Spaz Attack

Thoughts from a big spaz who has lots to spaz about.

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

I have had it up to here with meetings. This school has too many meetings; meetings in the mornings, meetings in the afternoon. It's totally insane. Yesterday, our meeting was about next year's curriculum. I don't even understand why I have to be there since, hello, I am a SUB! Get this- they are putting together the school's course catelog for next year...something they haven't published in TWO years! Insane, I tell you.

Then, this morning, our meeting was about "staffing" students, where teachers discuss students and ways they could help them achieve some success in school. OK, that is all good and dandy, but too bad I don't know ANY of the students. What a waste of freakin' time.

I have 30 more working days left. I think I can make it.

This weekend, while we were in LA, we picked up our wedding album and video. I was really scared to see our album because the photographer put together the whole thing without any input from me. See, most anal girls will pick out each and every picture they want in their album and then give it to the photographer to make the album. For me, I practically gave all the proofs back to Haeng and told him that I trust his judgement and wished him well. Even though I did trust him, looking back, that was a huge risk on my part. It all worked out so I am happy.

As far as the video, I am totally disappointed. I am even thinking of calling the guy and asking him to make some changes on it. The main problem I have is this: the music!! He had asked me to give him five songs, which I did. Well, I don't know what happened but he picked his own songs for our CD so I have to hear Lionel Richie's annoying voice while watching my wedding video! That's just wrong.

Oh, and Thankgsiving weekend was great. On Thursday, we spent it with Jason's family. Friday, we spent it with mine. On Saturday, we went to the California Science Center to see the Body Works exhibit. If you haven't seen and it are remotely interested in the human body and anatomy, I would suggest you see it before the exhibit leaves in January. There are real life bodies that have been turned into "plastic" after death. I know, kind of gruesome. After I had sworn off ever eating ribs and beef jerky, I was ready to leave but Jason was enthralled by the exhibit, studying each body. I thought he would be bored seeing things he sees on a daily basis, but I was wrong. The most interesting part, by far, for me was the fetuses on display. I got to see how big Tyler is and was at certain times in the pregnancy. He was tiny when I first found out I was pregnant!

Well, glad to be back and sleep in our own bed. Next Monday and Tuesday, we'll be in Nashville, Tennessee for another one of Jason's interview. I can't quite see myself living in that part of the country, but I will go with an open mind. Tyler sure is traveling a lot these days! hehe. Now, the countdown begins until Winter Vacation!!!

Sunday, November 28, 2004

When we were on the plane coming to LA, I thought to myself, "Pretty soon this weekend will be over." A little pessimistic, I know. Well, it seems that this weekend has just flown by and in a couple of hours, we will be on a plane back to Portland. (Noooo!)

On Wednesday night, we flew in to LAX. It was pretty crowded and I scanned for some celebrity sighting, but there were no celebrities in sight. (Last time we came to LA, we saw Melanie Griffith at LAX- tall, lipoed and faced stretched out to wazoo.) My mom said she would pick us up at 10:15 but it ended up being 11:15 when we we saw her car drive up to terminal 7. While we were waiting, this young bohemian, world traveled looking guy came up to us and asked if we wanted his half eaten pastry from Starbucks. He gave us some background information of how his flight had been delayed and they had given him food vouchers and he got this pastry but couldn't finish it...would we want it? We were like, "Um, no thanks." Thought that was a little odd. We befriended a little hapa boy who was a cute as a button. He was traveling with his mom who was so short and so young looking that I mistaken her to be his SISTER until he called her momma!

We went back to my aunt's place where we slept the whole weekend. She and her family were gone to Arizona for the weekend and left their dang mansion to us...it was much nicer than any five star hotel. :)

Well, I wish I could write more but I have to get ready to leave. Jason's grandma called last night and kind of got mad at us for not calling. Jason says it's no big deal.."all grandmother's are like that," but it worries me and we promised to have breakfast with her this morning. I better get cleaned up and looking presentable.

One last thing: Last night I was talking to Susan on the phone. I went on and on about MY thanksgiving, MY annoyances, MY issues, etc. Just when she was about to tell me about HER thanksgiving, I had to get off the phone because we had company and they were waiting for me and Jason kept calling my name. I thought this was sooo rude on my part and I felt bad, so Susan, if you are reading this, lo siento! I know we're friends and things like that doesn't matter and that you would never hold anything like that against me, but I still felt bad!

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

We're back in Portland! Detroit was much, much nicer than I anticipated. I heard Detroit houses the fattest people in America and has a very high crime rate. But, those are statistics that really surprises me after visiting. I was mostly shown the suburbs so maybe I was only shown the nicer areas, but I went through Downtown Detroit and thought that was also very nice!

(Patrick, I went through Troy, Rochester, Oakland Township, Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Novi, Northfield and some more more little neighborhoods. I drove past Somerset...(nice shopping!!), saw Athens and Troy High School. I bet I drove right pass your house!!)

Off to LA later!! Can't wait....sooo sooo excited!

Monday, November 22, 2004

So we're here in Detriot. Came in last night. Haven't really seen anything yet. Jason got picked up about an hour ago and I have to wait two more hours for my ride/tour around the city.

On the flight over, we had three seats to ourselves so it was cool to have that extra arm space. Once again we had a toddler around us. This time, she sat in the seat in front of us. It was really cute to hear her sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for about the first fifteen minutes. After that, we wanted to shut her up. She was traveling with her father and he didn't seem to mind that she was talking and singing in really loud decibals, keeping all around her awake. They had a blanket on back of their seat and the little girl knocked it off onto Jason's table which had coffee on it. The coffee spilled all over Jason making him look like he peed on himself. We all laughed it off but I later realized how rude the father was. He didn't even apologize for it (It had happened when he left her alone while he went to the bathroom.), but instead asked us if we had children, like we would understand if we did. Later, in the hotel, we saw that Jason had blisters on his legs from the hot coffee and that got me really mad.

Well, other than that, it's been smooth sailing. The breakfast here was pretty nice...and free!! I took up all this food to my room....for later, of course. Not for me- Tyler might get hungry.

It dawned on me that while my job interviews can last up to forty five minutes, Jason's job interviews last two whole days, meeting 15 attendees and culminating in him giving an 2 hour presentation. Wow...

Saturday, November 20, 2004

The cravings have started. I nearly cried when I had my last bite of Dreyer's Rocky Road this morning because I wanted more!

We have so much to do before we leave tomorrow: clean up, laundry, pack, meet with Thumper's sitter, pick up dry cleaning. I guess it's not too much but all things that I dread. I really don't know what I'll be doing in Detroit as Jason has his interviews for most of the day. Jason told me that some real estate lady will be showing me the Detroit area on Monday and Tuesday; I'm guessing that she is hoping to sell us a house. I think that's a lot of time and effort on her part when we don't even know where we'll be next year.

I can't wait to be in LA for Thanksgiving, be with family and eat good food. I can't wait to show my growing belly to my family. I think they'll be amazed and hopefully, Tyler will do some kicks for them!

Happy Birthday to my monkey! :) hehe. And no, it's not Jason's birthday. I have a lot of monkeys in my life!

Friday, November 19, 2004

Today is my last day and then I get a week off!!! yeah!! Nothing better than a week vacation! I actually counted how many days of work I have left and, after today, I only have 32 days of school until my last day here. Not too shabby at all.

For the first time in my teaching career, I've asked to have a student removed from my class. This jerk thinks that it is funny to make my class hell because I sent him to the office for not bringing his book to class for WEEKS! Last week I asked him to remove his headphones and he tried to slap my hand away. Then, I tried to take away the geometry homework he was copying and he said, "Don't touch my stuff, fool." The whole class period, he sits in the back of the room, doesn't do a single thing and looks at me with menacing eyes. What a jerk. I've heard his father has been in and out of jail and he's never really met him. The sad part of all this is that we had a really good relationship before. Knowing of his family life, I really made an effort to reach out to him and encourage him to do his best in my class. I KNOW that he knows that I considered him to have potential and that I really wanted him to improve in my class. Maybe that is more the reason why his sudden change is so upsetting to me.

I'm just not cut out to teach high school. I am way to sensitive for the kids' attitude and lack of respect. I know that they are young and going through a "phase," but it still hurts me. I know that I am a good teacher and I try my best to make a positive impact on my students. But these kids are way too ungrateful and think it's funny or cool to be mean spirited. I didn't become a teacher to be see the sad state of our future and be discouraged by what I think the future holds for the students in my class.

I love teaching younger kids. They are not jaded by the system yet. They all think they are smart and try to prove it to me in their own little ways. I feel like I can make some sort of impact on them and make them feel good about their talents, whatever it may be.

So, going back to the student. I told the administration that I feel threatened and uncomfortable with him in my room and told them to remove him IMMEDIATELY. If I wasn't pregnant, I wonder if I would just put up with it and try my best to work with this student- on his emotions and academics. But, right now, at this point in my life, I don't care and I don't want to go through the stress.

Have I become jaded? I wonder.

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Yesterday I received my first copy of Parenting magazine in the mail. As I was perusing the pages, I stopped at the advertisement for Target maternity clothes and yelped cause I knew the model! She was my best friend in fifth, sixth, and seventh grade, before I moved to Cerritos. She was gorgeous back then and even though I had heard that she had became a model, I couldn't believe that she was on the pages of a magazine! We discovered boys together, went shopping and shared broken hearts necklaces that read "Best Friends." I tried to search her name on the internet but only came up with Miss America 1999 who has the same name. Now, I really want to find her!

My computer is down at work. Does that I mean that I really have to spend my prep time prepping for my next class instead of researching strollers? What a bummer.

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

It is 10:30 and I have freedom until 12:30. Nice.

I have nothing to write about. All things in my life is boring as heck. Well, Jason did call me an orangutan the other day. I love my husband- my back hurts, my bladder is the size of my pin head, it's getting more and more difficult to put on my shoes, and he's still able to crack jokes and poke fun!

Actually, if you compare the body of a 6 month pregnant woman and a oragutan, it's pretty similiar, especially if she sits with her legs open and scratches her armpits and eats everything in sight.


Saturday, November 13, 2004

I've been feeling the baby flutter around my belly for a couple of weeks now, but Jason got to feel the baby for the first time yesterday nght. We were watching TV and I felt Tyler moving. I told Jason to put his hands on my belly and we both felt a kick!

I'm trying to figure out how I want to decorate Tyler's nursery. I've been looking through catelogs, magazines, and online, and I've come to this conclusion: Girl's nurseries are soo much cuter. It's really hard decorating for boys. They have bedding with trucks, dogs, and other "manly" things. I just want something clean and simple, but not too cheesy looking. Hopefully, I'll find something soon!

I can't wait till Thanksgiving week. We'll be in Detroit on Monday and Tuesday for one of Jason's interviews and then we'll be in LA to eat, eat, eat! Move over everone, hungry pregnant woman on the loose!

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Last week, I ordered about 300 books for Tyler (aka Peanut). I know...he is not even born yet and he has his own library! Well, they arrived yesterday and I was so excited to open up the boxes and get a look at what I ordered. I was sorting the books into two piles and Jason asked me what I was doing. I told him was thinking of returning some. He asked me why and I responded that some of the books were too easy. Jason reminded me that Tyler doesn't know how to read yet. Well, I still say some of the books are too easy... Jason underestimates our son's potential!

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

It is 2:25. My class is working on a writing project and I am counting down until 3:00. Once the bell rings, I am sooo out of here. It feels like Friday and that makes me sooo happy!

One more day to go and I don't have work on Thursday or Friday. Thank you Lord for holidays, especially Veteran's Day!

I miss my old school. I am only a long term sub here and am treated as such. blah, blah, blah, blah...

I love living vicariously through my dating friends, hearing all the juicy details of the games that women and men play. I don't miss it but it's fun to hear about and think about what once was my single life.

Sunday, November 07, 2004

Jason and I went out out last night, and I actually got all decked out and stuff. We are truly homebodies- in all essence of the word, so getting dressed up and going out out was a change. I told Jason that we were like a "cool couple" last night. He was like, "You act like we never go out!" and my response was, "We don't, fool!"

It's funny. A lot of people tell us that things will change so much once the baby comes. They tell us, "Go out and do everything now because once the baby comes, you won't be able to do anything." And we look at each other and laugh and ask, "How would that be any different from now?"

I know it sounds really boring, but my definition of a good evening is watching a rented video at home, in my comfy pajamas, with some freshly popped popcorn. I know, so exciting....

There was once a time when going out every weekend was fun. I remember Jenn, Jeannie and I going out and partying it up for awhile almost every weekend. But, truly, in the depths of my core- of who I am- I have always known that I have an "old soul," as some people would say. A soul that couldn't wait to get married and start a family. A soul that was sick of going to clubs after clubs, seeing lonely ass loser guys drinking away their sorrows, looking for some pretty girl to give them a second of their time. yuck.

It just dawned on me last night that while I might be living what others would consider a pretty unexciting life, it's the perfect life for me.

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

I just gave out my first discipline referral at this school. Freakin A, piss me off... I just HATE when kids pout. I've always hated it with my second graders and it's even worse to see grown high schooler do it. In class today, this boy raised his hand to read. I didn't call on him a number of times because I had to call on other students. Damn, I'm the teacher. I will call on anyone who I need to hear from and who needs practice. Then, this guy starts puffing and sighing and closes his book and sits there staring at me, making it obvious that he wants me to see his defiant act. ooh... So I ask him, "What's wrong?" and he says, "Well, since you're not calling on me, I'm not going to read." Wha..wha...wha... I told him that I can't always call on him. Sometimes, he gets a chance. Other times, I will have to call on other students. He still looks at me pissed as hell, and now I'm getting really furious too. I told him that if he wasn't going to read, he will have to go to the office. The punk throws his book on the floor and leaves my classroom. What a freakin' baby. Making such a fuss because he didn't get a chance to read. wha...wha. I lose all respect for such behavior.

I want to know who raised a child like this. What makes him think that he could manipulate others around him by acting like that? Who at home gives in every time he pouts and whines and shows a little dissatifaction?

I'm about to have a child and I swear, I will never allow that kind of behavior in my house.

Monday, November 01, 2004

It worked!! Yay!

Monday morning. Just had some thoughts about the last picture I just posted.

#1. What is up with my dad's pompadour?

#2. Why is Claudia shoving my hand down my throat? Here's proof folks!! She's trying to kill me...at such a young age. So sad.

#3. Why do I look like Humpty Dumpty?

Testing. Testing. Call me dumb but I am trying to see if I could put non-digital pictures up on this site.



Picture of my dad, Claud, and me.

I'm in the mood to post some pictures. I wish I could post more pictures but I find it way too time consuming. Plus, I haven't been taking that many pictures lately. Maybe once Peanut joins us.



Two of the most memorable students from the first class I ever taught. They are in fifth grade now. I think about them often and will remember them forever.



Taken at the end of the first race Jen and I ever ran. What an exciting day! We look exhausted, but thrilled that we finished in one piece!



Me and my hubby.



I took this picture when Jason and I went to Palm Springs and touched it up a bit on my computer. It makes me want to go back to LA, even though it wasn't taken there.

Hope to post more pictures in the future.

Today's faculty meeting got cancelled. It's the best gift anyone could have given me-freedom from another dry boring meeting.

Yesterday, not one child came for treats. Good thing, cause we didn't have any candy to give anyways. But, two grown people came to our door. They were holding these plastic bags that read, "Trick or treat!" and at first I thought they came for candy. I was relieved to find out that they came to reimind me to vote. Thanks for the reminder dudes. My vote is in the mail, on its way to add one measley vote, wondering if it will make a difference.

I am thinking of registering at a baby store. But, before I do, I wanted to see what sort of things people put on their registry so I checked out some of my sister's friend's registries. I was surprised to see that some had things like "breast pump" and "disposable breast pads" on their registries. Come on now, what chump is going to get that for you and bring it to your shower looking like a bigger chump? Yes... "Please come to my baby shower and bring me some sanitary napkins, tampons, and something to pump my huge engorged boobs." Nice.