Category Archives: thursday thoughts

Thursday Thoughts

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Tomorrow is my last day of full-time teaching in the job I started at the beginning of the year. It’s a very, very strange feeling. I only see three of my five classes tomorrow, and I’m letting them all have “parties” for me during the last part of class. (Party will probably mean cupcakes/brownies/cookies and some sort of game…)

I have *a lot* to do…the marking period ends tomorrow, so I want to try and have grades done (including comments for report cards) for Monday. I still have a small pile of research paper rough drafts to grade, too. Fortunately, I have two planning periods and a study hall tomorrow. I’ve been chipping away at getting my stuff out of the classroom for the past week. I still have a small box of things that will have to go home with me tomorrow.

It’s going to be very strange on Monday when I don’t go to work (or if I do go to work, it’ll be going to sub for someone else…).

I’m guessing it’ll be equally strange for the teacher who’s coming back. That would be incredibly difficult, and I suppose I’d rather be in my position than in hers. (Except for the fact that if I was in her position, I’d have health care and be on a tenure track…ah, one day…)

At any rate…tomorrow will be a weird (and probably a little sad) day for me.

Thursday Thoughts

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First off, a big happy birthday shout-out to Eden!

Right now, the big thought on my mind is “one more day until break!” I so need this…time to regroup and recharge. This week hasn’t actually been bad. I had an observation earlier in the week, and I think it went really well.

I had a bunch of other things I was going to talk about, but my brain is moving into shutdown mode. I skipped “Wedding Wednesday” this week, because seriously? Who can think about weddings this close to Christmas? (er, I’m sure the answer is “lots of people.” Just not me!)

Don’t forget…this Saturday, you can see Greg Klyma with special guests Ookla the Mok at Madame Mocha’s on Lovejoy! (contact me for more info)

Some Thursday Thoughts (sort of)

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Really, though…they’re more “things” (apologies to Hilary).

I love this post at Will Write For Chocolate–Holiday Gifts for Writers. It is indeed full of awesome gift ideas.

I just collected portfolios from my college students, so that will be keeping me busy for the next several days. The fun is nonstop. 😉

There was something else, but I’ve already forgotten. Oh well.

I still need to post about the concert last weekend. That’ll be coming soon…until then, happy almost-weekend!

Thursday Thoughts: Bellsnickel

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December 6 is St. Nicholas Day. In my hometown, we celebrated a similar tradition, but instead of St. Nicholas, we were visited by Belsnickel. Here’s a brief mention I found on Wikipedia:

Belsnickel (or Belschnickel) is a Pennsylvania Dutch mythical being who visits children at Christmas time. If they have not been good, they will find coal and/or switches in their stockings. The Belsnickel was a scary creature not well loved except by parents wanting to keep their children in line.

Belsnickel is also similar to Krampus in Austria and Germany.

I did grow up in a very German part of Pennsylvania, and my area of the state had adapted a version of this story. Our Belsnickel wasn’t exactly scary, though…we thought of him as a jolly elf of sorts. On the night of Dec. 5, we’d leave our shoes out, and Belsnickel would leave a small gift (candy or little toys) for you if you’d been good.

I received small gifts from Belsnickel well into my adulthood. 😉 (Here’s one previous mention on the blog…I had spelled it Bellsnickle, and I’ve been noticing a lot of google searches leading people here! Hope you find what you’re looking for…)

There’s some more information under the “Companions of St. Nicholas” entry in Wikipedia.

Thursday Thoughts (er, sort of)

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Busy days…in lieu of a typical “Thursday Thoughts” post, I wanted to share a few upcoming musical events!

Tomorrow night at the California Brew Haus in Rochester, we have…er…”Nipplepalooza III” (no, I don’t know why it’s called that) featuring:

Ookla the Mok
Worm Quartet
Carla Ulbrich
Rob Balder
and Sudden Death

Show begins at 9:30. $5, 21 and over, $7 under. (more info at the Worm Quartet link)

I have to say, I’m most looking forward to seeing Carla, because it’s been quite a long time.

Saturday night (and every Saturday in December), Greg Klyma and Tom Bianchi will be at Madame Mocha’s, 1190 Lovejoy Street in Buffalo. I’ve never been there, but I’m told it’s a great venue, and Greg and Tom are always fun!

And next Saturday, of course, is Lowest of the Low at Club Infinity. I think those tickets are $28.

See you there?

Thursday Thoughts–Thankful

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turkey

Yesterday, I drew this turkey on my classroom whiteboard with a black marker. Throughout the day, students added various messages and lots of color. I’m thankful for eighth graders who still want to act like kids.

I’m thankful for my job, even though it’s not permanent. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

I’m thankful for my friends–old and new, near and far, real-life and virtual.

I’m thankful for my family, who I will be missing today. This is my first Thanksgiving away from home. Ever.

I’m thankful for my *other* family, the one I’m gaining, who I will be spending this holiday with.

I’m thankful for the communities I belong to…the one that’s built up around this little blog, Toasted Cheese, livejournal, etc.

And finally, I’m thankful for Rand’s love, and the life we’re building together.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Thursday Thoughts

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Gonna be a short one tonight…it’s been a long day. Here it is, in bullet-point form.

A couple of wedding-related things, first:

  • My Skechers came yesterday, and now that I’m seeing them in person, I think they’re too dark. They’re more beige than the off-white they appeared in the picture. They do come in white…not that my dress is white, either, but I think the white might be a better match. I dunno, thoughts?
  • Also, I was browsing etsy yesterday for jewelry, and I found these pretty things. (That sort of mauve-rosy color is what I’ve been thinking about…)

Let’s see…what else…

  • The first marking period ended on Friday, so the last couple of days have been busy with entering grades and report card comments and the like. Report cards allow us to give up to two comments. There were one or two kids I wished I could give about ten. 😉
  • Lately, I’ve been completely addicted to the Italian Wedding Soup from Wegmans.
  • I’ll be attending the World’s Largest Disco next week, and I have secured myself an appropriately heinous dress to wear. What I do not have is appropriately heinous shoes. Any suggestions? (the dress is silver)

Thursday Thoughts

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So, what’s on my mind this week?

I dunno. I’m seriously dragging today. The kids were…well, loopy today. I was sure it had to be a full moon, but no. It’s a new moon. But not on Monday. 😉

Bought myself a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks and put some upbeat dance tunes on the iPod. That’s helping, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last. I just want to go home and crash. Thankfully, I don’t really have to *teach* tonight…just lead a peer editing workshop.

Other than that? I’ve been thinking a lot about DJs, and why I don’t want one for my wedding (Rand and I are going to go the iPod/computer route. We have a friend to serve as emcee when necessary, and we have or can get all the necessary equipment). Ninety-five percent of the time, I leave a wedding talking about how crappy the DJ was. He played inappropriate music. He mispronounced people’s names. He made lame jokes. Etc. If you’ve known me for any amount of time, you know that I have a huge beef with inappropriate wedding music. (not talking about the first dance songs, of course. that’s the fault of the bride and groom…)

For example, I’m not sure why you would ever play “Jesus Take the Wheel” as a slow dance at a wedding. Or “American Soldier.” The huh? I mean, I just think the slow songs at a wedding should be, y’know, about love. And the happy love kind. Not the “I’m crazy for lovin’ youuuuuuuuu…” kind.

And now for some audience participation…what’s one song you think absolutely *must* be played at a wedding (slow or upbeat) and one that you think should be banned forever?