Oh stuff and fluff

 Instead of grading or lesson planning or any number of other productive things I could have done, I spent part of my weekend making this not-quite-masterpiece:

I just hope I don't regret it tomorrow.

100 points to Gryffindor

Jacob was concerned that the post I wrote about him not wanting to get me a glass of water made him look like a jerk. (Which was not my intent.) So, in order to clear up any misconceptions, allow me to share the following:

This last week had been a fairly long one at school. I had to be evaluated by my principal for the first time on Wednesday, so I stressed about preparing and delivering that lesson. On Thursday, my students were acting up even more than usual, so I came home exhausted and discouraged. On top of that, I'm trying to get ready for report cards for Parent Teacher Conferences and have been a little overwhelmed about getting everything done for that.

So when I came home from work and running errands on Friday at 5 pm and still had the prospect of making chicken noodle soup for our family's traditional Halloween bag dinner, I felt like curling up in a ball and dying a little on the inside.

I trudged into our apartment, the very picture of gloom and despair, and found Jacob wearing his apron, the cookbook on the table, the vegetables peeled and chopped, the chicken cooked and shredded, and the dishes in the process of being washed.

This was the second day in a row that he had anticipated my stress levels and made dinner without any request on my part. Keep in mind that he probably works even harder than I do, commuting an hour each way to school 3 times a week on top of working the graveyard shift.

I married a good man, no doubt.

Going once, going twice

I had my first class auction today for those students who were able to pay their monthly rent. Quiz time! Ready, go:

1. The highest-selling item was:

a) A free pass to the Living Planet Aquarium
b) A free homework pass
c) A pass to eat lunch with the teacher
d) A package of glow stick bracelets

2. The amount of money spent on the highest-selling item was:

a) $800
b) $1,200
c) $1,600
d) $1,800








. . . Time's up; pencils down! Let's review the answers.

I hate to brag, but a student spent her entire bank account ($1,800, or nearly two months' rent) on a pass to eat lunch in the classroom with me and two friends of her choice.

Who's feeling popular? I am, I am!

Well, burn my biscuits!

SCENE: Jacob and Jennifer are sitting side-by-side on the couch. Jennifer is on her lappy and Jacob is eating dinner and watching television.

Jennifer: Do you want to be a peach and give me some beverage of the liquid water variety? [smiles creepily]

Jacob: [Continues to watch t.v. without responding]

Jennifer: [extends one hand to turn Jacob's head to the side so he can witness her expression]

Jacob: You should get your own water.

Jennifer: You mean my creepy smile didn't work!? How about if I flutter my eyelashes?

(Note: Fluttering eyelashes was almost guaranteed to work on my dad, who would always respond "Got a bug in your eye?" and then acquiesce to our requests.)

Jennifer: [flutters eyelashes maniacally while continuing to smile creepily]

Jacob: [Nudges Jennifer away from his face so he can better watch his sports.]

Jennifer: How about the puppy dog pout? [Sticks out bottom lip and makes her chin tremble.]

Jacob: Why can't you get up yourself?

Jennifer: Because I lost my legs in the war. [Glances at legs.] These are prosthetics.



(In case you were wondering, I ended up getting my own beverage. Harrumph!)