Kendall-Jackson

Placido Domingo - Madama Butterfly - Addio Fiorito Asil

2012-01-23T23:20:00.000-05:00

Poison & Wine | The Civil Wars | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO [HD]

2011-12-27T22:24:00.000-05:00

Dink's Song (Minnesota Hotel Tape 1961) - Bob Dylan

2011-11-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

Christina Perri - Arms (Official Lyric Video)

2011-09-27T22:48:00.000-04:00

Donavon Frankenreiter - Move By Yourself

2011-09-27T22:44:00.000-04:00

Fastball - The Way

2011-09-27T22:41:00.000-04:00

Paul McCartney - Man We Was Lonely

2011-09-27T22:36:00.000-04:00

loretta lynn...rated x.

2011-09-27T22:33:00.000-04:00

Duffy - Syrup & Honey

2011-09-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Eleanor Powell - You are my Lucky Star

2011-09-05T11:02:00.000-04:00

tricky - hell is around the corner

2011-09-05T00:08:00.000-04:00

Lady Gaga - You And I (Audio)

2011-08-22T23:53:00.000-04:00

Lady GaGa live on Oprah - Yoü and I & Born This Way [May 5, 2011]

2011-08-22T23:52:00.000-04:00

Packing

2011-07-25T10:47:00.001-04:00

Warren Zevon Keep Me In Your Heart For A While

2011-02-26T01:27:00.000-05:00

"Passing Afternoon" - Iron & Wine with lyrics

2011-02-24T19:18:00.000-05:00

My Friend - jimi hendrix

2011-02-24T06:39:00.000-05:00

2011-02-22T06:04:00.001-05:00

Beth Orton & M. Ward - Buckets of Rain (Bob Dylan cover)

2011-02-22T06:01:00.000-05:00

Beyoncé - Halo

2011-02-21T11:28:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan - Forever young (with lyrics on screen)

2011-02-20T15:16:00.000-05:00

Over The Moon from Rent- Nicole Scherzinger

2011-02-17T06:37:00.000-05:00

The Mountain Goats "No Children"

2011-02-15T20:01:00.000-05:00

Recommended by Roomike. Seriously. Claims it's his song of the day. Since I didn't have one I"m using this one. Upon recommendation.

One More Night- Bob Dylan

2011-02-14T06:26:00.002-05:00

Girl From The North Country - Johnny Cash

She Talks to Angels - Black Crowes

Bob Dylan - Series Of Dreams

2011-02-13T06:49:00.000-05:00

k.d. lang Hallelujah Winter Olympics 2010

2011-02-08T06:26:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is a long time

2011-02-08T06:06:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door

2011-02-07T06:47:00.000-05:00

Song of the Day has been moved to the blog.

First Day Back to Work.

Relationships

2010-11-08T20:52:00.003-05:00

Apparently my comparison of symbiotic relationship types using the Kardashian clan as example organisms was too abstract for the middle school.

Parasitsim = Kourtney and Scott (one is harmed, one benefits)
Mutualism = Kourtney and Khloe at Dash (both benefit)
Commensalism = Bruce Jenner and/or Rob and the "girls" (one doesn't notice, other benefits)

Ok. I also thought it would be funny to start the lesson reading the learning objective. "Today's lesson is on relationships" then said "... I do wish I had that lesson in 8th grade."

There was that weird class pause thing that doesn't happen that often but happens enough to have a "the thing the teacher just said was weird" vibe.

So I moved onto the regular science bit.

Parasitism = gross tape worms
Mutualism = Flowers and bees
Commensalism = the Barnacle on Whale

"I suppose you could never prove to the mind of the most ingenious mollusk that such a creature as a whale was possible." -- Emerson

Long Day

2010-10-20T21:31:00.002-04:00

Kids were off the hook today! yelling, fighting, talking, criticizing, interrupting, rude. Never let them see you sweat!!!!

Seriously... "why don't we do labs" "why is this lab boring" "why don't you have kleenex" "why were you just talking about grandmas" "why can't we blow stuff up" "why can't I go to the bathroom". I'm leaving off the question marks because they are said as critical statements, not questions.

But I did, in my calm rant about procedures, get to say "I know you're more than a test score". And I am really behind in my grading.

The rest of the week I am to find out about each kid. And respond to each critical question/statement with a philosophical dichotomy... "Why do you think we don't do labs?" "Why do you think this lab is boring, write a paragraph explaining your evidence" "Why do you think I may be out of kleenex?" "I'm glad you asked that? Who can tell me why I was making a reference to being comfy at grandma's house compared to being in the classroom learning?" "What would happen if we really conducted a lab that blew up? Develop a scientific method inquire about how to blow something up. Can you come to coach class or after school and I will explore that idea with you?" and finally... "why can't I go to the bathroom? If I can't, you can't okay?"

I'm quite familiar with the phrase "The Honeymoon is over"

2010-10-12T06:24:00.003-04:00

Ended by the GDMFAssess county controlled written "quiz" standardized quiz. Need to work on studying skills. But we don't have time to study in class... what to do. ughhhh

Plus there was a fight during a lab so now we can't do today's lab and I have to make them do book work, but the book says a chapter in one page so I will have to explain it. Perhaps today is read the book out loud day. hmmmm.

The fighters got suspended which is good because it means the administration is supportive.

And alas, like a first year rookie, I am typing out my lesson plans minute by minute for the full 80 minutes. It's helping

Not Ready

2010-10-07T19:20:00.004-04:00

I'm reading "Let's talk about race. In the era of resegregation in Education" Except it's really sitting on the coffee table while I rewatch my awesome video montage's my students can't see at school but can at home. Interesting.

We're gearing up for our first short cycle assessment. A county written quiz. It will be awesome. Except I never showed them my moon picture slide show or the Earth viewer reviewer because they are blocked at school. Maybe they can see it from home.

Any way... We're talking about air pressure and atmospheric layers. The demo with the layers worked out well. The demo with the air pressure did not. Even though I practiced for nights with the can and the stove and the precise amount of water and the goggles, tongs, etc. Then the hot plate didn't work. Hard to demonstrate the point of air pressure when you can't get some heat! I'm sure it never worked because I left it plugged in and on for the entire night.

But any way... the schoolhouse didn't burn down.

Hooray!

But Hooray! I didn't do the exploding straw fountain!

Air Pressure Experiment

More educational games & videos on Science Experiments at NeoK12.com

HEAT TRANSFER
http://NeoK12.com/pres/DGEWV45Y

Let Them Read Books!

2010-09-25T20:26:00.006-04:00

Recovered from a day of futile technology class that won't work on public education computers with dinner, great conversation and the porch with a good teacher friend of mine. We discussed a lot of similarities in our schools, our teaching practice, our troubles in the classroom and within the school around the school yard it's neighborhoods, it's tax dollars, it's sociological percentages and FRL's.

Should schools invent the wheel or recognize and utilize technology that is already in place but corporately owned websites such as facebook and youtube? Is it a detriment to the classroom to not recognize that computer gaming, social networks, texting, video on demand, and search engines have changed the school age child in America and must therefore be reflected in their learning processes?

Should I focus on Fig. 15 on page 26 or show the video I downloaded from youtube, posted to my FB and on my blog, and sent you the link in a text?
Should I type all my students' parents emails into a Blind Distribution list or add them as friends to a FB group?
Should technology in the classroom rely on the privacy and the anonymity of its users?
How much blocking of the internet is required at school? What sites are okay for kids? What sites are unnecessary? What sites should block school age students? What is the definition of social and private? How much blocking is too much? How do parents restrict and monitor student computer use? How do teachers monitor student computer habits? How long are students on computers each night? How long should they be? How long are they reading? How long should they be?

And how, after only 9 years in this business, can I be shocked at how far we have come with technology. When I started teaching most adults had cell phones. Sometimes you checked your email. We did attendance with bubble scans. Grades were bubbled too. Kids passed your class, they passed the class. Sept 11, 2001. The access to instant information, live coverage of the event on the classroom TV. By my third year of teaching most teachers had purchased their own laptops. My fifth year of teaching started YouTube, Katrina, we watched the event from sea to shining sea from satellite, weather channel, cnn, youtube, myspace, news.com. STEM became a theme among schools to inspire innovation and technology in schools. New technology with cords and probes and adaptors and software and batteries. The phones got thinner, all kids had phones. Then there were iPods and wireless. And then iPod and wireless got married and had a baby iPhone. Emails were sent daily by bosses and their bosses and parents and subcommittees. And now... the news is in your hand at a moment's click of the big button. Parents can view a teacher's gradebook from Internet. A new song downloaded, a new email sent, a picture text sent with a video link, a streaming video of the NFL kickoff in your hand from outside at a birthday party. And you can send a lesson plan, check attendance, record quizzes, and report to parents from the iPhone from a beach. (Well, I think you can... I'll try it out next vacation)

How can I complain that the wiki and voki and gofster and wordle and magic box and comix I made today didn't work or display with the embed codes?

Let them read books.

Next post will discuss "The achievement gap".

Get a Voki now!

2/3 is 80%. 5/10 is 75%. 0/10 is 25%.

2010-09-23T19:17:00.004-04:00

I am so bummed. I thought I was doing well.

I thought the little amount of socializing in the class was normal.

But...Alas... it turned into quite the disorganized, loud, out of control, throwing markers, disaster of a scene. Every teachers' worst nightmare. (This could be the scene in the movie they make about me where I regain composure of the class with a song, or a snickers bar, or a sargeants bugle.... No. Little miss hootie voice herself is saying in her stern voice I tried to learn at Indiana Jones training school for dogs...) "Sit down!" "Those still standing, you have detentions" Miraculously at this moment in actual life I pictured the principal of the "Breakfast Club. "Do you want another one? And another one? I own you"... We are now in two movies or three at once in this paragraph... Can you mix movie plots or is that like mixed metaphors? Anyway, in walked Teacher X.

I thought that the learning objective was on the board. The students recorded the vocabulary homework. Question 2 in the packet had them analyze the objective and write a sentence about the objective...

But...Alas... my objective was written incorrectly. In walked Head Honcho Y.

I thought grading on the point scale for completion and accuracy is what I should do.

And I was doing well. All assignments were graded, returned, and uploaded to the computer online system an ENTIRE WEEK before they were due. I need to give a test. I need to see some writing. But basically, I had 10 assignments classwork, 2 assignments homework, and 2 quizzes. On a roll. Warned about quiz, reviewed for quiz, practiced the quiz...

But...Alas...my grading scale was computed incorrectly according to Teacher Z.

The Advise...

"Honey, I don't play! 3-2-1" Teacher X. And the class was quiet.

"Write your lesson objective to do_________________ in order to know __________ DON'T DEVIATE" Head Honcho Y.

"The average student will probably only do 75% of the assignment so an average of the average is 60%. Therefore, you should change how you grade from that crazy point system that i don't understand, and grade students on a 3 2 1 scale. If 3 is outstanding, and 2 is satisfactory, 1 is unsatisfactory the grading scale shouldn't be 100%, 66%, and 33%. If A,B,C,D are 90-80-70-60, then we need to rank all numbers above 50 as the criteria. Therefore, if a student doesn't complete the assignment, but attempts the assignment, they should have 50% score. Therefore, give kids that did all of it 100, some of it 70 and none or little(or none) 50." Teacher Z

Moon Turn Tides Gently Gently Away

2010-09-20T19:39:00.001-04:00

and

Great Weekend!

2010-09-12T20:48:00.002-04:00

Good week at school. Tired I napped for 4 hours Friday. But a trip to Sams club (it's right around the corner from me Nik it's a must) turned into a trip to Atlantic City which turned into a fun night of nice wine and dancing, eating, and gambling, then repeat. We did stop outside of Philly to ask a boy fishing in the nearby stream where to get a good Cheesesteak. He said "Philly" but then directed us to a tavern 10 minutes out of our way. So we sent 54 into the 7-11 and he came back with a similar story. If you want a good cheesesteak go to philly, if you are 30 miles from Philly you can get a pretty good one at a wonderful sports bar name Philly's. We even got to enjoy the first day of the football season with great fans in a local scene. We had several version of the cheesesteak at our table. When you're in Bmore it's customary to say "No hots" and they are served with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Here they just had cheese. So we added mayo. Kim added the veggies, sauteed onions, and ketchup. Roomie had marinara sauce and pickles. It was so cool to be a few hours from home and get the complete vacation experience with good friends that had a good time. The drive home we were all tired and I missed out on some work time, but I really had a nice weekend.

To prepare for my new math gig I found this movie montage that I just loved.

Seasons

2010-09-05T14:57:00.004-04:00

Science topic this week.

All Seasons Timelapse

More science games & videos on Seasons at NeoK12.com

Seasons- One year in two minutes

One year in two minutes

More educational games & videos on Seasons at NeoK12.com

Working

2010-09-03T16:37:00.002-04:00

First week of school. Wow.

Things that worked

K-W-L of P dub. A teaching method in which you generate prior knowledge lists and come up with questions you want to research and then learn them. I showed pictures of my journey the last two years, classes, etc, kids got to ask questions about the pictures to find out more about me. Loved it, need a thick skin for this one folks!! They knew about me in the first five minutes as much as I had expected all my students to know after a year. I drink coffee, wear glasses, bump into desks and trip over cords. I talk to myself and I talk to the chalk. My face gets red when I'm mad. I'm fat. But engaged. Fun, Energetic, the best so far... I have a thick enough skin to hear it, love being 35, also love the energy of the first days of school.

The Matter Lesson. Ice melted, Liquid didn't boil, but had technology back ups which worked great as a projector/ video demo. Especially on the Promethean.

Stomping on the big spider in front of the entire class to squash the big screaming mess of student mania from fear of spider. Sorry spider.

Going over and over and over procedures. How to come in, how to sit down, how to flow... and not interrupt the learning of others. I often say "FOCUS!" "Are you off focus? We need to get back on focus!" It's new this year.

The Songsraps for each lesson.
Videos, Clips, Commercials, Educational songs, Where in the ... is Matt? was a smash hit was were the .

The terrariums. I couldn't vision these mini-bio-domes until they were put together. Thanks to 54 for getting all the materials, and new boss for having (for a rather awesome set up) 9 empty pretzel wide mouth jars plastic with green lids. They look fantastic.

The new Promethean board. Awesome! Has speakers for this

We're All Awesome!

Things that didn't work

Seating chart with cards not taped securely to desks. Kids were kids. Still not sure who anyone is yet. Didn't have money for new packing tape...

The Interest Inventory at the beginning of the class was too long. Some questions were regarded as weird. "What's under your bed?", and "How many rings til you answer the phone?". Make a few questions for formulating thought and written responses. Maybe make one for next week.

The FAN! Oh my LBJ it was hot! One day the county closed due to heat reducing school by 2 hours in the afternoon. My room is the hottest in the building. But I was introduced to the exhaust fan, written up by the custodial crew twice, lucky with mod4 off twice a week, infested with stink beetles.

First Day of School Eve

2010-08-29T19:47:00.002-04:00

First Disc To School. Alphabetical list.

Sun, Earth, Moon Rhythm, Rhyme, Results Science (Disc 1)
Lab Safety! (Recall) Rhythm, Rhyme, Results Science (Disc 2)
Water Cycle (Recall) Rhythm, Rhyme, Results Science (Disc 2)
I'm Lucky Joan ArmatradingJoan Armatrading: Greatest Hits
Celebration Kool & The Gang Funk Essentials
At Your Best (Remix) Aaliyah
Fastest Finger Theme abc Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
Atom's Theme Song Atom and His Package
Lose My Breath Destiny's Child Lose My Breath -
Elevated Earth, Wind & Fire & Floetry Elevated - Single
A Day Without Rain Enya Only Time: The Collection
At Last (Single) Etta James
Vocab (Refugees Hip Hop Rem) The Fugees The Score: Bootleg Versions
I Ka Barra (Your Work) Habib Koité and Bamada Muso Ko World
I Want You Back Jackson Five
Sun On The Moon James Taylor Live [Disc 2]
Gravity John Mayer Continuum
I Heard It Through the Grapevine Marvin Gaye
Cool, Cool River Paul Simon Rhythm Of The Saints
Sing for You Tracy Chapman Our Bright Future

First Day

2010-08-23T05:57:00.005-04:00

I couldn't sleep. Watched Mad Men, and Criminal Minds. I can't stand Criminal Minds. I should like it. But I absolutely can't stand it when the wife from Huff always calls and says "I found a blood trail" and Dharma's husband or the other boss guy says "well, follow it" Like no duh! I also can't stand waiting around for the serial killer to kill again. They do it every time. So - "when he kills again this time he will leave in a red car" yeah sure. It makes my skin crawl. I also don't appreciate that they show you the bad guy and then you congratulate them for figuring it all out. It makes for boring TV. PLUS the show is a little creepy and at times more uncomfortable than SVU to watch but at least on that show, they do some investigation and evidence collection. For example, last nights dealt with a necrophiliac and they nabbed the wrong one, so like there are more than one creepy necros running around saying "I sleep with Dead People". Oh yeah, I also hate how the blond can just "call to put a rush on the DNA analysis". It takes 48 hours even without a line. But this FBI group can go back to their private jet and get the results out of thin air, literally. Plus the private jet is completely unrealistic. It's like Air Force IX or something. And I hate the computer lady, not just because she gets terrible lines and called babygirl by the sexy black character (skin crawl again), no, it's because she single handily let the really bad guy after them into their computer system by playing a game on her wireless laptop. She should be fired.

So I perfectly arranged all the desks into groups. Then changed them to a Double U shape. One big U with 20 desks and smaller U inside with 16 desks. Lab Tables. Each of which have to be turned over and moved. So one, mean evil one, knocked me right on my ass. On the floor, under a table. Dreaming.

那个小女孩重心不稳差一点跌倒

The principal that hired me retired on Friday. Friday. Before teachers report. So... we met our new principal today. Someone is new-er than me! Who knew? Hooray!

Wordle

2010-08-21T21:51:00.003-04:00

Using a literary activity in science! The assignment is to look at the
wordle pick a word and then write about it in your reflective journal. title="Wordle: States of matter"> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/2317122/States_of_matter"
alt="Wordle: States of matter"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

I will also be using wordle for vocabulary lists this year. We'll see.

August 24. 2008

2010-08-20T09:09:00.003-04:00

Almost two years ago I made a list of places I still have to see in the blog post Shattered Memories. I am totally glad that upon all this list making, I have actually crossed something off a list! And within a year!. So time for these plans. I changed Italy to Rio. Let's see if this works again!

"Places I still have to see
Brazil: Rio Di Janiera, Sao Paolo, Amazon rain forest
Greece: To replace Renee Z's dad's prayer beads from 5th grade project
Hungary; Budapest (and perhaps Prague Castle District)
Netherlands: Anne Frank's House
Romania: Count Dracula's Castle
Spain: Basque Bilbao Museum and Portugal: so I can say "the Plane to Lisbon"
Iceland: for the ice ice baby
Egypt: Nile Cruise, Aswan Dam, Abu Simbel, Pyramids of Giza
Kenya: The Masai Mara
Tanzania: Safari
China: Lhasa (Tibet), Three Gorges Dam, Warriors of Xi'an, Hong Kong, Beijing
India: Uttar Pradesh Taj Mahal & Varanasi
Cambodia: The Silver Pagoda and Angkor Wat
Jordan: Petra
Fiji; Um Fiji, to see the coconuts
New Zealand: To Zorb down a mountain and find the lord of the rings
Mexico: Teotihuacan & Monarch Butterfly migration Michoacan Feb/Mar
Guatamala: Tikal
Peru: Machu Picchu
Chile: Easter Island
Mali: Timbuktu for the mosques and to say "I'm going to Timbuktu how about you?""
Italy: Rome, Venice, Sicily

New Job

2010-08-18T06:49:00.003-04:00

I am starting work at my new job in 1 hour and thirty two minutes.

Things that are good...

I loved teaching middle school.
My entire life has been influenced highly by my experiences in 8th grade.
I will help a population of kids that need to be helped.
I lived in the same neighborhood as the school for 7 of my 8 years here.
I get to commute by the best liquor store in Baltimore on my way home.

Things that are scary...

It is a middle school.
Meeting the new administration and teachers.
No air conditioning.
Only one photocopy machine.

Things I know now that I wish I knew then...

Don't wear heels. It's not the job for them.
Look sciency and sound sciency and act sciency. It is all in the appearances.
Labs make for an easy and interesting class and just take time to set up.
Demos are even better.
Look organized and sound organized and act organized.
If you don't grade every day after classes, it will just sit in a pile for a long while.

Spa weekend = fabulous

2010-08-17T06:43:00.003-04:00

The highlight of the weekend was the yoga outside and I have continued the practice into the week as well. The list of activities was exciting but I am glad I didn't go to the spa and spend the money. I already bit off some of the fingernails, the pedicure still needs the polish, I couldn't sit still during the eye cucumbers but I have to remember that for the school year, puffiness and tired eyes! The part that I didn't do on my scheduled spa weekend was the hike. It has even been cool weather but scattered showers. I prefer to do yoga on the porch in the rain.

All of this prepared me to write two pretty darn good lessons.

And yesterday, 54 and I were both home kicking around when he decided to put up shelves. I got to help. I spray painted the brackets. He put up a shelf above the oven, above the kitchen table, and above the TV in the living room. They are absolutely beautiful. I was amazed at his skills. It was like wood shop on the porch for a bit, but for absolutely no money, three new beautiful shelves, practically out of thin air. I keep walking around saying I love my new shelves. I do!

Day Two

2010-08-13T08:18:00.005-04:00

Pilates. With Cat.

I don't have much experience with Pilates. Except my twin was a dance major in college. And my niece loves her ballet class. And I once owned a pair of toe ballet shoes. So I had one experience with a Pilates instructor. Named Kat or something like that. You tie yourself onto the expensive rowing-esque machine with legs and arms like a bow flex and Kat tells you to breathe and contort and do it 5 more times. Then switch. With like a million thousand exercises until you get off that thing feeling a little experienced with a medieval times torture chamber and stretched like you were on a salt water taffy machine. And then Kat charges you a fee of $75 for the service. Or, conveniently, you use sister math in that you attending the almost missed but would have to pay any way allow sister to pay for session.

So, I needed a cheap (free) version of the real Hollywood Body Pilates that I cannot afford especially in August. I researched what I had scheduled for myself this day of my spa vacation, and there were some floor exercises that are fancy ballet-esque ab and glut routines that seem torturous but not too bad. But I was way less disciplined than in leading my own yoga routine so I fell back to using On Demand Less is More Pilates 20 minute floor routine. The cat, Han Solo, joined me in my stretches. Wherein I wrote a Pilates Rap. Pilates for the Ab-iEs, And I felt a little flabby. But I'm not crabby. Not too shabby. Word.

In other do it yourself Three Day Spa news, the facial mask (Papaya Mask) was replaced with the Milk and Honey mask I made up because yes, I had no Papaya. 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp milk. On face. 10 min. Then shower it off.

Day One

2010-08-12T08:18:00.005-04:00

Yoga. With Fox.

The thunderstorm greeted my morning as forcefully as the smell of coffee permeated the bedroom. I was inspired to start the day of pampering and accomplishment that I have scheduled. The first class Yoga meant to start at 8 am but I was eager and started at 7:30. It occurred to me that I live on the edge of a forest with a covered balcony. What a great place to do Yoga in the rain. Following my index card of poses I listened to only the rain, my breath, and the poses. It felt fantastic. And then, out of the green in the distance, was a fox watching me do hero pose. We just breathed.

It was awesome.

Stay at home 3 day spa vacation

2010-08-11T16:00:00.007-04:00

I read most of this in a magazine. I decided to put the items on the schedule and just pamper myself. It will be the best start to a new, and as always stressful, school year. Hoping to teach some classes, take some classes, and cook some good food this upcoming year. This will set the tone.

Three Day Spa Vacation. At home. Free (practically) and DIY.
The At Home Spa Guide by Martha
Detoxify and Cleanse
At home remedies

Here's the Three day schedule of activities
Thursday 8/12
Yoga
Farmers Market Visit
Papaya Mask facial

Friday 8/13
Pilates
Herbal Steam Shower & Bath
Facial
Manicure
PM Yoga

Saturday 8/14
Hiking
Eye Soothing MaskDo it yourself spa
Power Yoga
Pedicure

Menu Items

Breakfast Smoothies
Cobb Salad
Soup, Salad, Sandwich dinner
Brunch Quinoa Quince Quiche
chunky apple muffins
strawberry freezer jam
Homemade Gorp and Granola Bars

July's Music

2010-07-29T17:46:00.003-04:00

The Weakness in Me - Joan Armatrading
OOH Child - The Five Stairsteps
Taylor - Jack The Muppet Johnson
Where is My Mind? - Pixies
Love the Way You Lie - Eminem and Rhianna
Don't Fuck Wit Me - Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
You Shook Me - Led Zeppelin
Bedda at Home - Jill Scott
Comin Back to Me - Jefferson Airplane
Something for Cat - Henry Mancini
Romeo and Juliet: Romeo at Friar Laurence's - Libor Pesek
You're the One - Tracey Chapman
Your Mother Should Know - The Beatles
You're Crazy- Guns N Roses
Freak Like Me - Macy Gray

July is a good month for music. Concerts outside, live music on porches, playlists traded on the kitchen radio. It's also a good month for birthdays, squash, apricots, cucumber water, fireworks, new grills, water parks, roller coasters, bike building, swimming, and fairy lands.

KJ Grand Reserve

2009-08-02T15:55:00.002-04:00

My blog is missing my entire trip to China. Should I post my journals that I had to email to everyone because blogspot is blocked in China? perhaps. I worry about the time stamp being off, but it would be fun to reread the experience.

I have opened my first bottle of Grand Reserve post pay day. It's going to be a hard two weeks of moving and packing to 54s. I will miss the paint in the house. But it's not hard to repaint. Or is it?

Spent a lot of time sleeping the first couple of weeks back in China. I never used to be able to sleep. Now I can sleep in a short car ride, on a bus, on a plane, during Law and Order. I like sleep. And I like that my trip to China taught me how to sleep.

9 Days

2009-05-16T06:26:00.004-04:00

This is crazy. Finishing grad school, finishing grades for my students, cleaning the house, classroom, and car. Packing up the goods and gifts and few clothes I'm taking. Mostly toilet paper, bandaids, and medicine. I've collected a few gifts to give to my host family... a bottle of Boordy wine, notecards, a book about Utah and a book about Maryland. I'm going to be living with Sally and her parents. I can't wait to meet them. The host families are having a send off dinner tomorrow night. It should be fun. Then one week until we depart for Beijing.

One of the problems already is the H1N1 virus scare. China is checking for flu symptoms as US flights arrive. Technically this means we will have to get a nose swab before entering Beijing, then go through customs, and hopefully not miss our flight to Xi'an. On a down note, if someone on our plane has flu symptoms, we will be quarantined for a week!

Preparing for the travel is what is the most interesting. I have been accumulating stuff and not officially packing. It is supposed to be extremely hot. Hot. And smoggy. I still can't decide if I'm packing an extra suitcase in my luggage or just taking two both ways. The luggage really will be a pain on the last leg of the trip because we will be on a "soft sleeper" (having a bed with a cushion) train from Xi'an to Beijing for twelve hours. That train ride will be nothing compared to the near 48 hours of real time it will take us to arrive in Xi'an (if we make our connecting flight).

We will arrive at our host school to meet our host families and the principal of Tie Yi High School (one of the top 10 schools in the country). The students we are staying with will not be participating in many of the events, dinners, and field trips because all of them will be studying for their "gaokao" (gow cow). This the Chinese college entrance exam similar to our SAT (haha, the math in the American SAT was called "elementary" by our guests in February). It is a two day test that is given the first week of June. The parents await their kids inside to read their expressions as they leave the test, After watching a student slobber on their final exam in my class because "it doesn't matter anyway I passed and am graduating and going to college" I find this an interesting comparison of cultures.

So I guess I will blog as often as I can. Facebook and email as well. The phone will be a little tricky and the iPhone as cool as it is, will cost a bundle. $1 per text and $2 per minute talking. But it will work for emergencies, as an iPod, camera, and my bff.

45 Days

2009-04-10T11:43:00.003-04:00

The Chinese students sang this song at their going away party. The experience so far has taught me that family is family no matter what and no matter what they look like. As the exchange students got picked up at 4 am from Dulaney on their first day of arrival, they were embraced by their host families and added as new sons or daughters into their homes. They were immediately loved, loved, loved.

I'm sure it was difficult to send the students back home even knowing that they were going to see their friends soon when we go to Xi'an but the point is that the families may not be reunited. But each family described how important the experience was and how they will love their new families forever.

Not that this song isn't also about 54 other things as well but I know nuff than to go into that here. I am smiling and confident and that has been the plan I'm visualizing.

Fire in the Rain

2009-03-28T10:25:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow is the Chinese exchange students farewell picnic. the last 4 weeks have been packed with China stuff... A few mishaps with lost papers, toothaches and hand injuries the Chinese ambassadors seem to be unscathed from their journey to Baltimore.

I should put the calendar on my blog. They have been very very busy touring the area. Our trip to New York was quite literally a life changing experience for me. Sometimes New York rolls you around, chews you up, and spits you out... This trip she welcomed us, I'm sure because we gazed at the entire city from the outside and from the top. We only saw the streets of NYC for about 45 minutes in Times Square. I felt the same way when I first see the mountains in SL,UT as I did entering the Lincoln Tunnel. Boarded the bus at 6 am with bagels and doughnuts and coffee etc. Several parents joined us so it was really helpful and fun. My favorite part was the Circle Line boat. It was fantastic to see the city from this view. Two hours later we boarded the 2 hour line to the top of the Empire state building. So we saw the top of the city and where we had just cruised around. If anyone is worried about how P is going to do in Xi'an with 15 students in exactly 56 days... well Tim and I got 32 people from the top of the Empire state building to Times square in 45 minutes. I also said for the first time in my life "I demand to see a manager (with a fist smash on the counter)" at the Hard Rock Cafe. The Chinese kids sang all the way home. all the way ;)...

Not that my March in all its Marchiness didn't have it's normal madness without all the Chiners running around. I also had two school field trips, an uncomfortable parent teacher student conference, a ping pong table elevator aerobic workout, a serial killer library project in forensics, a field walk to the school stream where we saw 3 deer run right past us, another uncomfortable teacher student classroom incident, a minor car accident (dent), broke up a fight in the hallway between two girls, accidentally said retard in front of the special educator, and a quite intimate and brutal incident with the copy machine for packets I had already handed out...

and in my real life second place in trivia, second place to an Italian, second to last person to do my taxes, second bottle of wine open from the case left on porch by neighbor, and last night's barbecue at the neighbors with friends around a campfire in the rain second only to none.

Why don't I have that cleaning addiction?

2009-03-02T07:54:00.002-05:00

I wouldn't mind being a clean freak. I would probably actually like taking the time to be organized, clutter free, and clean. But I am woefully not. AND now with being super busy with China stuff I feel even more desire to keep the cat frat in a constant state of disorder. I wish I had a place for everything, changed the oil in the car when the sticker says to, graded assignments as they came in, and matched my socks... I would really like it. And I know my mother taught me how.

Presented to the Teacher Fellows at the Center of Marine Biotechnology Saturday. I brought with me a few yawns and a nice hangover. Then this week is full of professional sports... Plus I have a nice paper due tomorrow. Yummy. I'm going to make the coffee now and if I spill I may clean it up...

Go Wizards (Monday)
Go Capitals (Thursday)
Go Blast (Friday)

Williamsburg Virginia

2009-02-14T18:03:00.004-05:00

Simon, Ocean, Shelly, Sally, Te, Winnie, Apple, Kiki, Patrick, Sean, Jane, Nicholas, and Note (American names they picked)arrived Wednesday early morning and our first trick was breakfast. I accidentally gave a student an entire glass of half and half instead of milk. All the students and all the parents are so wonderful.

Picture the journey beginning as if we just landed in VA for the first time in 1607. This experience is going to be awesome! We spent the day exploring Jamestown with a lovely guide Mr. Noble. We learned about the first capitalists and the dawn of the enslavement and robbery that began this good ol USA. Saw the first ship replicas, saw the glass blowing and the Chinese kids bought the only things they will buy in America that was not made in China, hand blown glass bottles from Jamestown.

What a day off needs is a nice long blog

2009-02-10T13:33:00.004-05:00

My sisters are the best bloggers. No offense intended to the rest of you that I read. Econtrario included here for he often makes sense if you understand the robot thing. Which I fully admit I do not. But he has some good things to say on there as well, some nice play lists and songs and such. Also Vanilla-Basil has such a great knack for the food blog that I can't even start that. But it is that cooking and writing go hand in hand and my lovely similar chromosomers are both extremely gifted at both. However, I think this may be my fifth blog about this. But facebook has taken over the blogging. And I don't know why. When I turn my face from the book, something happens, when I'm staring at it nothing boils.

Otterbutt, I like the list blogs and the not list blogs. Lists are ok for blogging.

As I spend my day preparing for a meeting about China. Preparing to answer questions like, what are the intended outcomes, suggestions for students to use for journal entries, projects and assessment limits for students work there. Blah blah blah. Anyway, I really am focusing on television, cats, making the perfect hollandaise without a blender (need a third try), and writing the perfect blog. Actually attend my job? Who does that?

Peeps, keep it up. I will need to read your blogs in China.

If up is down then we're in China

2009-02-04T06:19:00.002-05:00

The important part is that none of it really matters. That no matter is still no matter should be my new motto. So I may have to go to Iowa instead of Utah in August. Look me in the eye if you want. Double dog dare ya. Before that time, I get to have 14 Chinese Ambassadors in my town with umpteen things to do (you should really look at my calendar it is crazy), grad school, and then I will be escorting my 14 American Ambassadors to Xi'an in three short months. Yikes. Number one goal is to try to save funds for the adventures (um goodbye KJ my old friend I've come to drink Black box instead)and to find an endless supply of Xanax for the trip. Perhaps I'll change the name of my host city to Xa'nax.

Glimpse at zee calendar
Presidents Day Weekend: Williamsburg & Jamestown field trip with all ambassadors and their families for 3 days and 2 nights. (either stay in the room for free with the Chinese teacher or spend $140 for room, or just $80 for meal and tickets)

DC to china town for dinner followed by a Capitals game (that's hockey)
Baltimore Blast (that's soccer)
Washington Wizards (that's basketball)
Snowtubing
Rollerskating
Sports night
Ring dance (quite the odd tradition in the east. Maybe I missed a lot of high school but we didn't get school rings in a ceremony and then go to a dance)
New York city Day trip (on MFGD favorite holiday in Baltimore)
Aquarium & Science Center
DC Monuments
DC Museums

They leave in the middle of spring break now so my plans may change for that as well.

Global Warming (is a Hoax...)

2009-01-09T16:06:00.003-05:00

Really? Really? A letter from a parent asking me to "educate" myself on "both" sides of the argument. Really? That perhaps maybe humans aren't causing the increase of CO2 that is trapping heat around the GLOBE! Oh yeah and we humans don't over fish, or bring invasive species to islands, or leave trash in parks, or build starbucks and parking lots where turtles used to live, or cut down trees to build said starbucks, or cut down trees to make those cups that the starbucks goes in and the little cardboard protector, or wrap our poop in plastic for centuries, or use paper plates or glass wine bottles in the land fill (yes I recycle, sometimes). The words "so called anthropogenic CO2" actually hurt me as I read them. Actually hurt me. So I've decided to write a new "Inherit the Wind" to be allowed to teach global warming to republicans. "Inherit the Hot Air".

Really? Really? People really still are republican. Really?

New Year

2008-12-31T09:05:00.002-05:00

Here's to laughing with friends. This new year will be a year for safe travels, for new languages and learning to stand. I'm going to dedicate the year to self reliance and confidence. That will take some work;)

"There will be no distance that can hold us back"

Blue skies

Iron Maiden Chef Battle Citrus

2008-12-29T10:00:00.003-05:00

Yes, I wish this could happen every weekend. And again, I learned so much from my sisters about cooking (and it's all about butter).

The challenge: 2 courses per sister involving the ingredient citrus.

Halibut ceviche with coconut, jicama, and lemongrass. Served in a martini glass accompanied by a Blue Margarita shot.

A trio of Roasted red pepper soup with tangerine cream served in a grapefruit shell, Beet salad on Mache with a lemon vinagrette, and coconut spiked oranges.

Grilled shrimp served on a salad with mango, lime, and radishes.

Strawberry Sorbet
Main courses
Wild rice salad with blood oranges paired with a Tequila Citrus Chicken Wing.

Lemon capellini with caviar paired with a seared sea scallop.

Seared duck breast with lemon mashed potatoes and escarole topped with an orange glaze

Dessert
Key lime pie! Of course

Let it snow!

2008-12-26T10:58:00.002-05:00

I am so exhilarated for Iron Chef Battle Citrus!!! Christmas Eve and Day were really quite delightful. I'm glad I'm not in Bmore for the drama fall. Speaking of I"m reading the best book about "The Falls" by Joyce Caroll Oats. It's snowing like crazy....

Facebook anonymous

2008-12-22T18:43:00.002-05:00

I should probably join FA if there is one AND it is a funny name for a self help group. It's like the Trivia championship team named agoraphobics night out that actually go to trivia 4 nights a week and win all the time. I prefer blogging because then it is all about me, but as I have aforementioned it is a lot easier to facebook from the i phone.

The pre plane trip question as always is... should I take the laptop? Should I take the sweater, the vest, and the coat and hat (otterbutt has already mentioned I should bring the latter). I have a fear of losing everything on the plane and really hate people who bring stuff on the plane with them. It is crowded enough people. And one day very very very soon I will be on the plane for a very very very long time to go half a world away.

I finally finished my finals. I am so sick of grad school because once I start to get the hang of it, its over, and my teaching really does suffer. It has absolutely nothing to do with late nights and wine... of course not! I had three students visit me this week from last year. They were wonderful students, one is in Vermont (that mentioned me at graduation) and one is in school at Boulder. The other one could barely graduate but is working as a secretary for a lawyer so hooray! The reason I mention this is because they were very positive in a very long and very distressing week. One student complained to me to guidance, two complained to the principal, and one told me ms.soandso is the shizz and you are the jizz. I called his mom but figured I could practice saying it out loud a few times first. It doesn't matter at all and I'm supposed to be above it, but not so wonderful week.

ho ho ho

Two weeks

2008-12-11T05:46:00.003-05:00

I have been piling books by the bed waiting to actually read. Quick snippets of Gary Snyder poems or a page or two of Catcher is all I get, because they decorate the bath. It occurred to me, that even though my house is decorated in books, I seldom read them in the last couple of years. Confirmed by a roomie mentioning he has never seen me read while he's been here. I miss it. And since my addiction to technology and movies will have to decrease while I'm in china, I will have to begin looking at these handheld book thingys not just decorate the house with them.

Aunt Kathy's blog has given me some excellent suggestions. She read's like a book a day it appears, so my goal for this winter break and all of 2009 is to read like an Aunty Kathy in training. Because today, when I turn in my 15 page paper on cancer research, it will be the last day I read an article from a scientific journal for a very very long time. hooray!

You had me at Ni hao (parenthetically)

2008-12-03T20:43:00.004-05:00

In true P fashion, I am learning Chinese and putting the words into Beatles song lyrics. No idea why. "You say Zai jiao and I say Ni Hao" for example. I'm pretty sure I'm be able to handle Revolution number 9 from the white album as well. (Don't want to get too ahead of myself Can't wait for Rocky Racoon!)

Learning Chinese (for four days) has really taught me about learners. I have to begin planning my lessons with their questions in mind. Perhaps their questions will be less annoying if I anticipated them. Except the dreaded can i go to the bathroom or will you accept this late. UGH. But on behalf of my pre-K friends (Ice Rock and Baby Mama) at least they don't ask me to help them to the bathroom.

Also, finishing up grad school this semester has also taught me a lot about learners, especially with the interactive online class about physical science. It's sorta like blogging and cooler than a textbook because the hyperlinks, movies, and flash stuff is pretty cool. Only you need each kid to have a computer or they get bored. If you're interested go to my wiki www.walkerworld.pbwiki.com
to see my new online assignments.

As for my "big kid" science grad classes, the seminars were interesting about ant parasites and orchid's duping wasps. The cancer class is great. Still have a paper and an exam in that class so its not that wonderful. Again insight into giving an exam to my kids the same day they have them in every other class (last tuesday).

Saw Jupiter in Venus next to the moon Monday night Very cool.

http://www.astroengine.com/?p=2397

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-156473?ref=email
Also on the horizon... china meetings, conferences, the Trivia Tournament of Champions!, faculty parties, b days, holiday cheer, football, and Fridays in general. As for learners here, remember they will be tired too.

Xi'an or bust

2008-11-22T17:20:00.006-05:00

Documenting my first google search about the China Exchange Program. I am so excited!!!

Most sacred Mountain in China

Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River

Map of the Shaanxi Province and Xi'an

More to come
Terracotta warriors
The Silk Road
Big Goose Pagoda

8 weeks starting mid-May 2009

Two Busy Weeks

2008-11-18T21:00:00.003-05:00

I can explain why I haven't blogged. Since the election, the last two weeks have been busy. Teaching 5 classes and Taking 4. I don't have any time to grade or think. So.... to explain dear blogger, I have been on Facebook! It is awesome and the app kicks trying to blog on the iPhone. I can upload photos straight from the iPhone.

I turned in an application to go to China on Friday and I find out tomorrow if I'm going for 8 weeks to Xi'an China May-July!!! So excited. So in preparation...
Check my status on facebook around 11 EST!!!

Facebook in China FYI

Watching the polls

2008-11-04T20:37:00.001-05:00

Watching watching watching and wishing and hoping and praying and so glad. It's fun to root for the winning team. Re-made and served my new wild mushroom ragout to others. Even some of the kids had some!!!! This is crazy! I haven't watched the polls.

As of 8:35 pm EST Obama took PA!!!

Just have to post

2008-11-03T21:40:00.005-05:00

A test, Halloween, friends and mussels, friends and fire, cleaning the house, end of the quarter, and football. I miss my summer of pause...

My friend the sweet potato queen called, my mom the Maestra and I talked finally, felt connected with the kids via the costume pics...

My friends my age have kids. My friends my age without kids want them or are 60. My friends with kids that don't want them are funny and don't really don't want them. My family is far away.

I sat at the school happy hour, between those that don't have them and those that do, in the corner with the weird band guy who didn't talk to me...

THE ELECTION!!!!!!! I can't even sleep

veisalgia

2008-10-27T16:55:00.002-04:00

I am dizzy from a weekend of fun and studying. Watching the kids play football, laughing with friends, surprising phone conversations, and asian food. Also, facebook is hilarious. However, I should be focusing more on the now instead of the then.

Rehydrate!

Around the corner to New York and back again

2008-10-22T17:18:00.006-04:00

dizzy. I am dizzy from the journey. But it was a full on riot! Despite the fact we had little time and far littler shopping (hooray for the wallet boohoo for the closet), the weekend was a hit. The observation lesson today also a hit. I just have to make it through the next couple of weeks and it will be smooth sailing.
I'm going in reverse blog order because I got confused...
Friday
Left Baltimore at 10ish, the drive was fine. Had a few experiences of having people jump out of the car in Brooklyn because they had to pee, but other than that, it was uneventful drive. Watched a couple episodes of Wife Swap (hooray) and then went to a lovely dinner at a Peruvian restaurant with Coconut infused raw tuna, and avocado and corn stuffed tamales. Then we went to the neighborhood bar, back to ms.suris for a some fun girl good times, and asleep by dawn... I won't tell you what was in my bed when I awoke (my bed was the couch ps)
Sat
Brunch (late) at French bistro, read the Book of birthdays (this was quite interesting...) the most important parts are... "You are not a football" "You shouldn't exercise" "Reality is the shadows on the wall of the cave"
Dinner in Manhattan at Butter restaurant, delicious! It was quite wonderful but I missed my sisters very much. The best lobster I have ever eaten, ever.
Drinks at the Living Room and met roomie and mayo and PFC there. It was fun. Roomie had a little skirmish with the bartender over the bill "You mean you want me to pay you?". Then we went back to Brooklyn for a bday party at a bar, where I met a man who worked with Big Daddy when he was a rocket scientist (small world). Back to apartment for champagne. Will not tell you what was in my purse when I woke up...
Sun
Woke and stumbled to the Dunkin Donuts across the street from Ms. Suri's. We ordered pizza very quickly after that. (Yes real cheese pizza, don't start) and we packed at left NYC at 12ish arriving in Baltimore at 3:30. A little nap, a quick movie, and then off to Mrs. Rock's bday bash for cake and steak. Will tell you I awoke in my own bed with clothes not in purse and no fried shrimp in my bed.
Mon
Field trip to Days Cove with my students for canoeing. Wonderful time. A bit cold in the morning. Had an excellent time, but too cold to take picture of my toes. We hiked and canoed and ate picnic lunches. It was fun.
Tue
Don' have much to say about Tuesday. Taught 6 went to 1. Homework for 2.
Wed
Observation hair lesson. In a wig, blonde ringlets while singing the Hair song. A plus. Then to a seminar about bats. Wigs and Bats.

Around the corner

2008-10-12T18:55:00.003-04:00

Who knew that around the corner from the home I have lived in for more than a year, in a town of lived in for more than six, I had so many wonderful things around the corner. the Rocks back porch with waterfall, Harolds Vegetable stand opened 7 days a week, a seafood store that sells oysters, a Goodwill Store, and a makeup store called Ulta. It was a regular day at the OB today! Went to said porch for Bloody Mary's, Freshly shucked oysters, and some football. (Ravens lost). Very fun!

Tonight's dinner recipe: Wild Mushroom Ragout over chive lemon whole wheat couscous. The wild mushrooms were in a canister (huge!) at costco for 14 bucks or something. Chanterelles, Morels, Boletes, dehydrated in less than 30 minutes. Yummo! Tommorow I'm planning on serving the leftovers over pasta. so good!

Almost Halloween

2008-10-09T10:56:00.003-04:00

It is very easy to just blog about the things I have to do. But in lieu of following said list, I am conspiring with my team about Halloween. It is cooling down, the leaves are sort of changing, I guess its time to hang up my flip flops and find some actual shoes and socks.

Oh how I love Halloween. Baltimore really does it right! Everyone goes to Fells Point (see Eat Bertha's Mussels below). All the college kids come decked out to the nines. One year, there was the entire A-team jumping out of the van. Also, so many fraternities and sororities painted blue as smurfs it was like smurfapalooza. Last year there was a Spartan with spear, shield, and red scarf like panties (I almost licked him right there on the street he was so delicious looking) The first year, I went as a Treasure chest with two pirates and a ghoul. By the end of that night I was a just the pirates booty, but it was an enormous and hilarious costume. The next year, was the first semblance of normalcy after my fall from grace or graceful fall (ha ha) when I put together my iPhone costume. My team mates dressed up as an old Scotsman (later named James Bond at 700) and two college guys, Mike and Ned, in sweaters and jeans.

This year, the team is reassembling (beginning at Bertha's before the college kids even get dressed and then we leave as they come flooding in and get to see it all), I was considering re-using the iPhone costume. However, in these dark times, and being an election year and all... I need to be political. Big Daddy is going to go as "Joe Six pack" and I will be the "Hockey Mom". I'm considering being a pit bull in lipstick. Have a couple of weeks to work out the details. Would love suggestions.

Crazy how "on the ropes" the reps are behaving after 2nd debate.

October

2008-10-01T18:57:00.002-04:00

Rhymes with Sober... The list is long this month so perhaps curtailing of the vino wouldn't be the most extreme of plans. Here it is yet another blog to do list.
October To Do:
Parent Teacher Conferences 10.2
Finalize the divorce with lawyers from Iowa for (find $1000) 10.3
Proctor the LSATs at American University 10.4 (make $125)
Surprise Bday party 10.4 (shhhhhhhh its really a surprise)
Unit 3 in Forensics, APES, and ES 10.6-10.9
Enjoy Yom Kipper Off 10.9
Trip to NYC 10.17-19
Field Trip Canoeing 10.20
Begin new class in Physical Science 10.21
Observation in Forensics 10.22
Mid-term in Cancer Class 10.24
Presentation in Seminar 10 ?
Presentation in Other Seminar 10 ? (I should probably figure this out)
Field Trip to plant Trees 10.29
End of First Quarter Grades 10.31
Dress up and Enjoy Halloween 10.31

It's been so long

2008-09-29T06:15:00.006-04:00

It is not that I haven't had anything to blog about. Its just that it isn't really flowing out of me. I would have liked to blog about the following, but now it seems a little late...

*Getting served divorce papers for dessert (perhaps how you're served should be as importantly planned as how you get engaged... "he served me in a glass of champagne at sunset" "I was served under the lamp post where we first kissed" "he put the papers in a dozen dead roses and paid a skywriter to write We're Through in the sky")

*David Letterman is hilarious (teachers don't stay up that late and when they do their students ask them if they are stoned)

*We are all packing up and planning our long dark winter walk to California with the other Okies after we lose the farm, "in these dark times"

*The government should just pay off all our house loans for 350 Billion. Then inflation won't go up and we could pay for more starbucks and walmart stuff and the globe will keep operating.

* I actually heard myself say the following quote, "well IKEA is where married people go on Saturdays if they don't have to go to Home Depot, wanna go?"

*And in response to the above I spent the weekend watching Football and Super Friends. Really, Super Friends on boomerang. Really.

It's 2008

2008-09-17T17:29:00.004-04:00

When I was an undergrad, times were different. A democrat was in office (for most of it). We were impeaching a president for a silly willy. People smoked outside of buildings, even the pre-med buildings. Girls mostly wore sweatpants and hoodies and backpacks. Guys wore the current uniform of t's shorts and hats. Nary a cell phone, absolutely no ipods, barely even email. Emailing your paper to the prof was insane~! Blackboards were still black and had chalk. Libraries still had books not computers with these wonderful PDFs. Few took a lap top to class, and texting was absurd. I don't think anyone spoke of the election much, and t-shirts were about beer not political agendas.

Well... as a grad student eight years later, many things have changed. The girls dress to the nines with heels and bags, sunglasses and hoops. Everyone is either on a cell phone, texting while walking, or looking for their phone while walking across campus. I smile every time I see a bumper sticker or t-shirt or pin or artwork on a backpack. You know why I'm smiling? Because each and everyone one of them say vote for Obama. I'm not really seeing any Republican propaganda around. Hooray! Now this may correspond with moving from a red state to a blue state or from the beautiful west to the refinery traffic ridden east. But I think the college vote just may work in our favor this time. They (we) might actually get out and Barack the vote.

On the high school front... In my hoodlum ridden class (my favorite of the day this year) students presented symbiotic relationships in groups. I had the idea for them to act out their symbiotic relationships for the class but neglected to assign it because it was hard enough to get them to make the poster. But during the presentation 2 groups actually did a modern dance interpretation of their organisms acting symbiotically and I was totally impressed! One was of a tubeworm and a bacteria, the other of the "mafia" brown headed cowbird that lays eggs in another birds nest and then when the bird is born it kills all the other babies by pushing their eggs out of the nest.

Now, the teacher (me) thought that was the best part of the group presentations of course. But the show stopper, the item that had the entire class discussing and listening? What was that? "Backrow Boy"'s shirt that had a picture of Bush with the word EVIL written across his forehead (in sharpie pen) and the quote on the side "not my president" and in the sharpie pen "too young to vote"!!

Eat Bertha's Mussels

2008-09-14T12:04:00.014-04:00

They even have bumper stickers for this cause, and so with a guest in town from New York, roomie and I took our usual tour of the Baltimore town with an evening in fells point where sleepless in Seattle and Homicide Life on the Streets where filmed), and the mussels were delicious! They also had a nice grilled veg platter that followed the escargot course. Because I know 'nuff I didn't wear my ozzy shorts and University of Utah t shirt that I wore to the Dulaney football game, I actually wore a real girl outfit with heals. Yes, we all know the cobble stones in Fells Point are not the best place to wear shoes like this... But I was very careful. I even had a plan squared away with Erik and Mike that if I did fall in the street they could laugh for a minute, but then they had to pick me up.

I successfully sobered up after my 2.5 glasses to walk along the cobblestones after leaving the boys to "hook up" with the girlies. I didn't fall at all. But I went to Stacey's to watch a showing of Big Daddy on the big screen projector in their beautiful back yard. Then of course, in pure Paigeness, I promptly fell off the porch. Chair and all ass over tea kettle, smashing a bush, breaking the chair, and wishing I wasn't so sober to remember the whole thing.

Moral of this story: Mussels are not vegan, and I definitely have a new favorite wine. I actually hugged the 1/2 bottle(the most action in months and it was only $20) Fess Parker Chardonnay from Santa Barbara . It was so delicious I feel as if I must tell KJ about the affair and I will be ok if he breaks up with me and I can only commit to the Parker fellow when I can afford it.

Eat Bertha's Mussels
(John Roberts)

(G) F#
Eat Bertha's mussels, they're the best there is by far
You can eat them in the dining room, you can eat them in the bar
So when you're ashore in Baltimore and you fancy a bite to eat
Just follow your nose to Bertha's, you'll be in for a rare
old treat

Now a sailor came to Bertha's with a problem most severe
His manly pride had atrophied from a voyage of forty years
A couple of plates of mussels, now he sings in a different key
His jib boom's set right, he'll be in there tonight, and he'll
never go back to sea.

CHORUS
Now a lady came to Bertha's, who wanted a daughter or a son
The doctors had said with a shake of the head that she couldn't
have either one
So she ate a plate of mussels and went home to her husband dear
She tuned up his cryth, and I'll tell you the truth, she had
triplets the very same year.
CHORUS
They will cure your diarrhea, cure your constipation, too.
Just swallow a box for the chicken pox, the measles or the flu.
Now, if you fancy a healthy life, get your daily doses straight
A plate a day of Bertha's mussels, and you'll live 'til you're 98.
CHORUS
By John Roberts about Bertha's Mussels on Fells Point in
Baltimore.

Things you shouldn't blog about

2008-09-09T20:10:00.004-04:00

Republicans sending group emails about English Only laws
Vegan diets and the hunger therein
Cleaning the liter box or not, a theoretical framework
Gravity Boots: Palin a go-go
1980's songs... Forever young or Pretty in Pink
Price of gas and airline tickets in the pre-post Bush era
Armed robberies that occur at your neighborhood convenience store

I am ready for some

2008-09-07T12:13:00.003-04:00

football! Crisp air followed by big rain storm yesterday is making for a great opening day. I'm excited I get to watch all the games again. It's funny the things you miss when you don't know you missed them. Team iron horse came within 5 points of first place in the trivia tournament this week. Had a nice brunch except the veggie wrap was boiling hot green beans in a tortilla. Hungry enough to eat it, but the bloody Mary's gave my sustenance yesterday. I saw a weird movie I didn't think I would like called Alpha Dog, but it was surprisingly interesting and sad. Today I'm planning on watching football, grading papers, and reading about the evolution of human behavior in mate selection... hmmm...

Turning in reading notes

2008-09-03T18:00:00.005-04:00

My class on Wednesdays has undergrads in it and I have to turn in a photocopy of my notes each week to the prof. Although worried about all the work I will have to do for a 1 credit class, I guess it would have been better to know this BEFORE I started grad school 3 years ago. It also puts me on campus at very high traffic 3:30 and I am baffled by all the younglings. Then the coincidence is I'm collecting my students notes tomorrow on their readings in APES :).

Also, instead of perfecting my research paper on the buoyancy of seedlings in the summer when I had so much time, I still have to do it and got the dreaded "can I get a copy" email from that prof today. Oh procrastination, weary of time, who captures the rays of the sun.

Oh wait, that's Blake's sunflower- Double Ha to that D in Romantic Poetry.

And there were many student activists about everything and many many obama buttons

Songs of Today

2008-09-02T20:42:00.004-04:00

"Do You Remember Walter" the Kinks
"Be OK" Ingrid Michaelson
"You don't know me" Ben Folds (if only this nerd played this at his show at the Meyerhoff)

Plans change

2008-09-01T06:58:00.004-04:00

I got rid of my second kicker. We went to a regular bbq instead of the crab feast. But the best part was buying the Times and sitting at a fancy OB like place, drinking wine, and reading the paper at the inner harbor watching the sail boats and tourists.

Divorce club anthem #375

My Fantasy Team is named Double D

2008-08-31T14:23:00.002-04:00

I have great kickers, someone told me to always get two kickers in case one kicks the bucket, and the pats defense. DelHomme the man and Roethlisberger are my Qbs. It's a weird stock league so there wasn't a draft.

Rachana is in town and we are having a great time. The best Indian food, team iron horse trivia (we won first place!), bbq with the gang at A and A's. And then today we're going to a crab feast and to live it up in the more of Balt. It is really great to have Monday off, I will be catching up and doing some fun stuff around the house in order to get ready for another week in school.

First (& 2nd) Day of School With Students

2008-08-26T16:27:00.007-04:00

Things are going extremely well so far. I am very happy with my students, my schedule, my attitude. Unlike a lot of other people, the beginning of school is my favorite because I don't have preconceived opinions of the students or piles of grading I'm not doing. It is also nice to not have grad school yet so I can jump into teaching and then jump into my studies next week. It is also nice to have a long weekend to look forward to. Happy first day of second grade Crash (aka booger)! I hope you really love compound words Maestra heard you talking about. Also, the girls should love school as well this year.

I rarely bother you with lesson plans but here's what you would have done in my classes so far this year. In Forensics: Sketch a crime scene, test sample if it is blood, identify counterfeit and real dollar bills, and fill out an identification card including a fingerprint. In AP Environmental: Conduct a field study to count biodiversity of organisms within a hula hoop and record temperature and weather patterns.

FYI this is the new wing, where I teach. Second floor

travel list

2008-08-25T20:48:00.003-04:00

even though I love the list of travels I should take below, I know that on this silly salary and extravagant lifestyle (ha) I cannot afford them all. But hopefully I can see them someday.

Shattered Memories

2008-08-24T12:06:00.003-04:00

My roomie nicknamed me a target. A target for breaking stuff and dropping lit cigarretes, used to be referred to as "pulling a paige". I haven't broken a glass in awhile, and even earned kudos from roomie on this fact Thursday night at Red Brick Station. Inspired by Vanilla Basil most recent post about travels I must count myself as extremely lucky to have traveled so much in my life so far. Upon these travels I tend to collect stuff (books mostly) and after a few moves I have misplaced a lot of them. Some of my favorites are my swim suit cover up worn when I went swimming with sea lions and penguins in the Galapagos, my copy of Dracula from Cambridge England, my beach mat from Cambridge MD, my Hofbrau house green sweatshirt from Germany, my Fez carpet and my favorite collection of Hotel Ashtrays from Morocco. If I didn't break it in Marseilles, and didn't break it in Oman, I even didn't break it in Casablanca ... I'm sure you would bet 10,000 francs that I would break it and I did break my favorite Moroccan ashtray today, the one from Hotel La Mamounia. Churchill called it " themost beautiful place in the world."

Places I still have to see
Italy: Coliseum, Parthenon
Greece: To replace Renee Zarkos' dad's prayer beads from 5th grade project
Hungary; Budapest (and perhaps Prague Castle District)
Netherlands: Anne Frank's House
Romania: Count Dracula's Castle
Spain: Basque Bilbao Museum
Portugal: so I can say "the Plane to Lisbon"
Iceland: for the ice ice baby
Egypt: Nile Cruise, Aswan Dam, Abu Simbel, Pyramids of Giza
Kenya: The Masai Mara
Tanzania: Safari
China: Lhasa (Tibet), Three Gorges Dam, Warriors of Xi'an, Hong Kong, Beijing
India: Uttar Pradesh Taj Mahal & Varanasi
Cambodia: The Silver Pagoda and Angkor Wat
Jordan: Petra
Fiji; Um Fiji, to see the coconuts
New Zealand: To Zorb down a mountain and find the lord of the rings
Mexico: Teotihuacan & Monarch Butterfly migration Michoacan Feb/Mar
Guatamala: Tikal
Peru: Machu Picchu
Chile: Easter Island
Mali: Timbuktu for the mosques and to say "I'm going to Timbuktu how about you?"

Cat Stevens was right about saturday nights

2008-08-24T00:11:00.004-04:00

I got some money cuz I just got paid, oh how I wish I had someone to talk to I'm in an awful way

There is another good line in that song... had a strange resemblance to a cat named frankenstein...

Apparent Guardian

2008-08-21T06:21:00.006-04:00

I have no idea why I am so fond of bookshelves. I have many in my bedroom and many in my classroom and for some reason, if the books are in the right place on the shelves, then I am a together person. However, if the wrong books are on the right shelves, this can make a woman insane! I do not need 100 textbooks from 1990. Same goes with my desk. I can have a gigantic inbox (no jokes here) a pile that goes all the way to my shoulders, but don't even think about moving my post-its.

Wednesday is always science day in the county, so everyone you have ever taught with or worked with in science is there to say hello. It's a little hard, I even had a few people not say hello back (Joe and Nancy can you believe it?). There was a guest speaker who was an astronaut showing us his pictures from space (how 1985) but it was really cool. My favorite was Mt. Everest.
And then I went to a wonderful lunch with Biology girls at Panera Bread, then back to the classroom to get ready. Chili found a typo on a document I have been giving to parents for 3 years (that I got from Nancy and didn't proof read). Permission is required from apparent/guardian. Now - the context could still work. The obvious parent, the one that feeds you, needs to give you permission to go on a walk. Apparently, Mt. Everest is the big one.

Thursday is giant meeting day, so praise the iPhone and expect email.

I took the Poem off the Blog

2008-08-18T20:30:00.005-04:00

"No Return...Like a dog curling for sleep"... by William Matthews
I also forgot to mention that I was asked 5 times "What's your last name going to be this year?" and 4 times "How's the dog?" and 1 time from cute boy "I went to your rival high school in the City of Salt, when did you graduate? I graduated in 2001" boy
"I graduated from college in 2001" me
"Did you know John so and so he was your grade" boy
"Umm no I'm old, it took me awhile I got married" me... awkward pause with Coach Iron Horse laughing in the distance...

I will never stop being awkward.

First Day of School Sans Students

2008-08-18T17:56:00.007-04:00

I had forgotten what my alarm clock sounded like! I had a lovely drive to work, saw the same guy walking the same two dogs, the same horse, the same parking spot etc etc. It was nice to be back in my classroom. I was certain I wouldn't have everyone staring at me at this faculty meeting because 1) I wasn't new 2) I wasn't crying and then oops, I had to stand up and report for my table! No worries. The principal threw us a great crab feast after school at a nearby park, it was really great except I absolutely hate picking crabs which makes me very unMaryland like. But you get sticky and my throat closes up. How many times will until I learn... leads me to borrow this idea and suggest a Song of the Day: Feel it all by Feist.

Our thoughts are with TNT. We're on call for anything you may need. No worries gentlemen, this too shall pass. Love ya both and see you really soon.
So I dedicate this song to you both!

Don't Think Twice

2008-08-17T11:38:00.005-04:00

There ain't no use to sit and wonder why and I've been sitting here a year

The Breakup: A Portrait of Dignity | Funny Jokes at JibJab

HOW TO BREAK UP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND... | Funny Jokes at JibJab

Worried November

2008-08-15T09:18:00.007-04:00

The election is just upon us, changing of the tide it feels like. But I have had the same conversation with 5 people in the Baby boom range*(4 of them "liberal democrats") and they really won't vote for Obama. They fear him, like they feared sharing water fountains**, and it is really really sad. But since I also heard "I'm not very good" at (please don't suggest this could be a fill in the blank) I'm not very good at discussing politics.

But there are 3 things that make me POSITIVE I am voting for the right person for the job. 1) Women 2) Environment 3) Energy. BTW Big Daddy

* I should probably hang with people my own age more often
**This is why I'm not good at discussions, for some reason Econtrario can pull it off without a hitch. Probably because he surrounds it with boring baseball stats.

I can blog I can blog

2008-08-13T17:17:00.006-04:00

Ok, that was a painfully long experience of not being able to blog, and now I can, I don't have much to say :) Also it was a painful experience of having an Olympic hangover or as they say on MASH The Wrath of Grapes. Watching the episode when Pierce quits drinking for a week because of a large bar tab. Don't get any silly ideas.

As they say it is raining in Baltimore. I'm so glad Little Hands and Booger are home from the hospital, it will be better now they are home.

The list of places I'm moving to if Obama loses. Bangkok, Belize, Botswana, Bali, Belarus... McSame is McStoopid.

Got Junk?

2008-08-11T16:26:00.005-04:00

Ok, this service is fantastic! Go online, pick a time, they come and take all of the stuff you don't want, and it goes away. I literally now only have 1 box of pictures and A LOT of clothes in the basement. Also, the neighbors came out and we talked and talked and comingled our junk. Now the basement that was filled with boxes of dead marriages doesn't look so bad, and hey there might be room for more :)

Water Falls and so do Arches

2008-08-10T15:07:00.013-04:00

Reading the paper, blogging, knowing the end of movies, watching PGA, and watching the olympics...crossword puzzling, taking a nap... celebrating 6 days as a veg... My favorite quote from yesterday "I don't read Henry Miller aloud to just anybody, that's why we're BFF". Favorite Commerical from the Commercialization Here I got soul... I can't figure out how Econtrario puts in the vids

Mercury levels huge in Great Salt Lake (possible thesis topic for masters Env. Sci?)
Wall arch falls in Arches National Park (saw this with Maestra on our trip to Moab)
Crash in hospital with rash and fever (feel better kid) (Photo msnbc.com)

Olympics

2008-08-09T13:26:00.009-04:00

I enjoyed the opening ceremonies, however, I felt the camera work and excessive self-advertising by NBC was very terrible. Yes, I was going to boycott the opening ceremonies, but I'm glad I didn't. We will be talking about China for the next 100 years as the major force in our global system. We may as well allow people to see that the commies can accomplish goals similar to our own, like watching the last season of ER and buyin cars :)

I went to the zoo today, another place I thought I would boycott. I will post pics soon, I took them on the actual camera and can't find the cable to get the photos off. CC (ms cotton) and I went for a free teacher day, we got in early and saw all the animals without anyone around. Baby Elephant Samson was very cute, otters, penguins, turtles, giraffes, rhino, but no polar bear, no chimps. But we did get to hear the lion roar! Awesome.

Roomie and I played new Olympic betting match that should be began during the opening ceremonies. Roomie picked total number of medals each country would win and I took either over or under that number. Here are some highlights (we did do every country)
Greece 2 over.
USA 98 over
Israel 3.5 over
Japan 20 under
Hong kong 7 under
Cuba 14 over
China 64 over
Canada 38 under
Germany 64 under
Brazil 2.4 over
Russia 57 under
India 7.5 under
Great Britain 25.5 under
Venezuela 6 over
France 18.5 under
Czech republic 14.5 over
Italy 23.5 under
Australia 19.5 over

Last Day of Fellowship 8.8.8

2008-08-08T07:29:00.005-04:00

Had a wonderful send off from Cambridge by Pale Ale, No Banana, et al. We went to a nice restaurant in Easton (West of Cambridge) that had an oven! Brick that is. Whiskey-Ginger said "I even like musicals now, like I want to see Pippen, I don't know what it's about". KJ's reply? "Perhaps it's about Scottie". Pippen that is. No laugh. There was a chuckle from BirthdaY BoY, but he admittedly was laughing about something else. So to all of my miscommunications in the land of Science! I had a great time and am honored to have had this opportunity.

Olympic Eve "Made In China"

2008-08-07T12:18:00.005-04:00

Photo KSL
Great show on PBS last night about China. On the eve of the summer olympics opening ceremonies, I remember the energy and excitement I felt that winter in Salt Lake 2002. The entire world watching our city, the world symbols of the torch and the olympic rings on the mountain I would watch as I drove to my first year of teaching job that winter. I do not miss driving in snow (MD teachers usually get the day off for snow:) but I do fondly remember driving over the highway with those rings glowing and the torch flame. I also remember the feeling to "wake up and find out that you are the eyes of the world". And I hope that the eyes of the world look upon China, they have 1 B more people than us, increasing their middle class faster than the 50s here, AND have absolutely ZERO environmental legislation. I will be using China as a theme for the environmental classes this year to compare to US. So take a deep breath of not so clean air and enjoy the commercial event of the summer, while buying China made products from Evil Mart. I will. Mostly so I don't have to watch ESPN yammer on about F**ing Brett Fn Favre (JETS??? jets jets jets, you jest)

Answers blowing in the wind, Eyes squinting in the sun

2008-08-06T16:33:00.005-04:00

The answer to question below is that perhaps hypothetically I would have been surprised at one's revulsion of hypotheticals. Hey another great example of past being prologue (or frequently repeated sayings being frequently repeated:)

The lab went to lunch today it was beautiful on the river. The experiment worked again today,I had 12/16 seedlings float in two trials outdoors and 3/6 indoors. Hooray! Been a Veg for 48+hrs. May have to consume chicken for dinner, I don't want to be rude or let it go to waste (yet to my waist!) Pierce (PS) be careful here big daddy.

Depends on the time zone

2008-08-06T10:45:00.003-04:00

It may have been late night for you, but the sun was coming up here. I only have one question... What if we had met now and not 15 years ago? (Gasp at length of time) "Now that we're all wise and sh*t"

Mr. Bigstuff, Who do you think you are?

2008-08-05T13:36:00.007-04:00

Heard this song on the way down here this morning "Oh Yeah! You're never gonna get my love". Hopefully I still have a roomate when I get done with this fellowship.

OK well, I have been an official veg for 24 hours +. I was almost a vegan until I remembered I had my very last quad grande white chocolate mocha latte from starbucks Monday morning and THEN my roomate at the Marsh house brought a cheesecake. Even though I declined her delicious smelling chicken curry for a veggie burger, before I knew what was happening, I had eaten the piece of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake factory deliciousness. Oh well, let them eat cake :) Nice diet.

Don't Laugh

2008-08-04T15:43:00.007-04:00

Health has been on my mind of late with hospital visits past and those scheduled soon... I'm officially on a diet + walking. It is official because I have blogged about it, so it has to be real :) I will talk about it here and it may be boring, but I need to do something, and it may actually help me cook instead of wait till I'm so hungry I order from 33 pizza or go to Chick-fil-a or (my personal favorite...) go to dinner with wine and club sandwiches. This is not in keeping with my philosophies (however very much in line with my last 10 years lifestyle) nor cool like other bloggers who are always talking about buying local and their farmers market finds. With help from the 40 year old Vegan, and Vanillabasil's new vegetarian masterpieces, I am going to give this a go.