This is a typical day in room 207.
Miss W: Blah blah blah teaching blah fascinating information blah blah.
Students: BLAH BLAH TALKING OVER MISS W BLAH BLAH OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOUR.
Miss W: I will just wait for you.
Students: BLAH BLAH BLAH NOT LISTENING BLAH.
Miss W: (waiting)
Students: BLAH BLAH OBLIVIOUS BLAH BLAH.
Miss W: (describes consequences for behaviour.)
Students: WAH WAH WHAT DID WE DO WAH NOT FAIR WAH.
However, everyone was very reasonable today for some reason. Even though it was a work period for one of my classes and I HATE work periods because they are unstructured and nobody gets anything done, I was good at keeping them on task and they were good at staying on task. Also, I decided that instead of having 5 different types of consequences and being confusing, I would have ONE consequence that is super effective that I found by accident. I keep track of how much time they waste and that time is their detention. I think I have a new facial expression: it is called the WATCHING THE CLOCK face.
In dog-related news, Charlie has his first nemesis: a few days ago he got stuck in some hedges we walk past every day, and now he hates them. Now, every time we pass them he attacks them with his baby teeth and tries to tear them apart, and he seems quite satisfied with himself afterwards. They'll think twice before pulling a stunt like THAT again.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
and sometimes it doesn't even swivel PROPERLY
This is me today.
Which is why I'm spending my prep block chillin' with a bag of cheddar crispy minis instead of marking English assignments. Bah.
Which is why I'm spending my prep block chillin' with a bag of cheddar crispy minis instead of marking English assignments. Bah.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
queen of the lunchtime dating scene
Since I went back to work after getting Charlie, I rush home every day at lunch to feed him and let him out and play with him a bit. Today when I returned after lunch, one of my students said thoughtfully, "I don't think you have a dog actually. I think you're going on dates."
It's nice to know they think I have a more exciting social life than I truly do.
It's nice to know they think I have a more exciting social life than I truly do.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
chickens are really hard to hold
Regarding my last post, I found an image to illustrate my feelings on the matter:
Just in case you can't read it, it's from The Holiday when Kate Winslet discovers the boy she likes is actually engaged to someone else, and she tries to kill herself. Then she realizes that's a stupid thing to do, so she sticks her head out the window and slaps herself in the face. "Low point!" she says. "Low point."
Anyway, that was a low point for me. Yesterday and today went MUCH BETTER, which is surprising to me because on the weekends, which is when that post took place, I get to sleep in; on the week days I get up bright and early to take my little mister for a walk before I go to work.
Speaking of walks, I have met more people from my apartment building in the last week than I have in the entire seven months I've been here. For one thing I leave my apartment more than I used to, and for another thing a lot of people can't resist approaching a puppy. Also, I think it gives people a non-threatening way to interact - I don't know their names and they don't know mine, but they know Charlie's. I've met a lot of rough looking gentlemen who would have intimidated me before, but puppies generally have the same effect on everyone; even rough looking gentlemen. (Unless you have no soul. Then you are exempt from this.)
You know when you're walking by yourself and a car approaches, and you swear it's slowing down as it approaches you and you start freaking out and imaging that you are moments away from being kidnapped? That has happened to me SEVERAL times, except that instead of being in my imagination like usual it's actually legitimately a car slowing down as it approaches me, but instead of kidnapping me all they want to do is point and coo at my puppy.
I have a FOR REAL for real blister from exercise! I am so excited. It's because of all the walking I am doing. I am doing a TON of walking. All over the place! Besides meeting millions of people and being stopped in the middle of the street, I have also noticed that either one person smokes pot ALL THE TIME in my neighbourhood, or else there are a lot of people who smoke pot. But I guess that unless they are driving while high and run me over because they are too chill to notice me, pot is the least of most evils if someone in my neighbourhood is going to be on a drug.
Also I am going to have buns of steel when you see me next. Sometimes I feel my will to live seep out of me with every step I take up the GIANT HILL back to my apartment, but then I realize how dumb it would look to just stand in the middle of a hill like an idiot, so I press on. Plus, I have a little energizer bunny pulling me along. Then I tell myself, use that larger-than-average behind you have, and I propel myself onwards. Soon I will not be able to tell myself that my behind is larger than average, because I walk a million times a day now, up a billion hills. It's pretty fantastic.
One last thing: in Socials class today, one student wanted to go down to the office and pick up something his dad had dropped off. Naturally, every single other student wanted to help him carry it. One student peppered me with questions in his eagerness to get sent along. "What is it? Is it a table? A desk? A chicken? Chickens are really hard to hold."
Maybe you had to be there, but that last part just killed me. Oh, grade sevens. How I will miss you.
Just in case you can't read it, it's from The Holiday when Kate Winslet discovers the boy she likes is actually engaged to someone else, and she tries to kill herself. Then she realizes that's a stupid thing to do, so she sticks her head out the window and slaps herself in the face. "Low point!" she says. "Low point."
Anyway, that was a low point for me. Yesterday and today went MUCH BETTER, which is surprising to me because on the weekends, which is when that post took place, I get to sleep in; on the week days I get up bright and early to take my little mister for a walk before I go to work.
Speaking of walks, I have met more people from my apartment building in the last week than I have in the entire seven months I've been here. For one thing I leave my apartment more than I used to, and for another thing a lot of people can't resist approaching a puppy. Also, I think it gives people a non-threatening way to interact - I don't know their names and they don't know mine, but they know Charlie's. I've met a lot of rough looking gentlemen who would have intimidated me before, but puppies generally have the same effect on everyone; even rough looking gentlemen. (Unless you have no soul. Then you are exempt from this.)
You know when you're walking by yourself and a car approaches, and you swear it's slowing down as it approaches you and you start freaking out and imaging that you are moments away from being kidnapped? That has happened to me SEVERAL times, except that instead of being in my imagination like usual it's actually legitimately a car slowing down as it approaches me, but instead of kidnapping me all they want to do is point and coo at my puppy.
I have a FOR REAL for real blister from exercise! I am so excited. It's because of all the walking I am doing. I am doing a TON of walking. All over the place! Besides meeting millions of people and being stopped in the middle of the street, I have also noticed that either one person smokes pot ALL THE TIME in my neighbourhood, or else there are a lot of people who smoke pot. But I guess that unless they are driving while high and run me over because they are too chill to notice me, pot is the least of most evils if someone in my neighbourhood is going to be on a drug.
Also I am going to have buns of steel when you see me next. Sometimes I feel my will to live seep out of me with every step I take up the GIANT HILL back to my apartment, but then I realize how dumb it would look to just stand in the middle of a hill like an idiot, so I press on. Plus, I have a little energizer bunny pulling me along. Then I tell myself, use that larger-than-average behind you have, and I propel myself onwards. Soon I will not be able to tell myself that my behind is larger than average, because I walk a million times a day now, up a billion hills. It's pretty fantastic.
One last thing: in Socials class today, one student wanted to go down to the office and pick up something his dad had dropped off. Naturally, every single other student wanted to help him carry it. One student peppered me with questions in his eagerness to get sent along. "What is it? Is it a table? A desk? A chicken? Chickens are really hard to hold."
Maybe you had to be there, but that last part just killed me. Oh, grade sevens. How I will miss you.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
tuesday musings
- Sometimes I like to be ensconced in tiny places; sometimes I like to be standing in the middle of a wide open space with the wind blowing around me. Today I'm snuggled in my bowl chair with my hood on, even though it's oddly sunny outside for this time of day.
- Today in Math class a student was looking at me strangely. "What are you doing with your face?" I asked him. "What?" he said. "It's my thinking face." I'd never seen it before.
- I'm catching on to their shenanigans. A student asked me if I knew the difference between a Roman helmet and a Greek helmet. I don't. Figuring this was something to do with the Greek project due today, I said, "Of course I know the difference." "Shoot," he said, thinking he could pull the wool over my eyes with an improper helmet. He totally could have.
- I don't drink enough water. I chalk this up to laziness; my water bottle has a spout that's hidden by a magical button I have to press and hold every time I want to take a sip. I hate having to hold that stupid button down. Today I bought a bottle with a straw, and I've dranken half its contents already!
- Tuesdays are the worst. I feel like I've been awake for three days and fallen down the stairs twice. I did get punched in the collarbone by a grade seven student today, because I accidentally walked into the trajectory of his fist. He quaked beneath my glare, and figured it out on his own that he should be more aware of his surroundings.
- Today in Math class a student was looking at me strangely. "What are you doing with your face?" I asked him. "What?" he said. "It's my thinking face." I'd never seen it before.
- I'm catching on to their shenanigans. A student asked me if I knew the difference between a Roman helmet and a Greek helmet. I don't. Figuring this was something to do with the Greek project due today, I said, "Of course I know the difference." "Shoot," he said, thinking he could pull the wool over my eyes with an improper helmet. He totally could have.
- I don't drink enough water. I chalk this up to laziness; my water bottle has a spout that's hidden by a magical button I have to press and hold every time I want to take a sip. I hate having to hold that stupid button down. Today I bought a bottle with a straw, and I've dranken half its contents already!
- Tuesdays are the worst. I feel like I've been awake for three days and fallen down the stairs twice. I did get punched in the collarbone by a grade seven student today, because I accidentally walked into the trajectory of his fist. He quaked beneath my glare, and figured it out on his own that he should be more aware of his surroundings.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
mystical aerial moments of delight
Yesterday during English class I was a plane. We went outside for exercise and it was just so windy; I was standing there surrounded by the children and had the consuming desire to stick my arms out and make whooshing sounds with my mouth. At first I was just walking, with plane wings for arms, diagonally this way and then diagonally that way. I wove between students who stared at me, perplexed, wondering why their teacher was suddenly completely bananapants insane.
Then two students stuck their arms out and started following me, and we chased after a boy in a little line of planes. We chased him until he tripped on a tree root and fell down. "Yes!" I shouted, "we got him." A few more joined our line of planes because now we were chasing people, and then some students turned into fighter jets and attacked us from all sides. I haven't run in probably three years, but as a whooshing plane I ran around the grass field, leading a troop of little whooshing planes, deflecting fighter jets and chasing boys until they tripped and fell down.
We were all planes until the bell rang; then we went inside and laughed on the way up the stairs because when was the last time anybody was a plane? The wind is a magical thing.
Sometimes I love being a teacher.
Then two students stuck their arms out and started following me, and we chased after a boy in a little line of planes. We chased him until he tripped on a tree root and fell down. "Yes!" I shouted, "we got him." A few more joined our line of planes because now we were chasing people, and then some students turned into fighter jets and attacked us from all sides. I haven't run in probably three years, but as a whooshing plane I ran around the grass field, leading a troop of little whooshing planes, deflecting fighter jets and chasing boys until they tripped and fell down.
We were all planes until the bell rang; then we went inside and laughed on the way up the stairs because when was the last time anybody was a plane? The wind is a magical thing.
Sometimes I love being a teacher.
Friday, February 25, 2011
that was not what i meant at all
It was English class. The students were diligently (ha) copying notes down from the overhead while I readied the projector to demonstrate the Write Trait of Voice by playing radically different versions of the same song. ("High and Dry" - Radiohead, Jamie Cullum, Emily Osment.) "Pay attention, you guys," I was saying, typing the address for good ol' faithful youtube into the address bar. "This is going to be exciting."
Now, we've all mis-typed an address into the address bar, right? Forget a letter here or there, press 'enter' before you're actually finished typing, that sort of thing. None of these have caused the end of the world before. You might get a "Page Not Found" error, or realize your mistake before the internet has finished loading the wrong page and correct it in time. In the case of Google, you might even end up at the page you intended because the site you were trying to get to has foreseen this type of difficulty and wants to spare you the trouble of typing correctly.
A thousand times I have done something similar. This is the first time I have done it in front of 24 twelve year olds. The first time. AND THE WORST TIME.
Do you know where "youtube.com" takes you if you forget the first letter? I will tell you. To a porn site. A PORN SITE. In the middle of English class. In a Christian school! In front of twelve year olds! A PORN SITE!
Luckily, due to some miracle or extreme coincidence, I didn't have the projector on at that moment. The computer was on, but facing my desk where the EA was sitting. "OH MY GOODNESS!" I shouted, as he burst out laughing. "THAT WAS NOT WHAT I MEANT AT ALL."
"What, Miss W.?" the darling, curious children asked. "What happened?"
"NOTHING HAPPENED!" I stammered, my face burning with embarrassment and awkwardness. "EVERYTHING IS FINE."
"Did you go somewhere bad?" the dear ones persisted. "Where did you go?"
"Nowhere. Watch this video," I commanded, turning the projector on and continuing on with class.
A PORN SITE. In ENGLISH CLASS. COME ON.
Now, we've all mis-typed an address into the address bar, right? Forget a letter here or there, press 'enter' before you're actually finished typing, that sort of thing. None of these have caused the end of the world before. You might get a "Page Not Found" error, or realize your mistake before the internet has finished loading the wrong page and correct it in time. In the case of Google, you might even end up at the page you intended because the site you were trying to get to has foreseen this type of difficulty and wants to spare you the trouble of typing correctly.
A thousand times I have done something similar. This is the first time I have done it in front of 24 twelve year olds. The first time. AND THE WORST TIME.
Do you know where "youtube.com" takes you if you forget the first letter? I will tell you. To a porn site. A PORN SITE. In the middle of English class. In a Christian school! In front of twelve year olds! A PORN SITE!
Luckily, due to some miracle or extreme coincidence, I didn't have the projector on at that moment. The computer was on, but facing my desk where the EA was sitting. "OH MY GOODNESS!" I shouted, as he burst out laughing. "THAT WAS NOT WHAT I MEANT AT ALL."
"What, Miss W.?" the darling, curious children asked. "What happened?"
"NOTHING HAPPENED!" I stammered, my face burning with embarrassment and awkwardness. "EVERYTHING IS FINE."
"Did you go somewhere bad?" the dear ones persisted. "Where did you go?"
"Nowhere. Watch this video," I commanded, turning the projector on and continuing on with class.
A PORN SITE. In ENGLISH CLASS. COME ON.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
go play the game you learned from the morning
I feel like typing for some reason. Sometimes it seems like I'm on the internet all the time and I never get to type anymore. I thought I would be typing emails all the time, but it turns out that even though I moved a million miles away, I am not very good at keeping up contact with people. I seem to have gotten into a routine of not doing anything, so the thought of doing something such as emailing someone I miss is quite daunting. Or maybe I'm just tired at this moment - you know how when you feel something at one moment, it feels like you've always felt that way? I do that all the time. I would like to keep up a twitter-esque feed of all my emotions at any given moment, so I can look back on them for confirmation that no, in fact I have not always felt that way. I may think, man, I am always melancholy. I can refer back to my ongoing tally of emotions, and see that in fact I actually felt quite happy not a moment ago, I just forgot.
Yesterday I took a herd of grade sevens to Duncan for a basketball tournament. I had to get up really early and be at the school at 5:30 am - the one that's in the morning? Before the sun is out and cars are on the road? Nobody in Campbell River is awake at 5:30, apparently. I unlocked the school and turned on the lights in the entrance hallway so it wouldn't be so creepy, and also so that the parents dropping off various team members would know someone was inside. A few minutes after I got in, from my spot in the staff room I heard the door open and somebody breathlessly come inside. I peered out around the corner to see who it was, and it was another teacher! Somebody who was not going on the tournament, who was also at school as early as me!
We stood for a minute and looked at each other, because I was not expecting her; nor was she expecting me. She cocked her head at said, "Are you okay? What are you doing here?" I said, "I'm here for the tournament," but wondered what she could have thought before I told her that. What kind of emergency would have sent me to the school that early? I should have asked her today what she meant, but by tomorrow I'm sure she'll have forgotten. I should also ask her if she's always there that early, because it makes me feel like a slacker. On any given day, I am still dreaming at that time while she is apparently at school working.
Yesterday I took a herd of grade sevens to Duncan for a basketball tournament. I had to get up really early and be at the school at 5:30 am - the one that's in the morning? Before the sun is out and cars are on the road? Nobody in Campbell River is awake at 5:30, apparently. I unlocked the school and turned on the lights in the entrance hallway so it wouldn't be so creepy, and also so that the parents dropping off various team members would know someone was inside. A few minutes after I got in, from my spot in the staff room I heard the door open and somebody breathlessly come inside. I peered out around the corner to see who it was, and it was another teacher! Somebody who was not going on the tournament, who was also at school as early as me!
We stood for a minute and looked at each other, because I was not expecting her; nor was she expecting me. She cocked her head at said, "Are you okay? What are you doing here?" I said, "I'm here for the tournament," but wondered what she could have thought before I told her that. What kind of emergency would have sent me to the school that early? I should have asked her today what she meant, but by tomorrow I'm sure she'll have forgotten. I should also ask her if she's always there that early, because it makes me feel like a slacker. On any given day, I am still dreaming at that time while she is apparently at school working.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
cougars ruin everything
The sun came out today. It's been weather from a Jane Austen book for the whole week, so when I saw the sun I gasped and ran to my car and drove to the beach. It was wonderful and peaceful, and I was quite enjoying myself until I had a sudden flashback to a staff room conversation from Friday.
Teacher 1: "There's more cougars on Vancouver Island than anywhere else."
Teacher 2: "I know what you mean. When I go for a walk with my son in the forest, there is no distance between them and us. They watch us."
Teacher 1: "They like the little guys. They can pick you up and climb up a tree no sweat."
I know I'm not a little guy objectively speaking, but relative to a cougar? I don't know! I've never seen a cougar in real life! Maybe they're three times the size as me so to them I am a little guy! So then my wonderful morning at the beach was ruined, and I had to convince myself not to run to my car, lest there be cougars about and all they were waiting for was for me to give chase. Sometimes my penchant for eavesdropping gets me in trouble.
Last weekend I had the best pork ever to exist in the world, and I got the recipe but the recipe called for a crock pot. So yesterday I bought a crock pot, and this morning I plopped all the pork inside, and mixed up the ingredients for the fantastic sauce. You know how when you're making something wonderful, you want to smell it while you're making it? I smelled it, and that was a mistake. That may be because there is cider vinegar in the sauce, and that stuff smells disgusting, and also it could be because I was supposed to use chili sauce but I used sweet thai chili sauce instead. I hope it works! I am so concerned.
Report cards are due on Monday. Guess what I'm doing today? Not report cards! Because I finished yesterday! I am totally a report card pro now. Starting on Monday I get to teach English 7, which I am SO EXCITED ABOUT, and also I get a prep every day, which I am EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT. It's going to be amazing.
Teacher 1: "There's more cougars on Vancouver Island than anywhere else."
Teacher 2: "I know what you mean. When I go for a walk with my son in the forest, there is no distance between them and us. They watch us."
Teacher 1: "They like the little guys. They can pick you up and climb up a tree no sweat."
I know I'm not a little guy objectively speaking, but relative to a cougar? I don't know! I've never seen a cougar in real life! Maybe they're three times the size as me so to them I am a little guy! So then my wonderful morning at the beach was ruined, and I had to convince myself not to run to my car, lest there be cougars about and all they were waiting for was for me to give chase. Sometimes my penchant for eavesdropping gets me in trouble.
Last weekend I had the best pork ever to exist in the world, and I got the recipe but the recipe called for a crock pot. So yesterday I bought a crock pot, and this morning I plopped all the pork inside, and mixed up the ingredients for the fantastic sauce. You know how when you're making something wonderful, you want to smell it while you're making it? I smelled it, and that was a mistake. That may be because there is cider vinegar in the sauce, and that stuff smells disgusting, and also it could be because I was supposed to use chili sauce but I used sweet thai chili sauce instead. I hope it works! I am so concerned.
Report cards are due on Monday. Guess what I'm doing today? Not report cards! Because I finished yesterday! I am totally a report card pro now. Starting on Monday I get to teach English 7, which I am SO EXCITED ABOUT, and also I get a prep every day, which I am EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT. It's going to be amazing.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
instead maybe i should read a book
Today was spent writing mid-terms. I mean, I was writing the mid-terms that the students are going to write in a week. I was listening to dramatic instrumental music on my computer at work, watching the darkening sky out my window, and I felt very content. Like, I could do this kind of thing for a long time. In second block, my grade tens and I spent most of the time chatting; I have to give them up next week because they're a one-semester course only. Sometimes I have moments where I feel like a poster for BEING A TEACHER, and today was one of those moments.
Before I go to bed now I play a computer game about fish, where I match things to get points and then use points to build an aquarium. Sometimes I don't have enough points to provide my fish with all their comfort requirements, such as a heater and a filter, and then I feel bad so I race through the levels to get more points so my fish don't have to suffer. I think it's about time for a real pet.
Before I go to bed now I play a computer game about fish, where I match things to get points and then use points to build an aquarium. Sometimes I don't have enough points to provide my fish with all their comfort requirements, such as a heater and a filter, and then I feel bad so I race through the levels to get more points so my fish don't have to suffer. I think it's about time for a real pet.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
i outsmarted myself and i don't even mind
Today was a snow day. Not really a legit one, because an hour after I called all my students to tell them the whole thing was off, I drove to school and didn't even die. Now it's 5 degrees and the sun is shining, but it's too late to take it back!
I was very productive - I went to school and marked a bunch of stuff, because I hate marking and never want to do it after a whole day of teaching, then I went to the library, and then I came home and watched a movie. Then I noticed that my apartment is really messy, and simultaneously decided I wanted cake. So I said to myself, "I'll mix up the cake and put it in the oven, and while it's baking I'll clean my apartment!"
Everything mixed up okay, and then I started picking things up from the floor. Then my body was like, "Hey wait a minute, I'm still sick over here," and I felt light-headed. So I got some juice and sat on the couch and went on the internet, because hello, I'm sick, and a sick person can't clean an apartment. So now I have cake and I didn't even have to clean anything.
I was very productive - I went to school and marked a bunch of stuff, because I hate marking and never want to do it after a whole day of teaching, then I went to the library, and then I came home and watched a movie. Then I noticed that my apartment is really messy, and simultaneously decided I wanted cake. So I said to myself, "I'll mix up the cake and put it in the oven, and while it's baking I'll clean my apartment!"
Everything mixed up okay, and then I started picking things up from the floor. Then my body was like, "Hey wait a minute, I'm still sick over here," and I felt light-headed. So I got some juice and sat on the couch and went on the internet, because hello, I'm sick, and a sick person can't clean an apartment. So now I have cake and I didn't even have to clean anything.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
they are also all wearing pants
Driving home from work in the snow gives one a sense of accomplishment. "Check out how good of a driver I am!" one might say, after successfully backing in to a parking spot after acing the treacherous roads. "I'm amazing." (That's just what I said, except I said it to myself because there was nobody else around.) Then, when I was walking into my building, there was this lady trying to sweep snow off her van with a push-broom, and so I helped her. After that I felt like Superman! Sweet driving skills and an altruistic gesture. Fantastic.
Then I reclined on my couch because working all day after previously sleeping all day is HARD. I made it through my classes with lots of juice and tea and Vicks, but at the end of the day I felt a bit light-headed and I think I'll go to bed soon. Meanwhile, I watched another musical.
9. Guys and Dolls (1955) - Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine. This is about gambling, two guys and their respective dolls, and various secrets and misunderstandings. The first thing I noticed was the odd lack of contractions in much of the dialogue. They will alternately say, "ain't got a grand," and "cannot believe they will not take your marker." It was very distracting, and caused me to dislike the movie until Marlon Brando and that lady went to Havana. Then it came about that I can definitely see why he had dozens of illegitimate children - that man is CHARMING.
What I liked was the beginning scene, where they showed how sleazy the city was in a fantastic dance sequence, and the costumes, and the romance between cad Marlon Brando and innocent Jean Simmons. Of course she reformed him, but he reformed because he WANTED to. Before that could happen, though, there was a terrible misunderstanding and they got in a fight and it wasn't his fault but she blamed him and I felt so bad for him! Jean Simmons, how can you fight with him? He is so charming!
What I did not like was the lack of contractions - it sounded SO WEIRD. Internet movie trivia tells me that it legitimately copies the writing style of the original author, so I guess that's cool. But it drives me bananas. Also, don't watch Marlon Brando's mouth too closely when he's singing - apparently all his songs had to be mashed together from a bunch of takes because his singing voice was somewhat sub-par, and he doesn't seem to know how a singer moves his mouth.
Something confused me, however. They sang a song about gazing into each others' eyes and seeing love and how wonderful that was, and it reminded me of a quote from The Sound of Music: "Nothing's more irresistible to a man than a woman who's in love with him." But then, you know all those other movies where the boys are in love with girls who won't give them the time of day, and girls fall for boys who are big jerks? Which one is real life? That's what I'd like to know.
I am starting to regret my thirst for movie trivia. While looking into this one, I found out that Frank Sinatra was insanely jealous because Marlon Brando (who never sang before) got the title part, so he called him "Mumbles" behind his back! That made me sad. Come on, Frank Sinatra - can't you see how freaking CHARMING he is?
Overall, I liked this one. It's a good story, and you will not regret investing your time in Marlon Brando.
Then I reclined on my couch because working all day after previously sleeping all day is HARD. I made it through my classes with lots of juice and tea and Vicks, but at the end of the day I felt a bit light-headed and I think I'll go to bed soon. Meanwhile, I watched another musical.
9. Guys and Dolls (1955) - Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine. This is about gambling, two guys and their respective dolls, and various secrets and misunderstandings. The first thing I noticed was the odd lack of contractions in much of the dialogue. They will alternately say, "ain't got a grand," and "cannot believe they will not take your marker." It was very distracting, and caused me to dislike the movie until Marlon Brando and that lady went to Havana. Then it came about that I can definitely see why he had dozens of illegitimate children - that man is CHARMING.
What I liked was the beginning scene, where they showed how sleazy the city was in a fantastic dance sequence, and the costumes, and the romance between cad Marlon Brando and innocent Jean Simmons. Of course she reformed him, but he reformed because he WANTED to. Before that could happen, though, there was a terrible misunderstanding and they got in a fight and it wasn't his fault but she blamed him and I felt so bad for him! Jean Simmons, how can you fight with him? He is so charming!
What I did not like was the lack of contractions - it sounded SO WEIRD. Internet movie trivia tells me that it legitimately copies the writing style of the original author, so I guess that's cool. But it drives me bananas. Also, don't watch Marlon Brando's mouth too closely when he's singing - apparently all his songs had to be mashed together from a bunch of takes because his singing voice was somewhat sub-par, and he doesn't seem to know how a singer moves his mouth.
Something confused me, however. They sang a song about gazing into each others' eyes and seeing love and how wonderful that was, and it reminded me of a quote from The Sound of Music: "Nothing's more irresistible to a man than a woman who's in love with him." But then, you know all those other movies where the boys are in love with girls who won't give them the time of day, and girls fall for boys who are big jerks? Which one is real life? That's what I'd like to know.
I am starting to regret my thirst for movie trivia. While looking into this one, I found out that Frank Sinatra was insanely jealous because Marlon Brando (who never sang before) got the title part, so he called him "Mumbles" behind his back! That made me sad. Come on, Frank Sinatra - can't you see how freaking CHARMING he is?
Overall, I liked this one. It's a good story, and you will not regret investing your time in Marlon Brando.
Monday, January 10, 2011
i'm too sick to come up with a title
8:15am -
The sun is cracking through the clouds. This is good; I was worried I'd have to stumble to the doctor's office in the dark. Usually I'm at work at this time, so I can't remember what the sky normally looks like at 8:15 in the morning. I feel like today is going to be epic and strange, and all my students and the staff are going to be all, "OMG WHERE IS SHE?????" but honestly, probably that will not happen. More likely the staff will see the TOC in staff devotions and inquire as to who she is in for, and then say, "Oh." The students will eye her as one would eye an unknown animal when they walk in the classroom, but then become accustomed to her and like her better than me. :( (That's the grade sevens, only, though. My older kids probably won't even notice it's not me.)
I'm dressed in my go-to-doctor's outfit under my covers in bed. It's cold outside.
11:00am -
I thought the clinic opened at 9, because apparently I was calling a different clinic inside a different Wal-Mart than the one I intended. I inspected the toothbrushes in the toothbrush aisle that was beside the clinic for 15 minutes and then figured out I was too early, so I drove around Campbell River for 45 minutes because I didn't want to go back to my apartment. The skies were lovely this morning, you guys. Then the doctor told me it was viral, and I just have to get over it. Then I went shopping, and this is what was in my cart:
- raspberry pop tarts
- eggs (for making lemon pudding)
- 2 cans of juice
- 1 can of soup
- a big jug to make juice in
- a new kind of tea
- honey for said tea
- echinacea
I'm eating a pop tart right now. It may have been a mistake. Just like the cheesies yesterday were a mistake also. I shouldn't be allowed to go shopping when I'm sick.
3:00pm -
I've been busy - I watched a movie, and then had a nap. I actually had a nap during the movie, and then thought I should relocate the nap to my bed, and once I was in bed I wasn't tired anymore. Then I finished my book, and if I was at work my work day would be over now, so I feel like I should do some prep for tomorrow. I mean, I definitely need to do some prep for tomorrow, because I have no idea what I'm teaching my grade eights in the morning, or what we'll do in Socials in the afternoon, so I need to do some stuff.
And thus concludes my first ever sick day as a teacher. Ta-da. (That's what I say to my students when I've finished teaching them something. It makes everything very exciting.)
The sun is cracking through the clouds. This is good; I was worried I'd have to stumble to the doctor's office in the dark. Usually I'm at work at this time, so I can't remember what the sky normally looks like at 8:15 in the morning. I feel like today is going to be epic and strange, and all my students and the staff are going to be all, "OMG WHERE IS SHE?????" but honestly, probably that will not happen. More likely the staff will see the TOC in staff devotions and inquire as to who she is in for, and then say, "Oh." The students will eye her as one would eye an unknown animal when they walk in the classroom, but then become accustomed to her and like her better than me. :( (That's the grade sevens, only, though. My older kids probably won't even notice it's not me.)
I'm dressed in my go-to-doctor's outfit under my covers in bed. It's cold outside.
11:00am -
I thought the clinic opened at 9, because apparently I was calling a different clinic inside a different Wal-Mart than the one I intended. I inspected the toothbrushes in the toothbrush aisle that was beside the clinic for 15 minutes and then figured out I was too early, so I drove around Campbell River for 45 minutes because I didn't want to go back to my apartment. The skies were lovely this morning, you guys. Then the doctor told me it was viral, and I just have to get over it. Then I went shopping, and this is what was in my cart:
- raspberry pop tarts
- eggs (for making lemon pudding)
- 2 cans of juice
- 1 can of soup
- a big jug to make juice in
- a new kind of tea
- honey for said tea
- echinacea
I'm eating a pop tart right now. It may have been a mistake. Just like the cheesies yesterday were a mistake also. I shouldn't be allowed to go shopping when I'm sick.
3:00pm -
I've been busy - I watched a movie, and then had a nap. I actually had a nap during the movie, and then thought I should relocate the nap to my bed, and once I was in bed I wasn't tired anymore. Then I finished my book, and if I was at work my work day would be over now, so I feel like I should do some prep for tomorrow. I mean, I definitely need to do some prep for tomorrow, because I have no idea what I'm teaching my grade eights in the morning, or what we'll do in Socials in the afternoon, so I need to do some stuff.
And thus concludes my first ever sick day as a teacher. Ta-da. (That's what I say to my students when I've finished teaching them something. It makes everything very exciting.)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
at least there's jello at the end of this story
Today was one of those that required all the strength in my bones plus more. It all started last night, you see. I was dead tired at 8:30 (Tuesdays tend to do that to me), so I optimistically crawled into bed and shut my eyes. Instantly I fell asleep, which was wonderful, but at 12:30 I woke up that kind of waking up where you are ZAP WIDE AWAKE. The second my eyes opened I began to worry about not finishing one of my Math classes on time, and teaching another class everything they need to know in time for the FSAs, and not knowing if I'm teaching English next semester, and if my gums were receding fast enough for my two front teeth to fall out, and about calling parents about interim reports, and so on. It's like it was gnawing at every synapse in my brain and I couldn't shut it off, even by counting.
I decided it was useless to try and fall asleep, so I turned on the light and read for a bit, and then I decided to take a shower because I was going to take one in the morning and if I took it at that time it would save me time in the morning. (Since sometimes showers have a wakening affect, I agonized over this decision from the moment I decided to throw off my covers to the moment when I put a towel over my pillow so my hair wouldn't soak through my pillow. But I did it anyway.) Then I perused the internet for several hours, then I read again, and then at 4:30 I fell asleep.
Then I had to wake up at 7 for work, and instead of going to staff devotions like I have done every single morning since I started, I sat at my desk, drank my coffee, and listened to dramatic instrumental music. Each of my five classes was something not quite agony, but a little bit less than that. Then I trudged to my car, went home, and had some jello.
I decided it was useless to try and fall asleep, so I turned on the light and read for a bit, and then I decided to take a shower because I was going to take one in the morning and if I took it at that time it would save me time in the morning. (Since sometimes showers have a wakening affect, I agonized over this decision from the moment I decided to throw off my covers to the moment when I put a towel over my pillow so my hair wouldn't soak through my pillow. But I did it anyway.) Then I perused the internet for several hours, then I read again, and then at 4:30 I fell asleep.
Then I had to wake up at 7 for work, and instead of going to staff devotions like I have done every single morning since I started, I sat at my desk, drank my coffee, and listened to dramatic instrumental music. Each of my five classes was something not quite agony, but a little bit less than that. Then I trudged to my car, went home, and had some jello.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
nothing to declare except my genius
Two ways in which I was a genius today:
1) I wore new boots to school, and didn't notice until I got in the building that they made farting noises each time I stepped because they are a tiny bit too big and my foot was slipping around inside. One cannot wear farting boots around high school kids, so I folded some paper towels into make-shift insoles, and ceased the farting. GENIUS.
2) I was teaching the grade nines about the difference between (-4) and -4 in exponents, and suddenly it came to me to explain it thusly: "When the negative is inside with the number, it's inside the hug of the brackets, so it sticks together and that is the base. When it's not in the brackets, it is not being hugged together with the number." They proceeded to repeat my brilliance in a mocking tone, but I didn't care because when they are writing their tests it's all going to come back to them because of the hugs. GENIUS.
It's currently snowing. They called for snow, but I never believe them; today it appears that I should have believed them. It's really fun to watch from the windows, so a few times in each class today we stared out the window at the snow. (More fun would have been playing in the snow, but then we come into the trouble of throwing snowballs and going to the principal's office.)
1) I wore new boots to school, and didn't notice until I got in the building that they made farting noises each time I stepped because they are a tiny bit too big and my foot was slipping around inside. One cannot wear farting boots around high school kids, so I folded some paper towels into make-shift insoles, and ceased the farting. GENIUS.
2) I was teaching the grade nines about the difference between (-4) and -4 in exponents, and suddenly it came to me to explain it thusly: "When the negative is inside with the number, it's inside the hug of the brackets, so it sticks together and that is the base. When it's not in the brackets, it is not being hugged together with the number." They proceeded to repeat my brilliance in a mocking tone, but I didn't care because when they are writing their tests it's all going to come back to them because of the hugs. GENIUS.
It's currently snowing. They called for snow, but I never believe them; today it appears that I should have believed them. It's really fun to watch from the windows, so a few times in each class today we stared out the window at the snow. (More fun would have been playing in the snow, but then we come into the trouble of throwing snowballs and going to the principal's office.)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
besides which you see
I'm very "home"-minded right now. I have these ideas for what to do with my mainland home, like paint my room purple and BUY A DOG. (That's totally the plan now. I'm going to buy a dog when I come back for good in June, except I want a dog NOW, especially since there are young Border Terrier dogs available for rescue and I want a Border Terrier because there is a Border Terrier-sized hole in my heart where my wonderful old dog used to be.) I was going to go to Scotland in the summer, since my contract at the high school is for twelve months even though I'm only working for ten, so I'm getting paid for two months of not working, which is probably never going to happen again. However, since I think (I think) I have a job as a substitute with the Surrey School District (!!!!!!!!) in September, I have re-evaluated my goals at this stage in my life and I think I should use that money to buy a car and a dog.
Also, I've been having some crisis thoughts about my work as a teacher. Am I too strict/mean? Am I leaving some kids behind? Am I actually teaching the Math kids any Math? Are they losing a whole year of education because I don't know what I'm doing? I don't know if these thoughts about work are normal. I went out for coffee with a friend who is newly an accountant, and she was self-conscious about her ability to account, so maybe my self-consciousness about my ability to teach is just something that goes along with you when you're new at something.
Last night when I was watching Maria swing her guitar around and sing about how she has confidence in herself, I was thinking how great it would be to listen to that song on repeat in the morning before the kids come. It will be like my "Rocky" theme, except about confidence instead of punching.
Also, I've been having some crisis thoughts about my work as a teacher. Am I too strict/mean? Am I leaving some kids behind? Am I actually teaching the Math kids any Math? Are they losing a whole year of education because I don't know what I'm doing? I don't know if these thoughts about work are normal. I went out for coffee with a friend who is newly an accountant, and she was self-conscious about her ability to account, so maybe my self-consciousness about my ability to teach is just something that goes along with you when you're new at something.
Last night when I was watching Maria swing her guitar around and sing about how she has confidence in herself, I was thinking how great it would be to listen to that song on repeat in the morning before the kids come. It will be like my "Rocky" theme, except about confidence instead of punching.
Friday, December 17, 2010
losing your eye was your own fault. now what do you want.
Yesterday a friend and I went out for sushi and then watched White Christmas, which I had never seen fully up until this point but had always seen bits on t.v. and thought it was super boring. Turns out that when you watch the whole thing at once it's not boring at all, but is actually quite wonderful. When it got near to the end, I predicted that it was going to snow and they were going to kiss, and I was totally right. I'm smart about movies like that.
Speaking of movies, while my friend and I were waiting for our sushi we went to the movie store because they were having a buy 2 get 1 free sale, and I went a little bit crazy for $5 movies. This is what I bought:
- Penelope
- Corpse Bride
- America's Sweethearts
- Big Fish
- Royal Tenenbaums
- Igor
- Charlie Bartlett
- Nicholas Nickelby
- Elf
- Shrek the Halls
- Ever After
- Danny Deckchair
I'd never seen Charlie Bartlett or Igor, but it cost less to buy then than to rent them, and I watched them both today. (We had early dismissal at school, so I was a little bit bored.) I liked the former and disliked the latter. Also, two Christmas movies because as a teacher I think it's important that I build up my Christmas movie collection for early dismissal days before Christmas break.
On Sunday I'm driving home for two weeks, so I'm supposed to pack tomorrow. I started today, on account of being bored, and I discovered it's hard to pack for two weeks. I wish to put my tiny apartment in a box and bring everything with me. At least I'm taking the car, so I have space for the Christmas tree and half my wardrobe.
This is what I'm excited about:
- being back at home for more than one and a half days
- seeing my dog
- seeing everybody I know and miss!
- taking a break from wrangling hooligans all day
I'm going to miss the wind, though. Campbell River has spectacular wind.
Speaking of movies, while my friend and I were waiting for our sushi we went to the movie store because they were having a buy 2 get 1 free sale, and I went a little bit crazy for $5 movies. This is what I bought:
- Penelope
- Corpse Bride
- America's Sweethearts
- Big Fish
- Royal Tenenbaums
- Igor
- Charlie Bartlett
- Nicholas Nickelby
- Elf
- Shrek the Halls
- Ever After
- Danny Deckchair
I'd never seen Charlie Bartlett or Igor, but it cost less to buy then than to rent them, and I watched them both today. (We had early dismissal at school, so I was a little bit bored.) I liked the former and disliked the latter. Also, two Christmas movies because as a teacher I think it's important that I build up my Christmas movie collection for early dismissal days before Christmas break.
On Sunday I'm driving home for two weeks, so I'm supposed to pack tomorrow. I started today, on account of being bored, and I discovered it's hard to pack for two weeks. I wish to put my tiny apartment in a box and bring everything with me. At least I'm taking the car, so I have space for the Christmas tree and half my wardrobe.
This is what I'm excited about:
- being back at home for more than one and a half days
- seeing my dog
- seeing everybody I know and miss!
- taking a break from wrangling hooligans all day
I'm going to miss the wind, though. Campbell River has spectacular wind.
Monday, December 6, 2010
shoulder the sky, my lad
I feel like I screwed a bunch of stuff up, and also had to fight twenty-five turkeys for four hours. We had "Miss W Needs Chill Out Time" time for about five minutes near the end of Math, where I turned off the lights and they had to put their heads down on their desks so I didn't flip out at them. I'm trying to be creative and innovative with consequences and making them aware of their choices and stuff, but I don't think it's working.
Whenever it comes to be around Christmas, I always get super melancholy. I get a tingly feeling in my fingers, which is a precursor for a feeling of impending drama, which is always left unfulfilled except for the fact that it makes me a bit sad. I'm waiting and waiting for something dramatic to happen, and because it's dark outside all the time I expect it to be something bad dramatic, but it never happens so I am left always waiting still. I don't really know how to explain it.
Whenever it comes to be around Christmas, I always get super melancholy. I get a tingly feeling in my fingers, which is a precursor for a feeling of impending drama, which is always left unfulfilled except for the fact that it makes me a bit sad. I'm waiting and waiting for something dramatic to happen, and because it's dark outside all the time I expect it to be something bad dramatic, but it never happens so I am left always waiting still. I don't really know how to explain it.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
is it ever really yelling time
Yesterday my students had a giant test on acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, because they have been driving me bananas. After that, during Bible class, I asked them about what kind of volume was acceptable, and one student said, "WHISPERING AND NOT YELLING." I said, "WHY NOT YELLING?" and he said, "BECAUSE THIS IS BIBLE CLASS, NOT YELLING TIME." I found this hilarious because he and I were on opposite ends of the room, having that conversation at yelling volume, and I liked how he called it "yelling time."
It's sunny today! It hasn't been sunny in a very long time. I think I will go to the beach, after I make a dent in my giant pile of marking. Of course, since the ground is covered in frost, I will need to go to the beach in a scarf and gloves. I love going to the beach in a scarf and gloves!
It's sunny today! It hasn't been sunny in a very long time. I think I will go to the beach, after I make a dent in my giant pile of marking. Of course, since the ground is covered in frost, I will need to go to the beach in a scarf and gloves. I love going to the beach in a scarf and gloves!
Friday, November 26, 2010
that's a curious name for a motorcar
Lately it's come about that every time I walk into the staff room at work I start singing the song "Truly Scrumptious" from one of the best movies of all time, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The first few times it didn't strike me as odd, because I watched that movie innumerable times when I was younger and probably also some of my students were singing it in the hallways to be obnoxious and get it stuck in everybody's heads. Eventually, however, it started to concern me. Why did it happen every time I walked into the staff room? Was somebody trying to subliminally control me into buying candy? Was somebody watching the movie on a constant loop in a nearby classroom? WHAT WAS GOING ON???
Today, I solved the mystery. For the past couple weeks there has been a box of those arrowroot-style baby cookies on the staff room table. In large white letters on the side of the box is the company name: TRULY. Obviously, since baby cookies are scrumptious, therein lies the connection. I don't know why I didn't put the pieces together sooner; I may have to rethink my side career as an ace detective.
Today, I solved the mystery. For the past couple weeks there has been a box of those arrowroot-style baby cookies on the staff room table. In large white letters on the side of the box is the company name: TRULY. Obviously, since baby cookies are scrumptious, therein lies the connection. I don't know why I didn't put the pieces together sooner; I may have to rethink my side career as an ace detective.
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