Trick or Treat!

Picture it: Halloween Night, 2007. A little girl and her stuffed dog, Spot get ready for a night of unmitigated fun and perhaps even a bit of a scare.

The dog and girl were dressed almost identical. Two witches walking around the neighborhood. Daring to ring door bells and beg for treats while at the same time threatening tricks.

Finally, after walking almost the entire neighborhood - or a least where the lights were on... it was a return to the home front. The candy was dumped, the squeals of delight were heard, the horror was observed as licorice sticks, laffy taffy, and the ever dreaded wax candy was picked out of the pile to be disposed of in a humane way.

A pixie stick was ingested, followed by a chocolate bar, cookie, sweet tarts, and finally a piece of bubble gum. Have you ever tried to do homework with a child after such a sugar ingestion? Fun, I tell ya fun.

As the Pipsqueak runs off to brush her teeth before the next dental bill produces more horror, I bid you a Happy Halloween.

A Rambling Rant

I am miffed. As in so mad I could spit nails. After struggling for 2+ years as a sub because I moved back to my homestate, I applied (yet again) for a job opening. My grade, a school I loved. I was never even phoned for an interview.

Fine. They hired someone within district.

Except, they didn't. After being told by I don't know how many principals and human resource folks that "we hire off the sub list", "the longer you sub, the more likely you are to get in", I find out today that a first year teacher was hired for the job.

I've taught 6 years in an inner-city environment. My evaluations were always the top, my former principal wrote glowing recommendations.... so why can't I get hired? Because I don't know anyone in the system. I was told, yet again, by another teacher, "it's not what you know, it's who you know". Oh, and this one... 5/6 years- might be too many to hire- you're too expensive.

Too expensive?! An experienced teacher who loves to teach, who hasn't bothered getting her master's yet in order to "not cost too much".... UGH! I feel like Charlie Brown.

The system I'm talking about is the 2nd largest in my state. It has inner-city, low socio-economic, title one schools, etc....This is what I've come from in Texas.

What do I have to do to get a job in this state? Hell, what do I have to do to get an interview?!

I am to the point of giving up. That's right folks, an educator giving up because it's just so damn frustrating to survive like this.

I love teaching. It's where I belong. I just can't do this anymore. Other people's classrooms, promises that aren't kept, not knowing what to do to even get interviewed.

Ideas? I'll take any and all ideas right now because I'm seriously trying to figure out a different career. Problem is- I have no idea what I should do as I love teaching.

Maybe selling home made doggie treats. My dog loves them, maybe it's time to branch out and start an internet business.

Pumpkin Carving 101

Step 1: Draw the face

Step 2: Get out the pumpkin guts

Step 3: Admire your newly carved Jack O'Lantern

Wordless Wednesday

Pet Peeve

Wow! Another post, already. I'm starting to feel prolific.

Anyway- saw an add on tv for free popcorn. Popcorn that's free. Who wouldn't want to try this? I diligently get to the website, fill out the info, hit the enter key and Wham! I am hit with a $5.90 shipping and handling fee.

The free popcorn is not longer free. I quietly close the window and decide not only will I not get the free popcorn, but I won't even try this brand of popcorn if it ever hits my local store shelves. So sorry D*** & Th**** won't be trying your brand.

I've tried free offers before. In fact, I got a rather, um... interesting K*shi bar in the mail today. It was free. No shipping and/or handling.

In other words.... Free. Meaning free.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen random things, thoughts, or ideas.

1. Just because you can cartwheel doesn't mean you should do it in the house.

2. Playing hangman at school should not involve calling the
"hangman" the name of a child who "bugs you and is mean".

3. A piano horn is just as annoying as a recorder if your 7
year old plays it as loudly as she can.

4. Fall weather is wonderful. Wonderful that is, when it
goes below 75 degrees.

5. I am a human dictionary to my 7 year old.

6. It's a good thing the 7 year old doesn't ask me to spell
words that are any more difficult than "because or I'm".

7. If you drove your parents nuts when you were a teenager,
they will drive you nuts in their 60s.

8. Mothers never stop giving advise. Wanted or not.

9. You can never have too much cheesecake.

10. Homework stinks.

11. Just as you begin to enjoy the quiet, you realize it's too quiet.

12. The Spongebob theme can easily get stuck in your head.

13. Why would you use that toothbrush for the dog?

Lucky 7

Now you can call me Lucky 'cause Lucky's my name
Singin' and dancin', that's my game.......

I was born 'neath a lucky star

They said I'd go far.....

______________________________________

Yup. The Pipsqueak is 7 today. I still can't believe how old she is. Seems like yesterday that a little, scared 17.5 month old came off the plane from India and was handed to me.

So Happy Birthday Little Girl. I know you'll go far.

Monday, Monday

Today is Monday. Monday is today.

Today it reached 90+ degrees. In the midwest. In October. What in the world is up with the weather? Ninety-plus degrees in the midwest in October is so wrong on so many levels I'm not sure where to start.

First, the leaves. They should be changing. Some are, most aren't. It's a bit depressing to know you should be seeing the lovely autumn hues and instead are trying to keep the air conditioner running at a decent temperature to avoid heat exhaustion.

Pumpkins. Where are all the pumpkins this year? I should be able to stop almost anywhere on a country road and buy a pumpkin. I can't find them. I refuse to spend $6.00 for a grocery store pumpkin when I am surrounded by farms on which I know pumpkins grow. I think I'll be heading to an Amish farm this week to see if I can find a pumpkin- or I'll be heading to the local pumpkin farm that supports our local schools field trips.

Fall clothing. Summer clothing. They are one in the same thus far. I'm never quite sure what to dress the Pipsqueak in for school in the morning- so I send her in layers. I'd love to be able to start wearing the fuzzy sweaters and sweatshirts. Will I ever be able to wear my favorite flannel shirt again?

I've just heard the weather report- 70 degrees tomorrow. Oh how I hope the weather folks are right.

In the Classroom

Things I never thought I'd hear myself say. Ever. (In the elementary classroom)

1. Math manipulatives don't go up your nose!

2. If you hadn't put the rubber band around your head, we wouldn't be in this mess right now.

3. Why, why did you put your head through your desk? (In which the boy proceeded to get stuck and have to be gently tugged out.... it was an old-fashioned desk btw)

4. Do you stand on the toilet seat at home?

5. Get the crayon out of your ear!

6. You are not a dog. Please stop chewing on your pencil, shirt, paper, etc

7. Child: "She called me the K word." Me: "What's the K word?" Child: "Krazy!" Me: "Oh"

8. Why did you lick his shoe?