Merry Christmas!!

We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!! It's always nice to have a comfortable warm spot to curl up in after the gifts have been opened...

Bad Blogger...

Blogger switched over their stuff to a new format and it took me forever to get our accounts switched over so I haven't been able to post. Bad, bad Blogger.

Kitty Dukakis

I love my cough syrup. I really do. I use Robitussin Long-Acting. This stuff tastes like it is going to do something for me. It's not that sickly sweet stuff that makes you wonder about it's effectiveness. It has that medicine taste that foreshadows the banishing of evil cough. It works, too, for about seven hours as claimed. Coughing is worse than sneezing because of the not being able to breathe factor. I am completely uncomfortable with not being able to breathe.

One would think that the medication that makes cough syrup effective does so by improvng the situation causing the cough reflex. That is a pipedream. The medication in cough syrup is a chemical that shuts down the neurological center in the brain responsible for triggering the diaphram when the lungs need the cough. For the record, I am fully opposed to shutting down neurological centers in my brain, however, there are exceptions to every rule. Coughing prevents breathing. I like breathing. Bring on the Robitussin and good night little neurons... I'll see you in seven hours when the chemicals wear off.

Fun Fact: In the late 1800's to the early 1900's, heroin was the cough suppressant du jour.

A little good news...

Although the toe incident was a freak accident fully attributed to Chaos Theory, I have found a way to prevent an occurance. The next day, I started pulling the knobbie to close the drain which effectively prevents any future occurances.

Gosh, time flies!

The end of the semester snuck up on me and I am out of time!!!

My World History class just submitted their research papers today and for the next two days, my Cultural Geography classes will be hold a Global Summit. They have researched and represented different nations during the course of the semester and will sit down during the "summit" to solve the world's problems. They have submitted their questions to me for approval and they are asking some fabulous questions that are seriously going to hold their classmates accountable for doing the required research. They understand cultural interaction, economic sustainablity, how to build infastructure and they can totally see through political rhetoric. I am so proud of what they've done this semester!!

My favorite overachiever, Michael, is still studying for when school starts again in January. He even color-codes information with highlighters. I only wish I had those study habits and work ethic. If I did, I would probably have a prestigious fellowship at one of those big fancy schools like Yale. I'm so glad I'm here instead, because it's a pretty good life.

9,243 Wedding Dresses later...

To date, I have seen 9,243 wedding dresses and they are all starting to look alike. It is so much to try these things on, but I thought this was supposed to be see it, love it, buy it...

Yay, Weekend!!

Woohoo, the weekend is here!! I am so excited. Maybe I'll catch up on grading papers... maybe I've got so many papers to grade it is futile... maybe I'll have a beverage!!

On Wednesday, Michael took his last test before Winter Break. He got a 96. He was disappointed. Today, he began studying material for when class starts in January. I wish he would learn to relax.

On again, off again planning...

School is getting really busy, so planning is on hiatus until December 22. However, life is certainly not on hiatus and my toe still hurts a little. Michael is taking his Defensive Tactics exam tonight. I predict that he will score high. I am getting geared up for semester end and Final Exams.

My classes are always crazy and I feel like I herd cats for a living. Last week we reenacted an Aztec ritual sacrifice with complete audience participation and it got pretty loud, especially when the chanting started.

A few weeks ago, the discipline administrator (who hired me) charged into my notorious Third Block because he thought a fight had broken out. There I was in the middle of the educational process, minding my own business and he comes tearing through my door. He scared the tar out of all of my students and me. It was dead silent with us looking at him and him looking at us. He started lecturing them about how they couldn't act like maniacs when their teacher stepped out of the classroom. Apparently, I had blended in because he realized that I was the one who had been egging them on... When he spotted me, I got THAT look.

During Fourth Block, I teach next door to my Department Head. Her class used to freak out when they heard us, and they would want her to check on my class. It's funny because she's like - you have no idea who their teacher is... She gets more concerned when my class is absolutely silent. Basically, if you teach next door to me and you're giving a test, warn me so I can take my crew to the computer lab that day.

However, I must be doing something right because today, I didn't have a voice. No, I mean at all. I could squeak a little later in the day, but for the most part - nothing. It was amazing because all of my classes behaved like angels. I'm not kidding. I couldn't speak so they gave me a break.

Where is all the sunshine?

Today is quite simply the dreariest day I have seen in a long time. The sky is completely overcast. As much as I dislike 98 degree heat, I love the sun and I don't function too well without it. I am so happy that I don't live in Seattle. I have been so sad all day for no other reason than the weather. I really hope it's sunny tomorrow.