The Negative Post

The truth is, my new job depresses the hell out of me. The kids are fine. I love them. The teaching is fine...I guess. I don't do anything like my colleague and she assures me that it's ok, but I still worry.

Oh, and I really don't get along with the rest of the faculty.

At first I thought maybe it was my problem. I do tend to...um...dislike people. I almost always keep to myself and try to stay off the grid. But then I remembered the day Hubadub came to help me move some things. There were a group of teachers waiting in the hall for the luncheon to be ready. I made introductions blah blah blah. That evening Hubadub said sarcastically "Wow, that was a happy crew."  This was before the school year even started.

So maybe, I have off as bitchy, but I still think it takes two to have a misunderstanding. In high school I either got  "Omigosh, I thought you were stuck up, but now that I know you you are so funny and nice" OR I wasn't even noticed. I still think I am a little invisible. I mean, I will say stuff and it will be completely ignored. Of course, that may be because I was relegated to the very end of the table. (They all already had their seats at lunch, you know.) And I am sorry, but one of the other teachers made a statement that was racist. I don't know how she meant it, but it came off as racist. And the fact that they discussed that most of the teachers being hired were black....sorry, I call racist.

I also totally admit I have a temper, but here's how it works...and everyone at my old school knew this (and knew it immediately): Someone says something, she gets mad, she walks away (albeit rudely), she goes to her room. Leave her alone, she'll be fine. Especially don't come and try to explain things. I had a little blow up yesterday and everyone trying to make excuses for the incident that caused my temper tantrum just pissed me off more. I wanted to scream: "I get it, OK? I am NOT one of you! Message received."

Why did I switch to this job you ask?

• Because I believe in public education and I felt like a hypocrite teaching in a private school.
• Because instead of bitching about the public schools I think people should get off their asses and do something.
• Because my tax dollars are helping to finance the schools. It's like paying myself (har har.) But guess what... my tax dollars are also going to the salaries of teachers who never seem to come to work. It's only September and there are several teachers who have been out days at a time. Come to fucking work. It's simple. Jebus, we already have June, July, a week in November, two weeks in December a week in March and multiple long week-ends. You really couldn't find some other time for your family trip? My husband has truly limited times he can do vacays, but he manages to work around a teacher's schedule.

Ok. I guess whiny rant is over. I have to get to work. *sob*

All I Can Muster

I've got an FO to share, but about the only thing I can manage is a picture. Details over on the Rav Project page.



I'm sorry I haven't been around much, both on my blog and with my comments. I just don't feel like I have the mental energy for much of anything these days.

Drama

I do not condone drama. Ever. But I guess there are times when it is at least understandable. Here's a quick guide:

Drama is understandable when:

• a great family fortune is involved and the deceased has not left a will.

Drama in inevitable when:

• a wedding is being planned.
• a mother and daughter disagree.

Drama should be avoided and is not necessary when:

• you are just miffed about an online swap gone wrong (and don't use the "money is tight" sob story. If it's tight DON'T JOIN A SWAP.) I can't tell you how many times I've had a swap partner flake on me. I just shrug my shoulders and figure they've got it worse than I do.
• you are on an online forum discussing a book, video game, tv show or movie. It's not that important.
• you started it.
• you are not being paid.
• It's a game. 

Even in cases in which drama is understandable or inevitable, it is NEVER acceptable to make it public. Let's say for the sake of argument your husband is cheating on you. The woman could very well be a skank, but it is not acceptable to tweet it, plurk it, facebook it or start a thread about it on your Yahoo or Ravelry group. 

So if understandable drama should not be made public, there is absolutely NO reason to make useless drama public. No reason at all.

Dear Lace

I love you, but heaven help me I have no idea why. You don't get along with my friends. Every time I take you out, you act up and monopolize my attention. You are demanding...always asking for yarn overs and then being a real jerk when I forget them. And honestly, there are just so many unknowns with you. So often, I just have to go on blind faith and hope for the best. I have to help you so much and there is no guarantee you will look right after all my efforts. You are very particular about your care. You require such a gentle hand (yet oddly, you sometimes need a firm one.)

But I could never leave you. Ultimately, you are an etheral, delicate soul. You are more beautiful than anything else I could knit. Nothing compares to the joy you bring me. To be with you in public makes me proud. You are worth all the agony and tears.

Soooo....

I guess I should have a #10 for the previous post. I mean, it *is* TEN on Tuesday. Not nine. But you know what? I can't think of a tenth. I'm brain dead at the moment. I expect I will be until around...oh...late May.

Ten on Tuesday 9/14/10

10 Reasons to Watch Football
1. The bands
2. The upsets (James Madison beat Va Tech?!)
3. Perfect background noise for knitting. (You don't have to pay close attention)
4. Commercials
5. There is nothing more exciting than watching the underdog win.
6. Ok, maybe watching your team slaughter the underdog is more exciting.
7. Touchdowns!
8. Crazy fans.
9. If you don't watch football, you have no idea what people are talking about Monday morning.

Prepare Yourselves

I've got a million thoughts running around in my brain, so expect a flurry of posts in the near future.

Well, maybe "flurry" is a bit hyperbolic; "a few" is more like it.

And maybe "post" is not accurate. "Bulleted Lists" may be more true to life.

What I Would Have Done

There is no freshly baked cake in the house. If I weren't lazy I would have ended up making the honey cake and just replacing the one egg. (The applesauce cake was vegan and would need no adjusting. I decided tradition trumped vegan in this case; After all, Israel is the land of milk and honey. I might still end up making one this week-end, even though Rosh Hashanah will be over. I'll be sure to share the recipe with you, too.

Just like last year, I decided not to go to synagogue. Every year* it's the same. I tell myself I need to be better. I remind myself how good it feels to go to synagogue every week or to attend holiday services, but then the week-end arrives or the holiday sneaks up on me and I just can't seem to face the schlep across town. So like almost every holiday, I just stayed home and lit Yom Tov candles.

*Actually, more like every day.

The Rosh Hashanah Post

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown today.

I'm a lazy Jew. (No surprise there.) I haven't been to synagogue in a very long time. Not even High Holy Days. The closest we get to a seder is eating charoset, matzah and horseradish. I feel bad about my general lack of observance, but obviously not enough to fix the problem. I do light Shabbat candles every Friday (But I don't stay off the computer and the TV is on.) I keep kosher in the sense that my house is vegan so obviously the meat/dairy thing is not an issue. And if we aren't eating meat, then we obviously aren't eating non-kosher meat. I give to several Jewish causes every month as well.

Does worrying about my level observance count for something? I hope so. Someone once told me that the level of observance doesn't matter so much if you continue to learn and add more observances over time.  I haven't been very good at that either.

So what's my plan for this new year? I don't know. I certainly haven't thought much about it. Back in August when I was coming up with and scheduling post ideas I thought sharing a vegan honey cake recipe would be kind of neat. Kind of pathetic, huh? But honey isn't vegan.  I have a recipe for applesauce cake that could do but, honey cake is more traditional. I wonder if Jew trumps Vegan or vice versa. Which ideology should have priority?

The End of a Long Weekend

It started with such promise. I had several projects I wanted to cast on and make progress on. Originally I wanted to sit on my tush all week-end, watch football and knit, but Hubadub talked me into 2 (!) movies on Saturday (Machete and The Girl Who Played With Fire) and then Offspring came to visit the kitten on Sunday. So the only thing I managed accomplish was a little progress on my blue socks and  cast on Milo and Ocean Moods. I had also hoped to get back to Kiama and at least seam the shrug part...but it didn't happen.

I did finish a book, though.
#15 Crank by Ellen Hopkins. One of my students recommended it. It's about a girl's descent into drug use. I guess its Go Ask Alice for the new millennium.

Maybe I'll get to 17 before the end of the year after all. (But I guess saying that just messed it up.)

A Veces Español Tiene La Palabra Más Apropriada

Como Uds. saben, tenemos un nuevo gatito en la casa. (Todavía no tiene nombre.) Cuando mamá e hijo regresaron a casa, decidí dormir con ellos para aseguar que todo iba a ser bien durante la noche. Me desperté muchas veces al sonido del gatitio comiendo.

En español la palabra es "chupar." y en inglés "to suckle." Pues, en mi opinion, "chupar" es mejor que el inglés porque eso fue el sonido que me despertó. chupachupachupachupa. Y cuando lo oí, pensé <>

Otras palabras que me encantan:
gozar
oruga
gruñir
estornudar
zarpar
quisquillosa
empujar
titubear
broncear
adelgazar

A Word Verification I Can't Ignore

From Rosemary Knits:

fooker


Need I say more?

Long Weekends and Monthly Goals

Hooray for long weekends! Hubadub and I will be heading to the local independent theater to see The Girl Who Played With Fire on Saturday and then we'll be seeing Machete on Sunday. I'll have Monday to myself since Hubadub will be working.

I meant to report on August's goals and make September's earlier than this, but I think getting it done the first week is still commendable.

August Goal Report
The Goals (Great Googley Moogley why did I write so many?):

• Plan my blog posts more carefully. I created a calendar and I've already filled in a few topics for dates in August (and September and October, too!) Hmm. I guess that means I've already reached my first goal. I get a sticker! (I told you what I thought about this. I'm still undecided on whether I will do this regularly.)
• Finish Kiama. (Can you say "stand still" boys and girls?)
• Finish Old Mann of Storr. (Finished and Frogged)
• Finish Grrlfriend Market Bag. (Finished and I love it.)
• Continue to work on Acid Pop scarf (that I had no business casting-on in the first place) (Frogged. Started another One Row Lace Scarf instead)
• Decide whether to cast on Edgy or Mojo socks (Still deciding...)
• Return to Knit Nite (I've been rather a hermit lately and haven't gone.) (Went to a couple. I got addicted a telenovela this month and I hated the thought of missing it)
• Mail the July dishcloth (oops.) (double ooops)
• Walk at least 5 times a week. Psh! I'm not putting that in writing! (Good thing I didn't put this in writing.)

Now for September

• Finish the One Row Lace Scarf.
• Finish the Blue Lace socks.
• Mail the July dishcloth.
• Finish some HPKCHC classes (see how vague I was?)

Friday Fill-In 9/3/10 (And Some Kitten Stuff)

1. Family is more important than work.

2. Tennis is a game of back and forth.

3. I love a good knitting pattern.

4. Cereal makes a good meal.

5. I've got the power.

6. Sugar-free: wth!!! (I would rather have pure, natural sugar over some chemical cooked up in a lab. Guess it's a good thing I'm not diabetic.)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knitting and my telenovela, tomorrow my plans include going to see Machete and watching Alabama football and Sunday, I want to visit with Offspring (she's coming to see the kitten, but I'll make her visit for a bit)!


Now, a little more about kitten...


While several folks have volunteered to take kitten, I really hope I can talk hub into letting us keep Bella and kitten. (It's a pipe dream, I know.) Several names have been debated. Here's a list of possibles. They are listed in order of my preference.

1. Dude
2. Fernando José (from an old Telenovela)
3. José Miguel (from my current Telenovela)
4. ML (suggested by a former student named ML. According to him, if I name the kitten ML it would be named after greatness.)
5. Han Solo ('cause he's Solo, but this is really my least favorite.)
6. Offspring came up with Rich/Richie. To which I replied "WTF? Where did that come from?"

KittenWatch 2010

On Tuesday evening I got the impression Bella was in the early stages of labor. She just wanted to hang out in the closet we set up for her. When I woke up Wednesday, I went to check on her and she dashed out of the bedroom and came for treat. She was bleeding quite a bit. I called the vet and he said bring her in...immediately. She had to have a C-section and one kitten was recovered, but weak. The vet said he saw evidence that led him to believe there was a second that she must have aborted or reabsorbed. When we got home and inspected her closet another kitten was found...but sadly it had passed away. I'll never know if it was stillborn or what. :-(

Mother and child are home and baby is doing much better, though he remains nameless.