http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss luann@stardiving.com Tue, 15 Aug 2006 07:53:26 -0700 Tue, 15 Aug 2006 07:54:19 -0700 iBlog 1.4.6 The Life and Times of a Diving American Princess The life of a (tech)scuba-diving, cycling, yoga enthusiast science teacher/Army mom/Puget Sound resident. NOTE: Political common sense sometimes included. luann@stardiving.com The Life and Times of a Diving American Princess http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1614659162/E20060815075318/index.html * Babble.

That's right, I'm incoherent. I've been babbling nonsense for pages in the dissertation, and just wanted to change subjects so here I am.

Got up late, edited a few pages, took Mom to her cataract checkup appointment, edited a few more pages while there, laptop battery was low so took out broadband card thus losing connection, laid card in chair next to my butt, mom came out, we left, without the broadband card. Took her home, grabbed yogurt and some things i needed to take to school, went to school, got out laptop, plugged it in to check on textbook orders, oops no broadband card, called eye clinic, they found it in the chair i had been sitting in, worked on filing for a few hours, Miss IGMN was in for a time with her kids and just fluffed her room, has now got windowsills full of family photos and stuffed animals, she left, I was walking to car when Boss stopped me and said:

1. your textbook PO was faxed ( I already knew this) and we had to do all the paperwork to have a new vendor approved ( I know, I did the paperwork) and thank you for all your hard work on this

2. Bruce will be unable to do any but the first inservice training and we would like you to act as trainer for the district ( duh, why did they think I went to the training of trainers thing this summer; its about time you start using the staff here for what we are worth)

3. Would you be the teacher representative on the applicant screening committee (yes school starts Sept 5 and we are still hiring and in my department no less) and we will pay you for your time (now thats sweet)
I left and went to get broadband card, then went to Office Depot to see if they'd match the deal Circuit CIty has on SD Ultra 2.0 but they could not match the rebate. I got some bulletin board trim stuff with frogs on it (biology, remember) and some belcro cord things to wrap around the microscope cords. Then I went to Walmart to get extension cords and fish food and a tool box. I also got crack cocaine sugar, bad bad me. Sugar can bloat me 5 lbs in a day and I am sure it's a culpret in hot flashes....... but still, I snarfed down half a bag of pure sugar, and am now feeling my hands swell as I type.

I spent the evening randomly surfing and wrote nothing. This has to stop. I need sleep but can't. ]]> Mon, 14 Aug 2006 07:53:18 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1614659162/E20060815075318/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1614659162/E20060815075252/index.html Send an oceangram . I got these today:

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hello my names ben
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Hello ben
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How are you doing Ben?
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what's up ben? I'm shirley
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Hi Ben! I'm Holly.
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Hello Ben im Trig (UK MSE)
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Hi Ben, I'm c_az
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hello ben! i'm clare. Do people ever call you benny?
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Hello from Indiana, Ben
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Hello.Todays date is 8-11-06
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Hi Ben I am Val in the UK. MSE

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#2:
Are you a crazy?
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Only crazy about you!

MrsBroussard2B
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im crazy bout people but no not generally :D
MSE DG
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Crazy in love

***************

Hug your children today

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I live in Oceaside, sunny and breazy So. California?

Anyone out there who lives outside the USA?

Sunshine
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Not me, but I'll pass it along just in case it floats to a different shore. ~MDC
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Your bottle is in the frigid water of Plymouth, MA - home of the Pilgrims!
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Now it has made it inland to San Antonio, TX
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Hi from Tokyo.
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I got it in Escanaba Michigan.
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Back to so california, but not Oceanside, unfortunately. 27 miles NE of L. A., where it is a hot 91 degrees at 4:24pm on 8/12/06 ]]> Sat, 12 Aug 2006 07:52:52 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1614659162/E20060815075252/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C137721227/E20060810222354/index.html Wed, 09 Aug 2006 22:23:54 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C137721227/E20060810222354/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C951752760/E20060809102031/index.html Tue, 08 Aug 2006 10:20:31 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C951752760/E20060809102031/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C951752760/E20060807205142/index.html Actually, I never really left.

Took that week's vacation the first week the kids were gone in June while Spouse had his new hip installed. Have been back in my classroom a few times a week at least, well weekends anyway to feed the fish. Hungry little buggars, they are. Every time I go in I see a new population explosion in the guppy tank. I do love the critters. I miss my gerbils too; not allowed to have them in Washington. Sniff.
Came back and learned we HAD to do the big classroom swap THAT DAY because the person at the tail end, the one who was to be last to move in the nice orderly switch, said that this was the only day she had all summer to move. So the rest of us called in students to help, rolled up our sleeves, and began to just make the switch as expedientl as possible. I had already moved all her boxes away from in front of my classroom cupboards. Apparently she had made the summer custodians move her things, and I arrived that morning to find them all piled in a way that I could not get my own cupboards open withoit relocating every damn box first. So I did that, then Miss IGottaMoveNow finally showed up and wanted to know what of my stuff she could move out of the way. I said, really, I will move it all once I figure out where to put it as the room I was moving into was still occupied due to the sudden reverse order of the move. So, the rest of us decided to just have at it and start with the originally-planned emptyroom end and work really fast, utilizing the football-types we had enlisted with bribes of pizza and cash, and got all the rest of the stuff moved, for 2 other teachers who never bothered to show up at all. Miss IGottaMoveNow waited until I was out of the room, then proceeded to empty all my stuff from her new room by placing it wherever she found space as we cleared it out. SO - once all is moved, I'm left with essentially a whole room of stuff with nothing in a logical place. Nothing. Guess what I've been doing since.

And guess who's been in a few times a week as well, walking around in her room that's neatly organized and ready for her students. Today, she had the nerve to ask if I'd been working at all as it sure didn't look very different. Yes, I had, as a matter of fact - finding new desks for her room, finding a desk and a place to put it for the new science teacher we must hire, finding course numbers for next year and scrounging textbooks, ordering materials for HER sections of biology....... I'll stop now.

And now - back to the dissertation, as my fun for the evening. ]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2006 20:51:42 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C951752760/E20060807205142/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1342262876/E20060807001211/index.html Spent a week in Ohio, if you can call that vacation. Spouse did not come along. He is still recovering from hip replacement surgery and although it's been 7 weeks, he did not think he could sit on a plane that long. The boys miss him as much as he does them.

He would not have enjoyed the shower though. Not sure what men, or women for that matter, are into that stuff. The fun part for me was that Angie did not know I was coming and was really surprised. Her face was priceless. Good to know she likes me :-) It was fun to see formerr students, expecially those with babies of their own now. Amazing.

Lots of loot - not sure if she appreciated the Emeril coolware we got her, but Geoff will. I couldn't believe the stuff that used to be wedding gifts that are now shower gifts. Blenders that cost $100, china - you name it. She did get a few things like a laundry basket full of cleaning supplies, and plenty of mattress pads and towels. I guess one can never have too many towels.

I spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday stripping woodwork in the new old house. I did 6 complete doorjams, 7 windows with casings, the window seat, the mantle, and 3 bookcases with a total of 7 doors with 8 small panes of glass each.

There went the French manicure, even with gloves. I had forgotten how much I liked working on old homes. Sucks that the one I have now is new.

Got back in the middle of the night Wednesday night, although Geoff threatened to not take me to the airport until I had finished all the woodwork. He gave in though, although I did want to stay there and play with them. I didn't get to spend much time with Jon although he did come each night to help a little and have dinner. He's looking pretty hard at jobs out here. I'd love to have him move. Trish would come wiht him, she has said, and for that I am glad. She is the best thing that's ever happened to him and I hope he knows that.

The dissertation was neglected for a few days then, but for boredom on the plane. Actually, I read a few new articles and came up with some new ways to present my data, so I did accomplish something. Yesterday and today, I implemented one of them to go along with some of Walter's suggestions. So now all I have to do is babble some great educational jargon about my data to fill about 150 more pages and I am good to go. I think the misconceptions part will be easy based on thats what I got really good at while doing national boards. I have to renew that this year too as soon as i get the defense done. I hope to hell I have enough things that I've accomplished in the pase 10 years to get it renewed or I will die of humiliation. I think it's just a matter of properly presenting the things I have done, just as the things that I did the first time..... we'll see.

Photos of shower and house here:
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/Stardiver/

enjoy. ]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:12:11 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1342262876/E20060807001211/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C137721227/E20060807001345/index.html http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/Stardiver/

Photos, pathetic as they are, are here. ]]> Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:13:45 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C137721227/E20060807001345/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1614659162/E20060708222716/index.html "Uninvited"

Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot-blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Must be strangely exciting
To watch the stoic squirm
Must be somewhat heartening
To watch shepherd need shepherd
But you you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced love like mine before
But this is not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

I don't think you unworthy
I need a moment to deliberate
~ Alainis Morissette (?) ]]> Sat, 08 Jul 2006 22:27:16 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1614659162/E20060708222716/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C137721227/E20060630122043/index.html ... with new friends/buddies, Lynne, Peter, and Georgina. Max depth 67 ft for 53 minutes. Peter was taking photographs as best he could in 5-10 ft viz, and I was having a delightful time looking over a new dive site. Found the Honeybear on the first try. Did not go to the deep set of I beams as it wasn't on anyone else's dive plan. That's fine, it will be something to do on the next trip there.

Mike is recovering well. He rode along and read, watched bubbles, enjoyed the gorgeous day at a lovely park on the water and no doubt also enjoyed the scantily-clad female rollerbladers.

I am seeing how remiss I've been about updating here, especially dives. I will do better, promise. ]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2006 12:20:42 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C137721227/E20060630122043/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1342262876/E20060626155651/index.html Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:56:51 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1342262876/E20060626155651/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1342262876/E20060626001139/index.html He's been home for 48 hours now. Here is a list of his activities:

# times I have carried the walker up and down the stairs to the bedroom: 5
# timed I have gotten the walker out of the car doing errands: 10
# of times I have been reminded to put the walker back in the car during errands: 9
#of times I have received "suggestions" while preparing food: 19
# of times I have been reminded to do something I have already finished or am currently doing: 27
# of tasks I have been asked to do all at the same time: 5 (he's still a bit out of it from the pain meds)
# of "easy" SUDOKU games he has begun and not finished: 4 (see above)
# of phone calls he's made to tell the same story - at LEAST 7
# of times he has honked the stupid horn on his walker to get the dogs to move: 72
# of times the dogs have actually moved: 0
]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:11:39 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C1342262876/E20060626001139/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C951752760/E20060527090824/index.html Much as i welcome diversity in my classroom, outside the classroom I have no tolerance for those who broke the law and have come into this country illegally.

That said, I must deal with students who fit in the latter category. One child in particular stands out. She is, I am guessing, not here with any legal paperwork. I don't know because the school is forbidden by law to ask. I don't honestly know if *I* can ask, but I don't. I overhear a lot, though, and can put pieces together pretty well. Anyway, this child is very very bright but hasn't much of a work ethic. Over this past semester since the child has been enrolled in my (semester-long) class, we've gotten said child's grade from a 35% after the first 4 weeks to a 78% which is almost a B. The child has vocalized about the good feelings one gets when one turns in one's assignments (I praise lavishly in these situations.) This child has dreams of law school, but yet refuses to consider college. Reasons for not considering college are pretty vague..... it's a lot of work, i can't pay, i'll be fine without it...... with a wistful "gee I wish I could go!" look on said child's face.

The child is in this situation not because of anything the child did. A mother and the mother's boyfriend with whom they live probably drug the child across the border 6 years ago (as stated by the child as to how long the US has been home.) This child would grow into an asset to the citizenry, well as much as a lawyer can be ;-) How do we get this child an education?

I would therefore propose that adult illegal immigrants be charged also with child abuse. What kind of life will their children have if they don't even have American identities? Perhaps we could keep the illegal's children who succeed in our schools, and send our flunkies to Mexico. There, the flunkies might just realize how good they had it here, and what they threw away. ]]> Fri, 26 May 2006 09:08:24 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C951752760/E20060527090824/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C985232668/E20060527173126/index.html Mon, 22 May 2006 17:31:26 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C985232668/E20060527173126/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C985232668/E20060522020218/index.html http://gunnnutt.blogspot.com/2006/05/day-in-life-of-hero.html ]]> Mon, 22 May 2006 02:02:18 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C985232668/E20060522020218/index.html http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C985232668/E20060521203459/index.html Sun, 21 May 2006 20:34:59 -0700 http://www.stardiving.com/Starblog/C985232668/E20060521203459/index.html