The grand scheme...

When I was in first grade, it was the newest thing since sliced bread. When we went to lunch we had to line up in A-B-C order so that the lunch ladies would be able to check our names off. Of course, I never bought the school lunch- I always packed, but nevertheless, we went through the line in A-B-C order.

Now, this isn't the easiest concept for a first grader. First of all, it involved learning your classmates last names, as that was the A-B-C order they were talking about. In library class, it was different- we sat in A-B-C order but by first name. Anyway, I digress.

Mrs. Allen took great pains to help us memorize how to get into A-B-C order. She went through attendance each morning reading our names in A-B-C order. So, we were very familiar with who we stood by. Latshaw, Lawson, McClimans, Miller... etc.

Latshaw and Lawson were the tallest kids in the class. I felt really short next to them, even in 1st grade. Then there was Miller behind me. He was about the same height.

I got along better with Mrs. Allen than the students. I felt more on her level.

Miller was different because he didn't have a first name. He went by initials. R.E. I think. That was the coolest thing ever, except Mrs. Allen called him Robert during roll. He was probably the most rambunxious of the bunch, except for Stoyer (who came after O'Dell and Ressinger in A-B-C order). I remember she liked to stand up while she did her reading worksheets, that is until Mrs. Allen snuck up behind her and took her chair. She tried to sit down eventually and fell right on her butt.

I bet she never stood up to do her reading worksheets again. She did make her nose bleed once in order to cheat on a spelling test once though. I wish I would have thought of that.

Sometimes Mrs. Allen would check to see how clean our desks were. If they were too bad, she would dump them on the floor and make us clean them up while everyone else got to go to reading corner. Usually it was the dirty kids that got their desks dumped out. Once though, I did. I had been busy making special reading worksheets for my younger cousins in order to play school, and things just got a little bit more messy than I had thoguht. So I had to clean up my desk while the rest of the class read about Corduroy.

I was friends with Spang (who came before Stoyer, as well) and Gertner too, although I wasn't really friends with anyone but Mrs. Allen.

I'm obsessive compulsive to this day.

I'm not quite sure what happened to Lawson or Stoyer...

Gertner's child was in the paper for a first birthday this week.

Spang had cancer and I'm not sure what happened to him after that...

And Miller was sentenced to 29-60 years today for killing his son Devin.

If we only knew back in the days of A-B-C order and reading corner...

Red, Red wine

Its been a relaxing weekend... Last week I got an amazing amount of work done and had my final observation... its official.. I got my A, and Dr. Alviani can't change it. Actually, he lost my paperwork. Lovely. Luckily Mark sent all of his in, so all the better that they don't get Hanks (although I wish they could see it). I made Mark copies of all of his stuff too just so he has record of his ideas for the high school classroom.

Overall, there are things I will do differently, but the fact is they have two totally different concepts of teaching choral music. Both have practical implications, but the techniques don't both give students the confidence they need and attainable goals for them. Blah... Enough of that.

I'm chilling for the week at the Knickerbockers, like I did last year for spring break. This year it isn't really a break, i teach straight through, but I've got my cats and a dog to hang out with... So we're lounging around today, Zeus the dog sleeping beside me on the floor and the cat cleaning himself on the arm of my chair. Actually hes been fighting with my laptop for the use of my lap, but thus far, the computer seems to be winning. I finally saw cat #2 last night. Shes skittish, so I'm not real concerned about it. If she comes out, she comes out. I will say... IF YOU HAVE ANIMALS, DON"T GET WHITE CARPET.
GRR.

Enough on that too... No responsibilities this weekend except the animals and making sure I get some rest before I jump into the elementary classroom tomorrow morning. Friday night I went to visit a friend in Indiana, which was definitely a worthwhile trip. We had a quiet evening that invloved tv, coffee, and a lot of conversation (not to mention a very talkative waitress and several local mullets in our midst). Fun times... i'm glad i went :)

Saturday night Sharron called, and we ended up going to dinner at Perkins... Actually we were suppsoed to meet at 6... and i didn;t wake up until 530... oops... So, she waited while i showered and got ready, and THEN we went to perkins. I caught her up on my life story over the last year or so and she did the same. The evening continued with a liquor store run... yay for red wine :) We watched "Under the Tuscan Sun" which is an EXCELLENT movie... it just made me feel good (Along with the wine)...

So, the weekend continues with some quality bonding time with my aminals and Lifetime TV... The library is closed for the next two weekends so i get to lay around and be lazy for awhile... whoohoo :)

Searching all my days just to find you
I'm not sure who I'm looking for
I'll know it
When I see you
Until then, I'll hide in my bedroom
Staying up all night just to write
A love song for no one

so, is it ironic that i had 5 people all say some variation of "you're so nice/cute/fun, its a shame you don't have a boyfriend"

i just thoguth that was funny... :)

nighty night