What is Wrong with this Picture?

Why does Matt Damon look scared of Leonardo DiCraprio? He better be just preparing to kick him in the back of the head or I have lost all respect for him.

Drowning in Paperwork

Slowly but surely my to-do list for Monday is getting longer and longer. This is my chance to start over in a new school and make a good impression. Not that I made a bad impression in the past but I have made mistakes that I don't want to repeat. This time the situation is different too. I'm not longer a public school teacher in a small rural community.

This will be the first time in my memory that I will not be going away for the Labour Day Weekend. Too much work to do. I have no idea how I am going to get everything done and I plan to work all weekend.

In stupid computer news, I downloaded a trial version of a grade program and I think it changed my clock. I visited a web site and the browser told me that the security certificate was for a future date. I checked my clock it was set to August 8, 2004. What the aitch? Certainly encourages me to buy the full version.

Powered by Qumana

Dude Looks Like a Lady

Interesting Fact:
The 1987 Aerosmith song "Dude Looks Like a Lady" is about singer Vince Neil.


The things you learn from the TV listing channel.

Nineteen years later, dude no longer looks like a lady.

Calling all Janices

I am one of two Janices that teach at this school. Not confusing at all. The director just called over the intercom for Janice to come down to the office, not specifying which one. I yelled down the hall "Which Janice?" because I was raised in a barn. They didn't know so I had to go to the director's office. He was playing a joke. However it was determined that I am the Janice with the quickest reaction time.

It is really weird to be working with another Janice. I went to a high school with over 1200 students and I was the only Janice. It might seem weird but I'm annoyed by her only for the reason that her name is the same. How dare her name be Janice! Here are some alternative names I am working to differentiate myself:
- Tall Drink of Water (the other Janice is like 3 feet tall)
- Hot Janice (obviously)
- Patrick likes Lyn better than Janice but at least Janice has never creeped Patrick out (or PLLBTJBALJHNCPO for short)
Other Suggestions?

Powered by Qumana

Porridge Brain

My brain is complete mush and I haven't been able to focus on one thing all day. It is partially because I have been fighting a headache for the past 5 days and partially because I worked 11 hours yesterday. My body isn't used to teacher hours anymore. It will take awhile to adjust to things.

The ADD approach to lesson planning:
I was looking for science cartoons but then I remembered that John Boy Walton was in a WWI movie that I saw in high school but couldn't remember the name. So after I looked up the name of the movie, it got me thinking about the ABBA song Voulez-Vous (the reason only makes sense if you watch the movie). I tried to look for ideas for bonus marks. While I was searching for enrichment activities, I remembered that I need to resources for helping students prepare for diploma exams. A million things started but nothing finished. Finding out John boy was in the 1979 version All Quiet on the Western Front was the only task I finished.

Powered by Qumana

Inner Neil Simon

Maybe if you did see the show it isn't funny, I however find it hilarious.

"Poor Jeffrey's inner Neil Simon. He's probably jaundiced from the curdled ambition and misguided need for attention flowing through Jeffrey's veins. Jeffrey's inner Neil Simon needs some sunlight. And a weekend with an iron lung."
TWOP's recap of Project Runway

Powered by Qumana

Did You Miss Me?

Today is my second day official of work at the school. The students do not come until after the long weekend. All last week I worked on lesson planning on Monday through Wednesday, Thursday I ran errands and then Friday and Saturday I was at the school setting up my classroom and organizing the science lab. Some highlights:
* I was incredibly annoyed with the condition of the lab. I found out the reason why yesterday -- the regular teacher was on maternity leave last year and the lab went to pot. I so far I have spent over ten hours cleaning and organizing the lab. I am hoping I will be done this week.
* There are quite of few teachers here around my age and we hit it off right away. Yesterday while I was cleaning two other teachers visited with me and got nothing done themselves. Our classrooms have to be ready for tonight because we have an orientation night so the other two were scrambling to get ready today.
* There are over 100 thumbtacks in my walls.
* My schedule got completely changed around yesterday. On Friday a teacher informed the administrators that she will not be able to teach this coming year because her breast cancer has come back. She had just found out. Some teachers who were not working full time were given some more classes and our schedules changed. Fortunately, my new classes are in second semester.
* I overslept this morning and made it to work in 22 minutes. The commute usually takes over a half hour (do not ask how fast I was driving). I was only 3 minutes late.

I'm a little annoyed right now. A goodbye party for a friend was last night and I found out about it this morning. The invitation was sent out by email and I still don't have Internet at home. I was able to figure out how to connect my own.

Powered by Qumana

A True Friend

A saw a quote recently that said a true friend will be there for you even when they rather be somewhere else.  As soon as I read it, I immediately thought of a time I had done that for a friend.  As I was listening to her cry, I felt guilty that I wanted to be somewhere else.  I wanted to be somewhere else but I stayed because she needed me. I was there for her many times before and many times after. Unfortunately, years later when I really needed her she was not there for me.  I got a lot of lame excuses -- I felt so used. Even though it was a long time ago, I guess I still have not gotten over the hurt of that.  Suddenly, she was in the position where she need me again.  I was hesitant due to a history of her taking and never giving.  It felt a little heartless not to help her out but yet I didn't want to be taken for a fool.

A couple weeks ago, I had a conversation about giving someone another chance versus guarding yourself from being taken advantage of.  I think it is very difficult to know when to do what.  As a teacher, I had many students that their word meant nothing to me since they had been given so many chances but never delivered.  As the saying goes "I can't hear what you are saying because your actions are speaking too loud".  So when is the point that you can start trusting someone again?  I think you should forgive but when do you give them another chance?

Powered by Qumana

First Speed Bump

There was a misunderstanding about my teacher certificate with the school. The principal had some paperwork to fill out for me but was never told that she had to. The director didn't entirely understand the process and thought it was something that I filled out. When I inquired as to the progress, the director had a mini-freak out that it was not done yet. He gave me the principal's home number and she reassured me that it won't take long. She was not worried about it at all.

Powered by Qumana

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

For about the 6th time, MS Word has closed due to errors. Every time I make a change I save just so I don't lose it. I'm trying to plan a Chemistry unit and it is going no where fast. This is completely ridiculous. I just needed to shout.

Powered by Qumana

Another Brick in the Wall

I feel like it is the last day of school before summer vacation. Ironically it is my last day of work before going back to school. Much like the last day of school, I have accomplished very little and can't wait to get out of here. Unfortunately I can't ditch my last day of work.

I'll met you out at the moon tower.

My posting might be sporadic for the next couple of weeks: I can't get Internet until my landlord comes back from France. Even thought that sounds like a fib, it is the truth.

It is for your own good...

I saw this drug dealer on TV last night who said it wasn't her fault that people came to her to buy drugs. People make their own choices. Yes, people make their own choices but that doesn't mean temptation should be readily available. I came to the realization that I am a procrastination pusher. Some people deal drugs, I deal in the delicious avoidance of work. They didn't call me Captain Procrastination for nothing in high school. My sister maybe the queen but she is just a figure head.

Powered by Qumana

Murisophobia

I may never be able to enter my apartment again. I think I'll start sleeping in my car.

Last night, I was reading a book and waiting for another excellent episode Project Catwalk when out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something move. I went to check it out, hoping I was wrong since it looked bigger than a spider. I peeked behind my armchair and there was a mouse! I shrieked and the pesky rodent ran under the door to the laundry room. (I'm glad it didn't run around my apartment.) I shrieked. I never felt less like a strong independent woman when my first thoughts were cursing the fact I had no man to kill it.

After consultation with my brother-in-law, I put tape along the threshold to the laundry room and doused it with paprika. I then shoved rags and old towels under the door so it would not be able to enter. My apartment smelled extra spicy this morning.

I had a blanket in the wash but there was no way I was going to retrieve it. I think I am going to wait until my landlord comes home from vacation in 2 weeks. He can get it for me.

Powered by Qumana

Open Chest Wound

Unfortunately I am too much of a klutz to have finger nails that shine like justice. I stabbed myself in the chest with my nail putting on my tank top. The cut is about 2 cm long and bled like crazy.

My nails are so pretty, I can't bare to cut them. I made my dad laugh out load at Staples when I regaled the fact people think that I have fake nails because "how could something so beautiful be real?" My dad rarely laughs out loud. Yes, I know I am ridiculous.

Powered by Qumana

Turbulence + Janny = A Pukey Good Time

Ok, I didn't puke on my plane ride back but I nearly did..

First off, security at the airport changed a lot in the few short days between my flights. At least I knew there were going to be through searches so I made sure to take as little as possible for carry-on baggage. I did meet a cute guy on his way to Montreal while we were waiting for our computers to be checked.

The flight started out ok. As we approached Calgary, we hit some wicked turbulence and I prayed to God that I would not puke in front of strangers. I had my barf bag ready just in case but by God's grace, I did not. I have a hard enough time dealing with airplane travel when flying is good. I have to keep my eyes closed and breathe deeply during the planes ascent and descent. It makes no sense at all; I used to be the kind of person who could go on the scariest fair rides and barely be effected*. Now I nearly get sick on swings.

As mentioned before, I have thrown up on an airplane before, thus the fear. This was a slightly different circumstance since the main cause was flying to a job interview the day after having a wisdom tooth removed. A combination of the anesthetic still not entirely out of my system and taking pain killers on an empty stomach was too much for me. The second worse thing: my interview was in a couple hours and I threw up in my hair. The flight attendants would not let me get off the plane by myself so they sent for a wheelchair. So everyone paraded passed the girl who puked on the plane wishing me well. The worse thing: the wheelchair was pushed by possibly the most attractive man I have ever met in my life. Of course I had to meet an attractive man with puke in hair, any other way would just be un-Janny like.


*The exception would be the time the carny kept Kristin and I on the Octopus ride waaaaaaaaaaay too long.

Powered by Qumana

Greetings from Victoria

Currently I am visiting my sister and brother in-law in Victoria.  When I board the plane in Calgary, one of the other passengers looked vaguely like my friend's boyfriend (I have not seen him in over 6 years).  Sure enough, right behind him was my friend from high school.  They just got married  that weekend and were on their honeymoon.  We didn't have much time to talk then but we did catch up when waiting for our luggage. 
She was not at the recent high school reunion either but heard reports that the two of us are the only ones who "did not get fat".  I take comfort that I am still young and hot and they are not.
It is very strange how the only place I run into people from my past is on airplanes.  One time I saw a guy who was a flautist in my elementary band.  It made throwing up on the airplane even more embarrassing.

Powered by Qumana

Interesting Facts I Learned

1. Nose hair can be waxed (as seen on one of those reality make-over shows).
2. There was a Bollywood movie filmed in Calgary.
3. An octothorp is the symbol #. I thought it was called the pound sign.

Powered by Qumana

Great Moments in Klutziness

I stubbed my big toe and split the nail two days ago. Yesterday I stubbed the same toe again and made it way worse. It is not as bad as the great toe injury of July 2005 but pretty close.

Powered by Qumana

Singer in Disguise

Oh dear goodness, Elvis Stojko set to release debut album

Powered by Qumana

Most movie reviews include information about the rating. This was from the NY Times review of Talladega Nights:
“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Like any respectable country ballad, it has cussin’, fightin’, cheatin’ and drinkin’."

Powered by Qumana

Sad Return

I am in my hometown for the long weekend. On my way into the city, I noticed a fire just outside the city. At first it looked like a farmer burning stumble. As I entered the city dozens of police, fire trucks and ambulances were arriving on the scene. At 5:30 (and still going no where) I checked the radio and heard the news that a plane crashed. You couldn't tell from the road.
Light plane in fatal crash near Regina airport

Powered by Qumana

Ironies in Works Cited

From an email I sent yesterday:
"I'm reading this book for work called The New Evidence. He constantly uses tertiary sources and I might track him down and kick him in the nuts."

If submitted in a university class, this book would fail.

Irony of all ironies, I am reading a section of the book today called "Did the Writer Use Primary Sources?" It is about how to tell if a text is valid.

I propose that either this guy goes to the original sources or rename it The Sucky Evidence.

Powered by Qumana

Music to Change Your Oil to

I took my car in for an oil change this morning. When I dropped it off, I made a point to shut off my music. When I started my car to take it home again, I realized someone had been listening to my CD. I'm very proud of my CD, it is my first attempted at a "Get Psyched" mix. Instead of the High Fidelity formula, this CD is all rise. I'd like to think the mechanic recognized the awesomeness of my mix CD and blared it for the whole garage to hear.

Powered by Qumana

No One Ever Accused Dictionary People of Being Cool

Merriam-Webster's The Story of Phat

Powered by Qumana

MS Word must be a man...

Because only a man could frustrate me this much. The program has closed due to errors 3 times in a half hour. The first time I had not saved in awhile so it was especially frustrating.

Powered by Qumana

Perils of Sunscreen

On Sunday afternoon, I met some friends at a beach south of the city. It took me over a half hour to drive there. It was a beautiful hot, hot day.
The beach had volleyball courts but no nets. Some of my friends decided that they would fashion a net out of towels. I declined to help and instead watch this comedy of errors. Of course they didn't even consider they would not be able to see through the net. Just as they were about to finish, a wicked wind storm started and blew all their hard work away.
The wind caused the temperature dropped 14 C in about a half hour. Do you know what is not a pleasant feeling? Sand hitting you at 60+ km/h. Good thing I wore sunscreen so all the sand stuck to me. I don't think I have been so filthy since the week I pretended to bath when I was 4.
We abandoned the beach for BBQ at a friend's house. I was only at the beach for less than an hour. I spent more time in the car than at the beach.

Powered by Qumana

You have to be kidding me...

Stones add second Regina show

Powered by Qumana