1. A candy cane missing the red stripe
2. Pink socks formerly known as white socks
3. A one dollar bill
4. A ten dollar bill(SCORE!)-What I find in the laundry I get to claim as a morale boosting tip
5. Two very soggy Texas scratch-offs I had gotten in Christmas cards-(SCORE! again) I won $5
6. One of the cat's play toys, formerly covered in rabbit fur, now scalped
7. Rabbit fur encrusted jeans
8. I found OUT that just because the label says I can wash my new kitchen mats that I should not.
9. Handfuls after handfuls of brightly colored wads of yarn(formerly known as my kitchen rugs)
10. Three Eskimo Joe's cups-this comes from having a washing machine next to your kitchen sink-they are very clean now but smell like Downy.
11. I'm not sure but the little pink specks all over the clothes smelled like Bubble Tape
12. An empty Bubble Tape package
13. I found OUT that it is possible to nearly pass out from hanging upside down inside your washing machine while scraping gum off the inside of it.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
FESTIVUS-The Airing of Grievances
1. People who only show up for gift time.
2. Sheets that pull off the corner of the bed every time that you sit down even though they're advertised as deep-pocketed.
3. Having to write extremely detailed lesson plans-seriously-who reads them? By the end of the week's instruction, they should be renamed "my wish list" or "Ms. 100 Farmers delusions of grandeur".
2. Sheets that pull off the corner of the bed every time that you sit down even though they're advertised as deep-pocketed.
3. Having to write extremely detailed lesson plans-seriously-who reads them? By the end of the week's instruction, they should be renamed "my wish list" or "Ms. 100 Farmers delusions of grandeur".
Thursday, December 21, 2006
My End of Year Inner Dialogue
Hey Ms. 100 Farmers. New School, New position, Better work environment?
"Sigh."
Don't you like it over there?
"I am honestly at a loss at how to respond."
Are you happy?
"No."
Haven't you met some great people?
"Oh yes. I've made friends with some fantastic people and dedicated educators who keep me sane some days."
So what's the deal farmer girl?
"My principal is mean."
Come on. You're a big girl now and we can't always like the people we work with, can we?
"But she's a bully and makes wildly inappropriate remarks about people."
Hmmm, does it affect you personally?
"It makes me feel dirty to be part of it."
Can you avoid these type of conversations with her?
"I'm supposed to evaluate, help, mentor and give advice. When she asks my evaluation of a situation, she will then tell that person what I have said. Her version often seems designed to make her look like the good guy." "It makes me ineffective."
Sounds like you don't trust her?
"I feel like I can't come to her with issues like I'm supposed to without her disabling the mentoring relations I have established to help other people."
Do you think you're doing a good job over there?
"I work my tail off but feel like I'm spinning my wheels. I don't have faith in her as a principal and I hate coming to school."
That's pretty harsh. Is it as bad as last year?
"In my heart and gut it feels that way."
What are you going to do about it?
"Sigh........." and my inner voice goes quiet
"Sigh."
Don't you like it over there?
"I am honestly at a loss at how to respond."
Are you happy?
"No."
Haven't you met some great people?
"Oh yes. I've made friends with some fantastic people and dedicated educators who keep me sane some days."
So what's the deal farmer girl?
"My principal is mean."
Come on. You're a big girl now and we can't always like the people we work with, can we?
"But she's a bully and makes wildly inappropriate remarks about people."
Hmmm, does it affect you personally?
"It makes me feel dirty to be part of it."
Can you avoid these type of conversations with her?
"I'm supposed to evaluate, help, mentor and give advice. When she asks my evaluation of a situation, she will then tell that person what I have said. Her version often seems designed to make her look like the good guy." "It makes me ineffective."
Sounds like you don't trust her?
"I feel like I can't come to her with issues like I'm supposed to without her disabling the mentoring relations I have established to help other people."
Do you think you're doing a good job over there?
"I work my tail off but feel like I'm spinning my wheels. I don't have faith in her as a principal and I hate coming to school."
That's pretty harsh. Is it as bad as last year?
"In my heart and gut it feels that way."
What are you going to do about it?
"Sigh........." and my inner voice goes quiet
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Thirteen Happy Sounds
I am stealing this idea from http://thursdaythirteen.com/
1. The "Quack!" made by my black lab's favorite play toy.
2. "Miss 100 Farmers!" that I hear screamed across a store when I am spied by a former student.
3. The "gallump, gallump" noise made
by cats chasing each other down the hallway.
4. Mockingbirds calling to each other in the morning. One of the reasons I love Texas.
5. My favorite ringtone playing on my cellphone.
6. The sounds you don't hear when the little farmers have finally gone to sleep.
7. Wind blowing through the cottonwoods.
8. Stomping down a sidewalk full of acorns
9. The lovely crunching you make from perfectly running over an aluminum can in your car.
10. Mixing anything with my Kitchen Aide
11. That final bell on the last day of school before a break.
12. The church bells you can hear from my grandmother's backyard.
13. The radio announcing my district's name during bad weather school closings.
1. The "Quack!" made by my black lab's favorite play toy.
2. "Miss 100 Farmers!" that I hear screamed across a store when I am spied by a former student.
3. The "gallump, gallump" noise made
by cats chasing each other down the hallway.4. Mockingbirds calling to each other in the morning. One of the reasons I love Texas.
5. My favorite ringtone playing on my cellphone.
6. The sounds you don't hear when the little farmers have finally gone to sleep.
7. Wind blowing through the cottonwoods.
8. Stomping down a sidewalk full of acorns
9. The lovely crunching you make from perfectly running over an aluminum can in your car.
10. Mixing anything with my Kitchen Aide
11. That final bell on the last day of school before a break.
12. The church bells you can hear from my grandmother's backyard.
13. The radio announcing my district's name during bad weather school closings.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Looking for treasures Part One
I love this collection:
Golden Treasury of the Familiar by Ralph L. Woods
Politics Defined
by Oscar Ameringer
The art of obtaining money from the rich and votes from the poor, on the pretext of protecting each from the other.
One of the best gifts my grandparents ever gave me was the enormous scattering of books around their house: the Ralph L. Woods books, Time-Life western books, National Geographic magazines, Huck Finn, Chinese Mythology, Reader's Digest.......
Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Do not go gently into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
rage, rage against the dying of the light.
I feel like I've been asleep for months.
Golden Treasury of the Familiar by Ralph L. Woods
Politics Defined
by Oscar Ameringer
The art of obtaining money from the rich and votes from the poor, on the pretext of protecting each from the other.
One of the best gifts my grandparents ever gave me was the enormous scattering of books around their house: the Ralph L. Woods books, Time-Life western books, National Geographic magazines, Huck Finn, Chinese Mythology, Reader's Digest.......
Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Do not go gently into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
rage, rage against the dying of the light.
I feel like I've been asleep for months.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
This year gripe-HALT THE PRESSES!!!!!
At what point does "Shutting your door and Teaching" stop working? So many of my colleagues have left this sinking ship. I absolutely dread the first days back with my principal and her cronies that she has brought with her from her other school.
Breaking News!!! Got a new teaching job! Bhahahahahahahah. I am running away and I feel ten years younger. I may have to stay at my old school for a couple of days to wait on paperwork but am soon free!!! I am not looking forward to telling my fellow teachers in my department or team that I am leaving. I feel guilty and a little like I'm abandoning them. But to not be under that constant threat of my mentally ill principal is like divorcing an abusive spouse. And moving to another country of course.
Breaking News!!! Got a new teaching job! Bhahahahahahahah. I am running away and I feel ten years younger. I may have to stay at my old school for a couple of days to wait on paperwork but am soon free!!! I am not looking forward to telling my fellow teachers in my department or team that I am leaving. I feel guilty and a little like I'm abandoning them. But to not be under that constant threat of my mentally ill principal is like divorcing an abusive spouse. And moving to another country of course.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
The I's have it.
I know that I will not die if the air conditioning is still not fixed at school.
I believe I will feel like I'm dying anyway.
I fought to notify all the 8th grade teachers about their incoming 504 students because our incompetent counselors wouldn't.
I am angered by people who work in education but don't seem to like kids.
I love sneaking "Buttered Popcorn" jellybeans out of my desk drawer during class.
I need whiteboards that actually erase.
I take pleasure running into students away from school. No, not running over.
I hear that our new vice principal is possibly less than desirable. I'm trying to be nice here folks.
I drink Earl Grey tea out of a soup mug every morning.
I hate SPIDERS!!!!
I use the same spoon to taste and stir the food I'm cooking. Shhhhhh!
I want a new front door that lets light in the living room. Welcome to my crypt. Way too dark now.
I decided that I need to revisit Harry Wong's First Days of school even though I've been teaching nine years.
I like putting up bulletin boards in my classroom. Am I a freak?
I am considered to be the person most likely to stop at a cemetery. It's a history geek thing.
I feel nervous about the Governor's race here in Texas. Please, anyone but Perry again.
I left Lubbock and you with no regrets.
I do think I am the Goddess of Chocolate Chip Cookies.
I hope that this year is better than last because I really don't want to change schools.
I dream about running like I did when I was a child. The ground wasn't so hard back then.
I drive a car that I love.
I listen to CD's that I've made because Dallas radio sucks.
I type fast because I like the clacky noise from the keyboard.
I think I need a haircut more than four times a year.
I wish I was taller.
I compensate for being short by designating an "Official Tall Student" every year to grab things for me off of the shelves.
I regret not sending my oldest child to a magnet school here in Dallas.
I care about the state of public schools.
I should either buy lots of lint brushes or shave my cats before school starts.
I am not going to be department head this year. Bhahahahahah. Evil laugh!!!!
I wonder how someone who has only taught for three years thinks he/she is qualified to be a principal.
I changed from cable to satellite and am now addicted to recording shows.
I cry the day before my period starts every month like clockwork.
I am proud to be a Texan.
I lose interest when I am being lectured.
I leave unfolded clothes in laundry baskets way too long.
Got this from La Chucheria
and Learn Me Good
I believe I will feel like I'm dying anyway.
I fought to notify all the 8th grade teachers about their incoming 504 students because our incompetent counselors wouldn't.
I am angered by people who work in education but don't seem to like kids.
I love sneaking "Buttered Popcorn" jellybeans out of my desk drawer during class.
I need whiteboards that actually erase.
I take pleasure running into students away from school. No, not running over.
I hear that our new vice principal is possibly less than desirable. I'm trying to be nice here folks.
I drink Earl Grey tea out of a soup mug every morning.
I hate SPIDERS!!!!
I use the same spoon to taste and stir the food I'm cooking. Shhhhhh!
I want a new front door that lets light in the living room. Welcome to my crypt. Way too dark now.
I decided that I need to revisit Harry Wong's First Days of school even though I've been teaching nine years.
I like putting up bulletin boards in my classroom. Am I a freak?
I am considered to be the person most likely to stop at a cemetery. It's a history geek thing.
I feel nervous about the Governor's race here in Texas. Please, anyone but Perry again.
I left Lubbock and you with no regrets.
I do think I am the Goddess of Chocolate Chip Cookies.
I hope that this year is better than last because I really don't want to change schools.
I dream about running like I did when I was a child. The ground wasn't so hard back then.
I drive a car that I love.
I listen to CD's that I've made because Dallas radio sucks.
I type fast because I like the clacky noise from the keyboard.
I think I need a haircut more than four times a year.
I wish I was taller.
I compensate for being short by designating an "Official Tall Student" every year to grab things for me off of the shelves.
I regret not sending my oldest child to a magnet school here in Dallas.
I care about the state of public schools.
I should either buy lots of lint brushes or shave my cats before school starts.
I am not going to be department head this year. Bhahahahahah. Evil laugh!!!!
I wonder how someone who has only taught for three years thinks he/she is qualified to be a principal.
I changed from cable to satellite and am now addicted to recording shows.
I cry the day before my period starts every month like clockwork.
I am proud to be a Texan.
I lose interest when I am being lectured.
I leave unfolded clothes in laundry baskets way too long.
Got this from La Chucheria
and Learn Me Good
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Secret Identity
I hereby inaugurate this new blog with words of wisdom from the peanut gallery: Whoopee Twang!!! I have missed my ramblings but in my hiatus, I have evaluated what I want to do here. It comes down to feeling free to write my opinions, exercise my demons and even to just choke up an intellectual hairball every now and then. There is freedom in anonymity. Feel free to wade through what I have to offer or dispose of it in any environmentally-sound way that you so desire.
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