That's what we chanted when I was in high school. Unfortunately there's not anything quite so catchy for 2005.
Yesterday, my cross country team qualified for the state meet, our big goal of the season! We came in second in our region, beating out our big rival for the second time. Last year the team was in 5th place of 6; this year 2nd! It was a great day!
Next Saturday--Sandhills Park at the Clemson Extension, Columbia, SC will be our big day!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Friday, October 28, 2005
To Do List
Today's version:
1. Email lesson plan and post to Lex Connect
2. Turn in homebound assignments
3. Turn in book order form
4. Turn in colorguard reccomendations
5. Turn in field trip $
6. Make copies of reading logs
7. Email student update
My life is so boring. That was my to do list of extras...that's all. Seriously. But I taught some Nikki Giovanni poems and had the kiddos model "the drum"
"the drum" goes like this:
daddy says the world is
a drum tight and hard
and i'm going to
beat out
my own rhythm
or something like that. Kids are funny they wrote:
daddy says the world is
a box of crayons
and i'm going to
be the brightest
one in the box
Oh I have more, a kid just walked in to do a "mind puzzle" with me. Hmmm...should be neato
1. Email lesson plan and post to Lex Connect
2. Turn in homebound assignments
3. Turn in book order form
4. Turn in colorguard reccomendations
5. Turn in field trip $
6. Make copies of reading logs
7. Email student update
My life is so boring. That was my to do list of extras...that's all. Seriously. But I taught some Nikki Giovanni poems and had the kiddos model "the drum"
"the drum" goes like this:
daddy says the world is
a drum tight and hard
and i'm going to
beat out
my own rhythm
or something like that. Kids are funny they wrote:
daddy says the world is
a box of crayons
and i'm going to
be the brightest
one in the box
Oh I have more, a kid just walked in to do a "mind puzzle" with me. Hmmm...should be neato
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Pumpkin Moon
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must--but don't you quit.
My grandmother wrote that on an index card. It's one of those things that you have, but don't usually think about when you are actually trudging and end up sighing, even though you probably should look at the index card your grandmother wrote so that you can keep going. It's nice. I like that my grandmother wrote it down from somewhere that she read it.
This morning on the drive to school the moon was so huge and low. I was listening to Patty Griffin and it was cold out. I was driving down this winding road that goes by the back of the airport and this great big cemetery and the moon was hanging down in the trees and I pictured a cartoon Linus with his dirty blue blanket sitting in the pumpkin patch awaiting the Great pumpkins and felt sad for my childhood.
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must--but don't you quit.
My grandmother wrote that on an index card. It's one of those things that you have, but don't usually think about when you are actually trudging and end up sighing, even though you probably should look at the index card your grandmother wrote so that you can keep going. It's nice. I like that my grandmother wrote it down from somewhere that she read it.
This morning on the drive to school the moon was so huge and low. I was listening to Patty Griffin and it was cold out. I was driving down this winding road that goes by the back of the airport and this great big cemetery and the moon was hanging down in the trees and I pictured a cartoon Linus with his dirty blue blanket sitting in the pumpkin patch awaiting the Great pumpkins and felt sad for my childhood.
Monday, October 10, 2005
warp zone
today i worked for 11 hours to prepare for an interview that will only last for 1 hour at the most, but probably only 30 minutes. i sat in barnes & noble, took a break to eat dinner at chilis next door, went back to barnes & noble and then sat through desperate housewives and grey's anatomy, all the time typing or writing notes. i felt like mario. i went down below in the blue world, level 2 of super mario brothers, and then i climbed up on top of the blue brick bar at the top of the screen, ran ran ran over to where the warp zone tunnels would suck me down right over to level 5, then through the world where that sun threw out spiky turtle and beetles became deathly sliding across the brick laden ground, all the way through to where i'd climb up a vine into the sky jump past the clouds that had faces, and into another tunnel, which i think took me to level 8, the ship. the ship is college. today i felt like i went back there. i'm still typing & i have to stop!
Thursday, September 29, 2005
stick your fingers in your ears
i want to scream out loud next to someone's face & then just turn and walk away
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
nonsense in the brain
for the last 2 days, i've been dumb. it all started earlier; i just realized yesterday
1. i let a kid compete in a XC race. the kid wasn't exactly eligible. i was so excited that she qualified that i put her in there. that can be a problem. dumb.
2. i lost a stop watch that the school loaned me. i had one already, but life would be easier with 2.
3. yesterday i forgot my real watch; therefore had to borrow one from another kid to make up for the lost one and so that kid had no watch which could have helped her run intervals.
4. today i wrote on a kid's essay "this is much a better." he said, "you wrote, a better. are you ok?" a better, a butter, a nutter, a gutter.
5. today i took a 5 minute nap. i am not exaggerating. at all. 5 minutes. i am now wide awake again. i made the coffee, the pbj, cut a cantaloupe, i'm on the blogger. 5 minutes. dumb.
6. today i let children lie all over the floor with markers & big paper. this is a lovely idea in an education class. in reality, it is mostly just lots of markers whose tops have been lost crumpled paper, alien looking drawings, but possibly some fun. dumb is perhaps debatable.
that is all i can think of.
on a smarter note. i am reading the book, Margarettown or Margarettowne or Margaretown. i do not feel at all confident about how many t's are in the title. it is hilarious. as quirky as Curious Incident of the Dog minus the autism and Wellington. Wellington? Is that it. Just dawned on me, that's similar to beef wellington.
1. i let a kid compete in a XC race. the kid wasn't exactly eligible. i was so excited that she qualified that i put her in there. that can be a problem. dumb.
2. i lost a stop watch that the school loaned me. i had one already, but life would be easier with 2.
3. yesterday i forgot my real watch; therefore had to borrow one from another kid to make up for the lost one and so that kid had no watch which could have helped her run intervals.
4. today i wrote on a kid's essay "this is much a better." he said, "you wrote, a better. are you ok?" a better, a butter, a nutter, a gutter.
5. today i took a 5 minute nap. i am not exaggerating. at all. 5 minutes. i am now wide awake again. i made the coffee, the pbj, cut a cantaloupe, i'm on the blogger. 5 minutes. dumb.
6. today i let children lie all over the floor with markers & big paper. this is a lovely idea in an education class. in reality, it is mostly just lots of markers whose tops have been lost crumpled paper, alien looking drawings, but possibly some fun. dumb is perhaps debatable.
that is all i can think of.
on a smarter note. i am reading the book, Margarettown or Margarettowne or Margaretown. i do not feel at all confident about how many t's are in the title. it is hilarious. as quirky as Curious Incident of the Dog minus the autism and Wellington. Wellington? Is that it. Just dawned on me, that's similar to beef wellington.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
About Clouds
Yesterday the Sixth Wilbury posted a quote from the greatest book ever written, The House on Mango Street. She pulled out the part about Darius and his clouds, which made me remember that I had written this little poem about that same kid, Darius and his clouds, about 2 years ago when I read that book. Here goes
Darius
A boy was named
Darius
because his mother
liked the sound.
We learned on the playground
that he knew God.
Darius was the boy
who chased us
outside of school,
who pulled our hair,
but ducked away
before we reached
for him. Darius.
On Friday, he stood
on the blacktop, easy
with his hands hiding
in his pockets.
He looked away from us
and we felt our breath
slip into ourselves,
just before he pointed up
to a single cloud.
He’d pulled
a single cloud
from that piled air
and called it God. We looked at Darius,
noticed his eyes
for a first time,
heard the deepness
in his voice,
and believed him.
Darius
A boy was named
Darius
because his mother
liked the sound.
We learned on the playground
that he knew God.
Darius was the boy
who chased us
outside of school,
who pulled our hair,
but ducked away
before we reached
for him. Darius.
On Friday, he stood
on the blacktop, easy
with his hands hiding
in his pockets.
He looked away from us
and we felt our breath
slip into ourselves,
just before he pointed up
to a single cloud.
He’d pulled
a single cloud
from that piled air
and called it God. We looked at Darius,
noticed his eyes
for a first time,
heard the deepness
in his voice,
and believed him.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Twice in one day
What's come over me? Basically a snotty cold which I've just plain ole succumb to and have ended up glued to the couch with kleenex, my laptop, and way too much TV. It's not fair, but tonight, something funny actually happened. And of course, I do tell...
As many other 20 something girls I know, the show Felicity tugs at my sick heart strings. Remember, girls? Remember watching this show like we would figure out the answer to why our boyfriends were not hot, dark men like Ben and were definitely not mysterious enough to follow across country? Well here I sit, still watching this show, a little happy that I found it on the upper cable channels tonight. Will's in the kitchen being the oh so excellent person that he is cooking his whining housemate dinner, and he says, "What are you watching?" which was a loaded question, both out of curiosity and disgust because Felicity was in the middle of one of her break-up-with-Ben scenes (How many times did that really happen? It feels like at least 20), and the husky Ben voice mixed with wheepy Felicity was a little gross sounding. So I reply, "Felicity?" He's quiet, but I know more will come.
Some time passes here...
From the kitchen, "Who's Felicity?"
I say, "Keri Russell?," knowing as an old Felicity fan that there's no way I can really explain who Felicity is, I mean she's this complex, wandering soul type of person who can never make a real decision without at least bringing 3 people down with her before she decides to "Trust herself," which somehow makes those other 3 people happy for her, which really is unrealistic, but so entertaining to the high school girl still secretly hiding in my house.
So Will, still stirring something, says, "So the shows about Felicity. What all the boys want to be with her or something?" And I answer, "Well yea, it's complicated see." And he cuts me off before I can get into the true explanation of WHO this Felicity is, which is pretty much salvation for us both, don't you think??
As many other 20 something girls I know, the show Felicity tugs at my sick heart strings. Remember, girls? Remember watching this show like we would figure out the answer to why our boyfriends were not hot, dark men like Ben and were definitely not mysterious enough to follow across country? Well here I sit, still watching this show, a little happy that I found it on the upper cable channels tonight. Will's in the kitchen being the oh so excellent person that he is cooking his whining housemate dinner, and he says, "What are you watching?" which was a loaded question, both out of curiosity and disgust because Felicity was in the middle of one of her break-up-with-Ben scenes (How many times did that really happen? It feels like at least 20), and the husky Ben voice mixed with wheepy Felicity was a little gross sounding. So I reply, "Felicity?" He's quiet, but I know more will come.
Some time passes here...
From the kitchen, "Who's Felicity?"
I say, "Keri Russell?," knowing as an old Felicity fan that there's no way I can really explain who Felicity is, I mean she's this complex, wandering soul type of person who can never make a real decision without at least bringing 3 people down with her before she decides to "Trust herself," which somehow makes those other 3 people happy for her, which really is unrealistic, but so entertaining to the high school girl still secretly hiding in my house.
So Will, still stirring something, says, "So the shows about Felicity. What all the boys want to be with her or something?" And I answer, "Well yea, it's complicated see." And he cuts me off before I can get into the true explanation of WHO this Felicity is, which is pretty much salvation for us both, don't you think??
On being a grown-up...
"It's times like this when someone is talking to you like you are a grown-up that you have to be careful not to pick your nose or dig your drawers out of your butt."
"Well, that's what being a grown-up is like. At first it's scary but then before you realize, with a lot of practice, you have it under control. Hopefully you'll have lots of time to practice being grown-up before you actually have to do it."
--from The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, one of the many kids' books I read in order to pursue my career.
Cheers! and a big Hurrah! to all the other grown-ups!
"Well, that's what being a grown-up is like. At first it's scary but then before you realize, with a lot of practice, you have it under control. Hopefully you'll have lots of time to practice being grown-up before you actually have to do it."
--from The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, one of the many kids' books I read in order to pursue my career.
Cheers! and a big Hurrah! to all the other grown-ups!
Saturday, July 9, 2005
Cayce Chronicles
"I snuck what was left of my father's chicken into a napkin when Aunt Nora came to the table and got everyone's attention: Did anyone want to dance "The Hokey Pokey"? My mother did. She and Aunt Nora walked off with their arms linked.
I spotted them with Rebecca on the dance floor as I made my getaway. The bandleader was singing, "Put your right foot in, and shake it all about," and the three of them did it along with everyone else, without thinking, as I did, Why? Why would you put your right foot in and shake it all about?"
--from The Wonder Spot, Melissa Bank
As stories I've told before about the neighborhood I live in go (see some December posts about Christmas yard decorations)...there's a new one that got me laughing this week. So sometime around April or maybe May, Will and I decided to get a tent (not a camping tent, but a 10x10 easy-up to provide shade) to put in the backyard and we put mosquito netting around it b/c the backyard is sort of similar to a big stagnant pool of water, meaning really that the mosquitos love it and especially me when I'm floating around in the big pool of water. There's not water, REALLY, but it's a nice comparison. Since then we've spent some time out in the tent eating after we cookout and such, and the experience is always pretty pleasant considering that the Mosquito Super Kris Buffet is closed to the public. About 2 weeks ago, I came home from a short beach trip, and lo and behold! the neighbors had a tent too, minus the mosquito accoutrements. Now the third house down from us also has a tent, but from the window at my desk I can't exactly see the placement of their tent and have no idea whether or not they bothered for the mosquito accessories as we did.
Apparently though, the idea of a tent to block the sun was new in good ole Cayce, and by gosh we're bringing the modern times right on into this town!
I spotted them with Rebecca on the dance floor as I made my getaway. The bandleader was singing, "Put your right foot in, and shake it all about," and the three of them did it along with everyone else, without thinking, as I did, Why? Why would you put your right foot in and shake it all about?"
--from The Wonder Spot, Melissa Bank
As stories I've told before about the neighborhood I live in go (see some December posts about Christmas yard decorations)...there's a new one that got me laughing this week. So sometime around April or maybe May, Will and I decided to get a tent (not a camping tent, but a 10x10 easy-up to provide shade) to put in the backyard and we put mosquito netting around it b/c the backyard is sort of similar to a big stagnant pool of water, meaning really that the mosquitos love it and especially me when I'm floating around in the big pool of water. There's not water, REALLY, but it's a nice comparison. Since then we've spent some time out in the tent eating after we cookout and such, and the experience is always pretty pleasant considering that the Mosquito Super Kris Buffet is closed to the public. About 2 weeks ago, I came home from a short beach trip, and lo and behold! the neighbors had a tent too, minus the mosquito accoutrements. Now the third house down from us also has a tent, but from the window at my desk I can't exactly see the placement of their tent and have no idea whether or not they bothered for the mosquito accessories as we did.
Apparently though, the idea of a tent to block the sun was new in good ole Cayce, and by gosh we're bringing the modern times right on into this town!
Friday, June 3, 2005
Honey Asilomar, my road sister name
And in other news, on the road trip down the 10 my road sister, Flakey, and I were harrassed by a truck full of redneck boys. Apparently, people "holler" out the window at girls in places other than good ole South Carolina; they even do it in the desert. Since the 10 is covered in nothing but small shrubs and mining mountains, it's a scary thing being "hollered" at by stupid boys in their big truck so I decided it was time for a *HP, which doesn't exist in California. Flakey, my good pal, has the bright idea to look in the handy atlas for a "help-there's-scary-guys" number. So we call the CA tourism number and Flakey talks to a lady about how gross these boys are and we get a number to call, but apparently the boys figured out our plot to have them hightailed by some CA Highway Patrol so they left and then it was just Flakey and Honey in the Jetta still cruising down the road.
Other things have happened like eating nachos, going to gross bars named after noxious gases, sitting on ice cubes, pissing off little brothers, the list goes on and on. Overall, the road trip update cannot be truly experienced via the blog. We'll have to go out for a beer and a night of storytelling instead.
If I ever figure out how to post pictures on the blog, I'll do it, but that might take a little more inquiry than I'm up for. Happy days people!
Other things have happened like eating nachos, going to gross bars named after noxious gases, sitting on ice cubes, pissing off little brothers, the list goes on and on. Overall, the road trip update cannot be truly experienced via the blog. We'll have to go out for a beer and a night of storytelling instead.
If I ever figure out how to post pictures on the blog, I'll do it, but that might take a little more inquiry than I'm up for. Happy days people!
Friday, May 27, 2005
Shoop shoop shoooby Doop
It's finally over, the whole first year of teaching chaos. Yay for me and everyone else involved in that silly endeavor. And hooray for the other people about to embark on it. Just 2 more years and I can go back to school too...whew! what a relief!
In T minus a day and a half (T minus means minutes left or something so I hear) I head out to the western parts of the country for a little R&R and P&D&E and F&F. See if you can figure those out.
And an update on other things...mark your calendars the wedding date is set for July 8th, originally June 24th, and let's hope the place hasn't booked the 8th yet. That's a whole year away which is a really long time in my opinion to get ready for a day, one day, a single day. We've discussed eloping, letting Elvis marry us in Vegas, and all those things that seem somewhat more exhilarating than all the months of planning. Hmmm...one does like to dream! I don't think it'll ever happen, thus I'll just make the most of the traditional route and have as many laughs along the way as I can muster. It, too, shall be fun.
In T minus a day and a half (T minus means minutes left or something so I hear) I head out to the western parts of the country for a little R&R and P&D&E and F&F. See if you can figure those out.
And an update on other things...mark your calendars the wedding date is set for July 8th, originally June 24th, and let's hope the place hasn't booked the 8th yet. That's a whole year away which is a really long time in my opinion to get ready for a day, one day, a single day. We've discussed eloping, letting Elvis marry us in Vegas, and all those things that seem somewhat more exhilarating than all the months of planning. Hmmm...one does like to dream! I don't think it'll ever happen, thus I'll just make the most of the traditional route and have as many laughs along the way as I can muster. It, too, shall be fun.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Impressive
I'm very impressed by all the recent updating by the bloggers. If I was YOUR teacher, I'd say fantastic! excellent! spectacular! all ending in an exclamation point because of just how wonderful you are, much like 8th graders who do something great and then lean in ever so slightly hoping to get one of those exclamations from someone. You're cooler than 8th graders though because most of your hormones have settled.
Ever noticed how difficult some words are to text on the cell phone? I have decided that the word "tomorrow" is most time consuming. You know if you need a letter on the same key, you must wait that obligatory 3 blinks of the cursor before being allowed to type the next letter? Well in "tomorrow" there's the 'o' and then wait for the 'm' and then wait for the 'o' then do a quick 'r' and wait for another 'r' and then the 'o' and 'w' are quick no problem type jobs. But wow that's a long one to type. I often want to write 'tom' rather than 'tomorrow,' but often think my reader might think i'll see my friend Tom later. I don't even have a friend Tom; I used to though. I don't know where he is anymore. Hmph.
An update on my teaching career. I have T-5 days and counting. What does T minus ____ mean anyway? What's the T for? So just 2 full days and then 2 half days and then 1 work day and then I dance myself right out of that building in a little celebration jig. And that means, just T minus 7 days before I head out on the Plane Trip/Road Trip of the season. And there are a few reasons that this will be so.
1. 2 plane trips = lots of by myself with a bunch of strangers time
2. reuniting with 2 old friends, one for 2 weeks, one for 4 hours in the airport?
3. Monterey
4. San Francisco http://www.ramadaplazasf.com/main/rpsf-home.htm
5. Food & Beer
Yes, 5 is good.
So this might be the wedding site www.woodfieldinn.com
What does everyone think???
Ever noticed how difficult some words are to text on the cell phone? I have decided that the word "tomorrow" is most time consuming. You know if you need a letter on the same key, you must wait that obligatory 3 blinks of the cursor before being allowed to type the next letter? Well in "tomorrow" there's the 'o' and then wait for the 'm' and then wait for the 'o' then do a quick 'r' and wait for another 'r' and then the 'o' and 'w' are quick no problem type jobs. But wow that's a long one to type. I often want to write 'tom' rather than 'tomorrow,' but often think my reader might think i'll see my friend Tom later. I don't even have a friend Tom; I used to though. I don't know where he is anymore. Hmph.
An update on my teaching career. I have T-5 days and counting. What does T minus ____ mean anyway? What's the T for? So just 2 full days and then 2 half days and then 1 work day and then I dance myself right out of that building in a little celebration jig. And that means, just T minus 7 days before I head out on the Plane Trip/Road Trip of the season. And there are a few reasons that this will be so.
1. 2 plane trips = lots of by myself with a bunch of strangers time
2. reuniting with 2 old friends, one for 2 weeks, one for 4 hours in the airport?
3. Monterey
4. San Francisco http://www.ramadaplazasf.com/main/rpsf-home.htm
5. Food & Beer
Yes, 5 is good.
So this might be the wedding site www.woodfieldinn.com
What does everyone think???
Monday, May 16, 2005
More on Dump Trucks
This morning on my way to school, I watched a dump truck run a red light. I screamed out loud at the truck as I sat in my little car. I do think that the Cayce/West Columbia, Lexington area has more dump trucks than anywhere else that I've lived, but they obviously don't follow any common sense kind of rules. A dump truck is slow; therefore, if the light turns yellow, they shouldn't just try to rush through it. Undoubtably they could have missed, overshot or undershot whatever, but not get through in a timely manner. I hate dump trucks. They look like big blown up toys and for some reason their drivers just get a bad rap in my mind. It's not fair to them I know.
School is almost over. I have 2 weeks of my first year left. Hooray. I'm ready for this one to be over. After looking at the same faces day in and day out, I want a break. I leave for Arizona/California in exactly 2 weeks. I'm counting down the days. Home's fun and all, but heading out that far will be a sweet way to start my summer officially without school. OK I should do something productive, though posting after however many weeks could be considered productive, right?
School is almost over. I have 2 weeks of my first year left. Hooray. I'm ready for this one to be over. After looking at the same faces day in and day out, I want a break. I leave for Arizona/California in exactly 2 weeks. I'm counting down the days. Home's fun and all, but heading out that far will be a sweet way to start my summer officially without school. OK I should do something productive, though posting after however many weeks could be considered productive, right?
Thursday, May 5, 2005
Shock and Awe
I just put myself into my classroom isolation tank.
I had a number of conferences for students who are heading up to the high school next year. We have a kid who's so clearly homosexual. Big deal around here. People are so close minded and in education, being that way is so incredibly backward. Isn't education all about growth and development? OK well we're a developing society and a developing world, but these idiots are still living back in 1950 and they actually SAY it out loud. Things like, "it's just disgusting" and "it shouldn't happen" about students, one in particular, who I happen to teach and think very highly of. He's great, he makes bigger connections to literature than half the kids and probably these talking head idiots who are in charge of his life next year. He's polite and well mannered and has a great group of friends who are accepting of him, so why the hostility toward a 13 year old over the fact that he doesn't like girls. I almost slung a clipboard down the conference table, so I left and now I'm in isolation in my room with Tift playing. GEEEEEz louise.
Why can't we just accept everyone?
I had a number of conferences for students who are heading up to the high school next year. We have a kid who's so clearly homosexual. Big deal around here. People are so close minded and in education, being that way is so incredibly backward. Isn't education all about growth and development? OK well we're a developing society and a developing world, but these idiots are still living back in 1950 and they actually SAY it out loud. Things like, "it's just disgusting" and "it shouldn't happen" about students, one in particular, who I happen to teach and think very highly of. He's great, he makes bigger connections to literature than half the kids and probably these talking head idiots who are in charge of his life next year. He's polite and well mannered and has a great group of friends who are accepting of him, so why the hostility toward a 13 year old over the fact that he doesn't like girls. I almost slung a clipboard down the conference table, so I left and now I'm in isolation in my room with Tift playing. GEEEEEz louise.
Why can't we just accept everyone?
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Celebration
I guess I'll announce it to the blogging world, though most of you might already know this news. On Saturday, Will and I got engaged. Yippee! It's a happy time. There's not a lot to say other than that. It was a really fun time though. I giggled a lot and that's always fun. :)
Sso there's a very happy girl out there in the big world!
Sso there's a very happy girl out there in the big world!
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Public Announcement
It's 11:46. Have you flossed today?
Reminder courtesy of Flossers Anonymous, founded 2005
Reminder courtesy of Flossers Anonymous, founded 2005
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
I happen to love john stewart
I think he is just about the funniest man around. And that nerdy guy who does the interviews. What's bad about john stewart is this, I'm usually supposed to be sleeping when his show comes on, or at least staring at boring TV or a boring book so that I don't want to be awake anymore. But when the daily show comes on I start laughing and wake right up. It's a problem.
Today I went to the dentist for the 20th time this year. I should buy stock in dentist tool makers or something. Let me give you the brief history.
During college I was pretty slack about the dentist. I went to Woodruff a couple times but then one time the dentist there asked me if I did crack b/c of the stains on my teeth. I looked at him with a baffled stare and then he realized he was stupid and said, "oh do you just drink a lot of tea or coffee." Yes, wise dentist who makes more money in a year than I'll see in my lifetime, yes, I drink coffee and DO NOT do crack. Sheeez.
I decided when I became an adult last year that I should go to the dentist and so I found this place near work that could see me before school at like 7AM. How cool!? I should have thought it was weird. I went the first day and the guy was very nice. He even gave me a tshirt and a cookie. And the cookie WAS good. I thought I was set, until I went in for my consultation where this woman sat me down in a room and showed me a gross picture album of deteriorating teeth. Then she told me I had 19 cavities. Yes people, 19. I thought tragedy was striking and the world was ending. Who's ever heard of such? B/c it was so outrageous I fell for it until I told my pal Will. He told me it was a scam and the guy was trying to pay for a boat. I think he was right.
I went to a different dentist for a second opinion. CRAZY! I only had 4 cavities. Yes, that's gross, I know. Go ahead and judge me! So I handled it, got them filled. Woopie, I'm good to go now.
I went back to the dentist today for a routine cleaning. The lady practically made me come out of the chair. What's up with ripping up someone's face with floss. I was sore after and I didn't even get a cookie. Just a toothbrush and some listerine and the news that I need to floss for 10 days straight, no exceptions! Apparently, we all need to floss A LOT. And I'm serious. She compared floss to an antibiotic and compared tartar to spackle, like caulking?? Oh she was full of metaphors. People, we all have gingivitis. Be that Listerine guy! Hold out for the entire 30 Seconds! You can do it!
!!!
Today I went to the dentist for the 20th time this year. I should buy stock in dentist tool makers or something. Let me give you the brief history.
During college I was pretty slack about the dentist. I went to Woodruff a couple times but then one time the dentist there asked me if I did crack b/c of the stains on my teeth. I looked at him with a baffled stare and then he realized he was stupid and said, "oh do you just drink a lot of tea or coffee." Yes, wise dentist who makes more money in a year than I'll see in my lifetime, yes, I drink coffee and DO NOT do crack. Sheeez.
I decided when I became an adult last year that I should go to the dentist and so I found this place near work that could see me before school at like 7AM. How cool!? I should have thought it was weird. I went the first day and the guy was very nice. He even gave me a tshirt and a cookie. And the cookie WAS good. I thought I was set, until I went in for my consultation where this woman sat me down in a room and showed me a gross picture album of deteriorating teeth. Then she told me I had 19 cavities. Yes people, 19. I thought tragedy was striking and the world was ending. Who's ever heard of such? B/c it was so outrageous I fell for it until I told my pal Will. He told me it was a scam and the guy was trying to pay for a boat. I think he was right.
I went to a different dentist for a second opinion. CRAZY! I only had 4 cavities. Yes, that's gross, I know. Go ahead and judge me! So I handled it, got them filled. Woopie, I'm good to go now.
I went back to the dentist today for a routine cleaning. The lady practically made me come out of the chair. What's up with ripping up someone's face with floss. I was sore after and I didn't even get a cookie. Just a toothbrush and some listerine and the news that I need to floss for 10 days straight, no exceptions! Apparently, we all need to floss A LOT. And I'm serious. She compared floss to an antibiotic and compared tartar to spackle, like caulking?? Oh she was full of metaphors. People, we all have gingivitis. Be that Listerine guy! Hold out for the entire 30 Seconds! You can do it!
!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Whaddya Know?
So it's been a fantastic kind of weekend. I still have a bit of grownup work to do before 8 AM tomorrow, but I'm sure the work fairies will appear later today.
I came to the upstate yesterday for the Run for Hope 5k in Greenville. They had the whole course lined with luminaries and it started at 8 PM so it was nice and dark, and a very relaxing time. I finished the race pretty late perhaps because I got so distracted looking around at the scenery. It looped through Cleveland Park in Greenville, and I can't figure out why I've never been there before. Been to downtown tons of times, but never there & it's right beside it all pretty much. Anyway, it was a pretty course and there were lots of families. The best thing about this run was all the little kids who seemed to be attempting their first 5k. Within a tenth of the first mile a couple started crying immediately because they realized people were going to be passing them. You know that whole embarrassment/disappointment in your little legs thing that happens to kids right?? And then all the mom's and dad's, were giving them pep talks. Out a good ways, probably around 2.5 miles or so, I came up on this little boy whose gait was rather floppy. He was so tired, and his dad kept saying stuff like, "OK, let your heels strike first, one after the other." It was great. I'm in no rush for a kid AT ALL, but it would be fun to borrow someone else's kid and try to get them thru a 5k.
In the midst of the crying kids at the start my sister, who was going to set the pace, was really pushing me, so I told her to go ahead of me please, and she did. She finished 2 minutes or so in front. I was proud of her and pretty happy that it was just me and my feet out there having a good time with the candles and this old guy who I made it my mission to beat, and I did. Here's a link to some pics from the night if you're interested...no pressure! www.jasonhinton.com/runforhope
OH! and here's some pictures from the Cooper too. Again, no pressure!
www.jasonhinton.com/cooper
There's plenty of pics of the fam in there too and LOTS of my sis as the photographer would be her fiance. But you can find me and Rob interspersed here and there.
I came to the upstate yesterday for the Run for Hope 5k in Greenville. They had the whole course lined with luminaries and it started at 8 PM so it was nice and dark, and a very relaxing time. I finished the race pretty late perhaps because I got so distracted looking around at the scenery. It looped through Cleveland Park in Greenville, and I can't figure out why I've never been there before. Been to downtown tons of times, but never there & it's right beside it all pretty much. Anyway, it was a pretty course and there were lots of families. The best thing about this run was all the little kids who seemed to be attempting their first 5k. Within a tenth of the first mile a couple started crying immediately because they realized people were going to be passing them. You know that whole embarrassment/disappointment in your little legs thing that happens to kids right?? And then all the mom's and dad's, were giving them pep talks. Out a good ways, probably around 2.5 miles or so, I came up on this little boy whose gait was rather floppy. He was so tired, and his dad kept saying stuff like, "OK, let your heels strike first, one after the other." It was great. I'm in no rush for a kid AT ALL, but it would be fun to borrow someone else's kid and try to get them thru a 5k.
In the midst of the crying kids at the start my sister, who was going to set the pace, was really pushing me, so I told her to go ahead of me please, and she did. She finished 2 minutes or so in front. I was proud of her and pretty happy that it was just me and my feet out there having a good time with the candles and this old guy who I made it my mission to beat, and I did. Here's a link to some pics from the night if you're interested...no pressure! www.jasonhinton.com/runforhope
OH! and here's some pictures from the Cooper too. Again, no pressure!
www.jasonhinton.com/cooper
There's plenty of pics of the fam in there too and LOTS of my sis as the photographer would be her fiance. But you can find me and Rob interspersed here and there.
Monday, April 4, 2005
more about feeling faint and a beating heart
First, make sure you read Rob's Blog, at right, click Mollkey.
I have so many inflammatory statements to make about the Bridge Run, that I begin stuttering and well, Rob's done such a fantastic job highlighting the wet events of Saturday morning, that I won't even bother. But I will say 2 minor things,
1. Always carry a poncho with you, even if you're just going to Bi-Lo. You never know when it might start to rain heavily.
2. The bridge run has become a tourist trap with people from other countries posing at the highest peak of the bridge to snap photos of one another against the backdrop of the sky. You're so high up, it's not like the water would actually show anyway.
I was the rudest runner I've ever been in my life. It makes cross country meets with the elbowing and kicking look like a cake walk. Rob pushed a large man in the stomach, I yelled about cute little kids being in the way. I knocked into probably 200 people weaving through the walker's monstrosity. DON'T GET ME WRONG! Walkers are lovely people, when they're moving. However, so many just strolled with STROLLERS and very pointy umbrellas just waiting for me to approach so they could make a quick jab into my thigh or head depending.
Oh but it was a lovely time. I'm glad we made it across even if there was high emotion in the mix.
I have so many inflammatory statements to make about the Bridge Run, that I begin stuttering and well, Rob's done such a fantastic job highlighting the wet events of Saturday morning, that I won't even bother. But I will say 2 minor things,
1. Always carry a poncho with you, even if you're just going to Bi-Lo. You never know when it might start to rain heavily.
2. The bridge run has become a tourist trap with people from other countries posing at the highest peak of the bridge to snap photos of one another against the backdrop of the sky. You're so high up, it's not like the water would actually show anyway.
I was the rudest runner I've ever been in my life. It makes cross country meets with the elbowing and kicking look like a cake walk. Rob pushed a large man in the stomach, I yelled about cute little kids being in the way. I knocked into probably 200 people weaving through the walker's monstrosity. DON'T GET ME WRONG! Walkers are lovely people, when they're moving. However, so many just strolled with STROLLERS and very pointy umbrellas just waiting for me to approach so they could make a quick jab into my thigh or head depending.
Oh but it was a lovely time. I'm glad we made it across even if there was high emotion in the mix.
Friday, April 1, 2005
Spring is in the Air
I love the Zyrtec commercials where everyone is in black and white, dogs, trees, and even people pop in and out of the frame. And then, waaa-lahh the black/white film is swept away and there are bright colors showering down from above. It's the popping in and out of the frame part I like best.
Got home yesterday from a spring break trip to GA to visit some friends and fam of Will's and then to Savannah for my birthday. Fun times all around. Hotel beds do determine the kind of vacation you will have. There are two choices. 1) A dump you out bed. This type of bed got it's name because it's so uncomfortable that you are practically dumped out since standing up feels better than lying down. This condition could be caused by springs springing sideways or a matress positioned in a heads up or heads down angle or the bed could stink; there is always that. 2) A gravitron bed. This type of bed got it's name because no matter what you do you can't get out of it usually because it's so squishy comfortable, hence the gravity allusion. These beds are the type that allow jumping like a monkey on one side, but yet, not disturbing the sleeper on the other side. Though it seems that type 1 would give you the best vacation b/c you'd be standing more and so chances of getting out are higher, type 2 is the best, truly. Only problem with 2 is trying to get out of it; someone definitely has to give you a shove onto the floor. I'm serious, people, you can't roll out or sit up. I encountered both type 1 and type 2 fortunately; it kept me humble.
The other thing about vacation that's a challenge is the coffee intake. Now GA is full of Starbucks, sure sure. However, somehow I only got to have 1. Yes, 1, which is about 10,0000% less of an intake than usual. Then I went to one of those ripoff places that hangs the sign, "Proudly Serving Starbucks Coffee" and should also include, "Hikes Prices Because We Have to Make Up for Being a Lie" because a little tiny latte with no tasty vanilla was $5.25. What the hell? I walked away from that kiosk with mixed feelings; joy that I still had my $5 in my pocket and sad because again I would start my day without the goods.
Off to Charleston today to trudge over the Cooper Rvr Bridge with Robino. It should be a grand ole time; just hope my legs can do the whole thing in a running position.
Happy Legs. Happy Feet.
Got home yesterday from a spring break trip to GA to visit some friends and fam of Will's and then to Savannah for my birthday. Fun times all around. Hotel beds do determine the kind of vacation you will have. There are two choices. 1) A dump you out bed. This type of bed got it's name because it's so uncomfortable that you are practically dumped out since standing up feels better than lying down. This condition could be caused by springs springing sideways or a matress positioned in a heads up or heads down angle or the bed could stink; there is always that. 2) A gravitron bed. This type of bed got it's name because no matter what you do you can't get out of it usually because it's so squishy comfortable, hence the gravity allusion. These beds are the type that allow jumping like a monkey on one side, but yet, not disturbing the sleeper on the other side. Though it seems that type 1 would give you the best vacation b/c you'd be standing more and so chances of getting out are higher, type 2 is the best, truly. Only problem with 2 is trying to get out of it; someone definitely has to give you a shove onto the floor. I'm serious, people, you can't roll out or sit up. I encountered both type 1 and type 2 fortunately; it kept me humble.
The other thing about vacation that's a challenge is the coffee intake. Now GA is full of Starbucks, sure sure. However, somehow I only got to have 1. Yes, 1, which is about 10,0000% less of an intake than usual. Then I went to one of those ripoff places that hangs the sign, "Proudly Serving Starbucks Coffee" and should also include, "Hikes Prices Because We Have to Make Up for Being a Lie" because a little tiny latte with no tasty vanilla was $5.25. What the hell? I walked away from that kiosk with mixed feelings; joy that I still had my $5 in my pocket and sad because again I would start my day without the goods.
Off to Charleston today to trudge over the Cooper Rvr Bridge with Robino. It should be a grand ole time; just hope my legs can do the whole thing in a running position.
Happy Legs. Happy Feet.
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
Mercur-ious
Ever thought that the news is just the breeding ground for bad ideas? The other day I was thinking this, and then this morning I became even more convinced. It just seems like if people do horrendous things and then make the news, the horrendous idea has gotten out to the masses, in turn leading to more people committing the same horrendous acts. In trying to rationalize with myself I thought that maybe people don't commit the same crimes they hear on the news simply because more people, such as law enforcement, will be more aware and therefore more inclined to suspect criminal behavior because of the news. However, I don't think this theory reigns true either. In fact, I think that if people paid attention to the news they could get ideas for some pretty extreme acts. Not that this is a good thing. For example, at a school in Washington, DC, some kids spilled mercury by breaking thermometers. As a result, school has been closed for over a week. Mercury is bad news, everyone knows. When it spills onto the floor, it breaks up into miniscule beads that can't be seen at all and then breaks into even smaller airborne particles. This is dangerous, right? This school in DC had to bring in special vacuums and whatnot to deal with the problem. They quoted some kids on the story as saying they thought it was funny, which doesn't surprise me in the slightest, but does confirm some other thoughts about my career choice and how I could rapidly change my plan and go flip burgers or drive a truck. This also made me think of the time that we got out of high school because of rain. Someone said the rain could become ice, so we all went home. It just rained. You remember this people! See, that was funny. Mercury divided into a million beads that are everywhere in the cracks and crevices of old tiled floors isn't. Back to the thing about the news--I heard this report on NPR. I don't necessarily know any kids who listen to NPR, and even know a few adults who think NPR stands for No Penguin Reproducing allowed or something, when it in fact stands for National Public Radio. So probably kids aren't going to hear the story, but, hypothetically speaking, I can see a few of my own students hearing about this incident in DC and then running all over, raiding everyone's house, neighbors, grandma's, and the like, then coming into school with a bookbag full of thermometers and just dropping them one by one until they all break. That's a bleak image I guess, and not all kids would do that, but there are definitely some who would think it was just a brilliant plan. Mercury is amazingly harmful in scope. Apparently the amount in one thermometer can contaminate a 20-acre lake. While I was sitting at the 30-minute 4 way stop near school listening to this mercury story and feeling doomed by the amount of stuff in the cracks of my classroom floor, I looked up to see that there was a car in front of me, a Mercury Topaz. That did make me laugh; it truly is everywhere.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Almost over
The racing weekend has almost come to a close. We happily survived yesterday's event in Greenville. It was fun, but I must say something about the event just in case any one who helped organize and plan happens to read.
1. The race people should have put up a big sign that said START much like they put up one that said FINISH. We all crowded into the street which was fun b/c I can't say I've ever stood in the middle of Main Street in Greenville. Prior to the start, however, they made all of us back up and get all squished up in a little jam, which was somewhat dumb. There were only 665 people running and I think they wanted us to feel like we were at a very bigdeal kind of event. Nope, I won't be fooled.
2. They should have fired a gun for the start b/c I happened to be bent over touching my toes when I heard someone up above me say, "Oh it looks like we're starting." So I stand up real quick, blood rushing back out of my head and just start running. Somewhat my fault, but how about firing a blank next time guys??
3. There were 4 porta-potties (sp?) at the finish of the race, which was approximately 4-5 blocks below the start line. Umm, what??? Everyone knows that people want that last pit stop before you start. We luckily found a construction crew's potty on the corner of a side street and proceeded to use it a couple of times.
OK I guess that's all of my complaints. Other than that it all went very smoothly, and the dorky Pecknel guy playing music even played the theme from Chariots of Fire so we were all very emotional and inspired on the last downhill. Rob I think might have shed a tear, my sis laughed out loud, and I was trying to figure out if I should go to the left or the right of this really bulky guy in front of me. I finally decided on the right. At the finish they had an array of all the appropriate snacks and waaa-lah! we were done. It was a fancy good time. However, there was one hill that we had to climb, which I approached with a "Rob, look. Oh shit!" But we made it so yay for us! In a post-race conversation, we did resign ourselves to admitting that perhaps we need to find a more challenging 5k course for a usual, routine runs. We basically need to find the steepest hill in Cola and work that in to every run or else we're never going to make it up the Cooper River Bridge. Hey, we have goals!
And we're off for 5k #2 in a few hours to be followed by huge hamburgers at Rockaways. MMMMM!
1. The race people should have put up a big sign that said START much like they put up one that said FINISH. We all crowded into the street which was fun b/c I can't say I've ever stood in the middle of Main Street in Greenville. Prior to the start, however, they made all of us back up and get all squished up in a little jam, which was somewhat dumb. There were only 665 people running and I think they wanted us to feel like we were at a very bigdeal kind of event. Nope, I won't be fooled.
2. They should have fired a gun for the start b/c I happened to be bent over touching my toes when I heard someone up above me say, "Oh it looks like we're starting." So I stand up real quick, blood rushing back out of my head and just start running. Somewhat my fault, but how about firing a blank next time guys??
3. There were 4 porta-potties (sp?) at the finish of the race, which was approximately 4-5 blocks below the start line. Umm, what??? Everyone knows that people want that last pit stop before you start. We luckily found a construction crew's potty on the corner of a side street and proceeded to use it a couple of times.
OK I guess that's all of my complaints. Other than that it all went very smoothly, and the dorky Pecknel guy playing music even played the theme from Chariots of Fire so we were all very emotional and inspired on the last downhill. Rob I think might have shed a tear, my sis laughed out loud, and I was trying to figure out if I should go to the left or the right of this really bulky guy in front of me. I finally decided on the right. At the finish they had an array of all the appropriate snacks and waaa-lah! we were done. It was a fancy good time. However, there was one hill that we had to climb, which I approached with a "Rob, look. Oh shit!" But we made it so yay for us! In a post-race conversation, we did resign ourselves to admitting that perhaps we need to find a more challenging 5k course for a usual, routine runs. We basically need to find the steepest hill in Cola and work that in to every run or else we're never going to make it up the Cooper River Bridge. Hey, we have goals!
And we're off for 5k #2 in a few hours to be followed by huge hamburgers at Rockaways. MMMMM!
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Downhill Slope
Does anyone know how to buy a 5 pound chicken? It's got to be the kind that you can put stuff inside to season is while it cooks. How do I not know important information like this? I should know how to buy a chicken. I don't want it to be frozen though because that would involve planning with the whole thawing out time zone. I have no clue. I could call my mom or I could try to figure this out, but how annoying. Ever feel like that? Where you just want to kick yourself in the pants and say Be Brave, Walk into the Publix and figure it out. I feel like that in the gym too. I know how to lift weights. I know all the proper rules of how to hold things and whether or not to sit backwards or forwards. I even know which muscle groups to work out when, but still I go in the stupid gym and am somehow attached to the leg machines. I have got to break myself of this habit. Perhaps it's because the gym is full of huge meaty guys. You know how in the pool when you were little there was the dreaded adult swim? I think there should be women-only hours in the gym so that no one stares and you can be brave and use the free weights. I could just join a women's gym, but I'd hate that I think. Oh the problems of this world are huge. The reality of the situation is just that I signed a year contract and so have to continue at this gym. It's 5 minutes from school, that's what I used to talk myself into it. And now it's a little annoying. There's even a student or two who show up occasionally. Yea that's awkward because they're 14 and pretty much everything is awkward and that junction in life, especially when it involved speaking to their teachers who happen to be wearing running shorts rather than the usual teacher garb (aka black pants, grey pants, blue pants, pick a color of the rainbow pants.)
Monday, February 21, 2005
hello?
A lady just called my house and I answered and she said, "Oh I'm sorry I have the wrong number."
"OK" I reply and hang up.
Then the phone rings again, and I answer, "Hello?" just knowing it will be the same woman. This happens occassionally.
"Uh, hi," in a slightly different voice trying to sound very much like a different person, "Is this the upper cut?"
"Nope, it's not" I say and she is very confused, sputtering out some "Uh's" and an unsatisfied "OK," before hanging up. Someone wrote the number for the Upper Cut down wrong. So now I want to know what the Upper Cut is--a workout place a haircut place? I'm picturing biceps and bob do's. In this situation there's always Yellowpages.com. So I give it a go. Well I determine that the name Upper Cut is popular and there are a couple hair places in Simpsonville and Taylors. But in Lugoff on Raspberry Ct. there's an Upper Cut and it just says Upper Cut, no indication of the type of business. Bet that's the one they meant. None of the phone numbers are even close though. Interesting.
It's the day we honor presidents. I work for the gov't so yep this is how I'm filling my day. Hooray.
"OK" I reply and hang up.
Then the phone rings again, and I answer, "Hello?" just knowing it will be the same woman. This happens occassionally.
"Uh, hi," in a slightly different voice trying to sound very much like a different person, "Is this the upper cut?"
"Nope, it's not" I say and she is very confused, sputtering out some "Uh's" and an unsatisfied "OK," before hanging up. Someone wrote the number for the Upper Cut down wrong. So now I want to know what the Upper Cut is--a workout place a haircut place? I'm picturing biceps and bob do's. In this situation there's always Yellowpages.com. So I give it a go. Well I determine that the name Upper Cut is popular and there are a couple hair places in Simpsonville and Taylors. But in Lugoff on Raspberry Ct. there's an Upper Cut and it just says Upper Cut, no indication of the type of business. Bet that's the one they meant. None of the phone numbers are even close though. Interesting.
It's the day we honor presidents. I work for the gov't so yep this is how I'm filling my day. Hooray.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
and the weeds are choking on the sun
Today I feel like an empty grocery store on a Saturday. It's parent conference day. It's almost 5 PM. So far no moms or dads have shown up. So, here I sit, in my little classroom playing on the computer, avoiding this ridiculous stack of papers that I should be grading. Poor kids, I'm such a slacker about grading. I keep saying, "Maybe tomorrow I'll have them done. Sorry, I havent had time blah blah blah." Today we were reading Romeo and Juliet and there's the part about the "quivering thighs and adjacent regions." We were reading the play aloud, taking turns being different characters and some kid reads about the thighs and I start laughing because it's funny right? They look up at me like I'M CRAZY for laughing. See, they don 't get it. So then I have to explain. Those of you who know me can picture this one. "OK guys, the thighs, see, they're quivering and then there's the regions adjacent to the thighs, and well I guess they're quivering too." At this point, a couple of them are giggling, but there's still the ones who have a look of complete confusion. It's hilarious. Then a kid was reading and pronounced "whore" as "war." That too made me laugh. I think he changed the pronunciation just to be polite. Such effort!
Tuesday, February 8, 2005
So there!
I'm back. I've stayed away for a few. Blog started getting harder. I don't have anything to say usually...why bore people with the mundane you know? I keep waiting for a moment that says, "Blog Me!" I've had none, which really just means that the past week has been calm. I was sick for a couple days. There's the excitement.
So to the mundane.
It's 8:10 in the AM and I'm still at mi casa drinking my 2nd cup of coffee, which is exciting I tell you. Normally, there are already 30 little monsters in my day at this point as I am usually just drinking my first and only cup of coffee from a travel cup that doesn't keep it warm for very long. I usually get sidetracked and end up with half a mug of cold coffee. gross. AND then the mug is metal so there's no nuking that one. So I dump it out.
However, today is a whole new experience. I got up at 7 and watched the Today show. Then I started getting ready and I still have a good 45 minutes to kill before I have to leave. I'm going to a conference today where I'll learn more about how to be an educator perhaps. It's all about English I...mmmm! It will probably be a lot of what I've already heard, but hopefully there will be some little pearl of wisdom. We'll see. I'm just hoping I get some free books. Everyone! Do a little Kris-gets-books prayer. Thanks.
So to the mundane.
It's 8:10 in the AM and I'm still at mi casa drinking my 2nd cup of coffee, which is exciting I tell you. Normally, there are already 30 little monsters in my day at this point as I am usually just drinking my first and only cup of coffee from a travel cup that doesn't keep it warm for very long. I usually get sidetracked and end up with half a mug of cold coffee. gross. AND then the mug is metal so there's no nuking that one. So I dump it out.
However, today is a whole new experience. I got up at 7 and watched the Today show. Then I started getting ready and I still have a good 45 minutes to kill before I have to leave. I'm going to a conference today where I'll learn more about how to be an educator perhaps. It's all about English I...mmmm! It will probably be a lot of what I've already heard, but hopefully there will be some little pearl of wisdom. We'll see. I'm just hoping I get some free books. Everyone! Do a little Kris-gets-books prayer. Thanks.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Which came first, the music or the misery?
Name that movie.
Yesterday, I was dramatically marooned in my little house, forcefully situated by the treacherous ice on the walk out front and that deathly "black" ice that can jeer at you from below before sending your car in a spinning crash from the road into the bushes alongside in the ditch. And so it is...I watched a lot of TV and read a lot of this book, The Kite Runner. Good read though I feel it's lasting a long time; perhaps the wanted effect. I have a pile of boring quizzes to grade. I avoid them like the plague. There's a cliche perfectly on mark to describe how I feel about them. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to them. Maybe and perhaps.
Last night with Miss Parker, I brainstormed t-shirt ideas. She's good at making t-shirts. I like trying to think of things to put on them, and I have to say I'm proud of our efforts. We're coming up with a new CSI: Crime Scene Investigators series. CSI Alabama. In fact, to be a little more specific, Tagulu, AL. A real city, you ask? Of course it is a real city in the enigmatic minds of Parker and myself.
***Coming soon to a television near you: CSI: Tagulu, Alabama.***
It will be great. I'm trying to think of what the lighting effect for this spinoff should be. Which came first CSI Miami or NY? Because if you line those two up for a thoughtful comparison/contrast, you'll see that the NY show is very dark and gloomy, whereas the Miami flick is bright and sunny at all times. I beg to differ. I've been to both geographic locations and I have indeed found a glint of the hot stuff from above shining down in NYC, and in fact have seen a gloom-filled cloud pass by in Miami, or was that Orlando? Either way, what is the appropriate lighting for Alabama? If it was Oklahoma, perhaps there would always be a lurking tornado. But Alabama? If it were South Carolina, everyone would be damp from the humidity. Can't you see them now in their cool suits and perfectly fitting slacks, all a little drippy with flat or frizzy hair because of the incessant moisture that hangs around here. I love it. Alabama? Not sure, but I'm thinking. I'll figure this out yet.
The other t-shirt idea has to do with Lance Armstrong and his lovely bracelet fashion statement. While looking at Runner's World last night, I noticed Paula Radcliffe, famous marathoner who couldn't finish the 26 miles in Athens for the Olympics, but did redeem herself at the NYC Marathon. There's a great photo of her at the finish where she beat out a Kenyan favorite on the last 4oo. She's wearing her little runner outfit and there is Lance on her wrist. In this case, "What Would Lance Do?" Why, of course he would stay right with that Kenyan woman right up until the last little second, and then gracefully pull away to beat her in the end! And then, as the photo shows, he would hug the Kenyan woman. He would, and so Paula R. followed in his footsteps. I will not take credit for the What Would Lance Do? joke (the credit is owed elsewhere), but man do I love that one. Perfect. And I hope that Miss Parker will follow through by putting that on a shirt.
Version 1: Across the chest, WWLD? Across the back, Sheryl.
Version 2: Across the chest, WWLD? Across the back, Livestrong.
Personally, I'm all about version 1. If anyone copies this and makes a t-shirt and then makes 1000's or even a mere 5 bucks, I want a cut, perhaps just 10%, but you owe me.
Yesterday, I was dramatically marooned in my little house, forcefully situated by the treacherous ice on the walk out front and that deathly "black" ice that can jeer at you from below before sending your car in a spinning crash from the road into the bushes alongside in the ditch. And so it is...I watched a lot of TV and read a lot of this book, The Kite Runner. Good read though I feel it's lasting a long time; perhaps the wanted effect. I have a pile of boring quizzes to grade. I avoid them like the plague. There's a cliche perfectly on mark to describe how I feel about them. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to them. Maybe and perhaps.
Last night with Miss Parker, I brainstormed t-shirt ideas. She's good at making t-shirts. I like trying to think of things to put on them, and I have to say I'm proud of our efforts. We're coming up with a new CSI: Crime Scene Investigators series. CSI Alabama. In fact, to be a little more specific, Tagulu, AL. A real city, you ask? Of course it is a real city in the enigmatic minds of Parker and myself.
***Coming soon to a television near you: CSI: Tagulu, Alabama.***
It will be great. I'm trying to think of what the lighting effect for this spinoff should be. Which came first CSI Miami or NY? Because if you line those two up for a thoughtful comparison/contrast, you'll see that the NY show is very dark and gloomy, whereas the Miami flick is bright and sunny at all times. I beg to differ. I've been to both geographic locations and I have indeed found a glint of the hot stuff from above shining down in NYC, and in fact have seen a gloom-filled cloud pass by in Miami, or was that Orlando? Either way, what is the appropriate lighting for Alabama? If it was Oklahoma, perhaps there would always be a lurking tornado. But Alabama? If it were South Carolina, everyone would be damp from the humidity. Can't you see them now in their cool suits and perfectly fitting slacks, all a little drippy with flat or frizzy hair because of the incessant moisture that hangs around here. I love it. Alabama? Not sure, but I'm thinking. I'll figure this out yet.
The other t-shirt idea has to do with Lance Armstrong and his lovely bracelet fashion statement. While looking at Runner's World last night, I noticed Paula Radcliffe, famous marathoner who couldn't finish the 26 miles in Athens for the Olympics, but did redeem herself at the NYC Marathon. There's a great photo of her at the finish where she beat out a Kenyan favorite on the last 4oo. She's wearing her little runner outfit and there is Lance on her wrist. In this case, "What Would Lance Do?" Why, of course he would stay right with that Kenyan woman right up until the last little second, and then gracefully pull away to beat her in the end! And then, as the photo shows, he would hug the Kenyan woman. He would, and so Paula R. followed in his footsteps. I will not take credit for the What Would Lance Do? joke (the credit is owed elsewhere), but man do I love that one. Perfect. And I hope that Miss Parker will follow through by putting that on a shirt.
Version 1: Across the chest, WWLD? Across the back, Sheryl.
Version 2: Across the chest, WWLD? Across the back, Livestrong.
Personally, I'm all about version 1. If anyone copies this and makes a t-shirt and then makes 1000's or even a mere 5 bucks, I want a cut, perhaps just 10%, but you owe me.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Shingles
Last night while at Winn Dixie, the checkout lady smushed my tortillas. You know how they normally let the belt run and it magically stops before your food runs up over the scanner contraption. Well, this lady leaves the basket from the guy in front of me on the belt with the thing running, so I look up and his basket is tumbling back across my food and my tortillas were completely folded in half. I was alarmed. Then, the lady is talking to the guy about having a bad day or something and I hear her say, "That's an unusualality," possibly insinuating that such a word is real. Did she mean an "unusual actuality" or what?
Yesterday, I woke up 10 minutes before the alarm went off. I had a nightmare that I had to throw a car battery off the side of Lake Murray, which was huge swimming pool. Before swimming you had to throw this battery in the water with a rope tied to it. Then you were attached to it, and you jumped in after the battery and had to swim back up with this thing tied to you. I woke up thinking I was drowning to find that my head was underneath my pillow. That explains it.
Yesterday, I woke up 10 minutes before the alarm went off. I had a nightmare that I had to throw a car battery off the side of Lake Murray, which was huge swimming pool. Before swimming you had to throw this battery in the water with a rope tied to it. Then you were attached to it, and you jumped in after the battery and had to swim back up with this thing tied to you. I woke up thinking I was drowning to find that my head was underneath my pillow. That explains it.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
www.blogget.com
What if blogger was called Blogget. I think I would like that.
I have absolutely nothing overly interesting going on. I went to sleep at 9:30 last night. That's it, that's all I've got. I feel great today as a result. Ummm, yep. That's it.
I have absolutely nothing overly interesting going on. I went to sleep at 9:30 last night. That's it, that's all I've got. I feel great today as a result. Ummm, yep. That's it.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
John Kerry Spotting in Spandex
Rob and I got up early for a bit of a dress rehearsal for next weekend's 5k. I'd say there was a bit of a good omen--I pulled up in front of Blatt PE Center and there was another guy out stretching before he ran. He was wearing a tshirt with the logo of next week's race. So I'm thinking it was a sign that Rob and I WON'T pass out mid-race, but actually might make it. :) We run over in Shandon (if you're not from the area, it looks like a neighborhood that could fall out of an issue of Southern Living or something). There's a guy we see every couple nights who rides his bike. He wears jeans and a grey sweatshirt, and he looks like John Kerry. Yesterday morning we're running, and we're at the point now where we don't talk much while we run, savoring our own O2 for ourselves. We pass another guy out running. He was wearing spandex and such. Rob says, "Was that John Kerry?" And I immediately replied, with a dramatic, "No! Kerry doesn't wear spandex." Now this might not be so amusing to others, but for some reason for me it's that silly humor. I of course was picturing THE John Kerry in spandex. I hear in real life, he rides a bike for exercise.
Friday, January 21, 2005
need a little cool whip, please
"If heaven were pie, it would be cherry." I heard that in a song this morning. Why not peach or apple? Why will heaven be like cherry pie? Why? I just don't understand music sometimes.
I tutored 6th graders today. They have really high-pitched voices and it makes me laugh. It's so easy to be "cool" to them too. While they did their homework, I let them listen to a CD that one kid who literally is only about 3.5 feet tall brought. That silly Redneck Woman song came on. I was pretending not to laugh at all of them mindlessly singing along while they did their dumb word search (WORD SEARCH, COME ON!!!) by grading papers. When she sings, blah blah blah "HELL YEA!" they mumbled it b/c they thought I might care. Then, there's the line blah blah blah damn blah blah something. I didn't look up, just kept grading then they were having one of those conversations as if I wasn't right there in the room with them. "She doesn't hear what it said." "No No, damn is in the Bible, so it's OK. She knows it OK." I just kept my head down low enough so they couldn't see the grin. They're so silly...and the squeaky mouse voices kill me.
The little 3.5 foot kid did the incredible today. I took them out to the rec field for a break and triple dog dared them to run around the field 3 times without stopping. I did it all b/c one kid really needs to get off the bench and run around b/c she eats too many Cheetos, and one kid was hyper so I wanted him to be all tuckered out. Well little 3.5 foot kid puts down his skittles and takes off running. He comes by me twice and on the third time rolls in on a nice solid finish. I was impressed. Cheeto kid sat on the bench, with an excuse of, "My mom doesn't want me to mess up my boots," which means "I'd die if I moved faster than a slug" and the hyper kid made it 3/4 of a lap before tripping, falling into a fence, and swallowing a bug. He wanted candy as a reward for the bug. He told me tarantulas taste good; they're meaty. Who knew?
I tutored 6th graders today. They have really high-pitched voices and it makes me laugh. It's so easy to be "cool" to them too. While they did their homework, I let them listen to a CD that one kid who literally is only about 3.5 feet tall brought. That silly Redneck Woman song came on. I was pretending not to laugh at all of them mindlessly singing along while they did their dumb word search (WORD SEARCH, COME ON!!!) by grading papers. When she sings, blah blah blah "HELL YEA!" they mumbled it b/c they thought I might care. Then, there's the line blah blah blah damn blah blah something. I didn't look up, just kept grading then they were having one of those conversations as if I wasn't right there in the room with them. "She doesn't hear what it said." "No No, damn is in the Bible, so it's OK. She knows it OK." I just kept my head down low enough so they couldn't see the grin. They're so silly...and the squeaky mouse voices kill me.
The little 3.5 foot kid did the incredible today. I took them out to the rec field for a break and triple dog dared them to run around the field 3 times without stopping. I did it all b/c one kid really needs to get off the bench and run around b/c she eats too many Cheetos, and one kid was hyper so I wanted him to be all tuckered out. Well little 3.5 foot kid puts down his skittles and takes off running. He comes by me twice and on the third time rolls in on a nice solid finish. I was impressed. Cheeto kid sat on the bench, with an excuse of, "My mom doesn't want me to mess up my boots," which means "I'd die if I moved faster than a slug" and the hyper kid made it 3/4 of a lap before tripping, falling into a fence, and swallowing a bug. He wanted candy as a reward for the bug. He told me tarantulas taste good; they're meaty. Who knew?
Sunday, January 16, 2005
if my life were full of saturdays
This morning on Sunday Morning, which is my favorite show of the weekend, the host Charles Osgood was announcing the upcoming stories before a commercial break. He mentioned Martin Luther King, Jr. and a story about shoe making, then with a complete shift of voice from scholarly to condescending he said, "And Bill Geist scours Chatanooga, TN." Geist is the man of the show who goes out on a limb. Today he's touring a tow truck museum. In the past, he's shown interesting hotels, actually taping himself spending the night in an igloo hotel. He slept on a huge block of ice. How could Charles Osgood speak condescendingly of a guy like that, a guy who challenges the tight journalistic world? The audacity!
mmmmhmmm.
Last night, I went to the noble barn and didn't buy books, but just bought 3 magazines. Felt a short twinge of guilt. Magazines are just so noncommital that they're perfect reading for a busy person. I kind of wish I had gotten a journalism degree. That way I could try to be a magazine editor or something similar. It's something about the slick pages. I want to be the person who arranges people or objects or whatever in the pictures they take to put in the magazines. You know when there's an article on the 10 best watches for your money or the 10 best kitchen gadgets...well there's a person whose job is just to arrange the stuff against a colorful background or on a neat looking table. The props coordinator?? I want to be that person. I want to get to wear jeans or corduroys to work everyday. I never want to wear grown up shoes. I want to not wash my hair in the morning if I don't feel like it. Is that specific to a props coordinator, or do I just have qualms about my current life situation??? hmmm....and so it is.
Today I'm going to try to drive past the 5k mark and go on up to 4 miles. Think it will happen or will we just settle with an easy 2?? The decisions that have to be made on a Sunday...good stuff.
mmmmhmmm.
Last night, I went to the noble barn and didn't buy books, but just bought 3 magazines. Felt a short twinge of guilt. Magazines are just so noncommital that they're perfect reading for a busy person. I kind of wish I had gotten a journalism degree. That way I could try to be a magazine editor or something similar. It's something about the slick pages. I want to be the person who arranges people or objects or whatever in the pictures they take to put in the magazines. You know when there's an article on the 10 best watches for your money or the 10 best kitchen gadgets...well there's a person whose job is just to arrange the stuff against a colorful background or on a neat looking table. The props coordinator?? I want to be that person. I want to get to wear jeans or corduroys to work everyday. I never want to wear grown up shoes. I want to not wash my hair in the morning if I don't feel like it. Is that specific to a props coordinator, or do I just have qualms about my current life situation??? hmmm....and so it is.
Today I'm going to try to drive past the 5k mark and go on up to 4 miles. Think it will happen or will we just settle with an easy 2?? The decisions that have to be made on a Sunday...good stuff.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Cinnamon
Toast in a variety of flavors: peanut butter, jam of all flavors, cinnamon and sugar, cheese, cream cheese, egg? Mmmmm! Give me a slice or 6 and one of those sizzling plates of fajitas. That's the current Kris Crave-o-meter.
This morning I was behind a dump truck, and on the radio, Soul Asylum's "Runaway Train" starts playing. WHAT!? I think to myself, how lucky am I? Remember that song? I bought the single cassette tape at Walmart when I was in 7th grade I think. Remember the single section in Walmart's electronic section? It was complete splendor, cassettes with 2 or 3 songs on it for like $2.
I read 45 pages aloud today at school. Would anyone like a short monologue from Among the Hidden or Chinese Cinderella. I can provide one. Also, who surrendered at Appomattox?
Today driving home from running on Frink Street, I thought I saw a small child off the right of the road in the ditch/woods wearing a white coat and an orange toboggan. I looked; it was just a fire hydrant. I thought it even had little arms.
Then, I ran over the garbage can top. Rubbermaid doesn't break.
This morning I was behind a dump truck, and on the radio, Soul Asylum's "Runaway Train" starts playing. WHAT!? I think to myself, how lucky am I? Remember that song? I bought the single cassette tape at Walmart when I was in 7th grade I think. Remember the single section in Walmart's electronic section? It was complete splendor, cassettes with 2 or 3 songs on it for like $2.
I read 45 pages aloud today at school. Would anyone like a short monologue from Among the Hidden or Chinese Cinderella. I can provide one. Also, who surrendered at Appomattox?
Today driving home from running on Frink Street, I thought I saw a small child off the right of the road in the ditch/woods wearing a white coat and an orange toboggan. I looked; it was just a fire hydrant. I thought it even had little arms.
Then, I ran over the garbage can top. Rubbermaid doesn't break.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Elbow Patches
Has anyone else ever noticed that there's a cigarette lighter in the car? Does anyone ever use the cigarette lighter to light a cigarette. Most people who smoke in the car use regular lighters right? I've never seen this. Today I was plugging something else into my cigarette lighter and I noticed how silly the lighter looks in the car. It's like a little power source in the car. How nifty!? Who decided to put the cigarette lighter in the car, really? Does anyone know?
I just ran a 5k. I'm happy. I didn't die; almost tripped once, but didn't die.
I just ran a 5k. I'm happy. I didn't die; almost tripped once, but didn't die.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Slippery Intuition
On the way to work today I heard a commercial that might have just been heard in my alternaworld. It was a Sonic commercial with those 2 guys who get all the different slushie flavors and such. Well this morning, these 2 guys were talking about breakfast burritos, and one of them said, "They say that a burrito is the best way to start the day" or something like that. And then the other guy says, "Oh I don't listen to they, I only listen to them. Them says you should eat at Sonic." And there's some other verbal judo about the they versus them. OK now the reason this was such a fantastic happening is because ONE, I laughed out loud and had to put the coffee down for fear of spilling and TWO, yesterday I was attacked by the "Hypothetical THEY," an evil cousin to the "Royal WE." (Aside: In high school, our librarian used to often say things like, "We don't put our feet on the couch." or "We don't talk as loudly as you're talking in the library." That librarian probably also uses the hypothetical they.)
Back to my story, here's why the THEY ever even happened yesterday. OK see I went at it on my computer at school messing with our grading program b/c a bunch of my kids have moved away so I just started deleting them, but then needed to re-export grades and blah blah blah. None the less, the fact that I used my brain and my finger and mouse to click around on this dumb grading program was shocking!! and also caused a problem. (Aside: My uncle is a teacher again after a lot of years not teaching. The stock market dropped or crashed a couple years back, so he's back in the classroom. Every time I see him, he says, "So do you do grades on the computer? I say, "Yes." He says, "We do too." That's the conversation; we've had this talk word for word 4 times already.)
Back to my story, in a bit of an Ooops! I screwed up moment, I sought the help of a fearless leader just for advice on the situation I got myself into, and she said, "THEEEEEY say never to change anything on IGPRO. They say not to change anyone's status. They say they'll do it for us." WHO???? Who will do this and when and geeeez I thought I'd lose it. My fearless leader wanted me to become uptight, much like she is, but oh no; I'm far too laid back, even for a red head. SO! This morning when the Sonic guys start talking about listen to THEM not THEY, I just knew it was going to be a most excellent day, and it was.
What's the difference in swiss and suisse??? That's what I want to know.
Back to my story, here's why the THEY ever even happened yesterday. OK see I went at it on my computer at school messing with our grading program b/c a bunch of my kids have moved away so I just started deleting them, but then needed to re-export grades and blah blah blah. None the less, the fact that I used my brain and my finger and mouse to click around on this dumb grading program was shocking!! and also caused a problem. (Aside: My uncle is a teacher again after a lot of years not teaching. The stock market dropped or crashed a couple years back, so he's back in the classroom. Every time I see him, he says, "So do you do grades on the computer? I say, "Yes." He says, "We do too." That's the conversation; we've had this talk word for word 4 times already.)
Back to my story, in a bit of an Ooops! I screwed up moment, I sought the help of a fearless leader just for advice on the situation I got myself into, and she said, "THEEEEEY say never to change anything on IGPRO. They say not to change anyone's status. They say they'll do it for us." WHO???? Who will do this and when and geeeez I thought I'd lose it. My fearless leader wanted me to become uptight, much like she is, but oh no; I'm far too laid back, even for a red head. SO! This morning when the Sonic guys start talking about listen to THEM not THEY, I just knew it was going to be a most excellent day, and it was.
What's the difference in swiss and suisse??? That's what I want to know.
Monday, January 10, 2005
all dressed up no place to go
Today I was behind a dump truck that actually had a load. 40 logs or trees without the greenery. I counted as I sat at the 4 way stop. Oh the joy.
I'd planned on getting to work super early today, but that never works out. I woke up finally after hitting snooze about 15 times, and thinking that I could sleep all day b/c I had no obligations. At 6:13 reality struck and I leapt from beneath the covers and rushed around. I planned well last night preparing the necessary means of survival for the day: protein smoothie, turkey sandwich, yogurt, coffee pot ready to be turned on, gym clothes in bag, huge binder with curriculum crap in bag. I walked into the living room shocked that Katie Couric, who I love as long as she's just doing the news (her jokes are terrible sometimes), was already on the TV. That's my cue to hurry up hurry up. So I run around unable to find my keys while all the other things I'd so carefully prepared laughed at me, but still managed to start my car so some of the heavy Cayce condensation can drip off enabling me to see. My coffee cup, this Walmart to go cheap-o version, starts leaking water. I filled it with coffee, it leaked water. Go figure. So that was a mess. Then with all those bags thrown over one shoulder I bang out the door and get in the car. I drive all the way down Pine street and think, Brrr, I want my coffee, reaching down to the cup holder to find it empty. So, I throw the car into reverse and back all the way back down Pine street. (Secretly, having a great time, but a little stressed b/c I was planning on being early to work!) I leave the car running in the middle of the road (fortunately I'd taken the car key off the ring) so I sprint inside (in my grown up shoes) and find my coffee cup sitting in the dark living room. Whew! I made it to school to find that the track coach put a White Knoll Track T-shirt in my box. He THINKS I'm coaching. HA! They aren't going to pay me extra though. Are you kidding??? That's his method of cohersion I guess.
Oh well...I've survived grumpy kids today, running into the little pull out thing on my desk, reading aloud, and the Xerox machine. It's a good day.
I'd planned on getting to work super early today, but that never works out. I woke up finally after hitting snooze about 15 times, and thinking that I could sleep all day b/c I had no obligations. At 6:13 reality struck and I leapt from beneath the covers and rushed around. I planned well last night preparing the necessary means of survival for the day: protein smoothie, turkey sandwich, yogurt, coffee pot ready to be turned on, gym clothes in bag, huge binder with curriculum crap in bag. I walked into the living room shocked that Katie Couric, who I love as long as she's just doing the news (her jokes are terrible sometimes), was already on the TV. That's my cue to hurry up hurry up. So I run around unable to find my keys while all the other things I'd so carefully prepared laughed at me, but still managed to start my car so some of the heavy Cayce condensation can drip off enabling me to see. My coffee cup, this Walmart to go cheap-o version, starts leaking water. I filled it with coffee, it leaked water. Go figure. So that was a mess. Then with all those bags thrown over one shoulder I bang out the door and get in the car. I drive all the way down Pine street and think, Brrr, I want my coffee, reaching down to the cup holder to find it empty. So, I throw the car into reverse and back all the way back down Pine street. (Secretly, having a great time, but a little stressed b/c I was planning on being early to work!) I leave the car running in the middle of the road (fortunately I'd taken the car key off the ring) so I sprint inside (in my grown up shoes) and find my coffee cup sitting in the dark living room. Whew! I made it to school to find that the track coach put a White Knoll Track T-shirt in my box. He THINKS I'm coaching. HA! They aren't going to pay me extra though. Are you kidding??? That's his method of cohersion I guess.
Oh well...I've survived grumpy kids today, running into the little pull out thing on my desk, reading aloud, and the Xerox machine. It's a good day.
Thursday, January 6, 2005
Feel the Sensation
I'm at school and wanted to get on here and whine about dump trucks. BUT, as I was coming to the dashboard page, the computer just went right to my blog. HOW DID IT KNOW WHO I WAS???? That's what I want to know. I never logged in. This is creepy.
So about dump trucks. In Cayce, on my drive to work each morning, I get behind a dump truck. We have this pesky yield sign/stop sign situation to pull through before we can really get on the big road and these dump trucks are so freakin slow. I timed it today. It took this dump truck 5 minutes to get through these two signs. And when I say dump truck, perhaps you are picturing an 18-wheeler. OH NO! They really are dump trucks. Picture a Tonka truck that is old and rusty. I swear I never saw these until I moved to Cayce, and they're out in high numbers. Where are they going I wonder. But you know how they sound, grinding their gears just trying to lurch forward. I know it's tough to drive such a ridiculous sized truck (big enough to need a ladder to get in the driver's seat), but it just amazes me at how poorly they're designed or something. I want them to go faster. I can't handle the sound they make choking on themselves through the yield sign which for them is a big stop sign. Ugh. It makes me cringe like crying children and alarms do.
I just ate goldfish and a york peppermint pattie. They spell patty with "ie" is that right??
So about dump trucks. In Cayce, on my drive to work each morning, I get behind a dump truck. We have this pesky yield sign/stop sign situation to pull through before we can really get on the big road and these dump trucks are so freakin slow. I timed it today. It took this dump truck 5 minutes to get through these two signs. And when I say dump truck, perhaps you are picturing an 18-wheeler. OH NO! They really are dump trucks. Picture a Tonka truck that is old and rusty. I swear I never saw these until I moved to Cayce, and they're out in high numbers. Where are they going I wonder. But you know how they sound, grinding their gears just trying to lurch forward. I know it's tough to drive such a ridiculous sized truck (big enough to need a ladder to get in the driver's seat), but it just amazes me at how poorly they're designed or something. I want them to go faster. I can't handle the sound they make choking on themselves through the yield sign which for them is a big stop sign. Ugh. It makes me cringe like crying children and alarms do.
I just ate goldfish and a york peppermint pattie. They spell patty with "ie" is that right??
Monday, January 3, 2005
Ontario, California
Who knew?
I start work again tomorrow. So, I went shopping today to celebrate. The limited had a sale; that was fun. I stood in line for 30 minutes. In front of me, a lady had her son. He was in a stroller and he kept pulling dollar bills out of his pocket. They were all crumpled up, and he would start crying when he looked at them. He'd hand them to his mom, and she would unfold them and give them back to him. He couldn't figure out how to change the state of a folded dollar bill! It was great. While his mom went to work on his dollars, meanwhile holding a stack of super cheap clothes under her arm, he would kick his little Timberland-ed feet up and hug himself. There was serious suspense. Would his dollars be OK?
I also hit the OH-SO semi annual sale at victoria's secret. There's just nothing like digging up to your elbows through bins of underpants with strangers. I stood in line there for another 3o minutes. This time a grown-up version of entertainment. This guy was talking to the whole crowd of women in a loud voice about how this girl beat him up.
"I was all sitting downtown at Sharkey's having a drink, and bam! this girl knocked me across the head."
"Wow!" I thought, "That must've sucked."
"Yea," he continued unfortunately, "She said she was pregnant with my kid. Nah, it wasn't mine, she was with this other guy, we stopped having sex 12 weeks ago!" He continued to exclaim similar statements, eventually rounding it all up with, "It was that other guy's kid."
Oh brother.
This comes AFTER a mom and daughter pair were behind me talking about how the daughter's husband said, "Go to Vickies (sp????) and just blow some money." So the mom kept bringing over weird lingerie that this daughter would not look good in. The classic line throughout the whole conversation about how to use garter belts was this: Mom says, "You know I can rinestone anything you want later." Does she have a machine to do this with???
People are just a riot.
I start work again tomorrow. So, I went shopping today to celebrate. The limited had a sale; that was fun. I stood in line for 30 minutes. In front of me, a lady had her son. He was in a stroller and he kept pulling dollar bills out of his pocket. They were all crumpled up, and he would start crying when he looked at them. He'd hand them to his mom, and she would unfold them and give them back to him. He couldn't figure out how to change the state of a folded dollar bill! It was great. While his mom went to work on his dollars, meanwhile holding a stack of super cheap clothes under her arm, he would kick his little Timberland-ed feet up and hug himself. There was serious suspense. Would his dollars be OK?
I also hit the OH-SO semi annual sale at victoria's secret. There's just nothing like digging up to your elbows through bins of underpants with strangers. I stood in line there for another 3o minutes. This time a grown-up version of entertainment. This guy was talking to the whole crowd of women in a loud voice about how this girl beat him up.
"I was all sitting downtown at Sharkey's having a drink, and bam! this girl knocked me across the head."
"Wow!" I thought, "That must've sucked."
"Yea," he continued unfortunately, "She said she was pregnant with my kid. Nah, it wasn't mine, she was with this other guy, we stopped having sex 12 weeks ago!" He continued to exclaim similar statements, eventually rounding it all up with, "It was that other guy's kid."
Oh brother.
This comes AFTER a mom and daughter pair were behind me talking about how the daughter's husband said, "Go to Vickies (sp????) and just blow some money." So the mom kept bringing over weird lingerie that this daughter would not look good in. The classic line throughout the whole conversation about how to use garter belts was this: Mom says, "You know I can rinestone anything you want later." Does she have a machine to do this with???
People are just a riot.
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