1:00 pm
Here's the problem with Netflix Instant: There's just too many damn choices. When I don't know what I want to watch, I just peruse the genres, thinking that the right movie will catch my eye, and I will shout "EUREKA! THANK YOU NETFLIX! THIS IS JUST WHAT I WANTED TO WATCH!" But what really happens, even when I find something I am interested in, is I pass it right by thinking I can find something better or more suitable to my mood. I end up effectively wasting 45 minutes and returning to my old stand by: Law and Order SVU.
I'm so annoyed.
My baking skills are too good my own good. I made peanut butter cookies last night. I am a mad master baker. But the problem is they are too good, and this is very dangerous.
I am so annoyed.
It's raining outside. I have to go BACK to the hardware store for the third time this weekend. My laundry needs some serious folding. I have to grade papers.
I'm so annoyed.
Everything is so annoying right now, except the biscuits and gravy I had for breakfast, my bed, and Law and Order. I'm taking a nap.
Update 2:30
After waking up from very short nap, I looked around my (extremely) untidy room. I considered cleaning it.
Then I decided on a bath instead.
The bath started out equally as annoying as everything else. The water was way too hot, and the first twenty minutes felt like noon in the middle of July. But then I watched episodes of 30 Rock, everything was much better. I feel mildly motivated. Mostly just to paint my nails and give myself a facial. Will keep you updated, as I'm sure you're dying to know what happens next.
Update 6:30
I neglected to mention that I started my bath at approx 2:30. I didn't get out until 4.
Since then, I've watched 1.75 episodes of Law and Order, 1 episode of 30 Rock, eaten some red beans and rice, two peanut butter cookies, and one can of Coca-Cola. I have also moisturized my skin, sufficiently praised the cat, and started folding my laundry.
Update 6:26
I'm sure you're desperately wondering how I traveled backwards in time. Well, here's how. The last update was actually written at 6:17. I rounded up.
I forgot to mention that I have spent time today looking for decently priced plane tickets to go to Florida to see my grandparents, on facebook chatting with my friend Becker, and let's not forget the time I have spent writing this blog. I also just helped my roommate move a table back into the kitchen and have considered starting to take the polish off my toes. My laundry looks quite nice, half folded on my bed.
Update 9:02 (being honest about the time now)
My laundry is folded. It was like pulling out my own teeth, but I did it.
Post-laundry finish, listlessness set in. So I took the garbage out, which was a huge. First step outside since I got back from brunch at noon. It was pouring rain. I decided to turn on the boob tube, make some tea and grade papers.
Then I remembered why I don't grade papers. There is nothing more enraging than grading subtraction problems after you have spent HOURS AND DAYS going over how to borrow only to find that my volume was on mute while teaching that lesson. Which tragically brought me back to stage 1:00 of extreme annoyance.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I managed to kick three students out of class within the first three classes. I ticked one off, and after he refused to talk to me about it, I told him we could talk about it Monday. "Well, I'm not coming back Monday. How bout THAT?" Suhweeeet.
The one who left came back today, and it went rather well, considering.
Last week, in addition to throwing it down with my students, I also managed to completely organized all the paperwork in my desk. I have sorted all the worksheets by subject and then alphabetized them according to topic. Mom, I know you don't believe that I have organization skills, but I am passionate about alphabetization.
The one who left came back today, and it went rather well, considering.
Last week, in addition to throwing it down with my students, I also managed to completely organized all the paperwork in my desk. I have sorted all the worksheets by subject and then alphabetized them according to topic. Mom, I know you don't believe that I have organization skills, but I am passionate about alphabetization.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Narcotics Anonymous
I have a growing collection of Narcotics Anonymous leaflets, handbooks, key chains and leaflets in my desk. If you didn't know better, and you opened the top right hand drawer of my desk, you might think that I am a recovering narcotics addict.
I have a student who's name isn't Danny, but is about as common. Danny is in his forties and is one of the nicest students that I've ever had. He insists on calling me Miss Molly, even after I've asked him not to, participates enthusiastically in class, works with the other students, helps put the books up after class, and thanks me after class. He doesn't always have a smile on his face, but he has the kindliest looking face, and when he does smile, it makes me smile back. Danny also has a five inch scar up his forearm that sinks about a quarter inch down into his skin. It's an inch wide, and the tissue at the edge of the skid looks like a fortress almost.
The first time Danny told me about his scar, he didn't say much. Just that he was a different person back when he was beat up in an abandon house and left for dead. After his first six weeks of having me for a teacher, Danny asked what he had to do to keep me for a teacher. As his luck would have it, he landed in my class again.
One morning, and I can't remember how it ever happened, but Danny told me that he was a recovering narcotics addict. He was shy and scared, and I can't blame him. Saying those things can change how a person views you. I told him about losing a friend to suicide and alcoholism and the confusion of the big, wide world. I told him that no matter what, he could always talk to me if he needed to, and that even if I didn't understand, I would support him.
I also solicited Danny for some help. One of my goals for this fiscal year is to put together a resource binder for our students. Students come to us for all kinds of help. Sometimes it's about housing issues, abuse at home, medical issues, and a gambit of other things. It's aggravating and embarrassing when a person reaches out for help, and you have no resources or even contacts to give them. Sure, you can look up a phone number on the Internet, but that doesn't mean that the information is good any more. I told Danny about my plan and asked if he could bring me a few fliers with meeting times and places.
Danny was good to his word. He has faithfully brought me fliers about the meetings and locations, about admitting that you are an addict, and the 12 steps. One morning, before I'd had enough coffee and 40 minutes before class started, there was a knock on the door. I answered the door, fully prepared to tell the student to come back in twenty minutes. But there was Danny, and I couldn't say no to his smile. "Ms. Molly," he asked as he took off his jacket, "Would you mind reading this to me today?" He handed me his Narcotics Anonymous book with the page marked. I swallowed my humble pie with my coffee, and when I finished, he said thank you, and in earnest, "Miss Molly, did you get anything out of that?" And I had to admit with him, right there, that I needed to change my attitude for the day. "Miss Molly, you're sure not a morning person, are you?"
Last week Danny gave me his six month sober key chain. Today he brought me my own copy of Narcotics Anonymous. I'm not sure if he thinks I'm secretly an addict or if he is trying to help me with the resource binder or if it's his way of fighting his addiction. It doesn't matter what the reason is. I can't tell him no. Meanwhile, my desk drawer will slowly keep filling....
I have a student who's name isn't Danny, but is about as common. Danny is in his forties and is one of the nicest students that I've ever had. He insists on calling me Miss Molly, even after I've asked him not to, participates enthusiastically in class, works with the other students, helps put the books up after class, and thanks me after class. He doesn't always have a smile on his face, but he has the kindliest looking face, and when he does smile, it makes me smile back. Danny also has a five inch scar up his forearm that sinks about a quarter inch down into his skin. It's an inch wide, and the tissue at the edge of the skid looks like a fortress almost.
The first time Danny told me about his scar, he didn't say much. Just that he was a different person back when he was beat up in an abandon house and left for dead. After his first six weeks of having me for a teacher, Danny asked what he had to do to keep me for a teacher. As his luck would have it, he landed in my class again.
One morning, and I can't remember how it ever happened, but Danny told me that he was a recovering narcotics addict. He was shy and scared, and I can't blame him. Saying those things can change how a person views you. I told him about losing a friend to suicide and alcoholism and the confusion of the big, wide world. I told him that no matter what, he could always talk to me if he needed to, and that even if I didn't understand, I would support him.
I also solicited Danny for some help. One of my goals for this fiscal year is to put together a resource binder for our students. Students come to us for all kinds of help. Sometimes it's about housing issues, abuse at home, medical issues, and a gambit of other things. It's aggravating and embarrassing when a person reaches out for help, and you have no resources or even contacts to give them. Sure, you can look up a phone number on the Internet, but that doesn't mean that the information is good any more. I told Danny about my plan and asked if he could bring me a few fliers with meeting times and places.
Danny was good to his word. He has faithfully brought me fliers about the meetings and locations, about admitting that you are an addict, and the 12 steps. One morning, before I'd had enough coffee and 40 minutes before class started, there was a knock on the door. I answered the door, fully prepared to tell the student to come back in twenty minutes. But there was Danny, and I couldn't say no to his smile. "Ms. Molly," he asked as he took off his jacket, "Would you mind reading this to me today?" He handed me his Narcotics Anonymous book with the page marked. I swallowed my humble pie with my coffee, and when I finished, he said thank you, and in earnest, "Miss Molly, did you get anything out of that?" And I had to admit with him, right there, that I needed to change my attitude for the day. "Miss Molly, you're sure not a morning person, are you?"
Last week Danny gave me his six month sober key chain. Today he brought me my own copy of Narcotics Anonymous. I'm not sure if he thinks I'm secretly an addict or if he is trying to help me with the resource binder or if it's his way of fighting his addiction. It doesn't matter what the reason is. I can't tell him no. Meanwhile, my desk drawer will slowly keep filling....
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I'm on the East Bank, I'm on the West Bank
After much experience of getting lost, I have firmly convinced myself that getting lost is the best way to truly get to know a place. It forces you to get up close and personal with where ever you are. I've gotten lost while I was at work plenty of times, but I have never gotten on an express way, going the wrong way with no exit except across a two mile long bridge with a class starting in half an hour. OH WAIT. I have.
My schedule is pretty tight, and I have to go from our campus on the east bank to the campus on the west bank in the space of an hour and a half. That doesn't sound like it should be too bad. And it isn't...when I don't get held up with things at the east bank, when I remember to bring my lunch with me, and when traffic is good. Today, none of those things happened. I was running behind, but it was manageable. Little did I know, that missing my exit would turn my whole day around. Literally.
To get to the west bank, I have to cross the Crescent City Connection, which is a huge and scary bridge complete with rush hour traffic. The traffic's mild compared to Chicago, but imagine beingy suspended a hundred or so feet in the air with cars whizzing and getting cut off by a janky turquoise pick-up with his windows tinted out and his muffler rattling the whole g.d. bridge. You're not sure if his tires are going to fall off before the duct-tape holding the topper on to the truck gives out, but you don't have time to worry about that because the Buick Lacrosse in front of you can't decide if she's going 50 mph or 30, and the sedan behind to you wants you to hustle your buns. Meanwhile the SUV that's next to you wants in your lane, and you better move the hell over soon. And during all of this, you're trying not to think about how one false move could send you plunging into the depths of the Mississippi. Missing an exit is totally understandable under these conditions.
The next logical thing was to take the next exit. I can count on both of my hands the number of times I've been on the west bank, and with the clock was tick-tocking, it seemed logical to just hop back on the interstate and take the correct exit. I passed one exit on my way to the west bank, so there should be one exit before the toll for the bridge.
WRONG. SO SO WRONG.
It was too late. There was traffic and honking and trucks and cars and tolls and toll tags. I stared in disbelief, dumbfounded by the terrible illogical construction of this horrible, scary bridge as I merged into a mire of filthy traffic. My exit was a figment of my imagination. It only exits when you're heading to the west bank. It doesn't exist when you're going the other way. The only thing I could do was cross the bridge BACK to the east bank, turn around, and cross AGAIN to the west bank.
THIS SHOULD BE FUNNY, I repeated out loud. But it wasn't. There were a lot of things I needed to do before class started, and no telling how long it was going to get turned around and back where I needed to be. So I did the only logical thing a girl could do: call my mother and burst into tears. And she said the only logical thing a mom could say: "I can't help you."
In the end, all was well.
But here's a map of the days journeys, just for emphasis.
It's finally happened. Last night, I actually used the words "I ain't got nothin" in seriousness without thinking about it and without cringing. It's happened before, but when only when I was repeating something a student had said to me. This came from my own accord. Seconds after it happened, I looked around to see if any of my students realized what had happened. They were oblivious. I couldn't and can't believe it.
Sorry Momma and Daddy, your baby is officially Southern.
Sorry Momma and Daddy, your baby is officially Southern.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
2010 Best and Worst
Top 5 Best and Worst Moments of 2010
Teaching Moments
Worst
5. When bad things happen
4. Not being able to find the new classroom on the day of new student student testing
3. Student lifting his shirt up, burping, and rubbing his belly in class
2. Explaining to a student with a terrible attitude why she was no longer allowed back into my class (she yelled at my teaching assistant, repeatedly disrupted my class, would not calm down to have a discussion and I thought she was going to punch me in the face) an hour before I left on vacation
1. Day after the Super Bowl
Best
5. Being called Teacher Lady and Miss Molly. And: Miss Molly, what are you making for Thanksgiving? You bringin' us a turkey?
4. Singing Miley Cyrus with my boy Jemell. Correction: Almost any interaction with Jemell
3. Learning the Dougie in class
2. GED Graduation and watching students transition from GED students to college students
1. My night class - They consistently worked their rear ends off and made me laugh.
Travel
Worst
5. Saying goodbye to my parents after my vacay in August
4. The drive back from Indiana in February when the weather got all scary and awful
3. The demon bug in Florida that bit me and infected my leg when it swelled to the size of an eggplant. AN EGGPLANT. Really.
2. The BP oil spill that made it nearly impossible to find an accessible beach
1. Cancelling my Alaska trip because of a stupid stress fracture in my stupid foot
Best
5. The 24 hour day with Nick, Noel, and Jennie that ended at the beautiful beaches of Mississippi
4. Fourth of July weekend with Laurin and Sue
3. Atlanta weekend with Caitlin
2. Lafayette weekend with the Brocato's girls and Josh
1. Indiana weekend with Trina and Britani
Guests and Our Adventures
Worst
5. My house key dropped down the sink during Mardi Gras
4. Minnie the Moocher/Stripper that lived next door
3. Spilling nacho cheese on a stranger at Bayou Country Fest with Kate and Steph
2. Getting into my first fender-bender just minutes after picking Melanie up from the airport
1. The parasite that wouldn't go away
Best (I'm sure I'll regret ranking my friends and family's visits later....)
6. Keeping it classy with Amy and Stephanie Colorado style.
5. Taking Katie and Stephanie out in New Orleans, starting with the daiquiri shop....
4. Elena. We saw sooo much cool stuff in Jean Lafitte State Park. Two water moccasins, nutria, tons of alligators, an alligator eating a nutria....2. Annie and Ethan. We got someone barred for life. Just sayin
2. Mom and Dad and Katie and John. It was really exciting to be able to show them where I work, live, and that I actually do know how to get around town! We ate good food, heard good music, had fun, went to the WWII museum and the aquarium, and I even took Mom and Dad to a bar!
1. Melanie. No contest. She had food on the table almost every night that I got home, and she showered me with gifts. I don't think we ever stopped laughing. It also helps that wherever she went, there seemed to be a trail of gorgeous men that followed....
Things I Couldn't Control
Worst
5. All those damn bug bites
4. Having to wait eons to get a full-time position
3. Stress fracture + the boot
2. The smallest water heater, broken door knobs and fans, drafts that blew papers off coffee tables, sinks with bugs, not getting our deposit back, and the crappiest landlord of all time
1. Getting robbed
Best
5. Good neighbors that provided plenty of entertainment
4. Getting my wallet back in the mail after I left in a cab. Cash stolen, cards cancelled, but at least I didn't have to go back to the DMV!
3. Finding an awesome apartment
2.
1. These awesome friends of mine
Soundtrack from this year in no particular order
20. Tik Tok - Ke$ha
19. Green or Blue - Jaymay
18. Wagon Wheel - Old Crowe Medicine Show
17. Out Last Night - Kenny Chesney
16. When a Man Loves a Woman - Jerry Lee Lewis
15. Cash on the Barrelhead - Dolly Parton
14. Everything I Am - Kanye
13. Shake Fo Ya Hood - Ricky B
12. That's How Country Boys Roll - Billy Currington
11. Hell On The Heart - Eric Church
10. Roll With It - Easton Corbin
9. House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert
8. All I Do Is Win - DJ Khaled
7. Homecoming - Kanye
6. Get Crunk! - Ying Yang Twins
5. F*** You - Cee Lo Green
4. Dog Days Are Over - Florence and the Machine
3. All Over Me - Josh Turner
3. Teach Me How to Dougie - Cali Swag
2. As She's Walkin' Away - Zac Brown Band
1. The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
Teaching Moments
Worst
5. When bad things happen
4. Not being able to find the new classroom on the day of new student student testing
3. Student lifting his shirt up, burping, and rubbing his belly in class
2. Explaining to a student with a terrible attitude why she was no longer allowed back into my class (she yelled at my teaching assistant, repeatedly disrupted my class, would not calm down to have a discussion and I thought she was going to punch me in the face) an hour before I left on vacation
1. Day after the Super Bowl
Best
5. Being called Teacher Lady and Miss Molly. And: Miss Molly, what are you making for Thanksgiving? You bringin' us a turkey?
4. Singing Miley Cyrus with my boy Jemell. Correction: Almost any interaction with Jemell
3. Learning the Dougie in class
2. GED Graduation and watching students transition from GED students to college students
1. My night class - They consistently worked their rear ends off and made me laugh.
Travel
Worst
5. Saying goodbye to my parents after my vacay in August
4. The drive back from Indiana in February when the weather got all scary and awful
3. The demon bug in Florida that bit me and infected my leg when it swelled to the size of an eggplant. AN EGGPLANT. Really.
2. The BP oil spill that made it nearly impossible to find an accessible beach
1. Cancelling my Alaska trip because of a stupid stress fracture in my stupid foot
Best
5. The 24 hour day with Nick, Noel, and Jennie that ended at the beautiful beaches of Mississippi
4. Fourth of July weekend with Laurin and Sue
3. Atlanta weekend with Caitlin
2. Lafayette weekend with the Brocato's girls and Josh
1. Indiana weekend with Trina and Britani
Guests and Our Adventures
Worst
5. My house key dropped down the sink during Mardi Gras
4. Minnie the Moocher/Stripper that lived next door
3. Spilling nacho cheese on a stranger at Bayou Country Fest with Kate and Steph
2. Getting into my first fender-bender just minutes after picking Melanie up from the airport
1. The parasite that wouldn't go away
Best (I'm sure I'll regret ranking my friends and family's visits later....)
6. Keeping it classy with Amy and Stephanie Colorado style.
5. Taking Katie and Stephanie out in New Orleans, starting with the daiquiri shop....
4. Elena. We saw sooo much cool stuff in Jean Lafitte State Park. Two water moccasins, nutria, tons of alligators, an alligator eating a nutria....2. Annie and Ethan. We got someone barred for life. Just sayin
2. Mom and Dad and Katie and John. It was really exciting to be able to show them where I work, live, and that I actually do know how to get around town! We ate good food, heard good music, had fun, went to the WWII museum and the aquarium, and I even took Mom and Dad to a bar!
1. Melanie. No contest. She had food on the table almost every night that I got home, and she showered me with gifts. I don't think we ever stopped laughing. It also helps that wherever she went, there seemed to be a trail of gorgeous men that followed....
Things I Couldn't Control
Worst
5. All those damn bug bites
4. Having to wait eons to get a full-time position
3. Stress fracture + the boot
2. The smallest water heater, broken door knobs and fans, drafts that blew papers off coffee tables, sinks with bugs, not getting our deposit back, and the crappiest landlord of all time
1. Getting robbed
Best
5. Good neighbors that provided plenty of entertainment
4. Getting my wallet back in the mail after I left in a cab. Cash stolen, cards cancelled, but at least I didn't have to go back to the DMV!
3. Finding an awesome apartment
2.
1. These awesome friends of mine
Soundtrack from this year in no particular order
20. Tik Tok - Ke$ha
19. Green or Blue - Jaymay
18. Wagon Wheel - Old Crowe Medicine Show
17. Out Last Night - Kenny Chesney
16. When a Man Loves a Woman - Jerry Lee Lewis
15. Cash on the Barrelhead - Dolly Parton
14. Everything I Am - Kanye
13. Shake Fo Ya Hood - Ricky B
12. That's How Country Boys Roll - Billy Currington
11. Hell On The Heart - Eric Church
10. Roll With It - Easton Corbin
9. House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert
8. All I Do Is Win - DJ Khaled
7. Homecoming - Kanye
6. Get Crunk! - Ying Yang Twins
5. F*** You - Cee Lo Green
4. Dog Days Are Over - Florence and the Machine
3. All Over Me - Josh Turner
3. Teach Me How to Dougie - Cali Swag
2. As She's Walkin' Away - Zac Brown Band
1. The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
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