homespun opinions just for you

Thanksgiving and the Rez

2009-11-29T16:01:00.000-08:00

Well Friends,

We spent Thanksgiving here in Fayetteville and ate Lupper with a family in the cul-de-sac.

We enjoyed the kids and the entertainment the offered and then went out to the Vera's and played games with a few other ward families. It was loads of fun. I must be such a nerd, because board games rock!

Friday we drove out to Cherokee, NC and spent time in the Smokey Mountians. We enjoyed the cool crisp weather and all the touristy traps stuffs on the Rez. A casino is currently being built which continues to bring tourist dollars into the community. I observed a middle age man dressed in "native" regalia and talking on his cell phone. We saw the Cherokee who assimilated to colonists ways in the mid 16th century. They were a settled farming people, and yet their reservation is dotted with bright tee pees and our stereotype of what an "indian" was.

Attached are some of the photos of our weekend in the mountains.

decompressing from a busy week

2009-10-04T17:22:00.000-07:00

I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. We had 11 Danish students and 2 Danish teachers visit our school. I hosted Christina. I had so much fun spending time with her and hosting her. We had awesome conversations about teaching, world issues, and Copenhagen. I am very excited to visit, but now the real work begins. We need to start fund raising and working hard to get students and teachers to Copenhagen.

I am open to any suggestions on fund raising activities or suggestions.

I also have a mountain of grading to get done. It seems as though the work is never done =o(. I hope I can get organized and get all this stuff graded, posted, and passed back.

gall bladder no more

2009-08-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hi friends!

Last week I had my gall bladder removed. I am happy to say that I am on the mend. I worked really hard on Monday getting ready for the first day of school and needless to say I did not make it for the first or second day of school. I hope to be there tomorrow.

I have had such an out pouring of love from our ward family. Sisters have been super at providing meals for Ken and I. I am sure if I called my visiting teacher for a bacon cheese burger right now she'd do it. (Either one of them...they are so great) Ken has also been a trooper. He has followed laundry instructions well and has been kind to help me in and out of the shower, off the couch, in and out of bed, and he was caring bringing my pain medication.

OH WHY THE PAIN

2009-08-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

OK kiddos

I have been having issues with my tummy hurting each time I eat. I also get some GERD as well. This has been going on since May. I just thought it was nerves for the EOC. WELL fast forward to last week...I have gall stones and the pain has been caused by my gall bladder. I will have it removed Wednesday. I plan on having someone take a picture after the surgery.

Most people I have talked to say that the pain goes away when the gall bladder is removed. I am also having the surgery done laproscopically, so the recovery time should be quick...which is great because I have to be ready to go 5 days later for the first day of school!

Wish me luck!

Dare I write this...

2009-07-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

OK. I am on the verge of craziness. I have enjoyed this summer so much. Ken and I have been home together since June. If this is what retirement is like; can I retire next year? We just hang out together all day long. If we want cake, we bake a cake. We have become inventive and have tried all sorts of different recipies. We are even baking our friend's birthday cake tomorrow.

I have read roughly 5 books this summer. I forgot how much I love reading the stuff I chose. I have learned that prostitutes helped to keep Seattle alive and to become the grand city it is today.

I have cleaned my kitchen more this summer than I have since 2007.

I like to stay up late and sleep most of the day.

What's gonna happen to my life when I get kids? :/

WA vaca

2009-07-09T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

Ken and I just returned from Washington with visits with the fam. Things at the McNays was laid back and chill. Ken and his dad went fly fishing twice and during that time my MiL and I made stampin up cards. I brought home 10 cards I made. :o). We then went to the Ballard Locks and the Seattle Underground tour. We learned quite a bit about Seattle and I ended up purchasing a book about the early history of Seattle. Yes, I know I am even a NERD on vacation. We then made the trade with my mom at the Tacoma Mall food court. We spent time on the west side of the sound riding ATV's (which I suck at ) and visiting with all sorts of old friends. We saw the Butherus Bunch. Ken thought they were nice. We also had a BBQ at my parent's house. He had LOADS of fun talking geek speak with Dennis. We hope you enjoy some of the pictures posted!

School is OVER

2009-06-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

I don't understand it. Students who don't do ANYTHING all semester long and then act SHOCKED when they fail.

Case #1

Student turned in an essay instead of a powerpoint for her final project. Her essay did not answer the essay question, she did not have a bibliography, and "forgot to save" her essay. This child is an IDIOT. She should have been identified to have special assistance and YES she did fail my class, but if she failed an elective, well administration would not back me up. So then the kid calls me on my CELL PHONE and complains about her grade not posting appropriately. What do they expect me to do? There is not much I can do from home.

Case #2

Student has a learning disablity and I know that she cannot read and comprehend to the level she will need to pass US History. She comes to me this morning and earned a 43% on the final exam worth 25% of the total grade for the semester. She comes to my room 3 times to ask me what can be done. The kicker is that I recongized her circumstance and told her that I, as her teacher, would do everything I could to help her if she came to tutoring and just ask for help. The child came to my room 4 times afterschool AND then asks me today if she can turn in any work so she could graduate.

Case #3

Student is in 11th grade and is clearly below reading comprehension standards. It finally took me, ME his US History teacher to help him get identified with an individualized education plan. URRRGGHHH!

The public school system in and of itself is great and system. I think it's intentions are good, but if parents are not actively and vocally advocating for their child(ren), then they will not get the services their child needs.

I get upset at the generation of children, quazi-adults, who WE have raised to celebrate mediocrity. I know that all children cannot learn all things, but all children can learn something. What are the aims of public education? Do we want people to contribute to society or do we want to make el cheap-o trophies and certificates and essentially mean nothing. They expect to be handed everything with little to no effort.

new to all this

2007-05-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

I thought this would be fun and interesting since I want to get rid of my other blog things. I think I will tell my friends, far and wide about this seeing as that I won't get adds to find a date. I already have a date. GOSH.