The Pick-up Artist

A student just offered two pick-up lines to me:

"Miss, are you a parking ticket, because you have 'fine' written all over you."

"Miss, if I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put U and I together."

I told him I'd put him and work together.

The Teaching Depths

Last week, parent/teacher conferences. Two nights of four extra hours of work, discussing grades and behavior with parents. I saw good kids, I saw bad kids. I met happy parents, I met strict parents, I met cranky parents.
I was tired.

This week, the first quarter ends. Four more days of dealing with students sudden realization that turning work in would help their grade, and their frantic pleas to accept late work. Which, being a softy, I always do. Four more days of grading late work, entering grades, answering frequent pestering to "tell me what my grade is now!"

If I can just make it to next Monday, maybe I can climb out of the depths, and back into the heights of teaching.

Fantasy Campaign Ad #3

Do you need a reason, puny human?

Vote Zeus!

This message paid for by Hephaestus, Lightning Bolt Crafter and organizer of the Keep Zeus in Power Fund.

Spirit Week, in Haiku

Underroos on top
of jeans--too wild and wacky?
Does Ironman care?

My blast from the past
Looked back to my senior year
Is ten years the past?

Empowerment is
tons of teenage guys in pink--
maybe we can change.

Spray can hair color--
Blondes turn green, purple, orange--
I should have bought stock.

Be true to your school--
paint your face blue, red, white--
I can hear pores cry.

The VP Debate

Well, not too bad, I think. No moments of, "Senator, I knew Jack Kennedy, and you are no Jack Kennedy." No candidates declaring, "Who am I? Why am I here?"

Although, to be fair, I sort've zoned out and started surfing the internet after a half hour, as I can only take so many talking points before I get grumpy. I relish the fact that we are only about a month away from the end of the campaign, as it truly feels like it has been going on since I was a wee voter.

I think I have only about one political, election-related blog post left in me. Then we will return to our normal teaching, reading, knitting schedule. So, today I leave you with an interesting commentary on the debate from Peggy Noonan. It was nice to read a moderate, conservative, positive spin.

Sarah Palin, Take 2

I've been hearing a lot of negative stuff about Sarah Palin, but as I was prepping myself for the debate tomorrow by reading upon various things, I watched another interview with Katie Couric. I found it quite interesting, both in that she did well and shares several of my beliefs, but also that this time Ms. Couric felt a bit more hounding. Look, Katie, I'm not going to tell you all the magazines and newspapers I read either, because I'm not here to give out free advertising. Anyway, if you're still watching and enjoying aspects of the campaign, take a watch.

My video wasn't working, so I've replaced it with a plain and simple link to the interview.

Blue Jeans

Without a doubt, blue jeans are my favorite piece of clothing. (This might break my mother's heart.) I feel like I look better in a great pair of jeans, that all my t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, vests, and blazers look better with my jeans, and that I am much more comfortable in my jeans.

This is a deep, life-long love affair, although according to pictures, my childhood in the 1980s led to some pretty bad pairs of jeans. I've also never quite recovered from Levi's decision to stop making ladies' 565s, which were my favorite style.

So, this week is my favorite week of school. Why? It's Spirit Week, which means as long as we are dressing up/participating in the fun days, I can wear jeans. It's fabulous--as a comfortable person, I'm a better teacher, I have more fun with the kids, and I'm quicker to the right discipline move.

Sigh. If only I could be draped in denim every day. (I love you, Mama Cool, and I do wear dresses and skirts sometimes, really!)