The Dark Side

I hate people - just the latest.

2011-04-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

I hate parents that don't come to meetings that have serious consequences for their own children. Screw them all to hell. on other notes: Theives and liars too, I hate you the most...

One of my favorite videos ever!

That is all. I hope that you all had a better day than me.

2008-09-29T23:25:00.000-07:00

I'm back.

I am going to put in the new Water Heater that we just bought from Home Depot.

I figure that it will take about 4 hours to finish, so we will have hot water around 2 pm.

School is doing OK. I believe that the students are better than last year. There are a few that just shouldn't be there, such as the student that has already passed my class and is just sitting there because he couldn't get off his lazy ass and get a new class because his counselor obviously didn't do their job correctly and finally get him out of my class as this is the third year in a row that he is in there.

Well, I have to go, ttyl!

long time, no posts

2008-06-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

For those who know me and CTG, you can catch up with what is happening with me, from her. Now that this year is over for my teaching, I now have more freedom to do a little blogging. I might have something on my mind from time to time, but you know me, I won't necessarily write about it unless I can't get rid of the angst by the normal methods, ie: BattleFront II, Guitar Hero III, Rock Band, or just mowing the lawn.

But anyway, this is how and what I plan on doing for most of my summer: NOTHING school related. That is right, I have been teaching for just about 2 years straight, and I am tired, pooped, and I have just about had it with the population of 15 year olds in my neck of the world. I hopefully will do a lot of reading, both for enjoyment and for the job. There are about 20 or so books that I have aquired from different sources that may be of use to me on the job. I am currently in the middle of a vampire novel (I would give the name, but I dont have it here with me) that is very good, that I had to set down when the CST's were over. When I am not reading, I will be hopefully fixing more of the house, working with the yard, gardening and probably doing some swimming at the pool a few miles away w/ CTG. I will also be playing with my Wii and PS2, the aforementioned games as well as a few that I haven't even opened due to the time crunch. There will be taping DVD's of stuff that I have recorded for school as well as trying to find movies that I have recorded earlier, but the DVD's have dissapeared or were scratched beyond repair.

There is a thing I am doing in August that is related to school, but I will be "going to college" and getting paid for it. That is all I am going to say about that. I will probably also start thinking about a different class that I might be teaching next year, but it is a class that is practically the same that I taught last year, but this will be an A - G requirement type.

Well, gotta go get started on that nothing stuff. have a good summer

Sometimes I wish that I had this kitty at my disposal

2007-11-20T13:59:00.001-08:00

Due to the varied persons that I attempt to teach, I would love to employ this kitty to do away with those persons that don't want to behave. Thank you lolcats!

moar funny pictures

Technorati Tags: Skool

More 'Tards

2007-11-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I even try anymore... I gave the opportunity for my students to get 1/2 credit back from the exam that they did last week. I got a cacophony of "Didn't we already do this exam?" from my students, even though I have had the statement that we were going to do an exam correction day on the board for 3 school days. I give them the directions, to write the correct letter (it is multiple choice) AND the statement beside the letter choice on another piece of paper.

I then proceed to answer the question "So, what are we to do with the ScanTron?", and "Can I just put the correct letter on the ScanTron next to the incorrect one?" GRRR..... I then see students that totally failed the exam try to get up and bother or annoy those that are trying to actually fix their tests. I was trying to grade things, but I ended up being a referee half of the time.

I come up to them, and ask them what they are trying to do, and they say "I dont have any paper," and "Somebody took my pencil," as well as "I don't know what to do." Note these are the SAME miracles of modern chemistry that just asked me the questions above... If they did not say anything, or do anything, they often just threw their failed exam on the ground and fell asleep. Jose, the janitor, probably cleaned up about 10 exams at the end of the day that were dropped on the floor.

FUCK Them, fuck them ALL to hell.

I feel better now.

--GMT

I Hate Retards

2007-11-08T13:55:00.001-08:00

Yep, I do...

Today, in my 5th period class, a fucking miracle of modern chemistry decided that it would be fun to throw pencils at Mr. GMT. It was a day that was designed to be relaxing, and just watching the mis-information that is the movie Volcano. Movie immediately got turned off, lights were turned on, and the whining ensued.

When the question "Who the hell threw something at me?" was issued, all I heard was a series of "I don't know", and "Not me" along with a roll of laughter. I started to write down the standard everyone was going to write, and then I heard a series of names, none of them the same.

I replied with, ok, since everyone in here decided to throw something, everyone will write the standard. 75 times. More whining, so I called a security officer for our school. Needless to say, at least one office referral was cut for someone who thought that the new assignment was not to their liking, as they threw their pencil when I was at the door, as a student from another class knocked...

Oh, and for those who might be keeping score, it is the same "1Idiot", from the previous post...

Why I dislike some students

2007-10-19T13:05:00.001-07:00

1) They are paid big $$ to do what is expected of them. Take a current student of mine. Lets call him "1Idiot". He receives $100 per A per grading term, there are 4 grading terms per semester and 6 academic classes per semester. If 1Idiot makes A's in all of his classes, each and every grading term, the fuckwad gets over $4500 to do what he is supposed to do. Jesus F-ing Christ. I got nothing for my hard work every semester and I was happy to get the A's, B's, and C's that came to me.

2) They can't shut the fuck up! I ask them all to be quiet in a nice and decent manner. I ask again, but with no change to the audio level in the class. I resort to yelling "Shut Up", and they feign shock (or laugh), then start talking even more. Some are better than others, and even 1Idiot is one of the worst at this. The little bastard annoys the fuck out of me and everybody in his class. I can't Duct-tape his mouth shut, and beating him is totally out of the question. I have sent his little ass, as well as others, to the office for disruption, and nothing seems to change.

3) Students that can't follow directions, or realize that there is a pattern to things that go on in my class. Every freaking Friday, I give a quiz. I allow the students to use their notes that they might have taken during the previous weeks, and I never ask them to write the questions down. It has been the same since the first fucking week of class, 6 weeks ago. These fucking miracles of modern chemistry still ask "what is this", or "oh no, we're having a quiz", or "can we use our notes", or "do we have to write the questions down".

4) Students that don't eat breakfast or lunch. I am not sorry for your brain feeling crappy because you fail to eat something before you get to class. I ride between 2 and 3 miles away from school, and I seem to be able to function without a mental fit or crying spell. I bring my meal with me, or have one stored in my cupboard when I don't. You even get either a free or reduced price breakfast type meal that you can eat that I would have given away things that I owned for that opportunity in high school. I had to pay full price if I wanted to eat. And by the way, I only got enough money for a "school made" lunch each day when I was their age...

By Allah, may they all figure out something before I go all postal on them.

Still Here...

2007-10-18T11:28:00.001-07:00

I am still alive. Just very busy these days. Working hard to keep up with the kids this year.

Well, I got to go, good luck with your week. More later.

--GMT

Rain!!!

2007-08-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

For all of you non-So. Cal'ers out there, it actually rained (OMG... imagine that) this morning in my part of the south valley. It was a nice relaxing sort of sound, and was a decent change from the heat and h*ll that is living here in the summer.

Another good thing - I repaired the gutter that hangs on the back part of our house, which apparently had not been attached to the house when it was installed. This was initially a surprise, as we found this out a month after we moved in and there was another freak rainstorm that almost ruined some stuff that was on our porch. But with all of the other rinky-dink sh-tuff that we found out after we bought the house, I am not surprised.

Anyway, I looked outside today, before CTG and I went to her work (I gave a lecture to her Bio class on Earth History) and everything seemed to be good, except where there was a small hole in the gutter that was designed to anchor it in a different position. It will be siliconed closed this weekend.

I hope that it comes back tonight, as the cooling was nice. Unfortunately, I have to clean up the exterior of the house, where the trees dropped all of their leaves in our yard. I might just run the lawn mower with the bag on to help with this little problem next weekend. I mowed on Tuesday and edged the yard Wednesday, so it would be overkill to do something about it tomorrow.

Since I last wrote a post...

2007-08-28T16:25:00.001-07:00

As you may know, my work is about to start up again. I am not mentally prepared for teaching this year, as I taught summer school. I am happy to report that all of my students passed their summer school class.

I also participated in our county's judicial system, as a juror on a superior court criminal case at the court house (I even saw Phil Spector, and the trial that I was in took place on the other side of the hallway from his trial).

CTG and also I had a wonderful weekend at the coast with CTMom and CTDad along with our happy dog-child. I also did a little fishing with CTDad and family, but didn't catch anything. :(

I was also able to do the exterior painting that needed to get done for the house, although I still have an extensive list that I have written that needs to be done to make this place totally functional. 95% of the work is completed, but it is taking us a ton of time to get that last 5% done.

I have also just about finished playing Starcraft Brood-Wars (tm), but I can't seem to beat it without cheating...

I have been reading The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Children of Hurin this summer, both are excellent reads. I wish that I had the former when I was little, as I would have gotten many of the things in that book memorized, built, or read back when I really had the time to enjoy such exploits. I also read the last and final Harry Potter book and I was rather pleased with the outcome.

Well that is how I have been using my summer vacation. I know that it has been very slow, so I haven't posted anything. If you want to see what the house looks like, visit CTG's blog and there should be something over there about what has transpired in the last few months.

More to come. I promise. Especially since the kiddies will be in school and I will be teaching the 7th graders that I had 2 years ago. I am already forseeing a few too many visits to the deans office for some stupid thing or other for at least 4 of my potential students (that is if they haven't gotten kicked out of our school yet). Talk to you later!

--GMT

Little known facts...

2007-06-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Seen everywhere:

“Learn A Lot Of Little Known Facts About Those You Know”

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My mom's best male-friend (first name) and my Mom's grandfather and favorite uncle (middle name & two separate people)

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
when we finally found out that we finished the bidding process on our new house

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
nope, never have.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Roast Beef. Sliced thin. Followed closely by pastrami. Yum.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
I have a dog.

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yes, definitely, I am friendly with just about everyone

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Come on, I am CTG's husband, do you think that I would ever use sarcasm on a daily basis.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
it depends on how much money someone was going to pay me to do it...

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
frosted shredded wheat.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Depends on the shoes and my exhaustion level.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Emotionally, and physically yes.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Thrifty's Black Cherry

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
height.

RED OR PINK?
neither.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
the fact that I never have gone back to school to get my PhD in Geology

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My ex-best friend

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Grey shorts and white/brown/blue tennis shoes.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Jolly Rancher's candy

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Students yapping about stupid stuff.

IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Royal Blue.

FAVORITE SMELLS?
My wife's hair, puppy breath, Roses

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?My mother-in-law and father-in-law

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
College Football and Hockey

HAIR COLOR[S]?
Brown, but was blond when I was born

EYE COLOR?
Deep blue.

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
no, but I probably should

FAVORITE FOOD?
I have always been partial to lasagna.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy Endings, but a scary movie now and again isn't too bad.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Auntie Mame

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue and white checkered button-down.

SUMMER OR WINTER?
Neither - Spring is the time for me.

HUGS OR KISSES?
Both, always.

FAVORITE DESSERT?
cheesecake or a 1/2 gallons of ice cream

MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
no one

LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
everyone

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I haven't really read anything for about a year, but I have many that I haven't finished yet.

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Wake County (NC) Public School system

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
I can't remember, but it was good and courtesy of TiVo.

FAVORITE SOUND[S]?
My puppy snoring in time with CTG

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles!

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
well, the farthest from where I was living at the time (Chapel Hill, NC) was Ft. Irwin, CA.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Several

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
St. Joseph's Hospital, Denver, CO

WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
anyone who takes it after me...

More dumbasses

2007-06-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Since it is the last week of the school year, many of the less motivated students have gotten to trying to destroy the facilities. I guess if they know that they have been kicked out of next years classes, they might as well destroy what is good here, so that those of the "good ones" will feel crappy about coming in to a shitty looking school.

I have been absent the last two days, due to a mandatory meeting for summer school teachers.

This morning, I came back to school, only to see a multitude of spray paint graffiti on the walls.
Tagger names and all... but to the point. I am cleaning up some stuff in the back of the room, which was not there when I left, only to find permanent marker recreations of some of the stuff that was found on campus... Now, this district has a policy of making known student taggers pay for the damage that they create and then expelling them in quick order.
I sent the dean of behavior/discipline a note telling him what I found, along with a list of names of those that might have been responsible or should know who is responsible for the tagging. I even added the name of a student that was forced to withdraw from our school due to his actions in March. I think that he is currently enrolled in the high school a mile due east of here (but the same district).

I hope that they send one or more of my "usual suspects" away for good. I do not think that most of them will pass the final anyway.

Cool Geology site for teachers

2007-06-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

If you are teaching Earth Science and you are having trouble coming up with a neat project, or a worksheet and it is coming up on the day that you are having problems with, there is a website that you can look at.

I know that most teachers are now in Summer mode, but there are a few of us that still have a few weeks left.

Also for planning, you could use it for next year...

Here it is: Geoteach.com

It is a great resource that has saved my butt a time or two.

Just be very nice to the site administrator, as he/she likes to be respected, like all of us do.

interesting quiz of the day

2007-05-23T13:15:00.001-07:00

You Are 28% Sociopath

From time to time, you may be a bit troubled and a bit too charming for your own good.
It's likely that you're not a sociopath... just quite smart and a bit out of the mainstream!

Are You A Sociopath?

Fucking retard

2007-05-17T17:24:00.000-07:00

For those who know, you can always ask me to help with a math problem.

I might not know how to solve it, but I will know just who might.

Please do not do what a student of mine did in my class:
---
Student: "Mr. GMT, can you help me with my math work"
Me: "Yes, student, that would be no problem, just allow me to finish my lecture before I will help you."
Student: (3 minutes later & 10 minutes from end of lecture) "Mr. GMT will you help me with my math now?"
Me "No! And if you interrupt me again during this class lecture, I will not help you after!"
Student: (after lecture) "Mr. GMT will you do this for me?"
Me: "Ummm, no. I am here to help you with your math, what exactly do you need help with?"
Student: "I am failing math, and MR G (math teacher) told me if I get 'all of this work done' I would get a B."
Me: "Ok, what is the problem then?"
Student: "I don't know how to do it."
Me: "Did you listen to Mr. G? Do you have your math notebook"
Student: "No, too many people talk to listen to him. No I do not have a notebook for math"
...2 minutes later...
Me: "Ok, now, what is the formula for slope?"
Student: "I don't know"
---
Now, I know that the slope formula (y=mx+b) is taught not only in Algebra, but in at least 6th grade math. I took 6th grade math and I learned it there. Knowing the way California is, it is probably now taught earlier...
---
...5 minutes later, after breaking the formula down for him...
Me: "...now what is m?"
Student: "I don't know. How about you do all of this for me? I will do anything that you want. I don't want to goto summer school. How about $20.00. It is no problem."

----------
He ended the conversation by why he doesn't know math that well is because he is Armenian, and his teacher is Hispanic. My lovely wife is Armenian, and she has had Hispanic teachers/professors that taught her math just fine. I about wanted to belt the child in the head
I told him that he has to learn the formulas for the final exam, and he just said that he was going to cheat off of someone else...

I hope that the child fails!

I helped him with 4 problems, and he was giving up on even the easy ones...

Fucking retard!

something for your records

2007-05-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

For a video game that you might have thought long forgotten, or one that you can't find anymore, check out this site here to see if a good person has put it up on the web for your download-able goodness :)

Stupid Quiz on a Sunday

2007-04-29T16:57:00.001-07:00

You Are 60% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded.

Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints.

But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line.

You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

Today

2007-04-29T16:38:00.001-07:00

Nothing really new to report, except that I know just when to goto Burbank and not have to be in a traffic jam on I-5. Apparently it is between 9 and about 11 am on a Sunday morning. This is the first time in my life, that I have traveled in that city, and not been stopped in my automobile within that city's limits. Also, I found out that IKEA has a great breakfast for a decent price. CTG and I both got a meal for a total of under $8.00. It was even rather healthy.

We got some good ideas for the house, to fill the need for storage and other things that will make the house our home.

House Inspection

2007-04-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

Done. Better than expected results. Not too much to fix/have fixed by the nucking idiot and his family. We met Mrs. Nucking-idiot, and she isn't an idiot at all. I am now fully convinced that it was Mr. Nucking-idiot that was the great stalling fuck-knob that was making our lives total hell. I digress, but any way, she was VERY nice and she actually told us that she would introduce us to the neighbors. We told her that we would take her up on the offer the next time we saw them. I think that this just might turn out quite well.
Got to go, have to start making the list of repairs that we want them to do. More later.

--GMT

A Real American Hero

2007-04-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

Thirty-one years ago today, Rick Monday, a Cub center fielder took a flag away from a man and his son who were attempting to burn it during a game in Dodgers Stadium here in LA. He is a Marine and a true patriot of our country. He said of the incident:

I was angry when I saw them start to do something to the flag, and I'm glad that I happened to be geographically close enough to do something about it... Whatever their protest was about, what they were attempting to do to the flag _ which represents a lot of rights and freedoms that we all have _ was wrong for a lot of reasons... Not only does it desecrate the flag, but it also desecrates the effort and the lives that have been laid down to protect those rights and freedoms for all of us.

they signed it

2007-04-25T15:19:00.001-07:00

Students are wierd

2007-04-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was in my 7th period class. There were only 10 or so students there, and CTG was there with me, waiting for the bell to ring.

But anyway, I get done with the lesson, and they are working on the assignment, when a few of my students start asking me about my military history. Then they start asking me how to go around and build things. One person asked me how to mix napalm, another asked me why people bleed out of their mouthes when they were shot in the movies. I gave them little to no information about these subjects, but I did tell them that they could probably look it up and find out for themselves.

Today, one of them told me that I did not give him the full number of necessary items to make the napalm. I only gave two of at least 3 that I know of. He understood why I didn't give all of the information away. He also liked the fact that I told him that he should try and find out by research. It made him actually think... Who would have thought that a teacher would actually make a student of theirs think.

I am pissed off

2007-04-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

I hate people. No, I really, really, really hate people. sheeple suck. More on this later...

I realize that I totally hate waiting. It is driving me totally bat-shit, and I am actually known for my great amount of patience.

Bugger, bugger, bugger...grrrr...feel like Bruce Banner again...

The end is finally here

2007-04-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

Rosie O-Dumbshit is finally leaving The View and reseeding into that hole that she and her wife hide in with their family. I am so glad that they "had a disagreement in terms" for her contract extension.

read about it here:

Have a great day!

Hate...Welling...Again

2007-04-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

April 23

When someone says that they are going to call by 8:00 PM, what does that mean? It is now 9:15, and I don't see the call coming in tonight. I can just swear that these motherfuckers are playing with us again...

If we get the house, the only way that I would shake the individual's hand is if he begged upon his knees and kissed my feet first. I am absolutely fucking through with these people. I also have half a mind to piss on the contract that they might just sign and tell them to shove it up their stinky, shit-encrusted, assholes for trying to play us the way that they are. How fucking hard is it to say yes or no to the FINAL FUCKING OFFER you knobbly dick sucking faggots. I find it pretty fucking simple if you fucking ask me...

I feel like Bruce Banner, about ready to turn green and go ape-shit all over some turdling that is pissing me off.
--------------------------------------

Update: 7:30 am, 24th of April

THEY COUNTERED THE FUCKING FINAL OFFER. THEY HAVE GOT TO BE THE MOST STUPID, IDIOTIC, NUMBSKULLS IN THIS NATION, LET ALONE THE WHOLE WORLD.

I guess that our money wasn't truely good enough for them. To Mr. and Mrs. Dumbshit, FUCK YOU!
I am done. :-)

Still no news

2007-04-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

Moving sucks, but those who know about how many times I have moved in my past, you would say "good for you" when I tell you that I am trying to buy a house...
The end is almost here, at least on house #1. We have done our best, and are waiting for the final offer to be accepted or not. I feel that an ultimatum should be issued today; so that we may move on, or purchase the house outright. We have possibly found a suitable backup to house #1, and all we need to hear is the yes/no from our offer to start on it.

"I feel better"

2007-04-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

To quote one of my more favorite Monte Python movie quotes. I am finally getting over the disappointment of last week's house insanity. Things seem to be looking up, and I am more positive thinking. And it was even the first day back from spring break. Who'd of thunk it...

Well, wish us luck in the grand house hunt and everything else. I hope you all are doing well in your necks of the woods. Until we meet (again), drink a beer for us in high hopes. :-)

I got it legitimately...But how I also feel

2007-04-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

You Are the Middle Finger

A bit fragile and dependent on your friends, you're not nearly as hostile as you seem.
You are balanced, easy to get along with, and quite serious.
However, you can get angry and fed up with those around you. And you aren't afraid to show it!

You get along well with: The Index Finger

Stay away from: The Pinky

What Finger Are You?

What the fuck is up with some people?

2007-04-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard, I am totally pissed off. Work has been off for a week due to spring break, and I am not mad at that for a change. My DW and I have been in the hunt for a house here in our neck of the woods and we seemed to find one that suited our needs quite well, AND in our assumed price range.

The house sits on the market for 3 weeks. There are NO offers on it. we make an offer, that was thought to be a good beginning bid, not only by our agent, but by the owners agents as well. From what we gathered, at least half of the owners felt that we were out of our fucking minds when we offered what seemed to them as an "insulting" bid. They seem to be smoking something that makes them seem like they are in a market that is still peaking (as it was about 24 months ago).

We wait the 3 days as was dictated in our offer, only to find out that they didn't like the bid. They sent back the offer, with their changes made in marked pen, while crossing out our numbers and contingencies to the sale. And to gall us even more, they increased the price by a whopping $10,000. Oh, and by the way, they also demanded 3% up front in CASH. I know that these terms might seem ok to someone out there that just might read this, but if we had that kind of cash just lying around, we would be in the market for a MUCH BETTER piece of property.

So I ranted with this at secondbreakfast.net You will know who I am, if you want to read the rant. I am not too much better since I wrote that, but seething inside is the best thing that I seem to be able to do right now.

We drove by today, while looking at a different piece of property in that neighborhood. They still had up the for sale sign, and there wasn't any business going on at the residence. I think that they lost their only buyers in us for a very long time. I just hope that no one else has their eye on that piece of property. I want them to squirm for another month when they realize that they fucked up royally. We might not be in the market for a house by that time, and I don't foresee them getting a better price than what we offered in the next few months.

WTF Army recruiters

2007-04-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

Good evening to all 3 people that read this blog...
Guess who called me this evening.... If you read the title, you got it. It was about 7:30 in the evening, and my DW and I were pulling out of the eating establishment, and I was getting ready for the lovely I-5 traffic jam that is ever present in Burbank. My cell phone rings from a "private caller", and I dig it out of my jacket pocket while driving. I deftly answer it without killing ourselves, as it might be a student's parent that is wondering why their precious child is failing my extremely easy class. (I already received one of those today) They have a tendency of calling at the most inappropriate times, but then we were done with our evening meal...

But I digress, I am expecting to hear the sound of a concerned parent, and I hear, "Specialist GMT, this is SGT WhatTheFuck..." Being only a few months from no longer being in the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserves), these ARE NOT the words that one wants to hear over the phone. Let alone at all. These words are usually followed by, "...I am calling to inform you that your name has been called to come back into the service of our Great Country". I go into a mental panic. He asks me what I am doing, and I respond with "driving home, can you call me back in about an hour?" DW is about to have a conniption, as those are also the words that she dreads to hear. SGT WTF fortunately was VERY VERY VERY smart, and only asked me if I wanted to volunteeringly reenter the Army Reserve. I told him rather vehemently, but respectfully, that I did not want to rejoin, and he apologized for bothering me. Heart attack averted but anger welling, I did make it home in rather a speedy time, despite the traffic.

I guess that was the silver lining of the scary cloud.

the idiocy of a system

2007-04-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

8/18/06
The system that I work for, is kind of weird. The program that I went to this summer was somewhere in the 120 hour range (8 credit-hours). When you add the credit-hours to my pay scale it brings it to a higher level. The program was co-hosted by my district, and one of the administrators is currently a school board member. You would think that the credits would be automatically accepted, right?

WRONG!!!!!!!

I went to Warm and Humid to get the credits assessed, and my pay scale re-adjusted, but I just get a look and 2 different pieces of paper that need to be filled out by myself and an administrator (note: school board member) of the program. I asked if this was all necessary, and they said that it needed to be checked by a totally different person... I think that it is a total crock of shit, and just a way to piss off teachers and other people that are trying to make a little more money that they deserve.

But anyway, I took the piece of paper to the institute and have to wait for the correct individual to sign it and now I am waiting... Next week I will have to pick it up again and take it to the Warm and Humid, just to "wait and see" if they will accept the course.

So, just another day in paradise, here in Southern California :)

--GMT
-------------------------
Update:

I know that this is WAY OVERDUE but:

I took the paper back to Warm and Humid today, along with some college units that I did not have the transcripts to. It looks like I will get that pay raise, but the head person (AKA: the head of Warm & Humid) that decides these things was taking a long lunch and was not there when I dropped the paperwork off. I just hope that with the other units I dropped off, I will have enough to jump 2 pay grades...

Cross your fingers, toes, and other appendages in hopes that they won't remember who I am. I was the one that called the union out because they didn't want to accept one of my years in the military; because it, and I quote the bitch, "... did not line up with the school calendar, even though I was in for a continuous 3 years, with no break". That was fixed in about one phone call.

--GMT

OOH, too many of me though...

2007-02-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
40
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

h/t: VW Bug

Something that I haven't done yet...

2007-01-04T10:53:00.000-08:00

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Reverend Lord Grand Moff Trojan the Inchoate of Pigotts Sty
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Basic Set of Skills

2006-10-31T11:14:00.000-08:00

What should be the basic set of skills needed to be able to get into a highschool science course?

1) The ability to read and comprehend at "grade level".

2) The ability to write a coherent sentence at "grade level".

3) The ability to graph a set of numbers on a cartesian plane.

4) The ability to pay attention for longer than 15 minutes without talking to anyone.

5) The ability to follow a set of directions that have been written out or spoken clearly.

Is this too much to ask for? I don't think so. So why am I struggling with these 5 basic consepts with my students?

These things are not even what I should be teaching, I have a set of things that have to be met in order for me to be considered a Science Teacher...

F**k it

2006-10-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

Crap. USC should have lost by more. No one should win if they have 4 turnovers. No one! That doesn't mean that I will stop cheering for USC. It does mean, however, that I might be able to get a pair of tickets once in a while without having to give up my left hand (I'm left handed) and my right foot in order to purchase them. Now many of the "fair weathered" fans may finally sell the excess tickets that they purchased only as an "investment" for face value. But who knows, maybe the fire that got started under them after the Cal game 3 years ago will be rekindled by the embarassing game that they just played.

I hope that Arkansas wins out and totally embarrasses everyone that they play. How will the people that deal with the BCS computers handle that? The only thing that would be more fucked up is a rematch of Ohio St. and Michigan if they both win out and stay 1 - 2 after everything has been said and done...

This should be the end of my College rants, since USC has totally showed that they shouldn't be in the top 2 at this point in the season.

I hope that I have something soon to bring to the attention of the 8 or so people that read this thing...

:(

What did I say last week about SEC Teams???

2006-10-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hmm... Depending on what the score at the end of the USC game is... This is obvously a work in progress, and I do not want to make any definite statements until this game is over.... :)

----------------------------------------

Now that the game is over and I am done watching it, I would like to tell all of the ESPN doughnuts that they are all pieces of idiotic crap which is worse than the dingbats that I was calling them last week... As soon as Florida hits a "dfficult" team, they fold like the 1-A and 1-AA crap that they scheduled for their non-cons this year. Now they will be probably inserting Michigan in that #2 spot. USC has to play harder, and beat their remaining teams by much better margins. It will also help if Arkansas, and all of the other teams that they have already played win out... BUT, if you read this blog, you already probably know that.

Well, I just gave my first test of the year, this past Friday. it was pretty brutal. 30 multiple choice/guess questions, a lab portion to it and essay questions with just enough time to take it in one period. The best score so far is a 76% and I have already found 12 students that have elected to get 0's. They were obvously cheating. The same wrong answers, or the same exact written response, or the same excessive bs on a question that didnt need it, like saying exactly what incorrect name of a rock is when I only asked for the type... Should I grade it on a curve?

Out and about...

2006-10-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

Here we are, I am at the inlaws, for the weekend. I had to grade what seemed to be a "ton" of work and I find that this was practically nothing. I got it done in a few hours. The bad thing is, is that the little kiddies are still not doing so hot. I told all of them that they were not doing well, and that they needed to get their work done and turned in for my class. Only a very few actually took me up on that offer and are in a place where I can honestly say that they are working hard enough to pass their Earth Science course. I wonder what will be said in a week and a half when the kiddies come home to their report cards... They also know that there is a test next week, that will be very hard on them if they do not look at their notes. I hope that they think about what they are doing.

I was watching the football again this weekend, and I see that ESPN dingbats still are not giving USC the proper respect that they deserve. They keep on placing SEC teams in the 2nd place spot that keep on getting beat by other teams. After this weeks games, they are trying to insert University of Florida as the #2 behind Ohio St. (of which deserves to be there). The non-con's that UF played this year are: 1) SMU (crap), 2)UCF (crap), 3)Western Carolina (1-AA crap), and 4)Florida St. (who suck THIS year). USC beat Arkansas (who just spanked Auburn's ass), Nebraska (arguably one of the better big 12 teams), and will play Notre Dame in November. USC is still winning, and have only lost 1 game in 3 seasons (2 in four). Yet, they are still ranked 3rd by ABC sports as a whole... HMMM..... What the Fuck are they smoking? Because I think that I might want some of it. It might be beneficial to my students anyway because I might start grading easier...

It just can't be East Coast bias, or the fact that USC has a "weaker" conference schedule. Florida squeeked out of a game with Tennessee by one point... USC can't help it if Stanford, Arizona St, and Oregon St. can't recruit the "top" players. Anybody who schedules 1-AA schools doesn't deserve a top 2 ranking. That is the argument that many of the same dingbats made in years past for keeping LSU and other schools out of the national championship games.

:)

Ask and it shall be given...

2006-10-05T00:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Mr. Paul Burgess. I asked for a California state quarter, as they are practically non existant here on the west coast, and he was kind enough to find one for me :) Thank you very much and I appreciate the kind act. I owe you one!

Football again

2006-09-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is Saturday and I am watching Football. The game is on, USC is currently winning 14 - 6 in the second quarter.

Had a good morning, went with Darling Wife to a function that she was required to goto and was able to do my grading and was able to put it into my online gradebook. I like this thing. I can grade my classes work and not have to lug around a book that might get stolen, or might be hard to read. I also like the fact that I do not have to do that addition that always messes you up so you have to do it 3 times in order to get it right.

The best thing about it though, is that you can give your parents a login and allow them to check in on their students so that I might not have to make sooo many phone calls telling them that their student is failing or not doing so well...

The only thing that I hate is trying to get all of the email addresses of the parents. I thought that getting the email addresses of the students was hard. They at least will give me a BS email address instead of not having one, which at least gives me the opportunity of telling them that they have to figure it out ASAP... Well, it is already helping for at least 3 of my students' parents. I have gotten emails from them telling me that they are happy to know that their students are not doing well and that they are going to ground them so that they do their work instead of playing around on the weekend.

HEHEHEHE, I am such a mean teacher....

WTF happened

2006-09-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

to Cal? I can not believe the score. At the end of the 3rd quarter, it is 35 - 3. I hope that they don't devalue USC's year because the "hard games" within the Pac-10 won't be seen as a challenge within the whole scheme of things. I hate it when teams (even USC) choose chump games (see Texas v North Texas today) to play for their non-conference games and claim that they deserve to go to a big game at the end. It is rather hard to say that teams that win their conference but loose hard non-con games should not go to a decent bowl. Where this rant is going, I do not know, but just a stream of consciousness flowing.... I just don't want USC to be tossed a lesser bowl because they dominate the Pac-10, and win their non-con games but are invited to the lesser bowl because the other Pac-10 teams can't hit the broad side of a barn with the football against their non-con games.

Although I don't like to admit it, I kind of want fUCLA to win against the Utes. But JUST to validate USC's eventual trouncing of that excuse of a team at the end of the season :)

I am ready for some football, finally

2006-08-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

Today is the start of the NCAA football season. Go Southern Cal and UNC-CH! It is time to see if UT was just an anomaly when they won the national championship. I am quite sure that USC will still dominate (if not everyone, then definitely) the Pac-10. I am starting to feel happy :)

UPDATE:

Do not call at 5:45 - 9pm on Saturday, I will be watching USC :)
oh, by the way: Dook sucks, and fUCLA

Next School Year

2006-08-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

I found out that I will only be teaching Earth Science next school year!!!!! Yeah me!!! I will not have to deal with junior high students in any way, besides to tell them to go to class and not play around in the hallways during their "nutrition" time. Why is it that they no longer have a "break" by the way? We always had a break, not nutrition, just a break in the schedule. It was mainly just a time where we all ran to the potty because we didn't want to disturb the teachers when they were giving us the lessons. I guess that it was understood that they taught, we learned and we all went to the bathroom during break or lunch... Well, that is the beginning of another rant, when I will finish it, I do not know.
Stay tuned :)

Cool Google things!

2006-08-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

Google has created a new applet to its Google Earth program. You can now download an applet that allows you to hook into the USGS Earthquake centers and see the earthquakes that have been recorded within the last 7 days. It is a sweet interlay that will allow you to see the houses/surrounding area of the epicenter of each earthquake and approximately how long ago it had happened. When you click onto the earthquake, it tells the approximate magnitude and gives an option to go to the USGS webpage and see a more exact description as well as if the earthquake has been reviewed by a human being - as just about all earthquakes are recorded by our computers and many are not looked at and verified by a real geologist/seismologist. But the cool thing is, is that all of the ones, regardless of size, are being reviewed from Mt. St. Helens... (sarcasm) I wonder why... (end sarcasm)

Easily one of the coolest things that I have ever ran into on the internet... Now how can I integrate this "new" little thing into my Earth Science class... Hmmm.....

more on things to do this summer...

2006-08-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

I know that summer is already over for many teachers, but I still have two weeks to go until I have to go back. I have not figured out what I am going to do yet for the first few weeks, so I am starting to get things together. Still waiting for the software but there is a good sign that I will be able to get a handle on it by Monday or Tuesday. So I will be busy next week, coming up with a decent test that will be good for not only my classes, but for all of the classes that are going to be taking Earth Science this year in my district.

For those who are caring, my back is still hurting and my knee is getting better. Got to go, talk to you later. :)

what to do...

2006-08-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

Nothing to do today, just chilling out and watching TiVo and NFL football.

Yesterday evening, I had a pretty bad headache. So my wife and I decided to take a nap at around 8 pm. We woke up at around 4 am. we figured that we had a good 8 hours of sleep and we realized that we were both hungry. By 5:30 we were out of the door and on the way to IHOP. Mind you, it was still dark and we hadn't even been out this early since I took her to LAX for her flight to Michigan. But we went to breakfast that early on a Saturday and we werent even the only people there. We were instantly shown to a seat and enjoyed a hot meal. By 6:4o we were back in bed, as a every good meal deserves a nap, and slept in until 10 ish. This might sound normal for some people, but it was wierd for me. Don't ask me why...

By the way, I am trying to blog more, but with nothing else to say, I might just blog a bit of stupidity until something nice/new happens.

I'm Back....for the time being...

2006-08-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, I have told you all (2 - 3 people by now) this before, that I have started to blog again. There has been a lot that has happened to me, and most of it good. Since the blog world has last "seen" me, I have been in a slight automobile accident - I am mostly ok, just a bungled knee and a sore lower back. I have been attending an inquiry based science seminar for the last month or so at a local college, and have been taking it pretty easy the last few months while I have been on summer break. I have some pretty cool pictures of a Rube Goldberg machine that I helped build with "Mr. Steve", who is/was a fellow teacher that I am learning with at the seminar.
Things that I did:
1) Learned to solder - something that I have been meaning to do but did not have the materials to do...
2) Cleaned my mother and father-in-laws house while they were in Alaska
3) Slept in
4) Played video games
5) watched TiVo
6) Recorded cool videos and put them to DVD that I can actually use for class next year :)
7) Built Rube Goldberg machine - that actually works!
8) Met Dr. Rusty Shakelford of My Pet Jawa

Things that I need to do:
1) Write Quarter exams for my district
2) Plan what I will do the 2nd and 3rd weeks of school
3) something is just escaping me right now...

Of the things that I need to do, I wasnt thinking about #2 until now. #1 cannot be done without a few pieces of software that my district wants me to use, that I do not have with me at this present time.

Graduations...

2006-06-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today, I went with my lovely wife to her first graduation as a professor. The event was very nice and rather small for a college graduation. I, however, did not like the behavior of the students and their families at the event. I was in the back row center aisle, right where the students were walking down. Things were going just fine until the graduates were conferred their degrees. There were some very important acts that needed to be done, such as the benediction, issuing of the distinguished professor award, and the all important exiting. These things are usually done nicely, and very classy to boot. This would have been the case, if it were not for the new MD's leaving the tent before they were supposed to, before the professor got his award. Would you like a surgon leaving your procedure before it was officially over, or in the middle of his diagnosis? I don't think so either... That was just the students.
Now with the parents/friends/family - since when was it kosher to bring air horns to graduations? There was a family siting in front of me who decided that it was totally fine and it was enjoyed by all of the other individuals in the audience. The father would smile and pat the man in front of him - who would smile apprehensively, and nod.
Oh freaking well, I hope that next week at the high school graduation that I will proably be participating in, won't be that horrible. That is it for now... :)

I love Home Despot

2006-03-03T00:17:00.000-08:00

When you have to purchase a vacuum cleaner belt at 10:30 in the pm, where else would you go? WallMart? Target? Here in our neck of the woods, they both close down at 10:00 pm. Thank God the HD is open until midnight here. I just hope that my neighbors won't be too mad since we were doing the deed at 11:30.

My mom is coming over tomorrow, as she is going back home on Saturday from a weeklong meeting in Orange County. We didn't want her to have to wade through our working-messy house. I just hope that she doesn't say anything about the dishes...

Woo Hoo - and crap...

2006-03-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

I am finally a certified teacher!!!! Hopefully I can now stop a few things...
I got the news today from the CCTC and they accepted my application. I feel soo happy. Maybe I will not have to do so much of the BTSA program as everybody else. It is a bit of a pain in the ass, as I have to take classes after school, which keeps me away from my family and duties of grading papers and other necessities. I am getting kind of burned out. I have a class every Monday night, from 4 - 6 and a different class (that I need for my CLAD/CTEL) every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 3:45 - 6:45. Fortunately I have today off and I did not have to go. It was ok with the 4 day work weeks due to the holidays, but since there will not be another long weekend until spring break, I am hating the exhaustion that is starting to overtake my body.
So wish me luck and I hope that all of you are doing well. Have a great evening!
--GMT

I feel soo "stoopid" sometimes

2006-01-28T19:44:00.000-08:00

I have recovered from the weeks that I had to condense 2 weeks of teaching into about 6 days. I received a copy of the district test from my department chair (she wrote it earlier this week) and I read it, just find out that there is no space science on it. This really pissed me off, as I could have spent an extra week and a half on the chemistry and used the time more wisely. I have students that say that I went too fast and that they do not understand anything. I went that fast because I thought that there was going to be at least another chapters worth of material on the damned test. I also didn't give enough time for my students for the science fair, in thinking that we could do more on it next quarter and now just this: SHIT!!!

Parents are mad at me, students are mad at me, and I will recover from this as well. Stay tuned..

:>|

--GMT

It's about time - CCTC

2006-01-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

The CCTC has finally gotten to my week, so that I will finally find out what classes/tests that I need to finally have my cleared teaching credential. I sent it in during the summer, expecting it to be completed sometime in October, only to realize that the Gov. cut back so many jobs in that area that there are now like two or three people evaluating all of the credentials that are being applied for in California. That is good, as I am starting my BTSA induction classes this month. I wish that they would have gotten to me earlier, as I might not have to go through certain aspects of the BTSA program. This would give me more time to work in my classroom and enjoy more of my time there. If you have no clue as to what I am rambling about, don't worry. You are probably not a teacher living in California, or in your first year teaching. If you are, good luck with all of your BTSA activities and enjoy the next year and a half with me.

Tell you how it goes and what I might not have to take soon...

:P
--GMT

Well, Duhhhhhh

2006-01-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

You Are Likely a Second Born

At your darkest moments, you feel inadequate.

At work and school. you do best when you're evaluating.

When you love someone, you offer them constructive criticism.

In friendship, you tend to give a lot of feedback - positive and negative.

Your ideal careers are: accounting, banking, art, carpentry, decorating, teaching, and writing novels.

You will leave your mark on the world with art and creative projects.

The Birth Order Predictor

First day back

2006-01-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

I do not know what to say. I looked into my planning book at the end of the day, and I realized that I am a week behind. Somewhere along the way I did something stupid and I thought that I planned for too few weeks. Just to realize that I originally planned for the right amount of time. I had slowed down to make up the time and went over the material at a slower pace. Now I find myself a freaking week behind. I feel so stupid. I also totally forgot about the MLK holiday so I have a plan for 5 days and I will atempt to fit that day into the others...

Well, back to the grind. I just pray that it will all work out for the better.

Back to the "Grind"

2006-01-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

Warning: coffee induced Brain-dump in progress...

Yes,

I am going back to work tomorrow. I wish that I had more time to relax. I didn't really have a summer break, with moving and trying to find a teaching position here in California. I just got to relax with the interesting things that happened over the holiday, finally getting healthy from my incessant cold/flu, and trying to nurse my lovely wife back to health over the two weeks. I haven't really posted anything lately and I am sorry for that. I got just about everything that I wanted from Father Christmas and I hope that the same happened with you. Have a great week and wish me luck as it is the first day I will have ridden my bike in two weeks. At least I was able to get it a tune-up so that it might not break down within the next semester...

I got the stuff graded today that was waiting to be done over the holiday and I totally forgot to do some planning that was desperately needed but I will be able to figure out over the next week. I totally hate having to do it on the fly, but that is sometimes how it must get done...

:)
--GMT

Rock me baby!

2006-01-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

You Are an Emo Rocker!

Expressive and deep, lyrics are really your thing.

That doesn't mean you don't rock out...

You just rock out with meaning.

For you, rock is more about connecting than grandstanding.

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Relaxation...

2005-12-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

I am now back in Fresno. Class ended yesterday, and DW and I left as soon as we could. Trafic was good and we got here in good time. I have 99% of my Christmas shopping done and I only have one day left. I am doing better than all of the other years that I have actively participated in the Christmas Gift Giving part of the holiday. Yay me!!! We have 2 different places to go for Christmas dinner and we will be able to see our brother-in-law for the first time in 3 years (and the first time ever for DW). There should be family pictures also sometime next week, which is something that my parents have been waiting for, for a long time. So therefore, all is well in the GMT/CTG houshold. If I do not post before Christmas, Merry Christmas, happy Chanukah (??), and happy New Year!

:)

Christmas Movie Meme...

2005-12-22T08:38:00.000-08:00

The movies that mean Christmas to me:

1) A Christmas Story - "You'll shoot your eye out kid"

2) Scrooged - One of the few movies that not too many people that I know like, but I find amusing

3) It's a Wonderful Life - "Merry Christmas Moviehouse"

4) The 1951 version of A Christmas Carol

5) Love Actually - a new but good movie

I know that I should meme others to do this, but since they all have been memed already, I will save others the embarassment...

It is about time

2005-12-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

Warning - RAMBLING ALERT

... I read something enthusiastic coming out of today's youth about the military and this nation's government. LT. Smash has a post written by a person known only as "Amy". She is an eloquently spoken person who has ideals that I rarely see coming out of adults. In the post September 11 society in the US, I know that we have become rather stupid and crazy. Our society has become polarized. Either it is full blown right-wing (kill-them-all and let God separate them) or pussy-footed left-wing (kiss all of the nations asses and go the way of the dodo) shit headed insanity. There is little in between. Can there be? I feel that the government is doing the best it can in order to keep the greatest amount of us safe. If that means that they listen in on a few conversations of mine in the process then so be it. I have nothing to hide and I am a patriot as much as the next man. I am still on the rolls of the IRR, and will do my duty if Uncle Sam needs me. I might not like it, but I did sign that contract and raise my hand twice in the process...

I know that I am rambling, but there is a lot that has been going on in my mind the last couple of months. I hate talking politics, and I have intentionally not inserted my politics on this site until now...

About 2 months ago, DW told you all that I was extremely angry with "She who will not be named on this blog" and her actions after the death of her patriotic son. I do not feel one bit sorry for that bitch. She has prostituted her son's death, made a total fool of herself, and is now overseas, further destroying the efforts of our military men and women fighting for her freedoms at home and away. She is a pimp of the worst kind, now with a full spread in this month's "Vanity Fair" complete with her resting on the grave of her patriotic son. I wonder if she realizes that if Casey was still alive, he would have probably already bitch-slapped her. I hope that he is giving her horrible nightmares while she is lying there... May she rot in agony until the day she dies, and even after that, may she burn in hell and Satan pluck her eyeballs out of her skull and eat them in front of her one at a time. My brother-in-law, Casey's last immediate supervisor and the last man to see him alive, knew exactly what Casey was made of (and actually provided the bitch with the pictures of Casey in his desert BDUs that are on that bitch's website before he knew what she was made of)... He said that Casey was a good man and good soldier. He was an excellent mechanic that knew how to do his job. If there was someone that he wanted covering his back, it was Casey. Coming from my brother-in-law, those are great compliments, as he has trouble finding those words for others in the units that he has worked for/in that easy. Most of the time he says "all total dirt bags, or useless in their current jobs". He sets high expectations, bordering on perfection, for all of those who work above and below him. Even I had trouble keeping him happy with my work, when I was working under him when he was my superior, and he was even trying to get into my sister's pants at the time...

It is my opinion that Amy is made of the same cloth that Casey Sheehan was and I am glad that she is picking up the torch in his wake. Her comments remind me of the stories that you now rarely hear about the unknown private picking up the company standard after the standard bearer gets mowed down in an infantry charge during the Civil War or WWI. She is picking up where he has fallen. She is not fearful of her decision or fearful of what might meet her in the end. She is doing this in full knowledge of what might happen and does not fear. I applaud her for this and it makes me happy. I know that there are more "Amy"s out there and I hope that they all have this same conviction. I love this country enough to willingly lose my life in it's defense. I am glad that there are others that have picked up where we have left off and the course is being stayed.

------------------

More later. Have to get back to my work with the kiddies...

Christmas trees...

2005-12-18T16:35:00.000-08:00

You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree

For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel.
You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

But hey, I already new this. Nothing is better than the traditional tree and stuff that makes me happy!

Jesus H F**king Christ - my first but (just maybe) last political post

2005-12-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

Today, I took my lovely wife to breakfast. Breakfast was wonderfully cooked and tasted great. But that isn't why I was unhappy during the time I was there. Right next to us, there were two wonderfully old couples eating also. I was eating my breakfast when they started to talk about the current political topics. This previously wonderful old lady started spouting shit about "Dub-ya" that I couldn't believe. She was spouting idiocy about the government wiretapping issues and the legality of it all. She was saying that there was no right for it to happen. I have a feeling that this same person would be bitching about another terrorist attack that could have been stopped and why the government couldn't stop it... They got so outrageous that I was feeling like I would like to change my seat. I have never had this desire before and I do not know when I will have it again.

Another thing, the LA Dogtrainer had the good news about the Iraqi elections buried on page 16, behind the Macy's ads. It was less than a full page. By contrast, there was an article about scientology and its current favorite prationer which was 2.5 pages with pictures and a half column on the front page. It was mildly enjoyable but it tells you what is more important in the 2nd largest metropolis in the nation. God help us all. We need a good, large earthquake to wake these shitheads up and realize that it isn't all gummybears and crackerjacks around here.

Yet another post, so long since one

2005-12-16T00:56:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, and to boot, CGT is here right next to me snoring away. What a change from the norm. I haven't been blogging at all and I really do not have much to say right now. I am very busy with work and family and the holidays that this is the one time that I have gotten to do this in a long time, and I know that I will be paying for it in a few hours when I have to goto work.

But anyway, I am officially pulling out of the Whoop-Ass Jamboree, since I have not posted but one post about it and I know that the Avalanche are having a horrible year anyway, every time I see the news, they are on the loosing side of a game anyway...Did I mention that I hated Gary Bettman?

Well, I should get some sleep, so that I will not be trampled by the little kiddies tomorrow at school. They are so amped up and I am having trouble calming them down. The person who made up the schedule, didn't realize that he created a nightmare when he scheduled the students that I have in my 7th grade class together. Today two of the kids in that class beat the shit out of eachother after my class and 3 others were suspended. That was all before lunch. I wonder what next week has to offer. My 8th graders are having trouble with doing their homework, classwork, taking tests, and doing well at any if not all of these things. Frustration is just the beginning. At least I have the rest of the semester planned for them. If not, I would be totally screwed. I just have to come up with a way to present the information to my 7th graders which will sink into their dense little heads.

:) Good night.

Gee, I hope so!

2005-12-06T17:34:00.000-08:00

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

From Darling Wife

Congrats to the Stars

2005-11-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

I know that I am in the NHL bitch-fest and I have not been putting up my end of the bargain. I am not sure how to post pictures (Honey help) and I do believe that I have forgotten to list a few losses that the Av's have aquired. Oh Well... Shit... but anyway, congrats to The Dallas Stars. You probably have all of our ex-stars anyway, as we had to sell them all off in this new age of NHL hockey. Fuck you Gary Bettman - may you eat shit every day of the rest of your miserable life.

Screw you guys...

2005-11-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

...I'm going home. That is what I said about 5 months ago. I checked out of North Carolina, said good bye to the very few friends that we have there, gave away many things that we couldn't bring (oh I wish we still had our blueberry bush), and jumped into a very loaded Ford Escape and DW and I went on a 4000 mile trek across the country. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that I did it.

I don't think that I could have spent another year in Chapel Hill. "I love it here (NC)", I remember saying to DW, and really believing myself when I said so. But being back in Southern California, I now realize what I was missing - my normalcy.

For example: speed of business, earthquakes, less stoopidity, competent drivers besides DW and I, decent weather, and good college football.

I still miss our friends in North Carolina, and wish that they would move here. Unfortunately, that is up to them, and they have their own lives to live.

Thank you Southern California for being just what I needed. My normalcy so that I can be the best GMTrojan that I can be. Have a great day!
:)

Then mail comes - I get money back because I didn't take all of my sick days while I was a teacher in NC. I just wish that they could have sent it to me earlier, like when we were hurting for cash, and needed it just to survive here. It must have been the slow rate of business in NC that was to blame...

I thought that this was Halloween???

2005-10-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

Jesus H. MF'ing Christ (I know that I am now going to hell...), I am certain that it is the 31st of October. It is now 7:00 and we have not seen a soul come to our place. I even made sure that the front gate was open and wedged so the kids that wanted to come in could do so easily. But no, we have a large bag of chocolate candy, and no one to eat it but me. DW enjoys them but not as much as the candy that is in our freezer. With all of the houses in this part of the suburb of LA that I live in, also with the number that are decorated for the evening, I thought that we would be filled to the gills with children and their parents.

But no, we have not seen a soul, except for the Chineese Food delivery man that we called for food this evening. I am extremely disappointed. Is this a sign of the times, or has "trick-and-treating" gone way of the dodo? I am pretty sure that it is due to the fact that this day fell on a Monday, and the God forsaken Jesus freeks (I was one at one time, so I can call them that) have sworn off this beloved holiday, so that there is no one in the neighborhood actually "celebrating" it.

Oh well, fuck it, I guess that I will just give out more candy for my students in the near future, or become a larger cash-cow for my eventual dentist.

I better not have a bunch of zombies in all of my classes tomorrow, seeing as they were not coming to my door.

This past weekend

2005-10-31T16:00:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday was big. I had a busy day.

First, DW and I went to breakfast. We don't usually do this, but we were in for a big day. I had a waffle with both strawberries and bananas, while DW had her customary potato pancakes. Then DW and I went to IKEA and enjoyed purchasing yet another couple of pieces of furniture. We got a new desk and table for our spare room/office. DW wanted a new place to put her sewing machine and other crafty stuff since we had to leave her other craft desk in NC during the move. The desk is for our school/work stuff and to house our printer so that it does not overheat on the thickly carpeted floor. We are still emptying boxes in that room, so it was necessary to get these things. It was a pain in the ass trying to put together the solid wood desk, which was surprising. All of the MDF pieces that we have gotten from there are perfectly crafted and easy to put together. The real wood desk was milled wrong, had broken pieces, and one corner just did not want to come together. I do not know what else to say, but I know that I still enjoyed paying 15% less for the opportunity to build crapily made furniture.

After we got home with our purchases, we watched USC totally destroy Wazoo on the television.

Around 8 that evening, one of our friends/housemates from my Senior year at USC, named Alpha Centauri, came over for an enjoyable evening. We caught up since we hadn't seen him since DW and I were married in 1999. He is a great man who has had an interesting life in the last couple of years and it was great to see him. If only we could get our other friends to come by and we could do the same... We ended up going to Robin's BBQ for a big BBQ beef dinner.

We also did a "Negative Time Tommy's Run with Alpha Centauri. We left at 1:55, and got back at 1:53. Beyond that, another double hamburger and a Cherry Pepsi bit the dust. Remember, CalTech froshies: "Tomorrow is ditch day" and we all know what that means... At approximately 3:00 AM I finally fell asleep and woke up at 8 am on Sunday morning. I think that I am still feeling the effects of the sleep dep...

OMG!!!!

2005-10-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

Today I have a new post. I know that I have been very lax on my posting, but I have been busy with my computer going down, rebuilding my gradebook (that was stored on said computer), changing to a district mandated online gradebook, getting/building new furniture, planning for my classes, cleaning my classroom, getting in the first 6 week progress reports, trying to figure out why my bike is making "funny" noises when I ride it, etc, Need I go on?

To take a line from DW's favorite Mel Brooks movie "Lets face it, I'm pooped" --Lili Von Shtupp

I still have 2 beginning teacher's meetings this afternoon, and "Back To School Night" until 8:00 pm. Sometime in there I need to get something to eat, a nap (maybe), and my paperwork together for the meeting. I was up until about 12am this past night and I am totally drained.

I have two saving graces: I will not be required to talk about grades to my student's parents, and I will only have them in my classroom for about 10 minutes at a time. They will have to walk the halls as their children do, so I will not have any questions about why their students are coming late to class.

More later... one of the two meetings is about to begin

Just in case you are not watching/listening to the USC game...

2005-09-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

The zebras are playing for the Uof O Ducks. There should be at least a NCAA inquiry after two weeks of major officiating blunders, missed calls, and total fuck-ups. I sure hope that USC wins, as they are having to play against two different teams this weekend.

You tell me what you think.

First Days of school

2005-09-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

As you might know, I had moved from North Carolina, to the Los Angeles area. I had a very rough year in NC last year, and I really didn't know what to expect on my first days here.

I gave out the syllabus for the class and requested that my students turn it in with comments from their parents/guardians. Last year, when I did this, I got 2 - 5 from a class of 15 students. There might have been one comment of those 5 (max) syllabi that I recieved back. The comment would be vaguely related to the class and usually had no contact information on it. This year is a total 180. Of the 30+ students that I have per class, I have recieved at least 25 per class. I got a call from one parent that asked if she could keep it an extra day so that she could make a photocopy of it, to keep for herself. There were not only home phone numbers, but cell numbers AND email addresses. My parents have asked me questions about what we will be covering, what materials I might need that they could find funds for, and parents were telling me that their students needed help, or were thankful that I was up front about my behavior policy. I only knew 1 of my previous student's parent's email addres last year, and it was like pulling teeth to get them to ask questions about my class.

All I can say is WOW, so this is how it is supposed to be...

First day now here

2005-09-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

Warning: first day brain dump

The first day has come and passed. Today was an inservice where we got to learn the little "ins and outs" of the place. I met my department head and the rest of the science faculty. It is so refreshing to have people to ask and bounce ideas off of that know the same content as you. I also feel much more confident in what I am doing here. I know that there will be hicups with this year, but I am sure that the problems will not be as bad as last year in NC.

I came home today after school, to find that my darling wife, CTG, was cooking dinner/supper for us and the house was filled with the smell of beef, rice, and green peppers. We had discussed having stuffed bell peppers, but I didn't think that she was going to make them. I was so happy. It made up for a lunch that was provided by the school, but consisted of drastically undercooked barbecue chicken. I fear for the students and their stomachs. I am pretty sure that I do not have any salmonella, as I have not gotten sick. Unless, of course, I start puking later on this evening...

I am also glad that I am riding to school this year. I think that we will probably save about 200 per month in gas, if not more. I say this now, but I have to take the car tomorrow, and might on Friday, because I have to bring a bunch of stuff to my classroom and CTG will be with me too. I am happy that I will have someone with me there tomorrow, as lunch will be funner and more can get done.

I also have to plan. I just got the updated pacing guides for my classes, and they insert things in a different order than I would normally teach them, so I have to rethink how I will be doing things. Oh well, better than having to attempt to create my own pacing chart and hoping that the things that you cover will be given in the same portion on the district and state standardized tests.

Thursday is the beginning of classes for my students, of which I have no idea of how many, or their names.

But hey, that is life.

Blogging for Katrina

2005-09-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

For those of you (approx 8 people, right) who read my blog, please give what you can. I don't have much right now, but I will be donating my blood, as well as my tax dollars to the effort. In times like this, Americans have to do what is right, and work together for a common good. I reccomend that you donate to Soldiers Angels or the American Red Cross. They both are good at this type of thing.

Soldiers Angels will take more than just monetary donations, which is good for those who don't have capital. The Red Cross is just that, the Red Cross...

Thank you and have as good of a day as you possibly can.

--GMT

2005-08-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

Teaching Update:

Instead of teaching all Physical Science, I will be teaching 1 class of 7th Grade Life Sciences. There was a problem with other teachers being able to teach life sciences, but I can teach both...
YAHOO me, now I have two totally different preps, but it could be worse... At least the Life Sciences class is meeting first period only...

Not the one that you might be expecting...

2005-08-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

Update: The one I replaced has come and taken her things. The posters that were not hung up are now gone. A large amount of supplies (glue, pens, pencils, paper, etc) are now gone as well as well as one of the student computers. All in all, I made out pretty well, and I wonder if she really wanted any of the stuff that was up anyway. The one thing that really made me mad was that she took a whole bunch of "stomp rockets" that were stashed in the cabinets. I know that there are other things missing, but I will have to do a more thorough job of checking.

Well, I will see what I can do, and hopefully I will not have to do too much in the way of rebuilding lab ware and materials. At least I will not have to find many wall hangings. Who knows, maybe there are more "stomp rockets" somewhere else on campus...
--GMT
---------------------------------------------------
The one that CTG was promising a few days ago (before mu.nu died) this is not, but it will come in due time...

Until then, chew on this.

At the beginning of this post, I ask you this: When you know that you will be leaving a job, when do you take all of your things out of your space?

Today, my darling wife (CTG) and I go down to my new classroom to open up all of the cabinets and locked shelves. I find a whole bunch of cool posters and teaching aids that would work nicely in and around my classroom, to make it very hospitable and student friendly. I also find two computers that seem to be possible student usable for whatever purpose locked up in the cabinets. I say "Wow, look at all of this cool stuff, honey, would you like to put up all of these posters while I fix my computer?" To which she replies "Yes, of course I will." She is sooo much better at that kind of stuff than I am, you all should know. I fix the computer and clean out some other things, while she hangs up the pictures. We are getting quite a bit done when I get a call on the classroom phone. I am expecting it is the office calling me with some menial task that they would like me to complete, but instead it is the teacher that I am replacing. I have the room that she vacated in June. I expected that the call was about a computer password issue that we had solved, but no, she proceeds to ask me if I can let her in to the room to empty out HER STUFF from all of the cabinets. I am like "ummm..... Isn't it common knowledge that when you leave your room at the end of the year, knowing that you are not coming back, that you HAVE to take ALL of the things that you want to keep with you BEFORE turning in your keys???" She laughed and said "Well, I didn't." She then tells me that she wants all of the posters that my lovely wife had just spent a few hours finding, sorting out by subject, and putting up all around the room. She also wants me to take them all down off the walls because she will be "pressed for time" tomorrow.

I then told her that I will be in a meeting tomorrow with people downtown, which is the truth, and I wont be able to assist her in any way. Since CTG had crawled around the counters for too long today and that it was late as it was, she was going to have to deal with all of the posters as well. I locked all of the cabinets before we left, as is standard anyway, since I would be leaving the room over night.

If she is that pressed for time, she won't be able to do much in my room, with no keys and every thing still everywhere, and on the walls. I wonder what I will still have in there when I walk in there on Thursday...or if I get a note saying she'll be back another time. I wonder...

I'm not so sure about those tendencies.....

2005-08-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

You're Mr. White!

Which Reservoir Dog Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Well I passed

2005-08-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

I got the results from the CSET exams I took last month. I passed all three exams. Now I must get the results back so that I can send it to the VA in order to get the $$$ reimbursed. YEAH Me!

Why oh why...

2005-08-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

I have continuously been in the Southern California area for a whole week. I have been watching the news here, and I easily realized that all of the news can be effectively done in about 1 hour. If you are not familiar with the areas TV stations, there are 7 non-PBS stations that have news coverage. KCAL 9, has about 5 full hours of non-news a day, complete with 3 different anchors per hour, and a helicopter for the "Late Breaking" news of car chases (they should be a show in and of themselves) conducted by the CHP and other assorted law enforcement agencies. They have a 15 minute segment about Hollywierd and the SAG, and any stupid movies that might be coming out that week. They talk about yesterdays, if not last weeks, news. Nothing of real importance comes out of the local news except weather and sports. I used to rely on the local news for all of my news needs, and occasionally look at the national news for one or two national things. Now I have to rely on the national news for my whole news needs...shit!

But wait - there's more...

My favorite part of the news - weather - totally sucks here. The weather people here, regardless of their employer, suck ass!!! They seem to all be just reading off of a teleprompter and don't have a real clue as to how to use their own equipment (half of the time they are standing in front of the information that is up on their blue screen) or how to even think independently. I found out that there have been 9 named storms (as of Wednesday) and the last one I had heard about was Dennis. WTF!! Those are big events, and we heard every one while I was in NC. I think that I could do a better job - at least I would know what a cumulus cloud is. I really wish that we had Greg Fishel who is the WRAL weather guy and a real meterologist to boot. Well, that is all for today, I think. Have a great day!

You know school is starting when...

2005-08-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

... you see the "Rubber-band Man" commercials for Office Depot. I saw my first one Monday afternoon when I was able to catch a glimpse of TV when we were in Pasadena, moving into our new place. I just love that commercial, as the guy goes around with his cart, and gives the children things that will make their lives "easier" from the store. Especially the child that gets the alarm clock at the end...

By the way, I finally found out what I will be teaching next year. I have 4 classes of honors 8th grade physical science and one class of "regular" 8th grade physical science. I am kind of worried though, since I have not taught children this age before and I am only familiar with the North Carolina standards. I should probably start "boning up" on what I need to teach. I do, fortunately, have a copy of the student textbook and a set of the textbook writer's overheads to get me started. I also have to revamp my webpage so that my students will have a virtual place to send me their work and other stuff next year... At least I no longer have to deal with the NC End Of Course tests that drove me totally batshit last year. I do believe that I will have to deal with a whole new set of tests for science though, but I am not entirely sure about that. Just more things to figure out while not either traveling from FresNO to the southland, or attempting to put together a house on a shoestring budget. (You know, if you become a teacher, and are from out of state, your new employers should give you about $1000 to help you get through the summer when you are not teaching - therefore making no money - so that you won't possibly go to the poorhouse in the interim...)

We are doing ok though. I spent about 1.5 hours at my new school, got a $0.05 tour, and found out what room I will be teaching in. Unfortunately, the department head won't be back until later this month, and I would like to meet him/her. I don't blame them though, they deserve their time off too.

I am just grateful for the opportunity to teach here, and that we have someplace to live besides in FresNO.

Quiz of the Day...

2005-08-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well, for those who like quizzes, I got this one from ExGoucho

Official Survivor
Congratulations! You scored 79%!

Whether through ferocity or quickness, you made it out. You made the
right choice most of the time, but you probably screwed up somewhere.
Nobody's perfect, at least you're alive.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 53% on survivalpoints

Link: The Zombie Scenario Survivor Test written by ci8db4uok on Ok Cupid

Job and life update :)

2005-07-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

I have a job! I am working for a public school system around here, and I am happy with the job offer I have recieved. CTG and I also got the place that we really wanted to live in. So, I have gone from homeless, jobless, and pretty pathetic (read earlier posts) living in FresNO, to having a job, a decent place to live, and I really feel pretty good right now. Thank you to all of the people that have given us help and encouragement in this endeavor. YEAH!!!!!!!

Still in Pasadena...

2005-07-22T06:13:00.000-07:00

and it looks like I might have a job, but nothing until I call HR today. As we know, HR people are pretty "warm and humid" (thanks Travis) also... I will tell more when I get the info, and after I sign the papers. YEAH me! It is about time that something really good fell my way. We might even have a place to live also, but that is MUCH more iffy.

My life since NC

2005-07-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

This is a jumble of things going through my mind, written at different times in the past week or so, so be patient...

I find that the job that was probably going to fall into my lap slipped right off with the changing of the administration at the school that I interviewed with in May. A position that had not been permanently filled in 2 years, is taken by someone else that was interviewed by the new principal, and I just don't know what to say. The individuals that we were dealing with for a place to live in Pasadena have told us that they don't want to rent their place to us because they do not want a dog living in their place. J.F.C, their last renters had 2, yes 2, cats in the same place and they are worried about one 6 year old, housetrained, female dog that has been neutered. Give me a fucking break! Why didn't they just come out and say that we were not what they were wanting to rent too, I would have gone with that. Their heads are soo far up their own asses that they need a head lamp just to see during during the day. Disappointment is the least of my emotions right now.

Its not as bad as it could be though... Best thing so far - I think that I nailed at least 2 of the 3 sub-tests that I had to take for my CSET last Saturday. Also, I got a call the day after I applied to a different job, I have an interview later on this week. More later on that. CTG's 10 year reunion was quite fun. We saw many people that I hadn't even thought about in a long time and it is amazing who you talk to in 11 (for me) years and what they say about their lives. I hope that a contact that was re-established will help (Yeah Nathan) us out in the house search...

But this is the rundown: Living in FresNO with my in-laws, jobless, homeless, and freaking out. Who really wants to be over the age of 29 and living with their in-laws? Not me. At least they will put us up for a little while until we get it all together.

Ooh a new post

2005-07-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

I hate trying to find a job! Email me if you want to find out more.

We're Off

2005-06-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

We will be moving to California tomorrow. Those of you who know this (all 8 or so of you) will see us sometime within the next few days/weeks. I know that this is a lame post, but with the week that I just had, I do not know if I will be able to post much more than this. Have a great week!

:)

Reflection

2005-06-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

When we went to Los Angeles, I expected for us to get a place to live at least. We haven't found anything yet, and I was dissappointed in looking at the LA Times and only finding 3 listings for a place to live. I look online and there are something like 400, BUT you have to pay $$ for the ability to look at the addresses to the properties. WTF, over!!!!!!!!!!! Since when should you have to pay just to look at places that you would like to rent.

The only good hit we got was from a friend that might be moving out of their place by the time that we will be there. And their moving depends on another place that we know of opening up (that I would rather have in the first place). I know that the real estate business is now all a total crock of shit in LA, but this is totally rediculous. How many other ways will the real estate community figure out how to fiscally rape a person, we already will have to pay 1st, last, security deposit, and pet fees - all of which I find reasonable but I think that this has totally taken the cake.

On the job hunting - I have not gotten a response from the job interview that I had at my friend's school. I hope that this is a good thing... I am just very nervous and anxious to know if I will have to prostitute myself out once we get there, without a place to live... I hate looking for a place to live, and a job at the same time...

By the way, does anyone out there know of a place that is coming up for rent in the Pasadena area of California? 2 adults + 1 medium dog are looking for 1000+ ft^2 place with washer/dryer.

Email me...

Another year older...

2005-06-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

Post hip chick turned 30 yesterday, I missed it, but I hope that this helps... Please give her a pat on the back and tell her many happy birthdays!!!

Now that I have time...

2005-05-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

to look at other blogs since Darling Wife has finally given up the computer and has passed her PhD defence, I have looked at other teachers 'Blogs. EdWonk is very interesting. He has posted a few posts that will make you think, teacher or not...

Tales of students who do not know when a joke no longer is a joke here and here...

and...

idiocy in the California Legislature.

More teacher stuff to hopefully come soon as more time opens more opportunities to blog about my views of my profession.

If you thought that you were ever having a busy week...

2005-05-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

You should check out this "Grand Moff" here. I have never been that busy as a teacher, and I know how hard it can be, just keeping the normal stuff in line on a normal day. Wish her luck with everything that has been going on in her life please.

Ed. Note: I have corrected the link. It now works!

Visiting - Permanently (I hope so)?

2005-05-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

As I am on vacation here in California, I am also visiting a fellow teacher in the area and interviewing for a position that is open here also. I am so releaved to see other schools, other students, and another view of a school than the one that I have had the last school year. I feel refreshed already, and looking forward to teaching in this portion of California. The facility is much better, the teachers care for (and are respected by) the student population, and it seems more like a "school" to me. I have my interview at 1, and I am a bit nervous, but I think that it will go well. Thank God that I have seen a different view of school that has given me the strength to carry on with my chosen profession.

Wow, but it fits...

2005-05-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

Orange is your Lightsaber color.

Orange represents energy and enthusiasm. It also
symbolizes strength and endurance. People with
orange lightsabers are curious about life, and
the world around them. Fascination catches them
at every turn, and they are creative enough to
understand life's potential.

What Colored Lightsaber Would You Have?
brought to you by Quizilla

8 minutes till...

2005-05-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

My Darling Wife has her thesis defence. We have been working for a long time for this day and it is now here. Please give her luck in this endevor. I have done all that I can do for her. You can also go here and wish her luck herself. Good luck baby!!!

Warning: D&D Geek alert..

2005-05-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

You scored as Wizard. You are a wizard. Through reading books
and learning the history of the mistakes in the world, you figure out
a way to revamp them and figure out the answer on your own. You
search for the unknown and thus is why you know how to use
sparkly magic thingies!

Wizard

88%

Ranger

75%

Fighter

63%

Cleric

58%

Bard

46%

Monk

42%

Barbarian

13%

Rogue

What D&D class are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

I know, an old game that will send me to Hell if I play -- I played when I was young and the Players Manual was one of the first books that I read cover to cover. My older brother and his friends told me that if I didn't learn the rules, I could not play with them. They thought that I would not attempt to do the reading when I was in 1st grade.

Oh, little did they know... about 3 months later, with the help of my mother, brother, and a dictionary, I told them I was ready and played for the first time.

When the school system finally tested me, I was WAY Above my grade level in reading and math (counting gold, platinum, copper, electrum, and silver correctly)... So you can say that the game is good for something... Plus it opened my eyes to the wonders of fantasy and immagination. :)

Almost There (Stay on Target)...

2005-05-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, for those who care,
I have gotten through my first of three finals yesterday. I gave it to 8 students (one was exempt from taking it, and another did not show up and got an automatic 0%). After all was said and done, 5 people passed the class. Is a 50% passing rate good? I don't think so, but I would like to hear what others have to say about it. I know that I could have probably done better at teaching the course, but with the abilities of these students I do not know if it would have helped that much. I went over every single question that I gave. I gave the answers to ALL of the essay questions that I had on the exam. I even allowed them the use of a crib sheet but none of the students took up the opportunities that I gave them. Well Monday is the last of my finals to give, and these will be even more brutal than the one that I made. They are state written tests that I have not even seen, let alone read, the questions to. I just prey that my students paid attention to what I had reviewed with them, during the semester. I will give you all an update as to what happens with them.

Thank God it wasn't Jar-Jar!

2005-05-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well Duh ...

busy weekend

2005-05-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry, but this is a busy weekend. have to clean and do work that I have been putting off for a while. Have a great day!!!
:)

Has this ever happened to you...

2005-05-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

Monday, while I was at school, we were going to have a faculty meeting. I had just gotten done teaching 3 straight hours, and needed a little liquid wake-up call (Cherry Coke). break from story...

Now, have you seen the stupid commercials about people not pushing the buttons of common objects and others pushing them for their peers because they want to get a new car from Onstar?

Back to the story: I tossed in my exact change into the machine and pushed the Cherry Coke button. I heard a funny noise coming out of the machine, but that was not abnormal for this particular one. My soda came down from it. One of my colleagues asked me a question and in the time that it took for him do do so, about 10 more came out of the machine. Then when I thought that it was over, the machine rejected my money and I got that back too.

All I could think about the rest of the day was "DAMN", I also wished that on Monday I was in Los Vegas at the roulette wheel or playing craps... Or even just at that car dealership... At least I have not had to buy a soda for a whole week :)

But anyway, has this ever happened to you????

Another good day!!!

2005-05-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! I had another good day at school today. I do not know what is happening, but I guess that I have gone through the "worse" because it seems to be getting better. But then, I only had one class today and the rest consisted of a special day because of a book that our students were practically forced to create. Also, we had a send off for our principal, Mr. L, who is retiring soon. but all in all, a good day with only little problems.

What should I do???

2005-05-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

With approximately 9 days until I no longer have a paying job, I am wondering about what I should do with my "free time". I know that I have to start cleaning and packing for our move to California, and I have to try and get that other job too. I know that Caltechgirl will be teaching college and busy with cleaning out her desk and handing over the lab to new people/her PI. So what should I do in the time that I will have.

Internet quizzes etc...

2005-05-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

Your Deadly Sins

Sloth: 80%

Wrath: 60%

Greed: 40%

Gluttony: 20%

Pride: 20%

Envy: 0%

Lust: 0%

Chance You'll Go to Hell: 31%

You will die with your hand down your underwear, watching Star Wars.

But, when I combine it with my birthday:

Your Birthdate: November 15

With a birthday on the 15th of any month, you are apt to have really strong attachments to home, family and domestic scene.

The 1 and 5 equaling 6, provide the sort of energy that makes you an excellent parent or teacher.

You are very responsible and capable.

This is an attractive and an attracting influence.

You like harmony in your environment and strive to maintain it.

You tend to learn by observation rather than study and research.

You may like to cook, but you probably don't follow recipes.

This number shows artistic leanings and would certainly support an talents that may be otherwise in your makeup.

You're a very generous and giving person, but perhaps a bit stubborn in ways.

What does that really say about me? Am I an angry, lazy teacher, or a greedy but generous person... Oh the duality of man.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

How Sinful Are You?

from Caltechgirl

New Stories about students

2005-05-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday - My lovely wife, Caltechgirl, and I had some business to attend to while I was supposed to be working. While I was gone, my students apparently actually worked on the stuff that I had left them. That wasn't what I really wanted to blog about though. This other thing is even more amazing

Same day, but earlier, I was at school, teaching my 2nd period. I announce that I am handing out my LAST Assignment for my Earth Science class (Finals are on the 20th). I have maybe 2 individuals currently passing this quarter, and probably 4 passing the semester. I have been bending over backwards, trying to find something that my students could grasp onto. Then maybe they could learn just a little dispite their best efforts to not to.

I offered an assignment that involved using computers and PowerPoint. I also made the assignment attainable and worth a lot of points. If they make it, they have a good possibility to pass. I expected maybe 3 different people to work on it and complete it, but to my surprise, I have all but maybe 2 of the 10 of my students completing the assignment. There is a bonus to it though, the computers teacher is also giving a grade for the same project that I created, and there are people failing her class, that are in my class too. I have students making 8 - 10 page slide shows, who have not done a single thing in the last 5 weeks. I have one individual that has the project done already, that hasn't completed a single assignment for 12 weeks. I am SO surprised that I don't know just what to do with myself... I just wish that I had discovered this 12 weeks ago...

I shall chalk this one up to experience and hopefully I will not make the same mistakes next year.

More later on how they act next week and their achievement on the final...

Less Filling, Tastes Great

2005-05-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Just me, the wife and domestic web guru, here to inform you that Haloscan comments and trackbacks are now installed and working for your commenting pleasure!

That is all

-Caltechgirl