La Salle Bleue

classy night

2010-05-02T10:43:00.002-05:00

Last night I went to a preparty for the White House Correspondents Association Dinner. We arrived via cab in front of the Hilton, where things were crazy. We got out on Connecticut and ran across the street. PETA people were protesting and others as well. We followed others in black tie into the building and wound our way around the main floor of the hotel. Finally, we went down an escalator to where the red carpet entrance was. So many camera flashes, but we couldn't get a glimpse of who they were taking pictures of. I wanted to stay and watch, but was trying to play it cool:) We found our way to the Atlantic Mo. party after running into one of M's colleagues who was freelancing for US Weekly, hoping to see if Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo spoke/if she looked chubby. We met up with friends inside who had staked out a standing table near the party's red carpet. Anyone could have their photo taken there, so we did that, too. First celebrity sighting: Bradley Cooper. Wendy Malick arrived with Patricia Arquette. I went to talk with Wendy Malick because we went to the same undergrad. I said "You went to Ohio Wesleyan" and she said yes!. I told her I was an '05 and she said I was just a baby. She gave the commencement address in 2001 and commented on how it had been right before 9/11 and that she wished she could have said something more inspiring especially since those events led her to have a new look on life. Madeline Albright rolled in shortly thereafter. Then, Bradley Cooper was back but this time taking a picture with the Jonas Brothers and Mark Warner. Padma Lakshmi arrived and then Chevy Chase wandered by. It was so interesting how some people would just go up to all of these famous people and talk to them or just act totally normal as if they were just another person at the party. We made our way out of the party and Wolf Blitzer was right by us. We had to go back by those escalators and just as we did Padma walked by and then Ashley Judd walked by in a long white dress with big white flowers in her hair. Everyone is so tall! There was someone in a red flowy dress near the entrance talking to the paparazzi. I don't know who it was.

We wandered outside, went to the Russia House across the street for a drink in our finery. As we came outside, we stopped at the bottom of the steps because a huge group of middle schoolers were walking by. A couple of girls started shouting "I like your dress!" "It's really pretty!" and then someone said to M - I like your suit too!. It was just really cute.

We then went to Grillfish for dinner, which was delicious and we sat outside and just enjoyed the quiet(ish). Then we decided we would not be able to get into a postparty and just went to the Round Robin at the Willard for a mint julep (bad decision, I don't like whiskey, but I always forget). A Rolls Royce rolled up outside, but it was just a bride and groom.

Then we hit up the Georgetown waterfront where some other friends were enjoying the warm evening.

It was all very cool. Despite the bad writing here...

Round II

2009-09-27T13:21:00.043-05:00

It has occurred to me that this is the first time ever in my life that I am living in the exact same place doing the exact same thing as the year before. You might think that as a child I did that...same house, yes, but always a different grade (your job as a kid). It was nice to not have to pack up and move at the end of last school year, but at the same time, it's eerie to not have a transition on the horizon. I've never been a huge fan of change, but you get used to it, no matter how large or small the change is. Realizing that that change was not here for me this year made me realize that maybe I am have become accustomed to the changes and yearly life transitions.

With year two of city life upon me, I'm starting to reflect upon my loves and not-so-loves about this city. Here's the start of a list:

Loves:

- so many exciting things going on here...many beginning with the word "National", as in THE one of that thing for the country...for instance the NATIONAL Book Festival this weekend...people come from all around for that and I just had to hop the metro

- coming out of the metro and hearing some classical piece, jazz, etc played by a random assortment of instruments...fave so far...small folk group playing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"

- being in a place where people WANT to come visit

- learning everyday about this place...gradually expanding my knowledge of this or that...there is something so satisfying about getting to know a city

- holly bushes, magnolia trees EVERYWHERE

- brunch

- happy hour

Not-so-loves:

- grocery shopping/any errands being an ordeal without a car. Yes, the metro/buses are easy to use, but planning my Sunday around getting groceries and considering how much I can carry back (or in my snazzy new pushcart) is frustrating. Contrary to being in a pretty technologically sophisticated city, I feel like I'm in the olden days where getting to the nearest Walgreens requires a 30 minute walk (uphill both ways)

- every person (exaggerates a bit) thinks they are SO important. I'm sorry, yes, this city is full of young people, but each and every one of you has the SAME desk/cubicle job, so get your feet back on the ground and don't look so pompous on the metro or on the street

- feeling like I have to have some guard up as I walk about so that I don't look vulnerable...I can't imagine how NYC would affect me.

- no yard, no balcony (this could be fixed)...no logical outside place to go that's not a roof. There's a park nearby, but it's sort of a process. So many daily decisions require a time commitment.

- no good bagel places

- no camp out all day coffee shops with free wi-fi. I miss my sweetwaters, that's all I'm saying

- CROWDS...ok this is also a quasi-love...being anonymous sometimes is nice, but fighting strollers and inept (wow, have I graduated to intolerance?) tourists stopping in the middle of the sidewalk is not fun

- just going to say it again - self-important people

the district

2009-01-28T08:12:00.002-05:00

So I am in DC now. Good job, good place to live, good friends. I feel very lucky. Far from the parentals which is sometimes hard. They have visited though and give their stamp of approval on the next step of life. The city is a mess today since we had an ice storm last night/right now, and while every other school district is closed, we are delayed. I won't complain though.

Right now I'm enjoying All Songs Considered podcasts.

I worked hard last night...doing work but also getting the cable set up here since evidently we were not prepared for the digital switch which RCN decided to take care of LAST THURSDAY. Although not having cable for almost a week made me realize how much tv I actually watch these days. Well, "watch" is used loosely..."have on". It's just background noise for the most part.

Well, there is some stream of consciousness for you. Time to be productive.

last days of AA fun

2008-06-24T22:40:00.001-05:00

Today:

icecream at Washtenaw Dairy

Roman Holiday at the MI Theater with Court and Mags wearing skirts + wine and antipasto at an outdoor cafe:)

yay

2008-06-19T21:19:00.001-05:00

feeling sad about moooooving

my apt. looks unhappy despite the clutter

2008-06-18T23:32:00.002-05:00

it's been a weird week

full of goodbyes and lasts and fun

Janis and I watched Hairspray on the big screen on the lawn and giggled at John Travolta and his creepiness dressed as a woman

it's been weird and my head is swimming

Done with Middle School, but not without a humorous last day

2008-05-29T12:29:00.002-05:00

One eighth grade boy who is sort of a pistol found out Sara and I are in the Arb and the following convo ensued:

8th: Do you ever go to liquor stores there?
Sara: Um, how about you just list some.
8th: *lists one we know of*
Me: Yeah, I mean I've been in there to buy...chips.
Sara: I hear they have really great Arizona Iced Tea.
8th: Well, my brother works there.
Us: Oh yeah?
*conversation about where family members work, someone's mom works at Hiller's grocery store
8th: My brother's not allowed to go to Hiller's. He got kicked out.
Us: Wait, for what?
8th: He was buying milk...lots of milk...while it was on sale so that he could sell it for really expensive at the liquor store. Hiller's called the police and when they came, my brother told them he was having a milk party.
Us: They didn't believe him?
8th: No, so now he can't go to Hiller's
Us: Well we'll have to stop by the liquor store, pretend to buy lots of milk and when questioned, tell your brother we're throwing a milk party.

broken hearted

2008-05-06T19:28:00.002-05:00

over leaving third grade...really. I cried like for most of last week or fought back tears while in my new placement with middle schoolers.

The placement is really interesting and the students are mostly Chaldean/Arabic speaking or Japanese with a few Spanish speakers too. The Chaldean population is so lively and talkative while the Japanese students are really difficult to get to participate.

My supervisor observed me awhile back and told me that my language was really really strong and I feel like now that is my blessing and my curse. When faced with a classroom of students who know little to no English, my use of language makes me nervous. I find myself paranoid that I'm not going to make sense to them so I don't say anything and allow my colleague and my CT to do the talking. It's such a different experience for me here and kind of discouraging as I am also searching for jobs.

I just feel like I left my confidence in my third grade placement. Gosh I miss those kids. I get emails from some of them, complete with different colored fonts and an excessve number of exclamation points. I think I might visit on Friday. Although that might be pouring salt into the wound.

I'm debating about finishing up this extra endorsement this summer. It would mean class till the end of July (agh) and then *crosses fingers* I would be starting a job at the end of August...is that enough break? I could always finish these other classes next summer. Wah.

Oh dilemmas.

farewell to Third Grade

2008-04-25T19:10:00.003-05:00

Today I went back to school for my going away party. There were snacks and best of all, Manwich. I believe there is a prior post that explains the significance of manwich.

I showed the slideshow I made for all of them and handed out my little cards with the quote from "The Littlest Birds" - "You pass through places and places pass through you but you carry them with you on the souls of your traveling shoes." I told them to think about it as poetry and they did:)

And ohmygosh the presents. Flowers and cards and poems and jewelry (handmade), a lanyard (love it...see Billy Collin's poem "The Lanyard")...and a big sign with a big sailboat that said how much they would miss me. It was soooo sweet.

Tomorrow is graduation, but really it's just the ceremony since I have more classes and such still. Sigh. Oh well, the parentals are coming and I get a gown with weird sleeves and a fancy hood. It'll be cool.

So one would wonder

2008-04-19T18:41:00.002-05:00

how I managed to spend like 22+ weeks with, you know, kids who tend to attract germs and not get sick, and then wham, the second it gets warm out, I go from sinuses? to flat on my back feeling like death, fever and all. At least the time for being boss teacher lady is over.

in the words of a second grade teacher...

2008-04-15T19:17:00.001-05:00

"Ugh, I don't know...how do you know what these f***ers need in writing?"

Ms. S.

Spring Break

2008-04-04T23:53:00.002-05:00

Thank goodness for mid-winter break AND spring break. When I go back I have one more week of being teacher boss lady and then a couple half days and then we go back to class and I move on to an ESL classroom much to my utter sadness.

I am going to miss my classroom soooo much. My CT is amazing - we have just clicked so well and really formed a totally unexpected friendship. So lucky - I mean the stars really aligned - great CT, great FI, great school, crazyfun kids (some very challenging)...

This week was Wacky Week involving PJ Day, Crazy Hair day (got videotaped for my online portfolio - woo), Crazy hat day, Twin Day (CT and I were a combo of what the two of us wear on a regular basis - he wore a headband AND a scarf metro-style, bless his heart, while I sported one of his button downs and hiking shoes) - today was Team Spirit Day and I went all out with my Indians gear.

We're doing a poetry unit right now that I made up and it's so fun. One kid wrote a poem about Cheetos. Another wrote one about dune grass which was utterly amazing. I wrote two to do some modeling with for them and really shocked myself since I hadn't had to like write anything like that in eons.

The kids are totally enamored with the fact that I, in fact, have a first name. My CT slipped up a couple of times and called me that instead of Ms. _____ and they were all over it. The best thing about our relationship is that we have a really similar sense of humor and we are able to laugh about the kids in the same ways. I don't know what I'll do when I'm all alone with the little darlings - what fun are the silly things if there is no one to share them with? It will be fine.

My little sister came a few weeks ago and taught the kids some hip hop at recess. It was a riot. My dad came this week and decided to tell them embarassing things about me when I was a child. Stuffed animal cat with bow on head named....bowhead. Thank you, DAD.

ohh man

2008-04-02T21:27:00.001-05:00

so much anxiety...I hate hard decisions especially when there is not time to think

resistant to change?

2008-03-19T17:54:00.002-05:00

Today I wore my hair a little bit wavy...you know, scrunched and a little bit curly...the kids freaked out:

"What did you do to your hair?"

"Did you get a hair cut?"

"Yes you did."

"I mean, it looks nice...kind of fluffy and *motions hands*."

One made it a particular point to come up to me and say, "Ms. G, you look like you had a shower today."

Yes, thank you, E...I tend to shower everday.

My CT also had set up a desk for me (I start lead teaching Monday) with a folded piece of paper/name plate AND a knick-knack A+ teacher flippy calendar piece of crap. Because we had a whole conversation about how I hated teacher knick-knacks.

Woo.

mlllahhgggbllll

2008-03-12T18:51:00.002-05:00

Gosh, what a week.

First, our good family friends lost their 27 year old son after a 5 year battle with melanoma. I saw him for the first time in like 8 years at Christmas time along with his sister who is my age (we were in the womb together basically). He was so physically altered but the same snappy personality. He got married a couple of years ago and leaves his wife behind....and an 18 month old son. It's so heartbreaking to think about that little boy running around at the funeral home at his father's visitation and not having a clue what is going on.

The funeral was the saddest one I have ever been to. His best friend from high school did a eulogy as well as his 4 year college roommate. The two of them then read the letter they wrote together to the little boy.

No one this close to my family has ever passed away so tragically...or seemingly so. I mean I guess there's an appointed time for everything, but this just breaks my heart.

On top of all that, I'm getting so sad to leave my school placement. Granted it's like a month + away, I have had so much fun and the thought of not seeing these kids through to the end makes me so sad. I mean I could stick around, but I would not get the ESL endorsement which is kind of a big deal...bleh...I'm just not ready for all of this to be almost over and having to decide where I'm going next for sure, potentially leaving the area away from the fam and the puppies and snow days. Sigh.

I'm just emotionally overwhelmed and tired and am having trouble getting it together to get lessons and applications etc completed. I need like a month off to regroup. Right.

friends

2008-03-10T10:19:00.002-05:00

"I have an inported friend..."

- 3rd grade girl in her "special person in my life" story

and what did YOU do over break?

2008-03-03T22:21:00.001-05:00

C (age 8): I went to the Toledo Zoo!
Mr. F: And what did you see there?
C: We saw monkeys and a baby monkey and a KIDNEY on the sidewalk.
Mr. F: Oh, really? Please explain.
C: There was just a KIDNEY on the sidewalk. We also saw some monkeys with like face flaps and monkeys like in The Wizard of Oz.
Mr. F: Mmm awesome.

jamie lynn spears and blankie

2008-02-26T17:05:00.002-05:00

"You look like a pop star I know...Britney Spears...no, Jamie Lynn Spears."

Thanks.

- a second grader I visited the other day

"You always say that your secret weapon is your blankie."

-2nd grader Peter

cake

2008-02-20T21:51:00.001-05:00

"Your lessons are like really good...cake. We're just looking to add some decorative frosting."

-my CT

3 times?

2008-02-17T19:51:00.001-05:00

I wear 3 rings on one finger...they go together...

"You got married THREE TIMES???"

uh, no

"Do you have children?"

-same student

awesome

Overheard in 3rd Grade:

2008-02-11T17:54:00.001-05:00

student: Do you have a cat?
Me: No, why?
student: You smell like cats.

"Ms. G., Conor is drawing bald Britney Spears on the back of his "no bullying" poster."

I mean really, what do you do with either of those things?

Thank You Card

2008-02-08T21:06:00.000-05:00

Dear George, thank
you for some idias
that you gived
to me.

from: H

thank-you card from my second grade partner who interviewed for an expert book on soccer

yes,

soccer

A Haiku About Rings

2008-02-05T20:10:00.001-05:00

Earrings as a gift

and a note about ringworm

first day back to school

Janvier over

2008-02-01T15:20:00.000-05:00

This month. was. wild.

Not in like a really exciting way, but in a no time to think or ponder or reflect, just go go go.

Back to the field on Tuesday. I went into my class 2 weeks ago and literally had to peel half of them off of me. It was precious.

My reform prof was one of those really dichotomous people. She walked in the first day of class looking very serious and unfun. Turns out she is one of the most openly caring professors I've had these last few months. She built this community in our classroom. We had to post our assignments for everyone to see on our course site. I mean if you think about it, so often we spend endless time on assignments independently and never allow our colleagues to see the fruits of our labor. We talk all the time about how learning is a social process. She left us with a poem...well song lyrics really. Simple Gifts. I personally have a hard time really thinking about song lyrics when I've known the tune to a song for so long. So ponder...

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Ignoring the religious undertones....I mean really we go go go and then I think we find ourselves in the right place.

bizarro world? maybe.

2007-12-14T01:54:00.000-05:00

bar with the CT's
FI at apt.
bowling in ugly holiday sweaters
karaoke with the local crowd...including Elvis. words cannot express.

Serenaded by 8 year olds

2007-12-13T15:17:00.000-05:00

So I walked out to get something from my car near the end of my time at school today (my last day till February), and I come back into the classroom and my CT is saying something about today being my last day and that usually, when you serenade someone, you serenade them with a song they LIKE. I knew what was coming.

Yes.

Ring of Fire.

Ring of Fire while third graders practice their cursive lowercase j's. Awesome? Yes. And when they finished singing the first time, they yelled AGAIN AGAIN.

Love it.

procrastination of course

2007-12-06T19:51:00.001-05:00

I have 2 Science lessons and 2 Science assessments due tomorrow. I'm mostly done...and now avoiding the rest of it.

Today I met with the coordinator of my program, the principal of my school, my CT, another CT, the director of teacher education, and a guy from a foundation that wants to maybe be involve with the school of ed here. I like these kinds of gatherings. I got to hear three + really great minds talk about how they think and why they do the things they do that then make it possible for me to do the things that I do. The CT's also talked about how outstanding the program I am in is. I felt like a sponge, it was great.

It's freezing here. I've been told that my apt. will be less cold if I get the windows like saran wrapped from the inside. Um no. Not classy. So I bought a space heater.

I thought I was going to come in here and do some large reflection on teaching, but I can't right now. Maybe later.

pretend interview

2007-12-03T21:35:00.000-05:00

So I have to do a pretend/practice job interview esque thing tomorrow and I thought I would write out my answers to the questions on here for some reason.

First question: Tell me about how you manage a classroom...

I think it is crucial to spend a considerable amount of time establishing classroom routines early in the school year. This pays off greatly later in the year, as you will have to spend less time clarifying where you put your Math workbook when you are finished throughout the year.

My cooperating teacher and I worked hard this past year to establish things like where to put worksheets and other classwork when students are finished and establishing that when students finish any type of assignment, they are to "make a smart choice".

By establishing these routines and protocol early, we save students' time from having to ask "what do I do with this when I'm done" or "what do we do when we are done" and save ourselves as teacher the aggravation of being asked those same questions over and over again by students.

Second Question: "Tell me about how you meet the needs of all kids in the classroom..."

I think it is very important to be in tune with all of your students and get to know them as people first. Knowing them as people can give you a better understanding of what they need

I take opportunities to pay attention to students' individual interests and engage them in conversation about those interests. For instance, in a recent math lesson, we were discussing map scale. I went around and surveyed students about where/if they had traveled far for Thanksgiving. I used some of these responses as examples for measuring distance using scale on a map. One of the students was one who is not normally very engaged in Math class. He perked right up and showed interest that day. I believe that this is because I showed that I cared about him as a person and wanted to tap into that in order to engage him.

By making efforts to get to know the individual students and their interests, I believe I can have a better understanding of their individual needs and can use this information to better meet those needs.

now to record it. woo.

quick one!

2007-11-26T21:20:00.000-05:00

I'm missing OWU so much today. Not sure why...maybe it's coming back to school from Thanksgiving with Christmas cut-out cookies in tow, excited for the holidays, but dreading finals, and realizing that the year is almost half over.

It snowed yesterday for the first time since I've been here. I sucked it up and avoided homework by decorating a small Nova Scotia themed tree (all of those ornaments were in one small box, so it was the easiest to grab on my way out the door yesterday). I put flannel sheets on my bed, which will surely make getting up in the morning easier - uh, no. I sleep as if I were in a cocoon. Flannel sheets, fleece blanket, faux down comforter, and a down comforter in a flannel duvet. Logically i would be too hot at night, but I am not...window open enough for a cool breeze to sneak in, and I am snuggly:)

The baby sis burned me a data disc of 9.2 hours of Christmas music...that will last me! Also, I thought I would have too many Christmas cookies, but I think I've eaten half of them since I got back here yesterday. Ah well...tis the season.

Well, off to light my Christmas tree smelling candle and write a lesson plan. Secretly, I am pretending I am cozy by the fire with a puppy next to me. Sigh.

Evidently one post a month is the norm

2007-11-12T16:49:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a mere 4ish weeks remaining in this portion of my program. Then we are halfway done. I can't believe it. It makes me sort of sad...I'm realizing I am not fully settled into my way cute apartment and that sooner than I know it I will have to move out. It sucks. I finally got the bigger TV and a nice comfy chair so that now visitors don't have to sit in the director's chairs that I have as if they were my subjects coming to pay homage to me as I always sit on the love seat.

My CT told me a couple of weeks ago that he thought the writing lesson I taught that day went very well...and that it could be primarily contributed to the fact that I already have a good teacher presence in the classroom. He said normally there is a big dichotomy - as in he is the teacher and the intern is clearly not and the kids know it and they take advantage of it to some extent. He said I was advanced on the continuum in this respect and that it was very rare to be this way. I'm really excited about that because it will allow me to focus on deeper things like assessment and using assessment results to shape future lessons and also looking more closely as the students as individual students with different needs that I can try to meet by presenting the material in ways that are most easily accessible to them.

In other news, I was supposed to meet someone at a nearby Starbucks last night and as I waited for about 15 minutes, a kind looking older gentleman walked past me and said "you look bored out of your mind" and I said "oh, I'm just waiting for a friend" and he said, "someone would make a pretty lady like you wait?" I just laughed and he said "You tell him I said that..." and walked away. Oh man. Turns out signals had gotten crossed and said friend was at a different Starbucks. It's been a weird week...I also received unidentified flowers in the mail (later identified), but still..

I saw Yo Yo Ma in concert on Saturday night. We were high in the balcony and my view was slightly obstructed by a woman who had a large puff of bangs on her head circa I don't know what decade that passed us long ago. Oddddd. Laura and I took pictures on her camera phone to document the sighting. I also saw Madeleine Peyroux, who I thought would be a nice classy french girl singing jazz songs...turns out she's kind of a frumpy hippie. That realization was a bit sad....I still like her CD though. I'm being very judgmental of late I've noticed. Probably because I lack the time to really ponder people.

Well, I must be off to the coffee shop to make some headway on my science unit about light...hurray. Then dinner and off to my Belledi dancing class, taught by 65-year old Grace. So much fun. Ha ha.

new heights

2007-10-10T19:55:00.001-05:00

Today my CT basically said, "Umm, so I think I've taught you all I can...you've sort of got this teaching thing down." I was like, um, what?

I mean it finally clicked with me last week to just be myself with these kids. They seem to like me. So much of it all is just knowing how to talk to them.

I got my school pics back today. My CT says to get a school bus frame with little window openings to put all the pics for each school year to watch myself age. I couldn't find them at Hallmark as he had suggested. I think I will do this though. Also the third grade quotes page needs to be just put in a book I think.

Mid-semester break this weekend, thank goodness. I'm headed north with the parentals to just veg and enjoy the fallness with them and the puppies. After that there is no more messing around...lots of work and such.

I'm just so happy with my school situation right now...great people with me at my school, great CT, great Field Instructor - we've sort of become friends which is awesome. I'm beginning to see some alignments in personality with my CT and being able to chuckle over the same things with the kids really adds to our relationship.

I'm plotting a trip out east over our mid-winter break to visit the baby sis, go to Boston and also Providence to visit Kirsten. I want to see Plymouth and John Adams' house. Yes, history nerd, right here.

Matty Nathanson

2007-10-09T20:47:00.000-05:00

So, Sunday, 6 of us went to the Matt Nathanson/Cary Brothers concert. (Cary Brothers, not THE Cary Brothers, as he pointed out - "People look at my posters and say 'there's only one guy...wow he must be a real d***'"). Kate Voegele opened and every song was a breakup song. She must have been like 17 and, as Suzanne pointed out, well logically she would have had about 7 awful breakups ever.

Oh, wait, so the venue was tiny tiny (thing Little Bro's in Cbus) and we were like third "row" I guess. Cary Brothers was good good... a little mellow for the bar scene, but his songs are some of my faves on the Garden State and Last Kiss soundtracks.

Mind you, it was like 87 degrees allll day that day and when we first entered the bar, we were like oooo chilly! and then all the other people rolled in and soon enough we were all in a sauna.

Matt Nathanson is great because he looks and acts so badass (every other word the f-bomb and a nose ring), and yet his songs reflect this sort of deep understanding of the heart in a really human and relate-able way. Some songs are dirty, but not too dirty, some are tender, but not too mushy, but the lyrics always make you think about them more and more every time you hear them. He's fun, the music is fun, and he just seems so down to earth.

Before busting into his song "Laid" (see the lyrics for yourself), he said "This...is the greatest song ever written by anyone in the history of the world!". He did a little mmbop by request, prepped us for a sing along of "Answering Machine" with a full version of "Don't Stop Believing"...oh Journey.

It's great to find a musician who is of the laid-back, normal yet quirky people variety. I haven't left a concert feeling like that since, well Great Big Sea, but that's a different story. Perhaps it was being so close to him, but the energy that was in that place was amazing, and I think the 4 of us who were not so familiar with him left a little bit smitten:)

Ok, and really, I hate sweating, but strangely the fact that everyone was just disgustingly hot, but we all suffered through that part together and no one really seemed to care - that's how good it was. Weird? Yes.

He was shocked that everyone knew every word to his new album that came out like a month ago. You could tell he was so appreciative and just happy.

Songs I remember him singing....
Princess, Suspended, Angel, Answering Machine, Heartbreak World, Come On Get Higher, Car Crash, Wedding Dress, Gone, Still, Laid, Bent, I Saw, Pretty the World, Detroit Waves

probably more...oh sigh:)

after a month

2007-09-30T12:43:00.000-05:00

So I have been student teaching for 4 weeks now. It has been quite an adventure. My CT is great - a self-proclaimed minimalist which is good because I have potential to make things much more complicated than they need to be and my future classroom could be more elaborate that it would need to be. He keeps things simple which allows him to be much more flexible. He inserts more elaborate things where necessary, but I think keeping it simple also keeps him less frazzled and a more effective teacher.

I have done storybook read alouds, taught most of a social studies unit, and will lead a math discussion this week, do a couple more read alouds and then the week after teach a writing unit about writing about important people in our lives.

I've had very good meetings with my field instructor is impressed with my thought process in my intentionality of doing things a certain way. I feel so fortunate to have so much experience with kids under my belt because I already know how to talk to them and have some sense of their abilities.

I'm having trouble finding a balance with management. I like order, but I know that it cannot be perfectly orderly in an elementary classroom. We have a class that is teaching us to create a classroom COMMUNITY which should create a peaceful, supportive learning environment, but on some level this sort of things feels a little unrealistic. I think I will have trouble not over-managing. I don't want to be the mean teacher! There is one student right now that is just really disruptive and when my CT is teaching I find myself hounding this kid to pay attention and sit still. He is so hard to ignore because he is so distracting. My goal this week is to sort of ignore him. He has allowed me to practice the stare-down technique of getting the kids back on task.

When I told my field instructor that I was working on management and being firmer, she said that just having met me once or twice, she felt like I was a person she would not want to mess with and that she was surprised that I needed to work on being firm...ha ha. It's different with 21 little faces looking (or not looking) at you.

I'm frustrated with our math methods class because there is SO much homework - so much reading, etc. and reflection REFLECTION! The classes really take a back seat to our time with the kids. They know that though.

My apt. is finally shaping up and feeling more like home. On another note, my right foot is smaller than my left. Which doesn't really make sense since I am right-handed. Go figure.

quotes from the 3rd grade

2007-09-04T16:38:00.000-05:00

an ongoing list as I start my life as a 3rd grade teacher:

"Are THOSE ballet flats???" - little girl running up to me at recess

it's nice to have someone who appreciates the value of first day of school shoes:) (9/4)

"I really like duck tape..." - the start of one boy's "I like" paragraph (9/5)

"I love me some SHRIMP!" - a boy's response to me asking him if he liked seafood (9/6)

"Circuit City...where I got my PSP..." - a boy drawing his favorite place (9/6)

"Someone was whining the other day and I started singing "Hush Little Baby" and when I got to the line about "and if that diamond ring don't shine", 2 kids jumped in and finished the line with "papa's gonna buy you a bottle of wine"...yeah, kids grow up pretty fast around here..."

- My CT, 9/19

"When you get sick, does your spit taste gross?" - boy in class to my CT
"Um, maybe you should ask Ms. G****** that." - my CT

10/10

"Sally, it's all a mindf***." - My CT on the management of a classroom...boy was he right.

"Now you need to write a detailed reflection about this staff meeting...did you know that?" CT

"What if I don't WANT to push the tables that way (ignoring principal's need for the staff meeting arranged a certain way)...wait, I shouldn't be saying these things around you."

"I have a filter."

"You're going to need a LOT of filters."

CT-Me-CT 10/10/2007

a conversation from last night

2007-08-05T21:14:00.000-05:00

"You're really pretty...and you have a big forehead..."
"what?"
"well I have a big forehead too...so it's nice to find a pretty person with a big forehead...that is a good thing to me."
"uh huhhhhh...."

The Marching Ants of Productivity came to a screeching halt...

2007-08-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

So we finished our literacy class which we had everyday for like 4 hours a day and homework for everyday and then all motivation sort of halted. Now we are wrapping up Social Studies and Math Concepts and no one wants to do ANYTHING. The urgency suddenly disappeared and now I have a Social Studies unit plan hanging over my head.

It's for third graders and I've decided it will be a week-long portion of a larger unit on regions. I am going to focus on how our community is located within a state which is in a region we call the midwest. I also need to tie in how groups have adapted to or modified the environment in various regions - I think I will just approach how unique we are to be surrounded by these lakes and that makes life different for us.

In other news I am in love with this town. It's got the best parts of a big city without the sludge and scariness. The best part is that you step about 2 blocks outside of downtown and you've got woodsiness, rivers, parks, bikes, farm markets...all the good things about not being in a city. There is so much art and culture and uniqueness, it's just so fabulous. There is a great market which will be not too far from me when I finally do move into my apt. I've been enjoying their all natural peanut butter (the only ingredients are peanuts...eee!) on whole grain and seed bread - toasted is best:)

I went to the Art Fair a couple of weekends ago and it was a complete zoo, but so interesting to walk around. I picked up a lot of business cards and bought a few things at the sidewalk sales portion of the event. One of those things was a pair of Chacos which seem to be a footwear staple around here. I just can't seem to make them very sally-ish. I think I'll be selling them to Miss Lizzie who heads back to China in a couple of weeks. She'd make better use of them than I will in a classroom (ie sitting in my closet).

Tomorrow night, while further avoiding our unit projects, some of us are going to see "Becoming Jane" and then Saturday...oh blissful Saturday...I will venture to the outlet malls nearby and treat myself to some new apparel. This will not seem like a great idea after the realization that my net worth is plummeting by the second as I start to sink into student debt, but hey! we all need clothes! Plus, I thoroughly intend to take a bunch of old stuff to goodwill or wherever Lizzie takes that stuff - her reasoning is so that she doesn't come home from China again to find 6th grade still in her closet.

Next week, I am done with the summer term. By this time next year, I will have a Masters degree which is pretty wild and crazy. Let's face it, I'm mostly excited because I get academic regalia in the form of a hood with pretty colors.

Week 4!?!?!

2007-07-17T19:16:00.000-05:00

I am in the midst of week 4 of this program and in the last two weeks have:

- had my first little kid call me Miss _____.
- introduced a story to children
- did word work following a guided reading
- sent a nasty email to Hong Kong boy and thanks to my dad and his legal jargon, will be getting my $$ back
-officially moved into the Mitchells' house
-finally went grocery shopping
- had Sangria with my fellow cohort members
- had my car break down on my way back to up north, spent the night at OTHER family friends' house, got my car back (this drama rivaled that of the apartment)
- got a splinter in my foot which the mom proudly removed using a needle and her special sewing/magnifying lamp
- partied at some random person's house because "he likes having 20-somethings around" soundse sketchy, I know
- saw my dear friend Adam and trapsed about with him, trying on Moon Boots, walking in the woods, eating pizza, and trying freshly made gelato
- continue to loooove my new town:)

2 more weeks of Lit and 4 more weeks of the other two classes...then I'm done with the summer session!

homeless girl

2007-07-02T17:29:00.000-05:00

So the Mitchells were kind enough to let me stay with them last week and then I went home, spent sometime with the Jishka and packed up my life (well mostly my clothes) and Camille's car and we drove up to AA yesterday to move me into my summer apt. We arrive and my superintelligent sublettor did not authorize me to get the key. And guess where he is for the summer...

HONG KONG

So I talk to the building manager today and he was like, "is this about a sublease? Why didn't he leave you a key? He's an idiot." Well the idiot HAS to call the security desk to authorize me to get the key, make a copy and then move it. The idiot is also in Hong Kong and non-responsive to emails. So today after class, I walked to the local liquor store, bought a phone card, drove back to the Mitchells' but no one was home and I didn't have a key, so I drove around to find a pay phone to try to call him. Made my way to the Big K, dialed, couldn't get through (evidently because I am lacking the correct country code, which I found). I've since made it to his voicemail (had to call twice as I got cut off). Well I think it was his voicemail. There's a very nasty email awaiting him should he ever check it.

Rarrrrr.

Meanwhile, I shall keep track of all of my expenses and make him pay refund me some rent because this is rifreakingdiculous.

Half of my stuff is in the Mitchells' house/garage and the other half is in my car. Just chillin'. I don't know quite what to do at this point. My lawyer is about to make a mean phone call, that's for sure.

New Adventures!

2007-06-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

Well I am semi-settled (for a couple of days at least) in Ann Arbor. My sublease doesn't start until Sunday, so I am staying with some family friends and it is SO nice to come home to a semi-familiar place during this first week of orientation and class, etc.

Orientation was today and it was probably as awesome as orientation can get. The professors are enthusiastic and passionate (one would hope...oh and I sort of don't like using that word, but there really wasn't another option) about teaching and making a difference and really preparing us to step out of this program next June ready to take on a classroom. It was really invigorating. The other great thing is that they are constantly looking at how this program works and how they can make it better...it's on ongoing experiment and their dedication is overwhelming.

The program is mostly girls with a wide age range and there are about 6 guys. Pretty much everyone seems very nice and very aware that we are all quickly going to become each other's support group and resources. They emphasize that we are all in this together, just like teachers are and that it is so important that we all bounce things off of each other and use each other for everyone's benefit.

Ann Arbor is so cool so far. I'm not totally familiar with everything yet, but have a decent idea of where things are. It has the city life without the huge city and there is so much art and culture which makes me:):):) I am a nerd.

Tomorrow we have to bring our favorite book to our literacy class. So I went to Borders and bought a $5 copy of Jane Eyre. I'm not sure what we will be doing with this, but it's my all-time favorite.:)

my jaw hurts

2007-05-20T00:29:00.000-05:00

A phrase once uttered with regularity when I was about a junior in high school. My parents brushed it off, until one night at dinner my mom was like, you have TMJ. She took me to a dentist specializing in TMJ (temperomandibular joint/muscle disorder) and the first thing he did was apply pressure to my right shoulder and a shooting pain went all the way up my neck and into my jaw. Evidently I had torn one of the two muscles that hold the ball portion of your jaw into the cup of the joint. So, I got a fancy retainer to wear at night that would direct any pressure away from my jaw caused by my tense self clenching/grinding at night. Also I had to take some pills that looked like they could have been given to horses to loosen up the joints. It felt better.

Flash forward to summer before senior year in college. In pain again. At the cottage though, so no jaw doctor to see. We go to the walk in urgent care facility and a Dr. who realllly likes to give our prescriptions puts me on muscle relaxants by night and STEROIDS by day. This does little other than to have one of my boathouse co-workers tell me to lift a 13-foot boat on my own cause he thought I was "juicin' it". Riiight.

Later that fall...back to the home jaw doctor where my retainer is adjusted, and I am told I have arthritis in my jaw. I get a prescription from an apothecary that is topical and also Vioxx. Literally the following day, while eating breakfast, having just taken my Vioxx, I see on TV that Vioxx has been recalled. Awesome. In place I am prescribed Celebrex which is also later recalled. Meanwhile, I feel like a senior citizen.

So now, following the removal of my 3 wisdom teeth and thus much overstretching of my delicate jaw, it's tighter than ever before and I can't wear the retainer because it hurts too much but I'll get it fixed on Tuesday and maybe more drugs for that. Go team

Just another installment of if there are weird ailments to have, I have them.

Also, tonight I was napping on the couch with one dog nesting in my curled knees and the little one as the small spoon, but that was not good enough for her - she grew restless, licked every part of my face and then basically draped herself over my head. We've only had her for 2 full days, but I think she's settling in just fine. And she has us wrapped around her little dew claw. How cute.

fo sheezy

2007-05-01T16:55:00.000-05:00

I normally haul my freaking umbrella everywhere, but for some reason, I decided to switch bags during finals (had 2 today - the two harder ones so woooo hoooo) and now it is POURING down rain. I am in the lab waiting it out, I guess. Not much else I can do since it's quite a hike to my car and also I am wearing my suede/cork clogs. Apparently I can only focus my intelligence toward book learning or common sense - never the two at the same time.

During my econ final, the sky got really dark when I was around question #12 out of 50. The tornado siren started blaring and our prof was like, um, I'll go check on that. He comes back and says, "Just keep taking the test - someone will come in here if...ya know..". Awesome. I can see the headline now..."75 students perish while taking Micro-econ final while on the FOURTH FLOOR OF A BUILDING during a tornado".

There are these pretty flowers on this bush we have outside of our house and also they were outside of the Winter Palace. They look like they are made of frosting (sounds weird, I know), but they smell heavenly. I have no idea what they are but I think they might be my second favorite to lilies of the valley - a scent which apparently is the only floral scent that no one has succeeded in replicating as a perfume.

Ahh, these tidbits:)

Ummm still raining.

the aforementioned kitten hickey

2007-04-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

has turned out to just be some sort of "Bilge jumped on me with his big fingernails" wound. It is now a scab. Thank you all for your concern.

I just had a facial-ish thing at a medically based spa where I buy my facewash. She was just going to do some treatment I had a few years back, but instead did a "peel". My face is pink now, but it feels good. This bizness is kind of expensive, but then I'm like, well, it's my face. I should take care of it. I know you're thinking, well, but peeling off the top layer of skin is probably not taking care of it. That's possible, but I trust my face lady whose name is Joy.

3.5 pages left to write for my last paper for the ut. It's about how the excessive pride of Americans in the late 1800s and on led them to settle the American west which really is just a big desert and there really shouldn't be any farming on that land. Then the bureaucracies, congressmen, etc. went dam-building CRAZY and dammed every freaking river and stole water from here and there so that the idiot Americans who moved out there could sustain a life. Sorry, my western friends, but seriously...and LA is probably the worst of these situations.

Which brings me to another thing. People who live in places that are prone to being ravaged by natural disasters. If you live at the base of an active volcano, it should not be the government's responsibility to make life all better for you when the volcano blows. Likewise, don't move somewhere where it is impossible to farm without irrigation. And do you know who was behind most of this dam-building in the heyday? FDR. What would the environmental Dems say about that today?

saggy-crotch pants - stupid or aesthetic?

2007-04-21T20:55:00.000-05:00

So, once upon a time it occurred to me that clothing is actually an art form. Things are "flattering" on us because they create illusions - black is slimming, boatneck tees make narrow shoulders look wider, halter tops make wide shoulders look narrower, low rider jeans make short waists look longer, etc.

This is not a new development. Big poofy skirts made waists look tiny as did big poofy sleeves. It's all relative - fatten up another body part that's near the waist and of course your waist looks smaller.

Then of course there are the fashion faux pas - where art fails! Ankle straps make short legs look shorter, tapered jeans make asses look huge, pleated pants add pounds to the hips, and mock turtlenecks...well they are just ugly.

So clearly there is some method to dressing. People who have style really just have a sense of aesthetics and couple that with whatever trend might be occurring - for instance, baby-doll dresses create a sort of androgenous appearance - so hey, apparently it's aesthetically pleasing for girls to look like boys or pre-teens right now. Those of us with childbearing hips, relatively tinier waists in comparison, and something of a chest luck out this season.

So, where do saggy-crotch pants fit into this? I mean what is visually pleasing about having your legs look like they are half their actual length and also that your ass is, well very long (don't misread), and yet very flat? Couple that with the swaggering gait, and, um, well I don't get it. I will ponder more and perhaps provide a second installment. Explanations are welcome.

Friiiiday

2007-04-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

So I'm like buzzed up on iced espresso. I've always enjoyed a caramel latte or something but lately have switched to iced coffee which turns out to be less like iced tea and more like iced caffeine. I get all jittery, but it doesn't stop me from getting the grande size everytime I venture somewhere to do work. I cannot do work in my house for there are far to many distractions and I associate my house with laying on the couch or playing on my computer, so the thought of doing work here is sort of depressing.

In other news, we are getting a puppy. Actually, this is probably not news to anyone as I am obsessively forwarding the pictures on a regular basis to nearly everyone I know. I feel like a little kid right before Christmas. I love Bilge with all of my heart, but I cannot wait for little paws and ears and puppy breath again. It's been 9 years since we've had one and I just cannot wait. Too bad the little devil will arrive right after I get my wisdom teeth out. I only have three, but they are not in ideal positions and I've been warned that I will be out of it for at least 3 days. My mom thinks that surely I will be able to drag myself off of the couch to clean up a puddle or two.

Points of obsessing at the moment:

-I went to the Dr. in January due to a sinus infection and they weighed me. My weight was the same as it was like 4 months earlier and I tend to trust the dr's scale. I weighed myself not 4 weeks later at a friend's house and it showed that I was 7 lbs heavier. That's about as much weight as I put on in college and subsequently lost while walking all over Rome, Paris, Pompeii, and Venice for two weeks after that. Regardless, I feel as though I would notice if I had put 7 lbs on in a month. Convinced that said friend's scale was wrong, I weighed myself at the gym last night - same 7 lbs heavier. I think I eat well, I mean I eat like 4 meals a day in 4 hour increments, speed walk to class, walk the dog at least twice a week or walk on the treadmill, and really don't snack very much. I'm slightly baffled by said weight gain and am rather bothered by it.

-I walked the dog today and while wearing shorts outside for the first time in months, discovered a small strange spot on my leg amongst the spider veins which are another point of occasional obsessing. Said spot looks an awful lot like a small hickey, which it is not, although Camille is convinced I let a kitten give me a hickey on my calf. This is not true...gross. A quick pix message to a med school friend and online convo about it ended with me being advised to wait a couple of days and that it is probably just a bruise and not a kitten hickey. Well thank goodness. Regardless, of course I sit here believing I have leukemia like Izzy's daughter on Grey's last night or perhaps something worse. Camille's response to all of my leg/foot/knee/appendage issues is "let's cut it off". No thank you.

Cars

2007-04-09T17:58:00.000-05:00

So I never really obsessed over cars before. Not that I am obsessing now. I guess I never just really thought about them or wanted one in particular. The Jeep's been good to me. It's approaching 10 years old, though, and that's how long my dad's lasted, so the reality that I will need a new one in the next couple of years is apparent.

Probably I think about cars more often now because I spend like an hour driving around each day. I notice every car I see...on the road, in the parking garage, etc. Anyways, I've narrowed it to three choices:

The Fit: Cute, spacious like small SUV which I am used to, good gas mileage, and a long-lasting Honda. However, has potential to look really dated in a couple of years and I need this thing to last me like 10. Not too expensive either, which is good. Sooo, main concern: not classic enough.

The Equinox: Which I love love love but it gets craaaapppy gas mileage compared to other options...sigh. It's so pretty though. That's a Quinn rationalization. I won't get one.

The Patriot: Now here's a nice compromise...SUV...ranked just behind the Escape hybrid for SUV gas mileage (25/29 I believe). My Jeep has been good to me, so why not another?

Thoughts?

Ok.

2007-04-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

Trying this again. I finally have a weekend of few obligations. I started cleaning my room, but really I just made new piles out of the old piles and remarked in my head how ridiculous it is to have one's entire existence in ONE ROOM.

I'm so tired of the running around. Here is a typical Monday for me:

6:15 a.m.: groan and turn off cell phone alarm #1 and hope that the next ten minutes are the longest 10 minutes ever.

6:25 a.m.: groan and turn off alarm #2, lay there, trying to keep my eyes open so that I don't doze off again

6:30 a.m.: definitely get up and get into the shower like a zombie (although perhaps zombies don't shower, I don't know)

6:40 a.m.: get out of shower, put work clothes on, ponder styling hair, chose not to, wear same part-on-the-side, low maintenance messy bun thing AGAIN

6:50-7:20 a.m.: pack school clothes, pack lunch, eat breakfast, brush teeth, pack school bag and GROAN that I did not do 1 or 2 of these things the night before so that I might actually do my hair

7:25 a.m.: in the car, turn on Bob and Tom, drive to work

7:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: work

12:00 p.m.: change into jeans because who needs to be in work clothes longer than they have to???

12:05 p.m.: leave downtown for school

12:20 p.m.: arrive in UT parking garage, eat lunch by my lonesome IN MY CAR sketchily while talking to Jishka on speakerphone about things like...lunch

12:40 p.m.: walk to class #1 where I am utterly baffled by probably 20-yr-old who text messages all through class OUR CLASS OF 15 PEOPLE, 9 of which are usually there, and then hits on me by telling me I smell "exquisite" when in fact it was the girl next to me, AND by getting 53%s on 5 page papers. Good work.

1:50 p.m.: leave with only UT friend to walk to our next class in a nearby building

2:00 p.m.: class begins and am again astounded by the guy who once fell asleep very loudly in class and who now sits in the very very front lone seat directly in front of the professor with no notebooks, pens, etc, but plays on his cell phone the entire time and the professor says NOTHING

3:15 p.m.: walk hurriedly back to car and drive home

3:35 p.m.: arrive home and pretend to do homework/cuddle with Bilge/walk Bilge/watch the Food Network/play online

7:oo p.m.: talk to Nick, Camille, and Ben online while they are in Fed Tax and they whine about it

7:58 p.m.: get ims that say "2 more minutes"!

8:00 p.m.: OK LEAVE LEAVE LEAVE and I leave for either a) Nick and Ben's apt. or b) Camille's where we have Jack Bauer night and food...Jack Bauer night really saves Mondays for us all

10:00 p.m.: leave or make everyone watch "What About Brian" with me real fast...then go home

11:00 p.m.: get ready for bed

12:00 p.m.: finally fall asleep and think about how tired I'll be with only 6.5 hours of sleep.

There you have it. This is why I have nothing exciting to comment on.

Thank you.

for Duncan Donuts

2007-02-21T18:26:00.000-05:00

I want Duncan Donuts to come to my partay on Saturday. She is beautiful and smart and funny and needs to meet the T-town crowd. Also, she will be good manual labor during party prep time. Anywho. I am a busy girl. peace out. come to the party Duncan Donuts.

Ok OK

2007-01-17T17:04:00.000-05:00

I've been busy.

I'm a student again and trying to juggle that and working 21 hours a week as well. I'm also learning the differences between small liberal arts schools and big state schools that run like machines.

As of now I feel that I have one class that I reallly need to read for. I have a 5 page paper due for it next Wednesday (really next Friday, but I'm turning it in early because Jishka is coming THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW!).

Bilge is ANGRY with me for not walking him in the past couple of weeks, but it's been freezing cold and I've been sick - the compulsive handwasher has a nasty cold - believe it.

Anywho, off to the coffee shop to read read read about labor lawyers and whatnot. Gotta get movin on dis paper!

and

2006-12-10T01:46:00.000-05:00

snack wraps are stupid.

also

2006-12-05T18:11:00.000-05:00

I tap dance while waiting for stuff to come out of the printer. It's in its own special cubicle and that is the only place that no one can see me or hear me when I am inspired to do a little time step in my cute work shoes.

8 minutes

2006-11-29T12:57:00.000-05:00

I have exactly 8 minutes to post. Why I am doing this now, I have no idea. I should be rereading the outpouring that was my "personal statement" last night. I feel like my brain just spilled out onto the page. I almost teared up for a minute. Not sure why.

Ok, now I only have 5 minutes, so I don't think that's long enough to post all the weird things about me, but I'll try:

1. I wash my feet every night before getting into bed - even if I showered like a half hour before. I like to be clean in my bed. I also like to take care of my feet.

2. I think I am having a love affair with a place. I hate being away from it, I do ridiculous things (like drive a total of 10 hours for a mere 36 there), and I keep it on a pedastal. It's like a freaking disease, seriously.

3. I like order but my room is a disaster. I think I avoid it because it can never be orderly - so it's not even worth the time to attempt to fix.

4. I cried once when my grandfather cooked clams. I felt so sorry for them.

time's up. More later.

THANKSgiving

2006-11-21T18:33:00.000-05:00

Well, normally Quinn and I sleep in, get up, establish space on the couch in the family room during the parade and then the dog show that's usually on USA until I squeal with delight at seeing the Springer Spaniel (or maybe this is New Year's Day...I forget), eat something, probably move to the basement, then there is the general round of showers and then we relocate to the G-rents' house.

There we stuff ourselves with veggies, dip, chips, and peanuts, and split cokes with the good ice cubes that Grandma Rosie buys at the grocery rather than making the big ones like we do. Normally there is knitting involved and the parents/grandparents talk and talk. We eat dinner at the table set with special little place cards and small pilgrim figurines (our ancestors came over on the Mayflower, which I obsessed about during my colonial phase). We have turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, cranberry sauce (usually made with Nova Scotia cranberries picked by the G-rents themselves), salad, wine, and then pumpkin pie.

Oh, and it's normally around Quinn's birthday, so she also opens presents. Then she and I retire to the basement where we watch TV until Mom decides that Dad has napped long enough on the couch and it is time to go home.

Jishka shared Thanksgiving with us for a couple of years, so she knows the drill. This entire story may seem very normal to you, but I assure you, my family is still a huge circus - even though there are only 6 of us.

and good-bye makes the journey harder still

2006-11-19T00:34:00.000-05:00

I'm continuing to see how I am alway sad at the end of things, despite any vast array of good and bad feelings I felt toward whatever I am saying goodbye to. It's the end of something and with that brings the possibility of never having it back or knowing that it will never be the same even if I do have it back again. What if that thing was actually so good relative to the things that lie in the future? I think that that scares me.

try #239506984960 (approximately)

2006-11-09T18:46:00.000-05:00

So everytime I sit down I feel like writing something. So I sign right in and then watch the cursor blink and then sign out.

So now I've written something, and am signing out.