Teaching musings

The details: grade one class, spent two days there because the teacher was really ill, half of the class was out sick, so I only had ten kids. I don't get to go back there tomorrow (boo...I had fun!) so now I'm waiting for another call. I could get called up until 1030 tonight, then from 5:00 to 9:00 tomorrow morning.

Freaking exhausted. I did nearly four hours at my retail-ish job tonight as well.

I'm SO in the right profession. I love it. And I'm really gonna love that paycheque when I get it in a week. :D

Hi.

In case you weren't one of the eleventy billion people that I called on my way home from my retail-ish work...

...I got my first call. I'm in a classroom tomorrow morning.

*SQUEEEE!*

Had to post this...

USEFUL SITE!!

What to use to glue "this" to "that".

Help Internet-benkenobi! You're my only hope!

I have a dillema dilema dillemna dilemna problem (beyond the fact that I can't spell that word...). I would like to purchase an mp3 player, because my Rio Karma bit the dust a few months back...whoa...nearly a year now. I would like to buy an iPod of some flavour that isn't the Shuffle. Anyone have any suggestions? I want to use it to work out with and listen when I'm in the car or at my computer. The working out thing is the part I'm worried about. With my Rio, I managed to drop it a few times when I was working out on the punching bag, or on the exercise bike, so I'd need something I can attach very securely to my person, or that won't die if I'm my usual clumsy self.

Please leave personal experiences and/or warnings and/or links to complaints in the comments.

Thanks!

Meme!

Is this the first one of the new year? Hmmm... might be.

Irene tagged me...and it's the FIVE THINGS ABOUT ME MEME! Me meme? That's hard to type. I'm going to slot in stuff that's been going on, very sneakily, since I haven't been posting. Cop out? Maybe. :P My blog, my rules.

1) While I publicly aver that I despise pink, I secretly love it (especially paired with black...mmmm...). *looks around at the site* This may not be such a secret any more...

2) I had my orientation with my school district today. It went well. :) I could be teaching on Monday, assuming my criminal record check came back this afternoon. Now, assuming they don't find out about that weekend back in '01... ;)

3) I love creating things. I love learning how to make new things. This results in a plethora of projects. (And apparently alliteration, also.) I have trouble finishing things. This results in a precarious pile of UFOs (UnFinished Objects).

4) I'm a collector. I collect rocks, books, craft stuff (yarn etc. You've seen my stash...), clothes (I'm not sure how it happens! I don't remember buying THAT many clothes!!), stuffed animals (Ooh! That one's cute!)...basically anything large, bulky and/or heavy. It's going to be fun to move eventually.

5) As of Monday, or whenever I get called, I'm going to have three jobs again. Oy.
5a) As of Monday, people who want to see me will have to schedule several weeks in advance and fill out the proper forms in triplicate.

Ooh, Prizes!

Go to here if you blog to fill out a questionaire. Prizes are offered!

I'm in.

I could be subbing in someone's classroom this time next Monday.

Whoa...I'm in a bit of shock.

Also...look at the tags. NO STRESS TAG!! WOOO!!!

Soooo...

It's after closing time for government buildings, including school boards.

Looks like I'll be finding out on Monday.

In order to escape from the ARGH! I'll be in Victoria all tomorrow with Dave. :)

Some News?

It's possible that I have *VERY* good news.

It's equally possible that I have not got any good news.

I don't have the news yet. Watch this space...I'll post as soon as I know. And since Dave's a contributer on this site, and I'll be away from the computer all day...maybe I'll ask him to post when I find out. :)

Boy, this "work" tag (down at the bottom) is sure getting a lot of use these days...as is that pesky other one beside it. :P

Sound off!

Poll time: since everyone I talk to is SURE I'm going to get this position...am I the only one who actually has doubts??

Thanks. :)

I think...

...that it went ok. There was one point where one of the interviewers said, "Ok, but you haven't answered my question." and I couldn't remember the question...luckily she repeated it so I didn't have to ask. :P

Overall? I don't think I did as well as I could have, but I think I did fine. I'll find out on Friday or Monday if I'm being invited for orientation.

If things continue in this vein...

1245: finish working on my portfolio and going over interview questions. Read for about ten minutes, figure I'm not going to fall asleep, but decide to turn out the light anyway. Fret that even if I manage to fall asleep, there's no way in hell I'm going to STAY asleep for any length of time, especially without wild dreams that leave me more exhausted than when I started. (this is how I deal with stress. That and stomach aches)

aprox. 0120: drop off to sleep, despite my mild freaking out.

649: wake up 11 minutes before my alarm, completely refreshed and without the memory of waking up, or any stress dreams. Doze until my alarm goes off and I can relax that it's set.

700: it's set. Hit snooze and do some breathing exercises doze off again.

709: Actually do breathing exercises. Feel nervous, but confident.

720: Stop writing this post so I can take a shower, eat breakfast so I don't feel like I want to throw up due to hunger (what a weird reflex...).

I think I'm going to be sick...

13 10.5 8 hours and five minutes until my interview tomorrow morning. I think it's a toss up between my mom and I as to who is going to get the least amount of sleep. Argh.

I have my email folder open in another tab...I haven't checked yet to see if the interview is cancelled. Wahhhh...I'm scared to look. Ok, here goes.

...

Ok...nothing yet.

I'm going to work on my portfolio and make sure I know the difference between Piaget and Erikson. Please think happy thoughts at me at 9:00 am tomorrow morning!

Trying for the Third Time

I'm trying to get my photos to burn to DVD...third time's the charm? I managed to find some of the photos that I'd thought were lost...turns out that I'd saved them in the wrong hard drive. Grrr...I'm so confused trying to maneuver around my computer these days. I haven't been posting on flickr lately, but I'll be doing that probably in the next few hours, assuming this all works...

So! I've been reading the Yarn Harlot's blog. She is...inspiring. Wow. I'll see a picture of a...pair of socks...say. She'll cast them on one day, and then the next day will be a picture of the finished object. It's INSANE. I'm jealous. So I knit a bunch this weekend. Pics on flickr...assuming this all works.

Hmmm...

I think my DVD drive/burner is broken. Umm...this isn't good.

When all else fails...

...ask the people on the internet.

Since there's massive snowfall, it seems appropriate to knit. I have some very special wool that I bought on Pender Island when I was there during the summer, but I don't have a lot of it, so I was thinking I'd knit up a slender, lacy scarf. However, it's an odd wool, handspun, and it changes back and forth from really fine to rather thick and back again. A picture of the yarn itself is HERE.

Japanese Lantern Scarf. Not a very good picture, but maybe the best for the slubby-ness of the yarn.

Feather and Fan. Very simple. I approve of simple.

Branching Out. I love this one, but I'm worried that the pattern will get lost due to gauge change of the wool. Also, it should probably be leaf coloured...whether it be green, or autumn colours.

Hmmmmm...

I'm probably going to wind up making a little swatch of each one to see how it works...but I just thought I'd throw this out there. Comments are appreciated. Thanks!

*mouth agape*

This? Absolutely incredible... I want to do something like this now.

http://www.jeffdeboer.com/Galleries/CatsMice/tabid/63/Default.aspx

DAMMIT!!!!

My interview has been rescheduled to next week. WAHHHHH!!!!!

Ok...tooo many variations!

I finally remembered my password. Ye gods. I'm changing it to something a little less forgettable.

Soooo...this week is DELURKING WEEK! That's right! Comment to say hi if you read here. I know that I've got a dozen or so regular readers who comment on a frequent-ish basis (when comments work. :P) but I know there's a few of you who are lurking. So, say hi! :)

I want to talk about my resolutions...mostly they have to do with fun stuff, which I think is good. It keeps me from feeling too awful if it doesn't work out.

I) NO YARN FOR A YEAR
The rules are as follows:
1. The Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon will start January 1, 2007 and run through September 30, 2007 -- a period of nine months.
2. We will not buy any yarn during that period, with the following exceptions:
2.a. Sock yarn does not count. What? You think we are made of stone?
2.b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that we really and truly do not have the yarn for, we may buy yarn to knit that gift.
2.c. If we are knitting something and run out of yarn, we may purchase enough to complete the project.
2.d. We each get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card -- we are each allowed to fall off the wagon one time.
3. We are allowed to receive gifts of yarn.
4. Spinning fiber of any sort is exempt.

So, what's coming up....for Valentines, Chinese New Year, St. Patrick's Day, my Mom's birthday and Easter, I'd like yarn please. ;)

II) FINISH UP UFO's (aka UnFinishedObjects)
I have waaaaaaaaaay too many projects started. So, these need to be finished.

III) DO MORE CREATIVE THINGS/MAKE TIME FOR MYSELF
Whether it's reading, knitting, sewing, painting, etc. I need to make more time for myself.

IV) SELL ARTWORK
I'm focusing mostly on photography, but I'm open to selling other items, especially fabric/yarn related stuff, since that stuff's REALLY bulky and I'd like to get it out of here.

V) CONTINUE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
I fell off the wagon the last few weeks of 2006, due to extreme candy and cookie availability, but I've managed to stay fairly active. Now to finish off the holiday treats, and continue being active!

I've got a few other ones, but I'll save them for now. Currently, I've managed to work on all of these things except the unfinished projects one. I've been enamoured with fingerless gloves and made a pair of those. This of course, means I needed to make a matching hat! I don't have enough yarn for a matching scarf (wahhh!) so does this mean that it falls under the "if you don't have enough yarn for the project" clause? I'm thinking not yet. Maybe once I've busted my stash down a bit.

Incidentally, does anyone want to buy a pair of fingerless gloves? ;) They won't cost too much...probably 10 bucks or less. ;) Feel free to look through my stash pictures and pick a colour (I can also do kids size)

I Should Be Sleeping...

...but I'm not.

Happy Birthday, Dave. For a present, you get...the bestest girlfriend in the WORLD!

:D

And as soon as I find her for ya, she's yours. Until then, you're stuck with me.

Love you lots. :)

PS. I'm not really looking all that hard. :)

No Title

One of the problems with not posting very often is that I will freeze up when I actually sit down at a computer, since there are so many things I want to talk/write about. So, here's a list of things I want to talk about.

1) Christmas
2) my cousin's wedding celebration
3) New Years
4) knitting and my new resolution
5) photography and my new resolution
6) New Years resolutions
7) TV shows I want to/have been watching
8) the amazing amount of interest generated by one of my photos
9) how I'm freaking out slightly about my interview in eight days
10) missing people, but still enjoying doing stuff at home

But, I'm supposed to be working tomorrow at some point, and it's very late, and I've been informed that I'm going on a date with my fabulous boyfriend tomorrow, and I've still got to clear off the yarn on my bed...since I catalogued my entire stash tonight. Oh...my. I took pictures, but I'm not sure I want to post them...so here's a picture of a fingerless glove that I knit instead. The other one is still on the needles, but ought to be finished by tomorrow.



Sooo...since I don't want anyone else to have free time...here is a link to some free books online. http://www.baen.com/library/