Archive for January, 2008
I Heart Regina Spektor
Sunday, January 20th, 2008Fergie
Sunday, January 20th, 2008The Joy of Orange Peel Phasing Into Spatter Smackdown
Friday, January 18th, 2008Just in case I’m not the only one who didn’t know- those are terms for different ways to Spackle a ceiling. On this Friday evening I took some time to identify some shapes in our artisitic Spackle situation.
Me: Hey- Does that look like a Native American canoe?
John: Huh?
Me: Ok, look at the grate.
John: Ok.
Me: Now move up to Hawaii.
John: Am I looking towards me, or towards the wall?
Me: Towards you.
John: Ok. Yeah.
Me: You see, like Big Island Little Island, but too far apart?
John: Yes.
Me: Above that there is the crazy messy line that doesn’t look like anything.
John: Ok the one to the right?
Me: Yeah. OK, to the left is the Native American Canoe.
John: Yeah, I can see that.
Why I Watch
Friday, January 18th, 2008My favorite Next Top Model criticism ever, given to Yohanna after the underwater photo shoot:
“It’s a little bit like an adult ultra-sound.”
I wish like anything that I could find a picture that warranted that feedback. Other comments included:
“I think she looks so serene. Like a baby about to be born.”
and
“Think it looks like she has 6 fingers. Like a lobster claw.”
I found it on Youtube!! Check it out around 1:50.
Infuriating
Thursday, January 17th, 2008MAJOR props to Anderson Cooper. It’s no secret among those who know me that I have always respected (read: had a little crush on) Anderson Cooper. He is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, and although he was born into an incredible fortune, he went to school and pursued a career. Aside from being really smart, and absolutely unafraid to investigate and report on some of the world’s scariest situations, he also successfully got through a conversation that I’ve never seen anyone maneuver through well: the Scientologist vs. Psychology debate.
If there is one person on this planet that gets me angrier than spit (yeah, that doesn’t make sense) it’s Tom Cruise. He is just so ARG. Whenever I hear him talk to someone it’s just “If you study the history of…..” and “You don’t know what you’re talking about, you haven’t studied,” and “You can’t even have this conversation, because you don’t know what I do.” So yeah- maybe I haven’t studied as much as you have, but does that make me unworthy to even talk to?
So anyway- back to the actual subject. Tonight on Anderson Cooper 360 there was some representative from Scientology there to talk about Psychology. He had three lines he kept repeating again and again and again, and he spouted a bunch of numbers about the number of people on psychiatric drugs being twice as likely for suicide. Anderson asked if maybe, just maybe, they were more likely to commit suicide because of whatever problem they had that required them to take the drugs in the first place. I did a little couch dance. Then Anderson asked if Scientology was against talk therapy- because not everyone who talks to a psychologist is treated with drugs. The guy ignored the questions and went back to talking about shock therapy and how it’s inhuman, citing the fact that even a 5 year old knows not to stick their finger in a light socket. Ok, well that’s nice, but back to talk therapy… Anderson said that even Scientology uses talk therapy to help people get over problems- and the guy said for the THIRD time that Scientology deals with the spirit whereas psychology simply pretends to be science. Once again, not an answer to the question.
So Anderson didn’t get any real answers out of the guy- more like bumper sticker mantras- but I was proud that he didn’t get sucked in a round of general arguments that don’t actually say anything. The guy had a ton of scary numbers- but Anderson had the numbers, too. He knew the data that the guy had taken and spun and changed to make it work for his own purposes. He was well prepared and wasn’t going to accept non-answers.
I don’t want to diss Scientology. I DO want to diss that guy, and I do wish Tom Cruise would disappear from society. Just become a recluse. A quiet one. I know that I get angry when someone represents my religion in an ugly or ignorant tone- and I think that this could totally be the case when it comes to Scientology. I wish that someone in an official position would let us know what’s true and real with regard to their beliefs, so we wouldn’t have to simply believe whoever talks the loudest.
Go Mom!
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008*Just as an intro to this letter, my mother has been working as a reading teacher (although paid as a paraprofessional) for years. She has to buy all the books/supplies she needs for her classroom herself, and has taken classes to “conform” to state standards of education. Every year she gets fired and then re-hired, but it’s always a game and a hassle. So here’s the latest news….
Hi Erin,
I hope you are having a good day. I am…. in a backwards sorta way. Here’s the story of today. I went to work- because that what I do- and found one yellow highlighter in my mailbox. Going back a few days to help you understand the appearance of said highlighter… the school Secretary had put an inventory sheet in my mailbox with an attached note saying that if I needed any supplies I should fill the form out and she would “fill the order” as best as she could. How exciting! Highlighters (plural) was on the list! I was just going to buy a new bag of them because the kids I work with use them often and mine are drying out- so… check mark next to “highlighters” with the thought maybe I will get a four pack or something. Then…. should I DARE request a tape dispenser and tape? I have not had on in the 6 years I have worked there. Whenever the need arises for tape I ask George- the teacher in the room- to dispense me some. He is always happy to let me use his tape- the stuff he brought in from home. But just the thought of my very own sent happiness over the edge!
Fast forward to this morning… mail box- ONE YELLOW Highlighter- sitting all alone in my mail box- well there was a note saying the school was out of tape.
Then…. minutes later at my desk- I put the highlighter on top of my desk blotter- it is really just a piece of cardboard- since it is now 2008 the calendar dates ran out- and not having any more in the school I have just left the cardboard backer down to write on-
Over to the one computer in the room that three teachers share… check my email….. I will forward a copy of that to you..
Seems we cant afford highlighters or calendars BUT MAYBE we will be sent to a math conference….. (guess it doesn’t matter that I am the READING para)
So…. with money, maybe, to go to Albany and pay for a conference that doesn’t relate to my job the thought occurred to me- this place is screwed up.
I picked up the highlighter and decided…. I am done. I am not spending one more dime on materials for the kids- not one more penny. That means… I can’t work there because if I don’t buy the materials they won’t have them.
I am putting in my notice tomorrow. I went and registered for another class at BCC and life is moving along.
I am tired of note feeling valued for what I do. I don’t want to burn any bridges- but I just not going to hang off the edge of this particular one any more.
By working just 5 more hours a week at Hallmark I will earn the same amount and they are more flexible.
Also- at Hallmark I have a chance for a raise- my school job my pay is frozen for the next 5 years. Why stay?
I am really feeling good about this…..
My class is Children’s Lit… I look forward to that. I will go Mon & Wed during the day.
Who knows why today a yellow highlighter sends me to the point of quiting my job….. (the one that I love teaching) but it did.
I think the fact that it was yellow….. I hate yellow highlighters…… they suck. But this one I will keep forever- it make me move along…..
Hope you are having a move along day…
Love ya Mom
*Haha. I think it’s kind of funny that she’s stealing the highlighter.
Little-boy friendly.
Monday, January 14th, 2008When my nephews were visiting last summer I found that the stool I had for the bathroom was a bit of a precarious perch. So I got this at IKEA hoping they’ll visit again soon. AND it has dots on it. I heart dots.
I like the two holes on the side, too. Like it has eyes. Its name is Melvin. Melvin the stool.
I randomly found this on my slipper. I wonder what it means?
Monday, January 14th, 2008
You Can Call It Not Dieting, or You Can Call It a Terrible Binge
Monday, January 14th, 2008I can’t take credit for the title: I’m loving Sarah Dashew lately. The weekend wasn’t too bad, except for the McDonalds, and the Wendy’s, and the Pizza, and the don’t even get me going. I’m very disappointed in myself.
Friday night started, of course, with some puking (not my own),and I the evening and nighttime hours waking John up every few hours to give him medicine to help him sleep (I know, that sounds really ironic) and also to help his fever come down. It was an exciting night. I was worried about dehydration, and my Mom suggested popsicles. So I also made him eat about 4,398 popsicles that evening, as well. I’m sure they worked.
Saturday we got up and headed up to Salt Lake. I needed to head to IKEA- we wanted another bookshelf (hmmm..needed) for our ever expanding family of books. We also got some cute boxes that I can keep pictures in, a grater that rocks my world, and some picture frames. Slowly but surely, we are displaying the fact that yes- we did get married- and we have the pictures to prove it.
I also met up with Julie Barkou- a friend from Denmark. I only saw her for a couple of hours- but it was nice to catch up and hear her cute little Danish voice again. Hopefully I’ll see her when she swings back into town before flying home.
After all the fun in SLC we drove home. As we pulled into the driveway, I saw something very curious indeed. A buck, complete with antlers, standing in the spot where we normally park my car. John said, “I don’t think I’ll drive down there just now.” And as he said that, the buck wandered out of sight towards the backyard. John drove down and I said, “I’m afraid!” John said, “I’m sorry.” I said, “I don’t want to get out!” John said, “Ok. So sit in the car.” Haha. Then he said, “I’m going to see where he went.” I yelled, “Don’t get rammed!” which would have been ridiculous last words to say to my husband if he were, indeed, to get rammed and die, and he answered back, “I won’t get rammed.” He went around the side of the house, opened the door, and starting bringing in our loot. I finally got out of the car and knocked on our upstairs’ neighbor’s door to tell them that there was a buck in our yard. We all went to the back bedroom to try and see- and sure enough, when we pulled up the shade, there was a buck AND a doe standing in the side yard- looking at our window like “Don’t worry, we’re not the peeping Tom.”
Wow.
Church Sunday was pretty good. I’m pretty sure it was National Put Crack in Your Kid’s Cereal Day and no one told me- so Primary was a little crazy. It was so funny- at one point one of the teachers was trying to explain how her nephew, who is 5 years old, is already an uncle. The little girl sitting next to me (a quiet, serious child) looked up at me with big brown eyes full of horror and whispered: “How could that even happen.” Hahahaha. I had to explain that perhaps that five year old little boy had a big sister who was my age or older, and she had a baby. And that’s how he is an uncle. She still looked uncomfortable with it. If I were a good teacher I might rent her You’ve Got Mail to help her through this crisis. But she’s 8. She’ll probably forget about it.
Yeah- so, aside from a dark moment when I was considering finding out if the crayons really were non-toxic, Church went ok.
So back to life- back to work. Back to a new week. Does that make sense?
