sunday stealing

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The Ask Game

1. Do you have a passion project? What is it? teaching

2. How many languages can you speak? I am fluent in American English, ubbi-dubbi, pig latin, and sarcasm

3. What was the last book you read? I've got three going now: Becoming, Catch Me If Yukon, and Puddin'

4. Where in the world would you most like to visit? I am planning a sister trip to Italy for 2020

5. Top 5 fictional characters? Mary Poppins, Armand Gamache, Auntie Poldi, Louisa Clark, Cormoran Strike/Robin Ellacott

6. Something you miss from your childhood? not having to be responsible for every little thing

7. What skill do you wish you had? I wish I loved cleaning

8. Tell us an interesting fact Maine is the only continential state that borders only one other state

9. What was your favourite subject in school? lunch

10. Favourite planet? this one

11. Which historical figure fascinates you and why? I'm fascinated by the Founding Fathers

12. Favourite mythical creature? Hufflepuff

13. Do you believe in any conspiracy theories? not so much

14. What is your favourite word? giggle

15. Do you have any obsessions right now? not really

16. Do you play any instruments? kazoo

17. What’s your worst habit? I am a lazy housekeeper

18. Do you have a collection of anything? yarn

19. What’s your biggest ‘what if’? I don't think I have one

20. What is your favourite fairy tale? I don't think I have one--although I do enjoy the idea of a fairy godmother

21. Have you ever dyed your hair? Is there a colour you’d like to dye it? I wish my natural red hair color hadn't faded

22. If you could learn one language overnight, which would you choose? Irish

23. What’s the most useless thing you know how to do? untangle tangles (necklaces, yarn, etc)

24. What’s the most important change that should be made to your country’s education system? stop using federal funding for private "charter" schools and invest in schools for ALL children--it shouldn't matter where you live to get a quality education

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

holy moly

The prediction keeps changing. I honestly can't remember ever having a storm like this--between 24-30 inches!

saturday 9

'65 Love Affair

1) The first line of this song is, "I was a car hop." Car hops used to take orders and bring diners food to eat in their cars. Today, the drive through lane has pretty much replaced car hops. Think about the last time you went to a fast food restaurant. Did you order at the counter or at the drive through window? the drive through

2) Mr. Davis sings that his girlfriend was "bad with her pom-poms." Presumably she was a cheerleader. Share one of your school's cheers. I have drawn a complete blank

3) The lyrics tell us he believes that if he could go back in time, his girl would still be his. If you could travel back in time to your high school years, what would you enjoy doing again? What would you do differently? I would take more pictures and I would re-do my drama club years

4) During his performing days, Paul Davis sported a full beard and flowing hair. We're using that to check your powers of observation and recollection. Think of the last man you spoke to. Who was he? Describe his hair, and tell us whether he was clean shaven. clean shaven and short, groomed hair

5) Paul Davis was born in Meridian, MS, and that's where he returned to when he went into semi-retirement in 1982. Meridian's biggest employer is the Naval Air Station in Meridian. Do you know anyone who is currently in, or employed by, the military? I have a couple of former students in the military

6) He was a pool player and a golfer. Which sport are you better at? if mini-golf counts, then that

7) Sadly, he died in 2008, on the day after his 60th birthday. His best friend remembers him as "a homebody," who enjoyed staying up long into the night with his friends, playing and listening to music. Describe your perfect way to spend an evening. if I don't have to worry about school the next day, I would watch a little TV and then listen to a book while knitting--or read on my Nook

8) The publishing rights to "'65 Love Affair," as well as Paul Davis' bigger hits ("Cool Night" and "I Go Crazy"), are owned by another Paul -- Paul McCartney. Sir Paul's MPL Publishing Company has made him a very rich man, and Paul says that's because he chose to invest in music, something he loves. What about you? If you were to invest in a business or industry you love, which would you choose? oh brother--I would hire someone to invest for me

9) Random question --You're at a party and one of your host's best friends is a real egghead who tries to draw you into a conversation about paradigmatic counter existentialism. Would you: a) just listen politely while letting your mind wander; b) admit you don't know what the hell he's talking about; c) explain why you personally feel that the counter existential paradigm just adds unnecessary complexity to the individual's search for meaning? If I don't know the host's egghead friend, I might play dumb and go with B, if I do know him, I'll go with C

get ready and go!

Prepping for a road trip--a beat the storm trip!

three on thursday

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Three things about January:

1) This month feels endless.

2)

3)

unraveled wednesday

Join Kat @ AsKatKnits for some fun!

Knitting for Christmas the Chunky blanket. And I'm still listening to Becoming.

ten things tuesday

Ten things I'm doing at school that I enjoy:

1) My AP Psychology class is studying convergent and divergent problem-solving. Today, small groups received paper bags with everyday items in them: a plastic spoon, an eraser, a paperclip, a straw, a clothespin, and other small random things. Their task was to come up with as many non-traditional uses for the items as they could in ten minutes. It was fun to see them manipulating the objects and talking about uses, bouncing ideas, and getting into it. Some used the items individually, some used them together, and some even used the paper bag. When they reported out and we charted the uses, it got quite competitive.

2) Tomorrow we'll play Petals Around The Rose and see how long it takes them to figure out the pattern and rules.

3) In AP United States History, we're analyzing Thomas Jefferson as a candidate. With his qualifications, would he win today? We'll compare his political ideals to his actual performance in office.

4) Thursday the APUSH kids will be put into consulting agencies to create public relations campaigns for the Louisiana Purchase and the Embargo Act. They have to develop a slogan or a jingle, a tagline or a hashtag, a visual, and print material.

5) I love lesson planning. Projecting what we will be doing and setting a pace.

6) I need to start writing a syllabus. However, things pop up so I can't give day-to-day precise information. That's what prevents me from writing a syllabus. I prefer a unit outline--so the students can see the topics we're going to focus on but leaves me the flexibility to spend more or less time on the pieces.

7) This year I've been personalizing my room. Odd that it took 21 years for me to put up items that display my personality--crazy magnets, Harry Potter figures, other little touches like that. I've always had a lot of course-related posters and bulletin boards, but now it's more personal.

8) My department is going to overhaul our sequence of courses. We're going to condense our two-year American Studies class into a one-year class and develop a Civics class and an Economics class requirement (semester classes). I might get to pick up Civics!

9) We're having a department workshop day next week to map out the courses. Yay! Which means having a substitute. Boo!

10) And I've been having meaningful conversations with my students (especially the seniors) about life, adulting, and the future.

currently

I am...

Reading: Becoming.

Listening to: the post office noise--trucks unloading

Loving: what I'm doing at school now

Thinking: about the electrician being in my home tomorrow--ugh! Interlopers!

Feeling: tingly--it's so cold but my apartment is hot

Celebrating: being sworn in as a Trustee for the Library Board again

Grateful for: opportunities

Weather: it is 9 degrees without the wind chill

Enjoying: alone time

A quote I want to share: