| books in the mail |
[27 Aug 2002|06:09pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 amused |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Paul Simon - Born at the Right Time |
] |
Sara sent me a really cute package. Just the wrapping was cute-- the contents sucked. Just kidding.
She wrapped it in a map. Isn't that cool? I love it. She sent me The English Patient and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Chick books! I have actually read Fried Green Tomatoes before, but it's the only Fannie Flagg book I don't own, and I could totally read it again. (Her new book is great, BTW.) I have such a stack of reading going now. That makes me really happy.
Thanks, Sara! It only took you 3 months!
|
|
|
[06 Aug 2002|11:44pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
accomplished |
] |
Hey there, I just wanted you to know that I made it home from Alaska. I took an extra week to fly from Fairbanks to Seattle and then travel cross-country by Greyhound with 2 girls from camp. It was actually really fun. We saw Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Memphis. We traveled and slept on the bus at night. I bought a stuffed armadillo to use for a pillow. That's the gist of it.
So, anyway, I'm home. My first meeting for school is on Thursday. School starts next Friday. Whoopee.
|
|
| land of the midnight sun -- not just a clever name |
[25 Jun 2002|08:54pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
a little nervous |
] |
Today I saw a car with a bumper sticker that said, "Why am I the only person in the world who knows how to drive?" The guy had just rear-ended someone. Apparently hubris is alive and well in Albuquerque.
Not that I'm really here now, but I'm going to be gone for the next 5 weeks. You can read about my adventures and misadventures in Alaska here. I'll be back stronger and smarter than before. Or I'll at least be back bearing kitschy souvenirs. I hear they sell moose droppings. I'd watch your mailbox, you don't want those to spoil.
Till August.
|
|
|
[22 Jun 2002|10:23pm] |
|
This is so stupid, but damned if it didn't make me laugh. I got the idea from Sara. Go to google and search for "[your name] is." Silly, but awfully fun.
Liz is available for speaking engagements anywhere in the USA and Western Canada
Liz is one of my burros
Liz is listening to what you say
LIZ(tm) is a helpdesk telephony automation system
Liz is a full service salon
Liz is very personable, but she also enjoys using computers
Liz is always well-dressed and is her desk ever in a mess?
Liz is married to Richard Burton
Liz is also an accomplished outside hitter
Liz is Pregnant
Liz is a liar
Liz is Proudly Sponsored by Nike
Liz is trying to butter Paul up
Liz is a wonderful friend from Petite Elf
Liz is a 10-year-old, and a fashionable one at that!
Liz is a delightful girl with fair complexion and plenty of freckles to compliment her green eyes
Liz is a real person who you can talk to
Liz is given all the proof she needs to believe in Aliens
Liz is thoroughly devoted to her lovebird Tweety
Liz is damn cute
Liz is planting flowers and fantasizing about how it's too hot for a wedding
Liz is a bad driver
Liz is a Leonard Cohen fan
Liz is at a spa for cold-blooded animals
Liz is housetrained, friendly, active
Liz is: (a) anal-retentive (b) making unnecessary work for herself. (c) somewhat creative, if a bit eccentric
Liz is the most brightest student in the class
Liz is despondent that Johnny has given the job up in favour of Jim
Liz is NOT FALLING FOR IT
|
|
|
[20 Jun 2002|08:31pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
getting sleepy... |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Dave Matthews - Proudest Monkey |
] |
I splurged today and got a new comforter. (Apologies for the crappiness of my digicam. You can't see in the pic, but the fabric has nice matte and satin stripes woven in.) I think it was a good investment. I had been wanting a new comforter for a while, and the one I'd been secretly admiring was on sale. I consider than an omen. It is big and fluffy and has a decent thread count, but it's not too girly. I also got 2 new pillows ("firm" and "extra firm") and a mattress pad. My bed is amazing now. I'll never want to leave it. If you don't hear from me for a few days it's because I'm busy, um, sleeping.
|
|
|
[08 Jun 2002|05:39pm] |
|
As expected I am already bored of vacation and ready to get the hell out of Albuquerque (or Dodge, if you prefer.) I am going to attempt to find a hiking spot for tomorrow (which will be tricky because all National Forest land is closed due to fire danger,) and see if that cures me. Otherwise-- road trip! Anyone want to meet me halfway somewhere? If not I'll probably drive down to Las Cruces and see some of my college friends. I'm going to Alaska in less than 3 weeks, but I can't handle sitting around my apartment with occasional forays to shop and go to movies. I'm just not that good at occupying myself.
|
|
| survey goodness |
[06 Jun 2002|05:42pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
amused |
] |
surveys are good for you
( Read more... )
|
|
|
[17 May 2002|04:05pm] |
|
I need some help with a school project. Does anyone have ideas about topics for debate that would be appropriate for 5th graders? I want them to get some practice with the debate format, and it will be a good way to fill some time next week. Any ideas are great, give me what you've got. Thanks!
|
|
| why yes, I am a loyal customer |
[07 May 2002|09:22pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 mischievous |
] |
Strangely I seem to be done with everything that I needed to do tonight. And yet it's only 9:20PM. I guess I'll go do what every good girl does when she's finished with everything. Namely, go read the Good Vibrations Guide to Sex.
And on that note, goodnight.
|
|
| you know he's my favorite |
[21 Apr 2002|06:44pm] |
The traveler asks himself: if he lived out
a lifetime, pushing the distance away,
does he come back to the place where his grieving began:
squander his dose of identity again,
say his goodbyes again, and go?
-Pablo Neruda
I have so much to say about that, but it's all internal. So I'll let the words speak for themselves. Maybe they'll resonate for you as they did for me.
|
|
| sometimes it's hard to separate memories and daydreams |
[20 Apr 2002|08:55pm] |
We're sitting at the corner table in a coffee shop, next to the window. It's one of those high tables with the swiveling bar stools, and we turn to face each other. The stools are close together, and my knees are between your legs. Your hand is on my thigh. I can feel the warmth of it through the denim skirt- the one with the frayed edges. It's your favorite. I'm drinking a cappuccino. I always drink cappuccino. You're drinking chai. You always try to convert me to chai. I still don't like it.
We watch the people walk by outside, comment on who we think they are and where we think they're going. We watch a mother with a stroller, two college students with backpacks. The conversation flows as easily as the coffee, and we keep talking long after our drinks are cold. Neither of us wants to be the one to end the conversation. The coffee shop empties and we leave with the last throng of people, parting ways by the window with the neon sign. I still want to ask if you'll come home with me, but I already know the answer. I watch as you walk away.
|
|
|
[13 Apr 2002|02:43pm] |
Random statistic:
Jazz fans, gun owners and those who lack confidence in the president are among the most sexually active Americans. (From this site.)
Hey, I'm 2 for 3 on this one. Hint: I don't own a gun. I wish I could say that this was paying off for me.
Here's another: White women and those women with a college degree in particular are the most receptive to anal sex.
Um, no comment.
One more: Fellatio ranks as the number one sexual act desired by heterosexual men.
Well, duh.
|
|
|
[05 Apr 2002|03:08pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 silly |
] |
I have to say, it's been a while since it's been warm enough to compute in my skivvies. That's what spring is all about, really. Whoa, I just checked "skivvies" with m-w.com and it said "a female domestic servant." Not exactly what I meant.
|
|
|
[12 Mar 2002|09:22pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
bleargh |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Dave Matthews - Crash |
] |
Eventually I guess I'll have to make a decision. I mean, how many journals can I keep up with? What will probably happen is that I'll use my LJ less but keep it for non-public commentary and discussion, since my parents read my webpage. I almost wish I hadn't given them the url, but who would read it then? That's two hits I can count on. ;)
The reaccredidation visit was today. My kids acted horrible while I was being observed. They did OK until I went to talk with the reaccredidation people and wasn't watching them as carefully. That's what they get for visiting at 2:00PM, though. What did they think was going to happen? Oh well, it's over now.
|
|
|
[07 Mar 2002|10:06pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
peaceful |
] |
1. What makes you homesick? Well, I live in the same city as my parents, so I don't have any reason to be homesick. (I never was as a kid, either. I've always been pretty independent.) I suppose I miss my family dinners. I don't miss living at home.
2. Where is "home" for you? Albuquerque, NM is home and has always been. It may be time to move someplace else and try something new. :)
3. What makes it home for you? People? Things? Hmm. The climate and weather, the landscape. 360 days of sunshine. Bad traffic. Mexican food. Mountains.
4. Where is the furthest you've been from home, miles-wise? I've been to Greece, that's probably, what 5,000 miles away? I'd have to verify that. [ed: I checked with this site. The actual mileage between Albuquerque and Athens is 6,482 mi.]
5. What are your plans for this weekend? I got all of my classroom planning done this afternoon, so I may go hiking or something tomorrow if the weather's nice. Otherwise I'll probably mess around some with my webpage.
|
|
|
[06 Mar 2002|06:18pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
relaxed |
] |
OK, so it's totally a scam to get you to buy more M&M;'s. But since you were going to buy them anyway you should go vote for the new color. Last time my brother and I called several times to vote for purple. We were robbed. ;)
|
|
|
[05 Mar 2002|05:23pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 surprised |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Shakira - Laundry Service |
] |
I got a ton of grading and such done this morning while I was subjecting my students to the horrors of the ITBS test. (Which is not nearly so awful as the Terra Nova.) It has to be done, I guess.
I skipped walking and came straight home at 3:30, which is unheard of for me. I keep looking at the clock in disbelief- is it really only 5:20? Crazy.
I had my students make up a language which we will be using for our immigration lesson tomorrow. Should be fun. Though for the past 2 days they've been really hyper in the afternoons. It's hard to blame them.
I'll stop now rather than subject you to more teaching stories.
|
|
|
[04 Mar 2002|08:31pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 busy |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
I'm watching 3rd Watch as I write this- multitasking |
] |
Today is about how many things I can do at once. :) I straightened up my house and took some picks for the house tour. Yes, I live in a retirement community. Why? Because I'm special.
My kiddos did ITBS testing this morning. They did really well during the testing. The afternoon, though, was a different story. I guess they had to do something with all of that pent up energy. I had fun reading the directions for each section. I'm required to read the directions verbatim, but there's nothing stopping me from reading them with an accent, or (my favorite) reading really slowly and then really quickly. Just to see if they're paying attention. I need to get offline now, I'm making dents in this chair. It's wooden, so that's not a good sign.
|
|
|
[03 Mar 2002|08:12pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
maybe getting carpal tunnel? ;) |
] |
My eyes are bleary from spending far too much time online today. This weekend gave me some much-needed rest. As much fun as Friday's field trip was I am glad that it is over. I am also glad for a chance to catch up on grading while the kids to ITBS testing next week. Though I'm sorry we have to take a week away from class time to do something so essentially meaningless.
I've been working on a site redesign. Every few months I get tired of it and try something new. This is just one of many redesigns, but I like it. It's still pretty much straight html, but it looks less amateurish (I think) than my previous designs. Not that there's a career for me in webpage design, but it's an OK way to spend a weekend.
Now to shower and make a lunch for tomorrow.
|
|
| yesterday's field trip |
[02 Mar 2002|01:00pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
cold! No heat at my house! |
] |
So, here is basically what we did yesterday: We took a bus to an airplane hangar on the base where the event was held. I had three teams of students in my class, each of which had built a model of a mars rover. They presented their rovers to some of the other students there, and an Air Force researcher asked questions about what they had done. Then I sent two of my teams off to join other teams, and one team stayed with me. I was in charge of that team and two others from other schools. We were to build the habitat (bubble thing) together. Each team brought various pieces of plastic to make the 12x12x8 foot bubble. The bubbles are inflated by a box fan connected to the back, and connected by a tunnel to the bubbles on either side. This is what it looked like when it was finished:
Sorry the quality is so poor, I photoshopped some contrast, but the image just didn't turn out well. I'm posting it because it's impossible to understand what we did without seeing pictures.
The above image is facing the front, where there is a slit for a door and a piece of plastic inside for an airlock. There is a tunnel to the right connecting us to the next habitat, but nothing to the left because we were on the end. At the back is the tunnel to the fan.
We ate lunch inside of the habitats and then cut the holes to connect the tunnels. Then the kids got to crawl between the habitats and look at what the other students had done. Throughout the day they earned points, which made it kind of a contest for them (good for 10 year olds). They traded their points at the end of the day for a certificate and a prize (a "mars rock" made out of foam- actually pretty cool.)
What I learned from this:
-2,000 children in an airplane hangar are really loud.
-My students are very well-behaved compared to some other schools.
-If I do this next year I should start in December instead of January and do a really do job of it.
-Other teachers don't have nearly the regard for guidelines and regulations that I do.
-A day away from school building giant bubbles and playing with duct tape is where it's at if you're 10.
The day was semi-frustrating for me, but the kids loved it, which made it worthwhile. :)
|
|