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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
What is this summer you speak of?
You know, when you're a teacher, the one thing you look forward to is having your summers off. Some even use it as a justification for the absurdly low pay for doing a job that is such a service while professional athletes and their ilk get paid multi million dollar contracts...and some of them don't do anything but sit on the bench the entire season!!!
Anyway, here I am all ready for my summer, and then I get the e-mail that we are going to be having weekly meeting throughout June. Ugh!
You may say what about July and August, right? Well, we start band camp after the 4th (every tue/thur until the 23rd when it actually starts. Camp ends Aug 4, the following week is teacher in-service week, with school starting on the 13th (what a birthday present, huh?). So, yeah, there is no summer break for me. Oh well, such is life.
At least I'll be making some money during some of these extra days...not the band camp, but that's a topic for another post.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Anyway, here I am all ready for my summer, and then I get the e-mail that we are going to be having weekly meeting throughout June. Ugh!
You may say what about July and August, right? Well, we start band camp after the 4th (every tue/thur until the 23rd when it actually starts. Camp ends Aug 4, the following week is teacher in-service week, with school starting on the 13th (what a birthday present, huh?). So, yeah, there is no summer break for me. Oh well, such is life.
At least I'll be making some money during some of these extra days...not the band camp, but that's a topic for another post.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Musical Monday
Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, how about some old school, 70s funk from The Whispers. Please enjoy "And the Beat Goes On"
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Quote of the week
In the future, I’ll tell my grandchildren that I’m older than the internet, blowing their minds forever.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Freedom...it's just around the corner
The last day of school and, man, am I so ready for it. The quicker 1 o'clock gets here, the better.
I don't really know why, though. My plans for the summer involve a lot of getting ready for next year and maybe a trip to Houston or San Antonio (hopefully the return trip won't result in bad news like the last time...lol)
Is it 1, yet?!?
I don't really know why, though. My plans for the summer involve a lot of getting ready for next year and maybe a trip to Houston or San Antonio (hopefully the return trip won't result in bad news like the last time...lol)
Is it 1, yet?!?
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Musical Monday
Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I'm bringing you a couple of more modern selections by a couple of supremely talented women.
First, we have the big hit by Florence + the Machine. Please enjoy "Dog Days Are Over" (ironic, since summer is about to start) Next, we have a hit by the first (and arguably best) American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. Please enjoy "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
First, we have the big hit by Florence + the Machine. Please enjoy "Dog Days Are Over" (ironic, since summer is about to start) Next, we have a hit by the first (and arguably best) American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. Please enjoy "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Quote of the week
All the Auto-Tune in the world will never ever sound as cool as talking into a desk fan
Friday, May 18, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Challenge completed
*WHEW*
Well, I made it through my self imposed 30 day blog challenge. Think I did pretty well, too. It definitely jump started my blogging habits. While I more than likely won't be posting something every single day, I will definitely be posting on more of regular basis.
Now, if I can only get back to reading and commenting on everyone else's blogs...lol
Well, I made it through my self imposed 30 day blog challenge. Think I did pretty well, too. It definitely jump started my blogging habits. While I more than likely won't be posting something every single day, I will definitely be posting on more of regular basis.
Now, if I can only get back to reading and commenting on everyone else's blogs...lol
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Quote of the day
I hate it when I buy a bag of air and there's chips in it - random lady in the office
Monday, May 14, 2012
Musical Monday
Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week's selection is a cover of Tammy Wynette's theme by the Blues Brothers. Please enjoy "Stand By Your Man"
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Quote of the Week
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans are suffering
from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're
okay, then it's you. - Rita Mae Beown
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Comedy...does it exist anymore?
I'm a big fan of old sitcoms. You know like I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie, Green Acres The Cosby Show, etc. These shows were good, clean fun. However, somewhere in the mid-90s, things took a turn and in order to be funny, you have to make sex jokes, insult someone, or just be downright mean. This brings me to ask one question...where is the real comedy?
I say this as I'm watching Chelsea Lately, which has Chelsea Handler and 3 other comedians talking about current events and quite frankly just being mean and insulting to everything and everyone. For some reason, people find this funny. I used to find Chelsea funny, but now she just seems to be mean and annoying.
These movies that are so called "comedies" these days are just as guilty. When they're not forgetting they are a comedy and not a drama, they're full of nothing but sex humor (excluding sex comedies, since they need those kind of jokes), fart jokes, and stuff that just isn't funny.
On the flipside, you watch something like, say, Airplane, and you don't have to do anything but sit there and watch. Within the first 5 minutes, you're on the floor laughing. Yes, there are a few risquee', if you will, jokes, but nothing major.
I don't know, I guess I was just born in the wrong era, but it just seems to me we could use some people that are actually funny (without being mean) and movies/tv shows that don't rely on the rampant sex joke.
What do you think, dear readers?
I say this as I'm watching Chelsea Lately, which has Chelsea Handler and 3 other comedians talking about current events and quite frankly just being mean and insulting to everything and everyone. For some reason, people find this funny. I used to find Chelsea funny, but now she just seems to be mean and annoying.
These movies that are so called "comedies" these days are just as guilty. When they're not forgetting they are a comedy and not a drama, they're full of nothing but sex humor (excluding sex comedies, since they need those kind of jokes), fart jokes, and stuff that just isn't funny.
On the flipside, you watch something like, say, Airplane, and you don't have to do anything but sit there and watch. Within the first 5 minutes, you're on the floor laughing. Yes, there are a few risquee', if you will, jokes, but nothing major.
I don't know, I guess I was just born in the wrong era, but it just seems to me we could use some people that are actually funny (without being mean) and movies/tv shows that don't rely on the rampant sex joke.
What do you think, dear readers?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Rejection
Today, I had to do the hardest part of my job, which is reject prospective member for next year's band.
I set certain criteria that must be made in order to join. They must have favorable recommendations from 2 teachers, no major disciplinary actions (suspension, recurrent detentions, etc.), and have at least a 2.5 GPA.
This sounds a bit harsh, especially for a middle school, but it weeds out the thugs and less than desirables, as well as makes sure that those that come in are going to be of the dedicated variety. At least that's been the result so far. Not to mention, if you would've seen what I inherited when I took over here a few years ago, you'd understand why I put these in place.
So, of the 48 prospective "newbies" (not counting 6th graders...those are beginners and are welcome no matter what), I had to turn away 27!
Bossman is none too happy about that either, as this was sure to have given the high school a big boost in numbers in a couple of years.
Oh well, things happen, right? Still, as a human being, I hate turning kids away, but I made these guidelines and have to stick to them for the good of my program now and in the future.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
I set certain criteria that must be made in order to join. They must have favorable recommendations from 2 teachers, no major disciplinary actions (suspension, recurrent detentions, etc.), and have at least a 2.5 GPA.
This sounds a bit harsh, especially for a middle school, but it weeds out the thugs and less than desirables, as well as makes sure that those that come in are going to be of the dedicated variety. At least that's been the result so far. Not to mention, if you would've seen what I inherited when I took over here a few years ago, you'd understand why I put these in place.
So, of the 48 prospective "newbies" (not counting 6th graders...those are beginners and are welcome no matter what), I had to turn away 27!
Bossman is none too happy about that either, as this was sure to have given the high school a big boost in numbers in a couple of years.
Oh well, things happen, right? Still, as a human being, I hate turning kids away, but I made these guidelines and have to stick to them for the good of my program now and in the future.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
10 days
Last day for this school year is the 25th, and let me tell you, it can't get here soon enough, my friends!!! I am ready for a break...or at least what passes for one!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Stop the madness
There was an article up the other day about how the Kardashians just signed this multi-year, mega million deal to stay on the air, yet at least 1 of the daughters is none too happy about it.
I don't usually spend too much time on these wastes on space, but the fact that even one of the "stars" of the show (the one that we see the least of) doesn't want to keep going, but is being forced by her mother to keep this crap going show tell you something about that family.
And yet, for some reason, I think this crap is just going to keep bringing in ratings for the E! network (though the numbers it gets would get it cancelled anywhere else.
It really brings the question to mind...what is this world coming to?!?
I don't usually spend too much time on these wastes on space, but the fact that even one of the "stars" of the show (the one that we see the least of) doesn't want to keep going, but is being forced by her mother to keep this crap going show tell you something about that family.
And yet, for some reason, I think this crap is just going to keep bringing in ratings for the E! network (though the numbers it gets would get it cancelled anywhere else.
It really brings the question to mind...what is this world coming to?!?
Musical Monday
Happy Musical Monday, everyone! The past few weeks, we've been keeping it uptempo, so let's slow it down a bit, shall we. Please enjoy Stephen Sondheim's immortal classic from A Little Night Music, "Send in the Clowns", sung by Catherine Zeta-Jones
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Caged
Took today off from work. Why? *cough* *cough* I'm sick, yeah, that's the ticket...lol
Seriously, the last off time I had was back in February. Yes, that is when our spring break was. The merged it with Mardi Gras break for some odd reason.
I love to take walks around the neighborhood, even this crappy nearly unsafe one. It's good exercise and gives me a chance to get some fresh air.
Unfortunately, though, the city has put up some kind of fence that blocks the back way out of the place. Not only is this an inconvenience for me, but it also means that if I want to take a walk, I have to go all the way around and stumble across the road that has no sidewalks and narrow roads.
Can we say not safe?
So, why did that fence suddenly go up? Your guess is as good as mine, but seeing as how the back way out of here goes through what passes for a park, I would imagine that has something to do with it.
Ugh!
Well, thanks for reading!
Seriously, the last off time I had was back in February. Yes, that is when our spring break was. The merged it with Mardi Gras break for some odd reason.
I love to take walks around the neighborhood, even this crappy nearly unsafe one. It's good exercise and gives me a chance to get some fresh air.
Unfortunately, though, the city has put up some kind of fence that blocks the back way out of the place. Not only is this an inconvenience for me, but it also means that if I want to take a walk, I have to go all the way around and stumble across the road that has no sidewalks and narrow roads.
Can we say not safe?
So, why did that fence suddenly go up? Your guess is as good as mine, but seeing as how the back way out of here goes through what passes for a park, I would imagine that has something to do with it.
Ugh!
Well, thanks for reading!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A day ahead?
You ever have one of those days when you feel like it is the next day? Today was one of those days for me. I don't know why, but I kept thinking today is Thursday. I guess I'm just trying to get to the weekend. hahahaha
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Case en Fuego...one year later
A year ago today, I was coming back from a trip to San Antonio, only to find out that my happy home, along with the 5 others connected to it and the apartments behind it had all burned down. Well, here's a little update about all of that.
The houses were torn down about month after all this happened. Amazing how everything else has taken forever and a day to get done, but tearing down the remains of burnt out houses (and totally clearing everything out of there) was done in less than a day. It was almost as if the other 6 people wanted some sort of park/front yard there.
Speaking of those other 6...
The insurance money did come in, but the association that runs our little complex is saying that they (the 6 people on the other side who still have their houses) are entitled to the money as well. Now, when I say the other 6, I should point out that everything has gone through 1 guy (who is the president of the association), and then there are two bitchy women who flat out said the smell of burnt houses was making them sick, as myself and the other victims were there with the complex insurance man.
Back to the money, though, with the way the by-laws are written, they actually are entitled to the money, but seriously, if you see your neighbors homes destroyed and know that this money is supposed to be divied up among them, why would you even think about keeping that money for yourself. Greed is an ugly thing, that's for sure!
Needless to say, this is going to court to get settled. When is this court date? Well, that is a mystery.
While we await the date and ruling, the little woman and I are stuck in this hell hole apartment. On top of paying rent (too much for over here), mortgage on house that isn't there anymore, lawyer fees, etc., we now have to sign another lease. Why is this? Well, it because of the mortgage. Can't get a new house until it is paid off, and can't rent someplace else unless one of us gets a raise. *SIGH*
What of the cause of the fire? Well, it was some senile woman's faulty air condition unit, which was repaired with second hand replacement parts, btw. Rumor has it that she heard the first spark and took off before the fire started and was the one who called 911, but no one can prove that.
As far as any legal action against her, apparently because of her mental state, none can be taken. I do wonder, though, if she's in such a questionable mental state, how is she living alone?
What of the other people who lost their houses? Well, 2 of them haven't said anything about this whole situation. One of them went into bankruptcy (and caused even more legal drama) because of this. The guy who was still fixing up the unit he just bought before he and his wife moved in is wondering why things are taking so long, and has hired his own insurance investigator. Then there is the newlyweds who were trying to sell their house. They're in a bit of a bind with all this, as you can imagine.
It turns out that the association president has been withholding information from us and not exactly been doing all he can to get things resolved. I wonder if it was his house that burned and we were the ones running things if he'd feel the same way.
Aside from all of that, though, things did get back to "normal" about a month or so afterwards. Yes, I miss my house, and my cats, may they rest in peace, but I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. Hell, the little woman and I have a stronger relationship now than ever, so that's a good thing!
Still, let's hope that this time next year, we're not still sitting here in the crappy apartment still waiting for this thing to be resolved!
Oh, those apartments that burned down? They've all been rebuilt and the people have moved back in.
Be glad you're not having to go through this lovely situation!
The houses were torn down about month after all this happened. Amazing how everything else has taken forever and a day to get done, but tearing down the remains of burnt out houses (and totally clearing everything out of there) was done in less than a day. It was almost as if the other 6 people wanted some sort of park/front yard there.
Speaking of those other 6...
The insurance money did come in, but the association that runs our little complex is saying that they (the 6 people on the other side who still have their houses) are entitled to the money as well. Now, when I say the other 6, I should point out that everything has gone through 1 guy (who is the president of the association), and then there are two bitchy women who flat out said the smell of burnt houses was making them sick, as myself and the other victims were there with the complex insurance man.
Back to the money, though, with the way the by-laws are written, they actually are entitled to the money, but seriously, if you see your neighbors homes destroyed and know that this money is supposed to be divied up among them, why would you even think about keeping that money for yourself. Greed is an ugly thing, that's for sure!
Needless to say, this is going to court to get settled. When is this court date? Well, that is a mystery.
While we await the date and ruling, the little woman and I are stuck in this hell hole apartment. On top of paying rent (too much for over here), mortgage on house that isn't there anymore, lawyer fees, etc., we now have to sign another lease. Why is this? Well, it because of the mortgage. Can't get a new house until it is paid off, and can't rent someplace else unless one of us gets a raise. *SIGH*
What of the cause of the fire? Well, it was some senile woman's faulty air condition unit, which was repaired with second hand replacement parts, btw. Rumor has it that she heard the first spark and took off before the fire started and was the one who called 911, but no one can prove that.
As far as any legal action against her, apparently because of her mental state, none can be taken. I do wonder, though, if she's in such a questionable mental state, how is she living alone?
What of the other people who lost their houses? Well, 2 of them haven't said anything about this whole situation. One of them went into bankruptcy (and caused even more legal drama) because of this. The guy who was still fixing up the unit he just bought before he and his wife moved in is wondering why things are taking so long, and has hired his own insurance investigator. Then there is the newlyweds who were trying to sell their house. They're in a bit of a bind with all this, as you can imagine.
It turns out that the association president has been withholding information from us and not exactly been doing all he can to get things resolved. I wonder if it was his house that burned and we were the ones running things if he'd feel the same way.
Aside from all of that, though, things did get back to "normal" about a month or so afterwards. Yes, I miss my house, and my cats, may they rest in peace, but I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. Hell, the little woman and I have a stronger relationship now than ever, so that's a good thing!
Still, let's hope that this time next year, we're not still sitting here in the crappy apartment still waiting for this thing to be resolved!
Oh, those apartments that burned down? They've all been rebuilt and the people have moved back in.
Be glad you're not having to go through this lovely situation!
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