Camping

So - we wanted to go camping. Unfortunately, our schedules are rather hectic when you figure in work at the hospital (I'm back in the lab and Brett's still on 7th) and Brett's school assignments. We never seem to have time to do all the fun things we want to do together. And so... our first camping-in-the-backyard event transpired.

First, we had to eat hot dogs cooked over a low fire.... We have highly tuned rustic skills as you can tell. Brett ate an entire avacado - which I was jealous of (they look soooo good, but I'm allergic - lame!). The Garden Salsa Sun Chips were another highlight of the meal. After our "well balanced dinner" we scooped cake batter ice cream into waffle cones and enjoyed a lovely desert.

After a tasty campish dinner - we decided to utilize the camping facility's Wi Fi to continue our Survivor viewing (if they can call that surviving being on a deserted island, then we can call this camping). We've been quite busy of late, hence the need to watch Survivor which we haven't finished yet - so don't ruin it! (We're in the middle of the Heroes vs. Villans) After getting the computer all set up and ready to go outside (this site has some awesome utility hook-ups) we discovered that CBS took off the full episodes! How lame is that! Still don't ruin it.

Since we couldn't watch Survivor (and because we wanted to anyway), we called the camp directors to come play a game of "Ladder Ball" with us. I won't say who won, that just wouldn't be sporting.

Finally we set up camp, which consisted of an inflatable mattress blown up with an electric pump on the trampoline, a few blankets under the sheets, and a few blankets over the sheets, plus some pillows. Upon finding that I kept rolling towards Brett (we like our sleeping space), we decided to take the bed off the trampoline and set up on the top-of-the-hill site next to the trampoline which luckily hadn't been claimed by any other campers. Since we're both allergic to the outdoors, we both took half a benedryl and spent the night sleeping under the stars. At about 5:30 in the morning, we opted for the indoor facility to avoid the sprinklers which were scheduled to start that morning.

I still smell like bug spray, so despite what the rest of you might say, I definitely feel like I've been out camping.

Last Day

So it's my last day at school this year. It hasn't really hit me yet...

It's been a pretty great year really. The first few weeks were absolutely crazy, and I've learned a lot about what I want to do differently next year. I'm going to be better organized and have things ready to go WAY earlier. I'm going to get desks instead of the big tables I had this year which took up too much space. I'm going to be better and getting those kids (9th graders particularly), under my thumb at the beginning of the year, and I'm going to keep on them as the year progresses. I found that either I got more lax or they got more comfortable being annoying by the end of the year. Next year I'm going to be much better at the discipline game.

I'm going to stress out about things less - if we have 5 min. of nothing at the end of the lesson it's not the end of the world. If something doesn't work out like I thought it would I'm

How do you say "late" in Spanish?

Okay, okay, so this post is seriously almost a year old.  Well, the subject of the post is.  Katie and I have done a bit of collaborative journal writing (same journal, same document, same time) on Google Docs. We decided long after the event, that we should journal about our Mexico trip last year.  We just finished.  The following PDF is the end-product.

I understand that by clicking on the following link, I will be redirected to a non-blogger document, which contains far too much information about a trip that I don't care enough about.  By opening it, I understand that Brett and Katie are in fact not compelling me to read the whole thing, or even part of it, because it's long.  Really long.  

Mexico Trip, August 2009.  Yep.  That's 2009.

This post has been provided out of a realization that we don't post enough.  So there. 

My Guaranteed Weight-Loss Program

NOTE: WHEN READING THIS POST, ASSUME YOUR MOST ANNOYING, QUICK-TALKING, ADVERTISING VOICE... you know the one I'm talking about.


Tired of trying to shed those last few pounds? Do you hate the way you look in a swimming suit? (This actually has nothing to do with how you look in a swimming suit, but it sounded good)

Stop dieting! And definitely stop exercising! If you really want to lose weight, you need to try our exclusive, proven method to get instant, pain-free results!
(While this program has not been approved by the FDA, or any other federal agency, any logical person would endorse it as a sure method for weight loss)

The pictures below are from a happy, satisfied customer, who obtained the dramatic results in less than an hour.

BEFORE:                                                       AFTER:

  

That's right... she lost those hard-to-lose couple of pounds in a matter of   minutes!!!

If you're looking for a weight-loss program that requires you to sit back and get a head massage in order to lose the weight, then this is the best option on the market. With economic times like these, you can't afford to waste your time and money on exercise machines, diet pills, or celery...

Instead, simply call your local stylist today!

(The results shown are not typical - the customer pictured suffers from a condition known as Obese - Hair Disorder Type III, which is only second in severity to Type IV which is Woolly Mammoth - Hair Disorder. Most customers with normal hair may see a similar but less dramatic affect. This treatment can only be used for real weight-loss after a few years of regrowth. Prolonged use of this method may result in increased risk for baldness. Other side-effects include dry mouth, an over-extended neck from the sudden change in weight, and non-recognition by family and friends).

Something

I'm going to post something today... that much I have decided. What to post about is yet to be determined....

Fudge Jumbles

I got lonely last Sunday and decided to make some fudge jumbles to keep me company while Brett was working. They have become long lasting companions as they have joined the ranks of adipose cells in my torso. At least they'll be sticking around for a long time - I will never be lonely again. In case any of you want a long-term relationship with something that you eat, here's the recipe:

Fudge Jumbles
Crust Layer:
      Cream together:
             1 C. margarine or butter
             2 C. brown sugar
             2 eggs
             2 tsp vanilla
      Add: (I put them right in, but mixing the dry ingredients together first might make it more homogeneous in the end).
             2 1/2 C. flour
             3 C. quick oats
             1 tsp salt
             1 tsp baking powder
Chocolate layer - make in a separate bowl
      Over low heat melt (or on low power in the microwave):
            12 oz. chocolate chips
              2 Tbs butter (I'm tempted to leave out the butter, because it seems to make the chocolate go all gritty... I'll let you know how that goes the next time I try it).
      Add and mix well:
            1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
            1/4 tsp salt
            1 tsp vanilla
Pat the 2/3 of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 greased pan. Pour on the chocolate mixture. Top with little globs of the remaining oatmeal stuff. Bake 25 min. at 350°. 

I think that these are best served after a few hours of solidifying and cooling with a glass of milk, but warm and gooey works too (the glass of milk element remains the same despite the temperature at consumption).
     
    

    

Jordan School District

I probably don't have many friends who live in Jordan School District, but just in case someone pops by this blog on accident, this is for you!

I've only worked for the last school year in JSD at Fort Herriman Middle School. It's really been a great experience. But, unfortunately, since I'm one of the last ones hired, I'd likely be one of the first ones fired. The district is facing at least a $30 million deficit next year, and will likely be cutting many teaching positions. They will be increasing class sizes, there will be fewer elective and arts classes offered (because there will be fewer teachers), and it's likely that there will be fewer supplies for students at school. But one of the biggest concerns I have is for the "extra" staff members who help the teachers so much - it is these people who's jobs are really on the line. We have a woman who comes in to make our copies for a few hours a day. It's a part-time job for her, but it saves us hours of prep time. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to wait and wait for a copy machine to be open and then to stand there and make my 200 copies for each assignment, activity, and test. I hand out a new piece of paper almost everyday for some assignment. I would not survive without the copy lady. We also have a hired hall monitor. She gets kids to class before school, between classes, and gets them out of the building after school. She's also in charge of collecting tracker sheets for the kids who have behavior problems. She is also in charge of taking a teacher's class if a substitute is running late. Both the kids and the teachers love her. Then there are the computer tech guys who help keep all of the labs running as best they can (and they aren't fabulous labs to begin with). If they are gone - no one will be left to fix the computers, and in this generation, it is imperative that students learn how to use computers for both research and making some sort of product. And there's the aides, and the assistants, and everyone else who keeps a school running as smoothly as possible. I suppose I've been spoiled, but I honestly can't see how I'll be able to spend my time grading, planning labs and lessons, contacting parents, and helping kids one-on-one if I have to worry about keeping the halls clear during lunch, and if I have to stand at a copy machine for my entire prep period.

Unfortunately, there are some grossly overpaid positions at the administrative level of the JSD. From what I hear - this is the reason that the community does not want to increase taxes - they are afraid it will go to these administrators who are already overpaid. If the money goes to keeping classes small, and to the teachers, patrons of JSD will probably be more likely to pay the extra ~$11/month in taxes. $11/month. It could save 500 jobs, and be good for the kids at the same time.