Ears pierced while you wait (as if you have a choice)

I heard a sermon a couple of weeks ago about being busy. How Americans say that as if it's a good thing. "I can't help you right now, dear, I'm busy."

But, the minister pointed out, that interferes with our ability to see the big picture and to enjoy our time on this world.

I am horribly guilty about this. I am always busy. When I go to the beach, I can't just lay in the sun - it drives me crazy to do nothing. And yet I find that, over time, I am getting less accomplished than I would if I weren't so busy.

I let important people slip by the wayside in my busy-ness. Phone calls and letters I didn't write and now can't.

I took family time yesterday to do something with the family - and we are all out of practice.

My busy time starts up tomorrow: meetings, lessons, teaching, calling home, etc. I want to keep my eye on the important parts of my life and skip being too busy.

Google too busy - it's discouraging!

Summer is ALMOST over

Tomorrow we'll go on a last-day-out - last fling before school.

Hubby fixed the bed - it is awesome!! Daughter is happy with her new mattress.

I didn't get everything done that I needed to so Sunday will be catch up.

I am ready to be back.

More on furloughs - you value what you pay for.

It's interesting. As I read the different ways the various counties around here are dealing with the required 3-day furlough, I am learning a lot about how teachers view themselves and how others view teachers.

The state superintendent went on tv to assure the general population that they didn't need to worry about their children's education: the teachers would do the work needed to get school up and running even without pay.

A local school board member said that teachers need to learn to be conservative in the classroom. I think she meant that we needed to turn off the light when we weren't there.

On the one hand, I know things are tough all over and I am more than willing to think smart and do my part. On the other hand, I resent the state telling me that of course, I will work for free.

"They" say that there will be more furloughs after the first of the year. We have 10 non-student days. Only 3 are after Christmas. If they need more than 3 more, they will have to cut into student days.

Math teachers should KNOW better about measuring twice

There is an article in today's paper that the Port of Seattle is going to lose $1 Million because they mismeasured a trench. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/08/05/Port-of-Seattle-mistake-could-prove-costly/UPI-60291249496515/

The trench is 2.5" wide where it should be 2.52" and the cables that need to go into the trench do not fit.

My oldest wanted a new mattress. She sleeps on futons on our old (double) bed. The futons are Queen size, so a Queen mattress will fit, right? No.

The new mattress came today and is 5" too long for the frame. I assured the delivery man that it was my fault and we would fix it and we were pleased with the mattress. I'm sure he isn't sure I was telling the truth.

My husband is annoyed because he asked if I was sure before they bought the mattress (note: he could have measured the frame). I was (and I was wrong). Daughter is upset because she is having to undo her room so we can fix the length of the frame. Hubby is also upset because he has to do it.

Guess I should have measured and remembered what ASSUME means.

On the other hand, this is fixable with minor inconvenience and daughter has a much better bed (well, mattress) as soon as we are finished.

School in ten - nine . . . .

Next week is approaching too quickly. I don't know what day I'll start. I don't know how many copies I'll be able to do. I don't even know what my pay will be. (There is a meeting in the near future to discuss furloughs and pay cuts).

The class rolls are being entered but there a big problems (kids with no home room or no classes or they have the same class twice during the day). Or they haven't finished the prerequisites for the classes they are enrolled in.

The school had construction over the summer that isn't close to done.

Oy, vey!

Good news - I both know the subjects I will be teaching and know the material like my own children. Heck, maybe better than I know my own children.

I will take things to the office store tomorrow to get some copies made (since I don't know if I will be able to do that before the first day). These aren't freshman, so I intend to hit the ground running.

College Grad Can't Find Job, Wants $$$ Back

College Grad Can't Find Job, Wants $$$ Back
By JENNIFER MILLMAN
Updated 10:59 AM EDT, Sun, Aug 2, 2009

She went to college to boost her chances of finding a great job once she got out of school, but now that that hasn't happened, Trina Thompson wants her money back.

Thompson, a graduate of Monroe College, is suing her school for the $70,000 she spent on tuition because she hasn't found solid employment since receiving her bachelor's degree in April, according to a published report.

The business-oriented school in the Bronx didn't do enough to help her find a job, Thompson alleges, so she wants a refund. The college says it does plenty for grads.

The 27-year-old information-technology student accuses the school's Office of Career Advancement for not living up to its end of the deal and offering her the leads and employment advice it promised, according to The New York Post.

"They have not tried hard enough to help me," the beleaguered Bronx resident wrote in her lawsuit, filed July 24 in Bronx Supreme Court.

Thompson's mother is proud of her daughter for completing her college education, but acknowledges Trina is upset that all her high hopes haven't panned out.

The mother and daughter live together, but Trina's mother, Carol, is a substitute teacher and the only one of the two who makes any money. They're barely scraping enough together to get by, reports the Post.

On top of her unemployment woes, Trina now faces mounting debt from student loans.

"This is not the way we want to live our life," her mom told the paper. "This is not what we planned."

Monroe defends its career-advice programs and is adamant that its staff assists young professionals in their careers.

"The lawsuit is completely without merit," school spokesman Gary Axelbank told the Post. "The college prides itself on the excellent career-development support that we provide to each of our students, and this case does not deserve further consideration."

On the school's Web site, the career program boasts that it provides free services for graduates at any point in their lives.
First Published: Aug 2, 2009 8:05 AM EDT

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/College-Grad-Cant-Find-Job-Wants--Back-52304162.html

How long before students sue because we didn't teach them (even though they take no responsibility for their own education)?

supplies - still

I am getting a very different perspective on shopping for school supplies this year. I have shopped for my own (collage), for my children in elementary school through high school, for my students.... Now I am shopping for a child going off to collage. WAY more expensive but somehow exciting.

Spent another $15 yesterday (filler paper and colored pencils and rulers).