Just to see

So, the idea is to copy-paste the following tag into your blog, turn "yourusername" into well, your user name, and take out the astericks.

<*font color="yourusername"> <*b>yourusername<*/b> <*/font>

What color are you?

ladyvader

Ink, ink everywhere

I need to watch a teacher who knows what they're doing tame a class of unwieldy adolescents. Detentions don't work, throwing them out of class doesn't work. But I'm the only person who has these problems in my department. All eyes are on me in so many ways, and then today there was a pen explosion out in the hallway before my class. I looked down to get something for a student and when I looked up, there was ink on my floor, too. I didn't know about the hallway at the time. So one kid goes to get paper towels, but there weren't any in the bathroom. So I decided to just leave it there because I didn't want maintenence coming up and interrupting my lesson. Then another student goes to the bathroom and tells me there's ink in the hallway. So now I call maintenence. They lollygag there way up there, and it's worse than I thought in the hallway. By now it's almost the end of the period. None of my students have blue hands or blue footprints, so I'm not sure who did it. But all eyes are on me because this shows "poor classroom management" and, according to the bf, poor judgement in not calling sooner re: the mess. From a manegerial standpoint, that makes sense, but from a teaching stand point...well, maintence would've been bad. ESPECIALLY since this class was ACTUALLY WORKING for a change, and given the 7th-period, day-before-cycle-change, day-before-uber-storm, I was so happy about that, I didn't want to break the flow. My mentor told me she'd stick up for me on the matter but...maybe this is a sign. Maybe I'll get a "thanks but no thanks" letter come April and then I'll have to find work elsewhere, in education or no. I still feel like I can be a good teacher, but no one has given me anything to work with regarding classroom management. G'ah, I suck. Hard vaccuum.

So now I'm off to correct the tests my freshmen took. I also have to plan for a class of seniors 7th period tomorrow. G'ah again.

I can't think of anything non-work-related to say. Except that I want to take a nap. But that's not going to happen. So off to correct I go.

(Hee hee, I'm posting at 4:20)

Sunny Sunday, Wicked Winter Weather Waiting

Okay, so I've got myself quite a predicament. With the way this book is currently progressing, I cannot finish To Kill a Mockingbird with my students if I hope to do anything else over the course of the year. They will not read at home. So, do I give the rest of the book to the students who want it as Extra Credit, give them a due date to have it done by, and move on when they come back? This might be the best course of action, simply because I have to finish doing CAPT prep with them before the end of March (yikes, so soon!). This seems kind of cheap but...I don't know what else to do. Brilliant Ideas? I'm all ears...er, eyes.

Why will students not do their reading homework? In high school, I had to read at least 1, sometimes up to 3 chapters a night, plus the questions, and all the other homework my other teachers conjured up. Know what? I did it. Sometimes I finished the reading on the bus, but I got it done. So how is asking the students to read 1-2 chapters a night unreasonable? I do not feel that it is.

My dept. head often tells me that you can't force literature on students like this. Why not, I ask? You make them learn science they don't want, or social studies, or math...so why can't we expose them to things that will make them better, more intelligent people? Am I too much of an idealist? Am I already separted from the youth of America that I don't understand them? It makes my head hurt, this part of my job.

The bf and I went to see Constantine Friday night. It was a good movie. As we all know, I have a thing for religious-Revelation-stories. I feel myself to have a pretty strong faith, but it is interesting for me to see or read such taboo stories. Keanu...well, he can't be anything but Keanu in any movie he's in. Kind of like Samuel L. Jackson....you don't watch the Prequels and see Mace Windu...no, you see Sam dressed up in Jedi robes with a lightsabre. Anyway, good movie. Go see it if it's your kind of thing.

I'm watching The Count of Monte Cristo right now. I heart this movie. It's different from the book, but what isn't these days? Sexy Jim Caviezel. I thought he was hot before The Passion, so I think that takes away the creepy Jesus-lust factor. Agree?

Here's to hoping everyone had a good weekend.

Cat claws + knee = painful

A little bit of real world math for you on a Thursday evening.

I went to the gym today and actually felt shakey when I was done on the treadmill because I hadn't really worked out in a long time. Felt uber-good though. Yay me.

Oh. I finished The Quality of Mercy in Atlanta; it was very good. Much rutting and throbbing going on, but it was an interesting story. I'm currently reading the book Druids by Morgan Llywelyn. After taking my class last spring, it is a really good read. Leila, you'd probably like it.

I'm glad the Pope survived his surgery today, and I wish the man relief from his pain, however that may come. Does anyone know what they burn with the ballots at the Vatican to turn the smoke different colors? This has been in discussion at my house lately.

I got a pretty good review at work today, go me. I'm currently putting off doing any work because I just don't feel like correcting stuff, and I didn't end up sending myself the files I needed anyway, apparently, so I'll have to input all the grades tomorrow anyway. Part of me wants to not have school tomorrow, but the other part of me doesn't want to go to school any later in June. Ah well.

I have this weird sore throat thing going on right now. It sucks.

OH! Last thing. I overheard myself being called a TILF in the hallway last week. You know, like a MILF, only different. A little disturbing, but kind of funny.

Music Match Game

Okay, here's a recap for those who don't know how this works: I'm going to post random lyrics from 10 songs on my playlist. Using the COMMENTS feature, you take a guess as to what they are. When you get it right, I strike out the lyric and give you credit. I'll probably do it again when all 10 of the first set are guessed.

Have fun!

I. You're on this date with me,
The pickings have been lush,
And yet before this evening is over you might give me the brush.
You might forget your manners,
You might refuse to stay,
And so the best that I can do,
Is pray. Luck Be a Lady from Guys and Dolls; guessed by Bulky

II. Keep your filthy paws
Off my silky drawers
Would you pull that crap
With Annette?Look at Me from Grease; guessed by Bulky

III. And just outside I can see my breath in between
The words that fog my spinning head and I can
See the sun coming up.And it's just light enough to see
Another cigarette that I just lit
As I pass the 53rd St. bridge right
Now the world just seems too big the world just seems too big.

IV. You've been talking
But believe me
If it's true you do not know
This boy loves without a reason
I'm prepared
To let you go

V. Now if I help you
It matters that you see
This sordid kind of things are
Coming hard to me
It's taken me some time
To work out what to do
I weighed the whole thing up
Before I came to you

VI. I didn't hear you leave, I wonder how am I still here,
I don't want to move a thing, it might change my memory
Oh I am what I am, I'll do what I want, but I can't hide
I won't go, I won't sleep, I can't breathe, until you're resting here with meHere with Me by Dido; guessed by Meredes

VII. The unread book and painful look, the TV's on, the sound is down
One long pause, then you begin, oh look what the cat's bought in

VIII. Is it possible the female member of some sex on a couch
Could like get this guy all hot and she never even knew it?
When a warm-blooded mammal in a tight little sweater
Starts pullin' that stuff, is she sayin' that she wants to do it?-Reproduction, Grease 2; Guessed by Anathema

IX. Under a lover's sky
I'm Gonna be with you
And no one's gonna be around
If you think that you won't fall
Well just wait until
Till the sun goes down

X. Baby, I'm so into you
You've got that something, what can I do
Baby, you spin me around, oh
The earth is movin, but I can't feel the ground
Everytime you look at me
My heart is jumpin, it's easy to see

Back to the Lab Again

Wow, talk about a shock to the system. First, I have to wake up at 5:45. Then, I actually have to go somewhere, dressed, and mentally coherent. Then they put between 15 and 21 students in a room with me and expect me to impart knowledge to them. Does anyone else see how unfair this is? Oh wait, they pay me. Yes, well, we'll forgive them then.

I should be correcting some papers right now, but it felt so good to get home and just...not do anything. I was going to go to the gym after work, but got stuck at said place of employment for an extra half of an hour, and also realized that I'd forgotten to put my gym clothes in the car with me. So yeah, that didn't happen. BUT, I ate relatively healthy today, my only downfall being a small bowl of chili I inhaled upon getting home. I followed it up with a box of kinda-sorta-stale raisins.

My paycheck looks short. I don't know who to talk to about it. Perhaps I'm just dumb and do not understand these things, but the number is smaller for no discernable reason. I'm wondering if I forgot to sign something one day and got gypped. Grr, arg, etc.

I'm going to play the Music Game, but not in this post. Here, enjoy some quizzes:


The Goddess of Magic and Peace. You are a born
star. Always supportive and influential, you
the centre of attention and you are
exceptionally friendly. You are a classic
beauty.


Which gorgeous goddess are you? For girls! (breath taking pics!)
brought to you by Quizilla


Your a wind Dragon! Hey, you, the smartest dragon
of the branch. You love reading and writing,
but are quite shy. Your IQ is probably sky-high
and your stories can win trophies. Your not
very good in sports, or maybe you are, and just
not inrested.. You are very wise, smart, and
kind.


What elemental dragon are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


You are a spring. You are very mellow most of the
time except for the caffine season (which is
year round) but you are also a very nice
person. When people tick you off though God
better save them. lol You are a fairly
socialable person because people know you won't
get mad too easy or seem to. But you are a very
nice peron over all. ^-^


What Season Best Fits You? (anime pics)
brought to you by Quizilla

Vacation--Day 4.5

Sitting at the SAT airport, contemplating whether I want to buy crappy food here, or crappy food in ATL. It's only 10:20 local time, so it's not lunch yet, but I'll be hungry by the time I get to my stop before going home, although I'm sure the pretzels will be delicious as always. Part of me wants to attempt napping again (I was falling asleep on the couch this morning) but I also know I have to sleep tonight because we are back to the grind tomorrow. So I'll hopefully manage to stay awake for these flights. I've got an hour and fifteen minute layover in ATL which, provided I do not have to haul booty across the complex, I should be able to get myself a late lunch. I've been hydrating all morning, had zucchini bread for breakfast care of Starbucks, but I'll get hungry eventually. I always consume copious amounts of coffee while I'm on vacation, which I find very strange. I guess it makes sense with my fellow goddesses, as they are the Coffee Queens, but even when the bf and I were in Boston last weekend, I drank coffee more than normally.

Gotta get back on the bandwagon starting tomorrow, because I can feel myself bloating up after the past couple of weeks. I can't remember the last time I saw the inside of the gym, and I haven't been eating very well either. I need more vegetables, less meat...my cholesterol has probably skyrocketed again over the past few weeks. I need to go to the doctor and have it checked out again, but I'm going to try to get back on the bishy-esque diet. I was feeling pretty good about myself for awhile, but lately...not so much.

I still haven't finished "The Quality of Mercy" but I imagine by the time I land in BDL, I should be done. I'm hoping that these fligths aren't ridiculously crowded, although the sky cap said that a lot of people were traveling to my destination. Crappity crap crap crap.

So sleepy. For some reason, my phone isn't dialing out at the moment, which pisses me off. I wanted to call the bf but that isn't going to happen. Hopefully when I arrive in ATL, it will be happier and allow me to call mum and give her the skinny.

My plane just arrived, so we'll be loading probably in about 1/2 of an hour. I think I have a window seat (yay!). I love being able to peek outside to see what's going on down there. Maybe I'll even get some writing done. I did get some done while here, but not a great deal...maybe a half-of-a-page to a page.

All the music in the SAT airport is in Spanish. Yay for ethnic music. Of course, pretty much all I was listening to this weekend was J-pop. Not that it was bad or anything, just not what I ever listen to.

I wish I could get online and post this. You'll notice when you read my blog that there's 4 back-dated entries. Bulky's laptop doesn't have an A-drive, so I couldn't post the things I was writing, also b/c I forgot to bring my phone cable to plug R2-D2 into a phone jack. Ah well.

Vacation--Day 4

At "work" with Dendera right now. After more leftover pizza, I'm watching Baby Einstein's "Baby Neptune" with the little one, who has warmed up to me, despite initial panic at my appearance. We're waiting for the older one to wake up, and then we might go to the zoo or the science museum, something to get these kids out of their parents' hair, as they are trying to pack up and move to AZ. I envy Dendera in a lot of ways...not the whole constant packing thing, but the fact that she's living a lot of change and getting to experience a lot of different things. And then there's me...still living in the same house since I was 5 years old, no prospects of being able to leave anytime soon. I've been pretty good this weekend about not stressing regarding my job, but I know I'm going to be back in two days. I feel anxious about it, because I don't want to be looking for a job again come April. And how crappy would that look on a resume "Yeah, they asked me to leave because my sophomores were Devil Spawn and, since religion isn't allowed in school, I couldn't perform an exorcism." So I hope that this time next year I'll have my portfolio done and that'll be new stress. But I should still be enjoying this time of non-work-ness, so I will endeavor to do so. My trip, alas and alack, comes to a bitter end.

Vacation--Day 3

Lap-o-luxury living is a beautiful thing. After a late-late-birthday massage gift, we three ladies had some lovely Mediterranean food, margaritas and a bottle of wine. When we got to the restaurant, this man, someone who worked there, was saying that we were Disney princesses. The hostess turned to me, offered the wine list and said "Would you like to see this? Because obviously he has already." It was entertaining We (well, they, I was pretty sober all things considered) stumbled back to the hotel room and watched "Bridget Jones 2: The Edge of Reason." Again, this was 'they', because I fell asleep due to excessive wine consumption. After a breakfast in bed, we checked out of the hotel, walked some of the RiverWalk, had lunch at Casa Rio (our only Mexican food experience of the weekend). Then drove back to the house, Bulky took a nap and Dendera and I went to Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. The Starbucks had a huge bottleneck; it was like the McDonald's back home. We poked around the book store, bought each other each one book and a book for Bulky, returned to the house, ate pizza given to us by Dendera's employers, then watched "Vanity Fair." It was a pretty good movie, but very jumpy and one would probably benefit from actually just reading the movie. We're now about to waste oodles of time staring at various online videos.

Vacation--Day 1

I just watched two grown women, fighting about frosting, one driving a vehicle while the other rode on top of the hood in her socks. I'm sure you can all picture that in your mind and are probably laughing. The frosting was worth it, I suppose, because the carrot cake would not have been the same without it. I also watched "The Grudge" and "Clerks" today. Weird and entertaining, in that order. We had Asian food for dinner tonight and it was quite yummy, very reasonably priced as well. Today was a slow day, because Dendera had to work and Bulky was very tired but had to stay awake for a doctor's appointment and various errands. So Dendera brought her two "charges" to the house and we played with them. Very cute kids. Dendera and I are now off to watch "Bridget Jones's Diary" because I've never seen it.

Vacation--Day .5

First of all, I HEART my new laptop battery. The fact that I can use this thing now w/o it having to be plugged in is truly a godsend. I haven't gotten anything written of importance, but I had the option to, and that really is what counts.

As I type this entry, I am approximately an hour and a half away from my destination. I am on an older model jet, but the seats are leather, I'm by a window, and I don't have anyone sitting next to me, so I can stretch out and "luxuriate" in my traveling, as Wendy Williams would say.

I finished "1984" just as I was landing in Cincinnati. Kind of a downer of an ending. No, not kind of, DEFINITELY. Why does The System always have to win? Because we're too dumb to change it? Or perhaps we're too scared to? I'm not sure which. I don't have the cojones to change it, mostly because I don't think I have anything better than what we've got. You must always have a plan for these things.

Totally random piece of information: Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) had hip-replacement surgery recently. Doesn't he seem WAY too young for that sort of thing? Lando's getting old. Sigh.

TRPoI #2: George Lucas is making a cameo in "Revenge of the Sith." Good for him, I say--if Hitchcock can do it, why not the flannel wonder?

Back quasi on topic: My mother sent me on the plane with a book called "The Quality of Mercy" which, as near as I can tell, has something to do with Shakespeare, the Spanish Inquisition and beheading Catholics. Still, she REALLY wanted me to read it, so I'm giving it a go. Am 58 pages in; it's not too bad.

So far in my travels today, I heard one kid say "What happens if the wheels fall off?" after I had quite possibly the bumpiest/60-to-0 landing in my memory, one teenage girl say to another "You don't have to get your belly button piereced" and was apparently on my first flight with one of the Sports Center anchors (who didn't look at all familiar to me) and his entire intern/cronie entourage. If it had been Stuart, who does the NFL reviews, I would have TOTALLY been that obnoxious person who asks for autographs. It wouldn't have been for me, though, but my mother--she loves him.

I am very sleepy, but as my current seat is right next to the engine (and I mean half the view out my window is obstructed by said engine) sleep is not going to happen. I was so freakin' beat today at work, I don't know how I stayed awake. I woke up with a headache which can only be described as "hellish" and it was marginally satiated until 4th period when that class of sophomores that makes me sick to my stomach came in. This did not help my general paranoia about my job. Now, you all know that I am not an overly-confident person, and when I am confident, it's usually misplaced. But it's hard to feel like I've made the right choice when I am not seeing improvement in certain areas--this class being the one of them. And I don't know HOW to fix it, because nothing I try seems to work. No one has been able to help me much on the subject, either.

I wish I could use this late-night energy to write something more useful than this yet-to-be-posted blog entry. I stared at a story for awhile but wasn't feeling much in the way of inspiration. Then again, Mr. ESPN was sitting right behind me and talking very loudly, perhaps I should give it another whirl.

Tired and Sore

God, I just want to go to sleep. But since tomorrow is the first day of a new cycle, I must be all prepared and stuff for new students, their gripes about the change of cycle, plus the wound-uped-ness that comes with any pre-vacation days.

Had a really crappy day at work yesterday, and today was not much better. I'm not sure how much I can or should go into, but it all boils down to a big ol' smack in the face of my confidence in myself. I was just starting to feel better about this, you know? I'd gotten some good reviews, my kids seemed to be mildly engaged and now...crap. It makes one want to cry very much.

Had a brief but nice Valentine's Day evening with the bf. Am going to miss him while visiting the ladies, and am very glad we went on our little vacation last weekend, but this "weekend" will be longer and therefore a little more relaxing.

Glad Goddess #3 had a lovely, if a bit physically expressive, birthday.

Entertaining Yet Disturbing

Link Care of BF

I'm not sure what you'll think of it; I was amused.

This is what cleaning my room looks like

You Belong in 1971

1971 If you scored... 1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in! 1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too. 1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all! 1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day. 1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

How Your Attitude Ranks

Your Attitude is Better than 50% of the Population If you scored... 80-100: You've got a winner attitude. You're always optimistic and cheery. Your personality will get you far in life. 60-79: You have a good attitude. While a realist, you do see the positive side of most things. People love to be around you. 40 - 59: You have a positive attitude... somtimes. You prefer to see the world through clear glasses, not rose colored ones. 20 - 39: You have an average attitude. You take the good and bad in life as they come. Though sometimes you could use a little more good. 0-19: You have a negative attitude. You tend to see the dark side of every situation. Free ice cream? No thanks, it will just make you fat!

How's Your Attitude?

You Are "Tearful"

What Japanese Smiley Are You?

Upper-crust hotels

If you've never stayed in a 4 or 5 star hotel, I recommend doing it at least once in your life. It's a little disturbing that they address you by name when you call the front desk, but...yeah.

So we went to Boston and Worcester this weekend. Didn't get to do as much in Boston as I would have liked, but driving there is hell-ish, and traveling partner was not up for overly much walking, so that's for next time. Still, I got to poke around in the Science Museum (there's a SW exhibit coming in October) and the nostalgia of that was worth it. Also ate some lovely food, drank some lovely wine, and slept in a lovely bed. Saturday we went to Worcester, where we polked around the armory and bf tried on may different helms; I only tried on one because, even though said helms were in the kid's section, still way too big for my tiny little head.

I haven't gotten a cell phone bill yet, but now I know why--they had the wrong address listed. Right town, wrong street. Morons. So I have corrected said error, and paid my bill, so hopefully they won't disconnect my service or anything.

Am currently reading 1984 by George Orwell, which I never read in high school or college. I'd say I'm about 1/2 way through and it is a rather good book. I was considering teaching it to my seniors, but we don't have enough copies of it at the school, and was warned that it might be too above them. I don't know about that though; it seems like a pretty easy read. Anyone else have any thoughts on this particular subject?

I have to do all sorts of work today, including correcting and planning, as I don't want to be doing any of that gobbledy-gook during my upcoming trip to the lovely state of Te-has. I should probably do some laundry. And my mother wants to go shopping for my father's birthday. But I can't really justify shopping at this stage monetarily or timewise.

Anyhew, I hope everyone out there in TV Land had a fantabulous weekend.

Pacing

No, not in the literal, walking-up-and-down-the-floors sense. I'm talking about the pacing of writing. Very few things that I have read lately have seemed appropriately paced; either too fast or too slow. I just finished Ancestors of Avalon and while the story was interesting enough, it felt kind of...stunted, and alternately rushed. Very strange. I have to pick a new book from my pile, which has not grown quite as exponentially as it has in the past. I have quite a few YA books that I haven't read yet, but I really am still in a selfish reading-for-me mode and want to read the things that I find interesting.

I just realized I left a stack of copies on the machine at work. I am such a moron. This wouldn't be such a problem except I won't be going back there until Monday (yay for 3.5 day weekends!) Oh well...someone'll just leave it on a table in a pile somewhere; I doubt they'll throw out my tests. Waste of paper and what not.

So I'm probably not going to be saying much over the next 60 hours or so...bf and I are taking a jaunt up to Boston until Saturday, then coming back to CT for the Wolfpack game Saturday night. I might bring my laptop with me in case I am inspired to create things that look like stories, but internet access is questionable. And it IS supposed to be time with the bf, so you're all probably S.O.L...try to exist without me. :)

I have quiz results, and am deeply concerned that, of the 5 posted on Leila's blog, she and I only differed on one answer, and that one was very close. Since Leila and I don't know each other THAT well, I find that interesting and invite comment from either she, or other parties who know us.

Your Famous Blogger Twin is Wil Wheaton

You're a friendly, funny guy (or girl) next door With more than a touch of geekiness

Who's Your Famous Blogger Twin?

You Have A Type A- Personality

A- You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

You Are A Romantic Realist

You are more romantic than 40% of the population. You tend to be grounded when it comes to romance. Sure, you can fall hard... but only for someone you've gotten to know. And once you're in love, you can be a total romantic goofball... But you'd never admit it to your friends!

Are You Romantic or Realistic?

Absolutely no comment

I refuse to discuss the Super Bowl, except to say that another small child was sacrified during half time to allow the catastrophe to continue, and I hope all you Patriot fans are eaten up with guilt.

So, I'm getting observed on Wednesday for the final observation of the year. I am not too nervous about the situation, except that it is my V.P. that's coming in and he sometimes interjects while I teach. HOWEVER, there was some positive news from my mentor, because the Department Head told her that he thought I was a good teacher and that he hoped they didn't lose me because I have the ability to teach the upper level (like AP) kids. OH MY GOD! That is the biggest compliment EVER for me and I'm like...wow, I hope they don't can my ass this year. (Did you love how that entire paragraph does NOT sound or look like an English teacher wrote that? We'll call it irony.)

Remember that joke I started for all of you about the woman who brought her car in for an oil change? Well, the punchline was $493.22. Yeah, that blows. I've got to pay bills tonight after I do some correcting/lesson planning, but I might need to have a drink as I watch my bank balance dwindle. But, I must say, having money coming in regularly makes the pain a little more bearable.

10 days until I arrive in Texas. I am RIDICULOUSLY excited about being back down there with my fellow goddesses, and I hope it's warmish too. It was 58 degrees when I drove through the center of town today and I was in heaven. God, do I love spring and summer? It's warm, it's sunny...how can you NOT love that? Snow is quaint, a nice thing to visit but nothing I want to stay around too awful long.

Oh! I bought myself (with the left over gift card money of my brother's) a double-CD of Jimmy Buffet music. I love Jimmy Buffet. And I like all the songs I've never heard before that are on these CDs. And he's totally feeding the vacation lust I've got right now.

I leave you on a Fiona Apple note; take it where you will:

Criminal

I've been a bad bad girl
I've been careless with a delicate man
And it's a sad sad world
When a girl will break a boy
Just because she can
Don't you tell me to deny it
I've done wrong and I want to
Suffer for my sins
I've come to you 'cause I need
Guidance to be true
And I just don't know where I can begin

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love

Heaven help me for the way I am
Save me from these evil deeds
Before I get them done
I know tomorrow brings the consequence
At hand
But I keep livin' this day like
The next will never come

Oh help me but don't tell me
To deny it
I've got to cleanse myself
Of all these lies till I'm good
Enough for him
I've got a lot to lose and I'm
Bettin' high
So I'm beggin' you before it ends
Just tell me where to begin

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love

Let me know the way
Before there's hell to pay
Give me room to lay the law and let me go
I've got to make a play
To make my lover stay
So what would an angel say
The devil wants to know

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against

Because he's all I ever knew of love

Hell Briefly Froze Over

Yes folks, I did something yesterday I never thought I'd do--I went skiing. I didn't injure myself in any permanent way, although I am a little sore, and I didn't have the world's worst time with it. I don't think it's something that I'll want to go out and do every weekend, but if a few people got together and said "Hey, let's go skiing" once or twice a winter, I probably would go along. Spend most of my time in the lodge, but go nonetheless.

Temperment has not changed much since last time I posted, so if anyone finds me in a funk, you'll understand not to take it personally. Having to wrap my mind around somethings and come to some sort of conclusion.

Did I tell y'all that I got a haircut? 'Cause I did. Took off a "good" inch and a half, so now my hair is short, but has a little more spunk than one with my hair texture can ever hope for. I might actually try growing my hair out this time though, seeing if I like it long again. I do miss certain aspects of longer hair, but don't like how flat it is on me.

Hoping to do something interesting with my 3 1/2 day weekend this coming weekend, but no definitives yet.

Hope everyone had a splendid break from work-place monotony.

90-minute-delay-Friday

I am in a very weird place right now. It is confusion, mixed with fear, mixed with anger, mixed with guilt and all wrapped up in a bow called "Quarter-Life-Crisis". I'm trying to find the part of me that is happy, but I'm not sure if it's there right now. I don't know when the last time it was around. Details are sketchy, but I'm feeling very uncomfortable in my own skin again and I can't seem to find a way to get the comfort level back. Some of the options terrify me, because I would, among other things, have been wrong and we all know how well I do with THAT!

I'm on my 5th cup of green tea for today. This is probably why my teeth are yellow-ish.

I keep forgetting that I have this meeting tomorrow morning for new teachers in my district. They say they're going to pay me, and feed me lunch, but for some reason when I think about this weekend, the fact that I have to spend 1/2 a day thinking about work completely slips my mind. My brain is already to NEXT weekend, and the weekend after that. Dendera keeps saying it's rainy and horrible down in Texas but...well, if it's higher than 45 degrees, I'm a happy camper.

I stole this from Anathema's AIM profile, and thought it was funny:

http://users.adelphia.net/~nkarlak/

Ladies-18, Men-21

This is going to be a random post. Not that they aren't ALL random, but still.

So I keep hearing commercials on the radio for clubs that say women can get in at 18 but men can get in at 21. I'm trying to decide if I like this idea or not. I just imagine all these 40 year old men hanging around the club trying to pick up these bubbly 18 (or is it 16) year old high school seniors who are more than willing for anything. As someone who interacts with teenagers on a daily basis, I assure you this would be the case. Thoughts anyone?

Have a crap load of papers to correct, which is why I'm not at the gym. I went yesterday though, so go me. I think I may do some mystery fiction with my seniors when they come back, including Sherlock Holmes (only the less-intense version). I'm going to go all multi-cultural on my freshmen for a week and then...who knows? Oh, "A Raisin in the Sun" with my juniors and more Birds that Mock with my sophomores. It did only take me a month to teach this book last time...I am going to be well into March before I finish at this rate. Oy-freaking-vey. But this whole reading out loud thing seems to work with them, so we will continue on this track.

Oh, my car. It's like the beginning of a joke: "So this woman brings her car in for an oil change..." and then finds out it needs new rear brakes and a timing belt too. WTF? My mechanic isn't screwing me over, but I was planning on a tiny bill. Now I get a not-so-tiny bill. Guess this is why my horoscope told me not to spend any money yesterday. And I wanted to, too, because one of my co-workers bought himself an MP3 player and I'm UBER jealous.

Side bar--I'm going to be teaching the novel "Night" to my seniors at some point. There's a poem in there called "Kaddish." Think I could get away with showing The X-Files episode of the same name? Probably not. Although I kind of want to show Clue as part of the mystery unit. Anyway.

Also on the subject of school, we were talking about the electives we might offer next year and now I'm DESPERATE to teach creative writing. I think it would be a kick-butt class to use for my portfolio, because the kids would be doing ALL the work. And that's what they want to see. So yeah.

I think that covers just about everything. The Super Bowl is this weekend so I must reiterate--GO EAGLES!