Christmas 2008

Brave, huh?!?

Yesterday, Jesse and I ventured to the mall. We hadn't been there for a while, and we still had a couple of presents to shop for, so we made the courageous trip! Fortunately, we were smart enough to go EARLY, and the crowds weren't too bad.

Any trip to the mall wouldn't be complete without a visit to the food court. Jesse didn't eat breakfast, so it wasn't long before he was looking for something to eat. Did you know Panda Express isn't open at 9:30 AM... Weird, huh! However, Cinnabon is!!! I didn't get one, but man, that cinnamon roll looked GOOD!

While tooling through the mall we saw the "big guy," himself. Keep in mind this was before noon, and the line was already enormous... Seriously, it was comparable to the line for Space Mountain at Disney Land! We saw one little family of 3 getting their picture taken, and the smallest one did NOT want to be there, and he was giving the photographer quite a workout!

The most exciting purchase of the day was a totally unexpected one. A couple of months ago we went to the Arts in the Park fair, and while there I had my eye on a carmel apple; it looked so good! But, they also had chocolate covered strawberries that grabbed and kept my attention. I vowed, right then and there, that the next time I saw one of those apples, I was going to buy one! Now, I bet you can already guess what I found... A white chocolate, carmel covered, coconut and macadamia nut apple... Mmmmmmm! We shared it, and it was so yummy!


We walked the whole length of the mall, and then headed back; that meant another stroll past the food court, but this time I was ready for lunch. I went to Bourbon Street BBQ, thinking I could get some BBQ chicken... I was waaaaaaaaaaay off. The food was more like Panda Express. I ended up getting the BBQ chicken (not like you'd expect, with BBQ sauce), and mandarin orange chicken, with noodles. It was okay, but the price was great... I got a lot of food for less than the price of the apple.

We decided to exit the mall by going through Mervyn's, which if you didn't know, is going out of business. That place was a mad house. Seriously, there were some "deal-hunting" people in there. The place was pretty picked over, too; kinda reminded me of a turkey bone, after all the meat has been pulled off. We did get a good deal on a dress, though; it was originally marked $40, but we got it for $11, and it's CUTE!

On the way home we were watching the traffic on the other side of the freeway. The exit to the mall was backed up at least a mile (we were pretty glad we went when we did). We also saw an accident happening. Don't really know what happened, but a car was going down the freeway SIDEWAYS, and there was a lot of smoke! That's just too scary!

We also stopped by Wal Mart. Seriously, I don't know why they just don't make my pay check out to this place, since it seems like this is where most of my money goes. Any way, I found some cute shoes. I found out this week, while it was raining, that my other slide-on black shoes are cracked on the bottom, which makes for cold, wet feet. Obviously, I had a perfectly good reason to buy more!

The big goal now is to stay out of the stores until after Christmas, and avoid all the last minute, crazy shoppers.

Fiesta of Light Parade 2008

Work... UUGGHHH!

I "hate, hate, hate, double hate, loathe" (The Grinch Who Stole Christmas) my job!!! I just don't seem to be able to please any one. All I'm trying to do is teach, but instead I have to play police officer in my classroom. Why? Becuz the same old students continue to make distractions which take away from the learning process. That means I have to take teaching time to write behavior reports, or recovery room tickets, or office referrals. What makes things worse is that the administration is aware of the students causing the problems, but nothing (and I mean NOTHING) seems to ever get done about it. That means the problem students remain in my room, disrupting everything and everyone, and the vicious cycle of writing them up continues, over and over again. And, frankly, I hate that! I have never had such an awful bunch of students, along with an odd combination of parents. On one hand I have apathetic parents that don't do anything at home to change their child's behavior. On the other hand, I have parents that don't think I'm doing enough for their child (which may be true, but then again, I'm spending my time writing behavior tickets). Seems I'm caught in a catch-22 that I can't get out of, especially with NO support from the administration.

So, what's the solution? I would be VERY surprised if I continue to teach at this school next year. I really didn't want to return this year, but a couple of people talked me into it, and now I'm truly regretting it! Actually, come to think of it, I'm pretty tired of teaching altogether. I don't know what else I can do, but surely there is something else out there that will be less demanding, and provide for evenings free and weekends without taking a ton of work to do at home, unpaid. And, the behavior control, well, that can be left for someone else to do. Seriously, stocking shelves at Wal Mart has got to be better than what I put up with now!

I guess that's enough ranting and raving. Hopefully things will improve.

winter

Best Laid Plans

Since I have so many critters, I thought it would be nice to get a few "holiday pictures" of them, and possibly a picture for this year's Christmas card. Suffice it to say, that idea did NOT work. I think the following pictures say it all...








I tried the Santa hat on a couple others, and the results were weren't much better.

I've been tagged, again... 8 things

Eight things I am passionate about:
Jesse
my critters
my religion
helping children learn
music
civil rights
the internet (I think I'm addicted)
?


Eight words or phrases I use the most:
Listen up!
Josh, sit down.
Take out your agenda.
Fill in your agenda
Seriously, dude!
Kittens...
Rudy, be quiet!
Mah-velous


Eight things I want to do before I die:
work another 15 years before I retire
be healthy
be successful
go for a limo ride
go on a cruise, anywhere
become filthy rich
enjoy life
publish a book

Eight things I need right now:
MONEY
a nap
a few days off
well behaved students
attentive students
Did I mention money?
some chocolate
financial security

Eight Favorite Restaurants:
Olive Garden
Chipotle
Applebees
Weinerschnitzel
Golden Corral (they have great mashed potatoes!)
Mayacos
Panda Express
?

Eight places I want to visit:
Hawaii
Arizona Memorial
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
Massachusetts
Alabama
Louisiana

Eight TV Shows I watch:
Big Brother
Survivor
Big Bang Theory
2-1/2 Men
Designed to Sell
My House is Worth What?
the news
Deal or No Deal

People I tag: ?

Things I like...

With Thanksgiving coming I thought I should mention things that I'm grateful for, but to be honest, I was having a hard time (this year) doing that. Then, as I was blog surfing (weird, I know, looking at blogs of people I don't know) I found one that had a list of things they liked. So... I decided I'd make my own list, and this is what I've come up with:
- sleep
- pepsi
- cats
- kittens
- puppies
- animals
- traveling
- pink
- soft, warm towels (I was drying some as I wrote)
- Spanish palm trees
- chocolate (can you believe it's this far down on the list?!?)
- pedagogy
- air conditioning
- softy (again, drying towels as I wrote)
- "my" lazy boy
- ice cream
- better yet, chocolate ice cream
- piano
- music (but not the loud raunchy stuff, or twangy)
- time off from work
- peanut butter
- "my" pillow
- quietness
- San Diego
- interior design shows
- "Big Brother"
- "Survivor"
- 3:10 PM Monday thru Friday
- sharp cheddar cheese
- Vlasic dill pickles
- chimichangas
- freedom
- the U.S.A.
- colors
- sharpies / gel pens
- musicals
- digital cameras
- computer
- e-mail
- garage door openers
- remote control
- electricity
- porcelain facilities
- running water
- Movies:
- "Sound of Music"
- "Defending Your Life"
- "Groundhog Day"
- "Ice Castles"
- "Hero"
- "Mr. Holland's Opus"
And, now that I look at my list I guess I found several things that I not only like, but I am very thankful for!

Teddy (the kitten) has decided he doesn't like being "locked in," and we now have an escapee...


The problem... Rufus...


He's on duty, all the time!

Eventually, all that climbing wore Teddy out...


Speaking of Rufus, I found a cute Halloween collar for him. I'm not sure why I bought it, but it was too cute to resist, and it was cheap. I don't think Rufus likes it as much as I do.


So I put it on Salem!

He didn't care for it much, either!

Sweetheart Tag

Cindy "tagged" me, so I thought I better play along...

Sweetheart Tag - The rules: Each person answers questions about their sweethearts. At the end of the post, the person then tags 6 people and posts their names. Then go to their blog & leave them a comment, letting them know they have been TAGGED.

(Note: I don't really have anyone to tag, so I didn't do that part.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is your husband's name? Jesse

How long have you guys been married? 3and 1/2 years

How long did you date? 2 months

How old is he? 56

Who is taller? Jesse

Who can sing best? That's a toss-up

Who is smarter? Jesse

Who does laundry? both of us

Who pays the bills ? me

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do
(when you are looking from the bottom of the bed to the top)

Who mows the lawn? Nobody... We have rocks!

Who cooks dinner? me

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Jesse

Who kissed who first? I think that was mutual

Who wears the pants? BOTH OF US =)

Art Fair

This weekend was the Litchfield Park Annual Art Fair. My mom was here for the weekend, so we took her over to see it. She found several things she couldn't resist, incuding some fry bread.


I did pretty good about NOT spending money, but Jesse caved and bought this sign...


I have to admit, it's pretty appropriate!

October

It is almost unbelievable that Halloween is the end of this week. October seems to have flown by, and I'm wondering what exactly I've done with it!

The first week brought parent conferences, at the end of the first quarter. Conferences in this district start at 1:00 on Thursday afternoon and run through 8:00 at night. This makes for a pretty loooooooooooooong day, when I'm usually there by 6:15.

This conference was very different from any other I've ever done, compliments of what I can only describe as a "crazed" parent. Okay... That's a bit vague, but it left me literally speechless and SHOCKED! And,she was SCARY!

Week #2 and 3 brought fall break... YEA!!! Two weeks of peace!

That brings us to this week, which is Red Ribbon Week at school. Today was the 50th day, so students and teachers were encouraged to dress in 50's style. I didn't have a 50's outfit, so I made a "poodle skirt." I kinda cheated on the poodle... I found a picture on print shop, copied it, put strapping tape across the back, cut it out, and stitched it to the skirt... Worked for me!!!

Tomorrow is "sock it to drugs" day (or wacky socks), followed by "tie one on against drugs" (wear a tie), then "turn your back on drugs" (wear your shirt backwards), and Halloween is a "red out."

Oh, this district doesn't do Halloween. Apparently, there was a bit of an incident some years back, and a religious group declared Halloween to be somewhat satanic, and just like that it was taken out of the schools.

Speaking of Halloween... Compliments of the 50's day, we (more me than Jesse) had to take a trip to JoAnn's for some material. This store is just plain DANGEROUS for me! No matter how much I like to insist that I am NOT crafty, I can't avoid buying crafty/scrapbook stuff in this place. This, of course, lead to a tour throughout the store before leaving, and we found the most adorable skeleton. Best part: It was ON SALE for 1/2 price!!!


My two favorite boys!


My favorite picture of the month:

Nuttin' Really

Jesse says I should update the blog. There's really not a whole lot to share. Today is my last day of fall break... How sad is that?!? I have to work another 9 whole weeks... YIKES! I didn't do much over this break; the plan was "to rest," and I did, sorta. Spent a LOT of time working on lesson plans, but I'm planned through the next 9 weeks, and have even updated my school website (www.avondale.k12.az.us/webpages/RTaylor/). The only other thing I did was play with the kittens. They're getting pretty big, but still fun to watch.




I think they may be a bit spoiled, too... What a life!

A couple of weeks ago Jesse found out that some of his very close friends, from Washington, were coming to visit their daughter that lives here, in Arizona. Today we drove over to visit with them. It was a short visit, but Jesse was pretty happy about seeing them again (even if the picture doesn't show it).






I got good news from the orthopedic surgeon; he says surgery is NOT necessary! I wasn't sure I would have gone that route any way, so it's good to know I don't have to. However, he thinks my right rotator cuff needs some help (he says physical therapy 3 times a week for a month) and more shots into my neck... Fun! Fun!

Given Time

Given time, I seem to be able to get things finished. For example, I put up shelves in the garage, so we have more room to walk around. That is an absolute necessity if we want to fit both cars in the garage at the same time.




Speaking of the garage, I've got to say that I LOVE garage door openers!!! As long as you pull into your own driveway, when you push the button, the door opens, and you're virtually inside the 4-walls of your house.

Ooooohhh... I know what you're asking, and the answer is, "Yes!" For the life of me I couldn't figure out what was wrong with the remote, until I noticed the garage door 2 houses away moving up and down. I don't think anyone saw me!



I also managed to put up a few Halloween decorations. This is a major accomplishment for me, since the past few years I just haven't had the desire to celebrate holidays. And, the thought of having to take down decorations really discouraged me from putting them up in the first place.





If my back and neck hold up a little longer, I think I will rearrange the furniture in the front room. It's been this way since we moved in (the end of July), so I think it's time. I'll post pictures, when I'm finished.

Retraction

Okay, I've had about 4 days to think about that "It's Official" post, and I think I'd like to make a retraction. I DON'T hate my job... But I DO hate bureaucracy; the red tape that teachers have to follow when speaking to "phantom-type" parents, that don't follow through with recommendations discussed (together), and neglect the importance of their child's education, the minute they leave the room.

HELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, parents... Stay informed! This is YOUR child we're talking about. And if you want that child to have a well-balanced education, then stay informed (*see note below). If you ask your child if he/she has homework, and they never do, and you're doubting in your mind that it's a true statement, CONTACT THE TEACHER! Ever heard of a phone, or e-mail??? OR, if your child is bringing home tests or grade sheets weekly, with failing grades, you might want to check that black hole they call a backpack (or in some instances, under the bed); you'll be surprised what you'll find in there, including unfinished classwork assignments (now known as homework), not to mention the answer for why those grades are so low!

*Don't get me wrong, I know it's hard: you've got jobs to do, other children to attend to, houses to clean, a life to live, etc... But that doesn't give you an excuse, explanation, or reason. He/she is your child and you just need to deal with it!

It's Official

... I hate my job! I don't like dealing with poorly trained children, who with little or NO manners, try to manipulate assignments to their best ability, or to manipulate the other students in class, AND the classroom teacher! But, dealing with the parents of those same students is so much WORSE! And, so much more unbelievable!

Apparently it IS acceptable for a student to speak disrespectfully to a teacher, and to behave poorly is class. Why, you ask??? Because they're just modeling what they've seen their parents do; not only in front of their own children, but in front of someone else's children, as well.

All of this because she didn't want to wait 10 minutes, on the chairs, outside the classroom door. Granted: It was warm this afternoon (around 100). Granted, the chair may have been warm. Granted, she was going to have to wait a few minutes. But, think about it: How many of us can avoid lines? Like say, traffic lines, grocery store lines, concert ticket lines, doctor waiting room lines, the line at the post office, dmv... Okay, you get the gist... Lines are inevitable, and we're all busy... No one really wants to stand in line, yet we DO, because there is something at the other end of that line that we DO WANT... Like the 1-minute thrill on an amusement park ride, food to eat, postage stamps, medicine, an evening out, and in some cases, insight to the progression and education of our children, as they become well-rounded, educated, polite, productive individuals, and some day the adults with the ability to thrive and succeed in a world full of LINES!

As important as that last statement may seem, I beckon to ask, "Does that give the parent the right to barge in on another parent/teacher confecerece, arguing over which parent should've been seen first and why!

Literally, all I have to say is: GROW UP!! Wait your turn, and demonstrate to your child respect, patience, and understanding that: Being an adult requires ACTING LIKE ONE!

Cutest Little Brown Dog, Ever

Przemek

During the 1995/1996 school year, Gary and I hosted a foreign exchange student. This was kind of a last minute decision, but it was definitely the right thing to do, because within a few weeks of our decision I drove over to the bus station in Show Low to meet a young man, from Poland, named Przemek Baszynski, who quickly became a member of our family. Przemek attended the local high school, played soccer on the school team, visited Las Vegas, Phoenix, and the Grand Canyon, was asked to the Sadie Hawkin's dance, attended a Suns' basketball game, learned to drive and obtained his driver's license, participated in the senior class trip to Disney Land and Magic Mountain, graduated with the class of 1996, and before returning home, visited some friends in Boston.

Since returning to Poland he has graduated college, married a beautiful bride, has an adorable daughter, and started his own successful business.



Przemek will turn 30 on the last day of September... Happy birthday, Przemek!!!

No good, Rotten, Sorry, Awful Kind of Day!

Did you ever have one of those days, where no matter how much effort you put itno it, everything you did seemed to come out wrong??? Well, that's what yesterday was like for me!

My job is becoming more and more stressful, and less and less enjoyable. It hurts me tremendously to think that maybe, just maybe, I no longer have a desire to teach. Jesse assures me, almost nightly, that I just need to make a change; as in go to a different school, in a different district next year, but I fear the problems of teaching will be there, too. For example: The parent who overlooks the sorted information her daughter tells me on a daily basis, about her family, but comes unglued because I mentioned I could smell cigarette smoke in her hair and clothes. Seriously, I'm pretty sensitive to smells of smoke, and was simply making a random statement that there are side effects to smoking, and the permeation of smoke on hair and clothes is one of those effects!

Or, how about the parent that was upset because I left her daughter outside the door for a minute, so she could prepare herself to come into the classroom. There was NO mention of the fact that this same student, a good solid 40 minutes later, very rudely announced to me, and the class, that it was "my fault" that she was unable to finish her assignment on time. That parent made no mention of this sassiness during our phone call, rather she stated that she would be speaking with the principal. When I suggested to her that it is protocol to speak to the teacher about such issues first, she continued to state that "the principal" was her line of direction. Still there was NO mention of the disrespectful behavior. Oh, and she didn't thank me for calling her to see if she could deliver her daughter's reading assignment, that she accidentally left at home, along with the behavior report. Nor did she thank me for paying for her child's lunch, just one week before, when she forgot her money. And, there was absolutely no mention of her child's dishonest actions, the previous week, and the compassion shown to her when I allowed her to remain the class representative.

And as if that wasn't enough on my plate to handle, there was a third student, just plain acting out, who let everyone know, "She was going to the Recovery Room," as if that is a REWARD! Nope! Not! Not even close! Even the teacher in charge of the Recovery Room said, "Oh, no... You'll spend the day with the assistant principal." BTW: The assistant principal was made aware of "the problem" around 9:15, and promised he would come to the classroom, as soon as bus evacuation was over... I didn't see him again. So at lunch time, I headed for the office, with "the problem" in tow, only to discover, there were NO administrators to be found! And, better yet, the secretaries told me to put the student in another teacher's room, but that teacher was now also at lunch. And, there were already TWO students in the "time-out" room, so they told me to leave "the problem" in the waiting area of the office. Seriously, there is something wrong with this system... The principal and assistant principal are out on lunch duty. If there is a problem, they have to be paged. If they have to come in, someone else has to be paged to take their place. If someone else comes to take their place, the person with "the problem" is standing in the office, or their classroom, or where ever, waiting for someone to come and take care of "the problem" so the teacher can take care of the rest of the children, who by this time are off task, wondering what is going to happen to "the problem."

I'm so glad it was only a 1/2 day, for it seems to me my "strikes" were up, and I was "OUT!" But, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

After work I had to go to the doctor... UUGGHHH! I'm so tired of going to the doctor. And, now they want me to see a surgeon and discuss surgery on my back... I'm REALLY NOT handling this!

Introducing Sydnee Annette

This is Tanette Turley... I'm pretty sure her last name should be Wiltbank; I mean, she did spend a LOT of time at my house. Any way, Tanette and Jared gave me the privilege of being present during the birth of their first child, and my grandchild, Sydnee Annette. This was a first for me, and an AWESOME experience! Thanks, Tanette!