Don't Divide By Zero!

My mind is running a mile a minute this morning and what I need to be doing is correcting tests. Yes, the ever exciting New Weekend Fun for Becca. No more of that relaxing, watching movies, or reading a book. Yes, Becca gets to correct math tests. Lots of them. I was at a training thingy yesterday while the tests were administered and I'm a little scared at what they are getting wrong. 5 divided by 0 is not possible. So far, half of them have said 0 and some have even said 5! Oy.

My favorite quote about this "Black holes are where God divided by 0." ~ Steven Wright. That cracks me up. Unfortunately, I can't talk about God at school, so that quote is my own little private joke in class. Oh well.

Movie of the Day: Oh, God! George Burns. John Denver. I liked him better in his Muppets Christmas Special, but...

Smile

It's Friday and I've been in a good mood for over 24 hours, a near miracle in September. Yesterday, I even caught myself humming a song from The Last Kiss soundtrack during class! Almost unheard of! I only hum or sing to myself when I'm happy.

Oh, and I have the movie soundtrack on its way to memorized and still haven't seen the movie. Yep, I'm a nerd.

Movie of the Day: Happy Gilmore. Tee hee.

New Poll

If your life were a TV show, what would the show be like and what channel would it be on?

Movie of the Day: The Truman Show.

Threads

Do you have friends who go in and out of your life? Sometimes, I think of two strands of thread that weave and cross and are parallel and then weave out again.

One of my desk calendars (remember my addiction?) quoted When Harry Met Sally, the part at the end:

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

So I think of who weaves in and out of my life and when my thread will knot.

Movie of the Day: See above.

Sweet Sadness

Yesterday, I paid a dollar for a small bag of peanut butter M & M's in the school vending machine. Good grief! Now I feel old... "In my day, candy bars were 50 cents!"

Movie of the Day: Chocolat. Just be careful with your arm and leg.

Problem-Solving Day

My new schedule is driving me insane. I'm not kidding. I have to talk to my boss today and see what I can do to tweak it or give up my extra class or SOMETHING. I'm dropping out of after school stuff like a swatted fly and I'm pissy in general. I can't have a year of this and while I thought I would adjust after more time, it's not happening.

So, today is Problem-Solving Day. Care to join me?

Movie of the Day: Problem Child. (I don't actually recommend it, but thought it was good for today.)

Whirl-y

I'm wandering around from one thing to the next without thinking about when it will calm down. When can I fully relax? Anyone who has met me will probably think that that's not even a possibility, it's just not in my genes. Well, I want to try. Really try. I'm at the point where my "free time" is used to un-destroy my house, correct papers, or eat. I think I need an "Alice" like on the Brady Bunch. She could clean and leave dinner before she goes home. That, or a butler who would cook, clean, and shovel. Hmmmm... I wonder what that would cost...


Movie of the Day: The Illusionist. Awesome. Go see it. You'll want to see it twice.

Energy Boost Ideas

I'm teaching an extra class this year and by the time I'm 2/3 done with my day, I'm needing a nap or a break or something. I don't have that luxury, so that means I have to find a new source. My hope is to start by using my treadmill again in the mornings, which involves getting up at 4:45 and probably going to bed at 9:15. (What a nerd, huh?). Beyond that, I take vitamins and eat a decent lunch (sandwich, apple, chips, water). So, do I need Powerade? V8? More caffeine? It's time to experiment.

Monday.

Movie of the Day: Quills. This is a demented movie. Watch at your own risk. No kiddies or teens.

Fall Fest

Every Fall, I go to the Chester Bowl Fall Fest with my mom and my sister. We're having a hard time finding out when it's happening this year. Sara saw a calendar online that said it was last weekend, but it wasn't announced in the paper last week and isn't in there this week.

Did we miss it? Miss the carameled apples, the awesome crafts, the cheesy crafts, the dried flowers, donkey rides, the food?!?!

Bummer.

Movie of the Day: Shrek. Funny donkey.

Wanted: Sleep

If I were Samantha from Bewitched, I would freeze time right now and grab about 4 more hours of sleep. Shucks.

Movie of the Day: Where the Heart Is. Mine's still asleep.

Picture Day

Friday is picture retake day at school. The kids had their pictures done at early registration in August and the teachers have theirs taken this Friday. They give us a complimentary sheet of prints.

Mine end up in a file cabinet at home. It's funny to see the progression of haircuts and glasses. Right now, it's short with purple glasses. Ah, what to wear?

Movie of the Day: Sabrina. (The newer version).

?

Do you ever get so busy with the mundane things in life that you can't even come up with something interesting to write (converse) about?

Movie of the Day: Marvin's Room. "Sometimes the people you knwo the least are the ones you need the most."

Well...

Have you gone to Little Miss Sunshine yet?

Almost There

The onset of Friday of the First Full Week is a joyous occasion. Ah. Yesterday was the first day that I didn't feel like one big heap of Becca after school. Either that means I'm finally adjusting to my schedule or that light at the end of the tunnel thing really works.

The Movie(s) of the Day are ones that I want to see: The Illusionist & The Last Kiss.

A Little Help, Please.

My schedule at work is changing today: I'm adding another class. I've never taught 6 classes before (all day, only a lunch break) and I'm nervous. My "prep" time is before school until 9 AM, which coincides with when kids wander around the building and also occasionally ask for math help. This won't work for me. I have to lock them out now from about 8:05 until a bit before 9.

What I'm asking of you, dear reader, is witty door sign options. I don't want to look like I'm auditioning for The Wizard of Oz, Witch # 3. I just want to be alone.

Movie of the Day: See above. They did have funky shoes, though...

Toys

I have a weird collection of kids toys. I'm not sure why I buy stuffed animals, bouncy balls, wind-up plastic animals, kaleidoscopes, and puzzles. I like them. Maybe it happens to everyone, but they just decide to have kids and it covers that up. Or, who knows?

One of my favorite stuffed "animals" is a caveman who grunts if you squeeze his belly. His name is Link, after Brendan Fraiser's character in Encino Man, the movie of the day.

Must Read

Are you ever so into reading a book that you're shocked at what page you are on? You get so into the plot that you skip ahead a couple pages to see the outcome of something and then go back to really read it thoroughly? Do you ever sit at work or in a meeting or where ever, wishing you could be home reading your book?

Movie of the Day: You've Got Mail. Really, it's about books and people who like them.

Monday Poll

If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be? (yes, you can pick someone who has passed away.)

Movie of the Day: School of Rock. Slow start, but then it's funny.

Start Something

I think "Start Something" is a title of a Tiger Woods' book, but it's also how I'm feeling this afternoon. It's like an out-of-sorts, weird, tired yet still bored kind of mood. Not good. I think I need to take charge and really do something odd or crazy or just plain fun. Be an instigator. Now it's just a matter of figuring out what to instigate.

Movie of the Day: Yours, Mine, & Ours. With 18 kids combined, I think these two instigated a bit too often.

Happy Saturday

Today's Goals:

1) Sleep in. ~ Check.
2) Straighten up house. ~ Check.
3) Buy cords and extra stuff for classroom.
4) Relax.
5) Do homework.

It's all about being organized. One of my favorite things.

Movie of the Day: Kinky Boots. Rented it last night. It was a Sundance movie that I didn't get to last January. Funny and interesting. When I told my mom what I wanted to rent, she thought I said "Kinky Poo." Not sure what THAT movie would be about!

First Day: A Review

Well, I survived the first day. I think all of the kids survived too. My first hour had 5 kids sitting on the floor, but oh well. I'll try to get them some folding chairs or something today.

One of my classes is a combined group of kids that I had in two sections last year. They were in "rowdy reunion" mode yesterday. Not my favorite, of course. Official Challenge #1 of the 2006-2007 school year.

Other than that, I can finally rejoice about it being Friday like the rest of you who have a M-F work week.

Thank goodness.

Movie of the Day: Dangerous Minds. Maybe I should buy a leather jacket...

Here We Go

It's the first day of school and I'm nervous. Teachers get like that. You'd think after ten years, it wouldn't be a big deal, but it is. I have 170 new names to pronounce and then memorize. I have kids who are excited, nervous, or rebellious. I have returning students who will think they can get away with goofing off. I have major xeroxing to do before 9 AM.

I better go make my lunch.

Movie of the Day: Rebel Without a Cause. Poor guy.

Irony

I just finished sitting on my couch, eating a Drumstick ice cream cone, watching the last five minutes of Celebrity Fit Club 4.

Oy.

?

What is the best way to ask someone out? (In your opinion)

Movie of the Day: 20 Dates. Funny, funy movie.

Today

Wow. I've been sitting here trying to come up with something exciting and witty to write this morning. All I can think about is school, the end of summer, how I'd rather be watching House, and how boring my inservice might be today. None of these things are thrilling for you, the reader. I could conjure up some random memory from my youth, but that's nothing new either. I could find a poem or come up with some words of wisdom for this time of year. However, I'm up a good 3 hours earlier than usual and my brain is a bit too buzzy about work. So, a wish, instead: I hope you didn't have to labor (or go into labor) yesterday and that you are refreshed for today.

Movie of the Day: Truly, Madly, Deeply.

Deer

I saw four deer in my neighborhood yesterday, over two occasions. Both times, I was driving a teenager to church and she spotted them! One deer was in a yard yesterday morning as we headed to worship. The other three (a doe and two fawns) were crossing the road after the Matrix Marathon last night (so, at about 1 in the morning). It was very sweet and the kid has a good eye. I would have noticed the three last night, but probably not the one before church. Sadly, it just reminds me that hunting season is approaching. Be alert out there!

Movie: Bambi. Poor guy.

Positive Reinforcement

Some places have started school already, but in Duluth, teachers go back on Tuesday and students on Thursday. As a kid, I always figured I could survive two days and then get a break. Eric, our church youth director when I was growing up, always planned a trip to Valley Fair on the Saturday after school started. It was the perfect thing to look forward to as school started.

Now, I'm trying to come up with something exciting to do next Saturday, something to look forward to.

Movie of the Day: Drive Me Crazy.

Hungry? Go to Ikea.

Lois asked what kind of food is at Ikea. It's actually an odd menu. I had spinach quiche and salad and macaroni and cheese. Joy had turkey and vegetables. There were a lot of lingenberry options and Swedish meatballs, of course. Here's a link to the restaurant, though I couldn't get an actual menu. Sorry.

Optimism

There is a deli in town that has awesome tomato basil soup. Awesome. There are three problems: they don't make enough each day, they're only open on weekdays, and they close at 5. I have tried to get there after work and the soup is gone. Yesterday, I talked my friend/coworker into going there for lunch at 1 and the soup was gone already.

I give up. Anyone have a good tomato basil soup recipe?

Movie of the Day: Super Man II. The old version. Haven't seen the new one. Anyone out there see it and like it?