feel the love

Somehow, my class has gotten very lovey over the past few days. I think it was because we were away and their collective hearts grew fonder. There has been some spontaneous declarations of their love. Several essays have been written. And, cards abound.

I'm sure something has to do with the fact that I'm calmer than I was during the hailstorm of holiday preparation. Also, no school after school. I'm exuding calm. They are responding well.

It's reinforcing my whole connection between the Dog Whisperer and teaching.

vay-ca-tion!

I'm back, back from the other coast. It has changed me. As I got ready to leave the house this morning, I thought, "Do I need to wear my jacket?"

My apartment is located well above the equator. It is January.

I need a coat.

list o' goodness

Several things have happened over the past few days that can be added to my own personal list o' holiday goodness. I really do love Christmas.
1. Christmas trees pushed in old lady carts--it's so very Queens.
2. Gifts from the kids--I've gotten a shampoo/conditioner combo and little baby forks and spoons.
3. Piles of gifts, wrapped up in ribbons and bows.
4. Gingerbread cookies, roll out and cut em up style...now I'm off the hook for making cookies from scratch for the cookies and milk party my class will be having tomorrow.
5. Plans for fun...and I like to fun.

Sweet Baby Jesus

I often will get little gifts from my students throughout the day. Typically, it's a piece of paper with a drawing of a little bird or flowers. I also get lots of stickers. One day, I walked around with a 5-inch sticker of a big-eyed alien on my shirt all day. It was a very big hit.

I received a different kind of gift today. It was a pin. Originally, it was attached to a book created out of loose-leaf paper and then cut into an intricate design.

The book was blank because the gift giver did not have enough time to write anything. After a brief high-powered negotiation, I gave the book back so he could have more time to write something and he gave me the pin to wear today. I put the pin on my shirt and went through the day.

While the kids were at lunch, I spruced myself up for our big concert. As I looked in the mirror, I realized that the pin had a very stylized Christmas scene--a tree, a mother and a baby...oh wait, that would be Mary and little baby Jesus. So much for separation of the church and State.

Only the strong will survive

[Note: Geeky blog about blogging to follow.]

So, the people who study blogs and and the actions of the bloggers have come to a conclusion. As of 2007, you will no longer receive an email from a friend telling you that finally, after a few weeks of testing the whole blogging thing out with some anonymous posting, they want you to come check out their blog. We're going to level off. The people who blog will have their blogs. The people who started and quit will keep the quitting thing up.

The blogs I read now are just going to have to keep me entertained.

What is to come

Mentally, I'm done with my semester. In reality, I have one big big paper/presentation combo that is due on Tuesday that is about as far from done as it could be. Despite this minor issue, I've caught a glimpse of the weekends I will get to enjoy for the next few weeks.

I've paid attention to things that normally get pushed to the bottom of the list (haircut, finally getting clothes that double as good for elementary school and something I can wear around adults without looking like a crayola box). I rediscovered my affinity for walking many miles by accident. I wrote my Christmas cards. And, I spent time with the best people.

Now, I'm listening to a birthday mix, eating some lovely whole wheat pancakes, and drinking coffee. I believe that this is what a weekend is supposed to look like. But, it's been a long time since I have had one like this. I'm going to have to try it out again next weekend to see if I can perfect the experience.

These are the rules

On my way home from a teaching test, I found myself in a bit of a situation. Normally, people coexist on the subway with little to no interaction with strangers. We all have agreed to some unspoken pact that no one is to speak or touch. Today the rules were violated.

I was sitting close (but not too close) to two people. Then a woman got on the train and wedged herself between me and the woman on my left. There was not nearly enough room for her to fit--she had to sit on the edge of the bench and I was smooshed into the man next to me. I became obviously distressed. I was touching not one but two people! I had to get out of the situation without violating the no speaking rule. After a moment of panic, I stood up. I am sure that I had mildly pissy look on my face--allowing other people on the train to know that I would never so blatantly violate the rules.

Then, I sat in someones seat who got off the train at the next stop. Then, the lady who knows no boundaries got off at the stop after that one. Then, I realized my disgust at the situation may mean I have lived in NY too long.

So cold

After a whole afternoon spent out and about so I could enjoy the warmth of buildings with heat, I returned to my icy apartment. Here on the second floor, there has been a heat issue for a little bit. I didn't pay much attention until the day that putting on one more layer didn't really solve the problem...neither did the application of the next 3 layers. My nose is cold. My fingers are actually colder than I thought possible. And, my computer screen is cold. My computer screen! It's madness (and much too close to the outside temperature of 28 degrees).

Then saw this online...it might be something to look into.

good things of the day

Some of my students have lives with challenges that are beyond my experience. One came to school without a winter coat on a day that was about 40 degrees. I told someone in the school and the next day a coat was found. Sometimes (just sometimes) my school does something good.

Dance it out (life)

Sometimes I find myself dancing it out. For those of you who don't know what dancing it out is, it is basically a whole body, arm pumping, dance walk thing. It's done when something makes you happy, very happy. Like a cup of coffee or something funny. In September I was dancing it out quite often. Life was good, I was happy. Then I was distracted with a variety of things. There had been no dancing it out. Tonight it returned. One of my last classes for the semester was cancelled. So, I danced it out...all the way down the hallway.

Waking up (life)

For my big three oh, I got an alarm clock that works with my iPod. I love it. This morning, I was woken up by a playlist that has The Flaming Lips, the Stray Cats, Iris Dement and John Pryne, and Django Reinhardt. Ooo, fun. In the olden days, I would have been woken up by whatever annoying radio station my old, wonky alarm picked up.

Let me explain the wonk.

I'm the kind of person who tries to trick herself into actually waking up by having the alarm across the room. I heard that if the actual alarm doesn't do the trick (which it really never did), the walk to turn it off would wake me up. But, the person who said that had never met me. I can sleep like a champion - before and after a variety of things that may seem rousing to others.

When I lived in Arizona, one morning, I pulled myself out of my warm bed and walked across my room to take care of the blaring alarm. My sleepy shuffle across the rug combined with the dry air of Arizona, causing me to pick up a lot of static electricity. When I touched the alarm, the whole thing shorted out for a second and then restarted itself. Since then, my radio alarm clock had been a radio/buzzer alarm...which feel under the category of most annoying thing ever. But it still, officially, did its job - told the time, woke me up (albeit, a little angry) - I had a hard time parting with the clock. It seemed want-y. That is, until I met my new alarm clock. I love my new alarm clock.

I forgot

Somehow, I forgot that I love two things: The Dog Whisperer and pretzel goldfish. Tonight, I was reminded. Faux TiVo will now help me remember about the Dog Whisperer. I'm going to have to think of something for the pretzel goldfish.

Funny things they say (teaching)

Today, my students entertained me. After I asked if there was a song in Bengali that we could sing along with the Christmas carol being forced upon us by the school, one of my students who is Muslim said, "Oh, don't worry. I celebrate Christmas, too." He then sang Jolly Old St. Nicholas as the highest soprano in the class. [In case you are wondering, I didn't present the whole Christmas song angst with quite the same tone when I discussed the issue with the kids.]

Then, after several students found my somewhat hidden family pictures by my desk and asked me who everyone was, one of my students exclaimed, "Hey! I have a white grandma, too." I love my students. Love them.

An end of an era (life)

This is my last official day of my 20s. Unfortunately, I'm spending it home sick. But, the extra couch time is giving me a chance to reflect and I like to reflect.

I've tried to reflect in prose form...but, it's not working. I need a list.
In ten years I have:
*Moved from college, to Arizona, to DC, to New York and am pretty sure I'm not done yet.
*Tried out several jobs until I found one that makes me so happy.
*Traveled lots and lots (numbers provided upon request)
*Tried new things and became less afraid, even though I still have a list.
*Kept old friends close and was so lucky to find new old friends.

Exactly one year ago, I talked about the things I wanted to do this year. I think I was able to live my life in a way that makes me happy. Now, I am about to begin a new decade. I am so excited for all of the things that will come. I hope that I can find new things to make me happy, learn new things about myself, and have a few new adventures. I guess we'll find out.

A perfect Sunday (life)

Today has been filled with good things; it is possible I am the only one that thinks of this stuff as good. But, hey, it's my day.

First, I found a little fix to a problem I thought was huge. The solution was easy and Christmas is no longer ruined.

Then, there was a shopping trip where I got to park and then go to two stores! In my neck of the woods, this is unique--there was no walking miles between stores, no subways, no buying only what you can carry home. I was able to meet my grocery and my Staples needs in one shot.

I am currently on my way to making a new dinner. I stick with the same old, same old a little too often. I could have a new something to add into the mix.

Now, while my possible new favorite food bakes, I'm watching some NOVA. I am learning about a family in Turkey that used to walk on all fours. Someone took the time to look into the situation and find ways to change something the family thought was a curse.

Turkey and Pie (life)

I have just consumed my fair share of Thanksgiving food--I am stuffed with tasty turkey and pie. As I have been told, turkey makes you sleepy. It also seems to make me happy. Which is probably why I want to say Happy Thanksgiving.

Great Italian Escape (life)

I've had several great Italian escapes lately. The first one was when I saw this older man, about 60, file his nails on the subway. His hair was in a DA (Fonzie style), all of his clothes were black, and his shoes were old school loafers. Normally I'm anti nail care in public places. I think it's nasty and will not subject you to the exact issues I have--too gross. But, this man had a special pocket for his metal nail file. This man had a system for filing his nails on the subway. Well, I guess anywhere, really. I got the distinct feeling that he could probably do something else with a nail file, should the need arise. But, at that moment, it was just for his nails.

The other great Italian escape has been (and is currently) watching a little Jamie Oliver cook all over Italy. It's been a long time since I've watched regular old TV. These days, it's all about faux-TiVo. I only watch what I have on my list. Right now, I'm at my parents, enjoying what commercial filled TV has to offer. I actually have no idea if I have this channel at home. But, I'm going to look. I have a weak spot for Jamie Oliver. He cooks for kids. We're the same age. And, he has a VW bus. I'm ready to cook. I need his book.

Why malls are bad, bad places (life)

Last night, I could not hide from my suburban roots and had to spend some q.t. in a mall. It had everything I needed right in one structure (a place to get glue and a new shirt). It also has Ikea. I love Ikea.

So, I was doing my thing, finishing up my wander through Target when I heard an announcement that they were closing the door to the mall and would be opening it back up in one hour. Immediately after that announcement, the gates came crashing down. There was no warning announcement, as is customary in those situations. I had a cart full of junk I had just carefully picked out from the thousands of options and was so confused by what was happening. So, I stood there, stuck in the mall, trying to figure out what to do.

I could have walked around the perimeter of the huge building, past some scary, scary dark loading docks, or I could wait it out. I'm basically a chicken. So, I waited, locked in Target for an hour. I scrounged a meal from the snack counter and seriously considered some unnecessary purchases. As soon as I noticed the gates had been raised, I headed for the hills. On my way out, I found out that there was some strange fund raiser/meet a reality TV star event happening that made it necessary for me to be locked in the mall on a Sunday night.

The whole experience of literally being stuck in a place for shopping seemed so fitting for Long Island and is probably a scenario many dream about. However, that's just never really worked for me.

It was a dark and stormy night (teaching)

Recently, I went to a training for my teachers at my school. We were
supposed to learn ways to help the children write more interesting
stories. They told us we should encourage them to start by writing
about the weather. My sarcastic self cannot always be contained. With
a slightly indignant tone, I (loudly) responded, "Like it was a dark
and stormy night?!?"

Tonight, I am thinking about that little slip of actual self in the
professional environment (which I normally try to avoid like the
plague) because it currently IS a dark and stormy night.

Change of Subject (life)

So, I've been ever so slightly cranky recently. It could be due to the
fact that I'm in a sleepy/hungry/busy bit of life. Or, it could just
be one of those things. Right now, in an effort to return to my
overly-positive typical approach to the day, I'm going to make a
partial list of the things that are good, despite the current crank.
*getting out of class early and taking time to do exactly what I want to do.
*party shuffle bringing me Team Zissou for 45 seconds of musical joy.
*being told my new bulletin board looks like something that teachers
used to do before they took the fun out of teaching.
*creative approaches to hobbies.
*plans for fun in the future.
*a Thanksgiving preview with my family this weekend--this means I'll
get to eat my favorite meal twice this year! Woo-hoo!
*a year that held things I never imagined possible (more about this in
the yearly birthday blog that's only a few weeks away).
*so many ways to stay connected with the important people in my life,
despite geographic challenges.
*very colorful file folders that are changing my life (or at least my
filing system).
*warm, warm clothes on cold, cold nights.

I think this might have helped. I could go on with this lists. But, I
have some TV I've been neglecting and thanks to my faux-Tivo, I can go
watch it right now. Ahhhh.