I kept my son home from school on Thursday. Living in Canada means that American Thanksgiving is just another day, so if he is going to go to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, he will have to be absent.
As I teacher and a mom, I'm okay with parents keeping children home for family traditions. I should add that the days missed should be minimal. Much can be learned attending special events with loved. I don't mean learning in an academic sense, but an emotional sense. Andrew and I (along with a friend who is like a sister) sat on the sidewalk along Woodward Avenue for two hours, in awe of each new spectacle. All around us were families, some with younger children and some with ...teenagers and all seemed to be smiling and bonding. I cuddled and giggled with my son, a gift to both of us. My poor husband missed all the fun because he had to work (parent/teacher conferences - he really couldn't miss). Today, Andrew and I drew pictures of floats and balloons.
Growing up, my family never attended the parade or the fireworks. We did not take regular summer vacations. We had fun and had our own traditions, such as playing Trivial Pursuit at dinner. I always wished, however, that we had done some of those other things. I have determined that my own family will have traditions of going places and seeing things outside of our everyday world. I plan on dragging Andrew to that parade, even if he grows into a snarly teenager.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
New jeans
I am afraid that the following is going to be a very superficial rant (with an intro like that, who wouldn't stick around).
I desperately needed a new pair of jeans. I have but one pair that does not have holey knees. I have always found that Calvin Klein jeans fit very nicely, so off I went to the mall for what I thought would be a simple purchase.
I asked a sales clerk where I could find the Calvin Klein jeans and she kindly walked me to the section. Sadly, my pleasant experience stopped there. I was surrounded by hip-hugging pants that looked like they fell directly out of the late 70s ior early 80s. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. The back pockets have fancy swoops or curly-q's. I couldn't believe that there was not one pair of simple, plain jeans.
I asked another clerk, whose hair weighed more that she did, and she told me that this is all the company had bought from Calvin Klein, but that there were Lee's in another part of the store. Luckily, that leads to a happy ending. I found a pair of normal jeans, for $40 less that the CK "jeans." That left enough money to buy a sweater and a pair of earrings.
Now I just have to do something about making sure I buy smaller jeans next time.
I desperately needed a new pair of jeans. I have but one pair that does not have holey knees. I have always found that Calvin Klein jeans fit very nicely, so off I went to the mall for what I thought would be a simple purchase.
I asked a sales clerk where I could find the Calvin Klein jeans and she kindly walked me to the section. Sadly, my pleasant experience stopped there. I was surrounded by hip-hugging pants that looked like they fell directly out of the late 70s ior early 80s. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. The back pockets have fancy swoops or curly-q's. I couldn't believe that there was not one pair of simple, plain jeans.
I asked another clerk, whose hair weighed more that she did, and she told me that this is all the company had bought from Calvin Klein, but that there were Lee's in another part of the store. Luckily, that leads to a happy ending. I found a pair of normal jeans, for $40 less that the CK "jeans." That left enough money to buy a sweater and a pair of earrings.
Now I just have to do something about making sure I buy smaller jeans next time.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Finally, AP classes
It only took the 11 years that I spent complaining. My school is going finally to offer Advanced Placement classes and I will teach AP Literature and Composition next fall when I return.
For those of you who do not speak educationalese, AP classes are for highly motivated students who are willing to work at an accelerated rate. It is really more like a college class than a high school class. In May, the College Board (the AP and SAT people) offer nationwide tests based on the AP courses. If a student performs well enough (usually a 3, 4, or 5), universities will generally give that student free college credit.
It has been my contention for my whole career that our students, who are mostly poor, should have at least the opportunity to earn free college credit. For 11 years, colleagues told me that it would never happen. I chose not to believe them and acted more shrilly with each passing year.
Over the past several years, we have found that perhaps 10-20 students each year go to high schools that offer AP courses. This year, my school lost 200 students. That loss isn't entirely due to the lack of high level classes, but it didn't help. The superintendent asked for volunteers and I put word in that I was interested.
This past Tuesday, I spent the day at an AP training seminar. Since then, my head has been spinning. Based on the Michigan Merit Curriculum, I have chosen four themes (all connected to leadership qualities): 1. Who's in charge? 2. Tradition 3. Breaking the mould. 4. Power and Fear. My next task is to create a list of poems, short stories, plays, and novels to teach the class. The literature must range from classical to modern (post-colonial and late 20th/early 21st century).
This task is both enthralling and frightening. Enthralling because I have always wanted to teach an AP class. I am, however, scared to death because I fear that my shallow intellect will be painfully revealed. I'm worried that the College Board will reject the syllabus that I create (they must approve it). Finally, I'm completely terrified of the time I'll have to spend grading papers.
Unlike the other potential AP teachers in my building, at least I'll have the opportunity to create this syllabus with nothing else to do.
For those of you who do not speak educationalese, AP classes are for highly motivated students who are willing to work at an accelerated rate. It is really more like a college class than a high school class. In May, the College Board (the AP and SAT people) offer nationwide tests based on the AP courses. If a student performs well enough (usually a 3, 4, or 5), universities will generally give that student free college credit.
It has been my contention for my whole career that our students, who are mostly poor, should have at least the opportunity to earn free college credit. For 11 years, colleagues told me that it would never happen. I chose not to believe them and acted more shrilly with each passing year.
Over the past several years, we have found that perhaps 10-20 students each year go to high schools that offer AP courses. This year, my school lost 200 students. That loss isn't entirely due to the lack of high level classes, but it didn't help. The superintendent asked for volunteers and I put word in that I was interested.
This past Tuesday, I spent the day at an AP training seminar. Since then, my head has been spinning. Based on the Michigan Merit Curriculum, I have chosen four themes (all connected to leadership qualities): 1. Who's in charge? 2. Tradition 3. Breaking the mould. 4. Power and Fear. My next task is to create a list of poems, short stories, plays, and novels to teach the class. The literature must range from classical to modern (post-colonial and late 20th/early 21st century).
This task is both enthralling and frightening. Enthralling because I have always wanted to teach an AP class. I am, however, scared to death because I fear that my shallow intellect will be painfully revealed. I'm worried that the College Board will reject the syllabus that I create (they must approve it). Finally, I'm completely terrified of the time I'll have to spend grading papers.
Unlike the other potential AP teachers in my building, at least I'll have the opportunity to create this syllabus with nothing else to do.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Too close for comfort
The other night, we noticed a fire truck going down our street. We would not have noticed the siren-less truck if it hadn't been for our truck obsessed son who heard the distinctive rumble of the engine and ran to the door. We looked down the street and saw a couple of police cars in addition to the fire truck. Wanting to stay out of the way, we stayed indoors.
I opened up our local paper today and discovered what the commotion was. Apparently, there was a home invasion. This happened in the early evening hours, pre-dinner maybe. Two guys kicked in someone's door, told them to get on the floor, and stole a few small items. Luckily for the victim, there was someone in another room who called the police. The two bad guys were caught.
I am not one to frighten easily. I have, unfortunately, been close to some very violent fights at my school. I usually feel more frustration and anger than fear. This little event down the street doesn't frighten me, but it does have me feeling a little wary. The town in which I live is probably on the verge of an economic depression, as is Michigan just across the river. As more people fall into poverty due to a loss of jobs, I do worry about an increase in crime. I realize that the community needs people who are more economically secure to do more to mitigate some of the hurt for the poor. My husband and I, while we don't have a lot, do have fairly secure jobs. It is time for us to step up somehow.
I opened up our local paper today and discovered what the commotion was. Apparently, there was a home invasion. This happened in the early evening hours, pre-dinner maybe. Two guys kicked in someone's door, told them to get on the floor, and stole a few small items. Luckily for the victim, there was someone in another room who called the police. The two bad guys were caught.
I am not one to frighten easily. I have, unfortunately, been close to some very violent fights at my school. I usually feel more frustration and anger than fear. This little event down the street doesn't frighten me, but it does have me feeling a little wary. The town in which I live is probably on the verge of an economic depression, as is Michigan just across the river. As more people fall into poverty due to a loss of jobs, I do worry about an increase in crime. I realize that the community needs people who are more economically secure to do more to mitigate some of the hurt for the poor. My husband and I, while we don't have a lot, do have fairly secure jobs. It is time for us to step up somehow.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Eight Long Years
I have been waiting for this moment for eight years. I know that I am not the only one. One week from today, we will be done with the Bush/Cheney administration. Yes, the inauguration takes place in January, but Tuesday, November 4 signals the end of the worst President in the history of the United States.
I remember being stunned at the results in the 2000 election. In an unusual move, I allowed my first hour class to watch Channel One to follow the Florida recount. My parents live in Florida, so the whole spectacle gave me reason to tease them endlessly. Finally the Supreme Court stopped the counting and we were stuck with Bush and Darth. At that time, I thought that Bush was a fool who had one term written all over him. Little did I know that I was the real fool.
Jump ahead to the 2004 election and I plunged into a deep depression. I simply could not believe that GWB was re-elected. I remember distinctly watching the events of the Orange Revolution unfold in the Ukraine and wondering why I wasn't in the streets protesting our election results.
Next Tuesday represents the most important election of my lifetime. The choices are clear and distinct. We, as a nation, could choose a doddering old man who has spun a narrative of fear and xenophobia around his opponent and decide that we do not trust those who have funny names. This choice would lead us to further, more bitter division.
On the other hand, we, as a nation, could choose a hope-filled man who speaks of bridging the fissures that have arisen since (in my opinion) President Clinton took office. This candidate seems unafraid to look for the tough solutions to the problems we face today. I may not agree with all of his stances (particularly in the area of foreign policy), but I at least feel that this candidate will be more intellectually curious and willing to act based on principal.
Please - vote for Barack Obama next Tuesday. Let's piss off the Klan and send a signal to the world that the United States has found its moral backbone.
I remember being stunned at the results in the 2000 election. In an unusual move, I allowed my first hour class to watch Channel One to follow the Florida recount. My parents live in Florida, so the whole spectacle gave me reason to tease them endlessly. Finally the Supreme Court stopped the counting and we were stuck with Bush and Darth. At that time, I thought that Bush was a fool who had one term written all over him. Little did I know that I was the real fool.
Jump ahead to the 2004 election and I plunged into a deep depression. I simply could not believe that GWB was re-elected. I remember distinctly watching the events of the Orange Revolution unfold in the Ukraine and wondering why I wasn't in the streets protesting our election results.
Next Tuesday represents the most important election of my lifetime. The choices are clear and distinct. We, as a nation, could choose a doddering old man who has spun a narrative of fear and xenophobia around his opponent and decide that we do not trust those who have funny names. This choice would lead us to further, more bitter division.
On the other hand, we, as a nation, could choose a hope-filled man who speaks of bridging the fissures that have arisen since (in my opinion) President Clinton took office. This candidate seems unafraid to look for the tough solutions to the problems we face today. I may not agree with all of his stances (particularly in the area of foreign policy), but I at least feel that this candidate will be more intellectually curious and willing to act based on principal.
Please - vote for Barack Obama next Tuesday. Let's piss off the Klan and send a signal to the world that the United States has found its moral backbone.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Careless
Perhaps I am not the most detailed oriented person in the world. That fact should probably disqualify me as the PAC chair for my union, but no one else wants the job, so....
I am working on the report right now and I have just realized that I have made a fairly large mistake and will have to start all over. It is a monotonous report to complete and I need to pay better attention. I'm just really bothered that I set myself back about an hour and a half.
I'm just glad that I don't have to complete entries for a make-up artist to the tune of $22,000.
I am working on the report right now and I have just realized that I have made a fairly large mistake and will have to start all over. It is a monotonous report to complete and I need to pay better attention. I'm just really bothered that I set myself back about an hour and a half.
I'm just glad that I don't have to complete entries for a make-up artist to the tune of $22,000.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Read the label
Several months ago, I was baking something ( I don't remember what exactly) and using cinnamon. I must have been taking a break when I decided to read the cinnamon box. I glanced at the ingredients and saw that besides the cinnamon, the company, McCormick's, had also included hydrogenated oil, maybe cottonseed oil. I was completely dumbstruck and decided to purchase organic cinnamon instead.
I was making my last batch of applesauce for canning last night and I noticed that I would have to buy more cinnamon today. I decided to read the label on McCormick's cinnamon again to see if there was still oil listed in the ingredients. Sadly there was, so I again purchased the organic cinnamon.
Because I have nothing else to do, I called McCormick's went I got home from the store. The customer service representative let out a surprised laugh when I asked her for an explanation. She told me that if the company receives a shipment of "high quality" cinnamon that happens to come from the upper branches of the tree, it will be drier due to having less natural oils. When that cinnamon is processed, a very small amount of oil is sprayed on the grinder so that the cinnamon does not go all poof in the air. Apparently, according to the woman on the phone, a customer could purchase cinnamon six months from now and not see oil listed on the box.
I know that you're smart out there, if for no other reason that you are reading my blog :) Please be sure to always peek at the labels before you buy anything. You never know what companies will try to slip past you.
I was making my last batch of applesauce for canning last night and I noticed that I would have to buy more cinnamon today. I decided to read the label on McCormick's cinnamon again to see if there was still oil listed in the ingredients. Sadly there was, so I again purchased the organic cinnamon.
Because I have nothing else to do, I called McCormick's went I got home from the store. The customer service representative let out a surprised laugh when I asked her for an explanation. She told me that if the company receives a shipment of "high quality" cinnamon that happens to come from the upper branches of the tree, it will be drier due to having less natural oils. When that cinnamon is processed, a very small amount of oil is sprayed on the grinder so that the cinnamon does not go all poof in the air. Apparently, according to the woman on the phone, a customer could purchase cinnamon six months from now and not see oil listed on the box.
I know that you're smart out there, if for no other reason that you are reading my blog :) Please be sure to always peek at the labels before you buy anything. You never know what companies will try to slip past you.
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