| (no subject) |
[Jun. 3rd, 2008|07:54 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | school | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  amused | ] |
Things kids have said to me in the last week:
"You look FABULOUS today, Ms. A!"
"I ain't doin' what you say, you, you, you, WHITE WOMAN! You UGLY white woman!"
"Ms. A., you look exquisite today! (Exquisite is a fancy word! It means you look nice!)"
"If you don't stop saying my name, I'm going to change it! I swear to god, I'm gettin' a new one!" |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 3rd, 2008|04:50 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  excited | ] |
You guys!
It looks like Obama will hit the number of delegates he needs tonight! Possibly in the next few minutes! He's gained like 20 in the last half hour! And then we can all move on to the general election! Woo!
I'm glad I skedaddled right after work instead of staying to grade or possibly attempt to find my desk under all the junk, so I can sit and watch CNN like the nerd that I am!
Also, my apartment, in contrast to my classroom, does NOT smell like dead rat. Bonus! |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 1st, 2007|12:20 am] |
This week, instead of regular type Jeopardy!, it's Celebrity Jeopardy!, which I mostly don't like, because the people on it don't know how to play and can't answer the questions. Well, today's was okay. Yesterday's was horrid.
But tomorrow is ALL LAW & ORDER Jeopardy! Sam Waterston (Jack on L&O regular type) and Kathryn Erbe (Eames on L&O: Criminal Intent) and Christopher Meloni (Elliot on L&O:SVU)!
*flails*
Guys, I bet there will be categories of "Law" and "Order"! I can't even say how much glee this fills me with.
Probably way too much! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 9th, 2007|06:43 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | family | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | amused | ] |
Conversation with Ross:
Ross: *successfully names all five rights conferred by the First Amendment* Yes! The Constitution, that's some good stuff!
me: True.
Ross: Those amendments: pretty awesome.
me: Some of us are partial to the 19th Amendment.
Ross: Some of us...
me: Hey!
Ross: Some of us are partial to the 21st Amendment.
me: Some of us are total nerds.
*pause*
Ross: Shut up. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 3rd, 2007|10:45 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  cheerful | ] |
Guess who is here in my house! Besides my parents and both brothers (Actually, they're both out at the moment, but in general they're here.) and my grandfather who flew in today!
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) sasha_davidovna and Noori! Yay! And Noori is a baby and she's adorable! Aww, baby. And Kerry and I talked for a while and that was awesome!
In conclusion: Hooray! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 3rd, 2007|09:59 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | family | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | amused | ] |
I went shopping yesterday and got new shirts! I really needed new pants, but my new shirts are adorable, and I kind of needed them too, so, oh well.
I also got a baby present at the Osh Kosh store. And I took my dad and brother with me. And that was HILARIOUS.
Ross: I don't think humans can actually fit in these clothes. They're, like, doll clothes.
me: Well, they're for babies. Babies are pretty small.
Ross: Not this small!
me: ...
Dad: Would a baby even fit in this?
me: Yes. If it was a baby between the ages of six to nine months.
Dad: Even in the pants?
me: Yes. They are designed for babies.
Dad: Even with a diaper on?
me: THEY HAVE PROFESSIONALS DOING THIS, GUYS. I'm pretty sure they designed baby clothes with the facts that babies are small and wear diapers in mind.
But baby clothes? Adorable. Oh my gosh. I need to find a baby to put some clothes on RIGHT NOW. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 30th, 2007|11:10 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | school | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  aww | ] |
Thank you note I got from a kid today:
*Picture of me and him around a table. We have books. We also appear to be floating.*
Dear Miss A.,
Thank you for helping me to read and for learning and for counting. I like you because you give me books.
Love, K.
I'm pretty sure that's a great endorsement to have from a kid who came in not reading at all.
I am going to miss these kids. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 28th, 2007|11:29 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | family | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  full | ] |
I may never eat again.
We went into the city yesterday, to have dinner at this place where they bring around about a gajillion kinds of meat and they just keep bringing it until you explode. Not a huge draw for me, but they did have a decent salad bar and also there were mashed potatoes and fried bananas YUM. Plus, we had dessert.
Actually, at one point one of the waitstaff dropped a glass and it shattered into a kajillion pieces and about six people swooped in and cleared our entire table and reset it in under a minute and a half. It was like being in a racecar pit. Crazy.
So, then the glass-dropping guy spent the rest of the time we were there falling all over himself to get us anything we needed. Like we were going to be very angry about the dropping of a glass? Clearly, he had never met us before. If we got angry over things like that, we would all be furious ALL THE TIME.
Anyway, they gave us dessert free to make up for the glass incident. Woo, dessert!
At one point Lynn was all, "We'll have to take you to Maggiano's sometime to pay you all back for taking us here!" (Maggiano's is this fantastic Italian place where, if you go with a big group, they just bring you food until you explode. You may be sensing a theme in our culinary choices. May I remind you that I have two younger brothers? Alright then.). Ian responded, with a hint of panic, "Not tonight!" Which, if you know Ian, for him to complain about too much food? Let me put it this way: The only other time I have heard him say he was full was on Thanksgiving a few years ago after we'd all just eaten a huge Thanksgiving dinner. Before which, Ian had gone to his girlfriend's house and eaten a huge Thanksgiving dinner. What I'm trying to say is, the boy enjoys food.
So what did we do today, after everyone practically ate their weight yesterday? We had a barbeque. With potato salad. And cake.
Oh, my gosh. The cake. Was ridiculous. I made it, right, since I'm the baker. It was lemon. And then I went to frost it and my mom was all, "I have new frosting! With coconut in it! Use it!" so I did and things went horribly wrong. First, part of the bottom layer of the cake fell apart. Whatever, I put it back together. But this frosting was just too thick to really spread around, so it tore up the cake some more and I had to use almost all of it just to paste the layers together. So then I put the top layer on, and somehow it was much, much smaller than the bottom layer, so I had a crazy bottom-heavy cake, which would be hard to frost under the best circumstances! Let alone with this frosting! (I think the coconut frosting was so much denser than usual frosting that it weighed down the bottom layer, causing it to stick out like crazy all over the place. That's my theory, anyway.) Plus, the frosting was almost gone. So I had to get out MORE frosting, but we didn't have regular vanilla, all we had was French vanilla, which is kind of yellowish? So I used the weird yellow frosting to cover the top and to try to do the sides, which was hard because they were at two different levels, and then I dumped coconut on top.
It looked like an alien.
But everyone still ate it! And it's almost all gone.
I may never eat again. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 26th, 2007|12:18 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | school | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Random scenes from today:
At lunchtime, several grades were on field trips, so somebody decided that the first graders, who usually eat half first lunch and half second, should eat together. Important detail: the first graders, in split shifts, actually sit at the same tables. Just, never together.
So, I walk into the lunchroom at noon today. Picture this, if you will. The whole big lunchroom is set up. There are 15 tables. There are no 5th graders. There are no 3rd graders. There are 80 first graders.
And all of them are trying to sit at the same three tables.
It was PANDEMONIUM. Complete chaos. Hilarious, but insane.
Also hilarious:
There's a first grader who told me yesterday that her birthday is today. It's written on the board of her classroom (which I have been in and out of a good 15 times at this point of the day) that today is her birthday. She is wearing a birthday crown that says "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" across it. She and a classmate see me in the hall and we converse:
D: Miss A, do you know what today is?
me: It's your birthday! Happy birthday, D!
*we pass each other*
D (to her friend): How did she know?! |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 25th, 2007|12:12 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | school | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  confused | ] |
One of the most alarming parts about teaching is when my students ask really good, insightful questions that make me realize I don't understand anything about what I'm trying to teach.
Like this week, when one of my second grade groups read a book about money (Did you know the first coins were made in the kingom of Lydia? Me neither.), and it mentioned Fort Knox and the gold and was talking about banks and I don't know all what.
One kid goes, "Why did they put all the gold in the bank?" and I was all, "So they didn't have to carry it around?" and she was all, "Then how could they give it to other people?" and I was like, "That's maybe why they invented money? Like, a note to say, hey, I have some gold in the bank and you can have it?".
Note: at this point I was using a critical teaching technique called "if you don't know something, phrase it as a question and hope the kid will move on". It didn't work.
The kid continued, "Do YOU have some gold in the bank?" and I started to be all, "Oh, we don't actually put gold in the bank anymore, we just use money." and she came back with, "Then what is the money for? If you can't use it to get the gold?"
And I didn't collapse in a quivering muttering heap of "William Jennings Bryan!" and "Wizard of Oz as allegory!", but it was a very near thing.
(Do any of you understand how that all works, because...what is the money representing? Why is it worth anything? Maybe I should ask my brother the econ major? Why don't I remember my basic American history? Perhaps I should go to sleep now?) |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 22nd, 2007|08:46 pm] |
Two conversations I had today with coworkers that ended in me going, "?!?":
(scene: discussion of the incidence of autism, over lunch)
coworker 1: The US has the highest incidence.
coworker 2: It's becoming just a catch-all diagnosis.
coworker 1: We also have the highest vaccination numbers, which is probably related.
me: Actually, they've done several studies that have found NO correlation between vaccinations and autism.
coworker 1: Well, a lot of people say that there is a correlation.
me: But all the studies they've done have found none..
coworker 1: But they've done a lot of studies on it! *rests her case*
me: ?!?
(scene: a coworker and I were talking about how school lunches are better now, which morphed into a discussion of eating habits)
her: Your family eats pretty healthy, right?
me: Yeah, pretty healthy.
her: Ever since I moved in with [new husband], I've been eating so unhealthfully!
me: Oh, that's too bad.
her: Yeah, he wants to eat dinner EVERY NIGHT, and I just am like, "Can't we have a night with no dinner?! Please?!" Sheesh.
me: ?!? |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 18th, 2007|12:16 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | school | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | tired | ] |
Actual things kids have raised their hands to ask me during lunch over the course of the last week or so:
- Do you know how fast I ran the mile?
- Are you claustrophobic?
- Have you met my mother?
- Do you have cholesterol?
(Follow up question: Do you have TOO MUCH of it?)
- Did you know how to say "chicken" in Spanish?
- What does this say?
- Can I go see the nurse?
- What is this tuna made from?
- How am I supposed to eat this applesauce with no spoon?!
- Is there more people here or more people in America?
(Follow up question from me: What?)
- Are you in college?
(Follow up question: Then why aren't you a MOMMY?)
- What should I do about this spider in my lunchbox? |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 17th, 2007|12:36 am] |
I'm pretty sure tonight's episode of CSI: NY was the most alarming television show I've watched in a while. There was definitely gasping out loud on at least two occasions. I mean, I'm pretty blase about all my dead people shows, because, let's face it, they are all basically the same six plots. (With special Law and Order twists!) But my description of it to my dad was decidely Lemony Snicket-esque:
The following things were involved in this episode: An angry Irish gang. A LOT of cocaine. Instant messaging. Laser-triggered homemade bombs. Duct tape. An alarmed coronor. Sneaking around. Adorableness (Awww.). Fake gas leaks. Many costume changes. And plane tickets.
I needed a fun show to watch today. Half my kids took brat pills today and were not all about the reading. An exchange with my mom when I got home:
her: How was your day?
me: Nrgg.
her: Well, it was probably better than yesterday right? Did anyone throw up?
me: No. Oh, wait. Yes.
her: Have some beer.
(Though, to be fair, yesterday the kid who threw up did so while in the process of me getting her to not choke to death, so it really was the preferred outcome given the situation.)
I cannot wait for the weekend. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 15th, 2007|10:40 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  drained | ] |
I just hosted a dinner party? I guess I'm officially an adult?
I do this thing through church, where they match you up with people each month and then you bring the salad or dessert or it's at your house or whatever. And tonight it was at my house. And it went pretty well!
Except for the part where I thought two of the guys were going to come to blows over politics.
No, seriously. It was a little tense.
But! Other than that, good. And they were bizarrely impressed with the number of forks we own (lots).
And I even did the dishes.
Usually, around here, my dad does the dishes? And it will routinely take him two, three hours to finish? Because he's kind of inefficient and also he watches TV while doing them. But if my mom ever says anything like, "I have to pick up the entire house so it can get cleaned tomorrow!" he gets all grouchy and goes, "Well, I just spent three hours doing the dishes!" and it's TOTALLY OFFENSIVE to him if you suggest that's because he's slow.
Anyway, I'm just noting for the record that I just did all the dishes for an eight person dinner party, many of which were hand dishes because they were the good china, and it still took me only 45 minutes.
I win!
Also, I have leftover brie. I win again! |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 10th, 2007|11:16 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | school | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | amused | ] |
Pieces of my pretty fantastic reading group this morning, with the first graders who can't read. We read a book about astronauts going into space, and this was clearly the pinnacle of their reading lives. A book! About space! How could this not be considered the BEST. THING. EVER.?
( Warning: Adorable children ahead! )
It was a great group. Too bad we didn't get our, you know, READING done, but they were just so excited and engaged I didn't have the heart to tell them, "Enough chat! Time for rote sight word memorization!". Now if only all my groups would be so enthusiastic. Or if this group would learn to read. That'd be good, too. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 20th, 2007|10:51 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | family | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | amused | ] |
Teaching my mother to do basic things on the computer AKA Perfecting the art of deep breathing
Mom: Will you show me how to attach something to an email?
me: Sure. Go ahead and compose your email first.
*time passes*
Mom: Okay!
me: See that button that says "Attachments"?
Mom: Yes.
me: Click it. Now click "Browse". Oh, where did you save it to?
Mom: What?
me: When you saved your document. You had to put it in a folder, just like when you save real papers you put them in real folders. Right?
Mom: Right.
me: So what folder did you put it in?
Mom: Microsoft Word! |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 15th, 2007|10:28 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  bouncy | ] |
Ross went with me to trivia tonight, which was fun. And we were in first place after the first round! We ended in next to last place, but these things happen!
Even better, the first round was the one where the winner gets free dessert! So we had free cake! Chocolate! Flourless! It was delicious! And also free! Woo! |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 13th, 2007|10:38 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | family | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  sleepy | ] |
My mom got home from work today to find an empty, locked house. With a stove burner on. Yikes!
In other, TOTALLY UNRELATED news, my little brother's home for spring break! Actually, he left again (causing the most pitiful whimpering on the part of Orion), but he'll be back tomorrow. Here's hoping he doesn't burn the house down!
It was in the 70s today? I guess? Which is strange, because there's still snow on the ground? This whole "weather" thing has me very confused.
I really have nothing to say. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 10th, 2007|09:48 pm] |
Today I went to a job fair. It can be summed up thusly:
jfjfdassadhnnnnggggg *dead*
Basically, I went and stood in long long lines to have short short mini-interviews with school districts. Guess how long I spent there! SIX HOURS. Guess how many mini-interviews I had! FIVE.
One of them did seem impressed with my resume and with me, and told me at the end, "Well, you've certainly moved to the top of the pile!", which is good. But the whole process killed my brain, to the point where I've been having trouble remembering words all evening, which is bad.
Basically, not much got accomplished. Except I've got some pretty impressive blisters from standing in lines for SIX HOURS in heels!
Ow! |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 6th, 2007|09:12 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | school | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | amused | ] |
Today with my kindergarteners, we studied the letter I. You may be familiar with this letter. It starts the word "igloo". Also, "ice". More importantly, "iron". In our I book, on the "iron" page, there was a picture of a guy, ironing. The girl in my group looks up, absolutely dumbfounded.
"Hey!" says she, "Boys can't do the ironing!"
"Of course they can!" I respond, "Everyone gets to iron their own clothes, so they're not wrinkly!"
She looks dubious, so I continue. "If I want my clothes to be not wrinkly, I do the ironing. But if my brother wants HIS clothes to be not wrinkly, HE does the ironing. That's fair."
"Yeah!" pipes up the boy, "Girls shouldn't have to do everything!"
Oh, gender roles and five-year-olds. |
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