I'm In Love...

with my iPod. It's a strange love, as Depeche Mode would sing. I've never been a fan of the Apple computer. I don't like them. BUT I love my iPod. I'm addicted to podcasts. There are hundreds and hundreds of podcasts to choose from. Podcasts from all my favorite NPR shows, KPCC shows, KCRW shows. There are podcasts that teach languages. There are podcasts that teach you how to cook. Podcasts of dj's special music mixes. You can listen to podcasts of Meet the Press, 60 Minutes, even Real Time with Bill Maher. I've got to figure out how to podcast Wizard TV!

Intersession Report #1

I'm happy to report that intersession has been calm, for the most part. I've had to remove one of my friends from class a couple of times. Today a fifth grader was sent to the office for telling a classmate to suck his "private part," except he didn't say "private part." Kids say the darndest things. Last Friday was kind of wild with the rain. We survived. Looks like it will be rainy again this Friday. I'm taking the day off, so I ain't gonna worry about it. I hope everyone is enjoying their vacation (even the teachers working intersession). Seven more days of intersession left. At least we'll have almost three weeks left to enjoy. That will be nice.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving. It's one of the few days of the year that I can turn off my alarm. It was so nice to sleep in this morning. I spent the entire morning importing cds into iTunes so I could then transfer them into my new iPod. I'm loving my new toy! Then I watched Season 1 of The Office on DVD. That show is hilarious. I really need to get TiVo or something. I think I'm missing some good shows. I plan on sleeping in tomorrow too! Very nice! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. And I hope everyone enjoys their vacation, even those working intersession.

Random Thoughts

Today's staff development meeting was a mix of good and bad. The good was the writing portion, of course. I really need to start writing in my writer's notebook again. This blog has become sort of my writer's notebook. The stories I could write from some of these entries! The bad is having to make cuts. It must be done. Time to tighten the belt. So sad. I'm trying to think if anything funny or interesting happened today. Ummmmm...lets see. Oh yeah, I was commenting at the patio party about how it felt like Christmas, and then I started channeling Bing Crosby. I started singing White Christmas in my best Bing Crosby voice. Mr. H just laughed and the kids actually looked a little scared. I stopped. Oh yeah, one more thing...last night I had a horrible nightmare. Let me tell you about it. Of course the nightmare's setting was school (all my nightmares are set at school - alseep and awake), anyway, I noticed the boys' bathroom in the main building was locked up. So I go to unlock the door and open the door and I notice a boy and a girl in the bathroom. I asked "What are you doing in here!" Then dozens of kids come out of the stalls (boys and girls). I know, FREAKY. Oh wait, it gets better. So the bathroom is totally filled with kids. I get on the radio to call Matt for backup. I think as I was still on the radio, one of the kids comes up to me and starts slashing my face with a knife. Oh yes, slashing, with a knife. So now I start calling Georgia on the radio (because I've been slashed, with a knife, and obviously need medical attention). I grab the kid slasher and start strangling him/her (I'm not sure if it was a boy or girl). And then I wake up. FREAKY!! Usually I don't dream. I know, sad. But when I do, they are doozies! (Is that a word?) Usually I'm searching for my car in my dreams. Anyone know what that means? I think I'm fully clothed while searching for the car. I could be pantless, but I'm not sure. I wonder if that makes a difference in the interpretation of the dream? Well, I'm glad it was only a dream. I am going to be a little careful when I unlock the bathroom door though...just to be on the safe side. You know, I think I'll make Darryl unlock the door.

Great book - Check it out!

Sorry :(

Yup, I've been a grump for the last couple of weeks. Sorry. It's been very stressful lately. That's no excuse. Everyone is stressed out and working their butts off. Report cards, data reports, conferences, and just the day to day teaching that needs to happen - dayum, who is making you do all this? We're all stressed. So, today I took a deep breath and bought books and coffee. Buying books and coffee always calms me down. Hopefully the next 11 days will be calm and productive. There's still lots to do. We are so deserving of the upcoming break. AND next Monday is a holiday. I'm definitely going to buy books and coffee on that day!

Words that Annoy

We all have certain words that annoy us. Some, I hear, have words they "loathe." I don't really "loathe" any words, but there are some words that truly annoy me. Here they are: indeed, rejected, super, rockies, giants, padres, bistro, late, can't, won't, squishy, pinhead, conservative, and "sloppy copy." Just to name a few. What words annoy you? (I wonder if Mr. C can write a song using all my annoying words?)

Exhaustion

I'm totally exhausted. Almost too exhausted to sleep. What a day. I barely had time to "use it." The bathroom that is. Lots to do. I'm hoping to get intersession done this week so I can start on tutoring. But I have to figure out how to squeeze Butler's elementary kids into our intersession. I've agreed to take a few of Butler's kids. Not sure if I should have done that. Intersession is such a pain. It really is. The budget survey went out today. I've been putting that off for weeks. Definitely not something I'm looking forward to dealing with and I'm sure Glenda feels the same way. We definitely need to make cuts...actual positions must go. The question...which ones? It's like deciding which limb to cut off...hard decision to make. It's not right, we shouldn't have to make these cuts. It's a shame.

Kids are funny...sometimes...

As I was visiting fifth grade classrooms this morning, two funny things happened. Funny thing number one happened in Mr. C's room. I purposely sat kind of close to my very good friend Marcus. I think I sat a little too close for his comfort. He said to me, "Ummm, Mr. Garcia, not to offend you or anything, but you're giving me goosebumps." I felt like saying back to him, "Well, after all the headaches you've given me, you're lucky you're only getting goosebumps." But I didn't. Too funny. Funny thing number two happened when I was passing room 70. A bunch of Michelle's kids were going back to class after Read 180, I was right behind them. One of the kids was shaking his booty and having a good 'ol time. He had no clue I was right behind him. It turns out he wasn't just shaking his booty at me, he was actually doing some sort of dance. When he realized I was behind him he quickly scampered to the ramp and covered his head with this hoodie. Too funny. He was mortified. I whispered to him, "You never know where I'm going to turn up. Huh?" I saw him later at lunch and he gave me a huge grin. Too funny. I need to get out of the office more.

Oktoberfest

This weekend I went to Big Bear's Oktoberfest with some friends. It's the one weekend a year I'm not at school. I know, sad. The weather was beautiful. The bratwurst was delicious. The beer was good and I don't even really like beer. I'm not a drinker. I prefer diet coke with lime and coffee. I know, sad. It's a hoot watching all the old folks do the chicken dance and carry around their jumbo cups of beer. I was a bit disappointed though. I didn't get a booze wristband because I look older than 35. That is just wrong. I wanted to tell the guy handing out the wristbands to take another look, but I didn't. I didn't get frisked this year. Usually I do. I always get mad because I suspect profiling. I kind of missed it. The friends I go with usually don't get frisked and they are way more thug looking than I. Well not really, they actually look like Swedish tourists. It was so nice to get away to such a beautiful place with people you love. I'm looking forward to next year's Oktoberfest! Hopefully I'll get a wristband and frisked.

Help!

I'm about to eat a whole bag of Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips!!! Someone stop me!!! Too late.

Two in a Row

Wow...two posts in a row...nice. Eval conferences are over...nice. Interesting that a lot of people chose the formal observation route. I was a bit surprised. But that's ok. I'm glad a few people are choosing to blog. Nice. I hope those who are blogging find it reflective and fun. I love it! I do have to watch myself though...I have to make sure a cuss word doesn't show up. That would be so sad. You never know who's reading the posts. Speaking of wanting to cuss. This afternoon Lili and I met with a parent who doesn't want her kid bussed to an eastside school. We have told this parent a million times that we're full, we have no room, blah blah blah...that the kid has to take the bus to a school that has room. She'll have no part of it. She was so rude and disrespectful. She sat there telling us how she knows how to manipulate the system to get her kid to the school that she wants. Of course we had to sit there and listen to this nonsense. So frustrating. I just wanted to scream "S$#@ THE %^&K *P AND MAKE SURE YOUR KID IS ON THAT BUS TOMORROW! Have a nice evening." Then we have wonderful parents who are so supportive and kind. One of our very visible parents baked me a Spongebob cake for boss day. They are just the best people. Speaking of boss day...thanks to everyone for making it such a nice day. The super star office staff and rec staff and all the wonderful teachers...thanks so much for your kindness. It was so nice to have a few minutes to eat a real lunch with real people. What a treat. I RARELY get to eat a real lunch that lasts more than five minutes. I know, sad. But I must protect the milk. Some things are way more important than me having lunch. I felt so guilty sitting in my office with some of my favorite people eating lunch. I know, sad. Anyway, thanks to everyone for a great day. Time to go tread. Ick.

Where's e?

Wow. Can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted. So sad. So bad. I guess I've just been so busy and so tired. Mostly just tired. So many exciting and juicy things have happened these last three weeks...too bad I forgot everything. I have a horrible memory. It's a miracle I can remember peoples' names. It's a miracle I can remember to put socks on in the morning. Last year, one Saturday morning, I actually left my apartment wearing two different shoes...oh yes, two different shoes. Imagine how horrified I was when I looked down. I only noticed it because I was walking kind of weird. That's scary. Today was a pretty calm day. It's nice having Matt back. It's always good having the extra back up. Eval conferences went well. Looks like five or six people will blog. Very nice. I told them they could rip me on their blogs if they wanted to. I would bust out laughing if someone actually did that on their blog. But then I would lock myself in my room and cry for hours. I have my goals conference with Jill on Friday. I think I have everything ready for that. It's always a stressful time for me. Always. I don't know why. Jill is so calm and reassuring. Anyway, I'll be glad when that's over. The last three weeks have been very stressful. A couple times I really thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. This weekend I'm going to Big Bear with friends. Can't wait for that. It's Oktoberfest! Bring on the bratwurst and streudel! I love Big Bear Oktoberfest. It's hilarious watching the old ladies with their GIGANTIC steins of beer. Usually when we go, there are a couple of busses of old folks on a day trip from the home. You should see the chicken dance. Maybe I'll take a picture and have Mr. C help me post it. Please don't get the wrong idea...I LOVE old folks. In fact, I work very closely with many "seniors."

This picture is from one my favorite sites, postsecret.com. Now I'm going to wonder where you are when I see your sub. :)

Better News

He's doing much better today. Much better news!

Great job on the fire drill today. It was so quiet while we were collecting the forms. Excellent!

Lets hope it doesn't rain tomorrow or Friday. Keep your fingers crossed. It can rain at 5:00.

Sad News

This morning I received news that one of our kids had been shot. Apparently gang bangers shot into his home. This was the fifth shooting in the area in the last few weeks or so. Lili, Cheryl and I went to visit the mom at the hospital. She was happy and appreciative to see us. Of course we offered our support and resources. Lili is going back to the hospital tonight to see if he made it out of surgery ok (second surgery since last night). No matter how hard we work to nurture the kids and keep them safe at school, we have absolutely no control over what happens outside in the neighborhood. It's very depressing. And infuriating. And heartbreaking.

Tie Goes to the Loser

WOW! A tie. Very nice. I was expecting a landslipe for creepiness!

Not Good Times

Today was probably the most stressful day for me since school has started. I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with the paperwork and the deadlines and the day to day stuff. Today I managed to lose my cool over a piano. So sad. There's so much to do and not enough time to get it done. We have a lot of kids who need one on one attention. And about four kids who shouldn't be in regular classes. BIG PROPS to the teachers who have these kids. Checking in on them is a very exhausting task! That's nothing compared to what their teachers have to deal with during the day. It's gonna be a long year.

A Must Have Book

Week One

One would think that a three day week would go by fast. One would be wrong. What a freakin' long week. I hope last week isn't a harbinger of things to come. It's been difficult adjusting to Clarissa being gone. I really miss her. It's weird not seeing her around. I'm very happy that the team selected Glenda. She's doing a great job. I'm already very impressed and appreciative of her work. One cute and amusing thing did happen during week one...one of the new kindergarteners saw me and said "that's security." I think I laughed for five minutes. Thank goodness he didn't say, "There goes that fat ass Mr. Garcia."

A New Blog for a New Year

A new blog for a new year with a new look. Should be fun, no?