hoorays, blahs, w00ts, and wahs...

Hooray...the Ducks won 6-2!! =)
Went with teachers and friends of theirs most of whom were Kings fans...w00t! =)
It was a rough game...lots of near fights...a couple actual fights...and as you can see lots of goal scoring. GOOOOO DUCKS!
*Note: Nosebleeds at Staples Center are oober high! We sat in section 321 row 10! A skyscrapper hotdog is enormous, so big, it was almost embarrassing to eat! At the top level, they only sell large beers even though the other sizes are on the menu...so unless you want to spend $10 on a beer, buy it downstairs.



Blah is how I feel. My cough has progressed into this really nasty growl and I cough up mucus by the bucketloads. I'll be glad when this thing goes away, it's really not lady like at all! Hehe...I wonder how teaching will be tomorrow...it'll sound like I'm Mr. Mouri...hehe.


w00t...I am counting down the days until the end of January...because that means February and there are lots of good things happening in February =).
Duncan @ Troubadour!: Feb. 4
Curious George soundtrack released: Feb. 7
Grey's Anatomy on DVD (and Valentine's Day for all you coupled people...): Feb. 14
Albert's b-day celebration: Feb. 18-19?
Grey's Anatomy M of TV & R festival: Feb. 28

Wah...report cards aren't done because I again am procrastinating...those are the worst documents in the world to get done...I dont' know why I hate them so. I'm tired of going to meetings to "give my input". I think I'm inputted out. =S Principals and superintendent come by for classroom visitations this week...I hope I'm ready! *sigh* I'm ready from some good time off. That's so lame isn't it!

Update...

So...since I've last posted...I settled things with the "favor" in regards to the bus duty. However, I still don't think it's fair Maria is getting her bus duty covered (by another staff member, not myself) while the rest of the teachers are continuing our after school duties...ah well.

I feel exhausted and it's only Tuesday!

Went to a Kings vs. Ducks game yesterday, my uncle hooked me up with a ticket. omg...one of the most intense games I've ever attended...it rocked! While the Ducks lost =(...it was only in the 2nd sudden death shoot out opportunity that our hopes were shattered. I must say, cheering for the "other" team at the Staples Center is both a frightening and tough job. I had no help and didn't want to get clobbered by the massive crowd of Kings fans! Hehe...must psyche myself up for the game on Saturday @ Staples again! Will be strong...will cheer...will really really hope the ducks kick some crown! =)

Made dinner today =). Eating it now...look at me, all domestic ;).

Report cards to do...blah...I never get them done early...always putting them off...terrible! Someday I'll get with it! =)

Bought Duncan's "White Limousine" today...'tis awesomeness! I do luv him! =)

*sigh*

Argh!!! = s

**Warning!** This is a vent session about school crap...

Ok, I'll start with the positive...I just finished my January commitment to the Social Studies textbook adoption committee...which turned out to be quite nice. I not only acquired a nice collection of new tote bags, grade level texts, and was stuffed with decent foods, I also was paid for my time =). It was informative, interesting and well worth the extra hours.

That said...I'm not too happy with the rest of the "favors" being asked of me. *Note to self: When someone begins a sentence with, "Oh, can I ask you a favor?", you turn and RUN shouting NOOO! I had one of the most restful and relaxing long weekends, only to come to back to what now feels like the longest week ever.

Another teacher sends 2 of my students to the office...blowing a situation out of proportion. The vice principal interrupts my class to inform me they have detention today, the referral was filled out incorrectly (although I didn't submit it), and that I needed to inform the parents of the incident because she was quite busy herself. WHAT?!? This is not my job! Fine...while I had a thousand things to do after school including getting myself to a meeting, I could make time to do someone else's job... = s

Vice principal stops me at my lunchtime and asks for a favor...can I take another teacher's bus duty? It's my lunch for heavens sake and I'm not thinking about what that favor implies...so of course my stupid self says..."sure". After careful consideration, I've now realized, this means, I have an extra duty for the rest of the school year. Normally, each teacher has one week of before and afterschool duty and one week of recess duty. Now...I have my duties plus an extra week of bus duty for another teacher! Fine.

BUT...come to find out...they gave me her duty because she's tutoring. WHAT?!? SO AM I! BUT...get this...she's tutoring using a special intervention program and has 7 students from each 5th grade class, she also is getting paid double what I am for my tutoring because she's doing the "special tutoring". Fine.

I'm also taking 5 students that are in her regular tutoring session because she's now doing the "special tutoring". I only get paid the normal rate. Fine.

So, not only am I doing her a favor, by taking her 5 students in my session, I'm getting paid 1/2 of what she is for the same amount of time, I'm taking her additional duty because god know why, and now, she has no duty! OMG! NOT fine.

After careful consideration, I'm discussing the situation with my vice principal. This isn't fair. I shouldn't have to take a duty for another teacher for the entire year, period!!!!!!!!!

My reading coach approached me this a.m. while I was searching for my misplaced keys with those dreadful words, "Can I ask you a favor?" Distracted and already very distraught, I agreed to another committee with another set of very long and arduous meetings. WHY?!?!?

***Must learn how to say NOOOOOOOO!!!***

This really is my fault, I can't point the finger elsewhere...= s

Toilet

Finally, the toilet is scheduled for repairs tomorrow am! Let's just hope the plumber can actually make this problem go away without too much trouble. While I'm joyful I should be able to flush without worry now...I also loose my sleepy saturday I was so looking forward to =s. I suppose sleeping in isn't all that it's cracked up to be anyhow...so fingers crossed for a fixed toilet!

BAAAACK!?!??!

OK...it's time to go back to school tomorrow...i'm posting now b/c once the wheels start turning again, there may be very little online time for me...wahhhh. Hehe...i'm glad to be going back and i'm sure everyone will be well behaved the first couple of days...you know, the honeymoon phase and all. That won't take too long to remedy I'm sure ;). Ah well...work work work...here I come!

Time for a new year =)

Well...it's been long long time since my last post. December was such a whirlwind of activity I found little time to sit here in front of this addictive box other than to purchase items from ebay =).

In sum...

*I was probably more excited than my students to see vacation in sight. Exhaustion was setting in and while I've left a crap load of work in my classroom...I'll get to it eventually...=). I do still love my kids though...hopefully the break will bring back students geared up and ready to learn =).

*My family finally had to say our goodbyes to a loved one who is now thankfully no longer suffering. While the holidays are always tough after a loss...we miss her and remember her...realizing the importance of each other. People I haven't seen since I was little came to the service, people from her neighborhood, people she worked with, family friends I've never seen...it was amazing how many lives she touched. In the new year...she will live in our memories ever so fondly.

*Kressler's b-day spa day was a fantastic idea and I'm glad the gals got together for it =). Hooray for our 26 year old!

*Mokroopal X-mas is growing =). That's the way it should be =). It was nice to have everyone together for once...it seems so hard to get us all together anymore. No group photo...that just means we'll have to remember one next year =). Thanks to Kim, my secret santa, I now own my very own copy of He-man season one and the uber awesome Matt Pond PA album. Albert added two very pretty martini glasses to my glassware collection and Kressler made all my dreams come true with VA peanuts =). *crunch* Friends, food and fun...we couldn't ask for anything more =).

*X-mas with my family was good. The gift exchange on my dad's side took nearly 2 hours because we have over 50 people participating! TOO MANY! Plus, with so many people, it made it too difficult to get to the dessert table...so I missed out on my grandma's pie!! =(
My mom's side X-mas was great. It was just what everyone needed, getting together, laughing, talking, eating, and more eating =). I took home an electric wok (which I have learned was put in the white elephant b/c the temperature doesn't get very hot) and a calphalon stir-fry pan (which my uncle won, but thought I could use it more =) ). Why I take home kitchen goods every year...who knows! My family enjoyed their gifts from me, I'm glad...I luv watching them open them =). I also luv my new nano...thanks mom and dad. Hehe...Kacie gave me a lava lamp w00t! I do believe in karma now! ;)

*Patrick's b-day and New Year's in Vegas...#3 for me =). Phew...I was not so lucky this year...in past years I tend to do ok in the gambling arena...ususally taking something home in my wallet...alas...that was not the case this year. Every machine I put money into kept it! I have also discovered drinking Lisa is also much too touchie Lisa...wah! Thanks to my fabulous friends who keep drunk Lisa in line =).

*January 2006 it is! Resolutions? Hmmm...not sure...perhaps I'll get back to those after some though =).

Happy New Year everyone!!!!! =)