Crazy Daze of School

Hopefully by the start of next week I will have both the pink sweater and the cable sweater (which is actually more like a jacket) done. This week has been insane.

I got my new homeroom. The kids coming into the 5th grade were a bad combo last year. There are four 5th grade homerooms total, and so far only one of them seems a bit difficult. My homeroom is cute. I always have an awesome homeroom, but I'm looking back at the last three, and I'm starting to think that they're awesome b/c I make the best of what I have. People say I treat the kids like real people. That's what they are to me, like co-workers...or rather employees.

There are a few that are worrysome to me right now - or rather I'm worried about them. We have one french boy that is new to the country and doesn't speak much english. In a predominantly hispanic neighborhood with lacings of arabic, indian, african, and asian, coming across another french kid to translate is hard.

I asked if he spoke any spanish, and he was able to tell me no. My husband suspects he may speak german and that's how he's understanding us to a point.

there's another boy that seems like one of those "i'm a troublemaker b/c i can't pay attention and have no idea what's going on but I'm also a thuggie kid so I must have an attitude" students. He cracked a smile today when I said gabagillion comes after million in the place value chart, so hopefully he'll chill out and try to be patient with himself. kid's like that have a tendancy to get irritable and pissed at themselves and then take it out on you. He looks so much like another boy i had with similar problems. I don't want him to become a deal like I couldn't help the other kid so i gotta help him to make up for it. If a kid wants to be helped it works. The best analogy I've thought of for this kind of situation...b/c some people think that I'm suposed to fix everything and if not it's all my fault b/c I'm the teacher...

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. The best you can do is go to the water yourself, scoop some up, and hold it near him hoping he'll take even just one taste. And then you have to be happy with whatever comes of it.

Pilfered from Cynical - C Blog

The Simpsons and Star Wars in one glorious parody... impossible? No!

Bored and knitless

This is a video of Smudge the Rabbit. He lives with my husband and myself, and is just a really nice guy.

I'm trying to let my hands rest so I stole a survey from Pepper's myspace to keep me busy. I hate myspace now b/c of extenuating circumstances, but I check it every so often for the same reason.

anyway...on with the boredom - I eliminated the more boring questions :)

1. How old will you be in 3 years?

30...eh

2. Do you think you'll be married by then?

already married

3. What do you look forward to most in the next 2 months?

going back to school and work

4. Who was the last person you talked to?

Mr. Grimm Witch

5. What do you think about the person that took this survey before you?

I love Pepper, she's the rockin-est sister of all time

7. Who was the last person you hugged?

Smudge

8. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Writing

9. Parents separated/divorced/married?

Married

10. Last time you saw your dad?

Yesterday

11. What happened at 11:00 a.m. today?

Driving from Michael's to car dealership to teacher's store - some combination of those

12. What states have you visited?

ny, penn, conn, mass, fla, maryland, NJ!!!!!!:)

13. What are you listening to?

Crickets outside

14. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?

bare feet

15. Are you a social person?

Eh, depends on the people

16. What was the last thing you drank?

chocolate milk:)

17. Favorite ice cream?

chocolate

18. What is your favorite dessert?

brownie:)

19. Whats your favorite song right now?

Avenged Sevenfold's cover of Pantera's WALK

25. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?

right

26. Any plans for this week?

finish fixing classroom, finish cable sweater and pink sweater which is now mostly purple

27. Do you eat out or at home more often?

home

28. Have you ever been in an ambulance?

yes

29. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?

both:)

30. Do you know how to drive a stick shift?

no

31. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?

yarn

32. Do you wear any jewelry 24/7?

wedding ring & engagement ring

33. Do you speak any other language?

spanish poorly

34. Can you roll your tongue?

yes:)

35. Who is the funniest person you know?

Pepper

36. What is the default ring tone on your phone?

The Birthday Massacre's Happy Birthday

37. Do you still have clothes from when you were little?

yes

38. What is the color of your bedroom wall?

whiet :(

39. Do you shut off the water when you brush your teeth?

hopefully

40. Are you crushing on someone right now?

I like Mr. Grimm Witch

41. Do you have any tattoos, or piercings?

ears, but nothing else :( I have wanted a tattoo since the age of 7 (that's the earliest i remember saying anything to anyone about it), but won't get one for a while b/c of a promise I made to a particular person, you know who you are

42. Are you still in love with someone?

Strangely, yes :) I'm kidding

Yarn shopping...finally

I finally got to go yarn shopping, so I'm working on the pink sweater, which will now have lots of purple and blue in it as well, and the cable sweater at the same time. I'm just very eager to finish something! It's been almost a month since I completed my last project. My ankle is getting better, but I have to go to physical therapy. Eh!

Exhausted

I've been busy trying crappily to let my ankle heal and to get ready for school. My classroom is starting to look good. It's no where near done yet. I have this whole thing planned with this hand made poster of Yoda using the force to levitate polyhedrons. I also want to do something with Gir and fractions.











On the fiber front things haven't been as rockin. As I mentioned previously, I've run out of the brown Lions brand that I need for the cable sweater, and can't find any more. I'll try a few more places before I place an order with the company. In addition I've been doing lace for the first time on EZ's baby surprise, but suck at it so far. Mom, on the other hand, has had some difficulty, but is doing an awesome job in this stunning King Tut.




She also recently completed another baby surprise in cotton. The picture doesn't do it justice. Mom is endlessly talented.



Lastly, I started raglan in Patagonia...it feels very nice.

If you gotta label people...

I was reading one of my favorite blogs Knit and Tonic and read this post about some knitters labeling others a "Muggles" (from Harry Potter, you know)and then she goes into this whole thing about how she doesn't really like it because she was once in that position and would have been named that, as was anyone else who's ever learned to knit. I guess that's what I would be. Anyway, read it, 'cause it's a good post. She also talks about feeling uncomfortable when she walked into her LYS (local yarn store) and people were sitting at the table knitting and kinda looked sideways at her. If you've ever been in that position (and who hasn't - 'cause there's always that one person in there who gives you a disgusted look) it feels good to see that even someone who comes up with amazing designs has had to deal with that. The Yarn Harlot uses the term, but kinda makes it sound like an almost endearing teasing sort of thing.

Since I've been only knitting for a year and a month, but crochetting for 16 years I usually see that many knitters look down on crochet. I don't understand the logic of that either. 2 is better than 1? Kinda knowing both now (because I do think I'm a better knitter than crocheter) I can say for sure that they're similar in many ways, and each is vital this or that task. I doubt anyone who does that "I'm better than you are" gaze would ever read this, but if you do...cut it out. You just look obnoxious.

Got together with people from work...Septembers coming.

Summer Fades

I spent Friday and Monday in Pepper's classroom. The building is only a few years old, but it was kinda dirty. Monday was the 3rd day we'd been in there. Before Pepper and I were teaching, when it was only Mom's classroom that had to be set up, we used to knock it off in one long day.
Mom did her classroom on Monday as well, while Pepper and I were in the art room...

Let me summarize the situation so it's more clear. Mom and Pepper teach in the same building, I teach in another; we're all in the same town.

So mine still has to be done. I spend most of my day walking through the room, on the floor with the kids, or standing at an overhead (the best way to lecture...in color!) so I need to set up the classroom in a way conducive to that. I have a wall full of bulletin board and another full of blackboard. I wish I could switch them...and think I have an idea. I ordered this...

A roll of chalkboard made by the company that makes clear contact paper. Cross your fingers.

On the knitting front, I've gotten further with that cable thing...

This is the first time I suppose I'm doing intarsia. I'm working the sleeves flat and working the cable in the middle in dark brown all the way. I've run out of yarn, so I'm off to get some more.

I'm going to start a February sweater from EZ's Knitters Almanac with some of the yarn Mom brought back from Connecticut. I'm also trying to plan out a kimono sleeve tunic with this Blue Heron yarn