I love basketball...especially UK basketball. It is the one sport that Daddy always watched and so we watched as well. Then I was a middle school cheerleader and hence basketball is one of the few sports that I actually understand.
In the past few years, I've experienced basketball burnout. Coaching a dance team means attending a lot of basketball games but I'm always monitoring the girls and can't really enjoy the game much. Then I went to an ABA game here in town. I forgot how much I love just watching a basketball game without being "coach". Couple that with UK's breathtaking resurgence--thank you, Coach Cal---and I am highly enjoying March Madness.
However, when it comes to the University of Kentucky, folks must remember something--UK fans are crazy. We accept this about ourselves.
We believe that we should win every game and if we don't, we want the situation addressed immediately and a help wanted sign posted on the side of Rupp Arena.
If a rival team beats us, we hate them.
If they beat us in a title game, in controversial fashion or in a way that will make us relive it every single year during the tournament--UAB 2004; Duke 1992.--then we really hate them for-ev-er.
Like elephants, Wildcats do not forget.
Granted, it is not like we could anyway. The sports guys like to remind us...often. This year when fellow number 1 Kansas was defeated, the commentators repeatedly brought up that UK/UAB debacle from 04. We do not speak of it and would like it if they would stop speaking of it as well.
Every year, every blessed year, in the video montages during the Final Four, we are forced to relive UK/Duke 92---that blasted last second shot by the player that shall not be named.
Grrr, stop showing that. Surely someone else has a highlight reel moment to overshadow that and erase that moment from the annuals of basketball history.
There is a reason for our fanatical devotion to our team; they've earned. UK is the winningest team in NCAA history. We were the first team to hit 2000 wins.
The team has had ups and downs since the first title but the loyal (albeit crazy) fans remain. From the glory days of Adolf Rupp to Joe B Hall--Eddie Sutton (we don't talk about that either)--Rick Pitnio (have not completely forgiven him for leaving yet)--Tubby Smith (Grrr)--Gillispie--(nope, don't want to talk about that either) and now to Coach Cal and even to the coaches that will follow; Big Blue Nation will always be there--expecting the best and demanding excellence.
Crazy UK Fans--March Madness accurately describes us.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Don't let the bedbugs bite.
I'm off to bed early tonight. I'm actually a girl who needs eight hours a night but that hasn't happened since high school. Way back in high school, I went to bed at 9 o'clock. Not because my parents made me but because if I did not, then I could not get up in the morning for school. In college, that stopped. My classes started later and often dance team practice lasted until 10 pm. Therefore I wasn't in bed until at least midnight or later--I would have to take a shower, finish homework and generally wind down.
A similar pattern has continued into my teaching career, with one exception, I have to be at work before 8 a.m. Slightly problematic but I usually am not in bed this early. Usually It's closer to midnight before I'm in bed.
However, in the morning, I get to start hall duty; actually,it's stairwell duty but just as annoying. I will get to stand by a set of stairs from 7:45-8:19 and say, "Where are you going? No. Go to the cafeteria or gym." Sounds fun, huh?
Did I mention that I am not a morning person? I don't like to talk to people in the morning; the gals on my hall typically just wave at me in the morning. This may actually be hazardous to the health local teenagers.
In the interest of my sanity, my health and the children's safety, I'm going to try to go the bed at a more responsible hour. Here's hoping it works.
Could be worse. The roommate has had parking lot duty for the past two months. At least I'll get to be inside the building.
Night all.
A similar pattern has continued into my teaching career, with one exception, I have to be at work before 8 a.m. Slightly problematic but I usually am not in bed this early. Usually It's closer to midnight before I'm in bed.
However, in the morning, I get to start hall duty; actually,it's stairwell duty but just as annoying. I will get to stand by a set of stairs from 7:45-8:19 and say, "Where are you going? No. Go to the cafeteria or gym." Sounds fun, huh?
Did I mention that I am not a morning person? I don't like to talk to people in the morning; the gals on my hall typically just wave at me in the morning. This may actually be hazardous to the health local teenagers.
In the interest of my sanity, my health and the children's safety, I'm going to try to go the bed at a more responsible hour. Here's hoping it works.
Could be worse. The roommate has had parking lot duty for the past two months. At least I'll get to be inside the building.
Night all.
This Healthcare fight? I just don't get it.
I just have trouble understanding this epic battle over health care and I really don't understand the people who declare they're moving to Canada because it passes. For one thing--really? You are really going to pick up your family, your entire life and relocate because the health care reform bill passed the House? And you're going to Canada? A country that has had universal health care since 1960 something? What? You can't wait for ours?
My sarcasm aside, I do recognize that some people have legitimate concerns but yelling racial slurs at a congressman is not going to address those concerns. It just makes you--the person who did this--look like an ignorant bigot. And why would anyone want to listen the concerns of someone like that? The same goes for the individuals who made derogatory comments about the sexual orientation of another congressman--under no circumstances is that acceptable. Did they think that this behavior would make them change their votes? I don't get it.
For some reason, I just do not think that this is what the founding fathers had in mind when they envisioned their successors exercising their right to assemble and their right to free speech. Evidently no one told these folks that you catch more flies with honey and that when you must resort to insults to make your point, the point must not be very strong. And seriously, people, yelling it louder does not make you right. It just makes me change the channel or tune you out.
I also fail to see how disseminating hate benefits anyone. That's all that some politicians and media personalities seem to be doing--fueling dangerous fires. Ironically, many do this while professing to be good Christians. A line from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird sums this up beautifully. "Hypocrites, born hypocrites." I hate to see these individuals set our society back decades for personal gain.
Now, I do have some concerns about how the end product will turnout but I really have trouble seeing how it is going to be worse than what we have and one group I trust even less than the politicians is the insurance companies. Some of the nonsense that they have been allowed to do as standard business practices...inexcusable. Based on what I have read, there's a reason they've been screaming so loud. They're not going to be able to continue those inhumane practices.
That being said, if my students will have the medication they need, even though their parents cannot afford to buy it out of pocket, then I'll be happy. I have one student who has been climbing the walls for weeks because his mother--a hairdresser--has been unable to afford his ADD medication. I have another whose parents have to choose which medicine to buy each pay period--her ADD meds or her asthma controller. Both her parents work but do not have health insurance, can't afford to purchase their own but make too much money for a medical card--instead they try to juggle the meds and hope that the prescriptions last as long as possible.These are not decisions that parents should have to make.
I just don't see how it is going to be worse than the hodge-podge abyss of private coverage and medicare/medicaid that we already have.
I just don't get it.
I just don't think that this is going to end the world as we know it. After all, the majority of the industrialized countries of the world have had it for many years without descending into total anarchy.
My sarcasm aside, I do recognize that some people have legitimate concerns but yelling racial slurs at a congressman is not going to address those concerns. It just makes you--the person who did this--look like an ignorant bigot. And why would anyone want to listen the concerns of someone like that? The same goes for the individuals who made derogatory comments about the sexual orientation of another congressman--under no circumstances is that acceptable. Did they think that this behavior would make them change their votes? I don't get it.
For some reason, I just do not think that this is what the founding fathers had in mind when they envisioned their successors exercising their right to assemble and their right to free speech. Evidently no one told these folks that you catch more flies with honey and that when you must resort to insults to make your point, the point must not be very strong. And seriously, people, yelling it louder does not make you right. It just makes me change the channel or tune you out.
I also fail to see how disseminating hate benefits anyone. That's all that some politicians and media personalities seem to be doing--fueling dangerous fires. Ironically, many do this while professing to be good Christians. A line from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird sums this up beautifully. "Hypocrites, born hypocrites." I hate to see these individuals set our society back decades for personal gain.
Now, I do have some concerns about how the end product will turnout but I really have trouble seeing how it is going to be worse than what we have and one group I trust even less than the politicians is the insurance companies. Some of the nonsense that they have been allowed to do as standard business practices...inexcusable. Based on what I have read, there's a reason they've been screaming so loud. They're not going to be able to continue those inhumane practices.
That being said, if my students will have the medication they need, even though their parents cannot afford to buy it out of pocket, then I'll be happy. I have one student who has been climbing the walls for weeks because his mother--a hairdresser--has been unable to afford his ADD medication. I have another whose parents have to choose which medicine to buy each pay period--her ADD meds or her asthma controller. Both her parents work but do not have health insurance, can't afford to purchase their own but make too much money for a medical card--instead they try to juggle the meds and hope that the prescriptions last as long as possible.These are not decisions that parents should have to make.
I just don't see how it is going to be worse than the hodge-podge abyss of private coverage and medicare/medicaid that we already have.
I just don't get it.
I just don't think that this is going to end the world as we know it. After all, the majority of the industrialized countries of the world have had it for many years without descending into total anarchy.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
technology
Our district has just decided to fund this big technology initiative--there is definitely some irony in this. Starting with the fact that our principal is one of the most technophobic people that I have ever met. Add to that the fact that there are people in our building who cannot master email and couple it with the slowest server known to man; I think we may be in some trouble.
In theory, it sounds really good because we need to prepare the students to be able to function in a tech savvy world but I have been in education long enough to be suspicious. Many times the educational bureaucrats come up with grandiose plans that do not work. Plus I've watched what has happened with our renovation. Some of the stuff that has been added to the building during the construction--that we're supposed to be thrilled about---are not that wonderful...or functional.
One thing that they are all excited about is providing all the teachers with laptops. They seem think that I should be jumping for joy because they're going to get me a laptop. I have a laptop; I'm typing on it now. Actually in this house, between the roommate and me, we have five computers: a laptop and desktop each and an additional decrepit old laptop. I don't need a school provided one.
A desktop at school is just fine. After all at school, I need the computer hooked to the projector, vcr/dvd, document camera and airliner. It is not necessary that it be portable. I'd be happy if the desktop would just not sound like a jet engine and if the speakers didn't buzz and it would be really nice if the tech guy would come figure out what is going on with my printer.
I'd be happy if the technology we have now would just work properly and I'd much prefer they provide the students with additional access to computers than to give me one. I have one class that I cannot get into a computer lab to do anything because they have scheduled classes in the computer labs, even though we have classroom computer labs that could have been used for that purpose.
This summer we're supposed to start professional development that is related to this new plan. Hopefully it will go better than I think.
In theory, it sounds really good because we need to prepare the students to be able to function in a tech savvy world but I have been in education long enough to be suspicious. Many times the educational bureaucrats come up with grandiose plans that do not work. Plus I've watched what has happened with our renovation. Some of the stuff that has been added to the building during the construction--that we're supposed to be thrilled about---are not that wonderful...or functional.
One thing that they are all excited about is providing all the teachers with laptops. They seem think that I should be jumping for joy because they're going to get me a laptop. I have a laptop; I'm typing on it now. Actually in this house, between the roommate and me, we have five computers: a laptop and desktop each and an additional decrepit old laptop. I don't need a school provided one.
A desktop at school is just fine. After all at school, I need the computer hooked to the projector, vcr/dvd, document camera and airliner. It is not necessary that it be portable. I'd be happy if the desktop would just not sound like a jet engine and if the speakers didn't buzz and it would be really nice if the tech guy would come figure out what is going on with my printer.
I'd be happy if the technology we have now would just work properly and I'd much prefer they provide the students with additional access to computers than to give me one. I have one class that I cannot get into a computer lab to do anything because they have scheduled classes in the computer labs, even though we have classroom computer labs that could have been used for that purpose.
This summer we're supposed to start professional development that is related to this new plan. Hopefully it will go better than I think.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A Simple Post...
A friend of mine posted the following in her Facebook status: HOW DID WE MEET? Everyone play this game! Copy and paste this phrase on your profile, you will find it amusing to remember how you met and how you know each of your friends!! Before you do that, answer for me!
I thought it sounded fun and so I responded to her post and copied it into my status. I smiled at the comments of family members and friends. It was fun to read and reminisce about going to haunted houses and how the mother of one friend used to load us all up in the minivan to take us to ballgames, concerts and movies.
However, the most meaningful comments came from my former students and dance team members--ones thanking me for helping them, teaching them and being there for them--as a teacher and a friend. Some of them were not a surprise. After all I speak to some of them on a regular basis and remain good friends with them but some of them...I haven't seen since their graduations and only converse with online. Those were the comments that grabbed me and reminded me of my purpose.
As a teacher today, it is easy to become frustrated and bogged down in all the ... stuff. There's not enough money, and there's too much testing. Some students are out of control and the administration is out of touch. It feels endless.
When we return to school on Monday, my darling freshmen will continue to take part of a reading and English assessment as part of NCLB; while this testing does provide us with some data about their learning, they lose at least two days per testing window. They'll be assessed three times this year. They're as frustrated as I am. I've sold them on Romeo & Juliet and they're eager to start...but they have to wait.
In two weeks, the entire school will lose an instructional day for practice testing. The state requires juniors to take the ACT in March and so we practice...a lot. On that assessment practice day, the freshmen will take a practice form of a test that they will take as sophomores...again. They've already practiced once in October when the juniors & seniors took another portion of the state mandated assessment. The sophomores & juniors will practice taking the ACT and the seniors will take the state's technology assessment.
Unfortunately this is not the end of our assessment nightmare. The entire school's schedule will be disrupted in March when the juniors take the previously mentioned ACT and at the end of April, everyone but the seniors will take some form of state assessment.
Before Mother Nature so graciously gave us a four-day weekend, I was lamenting the fact that I'm now testing these children more than I'm teaching them. I was worrying that I'm not adequately preparing them for the next step in their academic lives; that I'm not helping them develop the skills needed to be good citizens and their own advocates.
Then one simple post puts it all in perspective. They reminded me of why I put up with the nonsense--it is for the kids like them. The ones in need of another caring adult in their lives; the ones who need some to teach them to read, write, interpret, think; to express who they are and who they want to be.
Overworked and underpaid? Yeah. Worth it? Oh yeah. I just needed "my kids" to remind me.
I thought it sounded fun and so I responded to her post and copied it into my status. I smiled at the comments of family members and friends. It was fun to read and reminisce about going to haunted houses and how the mother of one friend used to load us all up in the minivan to take us to ballgames, concerts and movies.
However, the most meaningful comments came from my former students and dance team members--ones thanking me for helping them, teaching them and being there for them--as a teacher and a friend. Some of them were not a surprise. After all I speak to some of them on a regular basis and remain good friends with them but some of them...I haven't seen since their graduations and only converse with online. Those were the comments that grabbed me and reminded me of my purpose.
As a teacher today, it is easy to become frustrated and bogged down in all the ... stuff. There's not enough money, and there's too much testing. Some students are out of control and the administration is out of touch. It feels endless.
When we return to school on Monday, my darling freshmen will continue to take part of a reading and English assessment as part of NCLB; while this testing does provide us with some data about their learning, they lose at least two days per testing window. They'll be assessed three times this year. They're as frustrated as I am. I've sold them on Romeo & Juliet and they're eager to start...but they have to wait.
In two weeks, the entire school will lose an instructional day for practice testing. The state requires juniors to take the ACT in March and so we practice...a lot. On that assessment practice day, the freshmen will take a practice form of a test that they will take as sophomores...again. They've already practiced once in October when the juniors & seniors took another portion of the state mandated assessment. The sophomores & juniors will practice taking the ACT and the seniors will take the state's technology assessment.
Unfortunately this is not the end of our assessment nightmare. The entire school's schedule will be disrupted in March when the juniors take the previously mentioned ACT and at the end of April, everyone but the seniors will take some form of state assessment.
Before Mother Nature so graciously gave us a four-day weekend, I was lamenting the fact that I'm now testing these children more than I'm teaching them. I was worrying that I'm not adequately preparing them for the next step in their academic lives; that I'm not helping them develop the skills needed to be good citizens and their own advocates.
Then one simple post puts it all in perspective. They reminded me of why I put up with the nonsense--it is for the kids like them. The ones in need of another caring adult in their lives; the ones who need some to teach them to read, write, interpret, think; to express who they are and who they want to be.
Overworked and underpaid? Yeah. Worth it? Oh yeah. I just needed "my kids" to remind me.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
A New Year's Miracle...
...at least that's what the dog thinks.
Let me backtrack:
The roommate's dog had a little gray sheep. Last year, Bath & Body Works sold little sheep and after Christmas, they were practically giving them away. I bought a bunch and the roommate bought one for the little black dog. He loved it literally to pieces but it lasted for a year. I had one more little gray sheep in my room in the present box that I had planned to give him once the new had worn off his Christmas toys (or after he had destroyed them. Lab & Basset mix--he has strong jaws and most toys are no match for him. The good news is that he will continue to play with the remnants for-ev-er).
As I was doing some heavy duty cleaning in my bedroom, the little black dog wandered in and imagine his delight when he spotted it--the sheep. His sheep. Restored to its former glory. Its tail still attached. Its hair still soft and not all bushy. Its stuffing still inside. He was overjoyed. He looked at the sheep and then up at me and then back at the sheep. He snatched it out of the box and bounded out of the room triumphantly to show his mama that his sheep was back.
A New Year's Miracle.
Let me backtrack:
The roommate's dog had a little gray sheep. Last year, Bath & Body Works sold little sheep and after Christmas, they were practically giving them away. I bought a bunch and the roommate bought one for the little black dog. He loved it literally to pieces but it lasted for a year. I had one more little gray sheep in my room in the present box that I had planned to give him once the new had worn off his Christmas toys (or after he had destroyed them. Lab & Basset mix--he has strong jaws and most toys are no match for him. The good news is that he will continue to play with the remnants for-ev-er).
As I was doing some heavy duty cleaning in my bedroom, the little black dog wandered in and imagine his delight when he spotted it--the sheep. His sheep. Restored to its former glory. Its tail still attached. Its hair still soft and not all bushy. Its stuffing still inside. He was overjoyed. He looked at the sheep and then up at me and then back at the sheep. He snatched it out of the box and bounded out of the room triumphantly to show his mama that his sheep was back.
A New Year's Miracle.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year's Resolutions
I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions...at least not ones that I actually write down. I may think "Oh, I'm going to exercise more" or "I'm going eat healthier" but I've never made a resolution list that I can have as a reminder to make sure that I follow through. Therefore, this year we're going to try a different take. I'm going to write them down and maybe, just maybe I'll stick with them.
Resolution one: Stay on the Weight Watchers Wagon and actually reach my goal weight (which means those Rice Krispies treats in the kitchen may have to go down the garbage disposal). I've never been skinny but back in the days when I was the dancer (instead of the coach), I was at a much healthier body weight. It is time for me to fix that.
Resolution two: Actually use the gym membership for which I have been paying 30 bucks or so for months. This will help with resolution one and when I exercise, I feel better. It just often seems like I never have time. I am going to have to make time.
Resolution three: Restore order to my personal space---namely my bedroom. The living room and kitchen and such gets cleaned up regularly but I just tend to shut my bedroom door---thus sparing guests (and my roommate and the dog) from witnessing the chaos of my room. (The dog, however, loves to come in and investigate my mess.) But as noted in previous blogs, I'm highly allergic to dust mites--more cleanliness in my bedroom would help me be healthier in body as well as mind.
Resolution four: Stay caught up on my grading...or at least not fall more than a week behind. This will require better time management on my part--and even when the papers are depressingly bad, I will have to go ahead and plow through them...all of them.
Resolution five: Take time for myself. It seems like all I do anymore is work related. I'm either making lesson plans, grading papers, cutting music, choreographing dance routines, running dance practice, attending games or competitions.
I'm tired just looking at that list; no wonder I've had trouble with resolutions two & three. In addition to taking time for my health, resolutions 1-3 as well as those doctor's appointments that I'm having trouble scheduling, I need to read stuff other than what I'm teaching; I need to write--this blog, a journal, something. I need outlets for me.
So here we go...something different this year, an actual resolution list. At this point, I am hopeful and positive. I can do these things and this list will hopefully keep me on track.
Resolution one: Stay on the Weight Watchers Wagon and actually reach my goal weight (which means those Rice Krispies treats in the kitchen may have to go down the garbage disposal). I've never been skinny but back in the days when I was the dancer (instead of the coach), I was at a much healthier body weight. It is time for me to fix that.
Resolution two: Actually use the gym membership for which I have been paying 30 bucks or so for months. This will help with resolution one and when I exercise, I feel better. It just often seems like I never have time. I am going to have to make time.
Resolution three: Restore order to my personal space---namely my bedroom. The living room and kitchen and such gets cleaned up regularly but I just tend to shut my bedroom door---thus sparing guests (and my roommate and the dog) from witnessing the chaos of my room. (The dog, however, loves to come in and investigate my mess.) But as noted in previous blogs, I'm highly allergic to dust mites--more cleanliness in my bedroom would help me be healthier in body as well as mind.
Resolution four: Stay caught up on my grading...or at least not fall more than a week behind. This will require better time management on my part--and even when the papers are depressingly bad, I will have to go ahead and plow through them...all of them.
Resolution five: Take time for myself. It seems like all I do anymore is work related. I'm either making lesson plans, grading papers, cutting music, choreographing dance routines, running dance practice, attending games or competitions.
I'm tired just looking at that list; no wonder I've had trouble with resolutions two & three. In addition to taking time for my health, resolutions 1-3 as well as those doctor's appointments that I'm having trouble scheduling, I need to read stuff other than what I'm teaching; I need to write--this blog, a journal, something. I need outlets for me.
So here we go...something different this year, an actual resolution list. At this point, I am hopeful and positive. I can do these things and this list will hopefully keep me on track.
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