, but I'm still finding it hard to keep up.
I've managed to put together my classroom when it comes to the basics, but I still have major decoration issues. That's the fun part. The hard part will be getting to the planning for the first week. But right now, for reasons of further stupidity, I have more urgent issues.
Urgent issue #1:
The St. Paul post office has been fucking around with my mail, or at least it was until I put my name on the mailbox. This would not be such a problem except that 2 very important items have somehow become LOST. Item 1: my social security card. Item 2: the checks I ordered. This has conequences. Do I wait and see if my SS card shows up back at my parents' house like the Post Office SAID IT WOULD? or Do I order a new SS card so that I can get that form of ID as soon as possible? As for the checks...that brings up another issue.
Urgent issue #2:
Whether it is the Post Office's fault (which I suspect it is) or the check company's fault, I have no clue. I called the check company and they redelivered my checks. I just got them today, and I'm quite happy with that EXCEPT for one thing. Yesterday, I received in the mail one booklet of checks from the checks I had ordered that were lost. Where were they? In Stevens Point, WI. WTF?!! So now I have no idea where the rest of the checks went, and if they are possibly in the hands of some fraudulent person. That means, I have to call the bank and void out all the checks. That's step 1.
Step 2 is that I have to call the check company again and reorder checks with a different number. There's simply too big a risk if I were to ignore the fact that 180 blank checks are roaming around the country with my name on them. They better let me have them for free, or there will be hell to pay.
Urgent issue #3:
Okay, this one is all my fault. With having a new bank and only using that check card, I haven't been paying much attention to my old bank account. Unfortunately, I had been using checks from that account for rent and loan payments. I could have SWORN that I had enough money in that account, but apparently I did not. So, on top of everything else, I have overdrawn from a bank that will charge me plenty for it too. The sad thing is, I HAD the money, just that it was in my savings, not in checking. Dammit, I suck.
In summary, I just seem to have issues lately. The next few blog entries may not be too pretty. Perhaps I'll try putting up more pictures--they may keep me from further blogs of venting.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
I've got it!
A job that is. The peeps from yesterday finally called me back...at 8:30am today. As happy as I was to hear from them, couldn't they have called yesterday or perhaps later today when I wasn't contentedly sleeping? I know; I'm lazy. But the call meant I had to leave Chris's early, get back here to shower and change, call UWEC about a transcript, and then haul my ass over to HR across town.
In reality, outside my lazy morning mind, that's not too much work or trouble. The real work will come in today and tomorrow, meeting with teachers and other staff trying to figure out what exactly I'm supposed to teach and how I'm supposed to teach it. AND I have to throw a room together with all that teachery stuff, you know, like inspirational posters saying "I love reading--even boring shit" and "Speaking standard English is da bomb." I can't say I own any of that crap, but I suppose I'm going to have to if I'm going to have my own classroom (though I may be able to borrow the absent teacher's stuff). Ugh. A lot of stuff to do, all before class starts next Tuesday. Yes, I mean BEFORE Labor Day cuz this middle school doesn't understand the word "vacation." ::sigh:: Whatever.
Here's to having a new job...even if it IS only for 4-8 weeks...unless she decides to be a stay-at-home mom...
A job that is. The peeps from yesterday finally called me back...at 8:30am today. As happy as I was to hear from them, couldn't they have called yesterday or perhaps later today when I wasn't contentedly sleeping? I know; I'm lazy. But the call meant I had to leave Chris's early, get back here to shower and change, call UWEC about a transcript, and then haul my ass over to HR across town.
In reality, outside my lazy morning mind, that's not too much work or trouble. The real work will come in today and tomorrow, meeting with teachers and other staff trying to figure out what exactly I'm supposed to teach and how I'm supposed to teach it. AND I have to throw a room together with all that teachery stuff, you know, like inspirational posters saying "I love reading--even boring shit" and "Speaking standard English is da bomb." I can't say I own any of that crap, but I suppose I'm going to have to if I'm going to have my own classroom (though I may be able to borrow the absent teacher's stuff). Ugh. A lot of stuff to do, all before class starts next Tuesday. Yes, I mean BEFORE Labor Day cuz this middle school doesn't understand the word "vacation." ::sigh:: Whatever.
Here's to having a new job...even if it IS only for 4-8 weeks...unless she decides to be a stay-at-home mom...
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
I've got both feet stuck in concrete
God I love the new DNA albulm. I rocked out to it on the way to my "interview" today for one of the nearby suburban districts.
I say "interview" because it was like no other interview I have yet encountered. They seemed to have no questions really in mind or set interview structure. There were three of them, and they each asked a question, mostly about my experience with teaching kids that are a bit unruly. Thankfully, my experience as a summer teacher and over in London took care of that answer.
From the informal interview, I was given a short tour of the classroom I'd be working in, the facilities there, and some explanation as to what I would be teaching and who I would be teaching. That was all well and good, but I didn't even know if I'd be getting the job. That's the frustrating part.
They said that I would know TODAY. I gave them my cell phone number after they asked where they could reach me this afternoon since they would be calling me. Well, it's a bit past the afternoon I'd say, and no call. ::sigh:: Even Kelly Services, who set up the interview for me, gave me a call after the interview and said it looked good, that they would very likely offer me the job. So you'd think after all they've given me all these bloody hints, they'd stick this fucking job down my fucking throat (tell me you got that allusion, Jenny).
Anyway, even if I do get the job, it'll only last somewhere between 4-8 weeks while the regular teacher is away on maternity leave. I honestly can't say I'd be very bothered if I just ended up subbing for a while instead. Granted, a regular paycheck even for just a month or so would be very helpful indeed, but then a sub doesn't have as much responsibility. Bleah, whatever. Oh yeah, by the way, the other district I was waiting for FOREVER finally told me when I called them that they had chosen other candidates, which I can understand cuz I know I was not the best qualified for the kind of teachers they wanted.
The ball is in the air, so now I just have to wait until I either hit it, miss it, or it whacks me in the face.
God I love the new DNA albulm. I rocked out to it on the way to my "interview" today for one of the nearby suburban districts.
I say "interview" because it was like no other interview I have yet encountered. They seemed to have no questions really in mind or set interview structure. There were three of them, and they each asked a question, mostly about my experience with teaching kids that are a bit unruly. Thankfully, my experience as a summer teacher and over in London took care of that answer.
From the informal interview, I was given a short tour of the classroom I'd be working in, the facilities there, and some explanation as to what I would be teaching and who I would be teaching. That was all well and good, but I didn't even know if I'd be getting the job. That's the frustrating part.
They said that I would know TODAY. I gave them my cell phone number after they asked where they could reach me this afternoon since they would be calling me. Well, it's a bit past the afternoon I'd say, and no call. ::sigh:: Even Kelly Services, who set up the interview for me, gave me a call after the interview and said it looked good, that they would very likely offer me the job. So you'd think after all they've given me all these bloody hints, they'd stick this fucking job down my fucking throat (tell me you got that allusion, Jenny).
Anyway, even if I do get the job, it'll only last somewhere between 4-8 weeks while the regular teacher is away on maternity leave. I honestly can't say I'd be very bothered if I just ended up subbing for a while instead. Granted, a regular paycheck even for just a month or so would be very helpful indeed, but then a sub doesn't have as much responsibility. Bleah, whatever. Oh yeah, by the way, the other district I was waiting for FOREVER finally told me when I called them that they had chosen other candidates, which I can understand cuz I know I was not the best qualified for the kind of teachers they wanted.
The ball is in the air, so now I just have to wait until I either hit it, miss it, or it whacks me in the face.
Monday, August 23, 2004
Sunday, August 22, 2004
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A New Saga in Stupidity
WELCOME! Yes, welcome to the first installment of "Tales of Incredible Idiocy!" Starring yours truly, Katie, the smartest woman in the world!!--her only problem is getting some of those smarts to leak out between her continual acts of utter stupidity!
Case in point: tonight. I had a great time at the Down and Above CD release party rocking out, pushing annoying moshers around, and buying their new CD and a sweet band T-shirt. Came home, ready to relax and go to bed. Up to that point everything was pretty good and pretty smart.
Later this evening...I decide it's a good idea to pick up the book I started at 2am this morning couldn't put down til 4am (112 pages later) once more, just to read a few more chapters. Right, like that was going to happen. So I finished the book 15 minutes ago. Not exactly smart since it means not getting a full night's sleep without sleeping into the afternoon when I want to get things done. Think that's dumb? Oh just you wait.
Of course last night I had issues trying to sleep having read in bed and then having hundreds of thoughts flowing through my head. I didn't sleep until almost 6am. Not cool. Think I would remember not to do it again tonight? Oh no. I knew I wouldn't fall asleep right away tonight, but I turned to my alarm clock to set it for tomorrow, turn off my lamp, and try to sleep anyway. Who knows, I MAY have been successful if it weren't for the SHOCK I felt when I touched my alarm clock to find that I HAD MELTED IT!!! I MELTED MY ALARM CLOCK!!!!
My lamp is one of those desk lamps that has a conical metal shade. I'm sure the bulb I have in there is the maximum wattage you can have, perhaps more. But I never had a problem with it. But then I never before leaned my lamp two inches away from the top of my alarm clock for 4 hours either. Fucking stupid, eh? Oh, but you think it ends there?
Considering that I had read for a good two hours yesterday, with the lamp in roughly the same position, I bet you anything that the clock was already starting to melt last night and I didn't notice it. How could I NOT NOTICE A SICKLY WARPED ALARM CLOCK?!! The poor thing...the clock still works, and I could probably turn on the alarm. But the buttons for setting the time are melted into plastic puddles forever connected to the framework of the alarm clock--never to be pressed again. Dumbass.
Frustrated, I get up out of bed and retreat to the sanctuary of my laptop and this blog. Venting seems reasonable enough, doesn't it? Not TOO dumb. Oh sure...but five minutes into blogging, I start remembering that it is STORMING OUTSIDE! I've only been listening to the thunder rumble and watching the lightning patterns for a good half hour or more. But do I think to unplug my laptop and use it's battery power so I don't accidently blow it up? Oh no, of course not. God I suck.
It's unplugged now, which also means my battery will be nearly dead by morning. But I'm telling you, this is good stupid shit that just had to be shared. Want to hear any more stupidity? Just give me a topic and I'm sure I can come up with an equally idiotic anecdote. Like for instance not relabeling the mailbox here at the apartment so that now I have not been receiving any mail here like for example a very important document my dad sent me three days ago. Sure, it's not my fault the post office is a big fat piece of shit for not asking or giving a notice or warning or JESUS WOW... that is a hell of a thunder bolt. Fucking wow. I feel like a four year old...I'm all ready to start cowering...dang third floor attic apartment with every window open, head just feet from the roof and the rain and the storm.
Hm, I guess the bonus of this blog entry is the idiotic babbling on top of the storytelling. Stellar. Well, enjoy your day. I hope it's much smarter than mine so far.
WELCOME! Yes, welcome to the first installment of "Tales of Incredible Idiocy!" Starring yours truly, Katie, the smartest woman in the world!!--her only problem is getting some of those smarts to leak out between her continual acts of utter stupidity!
Case in point: tonight. I had a great time at the Down and Above CD release party rocking out, pushing annoying moshers around, and buying their new CD and a sweet band T-shirt. Came home, ready to relax and go to bed. Up to that point everything was pretty good and pretty smart.
Later this evening...I decide it's a good idea to pick up the book I started at 2am this morning couldn't put down til 4am (112 pages later) once more, just to read a few more chapters. Right, like that was going to happen. So I finished the book 15 minutes ago. Not exactly smart since it means not getting a full night's sleep without sleeping into the afternoon when I want to get things done. Think that's dumb? Oh just you wait.
Of course last night I had issues trying to sleep having read in bed and then having hundreds of thoughts flowing through my head. I didn't sleep until almost 6am. Not cool. Think I would remember not to do it again tonight? Oh no. I knew I wouldn't fall asleep right away tonight, but I turned to my alarm clock to set it for tomorrow, turn off my lamp, and try to sleep anyway. Who knows, I MAY have been successful if it weren't for the SHOCK I felt when I touched my alarm clock to find that I HAD MELTED IT!!! I MELTED MY ALARM CLOCK!!!!
My lamp is one of those desk lamps that has a conical metal shade. I'm sure the bulb I have in there is the maximum wattage you can have, perhaps more. But I never had a problem with it. But then I never before leaned my lamp two inches away from the top of my alarm clock for 4 hours either. Fucking stupid, eh? Oh, but you think it ends there?
Considering that I had read for a good two hours yesterday, with the lamp in roughly the same position, I bet you anything that the clock was already starting to melt last night and I didn't notice it. How could I NOT NOTICE A SICKLY WARPED ALARM CLOCK?!! The poor thing...the clock still works, and I could probably turn on the alarm. But the buttons for setting the time are melted into plastic puddles forever connected to the framework of the alarm clock--never to be pressed again. Dumbass.
Frustrated, I get up out of bed and retreat to the sanctuary of my laptop and this blog. Venting seems reasonable enough, doesn't it? Not TOO dumb. Oh sure...but five minutes into blogging, I start remembering that it is STORMING OUTSIDE! I've only been listening to the thunder rumble and watching the lightning patterns for a good half hour or more. But do I think to unplug my laptop and use it's battery power so I don't accidently blow it up? Oh no, of course not. God I suck.
It's unplugged now, which also means my battery will be nearly dead by morning. But I'm telling you, this is good stupid shit that just had to be shared. Want to hear any more stupidity? Just give me a topic and I'm sure I can come up with an equally idiotic anecdote. Like for instance not relabeling the mailbox here at the apartment so that now I have not been receiving any mail here like for example a very important document my dad sent me three days ago. Sure, it's not my fault the post office is a big fat piece of shit for not asking or giving a notice or warning or JESUS WOW... that is a hell of a thunder bolt. Fucking wow. I feel like a four year old...I'm all ready to start cowering...dang third floor attic apartment with every window open, head just feet from the roof and the rain and the storm.
Hm, I guess the bonus of this blog entry is the idiotic babbling on top of the storytelling. Stellar. Well, enjoy your day. I hope it's much smarter than mine so far.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
We're a dick, we're addicted to BG2
Yesterday Tricia and I began a quest. A quest that shall not meet its end until all manner of beasts are slain, all treasure is hoarded, and all boxes and pots are broken.
When not playing Baldur's Gate 2, like today, I've actually been QUITE productive. Since rolling out of bed this morning at 10:30am (after receiving a call from the district I had the interview with last Monday telling me that they are STILL in the selection process which means I have to be patient), I temporarily became a "stereotypical housewife." Yes, I cleaned and organized the heck out of the apartment.
Laundry washed and dried. Dishes cleaned and put away. Sink and countertops washed. All carpeting vacuumed. Tupperware containers organized. Bedroom furniture reorganized. And mail brought in.
On top of the housework, I finally installed MS Office 2000 on my laptop so I no longer have to deal with WordPerfect and all of its infinite shittiness. That meant reworking my resume and generic cover letter, which need a bit of revamping anyway.
I declare today a VICTORY for productivity. Laziness? Defeated!
(P.S. Did they take "Defeat You" off the web? Cuz I can no longer find it. Anyone have a copy?)
Yesterday Tricia and I began a quest. A quest that shall not meet its end until all manner of beasts are slain, all treasure is hoarded, and all boxes and pots are broken.
When not playing Baldur's Gate 2, like today, I've actually been QUITE productive. Since rolling out of bed this morning at 10:30am (after receiving a call from the district I had the interview with last Monday telling me that they are STILL in the selection process which means I have to be patient), I temporarily became a "stereotypical housewife." Yes, I cleaned and organized the heck out of the apartment.
Laundry washed and dried. Dishes cleaned and put away. Sink and countertops washed. All carpeting vacuumed. Tupperware containers organized. Bedroom furniture reorganized. And mail brought in.
On top of the housework, I finally installed MS Office 2000 on my laptop so I no longer have to deal with WordPerfect and all of its infinite shittiness. That meant reworking my resume and generic cover letter, which need a bit of revamping anyway.
I declare today a VICTORY for productivity. Laziness? Defeated!
(P.S. Did they take "Defeat You" off the web? Cuz I can no longer find it. Anyone have a copy?)
Monday, August 16, 2004
Throw the grad a party? Or throw the grad?
Like Tricia said, this weekend was ultra busy, filled with appointments, friends, parties, and plenty of pictures of me soaking wet. How did I get wet? I'll tell you.
My grad party. Awesome time, great group of friends and family there. My dad's cousin Kevin who is a priest in Chicago came up to visit for the weekend. My friend Liz from high school drove over three hours just to come to my party for a few hours and drive right back home--I hadn't seen her for a year so it was friggen sweet of her to come visit. Some other nice friends and family arrived, as did my brothers, their wives, and little Matthew. Couldn't really ask for a better turn out, except if maybe I had planned a bit more ahead some more friends could come.
Anyway, back to the wetness. A couple hours into the party, I walked up to some of my friends and they told me that I really should put my swimsuit on NOW. Apparently they overheard my dad, brother, and cousin plotting to throw the grad into the pool. Well, I figured it would be just like one of the many many other threats I have had over the years--just a way of convincing me to go in the pool. I didn't think much of it as I asked my friends if they would go swimming with me. I had just arranged getting a swimsuit for Tricia who had forgotten hers, and was thinking of heading in the house to get one for her and for myself....when I was suddenly surrounded.
My brother Scott grabbed me and picked me up over his shoulder. My dad go the pool door open and helped grab my legs to make sure I didn't struggle too much. Meanwhile, my friends fought valiantly to set me free from this form of family bonding. But their combined strength just wasn't enough to stop the inevitable. Besides, I think they secretly may have enjoyed the idea of seeing their friend thrown in her own pool.
Just before the "1, 2, 3" I managed a few requests: took off my watch, necklace and my nice outer button down shirt and then WHOOM! SPLOOSH! Into the water. Thankfully, the pool's solar heater made the temperature of the water barely tolerable. It was only after my upper body resurfaced that I realized maybe just wearing the white tanktop...braless...wasn't the best choice. I'm pretty sure I manged to cross my arms over my chest before the tell tale clicking of cameras occurred. Guess I'll find out soon enough.
Despite the fact I had to change, and to rewash my freshly cleaned khakis, and vainly attempt to salvage my drowned-rat hair, I actually didn't mind being throw in too badly. I changed into my bikini, grabbed my friends, and we all relaxed in the pool for a while anyway. And it will give me something to remember. PLUS, a great excuse to get back at my dad and brother someday. MWA HA HA HA HA!
Like Tricia said, this weekend was ultra busy, filled with appointments, friends, parties, and plenty of pictures of me soaking wet. How did I get wet? I'll tell you.
My grad party. Awesome time, great group of friends and family there. My dad's cousin Kevin who is a priest in Chicago came up to visit for the weekend. My friend Liz from high school drove over three hours just to come to my party for a few hours and drive right back home--I hadn't seen her for a year so it was friggen sweet of her to come visit. Some other nice friends and family arrived, as did my brothers, their wives, and little Matthew. Couldn't really ask for a better turn out, except if maybe I had planned a bit more ahead some more friends could come.
Anyway, back to the wetness. A couple hours into the party, I walked up to some of my friends and they told me that I really should put my swimsuit on NOW. Apparently they overheard my dad, brother, and cousin plotting to throw the grad into the pool. Well, I figured it would be just like one of the many many other threats I have had over the years--just a way of convincing me to go in the pool. I didn't think much of it as I asked my friends if they would go swimming with me. I had just arranged getting a swimsuit for Tricia who had forgotten hers, and was thinking of heading in the house to get one for her and for myself....when I was suddenly surrounded.
My brother Scott grabbed me and picked me up over his shoulder. My dad go the pool door open and helped grab my legs to make sure I didn't struggle too much. Meanwhile, my friends fought valiantly to set me free from this form of family bonding. But their combined strength just wasn't enough to stop the inevitable. Besides, I think they secretly may have enjoyed the idea of seeing their friend thrown in her own pool.
Just before the "1, 2, 3" I managed a few requests: took off my watch, necklace and my nice outer button down shirt and then WHOOM! SPLOOSH! Into the water. Thankfully, the pool's solar heater made the temperature of the water barely tolerable. It was only after my upper body resurfaced that I realized maybe just wearing the white tanktop...braless...wasn't the best choice. I'm pretty sure I manged to cross my arms over my chest before the tell tale clicking of cameras occurred. Guess I'll find out soon enough.
Despite the fact I had to change, and to rewash my freshly cleaned khakis, and vainly attempt to salvage my drowned-rat hair, I actually didn't mind being throw in too badly. I changed into my bikini, grabbed my friends, and we all relaxed in the pool for a while anyway. And it will give me something to remember. PLUS, a great excuse to get back at my dad and brother someday. MWA HA HA HA HA!
Thursday, August 12, 2004
"I've been waiting a long time for this moment to come, I'm destined for anything at all"
Lyrics from such a great Green Day song, and so very true for me right now. Seeing as how I didn't get a call about my interview on Monday yet today, I should be hearing from them tomorrow. They said they'd call no matter whether it was "yes" or "no." Nice that a district actually goes through the trouble of doing that. It was a rather unpleasant surprise to discover just how many districts don't bother calling at all. The least they could do is email (which is FREE and they could do a MASS MAILING) but no, that would take too much effort when they're busy prepping their new pride and joy teacher. No bitterness there.
Like Jenny says, enough griping about job issues. With no concrete plans for full time employment on the horizon, I've scheduled a plethora of orientation appointments at surrounding school districts for substitute teaching. Can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect of undependable work hours and classrooms full of apathetic students (you know how it was to be a student with a sub teaching). However, I need the experience to boost my resume, and it's something that I can sign up for instead of going through more grilling interviews.
And like any good unemployed college graduate, I'm here in my wonderful new and virtually completely set up room, trying in vain to prevent myself from snacking on everything in sight, and still managing to find a few moments between addictions to Mah Jong to do some much needed dusting of my window and other furniture. Things aren't so bad. AND my grad party will include a very fine assortment of friends who I am VERY excited to see. Now if only the weather would cooperate so that the pool won't give us cases of hypothermia.
Lyrics from such a great Green Day song, and so very true for me right now. Seeing as how I didn't get a call about my interview on Monday yet today, I should be hearing from them tomorrow. They said they'd call no matter whether it was "yes" or "no." Nice that a district actually goes through the trouble of doing that. It was a rather unpleasant surprise to discover just how many districts don't bother calling at all. The least they could do is email (which is FREE and they could do a MASS MAILING) but no, that would take too much effort when they're busy prepping their new pride and joy teacher. No bitterness there.
Like Jenny says, enough griping about job issues. With no concrete plans for full time employment on the horizon, I've scheduled a plethora of orientation appointments at surrounding school districts for substitute teaching. Can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect of undependable work hours and classrooms full of apathetic students (you know how it was to be a student with a sub teaching). However, I need the experience to boost my resume, and it's something that I can sign up for instead of going through more grilling interviews.
And like any good unemployed college graduate, I'm here in my wonderful new and virtually completely set up room, trying in vain to prevent myself from snacking on everything in sight, and still managing to find a few moments between addictions to Mah Jong to do some much needed dusting of my window and other furniture. Things aren't so bad. AND my grad party will include a very fine assortment of friends who I am VERY excited to see. Now if only the weather would cooperate so that the pool won't give us cases of hypothermia.
