Paris

I'm in Paris! All the girls are certain the men here are MUCH more attractive than the British chaps we saw. I believe it may be a draw...however we've only been here one day, and were in England for 7....soooooo...maybe not!

Hope you're all following the blog. I'll post more of my thoughts on the trip later. All in all it's gone well. Love the French so far. They appreciate luxury; no matter how small the hotel, we have DEEP tubs and FANTASTIC linens and I enjoyed a great soak after a long day tonight with liberal use of some great items I got from LUSH... Let's just say Bath @nd Body Works have NOTHING on this European store.

ciao for now

Comments Here!

I'm in London! Follow the blog and I'll post other stuff here once I get home!!! Leave your comments here as I have comments blocked on the school sites!

I'm in the middle of a crisis. Moving. I'm not in Europe yet...not 'til next week. That's why I'm not around.

We leave the 20th. So follow my blog www.mcleodtrip.blogspot.com between the 20th and the 29th.

I'll explain the rest of what happened later. I just don't have time now. This was as unexpected to me as anything ever could be. It's not boy trouble either. That's a whole different story.

I won't be around for awhile. Hopefully sooner than later, but I don't know. I'm responsible for the trip to London and Paris so I will have to post to that site for my student's parents. Maybe I'll have an explaination about everything else by then.

Somebody please keep their fingers crossed for me.

Your Thoughts On:

Do things really happen for a reason? And I mean a good reason. Really truly really? I'm struggling with this concept right now...I just want to know your stories...

Maverick

Got into the burn barrel:

Before

After

Nice eh? He's all like, "Whaaaaaat? Whaaaaaaat?" As if the soot didn't give him away...

Lack Thereof...

HOT!!! It was -1 this morning, but my frickin' classroom is like a sauna. The heat wave literally hit me as I unlocked my door. And it hasn't turned off. Ah, the wonder's of pre-WWI structures.

It's like Mexico, without the beach and booze. And I'm wearing a wool sweater. Doesn't a Margarita sound good?!

Raising a Bunch of Pussies...

We're behind the rest of the world in mathematics and science. Our college student's cannot string two sentences together. We are dependent on immigrant labor to harvest our crops each year. Etc...etc...etc...

Let me tell you what I see in the schools and you can decide if you don't think this is contributing to America's major problems:

1) A student is asked to complete an assignment. After each and every problem they are asking if it is being done correctly. No patience to wait until the class reviews. They need instant gratification.

2) A class is assigned a project. As the teacher is going through the directions students are asking questions that the teacher has yet to get to.

3) Directions are written on the board and nobody reads them

4) A due date is given and nobody writes it down.

5) A student is failing for turning in nothing - and instead of telling the child to get their act together, they have conferences asking the child what more can the teacher's do to help them.

They want, want, want, now, now now but without having to lift a finger to get what it is they want. Instead of intervening and telling the child they are in dire straights and may not graduate, they pass them onto the next grade without having to make up the failed credit. These kids have been given everything they want, when they want it - and because of it they think they are owed everything...now. Including grades.

I'm worried.

WHAT is going on???

Wish Me Luck

Goodness I hate how dark it is this early! I'll take a dark morning anyday over this! I feel like I should go to bed!

Well, I applied for a raise. In my school they have this jacked up system that doesn't reward you for experience, but the application for the raise. Don't ask. The new administration doesn't like it either so maybe it'll change...one day.

So I've started the process of jumping through the hoops. Namely filling out a bunch of paperwork and having super formal observations. Tomorrow is my pre-ops, Tuesday in the classroom. Yeah. I'm confident about my work though, I'm just overwhelmed with so much more I just don't want to do ONE MORE THING. Wish me luck.

Here's part of the crew trying to help. Yup, that's Kahlua, the black cat I've had since my Sophomore year of college. She's what? 11 now? Which reminds me; total blast from the past.: I got this cat from a litter DJ's cat had. Remember good 'ol DJ? Well, he disappeared on my 24th birthday, never to be heard from again. Strange in and of itself after spending 5 years with someone. Not to say we weren't already starting to go our own ways, but it was a bit surprising to say the least. ANYWAY, someone asked me about him the other day. I mean, it's been 6 years but I was curious and looked him up on MySpace. OUCH! WOW, can people really change that much!? For starters he has never moved from his hometown, never finished college, and, well, I'm not sure how describe it, but he looks like a punk rocker right out of the '80's. Mohawk and everything. Really. He was this total country boy. Not so much anymore. So maybe it's a good thing we didn't keep in touch 'cause it looks like there have been some majorly strange influences at work...which probably started when he left way back when...explains some strange behavior I witnessed at least... one word: Bizarre