tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33198152008-07-16T18:55:25.077-05:00stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comBlogger769125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-54009866074005563502008-07-14T11:48:00.004-05:002008-07-14T12:08:37.300-05:00

I have a paper I need to write, that is due Wednesday night, at the latest. Of course, I have all day today, so I should just bang it out and be done with it, and be able to spend Tuesday and Wednesday doing fun stuff to get ready for my trip to Florida. Right? No, of course I'm totally procrastinating. I'm pretending that I might actually move to California in the next 5 years, and I'm looking

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-70825367154171648792008-07-13T12:39:00.004-05:002008-07-13T12:42:31.671-05:00

Last night, since my train stop is still closed, I took a very short cab ride home, rather than walk a mile at midnight (when Ravenswood is at its sketchiest). My Jamaican cab driver sang along with the radio, first to "The Locomotion," and then to "All She Wants to Do is Dance." I have to admire people who are that sure of themselves, to sing along to the radio in front of complete strangers.

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-51454027080904119062008-07-09T12:37:00.001-05:002008-07-09T12:39:34.331-05:00

I am now a certified teacher in the State of Illinois. All I need now are minds for molding.

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-8804228103952423872008-07-06T22:45:00.003-05:002008-07-06T22:55:00.768-05:00

So, it turns out that pounding in nails is a lot harder than it looks. And my thumb has the bruises to prove it. I spent most of the day down at A Red Orchid Theater, helping to build the set for the upcoming WNEP show, Metaluna and the Amazing Science of the Mind Revue. Sadly, I'm not working on this show, though I had planned to. Because of my summer school class, the trip I'm taking to

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-71518058439701322202008-07-03T17:37:00.002-05:002008-07-03T17:43:35.580-05:00

I just got the "unofficial" results of my APT test - the final test you have to take before becoming certified as a teacher. I passed with flying colors. 300 is the highest, and 240 is passing - I got a 287 overall, and even got 300 on a couple of the sections. I suppose it doesn't really matter my score - I passed and that's all anyone who might hire me will ever know. That's one stress lifted

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-17644086055257677562008-07-02T14:47:00.005-05:002008-07-02T16:44:25.125-05:00

Many of you have asked me recently, "so, how's the job hunt going?" It's not. Really, at all. The one job I had an interview for, they never called me back to schedule the second interview like they said they would, and now it looks like the job is filled. July is a total dead month for hiring teachers - all the principals take July off. Things will start up again in August, and I'll start

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-61591386533738336552008-06-30T15:21:00.003-05:002008-06-30T15:28:23.873-05:00

So I've actually been riding the bike I bought. I went out last week and got a basket, and Saturday morning I felt very eco-friendly, riding my bike to grocery store with my reusable grocery bags. I'm sticking to short rides of less than about 2 miles at a time, as my hips are still giving me problems, but I'm hoping that bike-riding will help strengthen them. Sunday, my girlfriends and I went

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-50035534115889105892008-06-25T13:07:00.004-05:002008-06-25T13:10:23.779-05:00

A couple good friends of mine became parents yesterday, for the second time. They welcomed the sweetest little girl into their lives, and she is adorable and perfect. I went to the hospital to see them yesterday, and got to hold her when she was only 6 hours old. It was amazing - I've never seen one so young before. They're so tiny and delicate. Their little fingernails are just dots. Like so

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-5824871884371687862008-06-23T11:22:00.003-05:002008-06-23T11:32:40.735-05:00

I've been trying to ride my new bike, and I actually went on a 5 or so mile ride on Sunday with H. We rode down to the lake, enjoyed lunch on the shore, and got a little bit of sunburn. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I feel like I have this huge gap between the person I am, and the person I want to be. Or maybe it's the person I feel I should be. Maybe it's the current upheaval

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-51639839607546623582008-06-20T15:37:00.004-05:002008-06-20T15:44:14.444-05:00

This morning, I went for an interview at a temp agency, so I can get a few days a week of work. I did really well on all the tests they give - 100% on data entry, 100% on Word, but only 87% on Excel (stupid formulas) and I type at about 60 WPM. I'm basically a dream temp. So I'll call in on Monday and see what they have for me. This afternoon, I rode my bike a bit. I'm using muscles that I'm not

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-75513270862900442632008-06-17T23:17:00.006-05:002008-06-19T12:53:51.155-05:00

I've decided that this summer, I'm going to be a just a little bit irresponsible. Ever since I was 16, I have worked. I worked part-time while in high school and college, and during summer breaks I worked full-time. I've been focused on making sure I was financially stable. I chose not to pursue a career in film or theater, mostly because they were careers where there would be years of

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-74571445508681313682008-06-17T16:07:00.005-05:002008-06-17T16:12:42.869-05:00

If this headline included robots, it would be the greatest headline in news history. Myth of Dwarf Dinos in Dracula Country Confirmed

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-10502330835377410842008-06-10T23:15:00.004-05:002008-06-11T11:17:03.658-05:00

As I assumed, Kucinich's resolution to impeach Bush is being all but ignored by the mainstream media. Nancy Pelosi has said repeatedly that the Democrats in the House do not want to pursue impeachment against President Bush, stating that the trial would be distracting, divisive, and likely unsuccessful. I can understand that Congress doesn't want to create the distracting media circus so close

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-24749431574760673692008-06-09T20:29:00.004-05:002008-06-09T20:52:30.061-05:00

At this very moment, Dennis Kucinich is about halfway through introducing 35 articles of impeachment against George W. Bush, on the floor of the House of Representatives. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/9/191519/7181/915/533004 He has been speaking for well over an hour, and none of the major news outlets are covering the event in anyway. Thank god for good old C-SPAN. If you don't

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-42297729494122966632008-06-05T11:51:00.004-05:002008-06-05T11:58:01.562-05:00

Okay, my friends. Someday, I might want to run for president. And what we've learned from this nomination season (as well as seasons past), is that the candidate's friends receive as much scrutiny as the candidate. The latest story is that Tony Rezko, a former Obama fundraiser, has been convicted of fraud, money laundering, etc. So, now is the time to get all the dirty laundry out in the open.

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-64768299679542865472008-06-04T13:41:00.003-05:002008-06-04T13:46:27.496-05:00

So I got into the doctor today, and thankfully, she doesn't think it is the flu. Mostly because I don't have a really high fever. More likely, it's an upper respiratory infection that grew out of my chronic sinusitis. I don't know if upper respiratory infections are commonly associated with severe muscle aches (which is the primary reason I thought I had the flu), but the doctor was also nice

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-89267377554645959422008-06-04T07:01:00.002-05:002008-06-04T07:07:39.929-05:00

oh, God. I think I'm dying. I have the flu. Full out, knock-you-on-your ass, flu. It just came up suddenly yesterday. Started with a mild sore throat and a bit of a headache yesterday morning, and by yesterday evening, my tonsils were twice their size, my lymph nodes are swollen and sore, and my body aches like someone beat me. I can barely swallow. I couldn't sleep at all last night because my

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-40137194757381855832008-05-30T07:02:00.003-05:002008-05-30T07:03:26.144-05:00

One of my students came in yesterday morning with a beautiful flower, handed it to me, and said, "Here Ms. H, I picked this for you. It's from my garden." How can you be sad when there's THAT?

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-25156805601232423062008-05-25T09:31:00.002-05:002008-05-25T09:51:52.221-05:00

Lately I've been experiencing these moments of what can really only be called melancholy. Sadness doesn't quite describe it - there's a sense of wistfulness and longing that I couldn't identify or explain. I finally realized this morning that the source is my longing for what I do not have. With spring comes the vast increase in mothers with strollers, happy couples hand-in-hand, goofy dogs

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-28474784665261859652008-05-24T20:27:00.002-05:002008-05-24T20:32:00.266-05:00

I know some of you are wondering how the interview went. I haven't written about it because I didn't want to write anything that was as positive as I felt, and then have it blow up in my face and not work out. And I hoped to have some news on Friday to share. Anyway, the interview seemed to go really well. The principal seemed to really like what I had to say, and at the end of the interview,

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-3037147345679753732008-05-17T10:34:00.002-05:002008-05-17T10:36:31.171-05:00

I was called this morning for an interview, for a position as a 7th grade language arts teacher. My interview is Monday afternoon! Guess what I'm spending the weekend doing... Please, I can use your good wishes, and any strong vibes you want to throw my way about 3:00 on Monday. I'm super-nervous!

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-77215728182789802512008-05-12T21:17:00.001-05:002008-05-12T21:17:27.245-05:00

The X-Files Movie! I can't wait!

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-83290656974702347872008-05-11T11:28:00.003-05:002008-05-11T11:38:22.082-05:00

An interesting change I've noticed in myself as I've progressed in my student teaching - I'm becoming a much more complimentary person. But it's a little twisted. In kindergarten, we use a lot of positive reinforcement. "I like how you are standing so quietly in line." "Thanks so much for sitting down so quietly." "I love how you are being such a good listener." My voice when saying such things

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-59854092147902567562008-05-02T21:00:00.007-05:002008-05-02T21:09:42.568-05:00

I just downloaded a bunch of pictures off my camera. Here are a few that cheered me up. This is a pair of tiny, mouth-blown glass vases I bought last month that I love. I picked flowers on my walk today. Maddie, in love with a turtle. Rogue loves his canned food. And whenever he's waiting for his food, he sits right at the edge of the cabinets, leaning against them and watching the counter,

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319815.post-18952406056955609322008-05-02T16:08:00.002-05:002008-05-02T16:15:05.741-05:00

I just got my lease renewal from my landlord for next year (starting August 1) and discovered that instead of the customary $20 a month, my rent is going up $70 a month for next year. My rent is currently pretty far below market, especially considering how gentrified Ravenswood is becoming, but this is not what I was expecting. If I knew I had a job for next year, this wouldn't really be a big

stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03973395770046172511noreply@blogger.com