long time

no bloggie!

I've been very busy. Ok, that is not true. I have been a combination of busy and lazy. Sort of. Ok, no excuses.

I read so many really good blogs (bossy, vuboq, goingofftheshallowend, wouldashoulda, thepioneerwoman, dooce, of course, and many more) that what I have to say is not worthy... but, I am going to try to get over that fact and just do what I do - and remember that I am just a history teacher, not a professional writer with any training.

So, this will be a rambling post of various thoughts. I'll try to categorize, but no promises.

Politics
Is it bad that I cried over Tim Russert? That I refuse to watch Meet the Press without him (yet)?
Isn't it funny (not the ha ha kind) that McCain has an aide who admitted a terrorist attack would do McCain good. Like their hoping for it. Goodness knows he has to hope for something...he's got nothing else. Obama continues to impress me with his decisions. I hope he continues to do so with his VEEP pick. I do admit that I am sick of debating and wondering who it will be. In the words of my mother (she is so prophetic) "Time will tell."

History
I am taking a class! It is just a prep class to take the Praxis II, which will beef up my licensure and open the possibility of teaching in high school. I am even excited that I get homework. I'll blog about that later, and hope to get some feedback. I have to choose 6 turning points in U.S. History that I think are major and be prepared to defend my choices. Oh boy!

Animals
If I total the weights of all the four legged animals in my house right now, it would be nearly 200 pounds. If I total the weight of the poop those animals leave in my house (or near it) it would be 200 tons. The latest resident is Che - the ferret - who may or may not stay permanently. She belongs to my daughter and although I am simultaneously repulsed and enthralled with her, I am letting her stay. She only weighs a few ounces, so you can imagine the weights of the other creatures.

Gardening
There are a lot of bugs out there! They love to eat me. There are even more weeds. And not even the good kind. I am also simultaneously repulsed and enthralled with gardening. So far, my tomatoes are successfully growing but no fruit yet. My roses are dormant for a while between blossoms. Hostas are thriving, as are other things I don't remember the name of.

School
This is really why I haven't blogged. The last few weeks were awful. Not the kids so much, but the coworkers. I am glad I don't have to see most of them for the summer. I am not sure non-teachers are aware that at the end of the year, we have to close out paper work, but also dismantle the entire classroom. Even if we're coming back in August, we have to empty all shelves, walls, and apparently drawers. I left my desk drawers crammed with stuff. My classroom AC broke in mid-May, and so the room was nearly 90 most days. I could barely teach in there, let alone climb ladders and all that junk.
It is also a bittersweet time, saying goodbye to wonderful kids that I will miss. And a time to wonder if I did all I could for those others that I won't miss so much. I had a hate mail from a disgruntled parent, and although I think she is misinformed and deluded, I do wonder if I could have done more for her son. If I didn't have so many students, perhaps I could help more of them....an oxymoron I know- but teachers would understand.

TV
Ahhhhhhh..... I love me some day time TV. Court TV, Regis, The View. And my newest crush: Anthony Bourdain. I love him. He is my TV husband:


ok - that is it for now. I'll try to write more in the coming days and not worry so much that my blog sucks compared to most all others.