messing with Todd

So Todd spent the whole day in the basement playing Simpson's Hit and Run, and I spent the whole day cleaning and rearranging the living room. Which was fun, because everytime Todd came upstairshe hadto do a double take :)

I have never seen Todd crack out this bad on a video game. He'll play it for like four hours straight, which is something I usuallydo. It's a whole other side of his personality. I'm glad he likes it, though.

Anyway, it's finally clean enough to memorialize, so here are some pictures of our luxury apartment home.

our kitchen (previously pictured)

the living room, from the stairs

the living room, from the hallway that goes to the kitchen, don't mindthe laundry

the living room, from the front door.

the christmas tree! sorry, I forgot to flip it before I uploaded it.

rescuing tiny kitchen everywhere

So Todd and I have the smallest kitchen ever. Really. Which is ironic considering how much we both like to cook. We had to move our refrigerator into the dining room when we moved in. And, while we're on the subject, it's only a three quarters fridge anyway (it's shorter than me). Anyway, the latest innovation for better living through technology is the microwave stand Todd got me for christmas

Now I realize for your average person, a TV stand to hold the microwave may seem like a strange christmas present, but Todd is infamous for getting me presents that other people think are insane and I always love, so it's best to trust him on these things. Anyway, the TV stand works great, I really like it. If you also have a tiny kitchen, I really reccomend it. Just make sure you put it in a stud (duh).

Our other adventure today was we went ot the asian grocery store. The one we went to is, literally, in a 500 square foot converted house. Really, it's no bigger than your living room. And it is CRAMMED with all kinds of stuff you've never even heard of. It was a lot of fun, and we got the stuff we needed to make Pad Thai tonight. If you've never been to an asian grocery store, and you're feeling adventurous, you should definitely try it. Even if you don't buy anything, nothing else is quite like the first time you see canned jelly fish.

knee deep in mud, but thankfully not shit

I just made it back from five days in NC, and boy was it exciting. FIrst of all, the cats were here by theymselves for the whole time, so we worried about them. Meanwhile, at my mom's, we had my dog, and my mom and sisters two german shepherds and my mom's jack russell, so things were REALLY exciting there. I did get to see almost my whole family, which is rare, but I didn't see my sister Stephie, which was too bad.

One of the chores we had to take care of while we were there was fixing a broken waterline. Oh. My. God. If I wasn't so broke, I would totally pay somebody to do that, it sucked. We had to dig a GIANT whole, which was full of water because this pipe had been leaking for several weeks, and then cut the pipe and then we couldn't get the patch to fit just right. Honestly, we never did get it quite right, but we covered it back up, so hopefully we're not going to be right back there digging it up again. Oh yeah, and did I mention that my water pipe goes through MY NEIGHBORS YARD? we're lucky we didn't get shot. I am so over being a land lord.

Anyway, we're finally home now, and trying to clean up our disaster of a house. Including the cat boxes that haven't been cleaned since we left, wish me luck.

the usual

I am very bored. I should look over my lesson for my next class, but it's hard to be motivated. And think, if it's hard for ME to be motivated with barely a whole day left int he week, think how my kids are going to be.

A conundrum has come up recently. I have a fairly good job prospect at a local public school district. It's a real A-1 seeming district, really seem to have their stuff together. They haven't actually made me an offer yet, but I really think they're going to. Meanwhile, Todd's private school has a math position open. Mind you, I applied there last year and pretty much got turned down cold, so I hesitate to even put my ego through that again, but I'm sure it would be a very nice place to work. The public school also pays better. I feel like a punk not even going for the private school gig, but, frankly, I am kind of a punk.

Martha was here this weekend and it was tons of fun. We played Scene it Tv edition and it was way fun. I always like having martha here, but I'm always sad whens he goes :( fortunately I"ll see her this weekend because it's christmas!!!

I'm going to go shut my door and hide in my room for a few more minutes before the kids show up again, I guess. Wish me luck today and tomorrow, I have a feeling I'm going to need it!

so funny I cried

if you're an amazing race fan, you must read this. I laughed so hard I cried, right in the middle of the first period class.

http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/the_amazing_race_8/2005_Dec_14_finale

yay linzes!

Here's a hilarious "news" story about the amazing race finale. Very anti-weaver family. I can't wait for Amazing Race 9!

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-linz-family-wins-cbs-the-amazing-race-family-edition-3882.php

bomb threat

we had a bomb threat this morning. again. it's 9:00 and we're only just being let in the building, we were supposed to start school at 7.

things are looking up . . .

I feel much better this afternoon. My dad came through town and we all had dinner at a really good Thai restaraunt. The dog is on the dog bed, she appears to be trying to dig a hole in it, but she might just be trying to get the cat smell out (the cat has been laying on it all day.) School is very draining and sometimes seems more and more frustrating, but it's also rewarding. I love Todd, even though I might not get the christmas present I want.

Have I told you I have the world's loudest neighbors? I have the world's loudest neighbors. There are two little kids, and I think they throw bowling balls down the stairs. The good news is they keep *very* similar hours to us, it's almost eerie, so it works out ok. We mostly just wonder what in the world they're doing.

Christmas is just around the corner!! I can't wait to have two whole weeks off of school, and to come home to NC!

grumpy.

I'm having a very down in the dumps sort of day, for no particular reason. I had a nice weekend, I had dinner with some friends from work on friday night, and on saturday night TOdd and I went to see Narnia, and my Dad's coming to dinner tonight. I just feel kind of crummy. There are certain aspects of my life that feel sort of stalled out, and I want to jump start them, but I'm not sure how or if I even should. I guess it takes a long time to live life, and I'm not a very patient person.

Sorry to be so vague, but certain things should not be blogged.

oh my god.

What kind of crap is this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4512770.stm

this was supposed to be a snow day.

I shit you not, I am not suppsoed to be here. We were supposed to have INCHES of snow. Instead, we got rain. What a jip. The universe OWES me.

I am, however, making up for it by completely slacking off. Watching the news and, clearly, blogging. I have big plans this weekend. It's called SLEEPING. This whole be at work before dawn thing is really starting to get old. like REALLY old.

I read a really good article yesterday in a publication called "new teacher advocate." It was kind of the profile of an inner city math teacher from Texas, and all the things he does in his classroom. It talked about catching your kids doing good, and how positive reinforcment is not only so much more effective, but really the only thing that's effective all, with low level kids. It really reminded me what I Want my classroom to looks like.

I really believe the ability to stay positive and upbeat is a big part of what makes a good teacher instead of a bad teacher. It's so hard sometimes, though. You have to be prepared to just give and give to these kids, of emotional resources and physical resources (I've been through a box of 200 pencils already this semester.) and it just drains you. Especially coming out of high school and college, where you're the one taking advantage of the resources, it's strange to be the one supplying the resource instead.

I'm so lucky that i have a personal life where I can refuel. My friend the biology teacher just works and works all the time. She goes home and eats and then works until 12 or 1 at night. I would have lost my mind by now. I don't know how she does it.

I just found out another friend, who several of you know (her last name starts with an r and rhmes with "ski") is deployed to BAGHDAD. She's 21 years old and she's second in command of an army hospital in BAGHDAD. are you KIDDING ME? That's just unreal. It makes me feel old. And a little unsuccessfull. I don't even have my license yet, and she's a second Lt. Whoa. I guess that's what I get for being a slacker.

little Friday

Today is Little Friday. I love Little Friday. It's not as good as big Friday, because on Big Friday you know you're going to get to sleep in the next day. Which, if you have to get up at 5 to leave the house by 6, is basically the most exciting part of your whole week. But on Little Friday, you know the next day is Big Friday, which is almost as exciting as it actually being Big Friday. One of the things I look forward to most is the one day a week I get to say "have a good weekend" to my kids as opposed to "have a nice day" when they leave. Oh, the little things.

Sad Day

Thursday is the the 25th anniversary of when John Lennon was shot and killed. This page is black in memory. Here's a very poignant link

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/07/lennons.25.ap/index.html

oh dear

I only just realized erigby gave me her virus, harumph.

1. I have two cats a dog. Considering that makes a grand total of five mammals living in one 1300 sq ft apartment, things are always exciting here. Especially since one of the cats likes to knock things over.

2. I have an uber-challenging job at an uber-challenging high school, but I really like it. My kids are very strange and sometimes scary and usually rude, but they're also hilarious and can be very touching. It's very cool to see a kid who's always had problems with math sit and work ten problems correctly for almost the first time ever. Remind me of this when I start whining again.

3. I DVR over 20 shows a week. I'm not kidding. Off the top of my head they are all the Law and Orders, CSI's, Survivor, Amazing Race, Veronica Mars, Good Eats, Monk, Crossing Jordan, My name is Earl, West Wing, Everybody Hates Chris, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Super Nanny, Nanny 911, and Numbers. This, keep in mind, does not include my out of season cable shows.

4. My Christmas tree is 8 feet tall, and I only paid 30 dollars for it at the JayCees stand down the street.

5. I really like to cook and grow orchids, I think this makes me a closeted retired person.

6. When I was in college, someone called me and signed me up for 15 magazines for 1dollar each. Can you name 15 magazines you would actually read? Me either. So now I"m still getting the magazines. If you move, they'll follow you. One of them is like Crafters Digest. I am not a crafter.

7. My dog is disobedient when my boyfriend's not here. Right now she's barking at something, and won't lay down like I tell her to. If todd told her to, it would all be over.

8. I'm reading the new Eldest book, but I'm only allowed to read it while I'm on the treadmill.

9. I"m trying to start sewing, I think this adds to my retired person persona.

10. I can't think of ten interesting things to say about myself.

amazing race

So I just watched my DVR'd amazing race, and oh my god, the weaver family is driving me nuts. I mean, I love Jesus too, but somehow praying to him to help you win a race seems really innapropriate. They're really snipey to all the other racers too. They're always saying "she waved to me real snotty." How do you wave to someone snotty? I don't even know what that means. The mom is really innapropriate too, she does not act like an adult, she's the big one always gossiping about the other racers. If they win, I'm going to be ticked. Which probably means they well, because, to date, the person I want to win the Amazing Race has never won.

Oh Well, I guess it's all just part of what makes reality tv great.

whew

everything is back to normal now. There's still snow, but all the roads are clear. They were saying we were going to get an ice storm tomorrow night, but now they're saying it will probably just rain. It's starting to feel more like NC.

My kids are obsessed with me getting married and having babies. By their standards, I'm practically a dried up childless old maid. They're slightly more obsessed with the babies than the wedding, by the way. Which should not come as a suprise considering about 1/3 of the girls there have at least one kid. One of them asked me today "what are you waiting for?" It would be upsetting if it weren't so funny.

Yesterday, the kids started a fire in one of the science teachers rooms. I'm not making this up. They started a fire in one of the lab drawers. We spent the last half hour of the day in the parking lot. I can't wait to see what happens next.

yay!

We have a two hour delay today!! So what if all the other schools are cancelled today, and so what if I woke up and now can't go back to sleep, at least I get to have that extra cup of coffee at home. MM, Snow! It's supposed to snow here again thursday night, too. This is such a foreign concept for me.

mmmm, coffeee.

what have you done???

martha, I'm not sure I can handle this wordpress thing, it's a little out of control. I might have to wait for you to help me.

woo hoo!

I'm going home an hour early!!!

big scare

so we had a big scare last night. We were downstairs cleaning up the basement room (you won't believe it when you see it, martha) and I heard the sound of a dish clinking, and suddenly realized we'd left chocolate cake upstairs and our dog was eating it. We kind of flipped out. It only takes like 2.5 ounces of baking chocolate to kill a dog the size of ours, and she had gotten to a pretty good size piece of cake. Since the whole cake only had 3/4 c of cocoa in it, and she probably had 1/8 of it, I was pretty sure she was ok, but it was still really upsetting. We almost gave her hydrogen peroxide to make her throw up, but by then we decided she should've been showing signs, and she seemed ok. The whole thing upset Todd so much he cried a little. The dog was just confused by what we were so upset about, and happy because she got to sleep in the bed. Needless to say, she woke up fine this morning and everything is ok now.

We also woke up to a winter weather advisory here. It's a "wintery mix" this morning, and it's supposed to snow tonight and friday. Unfortunately, it's been sow arm lately none of it is sticking, so I doubt I"ll get out of school because of it. It's still kind of cool, given the weather I"m used to in NC, to have it snow twice in one week!

Kentucky VS UNC

aaahH!! UNC is up by 7 with 22 seconds left. We have now entered the portion of the game where Kentucky is going to start fouling every three seconds. Either Carolina is going to pull this out and I"m going to be way excited, or this is going to be one of the greatest come backs of all time and I"m going to be way excited.

Todd made the comment that Kentucky is like our out of conference Dook, and I said that except Carolina fans respect Kentucky. That's why I like the carolina kentucky game, because Carolina and Kentucky are both such historically huge basketball schools. They have their ups and downs, but they're both always one of the most respected programs. (This is, of course, discounting what we shall call "the lost years" not so long ago at Carolina)

Go Heels!

Just for Dotty.

http://www.dailysudoku.co.uk/cgi-bin/sudoku/archive.pl?year=2005&month=11