Sunday Funnies

I Know, Right? 20-something to friend: ... And she said, 'Twenty dollars? She offered me 20 dollars for bills after staying with me for a whole month? I'd wipe my ass with that 20-dollar bill!' Hobo: One 20-dollar bill ain't enough for that huge ass! --23rd & 5th via Overheard in New York, Sep 30, 2007 Like Anyone Hears Anything Said on a Cell Phone Jogging hoochie on cell: Yeah, I just touched down in Boston. No, I'm still in the airport waiting for my bag. Black guy: Don't believe her! She's in Atlantic City! --Central Park Overheard by: MaliceAlice via Overheard in New York, Sep 30, 2007 The Kind That Blind You When They Fall from the Sky? 20-ish girl seeing group of orthodox Jews walk by: Hey, look at all those Amish people! Oh, wait, are they Amish or acidic Jews? --8th & Bedford Overheard by: joe via Overheard in New York, Sep 29, 2007 A Very "Special" School Dad: It's all about the Benjamins? Son: Who's Benjamin? Dad: He's the president on the hundred dollar bill. He was the third president of the United States. You'd know that if you were in private school like I was. --Zuma Beach, Malibu, California Overheard by: Danielle via Overheard at the Beach, Sep 19, 2007

State Fair!

I have been going to the State Fair of Texas for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I loved standing next to Big Tex (above) when he would begin his quarter-hourly welcome: "Howdy, folks. Welcome to the State Fair of Texas!". His deep baritone voice of course produced a wildly exaggerated Texan drawl. The petting zoo, the new car showroom, and the corny dogs, were all among my favorites! It runs for a little over a month, and during the 2nd week October, the annual rivalry football game between the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma takes place! I discussed last year's game here. One of the highlights of living in the Dallas-area is that all students and teachers receive a free ticket to the fair, and a day off from school to attend. It's not required that you go this day, but it gives you a day to do so. Our day is tomorrow, so I will sleep in and wait until the big game next weekend (at ticket to the game also gets you in the fair!)...ahhh....sleep! The fair has always been at the forefront of heart attack inducing foods, but we Texans hold them near and dear. The perennial favorites (Fletcher's Corny Dogs, Funnel Cake, Sausage on a Stick) are still around, but here are some of this year's food additions to the fair (not for the weak of stomach): Cajun Shrimp On A Stick – Spicy shrimp in a custom Cajun batter, fried and served with a choice of dipping sauce. (Gigi’s Food - Coca Cola Food Court) Deep Fried Cosmopolitan - Contest Finalist – A delicious fried pastry is filled with rich cheesecake and topped with a sweet & tangy cranberry glaze and a lime wedge. Served on a stick. (Desperados – Nimitz Dr.) Deep Fried Latte – a fried pastry topped with cappuccino ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream and instant coffee powder. Fernie's Fried Chicken n' Waffle – A toasted 7" round waffle, brushed with melted butter and topped with three extra-crunchy honey-battered chicken breast tenders. Served with syrup or white cream gravy. Sweet and salty. (The Dock – Embarcadero Building) Fried Avocadoes – Hand-battered chunks of scrumptious avocado are breaded and fried to perfection. Choice of dipping sauces. A culinary hit in California. (Weiss Enterprises - Thrillway) Fried Baked Potatoes – French fries right out of the fryer are topped with a choice of queso cheese sauce, bacon bits, chives or butter. (Benz Food – Cotton Bowl Plaza) Fried Coke - Contest Finalist – Smooth spheres of Coca-Cola-flavored batter are deep fried, drizzled with pure Coke fountain syrup, topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry. Served in souvenir contoured glasses. (Vandalay Industries – Nimitz Dr. and Midway) Fried Pancake Sundae – Tasty country sausage bites wrapped in a light pancake batter, deep fried to perfection , topped with whipped cream, lightly glazed with hot fudge sauce and finished with a cherry on top. Pineapple and strawberry glaze options available. (Smokey John's BBQ – Cotton Bowl Plaza & Midway) Melon Monroe – Honey dew melon sauce ladled over chocolate chip ice cream, topped with whipped cream then garnished with two fried-dough, shaped "legs" filled with a special caramel sauce. Served fresh out of the fryer. "Some like it hot !" (Midway - across from Lost Children) Texas Cajun Steak On-a-Stick – Tender morsels of steak coated in a spicy Cajun batter, fried golden brown and served on a stick with red or white dipping sauce. (Gigi's Foods – Coca Cola Food Court) Texas Trash – In response to fairgoers' requests, this to-go sack of less-than-whole Hast Texas Nacho chips is served up in a white doughnut-style bag. (Hast Texas Nachos – Coca Cola Food Court) Wedgee's – Frozen chocolate-covered Wisconsin cheesecake-on-a-stick offered in Turtle (caramel) and Key Lime flavors.

Overheard

Welcome to the first edition of Overheard in North Dallas Suburbs High...Let's see what the kids are talking about these days: Girl leaving the classroom after the bell rings: My butt smells! Mr. French: You know class, in France, there are over 370 different types of cheese! This means that you can eat a different type everyday and never repeat! Chipper student explaining snacks to her French class: Yeah, my grandmother is French. Every time we go to her house, she gives us snacks, but it's always cheese. I always get so constipated!

New School Year!

I can't not believe how crazily busy I am this year. School started at the end of August, with teachers going back officially the week before (I say officially because I was writing the district French Benchmark exams for two weeks before that!). I have not really had a chance to sit down and collect my thoughts because things are happening at such a whirlwind pace!! So we just finished our third (!!!) week of school. My students are pretty likable for the most part. I had to kind of win over my French III class, because they had the same teacher for their first two years, and are understandably attached to her. I don't mind them going to her tutorials, but I want them to understand that they can come to me as well. I always forget how motivated teachers and students are at the beginning of the year. students are handing in work, teachers are smiling, everyone's in a good mood....it's great. It precisely the opposite in February (also known as the bane of my existence month). I don't really get around much in the building since my portable is a good 5 minute walk away, which means I don't get ti mingle between classes with other teachers. I have however, noticed a difference this year in the staff and student body. Everyone seems to have a positive outlook. I know that I am contradicting myself, but even at the beginning of last year, there seemed to be a lot of conflict on the staff, negativity from the students, and a overall pessimistic mood in the building. I hope that this feeling stays, because it is much easier teaching a group of kids that want to be there. So in addition to my teaching duties, French Club, French National Honor Society, Staff Development, Campus Improvement Team, and AP French are all doing there best to wear me down. The upside is I have become much, much more organized for the first time in a loooong time. It feels pretty good. It's my fourth year, and I feel as though I have already grown into my niche and style, I hope that I just don't get stale! I should go back now and read my post from the beginning of last year. Wonder what my feeling was...