September 9, 2009

1. First day is easy. Second is where things get tougher.
2. But first day is tiring, and I was about out of my mind mad when we got to our group training, and they wanted us to do the scary workout challenge on the first day.  I’m worried the three new people are going to be so sore today they will never come back.  Also I was tired, and didn’t want to.  I got everything done except the laps, My achillies is hurting.  I need to go see my foot guy.
3. I’m feeling very worried about our exchange student from Kenya.  He is in my sociology class, and even though they have an independent assignment today for a discussion Friday, I hope he comes.  I don’t know if he even has a login for the computer system, or what his experience level with computers and library research.  I’d like to get hime a one on one tutorial with the librarian.  I hope he does come, and if he doesn’t I’ll go looking for him.  Having a “Lab Day” could be pretty different from his usual experience.  I wish I knew what his experience was.  They should give us some sort of dossier on exchange students, that very specifically describes their circumstances.  After the experience in Tanzania, I imagine it could be very very different than what he is experiencing here.
4. AB and her parents came over for the newly reinstated “Dog Swim” in the last hour of the Fairlington pool season on Monday.  I love the dog swim.  The seem to get so excited and before they get the courage to jump in, they all run around the edge of the pool and shimmy with excitement.
5. I want a balanced life.  Also a balanced diet.  Need fruit delivered to my desk.

September 3, 2009

1. Went to the county social studies meeting yesterday, which, shockingly, actually made me get a little enthused to refresh the ancient civ class.  I’d been wanting to do that, but had been lacking motivation.  Talking with the other county ancient civ teachers, who are nice and irreverent bunch, skeptical of authority, helped, as did the work two of them had done this summer to redo some organizational stuff.  That organization gives me some structure I’ve been needing.
2. It is possible, however; that ancient civ may be warming up its swan song.  Some chesters in the state legislature have made economics/financial literacy a graduation requirement, and when that kicks in, I feel pretty confident that they will have to stick it in the 10th grade year where ancient civ and AP modern European history, both electives, now reside.  It’s pretty criminal that Ancient Civ isn’t a requirement anyway (it is elsewhere in the state at 8th grade, I think, where geography sits in our county, and that is a whole ‘nother can o’ worms)  and the fact that the Greeks and Romans may get dropped so we can make sure people need to balance their checkbooks…Crazy.  The execution of all this is probably two years out, but I’m announcing right now, there is now way in hell that I am teaching economics, and those of you who have seen me handle money, are I am sure, right grateful.
3. My first group of 8th graders are seniors now, and I went to their first little meeting last night.  They are organizing for the first day of school.  They all talk at once.  pretty funny to watch.
4. My last workout with Captain kick ass was yesterday, which makes me a little sad.  Now I have to try to get some discipline of my own.  Oh dear.
5. In other summer news my garden is really doing well.  I need to get some pics.  the sunflowers are all huge, and even though the squash has some sort of blight, it is still producing.  Today I am going to take some mozzarella and invite people down for a tomato, basil, mozzarella snack in the gazebo.  If I get to school and someone has taken my 4 tomatoes that are just about perfect, I’ll have to cut someone.  There’s definitely been some pilfering, which I am ok with, as long as people don’t take everything!

August 13, 2009

1. All the time when I am away from the computer I think of things to write, then when I get here – nothing!  Think, Eleanor, Think!
2. Getting ready for the trip.  Just a few more things to buy, it seems like I have spent a ton of money already.
3. I’ve been laying off the cardio days of my workout for the last week, since my heel has been hurting.  It’s so easy to fit those workouts in, but also shockingly easy to leave them out.
4. Desperate for a cupcake just now. I may try making these, a lovely portion controlled cupcake activity, this weekend.
5. The most fabulous cakes in the world, however, can be seen on Cakewrecks!  I spent most of Monday and Tuesday “resting” my foot and my mind and attitude, looking at the archive of the entire sight.  This sequence got me laughing out loud. It’s even funnier if you are familiar with the Bud light “Salute” adds and read the captions that way.  I really got the giggles, and it felt good.  I haven’t laughed out loud like that in a long time.

July 18, 2009

1. Hi Chrissie!  I see you peeking in from Rome over there on the side bar.
2. It’s 1:28am and I am done with the roster and thank you notes and putting files on the jump drive for the Altar Guild Brunch tomorrow.  The key lanyard is in the wash, so the only thing left on my list is “remarks” and I am not sure what I am going to say, but let’s hope the Lord hits me with something coherent, say around 8am tomorrow, while I am having my coffee.
3. Went to see a good student (high school and college) performance of King Lear tonight.  Creative staging and they really knew their dialoge – meaning not just memorization.
4. Did I mention that I got promoted to Turtle Level 2 at the gym and it like ta killed me?  I think I might have.
5. Melissa (sister-in-law) surprised Michael (nephew) with a surprise visit.  I picked her up at the airport, and she snuck into his room where he had just gone to bed.  He was super excited to see her!  It was great!

July 16, 2009

1. Am worried that my “sassy number” though shortened in straps, now feels awkward.  It is a little too wide in the bodice.  I mean, it looks OK, I think (party anxiety setting in, so all bets are off) but eventually I think further alterations are in order.
2. Almost all the altar guild paperwork is ready.  must finish (start) the roster tomorrow.
3. And get a haircut, though this has nothing to do with Altar Guild.
4. And get a spare key made for the aumbry.
5. Big moment today at the gym, as Captain Asskick promoted me to the treadmill routine “Turtle 2.”  It wiped me out, but so did “Turtle 1″ back in the old days (june).  I also have, if you look very closely, some sort of dent in my arms, that could be the start of what might be called “guns” by those in the workout community. Woo!

July 6, 2009

1. I have single handedly destroyed the church.  The “High Dusting” has brought down 30 years of black crap that is currently all over the floor!  Ahhhh!  It better look amazing when this is done, or at least like it used to be!
2. I feel like I have spent alot of time at church lately, which I suppose I have, what with the cleaning, and the July 3rd crew and the July 4th service and regular church on Sunday.  I’m ready for the cleaning to be done and to go to some movies.
3. Oh speaking of movies!  Paul and I did go to Whatever Works today, and it was great!  Though the Post panned it, we both liked it very much.  Nice afternoon.
4. I sat in the window in my attic room, and could see the fireworks just peeking above the treeline.  There was a very good breeze on July 4th, in fact the weather was phenomenal.  Somehow our entire state has been transported to Canada or something.
5. Working out is kind of kicking my behind. I suppose that is good, but it certainly takes more mental energy than I was anticipating.

June 27, 2009

1. I went early to water the garden, the thunderstorm not really having done what was needed, and a little girl and her mother were sitting in the gazebo.  The little girl came up and made conversation and helped me water the plants, and this was very pleasant.  If only I could import a cow or two to graze the soccer field.  Then I would feel very farmlike.  Perhaps I should bake a pie and place it in the gazebo to cool.
2. I’ve  commandeered another plot.  Shameless. Tomatoes!  Strawberries! (For the pie!)
3. I think my vacation is kicking in.  I find myself wandering about the house with a completely blank mind.
4. Captain Asskick has been doing a good job, and I am feeling pretty good, even doing pretty good, sometimes very good about eating my vegetables (sans being fried in deliciousness)  I’ve even impressed myself about going on my off days and doing “The Turtle” on the treadmill.  It’s sometimes hit and miss on what is on the three televisions, though you can pretty much see law and order on the one television, I skip the news one in the middle, and the last seems to be things like Dr. Phil, or other talk shows, but today was veggie tales, and I’ve got to say, I enjoyed that. 
5. The laundry situation?  Stil out of control.

June 7, 2009

1. “And the devil will drag you under, by the sharp lapels of your checkered coat, sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down sit down you’re rockin’ the boat!” (Watching the tony’s tonight, reminded how fun musicals are. That’s from guys and dolls for those who are playing the home game.)
2. Had a lovely family birthday dinner saturday at the sushi place and we got the sushi boat!  Hooray! That is a wooden boat about 2 feet long filled with delicious sushi and sashimi.  Tip, before the sushi boat, don’t fill up on bread.  I don’t know if I will have any particular observances tomorrow.  Just the usual 21 gun salute maybe.
3. I went car shopping this weekend.  All due respect to the red menace, but that car’s time is DONE.  The engine hitches if it gets about 50 mph, and it has been raining like crazy around here and I have been scrambling to find rides or drive in the breaks in the rain since the windshield wipers went dead.  I know I could have it fixed, but that seems a waste of money since the grim reaper is banging on the windshield. So I test drove the Honda Fit and the Hyundai Elantra and the Elantra touring (which is kind of a code word for “station wagon.”  I was really focusing on the fit, but I was so impressed with the test drive on the elantra that I think that is the way to go, and mama may just have a little wagon to drive around right soon.
4. I started working out with a trainer on Friday,and go again tomorrow  For the time being, until his personality is revealed, we shall refer to him as “Captain Asskick.”
5. Two weeks left of school!

March 5, 2009

1. Watching Survivor.  I think if you have to pick a leader, it isn’t going to work out.
2. Disappointment today that the numbers didn’t come up for me to get a second section of Ancient Civ, and thereby drop Sociology.  Just don’t enjoy Soc. all that much. Blah.
3. Did a painting yesterday.  I call it Despair No. 17.  I also toyed with the name Roadside Diner No. 64.
4. It’s possible I may be over painting.  Either that or I need to satisfy the urge to sculpt tin using hammers before I can return to more traditional forms of expression.
5. Items are beginning to pile up on my to do list.  The wheels are wobbling…threatening to come off….I have such trouble concentrating.
6. Clipped another 2 minutes off of my scary workout challenge time.  Am still fat, however.  And why when the kids pass us (we workout in the hall) does everyone say Go Rebecca or Go Neil, but never say anything to me?  Many many years after I graduated, I still wander unnoticed through the halls of high school.
7. Violet is my little familiar.  She follows me everywhere, and even now is resting on my wrists, purring, as I type.  Sweet and tiny little thing.

February 5, 2009

1. Well, it is done and out.  There was a brief moment of screaming last night when I had it, and then realized the daily people were overscheduled, so I had to fix that.  Even more screaming when I actually had it pasted into the email and someone called and I need to make some changes based on their latebreaking info.  But it.  Is now done.  Hooray!
2. Textbook adoption meetingw as interesting yesterday.  Pitches from the publishers.  Lots of free tote bags.  I’m kind of surprised some didn’t just contain cash.  Anywho, next week our committee will meet and try to come to “consensus” on a text and a secondary text.  I thought things were looking good for the book I want, but then things began to fall apart.  I am an advocate for books that represent two different approaches.  One the boring standard encyclopedic text we all admit we don’t use all the time, or even most of the time, and the other a case study based book that we all agree is well written and engaging.  I thought I had them with this arguement (I left out the word “boring”) until there began to be a bit of an argument over which of the two  boring standard encyclopedic texts would be chosen.  There was one advocate for each, and they don’t look like they are budging.  They tried to point out that we all have class sets of the good book (Not THE Good Book, that is a different class) but I really think that every student should have one.  I have one week to try to show them how the lower grade level text can be supplemented for above grade level readers (Which I totally think is possible.)  Or maybe I’ll tell them that I will agree if they hand their class set of the book I want, over to me.
3. I also will need to come up with a strategy whereby I don’t freak out an start throwing chairs.  I mean, it’s not likely I’ll do that, but it is good to be prepared.
4. Couldn’t sleep last night.  Terrible, because I loves me some sleep.
5. We did the scary workout challenge today.  30 minutes 38 seconds. 6 minutes better than last time!