$4.15

Gas at the Chevron station near my apartment is $4.15 a gallon. Yesterday it was $4.10. Lets make bets to see when it hits $5.00. Unbelievable.

Random Ramblings

I walked the beach two days in a row. Good for me. Yesterday, my hip was really hurting, so I had to cut my walk a bit short. My hip has really been hurting lately. I hope I don't have arthritis or worse. I guess it's time to give up the break dancing. I knew this day would come but I didn't think it would come so soon. I guess I can't live in the 80s forever. I guess I'll have to cling to my iPod filled with Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Culture Club, the Go Gos, Adam Ant, and Billy Idol.

Speaking of the 80's. I want to again thank everyone for a wonderful birthday. I was blown away by the kindness and thoughtfulness of everyone. The kids were so cute. They were more excited about my birthday than I was. Time sure does fly. Blanca gave me a really cute card. It reads "Do you realize that 40 years ago...call waiting referred to a line outside of a phone booth...an airbag was someone who talked too much...spam was found only in the kitchen...a cell phone was what you used to make your one call from jail..." Too funny!

I had to buy a new computer. My computer is on its last leg. It keeps crashing. It's ready to crash permanently at any moment. Hopefully, the new one will arrive this week. I don't think I could survive a day without a computer.

He Was Robbed!

Cook beats Archuleta. WTF? I demand a recount!

Classified Appreciation Week

A HUGE shout out to our classified staff. Your work is very much appreciated. Thanks for making a difference in the lives of kids and families!

Where's Barack?

Young and in trouble

No, I'm not talking about me. The PressTelegram has begun a series of stories on youth crime in the city. Check it out. The statistics are very scary and very sad.

Appreciation

I really appreciate the people I work with. I'm so lucky to be able to work with talented, dedicated, and driven people. So many just quietly go about their work. Not interested in adulation or reward. A shared vision drives their work. Our kids are so fortunate.

HEY YOU GUYS!

It's already been a long week...and it's only Tuesday. Not good. Today's Key Results visit went really well. We saw two GREAT content standard driven lessons. VERY good! I appreciate the teachers allowing us to observe their reading workshop. Thank you. I managed to get us new purple recycling bins AND mini recycling bins for the classrooms. Good for me! Tomorrow's the last principals' meeting for the year. I hope there isn't any more bad news. I can't take any more bad news. Any Electric Company fans out there? I used to LOVE that show. LOVED IT! I read on perez that PBS is bringing back the show. How cool is that? I loved it when Rita Moreno screamed "HEY YOU GUYS!" Lets keep our fingers crossed that the rest of the week is calmer than Monday and Tuesday.

What a week!

What an exhausting week. I should be in bed right now, but I'm just too exhausted to get out of my desk chair and crawl into bed. That's sad. We are getting so many new kids who are just, how shall I put this delicately, very very needy. It's so scary and it's so sad. And of course we have the home grown Whittier needy ones. Is it July yet? I am so ready for this year to end.

On a happy note, David Archuleta kicked butt on this week's Idol show. He sang two great songs. Dreadlocks guy got the boot. Much deserved IMO. Of all the great Bob Marley songs to sing, he had to sing I Shot the Sheriff? What was he thinking?

On a sad note, I'm listening to the Dodgers on the radio. They're losing. I'm getting sick of listening to the commercials for Tommy Lasorda's wine.

I hope all the teachers had a nice appreciation week. I hope the teachers know that their support staff appreciates their hard work. Teaching is hard work.

I'm Back

It's been a long time since a post. I think this is the longest I've gone without a post since the Year-3 days. The last few weeks have been very busy and a bit stressful. We've tracked back on (stressful), I've moved (very very stressful), and I was really sick last week. I hate moving, I'm not so fond of tracking back on, and being sick is not fun. I'm feeling much better in case you're wondering.

This morning I was going to give some books to Karen, when I noticed a kid (first grader) halfway in and halfway out of his classroom. He was standing on the threshold, with the door almost closed. I asked him why he wasn't in his class learning. I immediately thought he was in trouble. He wasn't in trouble. He told me that he was "trying to fart." I wished him good luck with that and I continued on my way to Karen's class.

This afternoon Wendy gave me a personalized autograph from David Archuleta! How cool is that! Hey, I'm a fan!