When I was a little girl, my mom watched the ABC soaps--Ryan's Hope, All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. I was usually playing but I remember bits and pieces. I can clearly remember lying in bed listening for the GH theme song to play in the closing credits because when it was over, I could get up from my nap and watch Sesame Street. Yet, I must have watched it with her some because I wanted to name my baby sister, Heather after a particularly crazy character on General Hospital. My parents vetoed that idea.
Once I started school, I lost track of my soaps since I only saw them on snow days and sick days. College, however, changed that. One of my roommates loved GH as much as I did and we would tape it on days that we had class at 2 p.m. CST. We would even talk about characters as though they were real people that we knew.
I know the plots are predictable and far-fetched but sometimes they do examine real issues. Back in the early 90's, they tackled the topic HIV and AIDS with the Robin and Stone storyline. Currently they're highlighting the problem of domestic violence in teenage relationships--granted I do a lot of yelling at the screen with this one because I think they could have done a better job of if they had been a bit more realistic. However, it is a soap and suspension of belief is needed.
After all in a soap, no one is ever dead for keeps...even if you see them die on screen--they can still come back. Paternity tests are rigged willy-nilly and DNA results are returned instantly. Helena kept her son frozen in a sub-basement under a hospital. Children are shot and comatose at age 12 and wake up a year later six years older. The voice of wisdom and honesty is the resident hit man. Such is the wonderful world of soaps.
Nowadays, I watch General Hospital online; it pops up in my Hulu queue every evening allowing me to get my soapy fix of Jason, Sam, Carly, Sonny and Luke. And maybe they'll get crazy Heather back on there again--you just never know what will happen on a soap. Anything can happen and I'll be there to see it.
http://abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Spring Cleaning
Spring break around here means spring cleaning. On Saturday, I did yard work--with the little black dog supervising the operation. I still have a lot to do out there; the flower beds need mulch and flowers but that may have to wait until next pay day...especially since I tend to get carried way with the flowers. The little black dog loved it! We were outside for a long time and that is one of his favorite places to be.
On Monday, I hauled off part of the recycling, did the laundry, did the dishes and started scrubbing the bathroom. We have an entire winter's worth of recycling but I'll have to deal with the rest tomorrow. Our recycling center is in a rough part of town and I will only go down there in the daily light. Besides on tomorrow, we're going to deal with the garage.
Today, I had to go get my allergy shots and as I'm highly allergic to dust mites, the cleaning had to stop for the day. Otherwise the injection sites react and it's not pretty. I did get some grocery shopping done.
As I mentioned a bit ago, tomorrow we're cleaning the garage---we, my little bro, the little black dog and me. Granted the little black dog will simply be looking for any of his exiled toys while the boy and I clean. My brother is on spring break as well and my mother is determined that he is going to leave the blasted video games alone and do something. He's fifteen now; he can make himself useful.
The roommate had surgery last week, so she may be able to supervise the operation but I doubt it. She's still hurting and that garage looks like something you would see on TLC or Discovery. You know those shows about Hoarders? That's what it looks like.
I tried do some cleaning in there earlier in the year but it was not something that I could do by myself. Just not strong enough--and the whole dust mite problem. I'd made a little bit of a dent and then the roommate's sister left her husband and we ended up with a bunch of her furniture in there. She's supposed to be coming to get it soon but she's had to work a lot of mandatory overtime and can't make it down here.
It supposed to be pretty tomorrow and so either the boy or I can fight through to the door to open it and start hauling things out to the driveway. Unfortunately, I suspect that there is a lot of stuff out there that's destined for the trash can and our trash can is full. I didn't expect trash pick up on Good Friday.
I also need to mop the floors, vaccum, haul things to Goodwill, store things for a yard sale, store the winter things and get out the spring/summer...
Wonder if I can con the boy into dusting for me? Probably not--he is a teenager.
...you know, as much as all this stuff needs to get done, I wish I could just go to Tybee Island instead.
On Monday, I hauled off part of the recycling, did the laundry, did the dishes and started scrubbing the bathroom. We have an entire winter's worth of recycling but I'll have to deal with the rest tomorrow. Our recycling center is in a rough part of town and I will only go down there in the daily light. Besides on tomorrow, we're going to deal with the garage.
Today, I had to go get my allergy shots and as I'm highly allergic to dust mites, the cleaning had to stop for the day. Otherwise the injection sites react and it's not pretty. I did get some grocery shopping done.
As I mentioned a bit ago, tomorrow we're cleaning the garage---we, my little bro, the little black dog and me. Granted the little black dog will simply be looking for any of his exiled toys while the boy and I clean. My brother is on spring break as well and my mother is determined that he is going to leave the blasted video games alone and do something. He's fifteen now; he can make himself useful.
The roommate had surgery last week, so she may be able to supervise the operation but I doubt it. She's still hurting and that garage looks like something you would see on TLC or Discovery. You know those shows about Hoarders? That's what it looks like.
I tried do some cleaning in there earlier in the year but it was not something that I could do by myself. Just not strong enough--and the whole dust mite problem. I'd made a little bit of a dent and then the roommate's sister left her husband and we ended up with a bunch of her furniture in there. She's supposed to be coming to get it soon but she's had to work a lot of mandatory overtime and can't make it down here.
It supposed to be pretty tomorrow and so either the boy or I can fight through to the door to open it and start hauling things out to the driveway. Unfortunately, I suspect that there is a lot of stuff out there that's destined for the trash can and our trash can is full. I didn't expect trash pick up on Good Friday.
I also need to mop the floors, vaccum, haul things to Goodwill, store things for a yard sale, store the winter things and get out the spring/summer...
Wonder if I can con the boy into dusting for me? Probably not--he is a teenager.
...you know, as much as all this stuff needs to get done, I wish I could just go to Tybee Island instead.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Birthday Advice
A colleague of mine has a cool idea for her sixteen year old daughter's birthday present. She emailed all the women in her daughter's life and asked them to give advice for her girl. She creating a book with the advice in it. I've been wracking my brain trying to decide what advice to give this delightful child; I'm hoping that blogging about it will help me flesh out some ideas.
When I met her, G was seven years old; I can't believe that she's going to be sixteen. Her mother always tells me to treat her children (G, her sister B and brother T) like they are mine and I've watched them run tame in the high school where we teach for nine years. G's matured from a sweet little girl to beautiful, talented, socially aware young woman.
I wish all sixteen year old girls were as blessed as G and the advice that I want to share with her is the same advice that I wish I could share with all teenage girls.
Shakespeare had it right--To thine own self be true. Too many times teens, especially teen girls, allow the wants and needs of others to dictate their choices. The desire to fit in and be popular leads many teens to make choices that just are not who they are. I hope that G and all teens remain true to themselves.
Over the year's I've also watched countless girls compromise who they are to keep a boy--many times a boy not worthy of them. I wish they all knew that they do not have to have a boyfriend to be complete. And that boy who makes them feel like they are too skinny, too fat, too plain, too stupid, etc, needs to be kicked to the curb. They're like buses--another one will be a long. You just have to be patient enough to wait.
Do what gives you joy. Life is too short to be miserable in your life.
But unfortunately, sometimes you have to do things that you do not like.
Go to funerals.
Keep your doctor's appointments.
Exercise.
Wear sunscreen.
Do your homework.
Floss.
Always behave in a manner that makes your mother proud...you never know where her friends are;)
Hmmm, this helped. I had hoped that blogging about it would give me ideas---and it did.
When I met her, G was seven years old; I can't believe that she's going to be sixteen. Her mother always tells me to treat her children (G, her sister B and brother T) like they are mine and I've watched them run tame in the high school where we teach for nine years. G's matured from a sweet little girl to beautiful, talented, socially aware young woman.
I wish all sixteen year old girls were as blessed as G and the advice that I want to share with her is the same advice that I wish I could share with all teenage girls.
Shakespeare had it right--To thine own self be true. Too many times teens, especially teen girls, allow the wants and needs of others to dictate their choices. The desire to fit in and be popular leads many teens to make choices that just are not who they are. I hope that G and all teens remain true to themselves.
Over the year's I've also watched countless girls compromise who they are to keep a boy--many times a boy not worthy of them. I wish they all knew that they do not have to have a boyfriend to be complete. And that boy who makes them feel like they are too skinny, too fat, too plain, too stupid, etc, needs to be kicked to the curb. They're like buses--another one will be a long. You just have to be patient enough to wait.
Do what gives you joy. Life is too short to be miserable in your life.
But unfortunately, sometimes you have to do things that you do not like.
Go to funerals.
Keep your doctor's appointments.
Exercise.
Wear sunscreen.
Do your homework.
Floss.
Always behave in a manner that makes your mother proud...you never know where her friends are;)
Hmmm, this helped. I had hoped that blogging about it would give me ideas---and it did.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
March Madness, Crazy Fans and the University of Kentucky.
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.
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.
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.
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