There is definite truth to the old saying... you can take the girl out of the newsroom but you can't take the newsroom out of the girl. Recent events have once again held that up.
It's been nearly a year and a half now since I left the news business. I'm in my second year of teaching. Yet, my antennae still twitch when I notice something newsworthy, at least potentially. I immediately start thinking of how quickly a news crew could make it to the scene, how many should be sent, can I get video or still pictures now without waiting for the crew, etc.
For example, when driving home and I see swat teams with really big guns swarming a local farm house (turned out to be a training exercise), or it starts snowing at the beginning of what's predicted to be a major snow storm, or I see cars that have slid off the road during an ice storm. It doesn't take much.
The thing is, since I'm no longer an official member of the media when I do see these things and call the local TV stations I'm often brushed off as another crazy viewer who's seeing things. It's only when I get ahold of someone I once worked with that I'm treated like a reasonably sane person.
I doubt the folks on the other end of the phone ever realize I know exactly what they're thinking of me as they fob me off with an, "I'll be sure to pass that on" or "We'll check into that". But see, I used to use those same lines on folks who would call in about seeing UFOs or political conspiracies, etc. So, I recognize when it's being done to me.
Highly frustrating. I can see now, why so many journalists who leave the business eventually do return. Not that I have any such plans. I'm committed to teaching. But, it's easy to see why others do.
Nimitz' Lady
Friday, December 14, 2007
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Halloween, Part Deux
Check out more Halloween pictures on Flickr from actual Halloween trick or treating. Also, pictures from the guys latest experment, Mentos and pop. They got one nice eruption. JBP wants to try again.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Halloween, Part Un
We had our first taste of Halloween today. I've spent more on JBP's costume this year than I've ever spent on any Halloween costume. Ever! But he was so in love with it I just coulcn't refuse. I remember too often having to go without something I wanted so desperately. I don't always say yes, but this time I did.
The costume is Sir Peter of Wolfsbane, from the Chronicles of Narnia. Of course, being the contrarian that JBP is, he prefers to think of it as Sir Edmund. For some reason, JBP identifies much more strongly with the fallible Edmund than with the near-perfect Peter.
However, since we spent so much, I told him he has to get our money's worth out of it. That means wearing it as much as possible.
Tonight, we attended the trick-or-treating event at the local zoo. Wednesday at school they have a costume party. And then, of course, is the big night itself.
Check out Flickr (link to your right!) for the latest photos. Of course, we'll be updating with each new event.
Nimitz' Lady
The costume is Sir Peter of Wolfsbane, from the Chronicles of Narnia. Of course, being the contrarian that JBP is, he prefers to think of it as Sir Edmund. For some reason, JBP identifies much more strongly with the fallible Edmund than with the near-perfect Peter.
However, since we spent so much, I told him he has to get our money's worth out of it. That means wearing it as much as possible.
Tonight, we attended the trick-or-treating event at the local zoo. Wednesday at school they have a costume party. And then, of course, is the big night itself.
Check out Flickr (link to your right!) for the latest photos. Of course, we'll be updating with each new event.
Nimitz' Lady
Sunday, October 14, 2007
All's Quiet on the Home Front
After a weekend of hectic activity due to four kids 16 and under in the house, all seems waaaay too quiet. BRING THEM BACK!
The good news, a good time was had by all.
Die Spielerin and La Moldova, another exchange student at our church from the eastern european country of Moldova, tried to go to a movie last night. The whole project didn't turn out so well. Their first choice movie ended up being sold out when they got there. They're second choice ended up being Rated R and the theater was actually checking ID's and rejecting patrons under the age of 17. Very rare. So, they spent an hour or so at Freddy's Frozen Yogurt next door to the theater, and then called for a ride home.
JBP and his friend, Soccer Boy, got to stay up late and watch a movie at home. Then, they slept on the sofabed downstairs. We also baked sugar cookies. They had a great time.
Today, the boys decorated their sugar cookies, played computer games, had pillow fights, went swimming at the Y and generally raised heck.
The girls did Die Spielerin's homework. She's in a Foods & Textiles class and had a homework assignment to plan, shop for and cook a meal for the family. She and La Moldova spent most of the morning cooking up a storm.
They prepared chocolage chip cookies,
sweet potato bread, fruit cocktail with vanilla pudding and German pancakes.
For the pancakes they used my Der Deutscher's grandmother's recipe. It was the height of irony, as Der Deutscher, to have an American teaching a German how to prepare a traditional German dish.
The meal, and the weekend, was a great success.
The good news, a good time was had by all.
Die Spielerin and La Moldova, another exchange student at our church from the eastern european country of Moldova, tried to go to a movie last night. The whole project didn't turn out so well. Their first choice movie ended up being sold out when they got there. They're second choice ended up being Rated R and the theater was actually checking ID's and rejecting patrons under the age of 17. Very rare. So, they spent an hour or so at Freddy's Frozen Yogurt next door to the theater, and then called for a ride home.
JBP and his friend, Soccer Boy, got to stay up late and watch a movie at home. Then, they slept on the sofabed downstairs. We also baked sugar cookies. They had a great time.
Today, the boys decorated their sugar cookies, played computer games, had pillow fights, went swimming at the Y and generally raised heck.
The girls did Die Spielerin's homework. She's in a Foods & Textiles class and had a homework assignment to plan, shop for and cook a meal for the family. She and La Moldova spent most of the morning cooking up a storm.
They prepared chocolage chip cookies,
sweet potato bread, fruit cocktail with vanilla pudding and German pancakes.
For the pancakes they used my Der Deutscher's grandmother's recipe. It was the height of irony, as Der Deutscher, to have an American teaching a German how to prepare a traditional German dish.
The meal, and the weekend, was a great success.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Full House
I have a full house this weekend. Both Die Spielerin and JBP have friends over for sleepovers.
The girls are fine. They're old enough to take care of themselves.
However, two young men, in the 7 to 8 year old range, is quite a challenge. Mostly, they keep each other occupied, except when their rough-housing ends up with one injured and the two arguing, or they disagree over what to do or what to watch, or, or , or.
You get the idea.
I'm about ready to forcibly drag the two of them to the park so they can work off some of their energy.
Nimitz' Lady
The girls are fine. They're old enough to take care of themselves.
However, two young men, in the 7 to 8 year old range, is quite a challenge. Mostly, they keep each other occupied, except when their rough-housing ends up with one injured and the two arguing, or they disagree over what to do or what to watch, or, or , or.
You get the idea.
I'm about ready to forcibly drag the two of them to the park so they can work off some of their energy.
Nimitz' Lady
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Explosive Fun
JBP finally got to carry out a Mythbusters science experiment he's been waiting to do for weeks.
It has to do with chemical reactions (baking soda and vinegar) and pressure (mixed in a corked bottle). The idea is to build up enough pressure inside the bottle to pop the cork in an explosive manner. Needless to say, this was carried out under close adult supervision. Or, to put it another way, Der Deutscher ended up doing most of the work.
Here's a visual tour of the experiment.
Step #1: Mix the ingredients.
Step #2: Shake things up.
Step #3: Marvel at the explosion.
Step #4: Sit back and enjoy a job well done.
Nimitz' Lady
It has to do with chemical reactions (baking soda and vinegar) and pressure (mixed in a corked bottle). The idea is to build up enough pressure inside the bottle to pop the cork in an explosive manner. Needless to say, this was carried out under close adult supervision. Or, to put it another way, Der Deutscher ended up doing most of the work.
Here's a visual tour of the experiment.
Step #1: Mix the ingredients.
Step #2: Shake things up.
Step #3: Marvel at the explosion.
Step #4: Sit back and enjoy a job well done.
Nimitz' Lady
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Popping up for air
Sorry for the long absence folks. This fall has been busier than I'd ever imagined teaching could be.
It's not just the teaching, like last year. I'm also taking courses in education to eventually get a full license. Right now I only have a license to teach Spanish at my high school. I can't teach anything else, anywhere else.
Plus, I was trying to help a group of my students raise money for a trip to Spain next spring. Yes, I said "was".
I started out with a group of nearly 20 kids saying they wanted to go. Once they found out the cost, it fell to about 13. Then, I lost about a student a week for a few weeks. Finally, I was down to what I thought was a solid group of seven students. Then, three more dropped out. I told the kids they had to sign up with the program online and make their downpayment by midnight Friday. They didn't. I cancelled the trip. I wasn't about to start fundraising for an event that might not happen. I'd feel like I was defrauding the public.
In other news, I got to hang out with some old friends from my last TV job last weekend. On Friday, the sports guys came out to my high school for Football Friday. I was always close to the guys in the sports department. Probably my tom boy roots showing. Then, on Saturday, I attended the Race for the Cure, which is a big event for the female evening anchor.
JBP, Der Deutscher, Die Spielerin and I are all proud to say we completed the 5K walk. Die Spielerin is to be especially commended as we completely forgot to tell her about the annual event until we rousted her out of bed that morning!
On Monday, I had a student who'd seen me hanging out with the sports guys on Friday, ask me why I wasn't in news anymore. "You looked so happy!" she said.
I told her being in the field, liveshots, etc, were what I'd liked the most about the TV biz and I never got to do it anymore and wasn't going to be able to do it again in this market and had no chance of moving on to a station outside this market.
I also told her teaching makes me just as happy!
Meanwhile, last week was Homecoming at our high school. Die Spielerin (the exchange student living with us) chose to go to the game and dance afterward. Her opinion of the whole event, the festivities were lots of fun, the game was boring. She so fits in with us. She's going to love basketball season.
On that note, I'm signing off for the night. Don't know when I'll be back, so check in regularly.
Nimitz' Lady
It's not just the teaching, like last year. I'm also taking courses in education to eventually get a full license. Right now I only have a license to teach Spanish at my high school. I can't teach anything else, anywhere else.
Plus, I was trying to help a group of my students raise money for a trip to Spain next spring. Yes, I said "was".
I started out with a group of nearly 20 kids saying they wanted to go. Once they found out the cost, it fell to about 13. Then, I lost about a student a week for a few weeks. Finally, I was down to what I thought was a solid group of seven students. Then, three more dropped out. I told the kids they had to sign up with the program online and make their downpayment by midnight Friday. They didn't. I cancelled the trip. I wasn't about to start fundraising for an event that might not happen. I'd feel like I was defrauding the public.
In other news, I got to hang out with some old friends from my last TV job last weekend. On Friday, the sports guys came out to my high school for Football Friday. I was always close to the guys in the sports department. Probably my tom boy roots showing. Then, on Saturday, I attended the Race for the Cure, which is a big event for the female evening anchor.
JBP, Der Deutscher, Die Spielerin and I are all proud to say we completed the 5K walk. Die Spielerin is to be especially commended as we completely forgot to tell her about the annual event until we rousted her out of bed that morning!
On Monday, I had a student who'd seen me hanging out with the sports guys on Friday, ask me why I wasn't in news anymore. "You looked so happy!" she said.
I told her being in the field, liveshots, etc, were what I'd liked the most about the TV biz and I never got to do it anymore and wasn't going to be able to do it again in this market and had no chance of moving on to a station outside this market.
I also told her teaching makes me just as happy!
Meanwhile, last week was Homecoming at our high school. Die Spielerin (the exchange student living with us) chose to go to the game and dance afterward. Her opinion of the whole event, the festivities were lots of fun, the game was boring. She so fits in with us. She's going to love basketball season.
On that note, I'm signing off for the night. Don't know when I'll be back, so check in regularly.
Nimitz' Lady
Sunday, September 09, 2007
One down...
My second class on my way to an official teacher's license begins tomorrow. I've already completed assignment number 1.
While I'm still a little worried about the technology holding up and not screwing up my work I do like the fact that I was able to get online and do all the work required for the first assignment a day before the class officially starts.
And I wasn't the first one to do so. Okay. So I was the second one.
I figure if I can keep this up I should be able to finish the class in about a week or two. Of course, that depends on how detailed the rest of the assignments get.
Wish me luck.
Nimitz' Lady
While I'm still a little worried about the technology holding up and not screwing up my work I do like the fact that I was able to get online and do all the work required for the first assignment a day before the class officially starts.
And I wasn't the first one to do so. Okay. So I was the second one.
I figure if I can keep this up I should be able to finish the class in about a week or two. Of course, that depends on how detailed the rest of the assignments get.
Wish me luck.
Nimitz' Lady
Ouch!
I took the kids rollerskating this afternoon. JBP had been asking to go for a few weeks and I figured it was an All American sort of activity Die Spielerin should be exposed to.
She took to rollerskating pretty quickly. Only one or two falls. I think previous ice skating experience stood her in good stead.
JBP's skills on skates are rapidly improving. Despite numerous falls, on his rear, elbows, chin and every other body part you can name, he was grinningly ecstatic to be there.
I, however, appear to have the most lasting war wound from our afternoon. It's been more than a year since I'd been skating, and only sporadic before that. Plus, these skates were different from what I'm used to. More like the height of tennis shoes than high tops. I need that extra support (I can sprain an ankle by looking at it angled!).
I only took about three falls, all told. But on one of them I landed quite hard on my left glute. It's still aching more than four hours later. I have a feeling tomorrow's gonna huuuu-rrrrt!
Nimitz' Lady
p.s. I've got photos which I'll post later. Unfortunately, I took them on my cell phone and it ran out of juice. It's currently on "life-support", or the charger as it's more commonly called.
She took to rollerskating pretty quickly. Only one or two falls. I think previous ice skating experience stood her in good stead.
JBP's skills on skates are rapidly improving. Despite numerous falls, on his rear, elbows, chin and every other body part you can name, he was grinningly ecstatic to be there.
I, however, appear to have the most lasting war wound from our afternoon. It's been more than a year since I'd been skating, and only sporadic before that. Plus, these skates were different from what I'm used to. More like the height of tennis shoes than high tops. I need that extra support (I can sprain an ankle by looking at it angled!).
I only took about three falls, all told. But on one of them I landed quite hard on my left glute. It's still aching more than four hours later. I have a feeling tomorrow's gonna huuuu-rrrrt!
Nimitz' Lady
p.s. I've got photos which I'll post later. Unfortunately, I took them on my cell phone and it ran out of juice. It's currently on "life-support", or the charger as it's more commonly called.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
A Little of This....
a little of that.
*Observation #1: Today was the first time I had to have an observer from my university in my classroom. It's part of the State's requirement to allow me in a classroom at all. I have to have someone come "observe" me at least twice a semester. I wasn't nervous about that, until she told me she'd need a copy of my lesson plan for the day. Then I started sweating bullets. I just jumped into this teaching thing feet first. NO training! So I pretty much do lesson plans like a Newscast Rundown -- a bunch of slugs indicating what each "story" (lesson) is about.
The good news, she was happy with what she saw. Wrote a note on the top of my observation sheet: What a model classroom.
This, despite the fact I was late getting class started because printers weren't working and I had trouble getting quizzes printed. Then, when I passed the quizzes out a student asked, "Are there supposed to be two Es and two Fs?"
I had mislabeled the pictures as: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, E, F, H.
If today is what she considers a "model" classroom I'd hate to find out what she considers a badly run one!
*The Rain in Spain... : Tomorrow I find out how many of my students will, perhaps, experience said event. I hold the first organizational meeting tomorrow after school for a trip to Spain next Spring/Summer.
I'm hoping at least 12 students will sign up for the trip. For every six students the program takes a chaperone for free. Twelve students means another adult can come with me.
I'm excited, scared and hopeful all at the same time. Mostly I just don't want all the students who are interested in traveling to give up because of the cost.
*Dancing in our Seats: JBP and I did the seat dance today on the way home from school. He's been in school more than a week now. No (major) behavioral problems, only a couple minor ones.
Today he had a sub, last year a sure sign of major trouble, and he didn't have to pull a single tab (in other words not even a warning!). So, we did the Happy Dance in our seats.
He also took three AR (accelerated reading) tests and got 100% on all of them. My boy is growing up and learning loads!
Nimitz' Lady
*Observation #1: Today was the first time I had to have an observer from my university in my classroom. It's part of the State's requirement to allow me in a classroom at all. I have to have someone come "observe" me at least twice a semester. I wasn't nervous about that, until she told me she'd need a copy of my lesson plan for the day. Then I started sweating bullets. I just jumped into this teaching thing feet first. NO training! So I pretty much do lesson plans like a Newscast Rundown -- a bunch of slugs indicating what each "story" (lesson) is about.
The good news, she was happy with what she saw. Wrote a note on the top of my observation sheet: What a model classroom.
This, despite the fact I was late getting class started because printers weren't working and I had trouble getting quizzes printed. Then, when I passed the quizzes out a student asked, "Are there supposed to be two Es and two Fs?"
I had mislabeled the pictures as: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, E, F, H.
If today is what she considers a "model" classroom I'd hate to find out what she considers a badly run one!
*The Rain in Spain... : Tomorrow I find out how many of my students will, perhaps, experience said event. I hold the first organizational meeting tomorrow after school for a trip to Spain next Spring/Summer.
I'm hoping at least 12 students will sign up for the trip. For every six students the program takes a chaperone for free. Twelve students means another adult can come with me.
I'm excited, scared and hopeful all at the same time. Mostly I just don't want all the students who are interested in traveling to give up because of the cost.
*Dancing in our Seats: JBP and I did the seat dance today on the way home from school. He's been in school more than a week now. No (major) behavioral problems, only a couple minor ones.
Today he had a sub, last year a sure sign of major trouble, and he didn't have to pull a single tab (in other words not even a warning!). So, we did the Happy Dance in our seats.
He also took three AR (accelerated reading) tests and got 100% on all of them. My boy is growing up and learning loads!
Nimitz' Lady
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Dangerous Apathetic-ness
Went to get my driver's license renewed today. You'll never guess what happened. The lack of caring about quality by government workers reached a new high. Or is that low?
In my state, to renew a driver's license you're mailed a test along with an instructional booklet with all the answers in it. All you have to do is take the test, at home, bring it in and have it graded to get your new license.
Me, being me, lost the test. So, today I went in expecting to have to take a standard written test, closed book. When I got there the lady at the first window told me I would take it open book. Ok. Whatever.
Then I moved on to the second window and paid. From there I went to the third window and got my picture taken.
At which point the lady at window #3 told me, "That's it. You're new license will be mailed to you."
Duh-wah? When I reminded her I was supposed to take the test, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, I already took your picture, so I guess you're done. Have a great day."
I remain flabbergasted!
Nimitz' Lady
In my state, to renew a driver's license you're mailed a test along with an instructional booklet with all the answers in it. All you have to do is take the test, at home, bring it in and have it graded to get your new license.
Me, being me, lost the test. So, today I went in expecting to have to take a standard written test, closed book. When I got there the lady at the first window told me I would take it open book. Ok. Whatever.
Then I moved on to the second window and paid. From there I went to the third window and got my picture taken.
At which point the lady at window #3 told me, "That's it. You're new license will be mailed to you."
Duh-wah? When I reminded her I was supposed to take the test, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, I already took your picture, so I guess you're done. Have a great day."
I remain flabbergasted!
Nimitz' Lady
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Using Your Brain
Today, as part of lunch, we had Challah. It's a traditional Jewish bread served on Sabbath, similar to German eggbread. JBP loves it. So did Die Spielerin.
JBP had already eaten a huge chunk of it and was working on his lasagna when Die Spielerin took a second piece of bread. In fear he wouldn't get any more, JBP lunged to grab another chunk for himself.
"Unh-unh! Finish your lasagna first," I told him.
He responded, "If I were a king in the old days I would just tell someone to keep some for me for later. If I were a king."
"Might does not make right," I said.
"What does that mean?"
"Just because you have the power to do something doesn't make doing it the right thing. Just because kings in the old days had the ability to be spoiled brats doesn't make it right."
Subdued, JBP responded, "Oh, I think I see where you're going with this."
Smart little thing, ain't he?
Nimitz' Lady
JBP had already eaten a huge chunk of it and was working on his lasagna when Die Spielerin took a second piece of bread. In fear he wouldn't get any more, JBP lunged to grab another chunk for himself.
"Unh-unh! Finish your lasagna first," I told him.
He responded, "If I were a king in the old days I would just tell someone to keep some for me for later. If I were a king."
"Might does not make right," I said.
"What does that mean?"
"Just because you have the power to do something doesn't make doing it the right thing. Just because kings in the old days had the ability to be spoiled brats doesn't make it right."
Subdued, JBP responded, "Oh, I think I see where you're going with this."
Smart little thing, ain't he?
Nimitz' Lady
Friday, August 24, 2007
Enculturation
Or Americanization. Whatever you want to call it, it's well underway for Die Spielerin.
By the third day of classes she was wearing flip flops to school, just like all the other teenage American girls. This is something on student in Germany (or most of the rest of Europe) would ever even consider doing. But here it's de rigeur. And now it's de Die Spielerin.
Nimitz' Lady
By the third day of classes she was wearing flip flops to school, just like all the other teenage American girls. This is something on student in Germany (or most of the rest of Europe) would ever even consider doing. But here it's de rigeur. And now it's de Die Spielerin.
Nimitz' Lady
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
It's a Small World....
Okay, okay you can finish the song without me.
But, yet another sign of just how small the world now is... in one class I have one student who's from Dubuque and a Hawkeyes fan (I told her I wouldn't hold that against her!) and two students who just moved here from Ames, IA.
They all appreciated all the ISU stuff in my classroom.
Nimitz' Lady
But, yet another sign of just how small the world now is... in one class I have one student who's from Dubuque and a Hawkeyes fan (I told her I wouldn't hold that against her!) and two students who just moved here from Ames, IA.
They all appreciated all the ISU stuff in my classroom.
Nimitz' Lady
Little Man
I knew there was something I left out of last night's post. Monday, the day before school started, JBP had a frenectomy.
The frenum is that little piece of flesh that connects your upper lip to the muscle along the upper jaw.
Turns out his was preventing his two front teeth from growing together properly. So, a quick laser cut of the frenum Monday should prevent the need for expensive and painful braces or retainers in a few years.
I was so proud of JBP. They gave him laughing gas, or nitrous oxide as he insisted on calling it. So, he was awake during the whole thing.
He held still as a rock. Even when we could smell his flesh burning! I could only watch parts of it but sat on the foot end of the dental chair holding JBP's hands.
Even the dentist was impressed with how well JBP handled it. He said he'd had adults who didn't deal as well with the pseudo-surgery. After it was all over he gave JBP a grown-up brush "because he'd proved he deserved it!"
Of course it's still healing, and will be for a few more days. So, JBP's had to restrict himself to soft foods that won't poke it. And he's brushed his teeth with hot salt water. He can't wait until he can use the toothbrush again and use his new, grown-up brush.
Nimitz' Lady
The frenum is that little piece of flesh that connects your upper lip to the muscle along the upper jaw.
Turns out his was preventing his two front teeth from growing together properly. So, a quick laser cut of the frenum Monday should prevent the need for expensive and painful braces or retainers in a few years.
I was so proud of JBP. They gave him laughing gas, or nitrous oxide as he insisted on calling it. So, he was awake during the whole thing.
He held still as a rock. Even when we could smell his flesh burning! I could only watch parts of it but sat on the foot end of the dental chair holding JBP's hands.
Even the dentist was impressed with how well JBP handled it. He said he'd had adults who didn't deal as well with the pseudo-surgery. After it was all over he gave JBP a grown-up brush "because he'd proved he deserved it!"
Of course it's still healing, and will be for a few more days. So, JBP's had to restrict himself to soft foods that won't poke it. And he's brushed his teeth with hot salt water. He can't wait until he can use the toothbrush again and use his new, grown-up brush.
Nimitz' Lady
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
First Day of School
One day down, 179 (or so) to go. And, although I haven't had any classes yet I'm quite optimistic about the coming year.
Die Spielerin appeared to get along well. She spent a lot of time with the other exchange student at our school this year, Miss Hong Kong. Today was mostly about the freshman, so other new students who weren't freshman didn't have as much to do. Tomorrow (Wednesday) classes actually begin. I'm not sure, but I think she's a bit nervous. I am sure she'll do fine.
JBP had a great first day. Unlike at the high school, it was a complete school day for him. Although, his day did start at 3:30 am! That's when he came into our room, fully dressed for school, and said he couldn't sleep anymore. I made him go back to bed.
His teacher, Mrs. A, called me about 1pm to ask if he could go to bed earlier as he was tired and it was affecting his behavior. When I informed her he goes to bed at 7:30pm she was shocked. It wasn't until after school I thought to let her know about the early morning incident.
But, when I called after school she was nothing but praise for his behavior. When given a choice of behaviors and outcomes he made the right choice every time! He finished the day with NO problems. She and I are both very upbeat about how this year should go.
She made a very astute observation after only one day with JBP, something I kept trying to convince folks of last year. In her words, JBP is like a balloon. At the least negative word he deflates. But positive praise fills him up like helium! I really think she's the right match for him. An answer to prayer.
Nimitz' Lady
Die Spielerin appeared to get along well. She spent a lot of time with the other exchange student at our school this year, Miss Hong Kong. Today was mostly about the freshman, so other new students who weren't freshman didn't have as much to do. Tomorrow (Wednesday) classes actually begin. I'm not sure, but I think she's a bit nervous. I am sure she'll do fine.
JBP had a great first day. Unlike at the high school, it was a complete school day for him. Although, his day did start at 3:30 am! That's when he came into our room, fully dressed for school, and said he couldn't sleep anymore. I made him go back to bed.
His teacher, Mrs. A, called me about 1pm to ask if he could go to bed earlier as he was tired and it was affecting his behavior. When I informed her he goes to bed at 7:30pm she was shocked. It wasn't until after school I thought to let her know about the early morning incident.
But, when I called after school she was nothing but praise for his behavior. When given a choice of behaviors and outcomes he made the right choice every time! He finished the day with NO problems. She and I are both very upbeat about how this year should go.
She made a very astute observation after only one day with JBP, something I kept trying to convince folks of last year. In her words, JBP is like a balloon. At the least negative word he deflates. But positive praise fills him up like helium! I really think she's the right match for him. An answer to prayer.
Nimitz' Lady
Friday, August 03, 2007
(Early!) Arrival
Die Spielerin made it in safe and sound yesterday afternoon. Not only was her plane on time, it was early by about 20 minutes!
Why is this such a big deal? She flew United which, in our family's experience, is not exactly not for being on time.
For a few minutes it looked like her luggage hadn't arrived with her (which would've undone United's early arrival glow). But, when we went to the counter to put in her claim they had the luggage there.
In an effort to help her deal with the jet lag, we kept her up until about 8pm last night. JBP did his part by playing with her and talking her head off. He's so excited about her presence he's barely left her side since her arrival. We also took her out to eat, an early birthday meal for Der Deutscher. (He's 36 today! Frohe Geburtstag!)
Today, we get her enrolled in school and just hang out. Since she's going to the school I teach at classes won't start for her until August 21st. So, she has a couple of weeks to shake off the jet lag.
Unfortunately, she still has no peace to do it in. Our house is currently a zoo. On top of Theresa's arrival, my mother is visiting (with her two cats, which brings the pet population here to 1 dog and 5 cats!), and we have a gentleman in re-doing our downstairs bathroom -- right across the hall from Theresa's room.
Welcome to Grand Central Station!
Nimitz' Lady
Why is this such a big deal? She flew United which, in our family's experience, is not exactly not for being on time.
For a few minutes it looked like her luggage hadn't arrived with her (which would've undone United's early arrival glow). But, when we went to the counter to put in her claim they had the luggage there.
In an effort to help her deal with the jet lag, we kept her up until about 8pm last night. JBP did his part by playing with her and talking her head off. He's so excited about her presence he's barely left her side since her arrival. We also took her out to eat, an early birthday meal for Der Deutscher. (He's 36 today! Frohe Geburtstag!)
Today, we get her enrolled in school and just hang out. Since she's going to the school I teach at classes won't start for her until August 21st. So, she has a couple of weeks to shake off the jet lag.
Unfortunately, she still has no peace to do it in. Our house is currently a zoo. On top of Theresa's arrival, my mother is visiting (with her two cats, which brings the pet population here to 1 dog and 5 cats!), and we have a gentleman in re-doing our downstairs bathroom -- right across the hall from Theresa's room.
Welcome to Grand Central Station!
Nimitz' Lady
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Breathing Again
For awhile today I thought our exchange student, Die Spielerin, was going to have to go to another host family.
When we agreed to host her we were told the exchange program had a place reserved for her at the neighborhood high school who's district we live in. Only problem, when we went to begin enrolling her we couldn't.
A long story short, there was some paper work that according to the regs was supposed to be filed with the district by July 1st. Except Die Spielerin was an emergency, last minute placement. Not all that unusual with international exchange programs.
The old guy who was in charge of enrollment at the district knew this and would've just signed the paperwork and been done with it. Problem? He retired over the summer and the new guy was a real *()&&*^^%^%$#@!
I've never been treated so rudely in my life. Rudely, with contempt, as if I weren't worth scraping his shoes off on. Der Deutscher plans to file an official complaint over his treatment of me with the district.
In desperation I went back to my school (where I teach, a separate district) and ask my principal, again, if he would accept Theresa. He had original said no due to the number of students expected to enroll this year.
Well, with all the delay, about 10 minutes before I asked him, he got updated enrollment numbers that were lower than the projections. So, he accepted her.
¡Gracias a DÃos!
So, long story short, everything worked out. Die Spielerin will attend the smaller school I teach at, rather than the gigantic school I live near. And I am now recovering from near heart attack level palpitations.
Man I need some chocolate! Except it is verboten on my diet. Danged diet!
Nimitz' Lady
When we agreed to host her we were told the exchange program had a place reserved for her at the neighborhood high school who's district we live in. Only problem, when we went to begin enrolling her we couldn't.
A long story short, there was some paper work that according to the regs was supposed to be filed with the district by July 1st. Except Die Spielerin was an emergency, last minute placement. Not all that unusual with international exchange programs.
The old guy who was in charge of enrollment at the district knew this and would've just signed the paperwork and been done with it. Problem? He retired over the summer and the new guy was a real *()&&*^^%^%$#@!
I've never been treated so rudely in my life. Rudely, with contempt, as if I weren't worth scraping his shoes off on. Der Deutscher plans to file an official complaint over his treatment of me with the district.
In desperation I went back to my school (where I teach, a separate district) and ask my principal, again, if he would accept Theresa. He had original said no due to the number of students expected to enroll this year.
Well, with all the delay, about 10 minutes before I asked him, he got updated enrollment numbers that were lower than the projections. So, he accepted her.
¡Gracias a DÃos!
So, long story short, everything worked out. Die Spielerin will attend the smaller school I teach at, rather than the gigantic school I live near. And I am now recovering from near heart attack level palpitations.
Man I need some chocolate! Except it is verboten on my diet. Danged diet!
Nimitz' Lady
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Al(most) done!
It took several days of hard work, and the welcome aid of several friends, but we have a room cleaned up and basically ready for Die Spielerin's arrival later this week.
We do still need to hang a few pictures. Plus, we're trying to figure out where to put a couple of extra unused end/coffee tables and an extra TV. We are SO American!
Meanwhile, all the work to clean up that room has basically left the rest of the house looking as if a tornado had just torn through.
So my goal for the rest of this week, besides finishing up my teacher class, is to get the rest of the house into a reasonable amount of order.
Nimitz' Lady
We do still need to hang a few pictures. Plus, we're trying to figure out where to put a couple of extra unused end/coffee tables and an extra TV. We are SO American!
Meanwhile, all the work to clean up that room has basically left the rest of the house looking as if a tornado had just torn through.
So my goal for the rest of this week, besides finishing up my teacher class, is to get the rest of the house into a reasonable amount of order.
Nimitz' Lady
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Chaos Uninterrupted
***I tried to post this two days ago but my computer kept freezing up. Enjoy!***
So, after much deep discussion of the pros and cons Der Deutscher and I decided to take the plunge. We're hosting an exchange student from Germany. From here on out we'll refer to her as Die Spielerin.
She's really into sports and, for those of you not the German know, Die Spielerin means The Sports Player. More or less.
We only filled out the paperwork last weekend. Part of the host family application process is a background check. Gotta make sure we're not criminals or anything! =) That went in on Monday. Today, we got an e-mail with here itinerary -- she's arriving August 2nd!-- and us listed as her host parents. At which point we assumed we were official.
This evening we got an e-mail from her, as well.
This has put what was already a rush to get her room ready (it was a complete mess as the included picture makes obvious)
into overdrive. We've pretty much got everything figured out, now we've just got to buy the required supplies and get them put in place.
This, while I'm still taking teaching classes, volunteering at our church's Vacation Bible School and trying to sneak at least a little bit of sleep in.
Why is it, no matter how hard I try, my life always turns into a circus?
Well, here's hoping all goes smoothly and Die Spielerin feels warmly welcomed into our family for the next year.
Now, I've gotta go finish my homework.
Nimitz' Lady
So, after much deep discussion of the pros and cons Der Deutscher and I decided to take the plunge. We're hosting an exchange student from Germany. From here on out we'll refer to her as Die Spielerin.
She's really into sports and, for those of you not the German know, Die Spielerin means The Sports Player. More or less.We only filled out the paperwork last weekend. Part of the host family application process is a background check. Gotta make sure we're not criminals or anything! =) That went in on Monday. Today, we got an e-mail with here itinerary -- she's arriving August 2nd!-- and us listed as her host parents. At which point we assumed we were official.
This evening we got an e-mail from her, as well.
This has put what was already a rush to get her room ready (it was a complete mess as the included picture makes obvious)
into overdrive. We've pretty much got everything figured out, now we've just got to buy the required supplies and get them put in place.This, while I'm still taking teaching classes, volunteering at our church's Vacation Bible School and trying to sneak at least a little bit of sleep in.
Why is it, no matter how hard I try, my life always turns into a circus?
Well, here's hoping all goes smoothly and Die Spielerin feels warmly welcomed into our family for the next year.
Now, I've gotta go finish my homework.
Nimitz' Lady
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Half-way There
Well, the week's half gone and I'm still alive. I've completed all the required essays and assorted homework. Now I just have to survive two more days of classes from 8 am to 4pm! Then, I'm outta there.
Of course, I have another, two week, class starting next week back home!
Nimitz' Lady
Of course, I have another, two week, class starting next week back home!
Nimitz' Lady
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sizzle
I'm in Kansas City taking the first of about a dozen classes I'll have to take over the next three years to become an officially certified teacher.
Class started at 8 am today. It's currently almost 6pm. So far I've hand-written one 4 page essay and typed another half page essay. I still have about 20 articles to read tonight and some math to do.
What?! Math?!?
Yep! It's that whole grade thing and they want to know I can do basic averages, percentages, etc.
So, it's off to do some homework I am.
I figure by the time class ends Friday afternoon I'll be completely brain fried! Why can't I ever do anything the "normal" way?
Wish me luck!
Nimitz' Lady
Class started at 8 am today. It's currently almost 6pm. So far I've hand-written one 4 page essay and typed another half page essay. I still have about 20 articles to read tonight and some math to do.
What?! Math?!?
Yep! It's that whole grade thing and they want to know I can do basic averages, percentages, etc.
So, it's off to do some homework I am.
I figure by the time class ends Friday afternoon I'll be completely brain fried! Why can't I ever do anything the "normal" way?
Wish me luck!
Nimitz' Lady
Weighty Thoughts
I've been desperately trying to lose weight for more than a year and a half now. Working out with a personal trainer hasn't helped. Working out two to three hours a day now that it's summer hasn't helped.
So, in my desperation I've done something I once swore to myself I would never do. I've signed up with one of those weight loss programs you see advertised on TV.
I picked this program because there are no pre-packaged meals to buy, you meet three times a week with a nutrition counselor, and the program sticks with you for a year after you reach your goal to help you transition into maintenance.
I actually managed to lose a couple pounds in the first week. The first sign of weight sheddage in months.
So, overall I'm cautiously optimistic. However, the plan also includes eating six "mini-meals" a day. I feel like I'm constantly eating.
Maybe that's their idea, to make me so sick of food I won't want to look at it, let along taste it, ever again?!
If so, it ain't gonna work. This chica likes to eat too much for that.
Nimitz' Lady
So, in my desperation I've done something I once swore to myself I would never do. I've signed up with one of those weight loss programs you see advertised on TV.
I picked this program because there are no pre-packaged meals to buy, you meet three times a week with a nutrition counselor, and the program sticks with you for a year after you reach your goal to help you transition into maintenance.
I actually managed to lose a couple pounds in the first week. The first sign of weight sheddage in months.
So, overall I'm cautiously optimistic. However, the plan also includes eating six "mini-meals" a day. I feel like I'm constantly eating.
Maybe that's their idea, to make me so sick of food I won't want to look at it, let along taste it, ever again?!
If so, it ain't gonna work. This chica likes to eat too much for that.
Nimitz' Lady
Friday, July 13, 2007
Mirror Image
In my recent efforts to fix up the house for sale I've spent quite a bit of time carting large lots of materials around in my mini-van.
Yesterday I bought two gliders to replace a cat-ruined love seat in our upstairs. We did manage to cram both of the gliders and both of their hassocks into the van. But it left me with absolutely no view out of my rear view mirror. I had to use the side mirrors.
Now, I didn't lose any visibility overall, as I do have two side mirrors properly placed. But, that doesn't take into account habit.
You never realize how accustomed you are to using something, or doing something, in a particular way, until you can't. I must've looked into that rear view mirror a hundred times on the 15 minute drive home.
It reminded me of when I had to drive the live van at WOI around the state of Iowa. With all the microwave and editing equipment in the back you might as well have completely removed the rear view mirror. It was completely useless.
Of course, that wasn't the only problem with driving that ancient monster (I think it was on a first name basis with such other ancient creatures as the Loch Ness Monster, Grendel and Gollum). It had the worst steering I've ever felt in my life. If you even looked at the steering wheel the van would move 15 feet to either your left or right.
That's before you even start talking about all its mechanical difficulties. It was officially monikered Live 5. We who had to drive it, oh so affectionately, referred to it as Death 5.
And that's why you go into TV News. For the war stories you get to tell!
Nimitz' Lady
Yesterday I bought two gliders to replace a cat-ruined love seat in our upstairs. We did manage to cram both of the gliders and both of their hassocks into the van. But it left me with absolutely no view out of my rear view mirror. I had to use the side mirrors.
Now, I didn't lose any visibility overall, as I do have two side mirrors properly placed. But, that doesn't take into account habit.
You never realize how accustomed you are to using something, or doing something, in a particular way, until you can't. I must've looked into that rear view mirror a hundred times on the 15 minute drive home.
It reminded me of when I had to drive the live van at WOI around the state of Iowa. With all the microwave and editing equipment in the back you might as well have completely removed the rear view mirror. It was completely useless.
Of course, that wasn't the only problem with driving that ancient monster (I think it was on a first name basis with such other ancient creatures as the Loch Ness Monster, Grendel and Gollum). It had the worst steering I've ever felt in my life. If you even looked at the steering wheel the van would move 15 feet to either your left or right.
That's before you even start talking about all its mechanical difficulties. It was officially monikered Live 5. We who had to drive it, oh so affectionately, referred to it as Death 5.
And that's why you go into TV News. For the war stories you get to tell!
Nimitz' Lady
Off to School
Well, I may not have to go back to teaching school until mid-August, but I go back to school as a student next week.
See, when I was hired I was a TV News Journalist. I shot, reported, edited, produced and managed the news for 13 years. I did NOT have any sort of teacher certification. In fact, I taught the entirety of last year on an emergency substitute's license.
This must be changed.
The good news is, I do have a college degree in both Journalism and Spanish. This means I can go through a special restricted licensing program in my state. I can enter the classroom immediately, or last year as the case may be, and teach under another instructor's "supervision" while I'm taking the necessary education courses.
It will take me three years to complete full certification. That process starts Monday.
Most of the classes will be online. But the first one I actually have to show up for in person. Which is something of a problem since the university which administers the program is a 2.5 hour drive away. (Remember my thing about long commutes?)
The good news, the class only lasts a week and I have a college friend who lives in the area. So I'll be camping out at his place for the next week.
Nimitz' Lady
See, when I was hired I was a TV News Journalist. I shot, reported, edited, produced and managed the news for 13 years. I did NOT have any sort of teacher certification. In fact, I taught the entirety of last year on an emergency substitute's license.
This must be changed.
The good news is, I do have a college degree in both Journalism and Spanish. This means I can go through a special restricted licensing program in my state. I can enter the classroom immediately, or last year as the case may be, and teach under another instructor's "supervision" while I'm taking the necessary education courses.
It will take me three years to complete full certification. That process starts Monday.
Most of the classes will be online. But the first one I actually have to show up for in person. Which is something of a problem since the university which administers the program is a 2.5 hour drive away. (Remember my thing about long commutes?)
The good news, the class only lasts a week and I have a college friend who lives in the area. So I'll be camping out at his place for the next week.
Nimitz' Lady
Designing Woman
Okay, I had this post 90% complete when I somehow managed to completely erase it! (*&*&%^$$#@@#! computers!
It's time to sell our house and I've spent much of my summer working toward that goal.
See, when I switched jobs last August (from TV News to High School Teacher) my daily commute went from 12 minutes, one way, to approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic. I don't like that.
Back when I was a cub reporter at WOI-TV in Iowa my commute was a whopping 45 minutes, one way. I drove that for eight freakingly long years. When we moved here I swore I would never live more than 20 minutes from work again.
Which means I've spent much of this summer doing things like finding contractors to do the things I can't do, like remodeling a bathroom and painting the house (inside and out!).
I've also been trying to fix the place up to "showcase" the house, as they put it on all those design shows.
This has had Der Deutscher sniggering at me for at least a solid month now. He says I'm starting to sound like those "frelling design shows".
So far, I've re-arranged the table in the dining room/common area upstairs to create a "reading nook", changed out the curtains, bought new blinds (haven't put them up yet) for all the upstairs public areas, pasted up paint color samples, replaced mattresses in JBP's room and replaced a love seat in the public area upstairs.
Today, I clean out the garage. Then, I'll tackle the family room, spare room and utility room in the basement.
We're not planning to put the house on the market until things warm up in the spring, but we need to get as much work done this summer, while I'm NOT working!, as possible. Thus the rush.
Just call me "Julia".
If you don't get that reference, you're too young to be reading this blog!
Nimitz' Lady
It's time to sell our house and I've spent much of my summer working toward that goal.
See, when I switched jobs last August (from TV News to High School Teacher) my daily commute went from 12 minutes, one way, to approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic. I don't like that.
Back when I was a cub reporter at WOI-TV in Iowa my commute was a whopping 45 minutes, one way. I drove that for eight freakingly long years. When we moved here I swore I would never live more than 20 minutes from work again.
Which means I've spent much of this summer doing things like finding contractors to do the things I can't do, like remodeling a bathroom and painting the house (inside and out!).
I've also been trying to fix the place up to "showcase" the house, as they put it on all those design shows.
This has had Der Deutscher sniggering at me for at least a solid month now. He says I'm starting to sound like those "frelling design shows".
So far, I've re-arranged the table in the dining room/common area upstairs to create a "reading nook", changed out the curtains, bought new blinds (haven't put them up yet) for all the upstairs public areas, pasted up paint color samples, replaced mattresses in JBP's room and replaced a love seat in the public area upstairs.
Today, I clean out the garage. Then, I'll tackle the family room, spare room and utility room in the basement.
We're not planning to put the house on the market until things warm up in the spring, but we need to get as much work done this summer, while I'm NOT working!, as possible. Thus the rush.
Just call me "Julia".
If you don't get that reference, you're too young to be reading this blog!
Nimitz' Lady
Monday, July 09, 2007
Tennis, Anyone?
So, my right elbow's been bothering me for a little over a month now. I first noticed it when I tried to stretch my shoulders one morning by clasping my hands behind my back and lifting them upward. In the process the elbows turn outward. This is a stretch I do regularly.
Well, that morning my right elbow suddenly hurt as it was twisting. At the time I just figured I'd slept on it wrong and the muscle was stiff.
But, the soreness didn't go away. In fact, it fluctuates in just how sore it is. Some days I barely notice it, while others I can barely use the right arm as a load-bearing aparatus.
Anyway, after a month my personal trainer at the gym asked me to get it checked out. Today, I went to the doctor. An x-ray showed I have an inflammation in the joint. Tennis Elbow.
My first reaction, "But I don't play tennis!"
The doctor says it's a typical, repetitive stress injury and the only way to heal it is to keep the stress off the joint.
So, now I'm sitting here with a pressure bandage sitting two finger-widths below my right elbow, driving me nuts!
Tennis, anyone?
Nimitz' Lady
Well, that morning my right elbow suddenly hurt as it was twisting. At the time I just figured I'd slept on it wrong and the muscle was stiff.
But, the soreness didn't go away. In fact, it fluctuates in just how sore it is. Some days I barely notice it, while others I can barely use the right arm as a load-bearing aparatus.
Anyway, after a month my personal trainer at the gym asked me to get it checked out. Today, I went to the doctor. An x-ray showed I have an inflammation in the joint. Tennis Elbow.
My first reaction, "But I don't play tennis!"
The doctor says it's a typical, repetitive stress injury and the only way to heal it is to keep the stress off the joint.
So, now I'm sitting here with a pressure bandage sitting two finger-widths below my right elbow, driving me nuts!
Tennis, anyone?
Nimitz' Lady
Carpet Cleaner
It looks like our newest and youngest family member, Squiggles, has found his life's calling -- Carpet Cleaner!
This young, approx. 11 month old, kitten has taken to licking the carpets.
Some say this could be from boredom (he has two older cats to play with, a tall cat-tree to attack at will and free access to the out-of-doors) or OCD (not seeing it).
Personally, I think he just likes the taste.
Nimitz' Lady
This young, approx. 11 month old, kitten has taken to licking the carpets.
Some say this could be from boredom (he has two older cats to play with, a tall cat-tree to attack at will and free access to the out-of-doors) or OCD (not seeing it).
Personally, I think he just likes the taste.
Nimitz' Lady
An Exchange?
Our church is trying to find a host family for a 17-year-old Seventh-day Adventist German girl who's planning to study in the States this next school year.
I'm trying to convince Der Deutscher that this would be a great fit for us. With Grammy having moved out we have an extra room. It would be a great chance for JBP to get daily contact with someone who embodies a part of his heritage, not to mention just get used to dealing with people from other countries (a major must in this day and age).
But Der Deutscher is coming up with all sorts of "why nots".
1. What would we do with all the stuff in the spare room, which is currently being used as a store room?
2. Hosting a German would be "cheating" since he's German.
3. We're fixing up the house for sale and it wouldn't be fair to put an exchange student through that.
4. Where would she go to school? Where I teach? Or at the neighborhood school?
I keep trying to tell him, that as with much else in life, if you wait for the perfect conditions you'll never do anything. We'll see if he changes his mind.
Nimitz' Lady
I'm trying to convince Der Deutscher that this would be a great fit for us. With Grammy having moved out we have an extra room. It would be a great chance for JBP to get daily contact with someone who embodies a part of his heritage, not to mention just get used to dealing with people from other countries (a major must in this day and age).
But Der Deutscher is coming up with all sorts of "why nots".
1. What would we do with all the stuff in the spare room, which is currently being used as a store room?
2. Hosting a German would be "cheating" since he's German.
3. We're fixing up the house for sale and it wouldn't be fair to put an exchange student through that.
4. Where would she go to school? Where I teach? Or at the neighborhood school?
I keep trying to tell him, that as with much else in life, if you wait for the perfect conditions you'll never do anything. We'll see if he changes his mind.
Nimitz' Lady
Promoted
This last Sabbath, JBP was promoted to the next level of Sabbath School. In our church, the Sabbath School classes are separated by grade completed, not age, and promotions are only done twice a year, once in July and once in January.
Since JBP completed 1st grade this last school year, he was promoted from the Kindergarten to Primary Class.
I had told him it was going to happen, but that we were going to miss the actual promotion ceremony while we were at the family reunion in Colorado. So, he'd been shrugging the whole thing off, pretending it didn't mean anything to him.
Well, at the end of the church service this last Sabbath, Surprise! Surprise!
Turns out too many of the kids being promoted had missed the weekend we missed. So, they'd delayed the promotion ceremony.
JBP was tickled pink to be called up to the front of the sanctuary to receive his promotion certificate along with all the others. He jumped out of his seat and grinned from ear to ear the entire time! Then, after church he scampered off quite happily to Primary class.
Nimitz' Lady
Since JBP completed 1st grade this last school year, he was promoted from the Kindergarten to Primary Class.
I had told him it was going to happen, but that we were going to miss the actual promotion ceremony while we were at the family reunion in Colorado. So, he'd been shrugging the whole thing off, pretending it didn't mean anything to him.
Well, at the end of the church service this last Sabbath, Surprise! Surprise!
Turns out too many of the kids being promoted had missed the weekend we missed. So, they'd delayed the promotion ceremony.
JBP was tickled pink to be called up to the front of the sanctuary to receive his promotion certificate along with all the others. He jumped out of his seat and grinned from ear to ear the entire time! Then, after church he scampered off quite happily to Primary class.
Nimitz' Lady
That's Gross
As promised, here's the story of why the comment "That's gross!" was so hilarious.
JBP was watching a show on animal babies (development and birth) on the National Geographic channel. (Free preview, we don't have digital cable. Yet.) The show moves from elephants to dolphins and begins talking about the process of conception. You know, s*x.
JBP turns to me and asks, "What's see-men?"
Now, he understands the basics of reproduction fairly well. He just needed a definition for a word he hadn't heard before as I've always referred to it as the seed.
When I explained what see-men was, he said, "Does that mean we do it like dolphins do?"
I responded, "Yes."
He thought for a moment, digesting the information and decided, "That's gross!"
Although this is a comment relatively common among his peers and agemates (notice I don't necessarily believe these two groups are one and the same) it is not a comment I'd ever expected to hear from JBP.
This is the same young man who's been flirting with the female half of the population since he was old enough to hold his head up on his own. Who, at the age of 5, turned to a waitress and said, "You have very pretty eyes!". Who, when he has a choice, will almost always choose to play with the girls (unless only the boys are playing a sport).
So, while I firmly expect to have major "girl troubles" when puberty hits, I never expected male/female relations to be termed as "gross" by him.
He is at an age where he is voraciously interested in the conception, development and birth process, but, most obviously, from the solely scientific point of view. So far. Thank God!
We've also had to have the discussion of babies outside of marriage this month, as one of his cousins at the family reunion was eight months pregnant and sans husband.
One thing I'm trying to fervently impress on him is the seriousness and spiritual aspects of s*x (it's not a sport, like so many of today's young people think it is). I really hope he'll be able to avoid the pitfalls I tumbled into in my youth. But what parent doesn't?
Nimitz' Lady
JBP was watching a show on animal babies (development and birth) on the National Geographic channel. (Free preview, we don't have digital cable. Yet.) The show moves from elephants to dolphins and begins talking about the process of conception. You know, s*x.
JBP turns to me and asks, "What's see-men?"
Now, he understands the basics of reproduction fairly well. He just needed a definition for a word he hadn't heard before as I've always referred to it as the seed.
When I explained what see-men was, he said, "Does that mean we do it like dolphins do?"
I responded, "Yes."
He thought for a moment, digesting the information and decided, "That's gross!"
Although this is a comment relatively common among his peers and agemates (notice I don't necessarily believe these two groups are one and the same) it is not a comment I'd ever expected to hear from JBP.
This is the same young man who's been flirting with the female half of the population since he was old enough to hold his head up on his own. Who, at the age of 5, turned to a waitress and said, "You have very pretty eyes!". Who, when he has a choice, will almost always choose to play with the girls (unless only the boys are playing a sport).
So, while I firmly expect to have major "girl troubles" when puberty hits, I never expected male/female relations to be termed as "gross" by him.
He is at an age where he is voraciously interested in the conception, development and birth process, but, most obviously, from the solely scientific point of view. So far. Thank God!
We've also had to have the discussion of babies outside of marriage this month, as one of his cousins at the family reunion was eight months pregnant and sans husband.
One thing I'm trying to fervently impress on him is the seriousness and spiritual aspects of s*x (it's not a sport, like so many of today's young people think it is). I really hope he'll be able to avoid the pitfalls I tumbled into in my youth. But what parent doesn't?
Nimitz' Lady
Thursday, July 05, 2007
@#^&*$%*@#!
I had a whole list of posts sitting on our computer desk, just waiting for when I had time to actually write and post them.
Well, big surprise, I finally get the time and someone (Der Deutscher?) has 'cleaned' up the desk and my list, written on the back of a piece of scrap paper, is gone!
I'll never remember all of them ,but bear with me as I try to paste my memory together here.
1. Swimming Reflections
When did I become a prude? Get old? Whatever you want to call it?
I made the horrendous error of promising my Eveready Bunny of a son that as I had the summer off I'd take him swimming practically every day.
So, as I've spent almost every afternoon this summer sitting by the pool (in it whenever the lifeguards are looking my way since JBP hasn't yet reached that magical age of 8) I've had plenty of time to people watch... and think.
And what I've thought is that it's obscene to put a 6 month old, or even a 6 year old, in a bikini. Don't get me wrong. Two piece swimsuits have their place. On adult women trying to catch a certain someone's attention. Where I have decided they DO NOT belong is on children.
It's similar to my husband's reaction to young pre-pubescent girls wearing make-up. "What, you've given up on keeping the pedophiles away and are just hoping to attract a high class of sexual predator?"
On the other hand, all the time I've spent at the pool has alleviated much of my own self-conciousness about appearing in public in a swimsuit. It's not that I now enjoy it, but I've realized it's a losing proposition to try to hide and have given up. So, here's hoping the rest of the world is enjoying all my jiggles (even those places BELOW the bustline!)
2. Seeing Red
I'm sunburnned! How did that happen? Turns out when the manufacturers say don't use sunscreen that's more than a year old they really mean it.
It wasn't a horrible burn. Never peeled or anything. Just enough to get my attention. I still was completely baffled.
To compound matters, two days later when we returned to the pool I FORGOT to put sunscreen on my chest, you know -- the burned area, and got burned again!
3. All 'Rung' Out
JBP caught ringworm at the Boys and Girls Club this summer. Not a huge deal, but a pain in the but.
He'd had a mosquito bite that wasn't healing normally and I'd been keeping an eye on it.
We get to Colorado for our family reunion (the Puerto Rican side of my family) and are at breakfast. I'm checking the mosquito bite yet again, trying to figure out what's going on, when JBP pipes up, "My teacher (at Boys and Girls Club) thinks it's ringworm."
At which point I remember a notice they'd put up that there'd been a kid with ringworm at the Club the week before. I rush to the hotel computer and google ringworm.
JBP's mosquito bite could've been the model for the pictures I found.
Treatment is relatively easy, but it meant JBP couldn't go swimming for the next seven days, i.e. not at all during the family reunion. That was tough for my little fish to handle. But, all in all, he did quite well and is now clear of the infection.
4. ¿Qué?
Ok, by all the tests I've been able to find, I'm fluent in Spanish. In fact, most native speakers have to be told that I am not one of them. However, I rediscovered one glaring deficiency in my Spanish abilities this last week in Colorado.
My family is Puerto Rican. Puerto Rican is probably the most difficult form of Spanish to understand. They drop practically all internal "s" in words, speak atrociously fast and slur everything together.
Add to that the fact that at least half of my family (of those who do speak Spanish) speak said Puerto Rican Spanish with a Southern accent.
I spent the week feeling like a fraud for even thinking I could speak/teach Spanish with/to anyone!
5. The Next Contestant Is....
Me! I hope. At least I'm trying.
I spent years wanting to get on such quiz shows as Jeopardy!, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and The Weakest Link. All of which, unfortunately for me, aired on stations I worked for. This made me ineligible to even try out to be a contestant.
The standard time limit is one year. That year is up at the end of this month. In the meantime, I've been assiduously watching these shows, training for my chance.
Today I started checking out their websites to find out how to try out. Oh my G*d! And I mean that quite religiously. Just trying out for these shows is a major production.
Both Deal or No Deal and 1 Vs 100 want a VIDEO along with about a 5 page application. For Who Wants to be a Millionaire? you have to actually show up at a try out -- the nearest of which this month is a 3 hour drive away on a day that I'm not free to go. Jeopardy! isn't taking new applicants right now. Although they do now have an online test I can take. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is the simplest. Only a seven page application to fill out and send in, along with a non-returnable photo.
But I will not give up the dream! So, I'm off to find (or take!) a good photo and a black ink pen to start filling out applications. Wish me luck!
-------------
Well, that's all I can remember right now. Hopefully I'll think of more later. But still ahead, an entire post on why "That's Gross!" is so hilarious. Can you tell I used to write for TV?
Nimitz' Lady
Well, big surprise, I finally get the time and someone (Der Deutscher?) has 'cleaned' up the desk and my list, written on the back of a piece of scrap paper, is gone!
I'll never remember all of them ,but bear with me as I try to paste my memory together here.
1. Swimming Reflections
When did I become a prude? Get old? Whatever you want to call it?
I made the horrendous error of promising my Eveready Bunny of a son that as I had the summer off I'd take him swimming practically every day.
So, as I've spent almost every afternoon this summer sitting by the pool (in it whenever the lifeguards are looking my way since JBP hasn't yet reached that magical age of 8) I've had plenty of time to people watch... and think.
And what I've thought is that it's obscene to put a 6 month old, or even a 6 year old, in a bikini. Don't get me wrong. Two piece swimsuits have their place. On adult women trying to catch a certain someone's attention. Where I have decided they DO NOT belong is on children.
It's similar to my husband's reaction to young pre-pubescent girls wearing make-up. "What, you've given up on keeping the pedophiles away and are just hoping to attract a high class of sexual predator?"
On the other hand, all the time I've spent at the pool has alleviated much of my own self-conciousness about appearing in public in a swimsuit. It's not that I now enjoy it, but I've realized it's a losing proposition to try to hide and have given up. So, here's hoping the rest of the world is enjoying all my jiggles (even those places BELOW the bustline!)
2. Seeing Red
I'm sunburnned! How did that happen? Turns out when the manufacturers say don't use sunscreen that's more than a year old they really mean it.
It wasn't a horrible burn. Never peeled or anything. Just enough to get my attention. I still was completely baffled.
To compound matters, two days later when we returned to the pool I FORGOT to put sunscreen on my chest, you know -- the burned area, and got burned again!
3. All 'Rung' Out
JBP caught ringworm at the Boys and Girls Club this summer. Not a huge deal, but a pain in the but.
He'd had a mosquito bite that wasn't healing normally and I'd been keeping an eye on it.
We get to Colorado for our family reunion (the Puerto Rican side of my family) and are at breakfast. I'm checking the mosquito bite yet again, trying to figure out what's going on, when JBP pipes up, "My teacher (at Boys and Girls Club) thinks it's ringworm."
At which point I remember a notice they'd put up that there'd been a kid with ringworm at the Club the week before. I rush to the hotel computer and google ringworm.
JBP's mosquito bite could've been the model for the pictures I found.
Treatment is relatively easy, but it meant JBP couldn't go swimming for the next seven days, i.e. not at all during the family reunion. That was tough for my little fish to handle. But, all in all, he did quite well and is now clear of the infection.
4. ¿Qué?
Ok, by all the tests I've been able to find, I'm fluent in Spanish. In fact, most native speakers have to be told that I am not one of them. However, I rediscovered one glaring deficiency in my Spanish abilities this last week in Colorado.
My family is Puerto Rican. Puerto Rican is probably the most difficult form of Spanish to understand. They drop practically all internal "s" in words, speak atrociously fast and slur everything together.
Add to that the fact that at least half of my family (of those who do speak Spanish) speak said Puerto Rican Spanish with a Southern accent.
I spent the week feeling like a fraud for even thinking I could speak/teach Spanish with/to anyone!
5. The Next Contestant Is....
Me! I hope. At least I'm trying.
I spent years wanting to get on such quiz shows as Jeopardy!, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and The Weakest Link. All of which, unfortunately for me, aired on stations I worked for. This made me ineligible to even try out to be a contestant.
The standard time limit is one year. That year is up at the end of this month. In the meantime, I've been assiduously watching these shows, training for my chance.
Today I started checking out their websites to find out how to try out. Oh my G*d! And I mean that quite religiously. Just trying out for these shows is a major production.
Both Deal or No Deal and 1 Vs 100 want a VIDEO along with about a 5 page application. For Who Wants to be a Millionaire? you have to actually show up at a try out -- the nearest of which this month is a 3 hour drive away on a day that I'm not free to go. Jeopardy! isn't taking new applicants right now. Although they do now have an online test I can take. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is the simplest. Only a seven page application to fill out and send in, along with a non-returnable photo.
But I will not give up the dream! So, I'm off to find (or take!) a good photo and a black ink pen to start filling out applications. Wish me luck!
-------------
Well, that's all I can remember right now. Hopefully I'll think of more later. But still ahead, an entire post on why "That's Gross!" is so hilarious. Can you tell I used to write for TV?
Nimitz' Lady
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
End of Year 1
As of last Friday I have completed my first year as a high school Spanish teacher. While the last month was a bit hectic, it was still nothing compared to TV News.
I am currently exhausted and enjoying sleeping in and reading a lot. JBP is impatient to begin our summer sojourns to... the pool, the library, the science museum, the zoo, the park, etc. But bearing with his lazy mother.
I have 12 weeks off, supposedly. Three of those weeks will be partially consumed by classes I must take to begin working on certification. Two more are taken up with family trips to Iowa and Colorado. But there's still plenty of time for lazing around in between.
Unfortunately, my joy at the end of the first year has been taken away by a tragic accident. If I had posted my end-of-the-year post in a slightly more timely fashion this would've been a separate post. But I didn't and it isn't.
A head-on collision killed one of my students on Memorial Day in a head-on collision. He was in my Spring Spanish II class and my homeroom all year. His girlfriend, who was driving, remains in serious condition at this time. Her five-year-old brother, who was in the car with them, died Tuesday morning from injuries suffered in the accident.
These are the types of stories I left TV News over. I was tired of covering all the tragedies and horrors of our world. Now I'm living it from the other side of the camera.
To top it all off, I have electronic versions of the kids' yearbook pictures. I wanted to pass them on to my colleagues at my old TV station, so they wouldn't have to bother the kids' families trying to get them. My new boss wouldn't ok this (the pictures officially belong to the school, not me) because he wanted to "protect" the family, even though the news crews would indubitably get the pictures from someone else in town.
I walked away from the whole thing rather than try to argue my side (the families would've not been bothered at all yesterday, if we'd just provided the pictures to the news media) because I was afraid I'd completely lose my temper. I'm still simmering over it.
Nimitz' Lady
I am currently exhausted and enjoying sleeping in and reading a lot. JBP is impatient to begin our summer sojourns to... the pool, the library, the science museum, the zoo, the park, etc. But bearing with his lazy mother.
I have 12 weeks off, supposedly. Three of those weeks will be partially consumed by classes I must take to begin working on certification. Two more are taken up with family trips to Iowa and Colorado. But there's still plenty of time for lazing around in between.
Unfortunately, my joy at the end of the first year has been taken away by a tragic accident. If I had posted my end-of-the-year post in a slightly more timely fashion this would've been a separate post. But I didn't and it isn't.
A head-on collision killed one of my students on Memorial Day in a head-on collision. He was in my Spring Spanish II class and my homeroom all year. His girlfriend, who was driving, remains in serious condition at this time. Her five-year-old brother, who was in the car with them, died Tuesday morning from injuries suffered in the accident.
These are the types of stories I left TV News over. I was tired of covering all the tragedies and horrors of our world. Now I'm living it from the other side of the camera.
To top it all off, I have electronic versions of the kids' yearbook pictures. I wanted to pass them on to my colleagues at my old TV station, so they wouldn't have to bother the kids' families trying to get them. My new boss wouldn't ok this (the pictures officially belong to the school, not me) because he wanted to "protect" the family, even though the news crews would indubitably get the pictures from someone else in town.
I walked away from the whole thing rather than try to argue my side (the families would've not been bothered at all yesterday, if we'd just provided the pictures to the news media) because I was afraid I'd completely lose my temper. I'm still simmering over it.
Nimitz' Lady
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Big Weather and Bigger Longings
For the first time in the nine months since I left the TV biz, I truly feel the desire, undiluted, to go back.
Over the last two days there've been a series of massive tornado spawning storms tracking across the entire Midwest. They've completely flattened at least one town in Kansas (Greensburg).
This is the type of event I got into the TV News biz for, to help others by passing on important information. I'm not a police officer, a firefighter, a trained medic or search and rescue person. So, passing information is the only way I could help in this situation. And now, I can't do that. I've been quite frustrated all weekend.
I did e-mail my old boss offering to come in and help if they needed an extra pair of hands. I never even got a "Thanks, but no thanks" response from him. I'd thought our parting was amicable. I'd warned him a year and a half before I left that I was burned out and wouldn't be signing another contract. He seemed cool with that. But now, I wonder.
And the thing is, it's not like I'm planning on going back. At least not anytime soon. I love teaching and am ecstatically looking forward to summer vacation. It'll take me at least three years to complete my certification and I figure I owe at least that amount of time, if not more, to the school that hired me last fall untrained and uncertified.
Despite all that, I still find I don't like being on the sidelines when it comes to major events like this. I feel a strong desire to get out there and be a part of history. But I guess that's all history for me and I'll just have to resign myself to enjoying the benefits that the sidelines offer (i.e. more time with my family, summer vacations, uninterrupted vacations, etc.)
Nimitz' Lady
Over the last two days there've been a series of massive tornado spawning storms tracking across the entire Midwest. They've completely flattened at least one town in Kansas (Greensburg).
This is the type of event I got into the TV News biz for, to help others by passing on important information. I'm not a police officer, a firefighter, a trained medic or search and rescue person. So, passing information is the only way I could help in this situation. And now, I can't do that. I've been quite frustrated all weekend.
I did e-mail my old boss offering to come in and help if they needed an extra pair of hands. I never even got a "Thanks, but no thanks" response from him. I'd thought our parting was amicable. I'd warned him a year and a half before I left that I was burned out and wouldn't be signing another contract. He seemed cool with that. But now, I wonder.
And the thing is, it's not like I'm planning on going back. At least not anytime soon. I love teaching and am ecstatically looking forward to summer vacation. It'll take me at least three years to complete my certification and I figure I owe at least that amount of time, if not more, to the school that hired me last fall untrained and uncertified.
Despite all that, I still find I don't like being on the sidelines when it comes to major events like this. I feel a strong desire to get out there and be a part of history. But I guess that's all history for me and I'll just have to resign myself to enjoying the benefits that the sidelines offer (i.e. more time with my family, summer vacations, uninterrupted vacations, etc.)
Nimitz' Lady
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Angels Among Us
Every once in awhile something happens to remind you that there are truly angels among us. And, they're not always the ones in need.
This last Friday, since JBP and I had the day off school, I decided to take him to the movies.
I had one credit card on me for the tickets and about $10 cash for snacks and the arcade.
What I forgot about until we were walking in the door was that the credit card I had on me isn't universally accepted, including at this theatre. The theatre also does not accept checks.
I made a desperation attempt to get a cash advance on my credit card at the ATM, but had never set up a PIN for it. So, I ended up borrowing $2 from JBP in order to buy the tickets in cash. That left us with no money for nibbles or arcade games.
JBP wasn't happy about that, but willing to lend me the money.
Afterward, the guy who'd been behind us in line came up to JBP and handed him a $10 bill, telling him to buy something for his mother. It was more than enough for a snack and money for the arcades.
JBP and I both said a little prayer of thanks. And I "gave" the money back this Sabbath at church.
The incident was as embarrassing as anything for me. But, a good reminder of how little such random acts of kindness take and what a big difference they can make in someone's life.
Nimitz' Lady
This last Friday, since JBP and I had the day off school, I decided to take him to the movies.
I had one credit card on me for the tickets and about $10 cash for snacks and the arcade.
What I forgot about until we were walking in the door was that the credit card I had on me isn't universally accepted, including at this theatre. The theatre also does not accept checks.
I made a desperation attempt to get a cash advance on my credit card at the ATM, but had never set up a PIN for it. So, I ended up borrowing $2 from JBP in order to buy the tickets in cash. That left us with no money for nibbles or arcade games.
JBP wasn't happy about that, but willing to lend me the money.
Afterward, the guy who'd been behind us in line came up to JBP and handed him a $10 bill, telling him to buy something for his mother. It was more than enough for a snack and money for the arcades.
JBP and I both said a little prayer of thanks. And I "gave" the money back this Sabbath at church.
The incident was as embarrassing as anything for me. But, a good reminder of how little such random acts of kindness take and what a big difference they can make in someone's life.
Nimitz' Lady
Nimitz In Training
The Nimitz family has grown by one more member. My mother came to visit over Spring Break. She brought with her her two cats, one a formerly wild male kitten she'd caught and had fixed. She was trying to find him a permanent home. He chose ours.
When it came time to pack up and leave, he hid in the utility room (with access between the floors!) and didn't come out until my mom was home -- a 2.5 hour trip!
The new young one reminds me so much of Nimitz when he was a young-un'. Similar coloring, same catitude, everything. And he's not afraid to demand attention.
We "kept" him on a trial basis. If after a couple of weeks we decided the other cats weren't dealing well with him, in other words if they were expressing their displeasure with bodily discharges!, then I'd make an extra trip to return the little imp to my mom.
Some three weeks later he's still with us, and learning quickly. He's dealing well with the 81 lb dog and still trying to make friends with Nimitz and Chicken Cat. They're still not so sure about the whole thing, but haven't let loose with any maloderous comments.
Of course, due to his wild heritage, he's still having trouble adjusting to two-leg hours, i.e. awake during the day and sleeping at night. So, we have to lock him, and consequently all the cats, out of our room at night if we're going to get any sleep. Otherwise, we're awakened around midnight by a small black furry monster playing Chase-The-Tale on our legs.
My mother had dubbed him Squiggles, because he's constantly in motion. But he looks and acts so much like Nimitz I've taken to referring to them as Old Man and Young Man. Not sure if they approve, though!
Nimitz' Lady
When it came time to pack up and leave, he hid in the utility room (with access between the floors!) and didn't come out until my mom was home -- a 2.5 hour trip!
The new young one reminds me so much of Nimitz when he was a young-un'. Similar coloring, same catitude, everything. And he's not afraid to demand attention.
We "kept" him on a trial basis. If after a couple of weeks we decided the other cats weren't dealing well with him, in other words if they were expressing their displeasure with bodily discharges!, then I'd make an extra trip to return the little imp to my mom.
Some three weeks later he's still with us, and learning quickly. He's dealing well with the 81 lb dog and still trying to make friends with Nimitz and Chicken Cat. They're still not so sure about the whole thing, but haven't let loose with any maloderous comments.
Of course, due to his wild heritage, he's still having trouble adjusting to two-leg hours, i.e. awake during the day and sleeping at night. So, we have to lock him, and consequently all the cats, out of our room at night if we're going to get any sleep. Otherwise, we're awakened around midnight by a small black furry monster playing Chase-The-Tale on our legs.
My mother had dubbed him Squiggles, because he's constantly in motion. But he looks and acts so much like Nimitz I've taken to referring to them as Old Man and Young Man. Not sure if they approve, though!
Nimitz' Lady
Sunday, March 04, 2007
My brain is Purple
| Your Brain is Purple |
 Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself. |
A Little Bit Of Everything
Here's a sampling of some of the posts I've mentally written over the last week or two. Sorry I can't remember more. Unfortunately, even when I have time, I can no longer access my blog from work. For some reason (notice the touch of sarcasm) the school I work at thinks blogs are too dangerous for our youth to read at school and has blocked out all blogging websites.
Anyway, here are the aforementioned posts.
2/24/07 LUCKY CHARM
Move over Cy! My JBP is the new mascot of the Iowa State Women's Basketball team. At least when they're playing K-State in Manhattan.
Last night we traveled to Manhattan to attend the game between ISU and K-State today. We had intended to make it a day trip, but threats of blizzard-type weather changed our minds for us. Said weather never developed in our part of the country.
The game was great. One of those nail-biters from nearly beginning to end. Anyone who's not an Iowa State fan may not have thought so. But then, they would've been quite surprised by the end! The Cyclones got out to a slow start, falling behind by as many as 14 at one point in the first half. But, they kept climbing back into the game. They finally tied it up with just 2:00 left, then took the lead for good at :27 left in the game.
During the warm-ups before the game, a couple of the assistant coaches let JBP join them on the bench. One even walked him out onto the court so he could get a picture of the ladies warming up. They also shared Skittles with him and gave him a pop.
Afterward we were talking with the same coaches about the exciting finish and it came to our ttention this was the first time we'd won at Manhattan since 2002! The coaches then went on to declare JBP to be their new good luck charm and demand that he must attend all ISU games at K-State, sit on the bench during warm ups, share skittles and drink a Sierra Mist!
Jocks and their superstitions! But JBP was eating it up.
3/1/07 PERSPECTIVE
Tonight, as I was leaving Wal-Mart after a quick grocery trip, a woman came up to me in the parking lot asking for money to fuel up her car.
As she was walking up to me I could tell she was going to ask me for something and all I wanted to do was, quick! get my stuff in the van and get out of there before she reached me.
But, when she started talking something said I should help. I had no cash, and in general don't like to give cash but things, so I said if they'd follow me to the gas station I'd fuel their car up the same time I fueled up the van.
When we got the station and I started swiping my credit card at the pumps, I noticed the woman was walking a little strange and repeatedly putting her hand to her stomach as if she were holding it. I suddenly realized she must be pregnant. She later told me she was six months along.
She kept thanking me, saying at least now they could keep the car running for heat overnight. They had nowhere else to go. At this point I felt the need to do more than just fuel up their car so I rummaged through my grocery bags and found some food they could keep in the car and eat without heating up. Not much, but some. I also told them about our church's Dorcas program and when and where it was operated.
As I left I still had the feeling I could've/should've done more to help. But what? I'm not the only "owner" of my house so it's not up to me to invite folks home without checking with my husband. I didn't think of the idea of at least getting them a night (or a week) at a motel until after I'd left. Nor did I think of going back to the grocery store and buying them some more food until it was too late.
All I know is by the time I got home and found myself scraping my son's half-eaten supper into the trash I felt the waste in a way I haven't in years.
We have so much, even when we think we don't. We've got a house and two cars we wouldn't lose even if both of us were fired this week. We've got enough food we could eat for a couple of weeks without ever going to the store, yet we go shopping at least once, sometimes two or three times a week. We can afford cross-country trips for basketball games.
All this couple had was their car, the clothing on their backs and a baby on the way.
I've spent a lot of time since praying that they find the help they need. And if there's anyway I can, or should, help them more that they find their way back to me.
3/3/07 REJECTION
One reason I haven't blogged a lot lately is a general depression I've been suffering. Although many good things have happened to me in the last year they've been generally outweighed by the bad and difficult to handle things.
Part of depression for me, I've found, is a regression to emotional responses I thought I'd left behind along with my teens. Among them a horrible self body image and a tendency to interpret any and all negative comments as a personal rejection of me. I know conciously that my reactions aren't logical. But, that doesn't mean I can stop having them.
This hasn't been helped by recent events in my life.
For example, getting in an argument with a lady from church over how I raise my son. She was upset that I wasn't helping him through the line at potluck. This, despite the fact I hadn't been helping him, because he hadn't needed help, for several months.
In the process things were said that I took quite personally, such as:
"That's because he's stubborn and does it anyway."
"As a responsible parent I always...."
"I was just trying to get you to help your son!"
(her emphases, not mine)
Then, Der Deutscher nearly lost it this morning when Nimitz got upset with us for not getting up to let him out at his regular time and urinated on some dirty clothes on my closet floor.
I don't think I've ever seen Der Deutscher that mad before.
My first reaction, and still lingering one, was to take it as a personal rejection. Nimitz is 13.5 years old. He's an old man. When he says he needs to go out, we need to let him out or suffer the consequences.
When Sedona aged, got sick and was eventually dying, Der Deutscher never got furious about any mess. He just calmly got the needed materials and cleaned it all up.
So it was hard not to take this morning's reaction as a personal indictment against me.
It wasn't until much later in the day I realized the date and it's significance. March 3rd was my mother-in-law's birthday (she died last September). An emotionally significant date for my husband who's extremely tied to such anniversarial celebrations (as well as gifts).
But even knowing that hasn't completely changed my gut reaction to the incident.
Then, during Sabbath School today, one of the participants basically called everything I'd said or brought up a "dangerous distraction" from biblical content.
We'd been discussing the flood and questions were raised such as:
"What about the dinosaurs?"
"What does it mean when it says 'sons of God' and 'daughters of men'?"
"How did they do that?", etc.
I brought up some theories that I have heard and studied, never implying that they were the definitive answer or that we would ever have the definitive answer.
But then one of the other members came out with a whole soliloquy on how it's essentially dangerous to speculate on what's not explicitly stated in the Bible as that can be a distraction from the essential truth we're supposed to learn from it. What was important was what Moses wrote in Genesis, not what he left out.
I'd basically had enough and packed up my stuff and left. I still haven't decided if I'll return to that class.
Add that to the fact that that was the first time I'd been to church since the second week of January and only One Person from the congregation had ever checked on me, and you can see why I'm dealing with some major rejection issues right now.
Nimitz' Lady
Anyway, here are the aforementioned posts.
2/24/07 LUCKY CHARM
Move over Cy! My JBP is the new mascot of the Iowa State Women's Basketball team. At least when they're playing K-State in Manhattan.
Last night we traveled to Manhattan to attend the game between ISU and K-State today. We had intended to make it a day trip, but threats of blizzard-type weather changed our minds for us. Said weather never developed in our part of the country.
The game was great. One of those nail-biters from nearly beginning to end. Anyone who's not an Iowa State fan may not have thought so. But then, they would've been quite surprised by the end! The Cyclones got out to a slow start, falling behind by as many as 14 at one point in the first half. But, they kept climbing back into the game. They finally tied it up with just 2:00 left, then took the lead for good at :27 left in the game.
During the warm-ups before the game, a couple of the assistant coaches let JBP join them on the bench. One even walked him out onto the court so he could get a picture of the ladies warming up. They also shared Skittles with him and gave him a pop.
Afterward we were talking with the same coaches about the exciting finish and it came to our ttention this was the first time we'd won at Manhattan since 2002! The coaches then went on to declare JBP to be their new good luck charm and demand that he must attend all ISU games at K-State, sit on the bench during warm ups, share skittles and drink a Sierra Mist!
Jocks and their superstitions! But JBP was eating it up.
3/1/07 PERSPECTIVE
Tonight, as I was leaving Wal-Mart after a quick grocery trip, a woman came up to me in the parking lot asking for money to fuel up her car.
As she was walking up to me I could tell she was going to ask me for something and all I wanted to do was, quick! get my stuff in the van and get out of there before she reached me.
But, when she started talking something said I should help. I had no cash, and in general don't like to give cash but things, so I said if they'd follow me to the gas station I'd fuel their car up the same time I fueled up the van.
When we got the station and I started swiping my credit card at the pumps, I noticed the woman was walking a little strange and repeatedly putting her hand to her stomach as if she were holding it. I suddenly realized she must be pregnant. She later told me she was six months along.
She kept thanking me, saying at least now they could keep the car running for heat overnight. They had nowhere else to go. At this point I felt the need to do more than just fuel up their car so I rummaged through my grocery bags and found some food they could keep in the car and eat without heating up. Not much, but some. I also told them about our church's Dorcas program and when and where it was operated.
As I left I still had the feeling I could've/should've done more to help. But what? I'm not the only "owner" of my house so it's not up to me to invite folks home without checking with my husband. I didn't think of the idea of at least getting them a night (or a week) at a motel until after I'd left. Nor did I think of going back to the grocery store and buying them some more food until it was too late.
All I know is by the time I got home and found myself scraping my son's half-eaten supper into the trash I felt the waste in a way I haven't in years.
We have so much, even when we think we don't. We've got a house and two cars we wouldn't lose even if both of us were fired this week. We've got enough food we could eat for a couple of weeks without ever going to the store, yet we go shopping at least once, sometimes two or three times a week. We can afford cross-country trips for basketball games.
All this couple had was their car, the clothing on their backs and a baby on the way.
I've spent a lot of time since praying that they find the help they need. And if there's anyway I can, or should, help them more that they find their way back to me.
3/3/07 REJECTION
One reason I haven't blogged a lot lately is a general depression I've been suffering. Although many good things have happened to me in the last year they've been generally outweighed by the bad and difficult to handle things.
Part of depression for me, I've found, is a regression to emotional responses I thought I'd left behind along with my teens. Among them a horrible self body image and a tendency to interpret any and all negative comments as a personal rejection of me. I know conciously that my reactions aren't logical. But, that doesn't mean I can stop having them.
This hasn't been helped by recent events in my life.
For example, getting in an argument with a lady from church over how I raise my son. She was upset that I wasn't helping him through the line at potluck. This, despite the fact I hadn't been helping him, because he hadn't needed help, for several months.
In the process things were said that I took quite personally, such as:
"That's because he's stubborn and does it anyway."
"As a responsible parent I always...."
"I was just trying to get you to help your son!"
(her emphases, not mine)
Then, Der Deutscher nearly lost it this morning when Nimitz got upset with us for not getting up to let him out at his regular time and urinated on some dirty clothes on my closet floor.
I don't think I've ever seen Der Deutscher that mad before.
My first reaction, and still lingering one, was to take it as a personal rejection. Nimitz is 13.5 years old. He's an old man. When he says he needs to go out, we need to let him out or suffer the consequences.
When Sedona aged, got sick and was eventually dying, Der Deutscher never got furious about any mess. He just calmly got the needed materials and cleaned it all up.
So it was hard not to take this morning's reaction as a personal indictment against me.
It wasn't until much later in the day I realized the date and it's significance. March 3rd was my mother-in-law's birthday (she died last September). An emotionally significant date for my husband who's extremely tied to such anniversarial celebrations (as well as gifts).
But even knowing that hasn't completely changed my gut reaction to the incident.
Then, during Sabbath School today, one of the participants basically called everything I'd said or brought up a "dangerous distraction" from biblical content.
We'd been discussing the flood and questions were raised such as:
"What about the dinosaurs?"
"What does it mean when it says 'sons of God' and 'daughters of men'?"
"How did they do that?", etc.
I brought up some theories that I have heard and studied, never implying that they were the definitive answer or that we would ever have the definitive answer.
But then one of the other members came out with a whole soliloquy on how it's essentially dangerous to speculate on what's not explicitly stated in the Bible as that can be a distraction from the essential truth we're supposed to learn from it. What was important was what Moses wrote in Genesis, not what he left out.
I'd basically had enough and packed up my stuff and left. I still haven't decided if I'll return to that class.
Add that to the fact that that was the first time I'd been to church since the second week of January and only One Person from the congregation had ever checked on me, and you can see why I'm dealing with some major rejection issues right now.
Nimitz' Lady
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Here a Little ....
There a little.
I've written a dozen or so posts in my head the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately I never made it to the computer in time to get them down in bits and bytes.
We in the Nimitz' household have been sick, all of us, over the last couple of weeks. Nothing serious, just what we call the creeping crud. Plenty harsh enough to make you want to die, but nothing bad enough to even warrant a trip to the doctor's office. Needless to say, that means every spare moment I've had has been spent in bed, not playing on the computer.
My photography class is underway. I'm actually enjoying it (when I'm not bored to death during the "lecture" portion). And so far the "homework" hasn't been a burden. Here's hoping it stays that way.
The big news however is on the JBP front. My little boy is READING! Remember, he started the school year a little behind becfause he didn't go to kindergarten.
Well, in the last week he's read four books, FOUR, to me. All the way through. Without me prompting him or helping him sound out a single word. I'm sooooo proud of him. We keep telling him how smart he is. I think he may actually be starting to believe it.
Also on the JBP front: he's getting reading glasses. The teacher has reported that he consistently balks at doing writing work. Before school started I'd had his eyes checked and the doctor said he was a little far-sighted but might still grow out of it. If we saw any reluctance to do close-up work, however, we should bring him back in for another check-up. We did so. He's still mildly far-sighted. He should have his new reading glasses by this Friday.
Our other big news, all the furniture Der Deutscher had shipped out from his mother's place in Germany has arrived in our town. It will be delivered this Friday. Der Deutscher took the day off work for the delivery. Now, of course, that means we're feverishly trying to empty some rooms, moving furniture about, etc, trying to make room for the new stuff coming in. In the long run I think this will really make the house look good. In the short run it's going to be a real pain in the patoot. However, we knew it was coming. Just not when. Now we know.
So, that's the latest from the Nimitz' Household.
I'm sure there's other stuff I should mention, but like I said I've been a little out of it recently. Time to hit the hay (at 8:30pm!) and dream up some more great posts that'll never hit the 'net.
Nimitz' Lady
I've written a dozen or so posts in my head the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately I never made it to the computer in time to get them down in bits and bytes.
We in the Nimitz' household have been sick, all of us, over the last couple of weeks. Nothing serious, just what we call the creeping crud. Plenty harsh enough to make you want to die, but nothing bad enough to even warrant a trip to the doctor's office. Needless to say, that means every spare moment I've had has been spent in bed, not playing on the computer.
My photography class is underway. I'm actually enjoying it (when I'm not bored to death during the "lecture" portion). And so far the "homework" hasn't been a burden. Here's hoping it stays that way.
The big news however is on the JBP front. My little boy is READING! Remember, he started the school year a little behind becfause he didn't go to kindergarten.
Well, in the last week he's read four books, FOUR, to me. All the way through. Without me prompting him or helping him sound out a single word. I'm sooooo proud of him. We keep telling him how smart he is. I think he may actually be starting to believe it.
Also on the JBP front: he's getting reading glasses. The teacher has reported that he consistently balks at doing writing work. Before school started I'd had his eyes checked and the doctor said he was a little far-sighted but might still grow out of it. If we saw any reluctance to do close-up work, however, we should bring him back in for another check-up. We did so. He's still mildly far-sighted. He should have his new reading glasses by this Friday.
Our other big news, all the furniture Der Deutscher had shipped out from his mother's place in Germany has arrived in our town. It will be delivered this Friday. Der Deutscher took the day off work for the delivery. Now, of course, that means we're feverishly trying to empty some rooms, moving furniture about, etc, trying to make room for the new stuff coming in. In the long run I think this will really make the house look good. In the short run it's going to be a real pain in the patoot. However, we knew it was coming. Just not when. Now we know.
So, that's the latest from the Nimitz' Household.
I'm sure there's other stuff I should mention, but like I said I've been a little out of it recently. Time to hit the hay (at 8:30pm!) and dream up some more great posts that'll never hit the 'net.
Nimitz' Lady
Sunday, January 21, 2007
New Year's Resolutions
Since I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions - they never end up going where you really want them to go - I started my new healthy living quest after Thanksgiving.
I'm really trying to eat better (sweets only as treats, a salad a day, etc.) and work out more often, and smarter.
Overall I feel like I'm doing pretty well. But, it didn't seem like my body was budging. So, when the New Year hit and all the gyms, as always, offered giant discounts on things like personal training, I took my gym up on it.
So, for the last two weeks I've been working out with a personal trainer once a week and following the workout plan she sets up for me the rest of the week. While I have managed to do the number of workouts she's set, I haven't always managed to do the style. See, there are these pesky winter storms that keep interrupting my ability to get to the gym. So, I workout at home to one of my TaeBo DVDs, of which I now have almost two dozen - and that's a whole 'nother post!, or, as I did today, I just shovel the driveway.
As good a workout as TaeBo is, and I'll hype it to just about anyone!, it just can't hold a candle to shoveling out a 20 foot long driveway! Especially when you follow that up with taking your 6 year old sledding with his Christmas sled. He had a great time, by the way. But I'm so sore I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight.
Time to take a hot bath, followed by a mediocrely warm shower, a half dozen or so aspirin (tylenol, advil, poison of your choice!) and try to get some sleep.
On top of the workout aches and pains, I think I may be coming down with the creeping crud. Der Deutscher's had it since last weekend when HE shoveled the driveway. It's just enough to make you miserable without being bad enough to let you stay home for a day, or two, or three.
Here's hoping a good night's sleep, lots of orange juice and the will of Atlas will keep the crud away.
Nimitz' Lady
I'm really trying to eat better (sweets only as treats, a salad a day, etc.) and work out more often, and smarter.
Overall I feel like I'm doing pretty well. But, it didn't seem like my body was budging. So, when the New Year hit and all the gyms, as always, offered giant discounts on things like personal training, I took my gym up on it.
So, for the last two weeks I've been working out with a personal trainer once a week and following the workout plan she sets up for me the rest of the week. While I have managed to do the number of workouts she's set, I haven't always managed to do the style. See, there are these pesky winter storms that keep interrupting my ability to get to the gym. So, I workout at home to one of my TaeBo DVDs, of which I now have almost two dozen - and that's a whole 'nother post!, or, as I did today, I just shovel the driveway.
As good a workout as TaeBo is, and I'll hype it to just about anyone!, it just can't hold a candle to shoveling out a 20 foot long driveway! Especially when you follow that up with taking your 6 year old sledding with his Christmas sled. He had a great time, by the way. But I'm so sore I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight.
Time to take a hot bath, followed by a mediocrely warm shower, a half dozen or so aspirin (tylenol, advil, poison of your choice!) and try to get some sleep.
On top of the workout aches and pains, I think I may be coming down with the creeping crud. Der Deutscher's had it since last weekend when HE shoveled the driveway. It's just enough to make you miserable without being bad enough to let you stay home for a day, or two, or three.
Here's hoping a good night's sleep, lots of orange juice and the will of Atlas will keep the crud away.
Nimitz' Lady
The "Right" Thing
I can just hope I've done the right thing by one of my students.
He was one of two students of whom I was particularly proud. They were failing my class but really worked hard and turned their grades around. They attended study groups, got help from me, etc. Did what they had to do. In the end they both got C's. But they worked harder for those C's then did the kids who got A's in my classes last semester.
So, when the opportunity came around this month I nominated them for Student Of The Month. They deserved some recognition for their hard work. Evidently the principal agreed with me because he picked the young man as Student Of The Month.
So far, so good, right?
Last Friday the announcement was made over the P.A. during homeroom. My homeroom class (of which the young man is NOT a part!) hooted with laughter and derision.
Now I'm worried instead of providing him with some well-earned praise for all his hardwork all I've done is opened him up to a month full of teasing and other sorts of high school chicanery.
I just pray, with him being just a sophomore, that this turns out to be a school career highlight, as it was meant to be, and not a low-light.
Nimitz' Lady
He was one of two students of whom I was particularly proud. They were failing my class but really worked hard and turned their grades around. They attended study groups, got help from me, etc. Did what they had to do. In the end they both got C's. But they worked harder for those C's then did the kids who got A's in my classes last semester.
So, when the opportunity came around this month I nominated them for Student Of The Month. They deserved some recognition for their hard work. Evidently the principal agreed with me because he picked the young man as Student Of The Month.
So far, so good, right?
Last Friday the announcement was made over the P.A. during homeroom. My homeroom class (of which the young man is NOT a part!) hooted with laughter and derision.
Now I'm worried instead of providing him with some well-earned praise for all his hardwork all I've done is opened him up to a month full of teasing and other sorts of high school chicanery.
I just pray, with him being just a sophomore, that this turns out to be a school career highlight, as it was meant to be, and not a low-light.
Nimitz' Lady
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Busy, Busy, Busy
Wow! My last post engendered more responses, cumulatively, than any other post I've made. Maybe I should write about controversial topics more often. Of course, at the time, I didn't consider it controversial.
Oh well. No time to blog right now. I've got to go put together my church's bulletin for this Sabbath.
Nimitz' Lady
Oh well. No time to blog right now. I've got to go put together my church's bulletin for this Sabbath.
Nimitz' Lady
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
I've been MADE
To steal a phrase from MTV.
In the world of journalism they say you're not a pro until you've made someone mad at you.
It appears not much is different about blogging. I've finally managed to upset a reader by, gasp!, voicing my opinion about freedom of speech and separation of church and state.
This is the comment she left. I assume it's a she, since she failed to leave a link of any sort, just an apparent first name.
kit said...
It is scarey that you are a teacher in the wonderful state I grew up in. You are way to liberal and I personally would pulll my child out of your class or be up your a** weekly!
This was my response:
There are several things I could say, but am too adult to post on my own blog.
I'll settle for a simple, if you don't like what you're reading here you are welcome to find something else to read.
That's the beauty of this country, free speech and free choice.
I briefly considered unloading but decided to take the high road. Then I considered simply ignoring "kit", but couldn't quite bring myself to do it.
Nimitz' Lady
Oh, and one other thought. "kit", are you psychic or something? I've never stated exactly which state I live/teach in. I only mention places I travel to, not where I'm coming from. So how do you know I live/teach in your native state? Just wondering.
In the world of journalism they say you're not a pro until you've made someone mad at you.
It appears not much is different about blogging. I've finally managed to upset a reader by, gasp!, voicing my opinion about freedom of speech and separation of church and state.
This is the comment she left. I assume it's a she, since she failed to leave a link of any sort, just an apparent first name.
kit said...
It is scarey that you are a teacher in the wonderful state I grew up in. You are way to liberal and I personally would pulll my child out of your class or be up your a** weekly!
This was my response:
There are several things I could say, but am too adult to post on my own blog.
I'll settle for a simple, if you don't like what you're reading here you are welcome to find something else to read.
That's the beauty of this country, free speech and free choice.
I briefly considered unloading but decided to take the high road. Then I considered simply ignoring "kit", but couldn't quite bring myself to do it.
Nimitz' Lady
Oh, and one other thought. "kit", are you psychic or something? I've never stated exactly which state I live/teach in. I only mention places I travel to, not where I'm coming from. So how do you know I live/teach in your native state? Just wondering.
Don't ask, don't tell!
But JBP is wearing, shhhhhhh!, girl shoes!
He'd outgrown his old shoes so I took him shoe shopping yesterday. Just like the rest of him, his feet are long and slender. Turns out that of all the shoes he tried on the only three that fit him were girls shoes. The good news, tennis shoes are tennis shoes. Like it makes a whole heck of a lot of difference.
The ones JBP picked out are all black, with a touch of red in the treading, and attach with a velcro fastener.
As we were trying to purchase them I thought the clerk was on the verge of tossing me out of the store! She looked at me and whispered, scandalized, "But these are girl shoes!"
I looked right back and... paid for them!
JBP wore them out of the store.
Nimitz' Lady
He'd outgrown his old shoes so I took him shoe shopping yesterday. Just like the rest of him, his feet are long and slender. Turns out that of all the shoes he tried on the only three that fit him were girls shoes. The good news, tennis shoes are tennis shoes. Like it makes a whole heck of a lot of difference.
The ones JBP picked out are all black, with a touch of red in the treading, and attach with a velcro fastener.
As we were trying to purchase them I thought the clerk was on the verge of tossing me out of the store! She looked at me and whispered, scandalized, "But these are girl shoes!"
I looked right back and... paid for them!
JBP wore them out of the store.
Nimitz' Lady
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