Best of...

As I approach the one year anniversary (somewhere in February, so my archives say), I am going to celebrate by reposting links to some of my favorite posts. If the post warrants it, I will say what it going on with that situation now. Pretty stupid and self-serving, but what about blogging isn't either of those things anyway? Best of #1: Situation: Student becomes flustered and frustrated over her inability to find Africa (yes, the whole continent) on a map. Here's the link. Since day 1 as a teacher, I have received many not-so-stellar comments and questions from my students. I think that it was this comment that inspired me to start blogging. Student "A" is not any smarter, but I think that she has gotten better at tempering her questions. I no longer react to questions, I just use the "tongue trick" (it's when you painfully push your tongue to the roof of your mouth to keep from laughing) to keep class going at a regular pace.

Winter Doldrums

If you've visited my blog lately, you've probably noticed that there seems to be a lack of posts. I'm still here, I just don't know if I have anything to say. I used to have tons of posts ready to go so that if I didn't have anything interesting to say, I could click a button and post a thought that I had had one night weeks ago. Well, gone are those days. I've run out. It seems that my lack of upkeep in cyberspace (do people still use that word) has also reared its ugly head in my "real" life, too. Gone are the days where I would eagerly come home, nap, then plant myself in front of a movie and grade. Now, I just nap, then watch a movie. I couldn't figure out why my school bag was so heavy. It wasn't until today that I realized it was because I had papers from January 9th (!) that I needed to reconcile. It's not like I don't have the intention to grade. I faithfully bring the bag home, set it near me, and then for some reason, just looking at it puts me to sleep. Maybe I should start a holistic grading program that is based solely on oral answers that you give during the course of the class period...could I get away with that? Well I am sure that soon I will have some exciting news and virtues to extol, but as for now, enjoy this wonderful, deflated windsock that describes my current state: By the way, I do still love my job!

Sunday Funnies

The Buddha Was a Tough Kid to Raise Mother: Don't you ever do that again! [slaps child hard] Child, calmly: Well, are you happy with yourself? --Union Square Overheard by: Miranda via Overheard in New York, Jul 30, 2006 1PM Sorry, Hermaphroditic Customer: What is the Happy Meal toy for boys this week? Employee: Oh, no ma'am, we don't have boy or girl toys this week -- they are bisexual. Customer: What?! McDonald's Santa Monica, California via Overheard in the Office, Jan 12, 2007 9AM While I'm a Cornell Grad White customer pointing at Filipino bag boy: Is he black, or is he white?! I just can't tell... Cashier: Um, he's Filipino. White customer: I don't care what religion he is, I just wanna know his race. Cashier: He's Filipino. White customer: No wonder you're just a cashier. Piggly Wiggly Farmville, North Carolina via Overheard in the Office, Jan 12, 2007

Sunday Funnies

After the First Time, She Swore She'd Never Be Caught Unprepared Bearded, earlocked rabbi jumping out of mitzvah mobile: You, you're Jewish -- come in and hear what we have to say. Shiksa: I'm not Jewish. Bearded, earlocked rabbi: Yes you are, I can tell. Your mother is Jewish. Shiksa: No one in my family is Jewish. Bearded, earlocked rabbi: Maybe no one in your family practices, but Jewish blood is strong, and I can tell you have it. Shiksa: Leave me alone or I'll throw bacon at you. --5th Ave via Overheard in New York, Jan 9, 2007 5PM Democracy Isn't the Answer to Everything Teacher: What's one-fifth of 15? Class, in unison: Five! Chicago, Illinois Overheard by: High school student, appalled via Overheard in the Office, Jan 10, 2007 2PM Why People Join AA Receptionist: I just can't get the song from Pinocchio out of my head. Marketing director: Funny what pops into your head on the first round. Receptionist, singing: I've got no strings to hold me back... Marketing director: Later on, when we're drinking, I'll tell you about the midgets. City Center Building Bellevue, Washington via Overheard in the Office, Jan 12, 2007 I'm Rethinking the Joint Custody Arrangement Mother taking away son's boogie board: Enough, time to leave and go home. Young son: You don't deserve a child! --Sea Isle City, New Jersey Overheard by: Gaby Young via Overheard at the Beach, Jan 10, 2007

Snow Day!

So here we are again! A day of from school due to ice and snow. Back in November, I posted about Texans fear of ice here. All this weekend, the lovely people at the local news stations told us that all hell was going to break loose, and that we were going to see a massive ice storm...Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I watched as some pellets fell from the sky. Monday, the icing was a bit worse, but the weather did not complicate matters due to the MLK Holiday. In all, the ice basically amounted to a big load of nuthin'. We were also warned that there would be a few flakes of snow over night Tuesday, into this morning. I wake up at 5, hoping to get out of the house by 6, so that I could go to Kinko's to make a few copies for class. It was icy, sleeting, and snowing. Still, I hadn't received a phone call telling me school was cancelled, so I assumed that I needed to keep trucking along. Throughout my 20 minute commute, I did my normal morning routine of switching back and forth through the radio stations. Still, no phone call. I pull into the school parking lot at around 6:30, and notice that I am one of two cars in the lot (normally, there are at least 30). At that exact moment, I receive "the call". So much for the early bird getting the worm. Not only did I leave my warm bed, I had to also trudge back home on an icy road. Maybe I should start being less responsible! Don't get me wrong--I don't mind missing school, but we had a 4-day week last week, and will have a 3-day week this week. That's a lot of discontinuity. I hate making up days! What is up with all of the snow this year?? I did not see my first snowfall until I was a sophomore in high school. Evidently this is supposed to be a warm winter, but oranges, roses, and avocados are freezing in California. If you don't think it's that important, Valentine's Day is in less than a month, and Guacamole is a staple at many a Super Bowl party (Feb. 4th)! I was listening to the forecast, and we are supposed to see snow Saturday and Tuesday of next week. Man, that El Niño is a bad little boy.

Obama in '08?

I don't blog much on politics, but it seems Mr. Obama has some good things to say. I read his first book Dreams from My Father a little over a year ago, and came away very impressed with his story. After seeing the same faces in politics for so long (Sen. McCain is thinking of running and he is 70!), I welcome the new approaches his will bring to the arena. Although he is inexperienced, he and his campaign people have managed to turn this liability into a positive. Very swift move. The Democratic Primaries are gonna be verrrry interesting...

Iraq's Lost Generation

(click to enlarge) This picture, a part of this week's edition of "Newsweek", saddens me.

Geez...China's Tough!

Click to enlarge. Story.

"All events occur in real time..."

And it was with that phrase that my obsession began. I've discussed my love for the show here and here. After 6 months of catching up on 5 seasons of shows, I finally get to watch the show in real time, not 3 years after the fact. This will make reading stories on the Internet much easier...No more DAMN! I didn't want to know XX Major Character was going to die. More importantly, I no longer have to schlep back and forth to Blockbuster to feed my addiction. Only problem: I now have more time to do things that I have been putting off the last 6 months...Anyone want to help me do some grading? I have 4 LIVE hours of 24 to watch tonight and tomorrow.

Sunday Funnies

Thomas Aquinas Took This One to His Grave Bimbette: What's the plural of 'Jesus'? Jesuses? Jesi? Friend: Why would you ever need to pluralize 'Jesus'? There's only one! Bimbette: Well, like, if you were at a Halloween party or something and you had to tell your friend 'There were, like, eight Jesi at the party last night!' Friend: Just stop talking. --Grand Central Overheard by: Irasian via Overheard in New York, Dec 19, 2006 How We Got Clubbed on Vacation White tourist chick #1: Oooh, look -- a black cop being friends with a white cop! White tourist chick #2: Take a picture! --Macy's Parade balloon inflation, 81st & Central Park West via Overheard in New York, Dec 19, 2006 After the First Time, She Swore She'd Never Be Caught Unprepared Bearded, earlocked rabbi jumping out of mitzvah mobile: You, you're Jewish -- come in and hear what we have to say. Shiksa: I'm not Jewish. Bearded, earlocked rabbi: Yes you are, I can tell. Your mother is Jewish. Shiksa: No one in my family is Jewish. Bearded, earlocked rabbi: Maybe no one in your family practices, but Jewish blood is strong, and I can tell you have it. Shiksa: Leave me alone or I'll throw bacon at you. --5th Ave via Overheard in New York, Jan 9, 2007 2PM Plus, We're the Villains in Different Bond Movies Coworker #1: Teach me how to say something dirty in Bulgarian. Coworker #2: I'm not Bulgarian, I'm Bosnian. Coworker #1: What's the difference? Coworker #3: Are you Mexican? Coworker #1: Hell no! Coworker #3: That's the difference. 2157 Main Street Buffalo, New York via Overheard in the Office, Jan 11, 2007

Helping the Community

Prior to this school year, I was a bit jealous of the Spanish section of the Foreign Language Department at my school. There was no Spanish Club, but there was a International Club and a Spanish National Honor Society. My school is pretty good at getting new teachers into the mix of things. It's kind of like in class when the teacher (am I the only one that does this?) asks for volunteers, sees none, then proceeds to thank "John" for volunteering--You know that John knows the answer, he just hasn't raised his hand! In any case, at the beginning of the year, we receive a list of organizations and their sponsors. I was shocked to see that I was the French Club sponsor! How did that happen??? Last I heard, there WAS no French Club. Fast-Forward 3 years, and we have about 20 or so members who come to meetings to watch French films (at least the ones that don't involve sex/nudity--that leaves...oh about 2), meet for dinner at La Madeleine, and just general Frenchiness. Last year, I decided that the successful students deserved to be a part of something more service and academically related. I researched and finally created La Société Honoraire de Français. I had 15 applications (3.5 GPA, B+ Avg in French, and at least in French III), and admitted them. This week, we had our first service opportunity. We went to a nearby "retirement community" to play games with the residents. I was a bit wary, because I know what I thought about the elderly when I was their age. They were a bit scary...We arrived, and found out that they had set up dominoes. Unknown to me, only one of the 10 students there knew how to play! My Grandmother taught my cousins and I how to play at a young age. She would want to play, so she would just ask us "Can you count? Ok well sit down and play!" We sit down at various tables, and I watch the residents teach my students how to play. It was great. They were all having a great time with the games. They were complaining later that the old-timers were showing them no mercy! Later, I was told that one of the male nurses speaks French, and wanted to talk to my students. We gathered around him as he introduced himself (he is from Cameroon), talked about his life there and here, and his lack of French-speakers in the area. I cannot say how proud I was when he would ask questions and they would answer him in French! Three years ago, these kids knew nothing more than Bonjour! So the residents were happy and my students were happy...I will say that besides the smell, and the old ladies who wouldn't let go of my hand, it was a success!

Overheard!

After telling the students I visited Canada over break, a student asked me if I had to cross the border. I of course replied "yes". Her next question: "Did you see a lot of Mexicans?" Me: ::shaking head::

Back!

Montreal was great! I was amazed at how everyone was more or less bilingual in French and English. You could visit, choose one, stick with it, and have no problem at all. I really felt that portions were very much like Paris when I lived there, minus the scowling Parisian (désolé, Cédric!). Canadians are pretty friendly, and I am going to have to make it a point to go back during the warm summer months. Below are a few pictures from the trip. Again, happy 2007!