writersdolaundrytoos

Monday, November 28, 2011

Where in the Heck is South America?

As you all know I am a high school teacher. I love my job....but I have to admit over the past several years I have seen education dummied down to make sure that there is definitely No Child Left Behind. When I was in school there were groupings. I prided myself in being in the red bird reading group because it was the top. I did not want to ever be in a basic class....so I worked hard not to be. I was not a brilliant kid in school, but I could hold my own. Today....students want us to spoon feed them the answers. With all the technology they have available to them....they don't even want to do the research. I, on the other hand, am so very inquisitive. I want to know why things are the way they are....so I will sit and google random things for hours just to know why. When I was in school we took Florida history, we took Geography, we took American and World History, We took English (British, American, and World Lits). We were tracked and there were basic, regular, and advanced classes. I turned out ok. I graduated from high school and college with a Master's Degree. Education did not come easy for me. I had to dig at it. But today....today it is sad. Kids don't know geography....and a prime example of this came when I asked my class where South America was. Simple question I thought.....but I was so wrong. One of my brightest students confidently raised her hand to answer my question. When I called on her....the answer I got nearly put me in a coma. "Africa" was her reply. AFRICA! Oh no...she did not just say that. I looked at her sweet face to see if she was pulling my leg....but I realized she was not. The maps in my room are small ones....so I sent down to four History classes to borrow their flip chart maps. I was shocked.....none of them had one. I resorted to Plan B....I have maps in my textbook so I had my students turn to the world map layout and we had a lesson in Spanish class about the continents and the countries....and their locations.....the next day we had a pop quiz on this material. I made a decision right then and there that when my students leave Spanish I they would know the difference between a continent and a country and know where they are located. Griefus. I don't know where the ball has been dropped along the way....but someone needs to pick it up and score.

Black Friday Freak Out

I did the Black Friday thing last year.

When the stores opened at 4 AM. I was freezing in line and willing the people behind me to remember what Personal Space was since they kept inching into mine.

And then the check out lines were insane...as in, wrapped around the store insane.

I vowed to never do that again.

I didn’t.

This year, Tom and I went to some stores at 9 AM. We went to Target first and yes, it was busy, but not crazy busy. I actually had a purpose for going—I needed construction paper to do a school project with Natalie. Tom was eager to look at the electronics deals.

And that’s ALL he wanted to look at.

When we got in, he breezed past all the other displays. Target had special price displays for their Black Friday sale dotted around the store and I wanted to look at them all.

Tom did not.

In fact, he seemed baffled when I stopped to look at some pajamas.

“Did we need those?” he asked.

“No but…they’re four dollars,” I explained. I mean, hello?

I found the cheap DVD displays and pawed through those. Tom seemed impatient as I lifted up DVDs and asked if he wanted any.

“I have most of those DVDs,” he said.

Oh. He bought a lot when he was in Korea so I’m still not sure what all he has.

“Look, Tom. Due Date! This is a funny movie and—” I realized I was speaking to a complete stranger in a jean jacket. He blinked at me in surprise.

Where did my husband go?

I scanned the store and found him heading for the electronics. Apparently he was not impressed with the cheap DVDs.

I went back to the electronics section and got distracted by the book area. This is where Tom found me.

“What are you doing?” he seemed genuinely surprised I was looking at something that we did not come for.

“Books. There are so many I want to read right now,” I said, fingering the newest Philippa Gregory.

“Are you almost done? There are people everywhere.” Tom is not comfortable in crowds. He thinks the men behind him are going to pull a weapon out at any moment. Or something. It’s the cop in him.

We started to walk to the Christmas section. Tom was walking past all the sale displays. I was beginning to feel weak and I swear sweat beads formed on my forehead. Why wasn’t he looking at them?

When he walked past the home goods display I couldn’t take it.

“YOU’RE SKIPPING EVERYTHING!” I shrieked.

Tom stared at me as though I had a polka dot bra on my head.

“I thought we were here for construction paper,” Tom reminded me.

“Yes but…we can still look at the deals. Just in case,” I said.

“But we don’t NEED anything else. You were just saying the other day that we had too much crap,” Tom pointed out.

This was true. I had opened a closet and was nearly attacked by all the stuff we had crammed in there. I had screamed, “No more CRAP this year. Please. NO MORE CRAP!”

Still.

Passing sale displays is like some sort of sin in my world.

In the end, I was good and only got the construction paper that we came for.

I didn’t encounter any Black Friday crazies.

Wait, there was that chick who had a freakout because she couldn’t look at all the sale displays.

Oh. That was me.

Oops.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Beginning of Advent

I read a wonderful Advent devotional yesterday prepared by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts. I thought you all might enjoy this wonderful piece. Enjoy! Advent is one of my most favorite parts of the Christmas season. I love Christmas....but not because of the hype, advertisements, gifts, and all. Nope, I love advent because it is all about the preparation of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. "Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us to prepare for the coming, or “advent” of the Christ child at Christmas. (The word “advent” comes from the Latin word that means “coming.”) For hundreds of years Christians have used an Advent wreath to inspire their hopes for the coming of Christ. By lighting candles and reading Bible verses, we are reminded about the meaning of Christ’s birth and become more excited about his coming in the past, in the future, and in our own lives. There is no set meaning for the candles of the Advent wreath (except for the middle candle, which always signifies the birth of Jesus the Christ). Some wreaths use all white candles; others use three purple candles, one pink candle, and one white candle in the middle. The purple candles remind us of how serious and solemn God’s people have been in waiting for the Messiah. The pink signifies the joy of our waiting. The white is triumphant and celebrative because Christ is born." Today at Church we lit the first candle. It is the candle that signifies our waiting for the shepherd. Advent is a word that means “coming” or “visit”. In the Christian season of Advent we prepare for the “advent” of Christ at Christmas. By lighting one candle each week of Advent, we help ourselves to get ready for the birth of Jesus. The candles have different meanings, each based upon the Bible. These meanings help us to understand how special the birth of Jesus is for us. Today when we lit our first candle we focused on the coming of Christ as our Shepherd. My prayer today is, "Dear God, thank you for this season of Advent that helps us to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. As we read the Bible and light a candle, may excitement for Christ’s coming burn in our hearts. Amen." I hope as we move into this Christmas season you will all be filled with the love and joy of Christ....and take it with you throughout the year. God Bless You All!

Chick-fil-a Calender and Coupons Winner! *CLOSED

CLOSED--Winner posted here.

I did a giveaway for a Chick-fil-a calender with valuable food coupons here.

I used random.org to pick a number and it chose....

....number 26 which was Babes Mami!

Congrats!!

If you didn't win, try again. I have upcoming giveaways!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

E-Mergency! by Tom Lichetnheld-OPTIONAL

Lichtenheld, Tom. Fields-Meye, Ezra. E-Mergency! 40 pgs. Chronicle Books, 2011. $16.99. Inside cover: “What Happens when the most important letter in the alphabet gets a big owie? One of the other letters has to take her place while she recuperates, but who? Z is too sleepy. And Y asks too many questions. Is O well-rounded enough to handle the job? It’s a real E-MERGENCY!” Kids will love it when the reader attempts to say the words with E missing from the sentences. “I’m roady to roam!” “I’m oxcitod” We laughed in our attempt. This book could be used in primary grades introducing or reinforcing the alphabet. Pre-K. EL (K-3). OPTIONAL. Reviewer: SL

Bun Bun Button by Patricia Polacco-OPTIONAL

Polacco, Patricia. Bun Bun Button., 40 pgs. Putnam Juvenile, 2011. $17.99. Inside cover: “Paige loves cuddling with Gramma and all of Gramma’s pets in the Old Blue Chair. But cuddling there is even more wonderful when Gramma makes her Bun Bun Button, an adorable stuffed bunny with a button nose. Then, on an outside day, a balloon steals Bun Bun Button and floats her away. Paige misses her dear little friend! She can only hope that luck-or love- will bring Bun Bun Button home again.” The illustrations are bright, bold and inviting. We weren’t sure about all the pets. A squirrel living in her gramma’s house? That was strange. The story has a sweet, but unrealistic ending. Pre-K. EL (K-3). OPTIONAL. Reviewer: SL

Project 365 - Week 48

I can't believe that we are 48 weeks into 2011. Four weeks until we put this year to bed. I can't say that I am sad to see this year end. It has been a tough one. There are quite a few of us who have taken pictures every day this year. Want to see some really fun and lovely ones? I think you should go over and check out the other budding photographers at Sarah's blog.

Sunday, November 20th

We had our Thanksgiving service at church today and I took some of these decorations from the house and decorated the altar. I also have done a pintervention here. I have become a pinterest addict. The pumpkin is a modge podge project I found on pinterest. The pilgrims I bought at the auction on Saturday for a dollar each.

Monday, November 21st

Frank has been working like a fiend on his scroll saw. His orders are really adding up. He has several projects left that have to be done before Christmas.

Tuesday, November 22nd

Two more orders filled. I love the LSU one.

Wednesday, November 23rd

Rosemary Beach, Florida

Kathryn and Will sitting on the stairs in the main house.

The view from the garage. I loved the red door of the main house.

Sunset from the porch day one.

Thursday, November 24th

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal at Dustin's mom and dad's house. Angie and Bill were gracious hostesses considering they had 13 extra guests. We all brought something to add to the meal. There was so much food and so little time to eat it all. Everyone left stuffed. After eating Amanda, Mitchell and I played guitar and entertained everyone.

After we got back from the Hugh's house one group started a Shanghai game and the rest of us just kind of chilled. I read and enjoyed the piece and quiet. Frank and I are going to Lowe's (and Lowe's only) at 5. It is about 5 miles from our house and there were only 10 people there including us! We got the table saw we went after and headed back to the house to begin making pictures and breakfast.

Friday, November 25th