Nope. Just my LJ. Hopefully...

SO much has changed since my last post. It's not summer anymore, for one. As I type this, my fingernails are blue. I'm still happy, though. Here's a bit of what you may or may not have missed in my life:

New Place
I have finally completed the goals of Summer 06 by moving into my own place. In Ghent, at that. It's perfect. I can't say it enough. As I gaze back at my room behind me, I feel this incredible sense of joy and satisfaction and...serenity.

School
Probably the biggest change since I last wrote. I'm now a teacher in a class of five kindergarteners (basically...they're ages 5-7). They are a handful. They are my new life, my new source of stress. They are the reason I went to my first happy hour during the first week of school and my third happy hour..last night :)

Class
Well, I thought that by taking a class whose textbook is titled "ABA for Teachers" I would be giving myself an easy way to work towards my masters and live through my first semester teaching. Boy, was I wrong. My professor loves me...loves to pick my brain...loves to assign extra work for me alone. I'm getting an A, but I'm irritated I have to do so much work for it. But hey, it's free.

Rosie O'Donnell
I don't know whether or not to title this section Tivo or Rosie. I'll go with Rosie. Ever since we got Cox DVR, I've been obsessively taping The View each day. And in just two short weeks I've gone from hating Rosie to absolutely adoring her. You heard me. My hips don't lie. I dunno what it is...she just makes me laugh. And she brings this sort of edgy "take that" mood to the whole show that seems to be rubbing off on the other hosts (even Elisabeth)! Oh, and Tivo is the reason why I was able to run to the other room just now and rewind the news when I heard the words "same sex amendment" and see a reverend from my ex-church supporting it (the amendment). Sigh...

Birthday
In just 6 days, friends. No birthday party. I'm going to do individual celebrations sort of. Also, Drew, Jenn, Matt, and Gary are taking me out for Saw 3 (my choice) and drinks. I'm trying to embrace the Halloween connection a bit this year. Just a bit, though...

Tis the season...for knitting...
I know the rest of you are chilly walking around on these cool autumn nights. That's why I've dug out the needles and am steadily working on my final goal from Summer 2006 (yeah, I left one out). Reducing my stash by 50%. Just don't even think about asking for winter wear if you haven't sent me a birthday card/gift.

And that, my friends, is that.
Till next time, hopefully not two months from now,
Jenn

I loved my friend
He went away from me
There's nothing more to say
The poem ends,
Soft as it began-
I loved my friend.

-Langston Hughes

that tonight I ran with sparklers in the yard with mom and Brian.

This is the story of a mother, a son, and a pot roast.

beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. "Ma!" beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. "MA!" beep. beep. beep. "MAAA!" beep. beep. beep. beep. "MAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!" beep. beep. (footsteps on the stairs, followed by banging on a door). "MA, THE TIMER IS GOING OFF!!!" "oh. ok"

15 minutes later....

beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. "Ma!" beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. "MA!" beep. beep. beep. "MAAA!" beep. beep. beep. beep. "MAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!" beep. beep. (footsteps on the stairs, followed by banging on a door). "MA, THE TIMER IS GOING OFF!!!" "oh. i'm coming."

10 minutes later....

beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. "Ma!" beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. "MA!" beep. beep. beep. "MAAA!" beep. beep. beep. beep. "MAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!" beep. beep. (footsteps on the stairs, followed by banging on a door). "MA, THE TIMER IS GOING OFF!!!" "oh. really?"

I dare you to go deaf.

I don't need no cure...

Just read an article that sent me on a rampage (directed towards poor Matt). Take a look for yourself. It's about teachers and how we're allegedly paid too much. Couple of issues:
-distorted statistics (including careful wording and insistence on using VA Beach in examples...a city which is obviously the exception, not the rule)

-no mention of special education. Hey, you tell me that crawling under a bathroom stall three times in one day to get a kid out while the other kids are having meltdowns in the hallway is easier than sitting in front of my laptop, eyes glazed over, drowning in Starbucks while I discuss lunch plans and scan a bajillion financial statements (typical day at KPMG)

-several examples of teachers who were in fact not doing so well alongside a bunch of stats about how we fare better than accountants.

-crap author.

Can that be an issue? Crap author. Apparently this wasn't the best choice for pre-bedtime reading. The readers who wrote comments seem to be more realistic than the writer. Who really believes that teachers only work 7.5 hours a day??

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=108800&ran=60383

One of the comments included this little nugget of wisdom:
"Teachers make all other careers possible.."

Well, thank you someone for realizing that. Teachers see children for nearly as much of the day (if not more) as their parents. Sigh upon sigh upon sigh.

And that accountant statistic? Oh please...how come even on the VA Beach payscale it takes 20 years! to start earning 50,000 dollars. I would've made that much by year 5 as an accountant. Grrrrr....and I'm seriously not bitter. Not until I read this kind of rubbish at least...

That concludes my week off before I start...teaching!
Jenn

I'm glad to report the hellish week of papers and exams is finally over, two papers and two exams later. Even better...I got a perfect score on both papers and the last exam.

Even more good news: the other day Brian (brother) climbed into the attic over my room and did something, I know not what. All I know is that it's actually a bit chilly in my room right now. Miracles do exist.

Still more! My packages arrived last night, 5 days early. Now that I'm done with classwork I can officially begin my stress-free week. And what better way to start it than with two Indigo Girls CDs (Retrospective and All That We Let In) and a bundle of yarn.

Oh, but something rather sad has happened. In Irvine, the matriarch of the In n Out burger empire has died. Those of you who have lived on the West Coast know the chain. It was the only place I found in CA that had cheap, fast, and tasty food. Read Esther Snyder's obituary here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060806/ap_on_bi_ge/obit_snyder

One final comment. I've realized that I'll never stop procrastinating until I do really poorly as a result of cramming. Or die of an ulcer.

That's the scoop. ~Jenn

The most delightful classroom experience ever today...

I had one of those "this is why I do this" moments while the gang and I were having snack. It's the last week, and I can already tell I'm going to miss this bunch.

But...I'm really looking forward to next week. Some things I'll be happy to finally do:
- organize my knitting patterns
- re-read The Mayor of Casterbridge
- sewing day 4 with Drew's mom
- knit more Christmas presents (I am so on the way to finishing on time this year)
...after all, knitting half my yarn is a summer goal :)
- go fishing, somewhere
- start the boy sweater (for me...more to come on that)


'Course, I actually have to survive this week to get to the next. That means writing the paper, taking the last exam, and getting the kids packed up and ready for next year. And the weather guy says its going to be 102 and feel like 112. Let's see if we get to turn on the AC here in Hades.

Jenny Gumdrops

Woke up wide awake at 7:30 this morning. Studied mental retardation, learning disabilities, and emotional disturbance with ease for two hours. My ability to focus was back, at least temporarily. Took my 2nd exam. Wrote an amazing essay on the skills necessary to teach an ED class. A plus on the exam. :). So proud of myself. It was only 10 AM.

Determined to make the most of the surge in productivity, I sewed the shoulders of the California sweater. Started on the hood. Marveled for the millionth time in my hands' ability to create functional garments. Knitting is amazing.

Did some grocery shopping. Making nachos tonight. Now, off to find zippers. Four zippers in one sweater. Well, practice makes perfect.

Pina coladas would go well with the nachos. Yum.

Of course today is nice. There's a 9 in it.
Love, peace, soul :)
Jenn

Selective Mutism: The New Autism?
This article from the NY Times claims the prevalence may be twice that of autism:
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/hanauej/developmental/Web%20articles/The%20New%20York%20Times%20%20Health%20%20Mental%20Health%20&%20Behavior%20%20The%20Child%20Who%20Would%20Not%20Speak%20a%20Word.htm

Why the link is so long..I dunno.

I finally saw the "1 in 166" commercial for autism. I knew the statistic already but it still impacted me a bit. Hopefully others will react similarly.

Progress in all areas at school. Today was perfectly calm and had a great ending. I shall reflect on it all weekend.

The new (new to me at least) Pussycat Dolls song is stuck in my head. I don't even like it. It's no "Don't Cha", but it's still catchy.

I'm compiling a list of relaxing things to do during my upcoming week off (August 8-13). It will probably be the last break I get for quite some time, aside from weekends. New teacher training starts the 14th and then regular training the 28th and then the kids come. Wow. Fastest summer ever.

I want to make some friends. Can anyone advise me on how to go about that?