Neurotic to the bone, no doubt about it

Winter Break Checklist

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:29:55 GMT

Things to accomplish:
Scrapbook pictures (that's a big one)
Find shoes for vow renewal
Get dress altered
Get eyes checked
Read Loving Frank for book club

Guess who...

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:19:23 GMT

is one of the ten finalists for teacher of the year at her school?

ME!!!!!

(I'm really excited about that because I'm not friends [although I'm certainly friendly] with many teachers at my school, so it wasn't just a popularity contest.)

What a shitty day

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:24:00 GMT

It starts with grading crappy notebooks. We do a ton of things in class that are supposed to be in the students' notebooks. Every day I say what page they should be on, etc etc. I give them time in class to glue their handouts in and number pages. Today I graded absolute CRAP. My third period students are supposed to type their essay in the computer lab but hardly anyone did. Before that even, they had 3 days in class to write their rough draft and it was due at the end of the day yesterday. 6 kids who were in class didn't turn theirs in. Today at lunch I had to confiscate a girl's cellphone (we have a zero-tolerance electronics policy). I warned her earlier in the week but she still got pissy and practically threw the phone on my desk. I don't even have to open my room at lunch-most teachers don't-but I'm nice so I allow them to come in. AND then, 5th period wouldn't shut up. I told them "I've asked you nicely to be quiet more than once. If I say it again there will be consequences." And without even pausing this girl starts talking. So I lay into her and tell her to stay after class. The whole class is completely silent then and she proceeds to SOB for the rest of the class. And I ended the day with an English dept. meeting which I loathe because none of us get along and I have to leave early to pick up Kinsley every time.

My face/neck is an acne-filled mess thanks to the stress of the last month and it's freezing here. It snowed on Tuesday and there's still some on the ground.

Why did I do that?

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:10:30 GMT

I admit it: I read Exclamation's myspace blog entry after her daily chat post yesterday. I have avoided reading anything of hers in years. I really wish I hadn't read the blog. Disgusted isn't a strong enough word...

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:44:32 GMT

I decided to get this dress (in champagne) for the vow renewal.

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:39:40 GMT

I took a 3-hour nap yesterday after posting:)

I went to Target this morning (not at the break of dawn though) to get a few sale goodies.

Can you believe it?

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:56:05 GMT

I woke up at 3:30am to prepare the turkey and have it in the oven at 4am. I'm ready for a nap.

Ponderings

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:10:45 GMT

With my recent decisions to run the half and get a master's degree, I'm questioning why I want to do all these time-draining things. I barely have spare time as it is. Am I trying to avoid something? Of course, I tell myself, getting a master's degree is my excuse for not teaching PreAP next year. Why can't I just say no instead of going 15 thousand dollars in debt to do it (hopefully with the loan I'm hoping to get I won't actually have to pay that much back myself. Since I work at a low-income school there are certain loan forgiveness programs). I don't know...

1/2 marathon update

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:06:11 GMT

Today I ran 8.5 miles, and that last mile was tough. I haven't registered for the race yet, and I'm questioning whether I can do it. 13 miles is a lot. I've never had a secret dream of running a marathon or even a half, but the more Runner's World mags I read, I feel like the half is so much more respectable than a 10k. I like the 10k distance a lot; it's the perfect length for me to clear my mind and release energy. I'll be really proud of myself if I can do it though, and that is what has been keeping me going. I'm a really goal-oriented person, so things like this help my focus and channel my energy. If I were to weenie out of the half, I doubt I'd run more than 6-10 miles a week whereas this week I ran 17.5. I need to tell myself that I will be prepared to run in January. I'm using an online training guide, so I have to trust that by following it, I will be ready. It's just so hard to fathom that I will actually be able to run 13 miles in 2 hours.

Because I seem to have so much time

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:14:35 GMT

I just submitted my application for grad school-M.A. in English. I'll start in either the summer or fall. I told my dept. chair today that I'm adamant about not teaching PreAP next year so that I can pursue my degree.

Week from Hell

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:17:47 GMT

I have been deliriously busy since Monday. Today was my first day of semi-relaxation. I can't keep doing 4 PreAP classes. It is killing me.

I might be crazy

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:47:38 GMT

but I'm planning on running a half-marathon in January.

Gluttony

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:46:53 GMT

I have eaten cake everyday since Sunday. I feel gross.

It's my birthday

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:10:49 GMT

My husband bought me an iPod Nano. I'm synching it right now. Later I'm getting a facial and exfoliating scrub. I got my free breakfast slam at Denny's. What more could I ask for?

Happy birthday to you...

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:04:00 GMT

It's Aisle3's birthday. I hope you were spoiled rotten.

crapcrapcrapcrap

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:27:41 GMT

These are some of the worst essays I've ever graded. My PreAP students this year are not nearly as bright as in years past. I have around 100 kids in the PreAP classes, but I could easily cut it to 30-40. They're lazy and not very bright. Their parents are of the helicopter variety.

Attention Facebook People

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:13:06 GMT

I've created a facebook profile and I'm playing around trying to figure out video and groups. RIght now it's in my name but soon I'll be changing everything to the local teachers' union. How do upload video from youtube? and how can I create a group?

Wow, that was exhausting

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:35:31 GMT

Why did I think I could grade 80 or so rough-draft analysis essays and have an NHS selection committee meeting during Homecoming? This was the first analysis my PreAP students have written EVER I might add. And although I spent 2 days and made several handouts guiding the students through it step by step, they still turned out like complete and utter crap. Apparently I talked to myself for 2 days and killed 1/3 of the Amazon for NO REASON. The essays were THAT BAD. I spent 5 hours after school on Monday grading (yet managed to take Kinsley to gymnastics) and only got through 1/2 of my pile. Tuesday I graded one more class and made it to swim class. Wednesday I finished the final class and supervised the Powderpuff game. Thursday I had the NHS selection meeting after school which lasted 2 hours, ate a quick dinner with a teacher-friend, and then went back to school for the volleyball game and bonfire, getting home at 9pm. Friday I arrived at school exhausted but had to field 3, yes 3, calls from parents. One parent called because her darling son cheated on a worksheet and he got a D on the rough draft and he'll NEVER BE ABLE TO PLAY SPORTS NOW. And of course this is all my fault. Parents 2 and 3 were nice enough. #2's son is in other PreAP classes and is a football player so he's decided he's had enough of PreAP English and would like to switch out. Never mind, we've just completed 7 weeks of school and never before have I heard of a student switching out this late. Whatever. #3 has sent me 2 previous emails and on this day emailed early to say he'd like a conference for after school thisveryday to see what we can do to help his son be successful. Uh, I have an idea: he can stop being a holier-than-thou little piece a shit and instead of being disrespectful about everysingleassignment, he could actually do the assignment. It's just an idea though; what do I know?

Quick Poll

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:58:55 GMT

How many of you would use your nice hand towel to clean in and around your toilet?

New Personal Record

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:14:01 GMT

I ran a 10K today in 57:28, 4:21 faster than when I ran in May.

Dress Pics

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:34:52 GMT

I didn't take pictures of me wearing dress #2, but here are the pics of me wearing #1. It needs some altering in the bust area.

Girls' Weekend

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:54:44 GMT

My daughter and I spent the weekend in Phoenix. Saturday we went to the mall and she got a build-a-bear dog (bo the presidential pup) and I got lots of new work clothes. I spent a lot more money than I was planning, but I can toss out a lot of things now that needed tossing. Yesterday my friend drove down and we went to David's Bridal to look at vow-renewal dresses. I ended up buying one in gold. I don't want a white dress and I didn't care for the champagne color. I'm still debating though. Maybe if I had a tan (spray of course) the champagne would look better.

Here's the dress that I like and am still debating about. They didn't have it in champagne to try on, but I tried on another dress to see how the color looks on me:

This is the one I bought. If I decide to go with #2, I thought I'd wear this one to the cruise formal dinner.

It is so simple yet elegant. And I liked how the color looked on me. But I also really like dress #2 as well. I have a super short torso and my hips are slighter larger than my bust. Here's a picture of me for reference (I'm on the right. My mom's on the left and kinsley is center)

Opinions??

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:59:07 GMT

Swim class started up last week, and tonight's class really kicked my ass. It was awesome.

New Love

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:47:17 GMT

Last week at the grocery store there were samples of Nutella. I've always wanted to try it but was put off by the color. Well, let me tell you it is DELICIOUS. It's better than delicious. My daughter and I have eaten the whole jar this week. It's divine.

2 Weeks Down...34 More To Go

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:18:11 GMT

Of school that is. My year is off to a really good start, so I'm not complaining, but I have been plain exhausted by 3:30 every day. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I'm running by 5:30 am. I can only squeeze in 30 minutes before I have to get ready to be at school by 7. These first weeks I talk all period, which is a real strain on my vocal chords.

My students seem to be all right. I have 4 sections of Pre-AP English 10 and 1 section of English 10 (regular, not advanced). The Pre-AP kids bombed their quiz yesterday, which is really discouraging. My regular kids are a whiny bunch but hopefully I'll win them over quickly.