November 4, 2008

1. You got to VOTE VOTE VOTE like a baby stoat!!
2. I voted!  Got there at about 5:30 and was about 50th in line.  The doors opened at 6 and I was out by 6:20.  I did a paper ballot too!  They had about 10 electronic machines and 4 paper ballot stations, and one of those was free so I did it.  I am all about the paper ballots, mayn.  I think it is a good move to go to those.  You could fit 30 paper stations, maybe more in the place of those 10 electronic machines.  You feed it, yourself, into a big reader.  So the count is quick and you have a paper trail.  I was also really pleased to see was that they had electronic check in.  Now that makes sense!  No more big book, where you have to get in line by alphabet.  If you have electronic check in and paper balloting, I think that will pick up the speed substantially.
3. Put the car in the shop, so I took the bus to school today.  Timing was great, only had to wait about 15 minutes for the bus, and the stop was right outside the polling place.
4. Teacher workday today.  Almost done with my grades so I can spend most of the day working on planning.  Sociology and Ancient Civ need lots of attention.
5. AB talked me into going to a Marker’s Mark happy hour last night.  I just have to say that bourbon is poison.  I didn’t have that much, but I could actually feel it trying to crush my synapses (and subsequently, my potential superpowers.) Poison I tell you! 

October 17, 2008

1. So Donor’s Choose is a neat organization for teachers to list projects for which they need funding and the public can help them out.  I don’t need anything for my class, but there are many teachers who are not as lucky as I am, so I threw down some cash.  It’s a Friday night.  I’m feeling flush.
2. Right after I donated to the Obama campaign.  Hope.  I has it.
3. So take that slumping markets.  Look at how I am slinging money around!
4. And now I am poor again.  But it was pretty exciting living the high life for a few minutes there.
5. I found the Donor’s Choose link on this blog, where my favorite former Television without Pity Writer now blogs and thank goodness she still talks about my stories, becuase I miss her turn of phrase in the Survior and Amazing Race recaps.

October 2, 2008

1. Kevin is better, but seems depressed about the whole cone thing.  Can’t say as I blame him.  The good news is that he does not have feline lukemia or feline aids, so that is a great relief!  He is in a big pile on my lap right now, purring away.
2. Watching the debate.  Lively.  I shall comment no further, but I did enjoy reading this, and if I was playing along, I’d be drunk by now
3. Paul and I are going to a wedding in Kentucky this weekend.  One of the guys from the band.  Should be a good time, the reception is in a tobacco barn!
4. It’s about a 9 hour drive and we are going to leave in the AM.  Now that the stress of the school week is over and Kevin is on the mend, I am really looking forward to it.
5. We have the greatest permanent substitute in our school.  I couldn’t get him for the day tomorrow, but he did have one period free, and said he would come down and help the sub sort out the technology in the lesson.  He is training to be a teacher and comes in to observe me sometimes, so he knows the gist of my lessons.  In addition to being a great help, he is also really interesting, and the kids love him.  He had a 30 year career on capitol hill, helps us get great guest speakers, comes to town meeting, and the other day, I went looking for him, and I found him upstairs, helping run the guitar club!

September 25, 2008

1. I wore a sweater and hard shoes today.  It must be fall. 
2. I might volunteer for the Obama Campaign this weekend.  Out of my comfort zone, but I’d like to get involved, especially with something like registering voters.
3. The first test of the year was today.  I’ve already graded over half of the notebooks.  I may try to get in a few more before the workout.
4. So I took the car to the shop and it need a new battery.  And new tires.  And had some sort of terrible gunk in the coolant system.  So nice big repair bill.  Hooray.
5. Fortunately, Ali let me borrow her car, so I have been able to get around to my various activities (many) this week.  But now it is time to pick up the car.  So here is my plan:  After the workout and weightwatchers, drive Ali’s car to and park at Fairlington Pizza (stay with me)  order veggie subs, walk the half block to the car place.  Pick up my car, drive it to Fairlington Pizza, park it there, pick up the subs and Ali’s car, drive home.  Later, when Paul comes home, get him to come with me, and pick up my car, drive to Ali’s, feed her cats, leave her car, drive home.  If Paul goes out with his friends tonight, walk to Fairlington Pizza, get my car, go feed Ali’s cats, then drive home and do the Ali car drop off tomorrow.
6. Somewhere in that sequence I will eat the veggie sub and watch the season premiere of Survivor.

September 22, 2008

1. Back to school night was great.  10 minutes telling about all the best things, good times.  Even I want to take the class after that.
2. The car was sluggish on the start today, so I took it to the shop.  It’s the bus for me tomorrow!
3. I need to go buy some new shoes for the wedding next weekend.
4. Went to dinner with some teachers and had a very lively politcal discussion.  One of the teachers is volunteering for Obama.  I may join her on Sunday.  That feels kind of exciting.
5. My eyes are very heavy.  I must go to bed!

August 29, 2008

1. The end of the week, and I am tired, and not prepared for Tuesday!  Can’t sleep.  Just like every year.
2. This sociology class is definately a stumbling block.  I am scrambling, or maybe I am not scrambling enough.  I’m not totally freaking out yet, but that is right around the corner.
3. Thought Obama’s speech was great.  I find him a compelling speaker and am inspired by his ideals.  He gives me…(wait for it)…hope.
4. I would like for him to make the same promise that McCain did.  He said his first act would be to write an executive order banning torture.  If Obama wins, he should do the same.  He should say to McCain, no matter who signs it, the other one should be there by him to watch.  Watch Return with Honor.  McCain and those men are the example of torture not working.  He didn’t accept early release.  They all resisted and gave little real information.  Why would we think that other men, dedicated to their cause, even if we know that cause to be wrong, act differently.  We should claim the moral high ground on this one and never give it up.
5. That aside.  McCain, your VP pick?  This is what we call pandering.

February 12, 2008

1. Yesterday I linked an article written by someone from school, and that site put the name of my blog and a quote in the comments section.  I think it must be some sort of automatic function.  It did not put a link, which is good.  This was a little disturbing, because I really don’t want people from school reading this.  I keep names out of it deliberately, and it is not like I am going to completely slam someone, but I do want to be able to write about things that bother me.  I know the internet is public of course, and I do censor myself, believe you me!  I think I am pretty tame.  All the same, while I don’t mind family and church friends reading this, because I feel like they know me and understand my venting; I don’t think that people who don’t know me as well would get it.  So I pulled that link, and am watching my stats, and have looked at all my posts with the school tag, and made some of them private.  The funny thing is, my stats have jumped, but I think that might be because I have been checking the page a lot to read old posts, and when I am not logged in I think that counts in the stats.
2. This also speaks to the idea of what is this blog for.  It is for me, but I do like it that others enjoy it, particularly my sister-in-law and beloved elder brother.  He is one of the ones to say though, “why put it where everyone can see it?”  This I do not know.  I like the contact.  I like that there is a group of people at church that blog and we link to each other.  I like the discipline of trying to write something everyday.  But it is hard sometimes, because I find myself writing for others, or wanting to speak directly to people and that is not what this is about.  I don’t know that I have established what it is about.  I’m just rambling now, really.
3. I did somehow stumble onto a bunch of teacher blogs tonight.  Another world uncovered.  I’ll check them out, but I am not looking for some perky inspiring teacher nonsense.  I want someone who can bring the snark. A Television without Pity for the teacher set.
4. There was a little bit of ice this afternoon and traffic just became a disaster.  I have never seen such traffic on the local streets.  Fortunately, I know the back back roads, so I was eventually able to get out of the jams, but yowza!
5. Paul met me at the community center, and we did our voting.  Very cool.  I have to say, I got a pretty big charge about seeing an African American and a woman topping the ballot.  That was a neat feeling.

February 11, 2008

1. I stayed home today, after running in to make sure all my stuff was in order for the sub.  Good thing I did, I forgot to plug in the speaker for the video for ancient Civ, and although relocating it and turning it on is not that hard, it would be if you didn’t know about it.  The nice thing was that I got an email later in the day from another teacher had gone in to ask a kid a question, and she said the sub was thrilled with how well the kids were working on their activity.  Hooray!  Hot chocolate for everyone tomorrow!
2. Daytime TV is simply riveting.  Who knew that there were so many people needing paternity tests from Maury?  It is quite sad really.  Inevitably there will be two women screaming at each other over some guy, and neither of them turns to him and says “hey ya bum, hit the bricks!”
3. I got nothing.
4. Simple supper tonight.  The annual return of the pimento cheese sandwiches.  Why these are a staple at our church is a mystery to me.  They are so Betty Crocker cookbook, bridge club sort of food.  Yet another tradition that has been done for so long to change it would be a shock.  I’ve got responsibility for the next two weeks suppers, and I sure as hell am not going to let the tradition fall by the wayside on my watch.  I should say that I love them completely, in their delicious strangeness, though I am glad I was able to resist the temptation to eat one (or more) tonight, because they are made of cheese and mayonnaise, or “fat with fat sauce,” as we like to say.

February 9, 2008

1. The vestry retreat was not bad.  It was in a very neat location. The College of Preachers at Washington Cathedral.  It was nice to have time to get to know people better, and the time actually seemed to go pretty quickly.
2. I can’t really find any good pictures on-line, but it was like a Classical Gothic sort of building with big arched windows and leaded glass windows.  I had gotten lost on the way there (I thought it was next to the zoo.  It is not.  Fortunately, Ali can be dialed up for some google earth directions.  She got me out of a spot once in Philadelphia with these same skills.) so I was late.  I came up to the giant wooden doors, with my satchels and rang the bell.  It was a very old fashioned ring, and I felt just like a nanny coming to apply for a position in the local spooky mansion.
3. The unfortunate thing is that I came down with a cold Thursday, and was in the think of it for the retreat, and am still not feeling too hot. I’ve got a discernment meeting and a school board thing tomorrow, so I will be ingesting lots of decongestants.
4. The guy who owns the downstairs is a Marine, and spent a year doing some tough duty in Iraq.  He was here to do an open house today, and spent some time up here chatting.  I have to say, I think this coming election could be hard for me if I don’t hear a better statement than “Withdraw” when it comes to Iraq.  While I don’t want one more soldier to die there, it is not clear to me if we can just walk away. We made a mess, how do we clean it up?  I don’t know the solution, but I worry about just up and leaving.  What sort of conversations are being had about this? What do they mean when they say “withdraw.”  I need to find out.
5. HRC had a campaign stop at WLHS.  I hadn’t thought about it until someone at the retreat mentioned that they didn’t think it was appropriate, and I think they could have a point there.  I don’t like the way at these stops they pass out the pre-printed signs, and make it looked like everyone showed up to support them, when I am sure some people just came to listen.  There is too much advertising and staging.  If I could avoid it all for the next eight months and just read position papers, I think that would be best.
6. I hope my neighbor’s house sells quick, and to someone who doesn’t mind the squeaking floorboards as we walk around up here.  I’ll be on the doorstep of the new people with a plate of cookies the minute they move in!

January 9, 2008

1. When you buy bolt fabric at Joanne fabrics, they always ask you what you are making.  Pulled out my book and showed the picture, and showed the scrap of sweater I had bought to help choose the color (no help – because I can’t tell what goes I am afraid to be daring so I bought a boring yellow)  When I showed the scrap and explained I made it by ruining a sweater, She looked at me as if to say, “Sister, you do know we sell fabric right?  you don’t have to make your own.”
2. I’m glad that there has not been the same winner in either the Democratic or Republican parties in IA and NH.  Seems to me that it is better to keep people talking, than allow the idea that it is all wrapped up after only two states have voted.
3. There is too much talk on the news about how the candidates did, or what they are saying about each other.  It would be nice to hear what their positions on issues are.  Maybe this will help me.
4. Before the play on Saturday, we went to a very delicious Indian restaurant.  The feature on the appetizer menu was a crispy spinach which was excellent. And by crispy, I mean fried, ever so delicately.  That’s right, fried salad.  The final frontier.