Ok. I'm tired. I'm not just tired, I'm exhausted. Wait. Should that have been a semicolon, or dash, or something?
"I'm not just tired; I'm exhausted." Nahhh... no fun.
"I'm not just tired - I'm exhausted." Hmmm....
"I'm not just tired..... I'm EXHAUSTED!!" Yup, that's it.
I'm working my not-so-little tuchus off. You would be proud of me though. It's 11:08 pm and I really REALLY have to get to bed. Because I'll be up tomorrow around 5am so I can do my hair. First of all, you should be proud because I'm planning to be at work an hour early (as in, not LATE to work by 5 minutes), and because I'm going to DO MY HAIR. Yes, I said "do my hair". I know, hair, it's been a while since I gave you any attention, but I'm working on it, ok? I'm a mom of a 2 year old, and now I am in charge of 90-someodd freshman (who all really still look and act like 8th graders for the most part) and 36 juniors/seniors (who are a wonderful group of kids). Two of whom are mothers. (And since teachers become parent-like figures to their students, does that make me sort of an honorary grandmother? Eeek! I'm not old enough for that!)
In any case, I am immersed in the inner workings of the human body, and I'm ready for bed, lest I start spouting words that sound like big long latin-esque body-part names. Good night!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
New Job Update
So.... inservice started today. Well, the 4th - 8th we did curriculum training, then the 13th and 14th were for people new to the district, then the 15th (today) was an extra day just for my campus so we could have some other day off in February or something, so inservice REALLY starts on Monday. But inservice started today. Fortunately, I got to get to know some others in my department during our TAKS tutorials July 14th-something... and during our science week (the 4th-8th) and it already feels like family. In my previous teaching career, I always felt like an outcast - because there was just one of me - ONE person in my content area, and only three in my whole department-and they were band geeks... sorry guys. But now, there are 22 of us (including a helper teacher! Who woulda thunkit?) and it's like I have 10 brothers and sisters, and a quartet of crazy aunts and uncles. It's pretty hilarious, actually. And some of them are actually more nerdy than me. (hah!)
Anyway, the whole point of this update is to say that despite a LARGE number of lesson plans yet to be written, posters to be laminated, and dead things to be ordered, things are going quite well. I'm enjoying myself immensely, and I actually can't wait for school to start. :)
Anyway, the whole point of this update is to say that despite a LARGE number of lesson plans yet to be written, posters to be laminated, and dead things to be ordered, things are going quite well. I'm enjoying myself immensely, and I actually can't wait for school to start. :)
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Information Desk
Background info: For those of you that don't know, I am about 6 hours out from my MBA, and I can't make up my mind what to be when I grow up. I just decided to take a few classes to make up some of the science deficiencies in my transcript, just in case I decide to become a doctor someday. (No, I'm not kidding.)
Today, we went to the local community college to get J registered for his GIS certification. We went last week to inquire about the certification program, and when we approached the info desk, we were met with a bit of frustration. The conversation last week went something like this:
"Hi, I am interested in the GIS certification program. I'd like to ask an advisor some questions."
Clerk: "Ok, are you a student here?"
J: "I was in the past, but I am not now."
Clerk: "Well, you'll need to fill out an application before you can register for classes. You'll find them right over there."
J: "I'm not ready to register yet, I just want to get some information."
Clerk: "Well, before you can talk to an advisor, you'll have to fill out this application and be accepted. They can't enroll you until you're accepted."
J: "But I don't want to enroll today. I just want some information."
Clerk: "Well, you can talk to an advisor if you want to, but they won't be able to put you in classes. You can't just say, OK, sign me up! You'll have to fill out an application...."
Me: "Where is the advising office?"
ARRRRR!!!!
So, today, we know in advance to steer clear of the guy at the info desk. We walk in the door, and lo and behold, there he is. We just breeze right by. I picked up an application to fill out.
I hear this, coming from the info desk, "Uh.. Ma'am? Ma'am!" I turn, and look. Sure enough, here comes the guy from the info desk.
"Ma'am, I need to give you some info about that application."
Here we go.
Clerk: "Did you graduate from high school?"
Me: "Yes, but 10 years ago."
Clerk: "Ok, well we need to know about that. We'll need your TASP scores too."
Me: "I already have a bachelor's degree, and I have completed a good bit of masters' coursework. I just want to do some prerequisites."
Clerk: "So, you graduated from high school then?"
Me: (impatiently) "Yes."
Clerk: "Was it in Texas?"
Me: "Yes."
Clerk: "Well, then, on page two, you'll have to answer YES to question number one. And then you can skip to question three."
Me: "Ok."
Clerk: "When you're finished, bring the application back here."
I am looking at this application. There is very clear, BOLD print, explaining this detail. I'm wondering, at this point, why I need my application read to me. But whatever.
We sit down at a table so I can fill out my app. J's is already filled out (hence why I knew why he was asking about high school...) and we find out we have to fill out a demographics survey. This should be interesting. We notice it has to be filled out in pencil. We don't have a pencil.
J approaches the info desk.
J: "Excuse me, where might I find a pencil?"
Clerk: "Here is a pen. You'll need pen for the application."
(really??? seriously???)
J: "I know, we have a pen. We just need a pencil for the demographics survey."
Clerk: "But you will have to fill out the application in pen."
J: "Thank you."
He returns to the table with a pencil (the golf kind with no eraser).
We discuss what to do once I've filled out the application. He clearly told us to bring it back to him. We have a nearly five minute long discussion on what to do. I have no desire to interact with this person. Ever.
Me: "Let's just wait and see what that girl does when she's finished."
We wait.... a nice young lady steps up to the counter. We watch as she hands him the application. After reading each page, he says, "Did you sign the last page?" She nods. He tells her that she'll have to stand in line at the admissions desk, then stand in line at the advising desk where they'll register her for classes, then stand in line at financial aid, then stand in line at the cash office, then visit the bookstore upstairs.... AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!
We have discovered that, in fact, we do NOT have to take the app back to him.
Me: "Let's go." I make a quick move. J follows me in his usual "What the hell are you doing?" fashion. (because I sometimes just do things and he's good at just following faithfully without question. Good boy.)
**I also need to mention that J often follows faithfully even though he knows I am wrong. This just tells me how much he loves me. He is always so sweet when things go horribly wrong and he says, "It's ok, honey. I still love you." I should probably listen to him more often... but you know.**
We dash out of sight behind a sign. I hear in the distance, "Ma'am?? Ma'am!! I need to look over your application!" I just ignore it. After a 40 minute stint in line at the admissions desk (with an extremely competent, very nice, black man who sounds JUST like Morgan Freeman) we are informed that we get to register online. No more lines.
Phew. Man, that was exhausting.
Today, we went to the local community college to get J registered for his GIS certification. We went last week to inquire about the certification program, and when we approached the info desk, we were met with a bit of frustration. The conversation last week went something like this:
"Hi, I am interested in the GIS certification program. I'd like to ask an advisor some questions."
Clerk: "Ok, are you a student here?"
J: "I was in the past, but I am not now."
Clerk: "Well, you'll need to fill out an application before you can register for classes. You'll find them right over there."
J: "I'm not ready to register yet, I just want to get some information."
Clerk: "Well, before you can talk to an advisor, you'll have to fill out this application and be accepted. They can't enroll you until you're accepted."
J: "But I don't want to enroll today. I just want some information."
Clerk: "Well, you can talk to an advisor if you want to, but they won't be able to put you in classes. You can't just say, OK, sign me up! You'll have to fill out an application...."
Me: "Where is the advising office?"
ARRRRR!!!!
So, today, we know in advance to steer clear of the guy at the info desk. We walk in the door, and lo and behold, there he is. We just breeze right by. I picked up an application to fill out.
I hear this, coming from the info desk, "Uh.. Ma'am? Ma'am!" I turn, and look. Sure enough, here comes the guy from the info desk.
"Ma'am, I need to give you some info about that application."
Here we go.
Clerk: "Did you graduate from high school?"
Me: "Yes, but 10 years ago."
Clerk: "Ok, well we need to know about that. We'll need your TASP scores too."
Me: "I already have a bachelor's degree, and I have completed a good bit of masters' coursework. I just want to do some prerequisites."
Clerk: "So, you graduated from high school then?"
Me: (impatiently) "Yes."
Clerk: "Was it in Texas?"
Me: "Yes."
Clerk: "Well, then, on page two, you'll have to answer YES to question number one. And then you can skip to question three."
Me: "Ok."
Clerk: "When you're finished, bring the application back here."
I am looking at this application. There is very clear, BOLD print, explaining this detail. I'm wondering, at this point, why I need my application read to me. But whatever.
We sit down at a table so I can fill out my app. J's is already filled out (hence why I knew why he was asking about high school...) and we find out we have to fill out a demographics survey. This should be interesting. We notice it has to be filled out in pencil. We don't have a pencil.
J approaches the info desk.
J: "Excuse me, where might I find a pencil?"
Clerk: "Here is a pen. You'll need pen for the application."
(really??? seriously???)
J: "I know, we have a pen. We just need a pencil for the demographics survey."
Clerk: "But you will have to fill out the application in pen."
J: "Thank you."
He returns to the table with a pencil (the golf kind with no eraser).
We discuss what to do once I've filled out the application. He clearly told us to bring it back to him. We have a nearly five minute long discussion on what to do. I have no desire to interact with this person. Ever.
Me: "Let's just wait and see what that girl does when she's finished."
We wait.... a nice young lady steps up to the counter. We watch as she hands him the application. After reading each page, he says, "Did you sign the last page?" She nods. He tells her that she'll have to stand in line at the admissions desk, then stand in line at the advising desk where they'll register her for classes, then stand in line at financial aid, then stand in line at the cash office, then visit the bookstore upstairs.... AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!
We have discovered that, in fact, we do NOT have to take the app back to him.
Me: "Let's go." I make a quick move. J follows me in his usual "What the hell are you doing?" fashion. (because I sometimes just do things and he's good at just following faithfully without question. Good boy.)
**I also need to mention that J often follows faithfully even though he knows I am wrong. This just tells me how much he loves me. He is always so sweet when things go horribly wrong and he says, "It's ok, honey. I still love you." I should probably listen to him more often... but you know.**
We dash out of sight behind a sign. I hear in the distance, "Ma'am?? Ma'am!! I need to look over your application!" I just ignore it. After a 40 minute stint in line at the admissions desk (with an extremely competent, very nice, black man who sounds JUST like Morgan Freeman) we are informed that we get to register online. No more lines.
Phew. Man, that was exhausting.
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