Today is a tough day for me to be in California. In fact, this whole weekend, I have been aching for Boston. Passover was Saturday night, Olympic Trials for the Marathon was along the Charles on Sunday morning, and of course, the Boston Marathon happens every Patriots Day.
My student teacher was so wonderful to let me take off the morning periods so I could sit and watch the live coverage (Versus by way of wcsn.com). It was awesome. I sat in the faculty room with all my internet windows: men's commentary, women's commentary, video, and tracking my four favorite runners today (Lance, Eric, Hess, and JPa). And I had Karl on the line giving me details from the course. I was tracking Hess Express online and was able to tell him when to expect her...he yelled, "Go Erin! Maura says hi!" I guess she smiled, so she must have heard.
I'm glad today was not "no computer day." I am happy for all the technology that kept Karl and me clued in to the race. Happy Passover to all TCP (including my rabbi who was quoted in the NYT for his intent to "carbo-load on matzah.")
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Ahhh...Sunday
I've done nothing all day except get up to watch the Women's Marathon Trials (at 5am) and go for a run. I don't really consider making playlists for pedaling class to be anything significant. And the Times has been looming all day. It's so overwhelming for me these days. But then there's the Syles. Today is on of those Sunday Styles that you dream about...where nearly every profile has the story of how the couple met and most of the people getting married are older than me (always helpful).
Some words of advice for your NYT Wedding Announcement: Most of you are either past this or wouldn't think of it, but in general, don't tell the story about how you ditched your girlfriend as soon as you realized that this one was "The One." Your ex-girlfriend is going to read that and she's going to throw up. You're already getting married, do you need to gloat about how you had too many women to choose from too? Have some decency and leave any mention of former significant others out of the wedding announcement. That's my Op-Ed for the day.
Back to the playlists.
Some words of advice for your NYT Wedding Announcement: Most of you are either past this or wouldn't think of it, but in general, don't tell the story about how you ditched your girlfriend as soon as you realized that this one was "The One." Your ex-girlfriend is going to read that and she's going to throw up. You're already getting married, do you need to gloat about how you had too many women to choose from too? Have some decency and leave any mention of former significant others out of the wedding announcement. That's my Op-Ed for the day.
Back to the playlists.
Ringback This!
I am a pretty loyal customer of one cellular phone plan. My recent bill was higher than usual and upon investigation, I was charged for a feature that was supposed to be free and then I had a ringback tone (I'm pretty sure only high school kids sign up for these). A lot of you seemed to like the ringback tone of classical music, so I might go back if I get too many hang ups or complaints. But, that nice British woman who said, "Please enjoy the music while your party is located," will no longer be speaking to you. $0.99 a month without my authorization...that's not cool. However, the phone company is crediting these charges to my account. Thanks!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Taking Requests
Happy Passover! I just got back from a nice first night with my supervisor from grad school. I am very lucky to have people to seder with. I would have been sad tonight if I didn't have plans.
I am on my way too being an "Indoor Cycling" instructor at the Y. That's what we call it. I need a better name that's not the brand name. Anyway, I am knee deep in music and I'm asking your for some requests. If you were going to a cynning class, what songs would you want to hear? Even if you've never been or can't imagine sitting on a bike for an hour, what songs get you going?
Comments please!!!
I am on my way too being an "Indoor Cycling" instructor at the Y. That's what we call it. I need a better name that's not the brand name. Anyway, I am knee deep in music and I'm asking your for some requests. If you were going to a cynning class, what songs would you want to hear? Even if you've never been or can't imagine sitting on a bike for an hour, what songs get you going?
Comments please!!!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Turn It Off!
It is obvious that without computers we would find our life extremely difficult, maybe even impossible. If they disappeared for just one day, would we be able to cope?
Be part of one of the biggest global experiments ever to take place on the Internet. The idea behind Shutdown Day is to find out how many people can go without a computer for one whole day, and what will happen if we all participate!
Shutdown your computer on 03 May 2008 and find out!
Be part of one of the biggest global experiments ever to take place on the Internet. The idea behind Shutdown Day is to find out how many people can go without a computer for one whole day, and what will happen if we all participate!
Shutdown your computer on 03 May 2008 and find out!
Do I Dare?
September 27, 2007
Something today made me think about the TS Eliot poem "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock." I read it in 10th grade and my teacher helped me appreciate it so much. Today I thought about this part: "And indeed there will be time/To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?"/.../Do I dare/Disturb the universe?/In a minute there is time/For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse."
I love the idea of disturbing the universe...doing things to mix it up a bit.
April 17, 2008
So what are you doing to disturb the universe? I think I am doing it in my teaching, a bit in my running, in keeping USPS going to some extent, and what I try to do for the environment. I'm still trying to think of more ways in which I can disturb the universe though.
Something today made me think about the TS Eliot poem "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock." I read it in 10th grade and my teacher helped me appreciate it so much. Today I thought about this part: "And indeed there will be time/To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?"/.../Do I dare/Disturb the universe?/In a minute there is time/For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse."
I love the idea of disturbing the universe...doing things to mix it up a bit.
April 17, 2008
So what are you doing to disturb the universe? I think I am doing it in my teaching, a bit in my running, in keeping USPS going to some extent, and what I try to do for the environment. I'm still trying to think of more ways in which I can disturb the universe though.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Blast From the Past
First, I need to unload.
Some of you know why I've been absent from the blogging scene for the past few months, but most of you don't. The short of it is that at the beginning of March, I found out that the boy I was seeing this fall was less than truthful with me during our time together and I've been trying to come to terms with that while trying to do a good job at work and trying to make sure I feel good about living in California. It's been tough for me to really get my head around and I just haven't wanted to interface with the world. (Sorry, interface is totally a California yuppie word.)
I'm feeling some sense of closure today, as I received some things back from said boy that I requested, including all the letters I wrote him. I read them all just now and the first two months worth were so wonderful to read, to be reminded of the happiness I was feeling. I do not do a good job of keeping a diary, so I am so grateful to have these. In the second letter I wrote: "One thing that is funny about letters is that it is documentation of my life, but I'm not going to read it again. I often think about all the letters I've sent that are out in the world...I have no recollection of what they say or how I was feeling when I wrote them." I've written this on the blog before and that I tried to get in the habit of photocopying before I send them out, but I think my best bet is to rely on all of you to save them for me.
Here's another excerpt I'll share from a card with a circle and "New Moon" on the front:
September 5, 2007
"Today, one of my mentees asked when September was. I told him it was now. He looked puzzled and said, "Maybe I was thinking of December." (ha!) ...I had a lot of different cards to choose from but I thought this one was pretty appropriate right now. At least for me. I definitely moved here hoping for something new in life and believing that if I stayed on the path that is right for me, I would find people and communities that would support me to be the person I aspire to be. It's a bit like a restart, a new moon, but just like every new moon, there is a long history of moons before it creating a context with which we view this one. I know I would not be able to enjoy moments now as much as I do without all the other moments I've had in the past to give me perspective on where I want to go. "
Sometimes it's nice for me to be reminded of who I am so I can keep on keepin' on.
Thursday is always Appreciation Day in my mentor group. I am so excited that my colleague is going to join us with her 9th graders so we can do appreciations together. We are trying to find ways for our older students to pass culture to our young ones, so I'm hoping this helps. In honor of our Thursday ritual, I will send out a virtual appreciation to all of you. I'm pretty much aware of the dozen people reading my blog, so I want you to all know how much I appreciate your support, friendship, honesty, loyalty and humor.
Off to write some letters!
Some of you know why I've been absent from the blogging scene for the past few months, but most of you don't. The short of it is that at the beginning of March, I found out that the boy I was seeing this fall was less than truthful with me during our time together and I've been trying to come to terms with that while trying to do a good job at work and trying to make sure I feel good about living in California. It's been tough for me to really get my head around and I just haven't wanted to interface with the world. (Sorry, interface is totally a California yuppie word.)
I'm feeling some sense of closure today, as I received some things back from said boy that I requested, including all the letters I wrote him. I read them all just now and the first two months worth were so wonderful to read, to be reminded of the happiness I was feeling. I do not do a good job of keeping a diary, so I am so grateful to have these. In the second letter I wrote: "One thing that is funny about letters is that it is documentation of my life, but I'm not going to read it again. I often think about all the letters I've sent that are out in the world...I have no recollection of what they say or how I was feeling when I wrote them." I've written this on the blog before and that I tried to get in the habit of photocopying before I send them out, but I think my best bet is to rely on all of you to save them for me.
Here's another excerpt I'll share from a card with a circle and "New Moon" on the front:
September 5, 2007
"Today, one of my mentees asked when September was. I told him it was now. He looked puzzled and said, "Maybe I was thinking of December." (ha!) ...I had a lot of different cards to choose from but I thought this one was pretty appropriate right now. At least for me. I definitely moved here hoping for something new in life and believing that if I stayed on the path that is right for me, I would find people and communities that would support me to be the person I aspire to be. It's a bit like a restart, a new moon, but just like every new moon, there is a long history of moons before it creating a context with which we view this one. I know I would not be able to enjoy moments now as much as I do without all the other moments I've had in the past to give me perspective on where I want to go. "
Sometimes it's nice for me to be reminded of who I am so I can keep on keepin' on.
Thursday is always Appreciation Day in my mentor group. I am so excited that my colleague is going to join us with her 9th graders so we can do appreciations together. We are trying to find ways for our older students to pass culture to our young ones, so I'm hoping this helps. In honor of our Thursday ritual, I will send out a virtual appreciation to all of you. I'm pretty much aware of the dozen people reading my blog, so I want you to all know how much I appreciate your support, friendship, honesty, loyalty and humor.
Off to write some letters!
This is Why We're Hot
My department is one of three high school finalists for a $10K grant from Intel (I'll post the news article when it runs). As a finalist, we are guaranteed $2500 and if we win, we could get the balance. Plus if we win, we will also get $150,000 in Intel "goods and services." I think that means t-shirts, right? It's actually computers, SmartBoards, software, hardware, etc.
We are going crazy in the office right now.
We are going crazy in the office right now.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
And We're Back!
Hi All,
I know it's been a long time. Life out here is super busy. I'd like to say that I'm sticking to my plan of going coastal, but it's looking more like going postal these days. Here are the highlights from the last few weeks:
-It's hot all the time now. Skirts and flip flops are coming out! So is the extra-strength anti-perspirant.
-I taught my first indoor cycling class (you know it by its brand name, but I'm not allowed to use it). Our instructor didn't show up on Monday and I have all the required courses, so my classmates asked me to teach. I start mentoring soon so then I can be an "real" instructor and I won't have to use the weird CD that they have at the gym for when people forget their music. Music is one thing, but thinking of what to do on the spot...that was not as easy for me as when it happens in math class.
-We are teaching modeling in Pre-Calc, which means lots of linear regression. Oh man, I love that stuff. I could talk about r-squared and y-hat all day. On Thursday, kids are going to drop action figures from 4 meters and see if the number of rubber bands they predicted will keep their guy free from head injury. Reminds me of a Jerry Seinfeld routine...
-I was asked to grade the AP Stats exam in June. While so excited about this opportunity, I had to turn it down because if I went (missing five days of our professional development), there would be a lot of pressure to teach AP Stats and AP Calc next year. If it was just AP Stats, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but the thought of planning two new classes next year after going crazy trying to plan one is too much to bear. Hopefully, I'll have the opportunity for that in the future. I miss AP Stats. I can't wait to get back to teaching it.
-Big News! I am going to Nicaragua for three weeks this summer. A bunch of students at my school are going with a program, Global Glimpse, that focuses on giving students the experience of traveling abroad, gives them three weeks in the same city in a country (Leon, in this case) and experience all aspects of the country but without the whirlwind tour. So, the students really experience a place for their whole trip. They will also be helping kids their age with conversational English. The philosophy of the program is very interesting to me...why they don't build houses and why they don't travel the entire country on a bus. As far as I know, I'll be helping kids with what they are learning about the country and keeping them on their best behavior. We will be going with students from other schools, many from very different backgrounds than my students, so not only will my kids get a sense of Nicaragua but of the Bay Area in general. This will be from June 15-July 9. I'll plan my East Coast tour for probably the month after that. Woo hoo!
I know it's been a long time. Life out here is super busy. I'd like to say that I'm sticking to my plan of going coastal, but it's looking more like going postal these days. Here are the highlights from the last few weeks:
-It's hot all the time now. Skirts and flip flops are coming out! So is the extra-strength anti-perspirant.
-I taught my first indoor cycling class (you know it by its brand name, but I'm not allowed to use it). Our instructor didn't show up on Monday and I have all the required courses, so my classmates asked me to teach. I start mentoring soon so then I can be an "real" instructor and I won't have to use the weird CD that they have at the gym for when people forget their music. Music is one thing, but thinking of what to do on the spot...that was not as easy for me as when it happens in math class.
-We are teaching modeling in Pre-Calc, which means lots of linear regression. Oh man, I love that stuff. I could talk about r-squared and y-hat all day. On Thursday, kids are going to drop action figures from 4 meters and see if the number of rubber bands they predicted will keep their guy free from head injury. Reminds me of a Jerry Seinfeld routine...
-I was asked to grade the AP Stats exam in June. While so excited about this opportunity, I had to turn it down because if I went (missing five days of our professional development), there would be a lot of pressure to teach AP Stats and AP Calc next year. If it was just AP Stats, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but the thought of planning two new classes next year after going crazy trying to plan one is too much to bear. Hopefully, I'll have the opportunity for that in the future. I miss AP Stats. I can't wait to get back to teaching it.
-Big News! I am going to Nicaragua for three weeks this summer. A bunch of students at my school are going with a program, Global Glimpse, that focuses on giving students the experience of traveling abroad, gives them three weeks in the same city in a country (Leon, in this case) and experience all aspects of the country but without the whirlwind tour. So, the students really experience a place for their whole trip. They will also be helping kids their age with conversational English. The philosophy of the program is very interesting to me...why they don't build houses and why they don't travel the entire country on a bus. As far as I know, I'll be helping kids with what they are learning about the country and keeping them on their best behavior. We will be going with students from other schools, many from very different backgrounds than my students, so not only will my kids get a sense of Nicaragua but of the Bay Area in general. This will be from June 15-July 9. I'll plan my East Coast tour for probably the month after that. Woo hoo!
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