So, it feels like he just came home, though I know it was almost (but not quite) a year ago. Today, October 15, my friend John is back in Iraq for seven months. His first tour, he left on his birthday in April and came back in November. He didn't have to be away for the holidays. This time, he won't be back until May and will definitely be spending Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even his birthday at war.
I know that our country is at war, and I am just a wreck knowing someone who is actually over there, especially someone doing something as dangerous as flying helicopters (a Huey) for the Marines. During his last tour, I talked to my students about it. It made me mad when they wouldn't stand stand for the pledge, when they wouldn't pause their conversations, and when they wouldn't care. I know. They're 12. And they have no real idea. These kids don't even remember September 11. They were 5 or 6.
Also, John being overseas makes me feel like a coward. Of course, now I have excuses, reasons I wouldn't be accepted into the armed forces, but 10 years ago, when I was in ROTC, I decided that I couldn't go into combat, that I would rather provide support for military families as a DoD teacher. I haven't even done that yet! I've done nothing except sit back and reap the benefits of these soldiers fighting and and dying for my freedoms. I'm a bum. And I feel guilty.
I make sure I tell John as often as I can how much I appreciate that he's willing to serve in the Marines. I know it's more difficult on him this time around because he's leaving his girlfriend behind. He didn't really have any real emotional attachments before.
Anyway, I wish I could find some way to help my classes support our troops this holiday season. Ideas?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
It was really just about the free food.
Yesterday, I enjoyed great quantities of free food. Some may call me a traitor, or scoff at me taking food from the hand of the "enemy", but when have you ever known me to turn down free food?
The Judge and his wife invited us to tailgate with them before the Auburn vs. Arkansas game, and we readily accepted the opportunity to set foot on campus for the first time since we've been here. The free food was also a draw.
We drove the 1.5 miles to the mall and took a FREE SHUTTLE to the stadium. Yes, ladies and gentleman, Auburn gets its fans to the stadium for FREE from about 10 different locations around town. If that's not taking care of your fan base, I don't know what is. (When we went to an Alabama game earlier this year, we had to pay $10 each to ride a charter bus to the game from the Tuscaloosa mall, but the buses weren't there after the game, so we had to walk the 3 miles back to the mall--it was good exercise, but a waste of $20). FREE RIDES TO AUBURN GAMES. I was almost turned into an Auburn fan right there.
When we got to the tailgate, there was a lot of good food, and there were a lot of people. A 4-year-old came up and kept talking to me. Vera Elizabeth. I have a feeling that this won't be the last time we talk. She was funny, talking and drinking her Sprite. She eventually made herself at home, sharing my camp chair with me. We were amused.
And while we were there, Texas beat Oklahoma. The neighboring tailgate had their DirectTV set up and let us come watch. So, will Alabama be #1 in the polls next week?
And finally, Vera Elizabeth's dad, who is the judge's wife's brother, gave us two tickets to the game. One of the tickets was up in the nosebleed section. The other was in the "Scholarship" section, which come with what else? Free food. We found two seats up in the upper deck, but when we got hungry, Eli sent me down to the Scholarship section to claim our food. It was amazing. They didn't care how you loaded up your plates! I got two hot dogs, nachos, 2 cookies, 2 bags of chips, 2 sodas, and 2 cups of ice--all in one trip! We ate well. Then, in the middle of the third quarter, we moved down to some scholarship seats where the wind wasn't blowing, and I found out that each scholarship ticket gives you THREE trips to the food. Amazing! So, I went back for some drinks and snacks. And when we left, with 7 minutes remaining in the game, I hadn't used up all my trips to the buffet, so I went one more time to grab some drinks to bring home. I should have grabbed some chips, too. Anyway, it was pretty awesome.
What else was awesome? The live eagle mascot, Nova, flying around the stadium before the games was pretty awesome.
Anyway, my first Auburn football experience was unbeatable (though Auburn isn't). We hopped on the bus and rode back to the mall. And we were home by 7:30. No traffic, no nothing. I wish the University of Alabama could learn a thing or two about game day transportation.
The Judge and his wife invited us to tailgate with them before the Auburn vs. Arkansas game, and we readily accepted the opportunity to set foot on campus for the first time since we've been here. The free food was also a draw.
We drove the 1.5 miles to the mall and took a FREE SHUTTLE to the stadium. Yes, ladies and gentleman, Auburn gets its fans to the stadium for FREE from about 10 different locations around town. If that's not taking care of your fan base, I don't know what is. (When we went to an Alabama game earlier this year, we had to pay $10 each to ride a charter bus to the game from the Tuscaloosa mall, but the buses weren't there after the game, so we had to walk the 3 miles back to the mall--it was good exercise, but a waste of $20). FREE RIDES TO AUBURN GAMES. I was almost turned into an Auburn fan right there.
When we got to the tailgate, there was a lot of good food, and there were a lot of people. A 4-year-old came up and kept talking to me. Vera Elizabeth. I have a feeling that this won't be the last time we talk. She was funny, talking and drinking her Sprite. She eventually made herself at home, sharing my camp chair with me. We were amused.
And while we were there, Texas beat Oklahoma. The neighboring tailgate had their DirectTV set up and let us come watch. So, will Alabama be #1 in the polls next week?
And finally, Vera Elizabeth's dad, who is the judge's wife's brother, gave us two tickets to the game. One of the tickets was up in the nosebleed section. The other was in the "Scholarship" section, which come with what else? Free food. We found two seats up in the upper deck, but when we got hungry, Eli sent me down to the Scholarship section to claim our food. It was amazing. They didn't care how you loaded up your plates! I got two hot dogs, nachos, 2 cookies, 2 bags of chips, 2 sodas, and 2 cups of ice--all in one trip! We ate well. Then, in the middle of the third quarter, we moved down to some scholarship seats where the wind wasn't blowing, and I found out that each scholarship ticket gives you THREE trips to the food. Amazing! So, I went back for some drinks and snacks. And when we left, with 7 minutes remaining in the game, I hadn't used up all my trips to the buffet, so I went one more time to grab some drinks to bring home. I should have grabbed some chips, too. Anyway, it was pretty awesome.
What else was awesome? The live eagle mascot, Nova, flying around the stadium before the games was pretty awesome.
Anyway, my first Auburn football experience was unbeatable (though Auburn isn't). We hopped on the bus and rode back to the mall. And we were home by 7:30. No traffic, no nothing. I wish the University of Alabama could learn a thing or two about game day transportation.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Screened
That means that tomorrow is Friday, and that means that I only have one day left in the school week!
I'm feeling like a bum. I feel fat, too, but I'm not sure if that's a hormonal symptom as much as it is a result of watching three hours of NCIS on USA after school every day. That and not going to Jazzercise. I'm such a bum!
So, this brings me my beef of late. Too much screen time. We have cable television. We have Internet cable. Both are always on. I'm trying to catch up from three missed years of NCIS while we lived in Tuscaloosa and our antenna didn't pick up CBS. Ugh. And I'm constantly checking my stupid e-mail.
I need some friends to distract me! I want people who will make cards with me. The Burds were supposed to come this weekend, but there was a change of plan. I had hoped that Eli and Jason would go to the football game while Heather and I (and baby Ava) did crafty stuff, like make t-shirt skirts, make cards, and make baby booties from felt. Stuff like that.
Now, depending on whether Eli got tickets, I might have to go to the game! Well, at least there is free tailgating with the judge beforehand!
I'm feeling like a bum. I feel fat, too, but I'm not sure if that's a hormonal symptom as much as it is a result of watching three hours of NCIS on USA after school every day. That and not going to Jazzercise. I'm such a bum!
So, this brings me my beef of late. Too much screen time. We have cable television. We have Internet cable. Both are always on. I'm trying to catch up from three missed years of NCIS while we lived in Tuscaloosa and our antenna didn't pick up CBS. Ugh. And I'm constantly checking my stupid e-mail.
I need some friends to distract me! I want people who will make cards with me. The Burds were supposed to come this weekend, but there was a change of plan. I had hoped that Eli and Jason would go to the football game while Heather and I (and baby Ava) did crafty stuff, like make t-shirt skirts, make cards, and make baby booties from felt. Stuff like that.
Now, depending on whether Eli got tickets, I might have to go to the game! Well, at least there is free tailgating with the judge beforehand!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Lazy
Well it's Saturday, and I haven't done a dang thing. I started surfing the web this morning around 8 and have been on and off the computer ever since, working on budgets and what not. Eli's gazillion loans go into repayment next month, and with interest rates the way they are...it won't be cheap. We can afford it, but it won't be pretty.
I'm mostly frustrated that even though we are making more money now that Eli is working, we still don't have any money. We have more bills, more things to pay for! Geez!
I really need to get to work cleaning up this apartment. When I get home in the afternoons, I'm so exhausted that I don't feel like doing anything. And Heather and Jason (& Baby Ava) are supposed to come visit next weekend. I seriously need to get this place ready for our 4-week-old guest.
I'm mostly frustrated that even though we are making more money now that Eli is working, we still don't have any money. We have more bills, more things to pay for! Geez!
I really need to get to work cleaning up this apartment. When I get home in the afternoons, I'm so exhausted that I don't feel like doing anything. And Heather and Jason (& Baby Ava) are supposed to come visit next weekend. I seriously need to get this place ready for our 4-week-old guest.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Solo
Today people kept asking me if today was my first "solo" day, as if I've never taught before, or been in the classroom with students by myself before.
It went well, overall. I was nervous about the eighth grade classes, and I'm not entirely sure why, but Mr. Reed yesterday said something to me that had me shaking in my boots. "If by Friday they're saying, 'I like Mrs. Beaver,' then you're not doing your job." Why was this intimidating? Because I come across as a nice person. Always. And in years past, I've had students tell me at the end of the first day of schoo, "You're the nicest teacher I have!"
But, it wasn't as bad as I foresaw. I had one group that is really talkative, and SURPRISE, it's NOT an honors group. I'll have to do a little research and planning to figure out how to get them to respond most effectively.
I was complimented on their behavior in the lunchroom, both by the cafeteria staff and by the other teachers in there. "Usually that group is rowdy." I know. That's why I laid down the law for 20 minutes before we went in there. You think I'm new to this? Well, yes. They do.
The only possible tear-shedding moment happened in the lunchroom--one of the students squirted ketchup on my pants, up and down the right leg. The lunchroom staff helped me out by giving me a rag to clean it up with, and I tried to talk myself down from this emotional frenzy while I was out of the students' sight. What happened was a mean thing to do, and I don't like to think that anyone is capable of behaving in such a way. I decided I'm just emotional and hormonal and that they're just pants (albeit my favorite pair).
At the end of the day today, as I was leaving the building, Mr. Reed said to me, "She don't play. Mrs. Beaver don't play. That's what I've been hearing. Good job." Sheesh! That was a lot of work!
It went well, overall. I was nervous about the eighth grade classes, and I'm not entirely sure why, but Mr. Reed yesterday said something to me that had me shaking in my boots. "If by Friday they're saying, 'I like Mrs. Beaver,' then you're not doing your job." Why was this intimidating? Because I come across as a nice person. Always. And in years past, I've had students tell me at the end of the first day of schoo, "You're the nicest teacher I have!"
But, it wasn't as bad as I foresaw. I had one group that is really talkative, and SURPRISE, it's NOT an honors group. I'll have to do a little research and planning to figure out how to get them to respond most effectively.
I was complimented on their behavior in the lunchroom, both by the cafeteria staff and by the other teachers in there. "Usually that group is rowdy." I know. That's why I laid down the law for 20 minutes before we went in there. You think I'm new to this? Well, yes. They do.
The only possible tear-shedding moment happened in the lunchroom--one of the students squirted ketchup on my pants, up and down the right leg. The lunchroom staff helped me out by giving me a rag to clean it up with, and I tried to talk myself down from this emotional frenzy while I was out of the students' sight. What happened was a mean thing to do, and I don't like to think that anyone is capable of behaving in such a way. I decided I'm just emotional and hormonal and that they're just pants (albeit my favorite pair).
At the end of the day today, as I was leaving the building, Mr. Reed said to me, "She don't play. Mrs. Beaver don't play. That's what I've been hearing. Good job." Sheesh! That was a lot of work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)