Since I would like to blog about teaching, writing, my kids, running, and my dog, I thought I would write a little blurb on each. I am writing this in NeoOffice, which I will save, and then cut and paste.
School is great. I love my classes, even my rowdy period 2 class of freshmen. I am disappointed that 2-3 of the students got suspended this week, because I was just getting to know them. Like this one boy, who is tall, thin, brownish-blonde hair swept across his forehead, you know the style. He wears a belt that is black and has metal studs all the way around it, and the belt barely holds up his faded jeans. I estimate him to be around 15, but he could pass for 19 or 20.
I announced that we would be going to the library to investigate the books there, choosing at least 10 titles they may be interested in free reading. He announced back to me that, “Oh, I don't read.” in a tone that implied that maybe I should have already known this.
I informed him that reading would be a requirement for class and let's just go look at some books anyway. Our wonderful media specialist knew we were coming and had spread some great books out on the tables. The kids got to work browsing and jotting down titles. At the end of our 30 minutes there, I heard him asking the student library worker behind the desk if he could “check out more than one book at a time.” He had two books in his hands.
I really hope he comes back to class soon.
My daughter Jillian is 9 and she has developed (to my dismay) a love of Ke$ha. If you don't know who she is, you can google her, but you may be better off not knowing. So there is this song “Tik Tok” that has an okay beat. And Ke$ha sings about how she's getting ready to go out and she brushes her teeth with a bottle of Jack. After singing these lyrics around the house for several weeks, Jillian asked me last night, “Mom, what is Jack?” I said “It's alcohol”. Her eyes got wide and I saw that Ke$ha had just gone down a few rungs on the coolness ladder. Then Jill said “I thought only Lindsay Lohan did alcohol.” It's tough sometimes, with a precocious 9 year old, knowing what to allow and what not to. And when she was 8 and asked if she could have 3 wishes, her very first one was “I wish I was a teenager.”
Brodie shared with me the other day that “My teacher has a mad face that looks just like yours.” I still hold firm that I do not have a “mad face”.
I didn't go running last night because I got home late, and really, I was cold and it was raining. But I will not get wimpy. It was really hard to not go, but I had been 5 nights in a row, and I'm going tonight. My dilemma is that even now, it ends up being dark by the time I get home from my run. How am I going to fit it in as the days get shorter? I may have to look in to a babysitter, since my husband doesn't get home until 5:00.
Oh, for any runners reading this, I have a few questions. 1. What should I get for clothing for fall/winter running? I have 1 pair of Nike capris, 3 tee shirts, 1 thin jacket (with a cool ipod pocket), a very thin NorthFace shell, and that's about it. Any suggestions for brands or layering strategies? and 2. I looked on itunes for songs to run to and some of them have bpm (beats per minute). How do I measure my bpm running speed? And do other runners get songs that match their bpm, or do they just run to songs they like? I definitely change my pace based on what I am listening to, and I'd like my pace to be a little more even.
I think that's all for now. I realize I didn't get to writing about my dog. He's been a good dog and a perfect fit for our family. Two nights in a row he has slept out of his crate at night and he is doing well with that. Yay Jake.