check this out!

The Flat Earth Society "Deprogramming the masses since 1547": some of my students told me to check out their website, and it's awesome! (in it's own way, of course)

So apparently there's an abundance of "evidence" indicating that the earth is flat. It's clearly a disk surrounded by walls of ice, and the whole so-called "round earth" theory is just a government conspiracy. What exactly they're trying to accomplish by leading us to believe the earth is round is admittedly unclear, but the government has been known to do some pretty strange things.

I found out about this when I asked my students what gravity is and was told that gravity does not actually exist. The earth is a flat disk that is accelerating upward. Duh.

So we're spending class tomorrow going over their "scientific data and measurements" and debating whether or not we believe that the earth is in fact flat. I can't wait.

Check out their FAQ page. It's unbelievably funny.

movie reviews

The Power of One: If you've read the book, you will think that this is quite possibly one of the worst movies ever made. If you have not read the book, you will think that this is quite possibly one of the best movies ever made. quite the conundrum. lucky for me, i've read the book so i know just how great peekay really is (i think i want to marry him) and just how fantastic the real story is.

The Kite Runner: two thumbs up. whether or not you've read the book, it is beautifully made. it follows the story, and while the character development is not quite what i would have liked, the ideas and emotions are presented nicely.

Juno: funny. watch it. teenagers make me laugh so hard. this is why i love my job.

PS I Love You: Oh, my gosh. I was not expecting much from this movie, but it was fantastic. While it's a tragic story, it's all about hope and moving on. With a story like this, it easily could have crossed the line into overly sappy and pathetic, but magically it did not. another must-see.

great idea

so i have this roommate whom i love. i'm pretty convinced that we were twins separated at birth. except for the fact that i look exactly like my mother. and that i'm not japanese. but whatever. the point is, she's great. so we're always talking about restaurants that we should try, but when it's time to go out to eat, it's so hard to make a decision. so we've made a restaurant box. it's simple. take a jar (or a plastic pumpkin - whichever you have on hand), write the names of all the restaurants you want to try. then when you feel like eating out, pick a name and you're set. how brilliant is that?

resolution update

so remember how i was going to eat less frozen food this eyar, in an attempt to be healthy? well, all i've got to say is that it's a good thing i have an asian roommate who makes me go to the korean store with her. because today at the korean market, they were having FRUIT HAPPY HOUR!! Which mean that i could buy bananas for $.25/lb, and containers of blackberries for $.89 each! And 8 tangerines for $1.00. And then i bought some japanese rice and japanese crackers, just because i was so pleased with the korean market.

and just as an update, i still love the elliptical.

next on my list (because there's always a list)

Into the Wild: i just bought it from amazon, and can't wait to read it! It's a perfect book to read during the busy school year, because it's not too long and apparently fantastic. that's the word on the street, anyway.

What's Science Ever Done for Us? what The Simpsons can teach us about physics, robots, life, and the universe. all reviews indicate that it is accessible and entertaining. instead of turning a great show into a boring science lesson, the author explains all concepts quickly, clearly, and with humor so as not to ruin the fun. i'm ordering it next week.

A Thousand Splendid Suns: by the author of The Kite Runner. Will it be as good? I'll find out soon enough!

Inside Teaching: How Classroom Life Undermines Reform - i'm curious to hear what the author has to say, and it would give me more of a background going into the educational policy classes i'm starting this fall. I've read and excerpt, and if nothing else, it's clearly written.

What is the What: By the same author of Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. His writing style is so raw, i'm curious to see how he approaches a book of this nature. i wonder how (or if) his style will change when it's not an autobiography.

more book reviews

13: Thirteen Stories about the agony and ecstasy of being 13 - nice, quick read. it's kind of funny to remember how traumatic middle school can be. most of the stories were well-written, and adequately capture teenaged personalities. while certainly not the most intellectually stimulating, it's a refreshing read.

The Kite Runner: fantastic story about forgiveness and repentance. The main character is a boy named Amir, but by the end you realize the story is actually about his best friend, who remained in the background. The characters and plot were developed beautifully. A must-read.

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold - so far, so good. I'm only about half-way through, but it's getting better and better. I'll fill you in later.

go green

so our school was on the local news a couple months back because we purchase more than 50% of our energy from renewable resources. we're awesome.

something else awesome about our school is that in the fall, all of the apples that we serve are picked at a nearby orchard, where the apple cider we serve is also made. De-licious!

and the most awesome part is that our headmaster has a stationary bike in his basement that he hooked up to a machine that grinds wheat (or other things) while he bikes. and then we use that wheat for our lunches. this all makes me feel very much like i'm living in san francisco, except for the fact that DC is more fun.

crazy, crazy

So yesterday, one of my students asked me if I was "one of those crazy mormons." Which is kind of a taboo thing to ask your teacher. Except that by crazy mormon, he meant one of those mormons who goes bungee jumping and skydiving on vacation, like Doug's family does.

That is much better than the kind of crazy I was thinking of. Like that girl who once got mad and told me that "Jesus never would have done that to me."

Yikes.

one more happy note

just to round things off...

So today i didn't hate swim practice as much as usual, because we were in the weightroom and i got to work out instead of babysit! hoorah! i love the elliptical with most of my heart and soul.

and on another happy note

i bought myself a plane ticket to Madrid!!! and it was $200 cheaper than the last time I checked prices. the countdown is on for spring break 2008!

things i hate in 2008

1. Coaching swim team. It wouldn't be so bad if I were paid extra for it, or if practice were right after school so I have the evening to work or play or relax. But practice is until NINE O'CLOCK PM!!! Even on FRIDAY NIGHT! Apparently they think I don't have a life. Or that our kids don't have lives. And then they think that I'm a good enough driver to drive a school bus into DC. News flash: I'm not a good enough driver to drive anything into DC, much less a bus full of teenagers.

2. I can't really think of anything else.

So on a happier note, I love my classes more every day. This is usually the time of year when teachers and students get on each others nerves. A lot. Instead, we like each other more and more every single day. Hooray!

2008 Resolutions

1. Take 2 educational policy classes this fall
2. Save $XXX dollars. I'll keep the exact number to myself.
3. Get my article published.
4. Eliminate anything unnecessary that is cluttering my life
5. Eat less frozen food. This is where quesadillas come in.

national christmas tree

so my neighbors and i headed downtown to see the national christmas tree, since we live in DC and haven't seen it yet. it's enormous.

I love this picture:

And just to prove that I was really there:

Further proof, if you're a skeptical sort that needs more convincing:

And the White House, just for fun:

Me and my roommate Julie:

Book Wish List

yet again... so many books, so little time

A Thousand Splendid Suns: By the author of The Kite Runner. I hear it's nothing like The Kite Runner, but that it's just as good.

13: Thirteen Stories that Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen: Being thirteen pretty much sucks. They are strange, strange people living in a strange, strange environment called middle school.

Emotions Revealed: The same friend that recommended The Prince has read a lot by Paul Ekman. Apparently it is really really easy to read people if you just know the tricks. I thought he was bluffing until he proved that he could tell me exactly what I was thinking at any given moment. He was alarmingly good at it. I need in on this!

The Evolution of Useful Things: Stories like these could be useful as a segue through my class I should be teaching this summer. (I can only teach it if there is enough interest to fill up the classes...)

some updates

#1: School is out!! Friday was our last day, and I am FREE until January 7!!! We spent the last two days of class building towers and other engineering-esque projects so we wouldn't all go crazy waiting for the final bell to ring.

#2: Our first book club meeting was a success. Everybody liked the book, except for Julie, who at least pretended to. How nice of her. And we ate the chocolates my students gave me for Christmas, and the homemade biscotti that Rochelle baked. Now I need to find The Story of Opal. This one is proving more difficult.

#3: I started reading The Prince, by Machiavelli. It's my friend's favorite book, and I agreed to read it as long as he would read The Schools Our Children Deserve, since that's one of my favorite books. He wasn't thrilled with the arrangement, but it turns out I'm pretty good at making him do what I want.

#4: I am finally going home tomorrow! I get to play with my nieces and nephew, buy them presents, and overall convince them that I am their favorite person on earth.

#5: I woke up early yesterday to brave the outlet malls. We arrived as soon as the stores opened, missed all of the crowds, and partook in all of the early bird specials. I finished my Christmas shopping and then bought myself two pairs of pants for $7.50 each, a sweater for $9.00, and another pair of pants for $3.50. I love bargain shopping.

do you have enough ideas yet, mom?

and this CD would be perfect for my stocking. kasey chambers is my hero.

please don't hate me

but i really want a pair of these boots.

i know they're ugly. hence the name ugg. but boy, oh, boy do they look warm and cozy. and i've realized in the past few days, what with the snow, and the snow delays, and driving the bus in the snow, and going to the Redskins game in the snow, that i need a WARM pair of shoes if i'm going to survive to my 28th birthday. and i would really like to turn 28.

so here they are. these ones are expensive, but there are some cheap knock-offs all over the place that will also be warm. i prefer the tall variety. brown or sand.

stocking stuffers

per mom's request

MAC brow set: my eyebrows need SO much help. seriously.

Black tights. It snowed for the first time today, and it is COLD! Some in winter white and charcoal would be nice, too.

i also really love this coat. although it might be a little big for a stocking. and i might need something hooded for those crazy snow days.

and WARM winter clothes. a pair of sweatpants from my school, as cheesey as that sounds. and of course, i always could use some more books.

book club

book #1: The Kite Runner. My roommate bought it for me for my birthday (she's the best) and i can't wait to read it.

book #2: The Story of Opal. According to Matt (one of the book club co-founders), it demonstrates why we're told to be like children. sounds interesting

book #3: The Count of Monte Cristo: i can't wait to read it again! it's been a few years, and the story is great. i think i'll love it even more the second time around, now that i know the overall plot and can absorb more.

book #4: East of Eden. also an old favorite. everyone should read it. as long as you can handle some of the details...

this is how i impress my students

when we have a discussion in class about how it is physically impossible to eat six saltine crackers in one minute, because the salt dries out your mouth so much, i challenge them to a saltine eat-off.



and then during lunch, we collect all of the saltines we can find and i proceed to eat six in less than a minute. without a sip of water.



now i'm pretty much their hero.