A Blog With a View...

2003-12-18T11:30:00.000-08:00

I am a bad, bad girl. However, in my defense I am trying to get things done for Christmas and school is taking over my life. I am looking forward to my break. I am putting a video in tomorrow and having a Christmas party and then I am going to kick the kids out of the door.... Ahhh Blissssss!
I think that I am in the disillusionment phase of my teaching year... Uhhh You think??
Oh well, lots to do this week. I still haven't finished all of my Christmas shopping, I need to get my brows waxed and my hair cut! Where is the time going?

2003-11-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

It's been aloooooong time since I have posted to my blog. Shame on me!!! I have been super busy with work and other stuff. Report cards go home in a couple of weeks and I am trying to get ahead on those and then I've got a bunch of kids that have screwy home situations. That has been the toughest part of this job. Parents sending their kids to school with no food for a couple of days, no jackets, and not coming to meetings. How do they expect their child to get ahead in the world??? I have one parent that is accusing the school and school district of withholding special services from her child!!! WTF!!! There are no special services for a kid with an average IQ and no social problems... What to do, What to do??? Then I have another parent that wants me to spend quality one on one time with their child during the day so that we can develop a "special teacher child bond" WTF???? Like I can ignore the 19 other students so that little Sally can have a special bond with the teacher.. When is Turkey Day vacation????

2003-09-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

My Grandpa Oliver died yesterday. I am still in shock and I feel numb. I knew that it would happen, just not so soon. I am not ready to let my Grandpa go. Today I was shopping and I started crying in the store because it hit me that he is gone. My Grandpa was wonderful. He is the man who taught me to read, and to love nacho cheese dorritos in a bowl with an ice cold coca cola. He let me roller skate in his driveway for hours on end and let me pretend that I was driving my dolls around in his car. He also taught me to love ice cream in a cup and to love to plant sunflowers. He carried a black comb(the kind you see at barbershops) around in his pocket and would always comb "his curls" as he would say ( he was completely bald, but it always made me laugh). My Grandpa Oliver was the warmest, kindest man in the world and I will miss him. The world seems a little bit smaller now that he is gone.

2003-09-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

I had a great time last night! My hubby threw me a surprise party for receiving my MA in Cross Cultural teaching. This party had lots of good friends,family, food, dessert (Sponge Bob Squarepants icecream cake) and presents. I was totally shocked when I drove into the driveway with my teacher friend Kari(who was in on the whole thing) and there was a huge handpainted poster with my name in purple glitter paint. My hubby had been a busy guy painting the sign in secret for a few days.
It was a really nice party and my hubby is a sweet guy. Now I just have to think of a really cool thank you gift for him.... maybe paying for the plane ticket for a surf trip to Costa Rica that he is putting together.... hmmmm
School has been going well. It is really strange having my own classroom and students. Every morning I walk into the room and I am shocked that this is my classroom. It seems way too organized and too put together for me (I went berzerk and everything is super coordinated). The room is nice and bright and cheery and the kids seem really happy in there.
Hope everyone is having a great day!!!!

2003-09-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

I had Back-to-School Night on Tuesday. I have never been so nervous in my whole entire life. All of these adults sitting in small desks and looking at me. I tried to make some jokes, but they fell kind of flat. I blew through my packet of information in record time and had about 10 minutes to spare. The questions came at me rapid fire, but I held my own and answered everyone of 'em. The kids are starting to grow on me a little bit. They are really quiet and subdued, but I think it's because it's the beginning of the school year and they are still trying to see what the boundaries are and what I'll let them do.
Anyway, week 3 down and a whole lot more to go!

2003-09-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

Confessions of a tired teacher....
Well I made it past the first week and am well into the second. I am exhausted. I never thought that I would be this exhausted ever. I leave by 7:15 and don't get home until well after 5pm. When I get home, I can't shut my mind down. It is constantly thinking about other things that need to be turned in, graded or finished.
The kids are great. I have a few squirrely ones, but that is pretty typical of every group. I have Back-to-School Nite next Tuesday so that is when I'll meet all of their parents. I am pretty nervous about making a presentation to the parents.
That's all for now.... I am going to go to sleep on my couch

2003-08-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

I am going through withdrawls or something.... I finished my graduate program and am having some difficulty trying to adjust to a new life .. without school. I have forgotten what it feels like to not have a paper to write, chapters to read, or a class to go to. It is kind of like rediscovering myself (sounds hokey and stuff, but true). So here is a list of things that I am going to do or would like to do: (feel free to make your own list)
1. Clean my closets (there is crap in there from the 90's and maybe even from the 80's... I must come to terms with the fact that I will never see a size 4 again)
2. Clean my miniblinds (half the house is done, just need to finish the bedrooms)
3. Eat a fattening meal... fettucine alfredo, caesar salad, and a piece of cheesecake
4. Sit at Starbucks and people watch (there are some freaky deakies in this town and they are pretty darn interesting)
5. Go to Mexico... (have decided to go for a week in February... San Jose del Cabo)
6. Read Anna Karinina
7. Learn more about Hydrangeas (they are my favorite flower and I have had some success with growing them)
8. Floss more (I don't want to be 40 and have a head full of porceline dentures, I'd like to keep my choppers)
9. Go to LA and visit the Chinese Mann theatre and visit the Hollywood sign (I have always wanted to do this...I don't know why)
10. Finish my scrapbook (I started it in 2001 and have only completed 5 pages, I need inspiration)
11. Buy my school advisor a gift for helping me through the program and staying on top of all of my demands.. (I am doing this TODAY!)
12. Feel free to add something to the list...

2003-08-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been awhile. I finished teaching summer school, and finished the master's program and then went to Donner Lake for a week. I am officially a graduate and I have a Master's Degree in Cross Cultural Teaching and a Clear Credential. I am so friggin excited it isn't even funny. It is kind of wierd not having any classes to go to, papers to write, and/or books to read. I am having a little bit of a difficult time adjusting to the change. I am unsure of what to do with all of my spare time now.
Tonight was an interesting night. I got Tzaddi to go to a cardio step class with me. We tore that place up!!! I liked the class. I am not sure how Tzad felt, but she seemed to like it.
One more week of freedom and then it's back to work!!!!

2003-07-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

Back in the tech class again.... ho hum, ho hum. Why is it that tech classes are never useful? The first night of class, the instructor lectured on how to use search engines. WHAT???? Hellloooooo, I think everyone knows how to use a friggin' search engine. Anyway, the instructor was using google and then typed in Martin Luther King, Jr. Well, she clicks on the first link that she finds and guess what??? It's a white supremist website. She broadcast the entire thing on a huge screen. Geez... why am I paying this kind of money?

2003-07-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am taking a tech class and updating my blog.... not a very good student am I? I hope I don't get tested on any of this stuff at the end of the course. Anyone know how to make webquests for use in the classroom? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

2003-07-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since my last update, so I figured that I had better write something or someone who shall remain nameless (Tzaddi) would get on my case :o)
I am teaching summer school. It is probably one of the most difficult jobs that I have had. The kids are great for the most part, but pretty needy emotionally and academically. I only have 4 more weeks, so let's hope I don't go nutso by then.
On a happier note, I bought a brand new car. I am now the proud owner of an SUV. Yes, I know it's a gas guzzler, but I like it anyway.
That's it for now... must go correct papers!!!

2003-06-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

POST THESIS UPDATE: (drum roll please...) Are you ready??? I got an A- on my thesis. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. I was just hoping for a C and instead I got an A-. What a lovely present! Now, I am wondering why I didn't get an A??? Oh well... it's over with....

2003-06-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I got a J-O-B for the 2003-2004 school year!!! I will be teaching 3rd grade at Sutter Elementary in the Santa Clara Unified School District. Check out the site..... I am really excited about this opportunity!!! When the principal called and offered me the position, I was so shocked, I told her to, "Shut up". She took it in stride and said, "No, really I would like you to become a part of my staff!" I am very happy.... Just thought I would share with you all.

2003-06-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I finished my thesis, spell checked it, had the hubby read it over and submitted it. All in all, I think that I did okay. I am glad that it is over with. It was a lot to handle in 4 weeks, but I made it. Am I a stronger, more capable person now? Maybe, maybe not. Tzaddi, you will do fine. Don't worry. It will all fall into place
I had a job interview for a teaching position. It sucked. Well the interview didn't suck, the interviewee did. I sounded like a babbling idiot. As I was leaving I wanted to throw myself on the conference table and beg for mercy... I didn't though because I think it would have been a bit much.. Don't you?

2003-05-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

I am on the final stretch of this paper! YEAH!!! Only 3 more pages to go and then I am DONE. Ahhhhh it feels so much better to be done and through this. I can honestly say that this was one of the most difficult things that I have ever had to do. The people in my class feel the same way. In fact one lady was so stressed out that she thought she was having a heart attack and another has been working so hard, she made herself sick. Plus, we had 2 people request incompletes. As for me, I went to the doctor and got some drugs to help me through this because everytime I sat down to work, my stomach would start to hurt and I would panic. I am doing much better now.... :o) I think that National is going to change the structure and have the thesis class last longer than 1 month! Thank goodness.
Anyway, I have a job interview next Wednesday for a 3rd grade teaching position at the school that I am at now. My principal has said that she would like for me to stay on, so cross your fingers folks and hope that I do... TaTa for now....I am off to finish the last few pages.

2003-05-24T22:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am on the home stretch with this paper. I have written chapter 3, chapter 1, and am now beginning work on chapter 2. I like the way my Prof set it up so there are sections due every few days instead of all at one time. It makes it much easier to handle.
Last Friday was my 27th birthday.... It was a pretty good day. I went to San Francisco and shopped and then had a yummy dinner at Chili's. My mom came into town and took care of cleaning my house and doing all of the laundry. How come clothes washed by moms smell better than clothes that you wash yourself???? I love it when my mom does my laundry and then makes me a yummy dinner.
Well, one more week and I WILL BE FINISHED WITH THIS DAMN PAPER!!!!!!!!! ONLY 2 MORE CLASSES LEFT!!!!

2003-05-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I started my master's thesis class and have begun work. I have spent this entire day (with a few mental health breaks) in front of my computer compiling a literature review on sources discussing the academic success and children with ADHD. I am tired, frustrated and my hands hurt from typing. My eyes feel like they have glass in them. But, I have managed to get a good start on what I am doing. Tomorrow it will be back to the library for more research. UGH! I am going to bed and watch reruns of Cheers.... :o)

2003-04-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

Today, when I got home from work, I had a wonderful gift. A gift in the mail from Tzaddi! It was filled with little trinkets from Japan, and with my absolute fave--- Pocky sticks! She is a star! Isn't it wonderful to come home and find a present in the mail instead of bills or worse----anthrax!
School is almost out, I have only 33 more days. I will be teaching summer school, which I am kind of looking forward to since it will be with the younger kids.
Well, Monday the dissent into hell begins, I will officially start my Master's Thesis. Anyone have any idea what I should write on???? Tzad???

2003-04-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone! Life has been pretty good this past week. Only 3 massive anxiety attacks this week, instead of the usual 5 or 6. I have been on Spring Break and enjoying my days off. My hubby and I went to a Bed and Breakfast in Santa Cruz for one night. It was absolutely gorgeous and the food was yummy. If you have never stayed in a bed and breakfast, I suggest that you should as soon as you can. The next morning we drove around Santa Cruz looking at all of the old houses on the beach. I found one for sale that I absolutely love! Built early 1920's, 4 bedrooms, overlooking the beach. It is on the market for 3.2 million. I think it's in my budget... yeah right! If only I had the money. I would snap it up in a heart beat.
Anyway, it's back to reality tomorrow. I am not ready to back to school yet. I feel uninspired and unappreciated in teaching. I am also wondering if I made the right decision... Does anyone ever feel this way about their work?

2003-04-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I know that I have been very lax in keeping my whole blog up to date. However, blogger has been eating my journals (shaking fist). It is quite terrible to write something and then see it is all gone in the blink of a click. Anyway, I have been keeping busy with school and work. I found out that I am teaching summer school which I am really excited about, I am not sure what grade yet, but am hoping that it will be First.
I started my next class. It is very disturbing.......

2003-04-03T18:16:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I've written anything. I got a B in my linguistics class. A nice and solid grade, I think. My next class starts on Monday. The books look interesting, but I still haven't cracked them open. They are still in their wrappers..... I have been enjoying my week of freedom and preparing to teach multiplication to my 3rd graders. I needed this break, I was losing my mind. Too much going on. I couldn't sleep well and wasn't eating. I need to learn to stop and smell the roses and not focus so much on the future and live in the now. Know what I mean????

2003-03-28T21:32:00.000-08:00

Well, I am in the process of writing my final paper for my Linguistics class. I can honestly say that this is one of the most difficult papers that I have had the chance to write, thus far. I read the material, read the lectures, participated in the discussions and I have no idea what the heck I learned. I don't know if I can write on this topic. I know that linguistics is important, but how can I write that filling 5 more pages? I already bs-ed my way thru the intro..... I think that I may be stressing too much about this. I need to sleep. Maybe my paper will write itself ... osmosis

2003-03-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

It's the last week of my second master's class. Sociolinguistics. It sucks. I couldn't give a horse's patootie about any of it. All I got out of it was that we speak the way that we do because of the people around us. We emulate the speech patterns that we *think* are going to make us seem of a higher class. Two more papers and I will be DONE! Two more months and I will be finished with this program and will be the proud owner of a $20K degree that I can't even use :o)
On Wednesday night, my husband and I were out to dinner. The restaurant had TVs on that were playing President Bush's speech on the War in Iraq. I have never heard such a deathly silence. You could have heard a pin drop. Anyway, we went home and turned on the TV and watched the latest coverage on CNN. I shouldn't have done that because I didn't sleep a wink the entire night. I had nightmares. All I kept thinking about was the poor children that were having to live in terror that a bomb might go off target and into their home. The terror that they must be living under is unimaginable.... So, I am not sure what I think about this whole mess. Is it right? I don't know. Is it going to change anything? I don't know. The next morning San Francisco was filled with protestors. They literally shut down the financial district. I think that they do have a right to protest the war in Iraq. I just thought it was a little foolish to be drinking Starbucks coffee and wearing $$$ clothing and protesting all at the same time. It was almost as if they thought that this was a *cool* thing to do. Then I saw how they were pounding on people's cars as they were trying to get to work. One lady was literally trapped in her car and you could hear protestors asking each other what they should do with her??? WHAT THEY SHOULD DO WITH HER???? Like they were going to harm her or something. Is there anything peaceful about that????
Then there are all of the muscians and actors speaking out about the conflict. Who cares what they think anyway? I just like to listen to your music and maybe see one of your movies. I don't really care about your beliefs. Does anyone get what I am saying? Since when did an Oscar or Grammy award make someone a political afficiando? There I have that out of my system and I feel much better....

2003-03-19T10:42:00.000-08:00

Online classes ROCK! I don't have to leave the comfort of my home to go and sit in a boring classroom for 6 hours a week. AHHH the comfort of technology... now if Starbucks took online orders and delivered, I would be in hog heaven!
The other night while working on a paper for my class, I was struggling with the APA format. Every instructor that I have had wants the paper in a different format. Well, to combat this problem and save myself some serious trouble I found a wonderful website where you can download the APA format. The program formats all of your papers with the click of a mouse!!! Isn't that the best thing ever? (Since I don't know html, I will have to beg Tzad to add the site to my cozy places)

2003-03-14T19:32:00.000-08:00

I am sooooooo haaaaapppyyyyy! I got an A in my very first Master's Class!! I think that I am in shock. I thought for sure that I was going to get a C! Anyway, God(Allah, Jehovah, Big Man Upstairs) must have been watching over me and decided that I needed a break, because that A is a miracle......
I have two students that are drama queens. Yesterday, I passed out some chocolate candy before lunch and one little girl informed me that she gave up chocolate for Lent. I told her that was a noble thing to do and that I would save her candy until Lent was over. She started sobbing uncontrollably that, " I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG---- I WAAAAAAAAAAAAANT IT!" Another student heard her and ran over and grabbed the sobbing girl by the shoulders and screamed " BE STRONG DANIELLE, BE STRONG!" I nearly died from holding my laughter. Danielle got control of herself. Well, today she informed me that when Lent is over with, she's going to bury her head in chocolate and eat it until she is sick... Ahhhh kids.... that's why I like this job so much.

Does anyone know many pages a 1,500 word paper is?

2003-03-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I wrote anything... (bad girl). It has been a pretty stressful week. I had to get my report cards done, read for my linguistics class and do everything else that is required of me. To top it all off, Tzaddi called me last night and I was sleeping, so I didn't get her message until this morning (sniff*sniff)
I hope that I can make it out of this program intact. I am really starting to fear writing my master's thesis. I dream of being told that I stink as a writer and failing..... The stress!

2003-03-04T19:48:00.000-08:00

To take a cue from the Tzaddster.... here is my random blog day....
10 things within my reach.....
1. My rat, Ratley (he is paralyzed and can only use his two front paws-- poor guy)
2. My Pretty in Pink CD
3. Font sampler disks
4. My college diploma...awww memories
5. My husband's diploma
6. A small skateboard
7. Overflowing trashbasket
8. stapler
9. Purple jelly roll pen (my absolute fave pen to use...)
10. Home catalogs for Nevada

On my mind.... nothing

What my night consisted of
1. working out at the gym ( i feel stronger already)
2. porkchop dinner yumminess
3. talking to my mama
4. vacuuming

What I will do the rest of the night
1. take a bath
2. do a crossword puzzle...IN INK (I'm out there folks, I know)
3. Read for my online class

My personal slice of Heaven..
I don't have to work tomorrow :o) Yeah for me Yeah for me!!!!!!!

2003-03-02T20:53:00.000-08:00

Well folks, my paper is completed and all is good. I finished it last night and was able to spend a beautiful day relaxing. I went grocery shopping, to the gym and then to the bookstore. My 3 fave things to do....
The gym is a pretty interesting place to be. There are some whackos in that place... my fave's are the girls who come in cute clothes, with hair and make-up done and a deep tan (fake).... I don't think they know the meaning of "working out" and that the gym is not a fashion runway. I feel like telling them, "Ladies, you're here to work out, sweat, burn calories, build muscle. Plus make-up clogs your pores and fake tans are passe" Then my other fave is this guy who talks on his cell phone the entire time he is working out, he lifts weights and talks on the phone, rides the bike and talks on the phone, wanders aimlessly around the gym talking on the phone. And my final favo is the guy who grunts and moans while lifting weights. It is so gross to listen to him, he makes me gag. If the weight is so heavy that you moan, grunt and wail, then it's probably too darn heavy!!!!
Must go now and sleep, tomorrow it's back to the grindstone..........

2003-03-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

I am having a very bad day today. Has anyone ever read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? If you have, then you know what a horrible day I am having. In the immortal words of Alexander "I wish I was in Australia" First of all, when I got up this morning, I was tired, very tired. It was almost like I had been awake allll night long and never got any sleep. My face is all puffy and my eyes hurt, plus I feel like crying. Then I had to get up and go to a stupid class that lasted for 2 hours. Then I come home to look in my mailbox and lo and behold there was a paycheck! Alas, it was wrong. The amount was a wrong.... (makes fists,scrunches face, and stomps both feet) I almost started to cry. Then, I go to deposit the measly check and I LEAVE MY FRIGGIN' ATM CARD IN THE MACHINE!!!!!! Now, I really want to cry and my eyes are hurting even more and I feel yucky. Luckily, the people at Wells Fargo were very nice to me and will be sending me a new card. Now, I am sitting in front of my computer trying to finish this stupid paper and all I really want to do is go to sleep. I wish that my mom was here. She would make everything better (sniff, sniff)

2003-02-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

Oh where, Oh where have my comments gone? Oh where, oh where can they beeeee?(sung to the tune of where has my little dog gone) Tzad HELLLLLPPPPPP? This html stuff is crazy. One would think that since one worked at a startup, one would have freaking paid attention!!!! But NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I was much to busy doing other things, like working (not really, ordering clothes from J.Crew online is more like it) Hmmmm,,, I wonder why I was laid off??? Must get back to writing paper for my master's class....only 5 more pages to go!! Yeehawwwwwwwww!!!!

2003-02-27T18:44:00.000-08:00

Here I am trying to write a paper that's due in a few days and I yearn to log on and post to my blog. Could this be some kind of new obsession or compulsion? I feel the stirring throughout the day.... has anyone made comments to me??? has anyone read what I have so brilliantly composed? Sometimes when I am teaching, I often want to stop and write. However,(if you have any understanding of children) you know that is not possible being a teacher.
Anyway, I must say that I the people in the master's program are strange birds (not including me and Tzad) They are pretty passionate about this education business and can't stop talking blah, blah, blah, blehhhhhhhh.... I wanted to tear my hair out in class last night. I wanted to yell, "Just shut your friggin trap and let's get the hell outta here!!!!!" Why all this negativitity about the state of education? If you hate it so much, then get the hell out of the business... Geez (big weight lifted from my shoulders) Now, with that said I must write a paper.

2003-02-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

Only 2 more class sessions and I am outta this freaking class. I think that I have at least 5 grey hairs and more are sprouting. Now, I must start working on getting a thesis topic???? What the heck???? Why am I doing this again? Why am I a master's student? Why is the sky blue? Who designed sticky notes and why are they a necessity? Why do I do these things to myself? Is it for the money? Nope (that is from my husband) I must have done something very negative in my former life..... maybe I stepped on an ant or something. Or I really pissed someone off and now they are getting their revenge by seeing me suffer nightly in this class on 2nd language acquistion. I just keep telling myself only 3 more months and I am finished. I will own a piece of paper worth 20grand. Amazing. I just wanted this to be known I WILL NOT PURSUE A DOCTORATE If any of you hear me mention this, please take me aside and slap me a few times until I get the thought out of my head... (pulling myself away from college catalog and lists of majors)
On a lighter note.... I am beginning to like my students in my class that I am teaching. They are kind of squirrely, but in a cute kiddie way.

2003-02-23T13:08:00.000-08:00

(dancing wildly) I just got some great news............ (drum roll please) My professor is not teaching the next master's class (wild applause from the crowd) Life is once again good and all is well in my world.

2003-02-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

Yawwwwwnnnnnnn! I am back from Vegas. I love the city.... I love everything about it. Anyway, the interview was interesting. I think it wasn't a real interview per se. I think it is what's known as a "weeder". Weed out all of the candidates that aren't ever going to make it. I asked the recruiter if I had a chance in hell of getting hired. He laughed(not sure if this is good or bad, someone told me that humor in an interview is always good) He said I did. So, now I need to go to the casinos and get the odds done on me getting a job offer. 5000 candidates to 1300 job openings.... go figure.
On another note... the master's program. I have a professor that is interested in driving me to the brink of insanity. I think she lives for it or something. I sent a letter of complaint to the Dean of the department about her. Not sure if it was worth it, but it felt better for me to get off my chest......
All this stress is making me a nervous wreck...... (biting fingernails down to the quick)

2003-02-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

Yes folks, that's right, I am on my way to...... Las Vegas for a job interview. I leave in a few hours. Have I packed yet? No. Have I prepared well for this interview? No. Do I think I have a chance in hell, getting this job? Well,,,, maybe. LV does need teachers. I'll keep you posted.
PS. Tzad rocks for setting this up for me...... she makes me vaklempt (sniff*sniff*)

2003-02-20T05:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my world...woahahaha ahahahaha