Sailing along

The past month has been busy.

School has started back up. 1 class I actually need to graduate (Contemporary Art), 2 classes just to keep health insurance

So a class debrief:

Spanish- fun stuff, professor is a flirt, not getting much out of it, but it should be an easy "A"
Art- it is week 5 and we still haven't received a syllabus. The professor seems lost. He is one of those who says he'll grade based on effort, which translates into he'll play favorites, and he probably doesn't like you.
Women's Studies (yes, it is one of the few classes I could take offered this quarter)- Professor is a cross between trailer trash and a cheerleader. She'll wear slacks and a Marlboro t-shirt that with her stomach hanging out. She is probably 6' with long, blond hair. She starts of class saying "Loves, dears, babes, oooooh I just love you guys. It is so great to see you all here. We need to start the love, I need to feel the love, let's move the desk together and get the love going today."
She also has a marvelous vocabulary- some new words she has taught me thus far:
- Thunkfucked- you had a thought, lost it, so you thunk it, but since you forgot it you are thunkfucked
- Mother shit of anus
- Shitty Mcpity
- Anal mother rectum
- Bitchfuck
- Mother shit
- Anal Fucker
And keep in mind, this is a women's studies class. Does her language portray women in a good light? I'll let you judge.

Work

The principal at my mom's school approached me asking if I would be the lead sub during the state testing. What does that mean? Basically that if a teacher is going to be out on a day we are testing, and the office manager knows it I have first priority to be the sub. It also means I show up everyday and if no teachers are out I get paid to give teachers a bathroom break.

I love that I'm a white boy who knows Spanish. It helps when in the classroom and overhearing kids convos. I really don't want to hear about the "puta" running around campus, or the guy with a really big "pene," or a girl or guy with a really nice "culo."
One gal in a math class I was subbing in last week was telling me that her mom was a big puta and she was planning on following in her footsteps. I asked if I heard what I did and hoped I didn't. Two minutes later she was talking about other "putas" running around campus. I told her I thought we needed to head to the office to discuss professions with the principal and sent her out for being off task, disruptive and foul language.

Summation of my whereabouts

Friday, March 20-
Last final- Spanish Linguistics is over!
Dinner at BJ's with coworkers

Saturday, March 21-
Took off to Seattle with my mom
Hotel had beautiful unobstructed view of Space Needle
Walked down to the Westlake Mall
Rode the monorail down to the Space Needle, then went up in the Space Needle
Dinner at Westlake- Indian Food - saffron rice and chicken masala

Sunday, March 22-
Shopped Pike's Place Market
Pike's Place Market Food Tour - Savor Seattle
- Sampled: 3 kinds of salmon (alderwood, lemon, and salmon jerky), Washington apples and pears, random trail mixes, Triple coconut cream pie at Tom Douglas' restaurant Etta's, clam chowder, seafood bisque, gouda cheese, and more.
Dinner at a Mexican Restaurant in the mall

Monday, March 23-
Breakfast at a restaurant at Pike's Place
Bus ride to Qwest Field and Safeco Parks
Seattle Underground Tour
Dinner at one of Tom Douglas' (Food Network's Top Chef contestant). We ate at Serious Pie, his pizza restaurant. Had a rabbit pizza
Went over to explore Capitol Hill after dark

Tuesday, March 24-
Shopped around Downtown
Back to Ontario

Wednesday, March 25-
Montgomery Gentry Concert over in San Bernardino

Thursday, March 26-
Cleaning and catch up
Lunch date

Friday, March 27-
Last day at the AVID Tutor gig for the year
Lunch with the teachers
Starbucks after with the coworkers - made plans for dinner with the teachers and coworkers in the future

Saturday, March 28-
Costco!

Versatile

That pretty much describes today. I was requested to sub by the office manager last Monday. It was a roving sub job. She put me up to it because I know the teachers at my mom's school well.

So let's break the day down:
6:45 arrive
7:00 check in at office
7:05 sent to counseling office
7:25 asked to sub for math teacher whom is at a conference and her sub didn't show
7:28 counselor said I am subbing for someone else
7:30 attendance clerk confirms I'm subbing for the math teacher
7:31 open door, greet students, pass out math test, remind them the definition of silence, and they work well
7:55 math sub shows
8:00 I cover for my mom's friend Linda's SST she had to attend. I ask her what the kids are doing in the 2nd period because I was worried she wouldn't be back. She said just listen to announcements. I pressed for more. Finally she said the kids are reading a baseball article. I had them finish reading that when they walked in. Linda was still not back at 8:30. To stall and make sure they understood things because she wasn't back I randomly asked them questions about Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, what they did, and things mentioned in the articles.

8:45 Linda is still not back. Crap. What to do? Oh. There's book questions about the article. Give the kids 10 minutes to answer them on their own. Still more time? What to do? Let's look over them as a class. Ask class to focus and quiet down. At that time principal and district visitor walk in. Class is quieting, then becomes so silent you could hear a pin drop. I say we're reviewing the questions, read the question aloud, ask for the kids to respond. It goes amazingly well. The 2 kids who are her worst totally carried me because they happen to be baseball fans. They even brought up how McGuire is now being accused of using steroids, to which I asked them what they thought about that. Does that overshadow his good deeds? Then I made a literature connection- CHARACTER! Here are two character flaws. Is this person still reliable? Are they still credible? Good discussion. Kids argued no. I argued the opposite. Was this different because it was real life? Kids argued no. Visitor took copious notes. Linda walked in about 5 minutes into it and she just stood there smiling. Principal and visitor left. I continued asking the questions. When finished I turned it over to Linda. She moved the kids on to the next assignment and told me how great that went.

9:15 sub for crazy 7th grade history - just made sure the kids didn't kill each other as the teacher told me to do
9:30 other 7th grade crazies in Algebra 1... they can be bad kids, but the teacher had them trained. I kept them on task. She asked how my Algebra skills were. Crap. What were they doing? I said I felt confident after she said linear equations. Oh! Y=3X-2, graph. Easy. 4-5 kids asked questions, I walked around and helped them. Told her the kids were wonderful

10:00 sub for Algebra 1 doing fractions and basic algebraic equations. Teacher left me with probably a dozen suspensions. She said if someone is out of their seat, send them out, she is not playing games. 3 girls were sent out. When she came back she said the class was loud and she was unhappy with their disrespect. I snuck out.

10:30 go to Mrs. C's class. She tells me it is easy. She has the low level reading kids and they're working in groups on vocabulary. Just monitor them and guide them along, going back and forth between groups. Easy.

11:00 sub for 8th grade English where the kids were working in their spelling books

11:30 sub for Mrs. C again

12:00 lunch - Linda snuck away to get us breakfast sandwiches at Jack in the Box

12:35 Sub for Mrs. H- nicest lady- worst students. She has the worst 7th grader's taken from the crazy class and transplanted here. Sent 2 gals out, then one threw an eraser at me while standing at the door. Suspended her. Then her boyfriend threw one and I called the office. Nobody picked up. Walked him up to the office when the teacher came back. In the meantime I conducted a lesson on the state of Kentucky. The kids were reading and answering questions on it. We went over those. I told them they had 1 minute after the bell for being loud, she walked in as I was saying that. She said no, 10 minutes. She kept them 10 minutes after school. Poor darlings.

1:15 sub for new math teacher. She said just go over linear equations and I stepped right in on the problem she was demonstrating, worked, worked, worked. Even did 2 homework problems with the kids.

1:45 profuse thank you's from her

2:00 I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

How Can You Be So Heartless?

I subbed for my mom's friend Linda today. She has one kid named Jerry who is probably ADD and in a class of 34 with about a dozen others like that can be quite a challenge. I know him well. He's an interesting little one.

Today when he came in the classroom he saw me, hugged me, then was begging to be sent to my mom's classroom. I laughed and assured him if he stays in his seat and quiet, we'd get along great.

Five minutes later after attendance the students were engaged in group work. Jerry was still quieting down and trying to get focused. When he came in he was talking about pigs, Big Macs, and Jack in the Box. I never know what he'll say.

Class gets situated and Jerry has to scream out something about Jack in the Box, Whoppers, being hungry, and pigs. A minute later he created a song, and sang, which was absolute brilliance in my opinion sung to the tune of Kanye's "Heartless."

[Chorus]
In the night, I roll up to my Jack in the Box,
hungry as can ever be
wanting a cheeseburger
How could you be so hungry?
Oh... How could you be so hungry?

In the night, I go into the McDonalds
wanting me my Big Mac
Something so juicy, something so tasty
How could you be so hungry?
Oh... How could you be so hungry?

He did this for the different fast food restaurants and I loved it! It was hilarious!

The sweet escape

Work was fun today. I subbed for my mom who has a sinus infection. It has been developing for 2 weeks, but the past couple days she has been very hoarse, which was a sure sign she'd lose her voice today. She always ends up throwing up because of all the drainage and so spent the day at Kaiser.

Spent the time before school in the teacher's lounge talking about the newly passed state budget with a few teachers. Went to her room and as I was walking in, my mom's friend Linda was cutting through. She told me that we were going to breakfast at Farmer Boys during her prep period. I laughed and said it sounded good. Third period rolls around and Linda strolls through. We take off and spend the next 45 minutes talking about school, AVID, and my tutoring gig for AVID. As we get back from breakfast Linda tells me we won't be hungry at lunch, so we'll have dessert. She said we'll have cookies. She bought a bunch of Valentine's cookies and put them in my mom's refrigerator in her classroom. So lunch rolls around and we talk about the students and I tell her about me pursuing a teaching credential, as well as the CSETs. Talking to her was a breath of fresh air- she gave a different perspective nobody else had on going to a private institution for my credential.

I had an easy day as she was giving the final test for her class and she has GREAT kids. Her 6th period class just adored me and didn't know I was her son. I normally am very down to business and let's move, let's do this, let's do that, you need to be on task, etc. With my mom's students I'm much more lax. My mom told me to be- she said they were good kids (I've subbed for her many times before) and that she always is when she gives a test. She told me to tell them to sharpen pencils, take out notes, and give them plenty of time for that because the test would take almost, but not all period. So it worked out. Being laxed like that let me joke around with her 6th period and let the fact sink in I was my mom's son- they hadn't seen me before (and supposedly most of these kids were 7th graders, who should have run into me last year.)

Progreso

Estoy muy feliz que finalmente he logrado el punto de fluidez de Español. I'm very excited that I finally feel that I have reached the point of fluency in Spanish. So much so in fact, that I have registered for the CSETs in Spanish. Those are the subject examination tests to become a teacher here in Cali.

Taylor Swift is taking over the world

I know I said months ago that Taylor Swift was taking over the world. Whoever is behind her (her parents, advertisers, record label, or the mafia), I'm not sure. What I do know is that I heard her on KGGI 99.1 the other day; they're an R&B and rap station. KIIS is now playing her songs, as well as KBIG 104, MYFM. She is on every awards show. Her concert in April at the Staples Center (I think that's the venue) sold out in 2 minutes on Friday.



Why? She has no talent.
If she could carry a tune I may not be worried.
I guess in all honesty it is her youngness, pureness, and appeal to young girls... but is that it?

The power of my iPhone

Subbed for a language arts class the other day. The students were writing their spelling words on the whiteboard and making sure they were spelled right. One kid decided to write something nasty about another student and his teacher, and held it up for me to see.

I walk over and ask for the whiteboard. He hands it over, then erases part of it.

Too late however. This kid had been misbehaving badly prior (I had him the previous 2 periods). I told him to march to the office and he'd have a suspension to follow. He tries to grab the white board from me, erase it, but it was too late. I snapped the photo on my cell phone for evidence, e-mailed it to the Dean of Students, sent my referral, and he was gone.

Super Bowl

Can we say awesome?
Great game. Didn't know any of the players as I'm not one who takes great interest in football. I just know there was an awful lot of cheering.
Went to a long time friend (a kid whom I've known since 1st grade) and my parents have been friends with his parents since then.
Beer run. Flirting with my friend's sister in the car.
Yummy food- 7 layer dip, chili (the best I've had), delicious macaroni salad, pulled pork and beef, and lots of dessert.
My mom brought the 7 layer dip and it was gone in the first hour, then 2 people were asking her for the recipe and what was in it.
Talked to the friend about life, his plans, the CBEST, the CSET, fun stuff like that.

Love my boss

My boss at the tutoring job e-mailed us Friday morning at 8:05 saying we needed to have a meeting Saturday morning. She suggested we make it a breakfast meeting. She asked for suggestions where to eat. I e-mailed her back at 8:07 and suggested Cocos. She e-mailed all of us tutors at 8:09 and said, "Breakfast at my crib at 9a.m. Saturday morning. Pancakes, sausage, freshly squeezed orange juice, and coffee. Be there, or miss out."

So all but 2 of the tutors showed up at her house yesterday. We were all there on time. My boss was in the kitchen, and all of us offered to help, but she insisted we set up her computer, and chug away at the agenda. The biggest issue was a lack of preparedness on the students' part when it comes to having notes, books, or necessary supplies. Basically she said that we need to take off 5+ points for not having that, she's going to make sure all of the teachers demand their students come to class prepared.

Very productive meeting. We started the meeting at 9:05 and by 10a.m. we hit all 5 points on the agenda. Usually 5 points would take us 3-4 hours and we'd have to write everything on the whiteboard, talk back and forth, but this one was a lot more effective. She realized that also.

By 10a.m. we had all been served and busted out our iPhones to talk about our favorite apps. 6 of us have iPhones. I was the 2nd person to get one. My boss has the old model that she bought back in April, then I got mine on the day the new 3Gs were introduced. We're all obsessed with Shazam and Pandora.

Work or the lack thereof...

The state budget crisis basically sucks. Got my hours cut at the high school tutoring gig. I used to tutor Wednesday and Friday mornings form 7:30-9:30, then 12:30-2:30. That was a nice $80 extra a week. I love the job, love the kids, and the teachers I work with. The program is running out of money. It is a district funded program, but the program grew by 4 sections this year and there just isn't the money to fund tutors. It will be all gone by the end of February. Hours have been cut dramatically as it is. I'm only there Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings now. Other tutors have had their hours cut 15-20 hours; those whom are there on a much more consistent basis. No tutoring Wednesday or Friday afternoons anymore. I am sad because the kids need us, and on the selfish side it was my spending money. My paychecks from subbing go directly into my savings. My money from tutoring was my spending/eating out money with friends.

Subbing. Well, there hasn't been a lot of that. For a while I was subbing every Tuesday/Thursday at my mom's school for her best friend Linda and another lady whom was out pretty regularly on Tuesdays for health reasons. I subbed nearly every Tuesday/Thursday in December and every Tuesday/Thursday in January the first week the kids were back at school. I knew last week I wouldn't get any sub calls on Tuesday because we came back from a 3 day weekend. I knew that last Thursday the same thing would probably happen. Then this week is parent conferences. The students are out at 11:30 and because teachers are required to be there for the conferences, there were of course no calls because the teachers aren't calling in sick. That's a good thing because it is good for the students, but on my end? Not so much. I am enjoying having days with nothing to do other than homework, or working around the house.

Tuesday I used my time to go to Victoria Gardens and browse. I also went to the gym and did some reading for school. Tomorrow? Disneyland if I don't get a call. I haven't been since July. I would much rather work because Disneyland would be a solo trip.

This is a bit old BUT it makes me happy

My birthday was January 8 and I had to work that day. I love subbing for friends- they leave me nice notes and more personalized lesson plans.

Found this as I was clearing off stuff from my iPhone.

He's back and banging his head

Here's one of those conversations with my dad I had this afternoon. It is one of those that makes me want to bang my head against the computer screen.

Dad: What's with the eggs in the refrigerator?
Me: Um... that's where they belong?
Dad: Don't you like eggs?
Me: Sure.
Dad: I thought you needed the eggs.
Me: For what?
Dad: Those egg things.
Me: That's descriptive.
Dad: Those egg things you make.
Me: What do I make? Eggs? What have I made with eggs lately?
Dad: Mexican things. Breakfast things.
Me: What Mexican thing or breakfast thing?
Dad: Isn't this why you bought eggs?
Me: I didn't buy eggs. We usually have eggs on hand. Mom was making cookies the other day.
Dad: So what are the eggs for?
Me: To eat.
Dad: So what are you having for breakfast?
Me: Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets usually, or Oatmeal Crisp.
Dad: So you don't need eggs? What are these Mexican things in the refrigerator?
Me: (thinking, trying to figure what Mexican things are in the refrigerator) Tortillas?
Dad: Yes. What are you using those for?
Me: Quesadillas.
Dad: Those have egg in them.
Me: If you do a breakfast quesadilla.
Dad: You're not eating these for breakfast?
Me: No. For lunch. Chicken and cheese.
Dad: So you're not putting egg in them?
Me: No.
Dad: Then how are you making them?
Me: ARE YOU LISTENING? I JUST SAID CHICKEN AND CHEESE QUESADILLAS. NOTICE THE TORTILLAS, THE SHREDDED CHEESE, NOTICE THE CUT UP CHICKEN BREAST IN THE REFRIGERATOR. PUT A TORTILLA ON A PLATE WITH CHEESE, BREAK UP THE CHICKEN AND DROP IT ON, PUT SOME SALSA ON. PUT IT IN THE MICROWAVE FOR A MINUTE OR SO.
Dad: Oh. (goes back to making the chili for dinner)

Scorecard

I'm a nerd. I love my entertainment news. I love my country music. My cousin and I made a bet- whoever picked the most CMA award winners would have to treat the other to dinner.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR *won*
Kenny Chesney
Would vote for Sugarland, but for whatever reason I think Kenny

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kellie Pickler

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR *won*
Rascal Flatts (easy, they win it every year)

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR *won*
Sugarland

BEST NEW ARTIST
Lady Antebellum

SINGLE OF THE YEAR: *lost- George Strait*
Stay, Sugarland

ALBUM OF THE YEAR *lost- George Strait*
Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride

SONG OF THE YEAR: *won*
Jennifer Nettles, Stay

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Josh Turner/Trisha Yearwood or Little Big Town/Sugarland.... choices, choices, choices
I chose "Another Try"

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Don't Blink, Kenny Chesney
(though I think Stay was an awesome video)

BTW, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are ROTTEN hosts. ROTTEN.
Her outfits are terrible. Carrie has nothing to say.
Brad is just downright annoying.

The awards show is still on, but I've done some online searching to find that I'm doing pretty well in my guessing.

What am I and who am I?

Well, I like to think of myself as smart, intelligent, and knowledgeable. I like to play around on the computer, I like to drive, eat out with friends, and things like that. I think these are good qualities I possess that make me interesting and a fun guy to be around. I also would like to think that part of that is that I am also like to be that friend known for being extremely reliable and when others don't live up to the same standard I end up hurt or bothered.

Case in point-
Family- I always do so many things like the dishes without being asked and I am always thinking ahead and tackling tasks that need to be done. When people like my dad or mom slack on an issue I become bothered and angered.

Friends-

My friend Steve called 2 weeks ago at 11:30p.m. Thursday night. I was pissy because someone just woke me up, and with myself, sleep is hard to come by. I heard him out and found out his mom was just in a car accident. Without hesitation I drove to Riverside General Hospital and sat by his side until 3:45a.m. comforting him. I would like to think that it is because we are close and good friends there for each other, that I did that. I would want him there if I called him at 11:30p.m. with a problem like that.

Let's discuss one friend whom is one of my best friends. His friendship means the world to me, yet there are 2 issues right now I'm having to iron out with him. I hate to touch it and talk about it because I'm worried that it will hurt our friendship despite the fact our friendship has been through a lot.

One of the issues will go unmentioned. One will be mentioned. I have pet sat for this friend several times. The first time it was for free. The following times he paid me $50-100 depending on how many nights. He would only ask that I feed the dog and make sure he is ok. I did that. I would often do other things like the dishes in the sink and minor tidying up because I'd become bored. That is not meant to exalt me in this discussion where I'm slamming him. It is more to talk about issues leading up to this. I pet sat for him for a night at the end of August. He gave me a supposed $50 American Express gift card that only had $0.23 on it. I tried to use it the night he gave it to me at Starbucks only to have it declined and it wasn't until I was at Express the other day did I discover that. I feel cheated- and I guess adding insult to injury this is at a time when I feel cheated monetarily by other people. I did call and tell him about it and he said he will definitely pay me for that.

A few weeks back I pet sat for 2 nights for him and he promised there would be plenty of food. There was pasta in the fridge and then the morning he was coming back he told me that the money was in a sock drawer to pay me for pet sitting that weekend. Keep in mind I could have used the money because of a few unseen events earlier that weekend. I felt a little gipped and used. He said he would take me out to dinner to thank me, and did he? No. He did tell me how of course I'm that super ultra reliable friend that he can always count on.

He told me Saturday morning after he had a difficult Halloween because of the friends he had over that he was also having problems with. He's always so glad I'm there for him. I get that. I'm always there for him. I'm very reliable.

Now, I know he is going to be asking me to pet sit either this month or next month and I like to do it because I like his dog, it is a nice getaway for a night. The problem is however that I don't feel like it. I feel a little used for my services from the last time. I feel like I didn't get a proper thank you, and no, I don't think I did; even though I was hard to deal with because of issues that were going on with me. I want so bad to say "sorry, I feel used and like I never get a proper thank you. You always go on these trips and get to go to all of these places with friends, yet I seem like the guy, the friend, the ultra reliable one, who is always being used, and always there when someone is in need who is never invited along." When has he asked me to go to Vegas with him? What about go to Phoenix or another place? He seems to have no shortage of other friends to ask to go with him. I am pretty sure he'll be asking me shortly, and I'm worried, yet hoping that I don't let it slip or I can in a nice way say that I don't think that I want to pet sit. And my no would be out of spite and I'm probably say why. Sharp tongue would be getting me in trouble there. Yike.

I had 2 issues in the past week. One was a monetary one (don't worry- I just couldn't use my ATM, but credit would have worked, had the place had a credit terminal). I call him because he lives close by, however, he doesn't offer to come help me. You know what? I have issues there and I'm about to let them be known. I don't feel like I ask for a lot, but I'm always reliable, and you know what? I expect friends to be too- that means being there for me in a time of need.

I just hope my mouth doesn't get ahead of me and I say too much before I think about what I'm saying. I just hope my feeling used/taken advantage of doesn't cost me too much friendship-wise. I truly would be devastated to lose this guy. I just feel/know it is wrong deep down when it is bothering me so much.

Another upset at my college

I get a call Wednesday about 1:20p.m. from Ms. Dawn in the Spanish Dept. at my college. Ms. Dawn is in charge of the Spanish dept (as far as making sure kids complete the requirements for a degree in Spanish or minor). Ms. Dawn told me that she knows I filled out my paperwork to declare a Spanish minor in March 2008. Here it is October and she is just now getting around to entering it in the computer. ...Surprised she didn't lose the paperwork... She said that she didn't really pay attention to what I said my major was on the declaration form. The problem is I'm a Communications major and that since that is basically not a true department and is a branch of the Liberal Studies Dept. I should have a Spanish major and a minor in something else. I told her that the classes I've taken as a Comm major complement the Spanish (I've taken Anthropology classes on the American Southwest, history of Spanish, etc.) She seemed kind of apprehensive after I said that, then said, well, my problem was I filed the paperwork too late. TOO LATE IS MARCH 2008 AFTER I TOOK MY FIRST UPPER DIVISION SPANISH CLASS. THAT'S TOO LATE.

So basically I'm going to fight that and while it seems like my case trumps her's, we'll see...

I am just thinking how easy it would have been to have finished up last year and taken my degree in Comm, rather than go above and beyond to try to get the Spanish minor. I am upset because of what a Spanish minor means to me. It means that Im bilingual, I can teach Spanish, I can get jobs others can't, and I can travel and try out my Spanish. As of now I'm only 2 classes away. 2!!! ...And to just learn that now. ...And for the paperwork to take so long to be input. ...And to not be told when I originally filed the paperwork is inexcusable.

It goes without saying I am going to put up a fight and rattle some chains. I have meetings with this woman, the Spanish language and Spanish Dept. head. I will have an appointment with the Dean of the Humanities Dept. and the Dean of the college if I don't get results. I just hate how everything at my college is a struggle and this is yet another one... and now my degree is at stake.

7th graders and administration

I would much prefer to teach/work at the high school level, but I'm embracing the challenges at the middle school level right now. I have subbed for most of the students at my mom's school where I work. The 6th graders have only been in school 2 months and are still being broken in, but most are well behaved. The 8th graders at this point in the year are still ok- not rambunctious and know-it-all's like they will be at the end of the year. The 7th graders however are TERRIBLE.

I have subbed for Mrs. C at my mom's school this year two days in a row. She had what has been dubbed the absolute worst 7th graders. These kids are the absolute lowest- 3 periods of math, 2 periods of English, and then PE. Some have 3 periods of English, 2 periods of math, and PE depending on how low they are and in which subject. Anyways, the kids are terrible. In Mrs. C's class I had about 10 jumping off desks (no joke), 10 yelling, and 10 running around the room. These kids steal and it is so blatantly obvious. The administration turns a blind eye. The teacher is scared to be in her own classroom with these kids.

The 3, 2, 1, schedule as it was dubbed by the principal was his ingenious idea to get all of the students to proficient by the end of the year. It didn't do that last year. Instead it burnt 2 teachers out who had 3 period classes. This year 8 teachers have 3 period classes. The kids are all monsters. In the math classes especially, I don't see anything helping. The students are just so exhausted after the first hour or so of math that they lose focus and the students aren't being taught more math than the regular classes. They are just working at a slower pace.

The 7th graders are all really rotten it turns out. The principal kept it quiet last year that the 6th graders were so bad because he gave them to his best friend, an English teacher, who just turns a blind eye; so word never got out. Now it is turning its head. The teachers are so upset they're asking the principal for a 7th grade assembly to remind students of the rules. The principal says he "doesn't know if we can do that." The teachers have a good idea to put the students in classes that are closer to their level. If they're really that low and badly behaved, put them in a VERY low class, but don't make it a place they want to be. Reintroduce electives like Home Ec that make the kids keep wanting to come back to school and not give up.

Last Thursday I subbed for a new math teacher at my mom's school. The first 2 periods the kids were wonderful (it was a 3 period block, but they have the last block with this teacher at the end of the day). When the kids came back to me in 6th period they all forgot where they sat, they were are loud, yelling, screaming, and refused to take their seats. I got right on the phone to call the office. I called everyone in the office and nobody picked up the phone. Finally I flashed the lights and they said "oh, the teacher wants to teach." I wrote on the whiteboard "anyone out of their seat or talking will automatically be sent out." That's how I handled it- I sent 4 kids to my mom's classroom, 3 to the big mean science teacher, and then one out on a suspension. The class quieted enough for me to take attendance, then since they were so loud I just put the assignment on the overhead because I couldn't talk to explain it to them. Usually kids will come to the desk seeking help, but none of these kids did. Nobody was working. They just don't care. The students were just starting to do problems like 2x-2=10 and so I know many didn't get it. It wasn't worth trying to teach when I had to raise my voice, talk over them, and police to make sure everyone stayed in their seat and didn't kill each other.

I didn't mention this woman's 4th period class had 16 kids with 14 rotten ones. I had to raise my voice and then remind them where they sat on the seating chart, then I said that anyone out of their seat would automatically be sent out. I came up with this policy after they were all running around even after class had started and I took attendance. I sent 3 of the kids who got up out of their seat without permission, and of course they didn't think I was serious, or forgot. At least in this class I was able to isolate the kids enough, then keep things humming along enough to teach the lesson.

The administration all turns a blind eye. The principal turns the other way anytime there is a problem and will not admit there is a problem. The assistant principal is a great guy, but the principal does not get along with him, so he can't dictate or say anything. He told me that he was "glad I survived and thanked me for taking on such a difficult mission" the other day. The dean of discipline is stuck in her office all day disciplining 7th graders and can't ever leave her office.

Mark and Kristen on KOST

Mark Wallengren and Kristen Cruz are now the morning DJs on KOST 103.5. I heard Sunday night they were launching the new morning show, so I would give it a listen. I had listened during the summer when she was on and the first thought that came to mind was "her voice is terrible." I listened more and have listened this week. My vote is I don't like the woman. Her voice is not in the least bit flattering. She jumps in constantly to inject her opinion. It is all about her... Fireman Matt... 'nuff said. Then I saw her on KTLA this week and she is just as scary looking as she sounds.

I'm still listening to Valentine in the Morning on KBIG and Brian Casey and the Wakeup Bunch on KOLA 99.9 out here in the IE. Brian, Patty, and Fran are great.

Is it coming true?

I took AP European History in my sophomore year of high school. Fun class. I remember nearing the AP test- probably a week before there was a fire drill. Ms. Ward had just passed out booklets that she had explaining what the EU was when the fire drill happened. She said to take the booklets, to go outside to the football scoreboard, which is where we were supposed to stand. It was one of those long firedrills where the fire chief comes and then rips everyone another for taking so long to evacuate the school and if this were a real fire...

I remember Ms. Ward saying this would be a long fire drill, and that was why we were to bring the booklets along with us. We made ourselves comfy on the grass below the scoreboard and she began talking about the EU, the EU money system, how a country joins, and things of that sort. Then, she said this, which has still stuck with me today...

The U.S. is at the end of being a superpower for reasons like credit problems, rising prices, we're making more foes than friend sin the world, etc. Our economy is going to fall as the EU rises. When the Euro started rising in comparison to the dollar, I remember thinking what Ms. Ward said was true. Ms. Ward said the EU is going to become more and more accepted. She said that the EU is probably going to have to pull the U.S. out of where it is heading. I remember thinking, yeah lady... in 100 years. And now, today, I wonder if this day is sooner than I had thought with all of the credit and housing woes. If this $700 billion bailout doesn't happen I'm pretty sure we'll be in a depression. Will Europe pull us out?

Ms. Ward continued talking and said that this was her theory on how the world would end. She was not particularly religious- she was a non-practicing Episcopalian. She said that the U.S. will surrender to the E.U., China will too because their economy is so dependent on ours, hence everyone would be united together- world peace. Then the stuff that is mentioned in the book of Revelations would happen and that would be the end. I remember Lisa, my good friend, and very Christian friend asked why none of this was in the Bible and how Ms. Ward knew this. Ms. Ward said she didn't, but this was her opinion, but also what she thought based on her study of the E.U.

*** Another random thing from AP Euro since we're on such a happy note and talking about end times... Ms. Ward gave a lesson on the Catholic Church and popes once. She printed off a list of the Pope, their picture, and why they were chosen to power if it was known. I remember Ms. Ward saying what was said in the news after John Paul II died that this next pope (Benedict) was to be a transitional pope, only to be around a few years. Then there would be one final Pope after him... I found that whole idea mindblowing. How did she know all of this?

Well, whether we are end times or not, I wanted to share because I was thinking the other day how everything that Ms. Ward said about a big problem the U.S. is facing now seems to be coming true. Sure, credit, buying things on credit, of course will lead to problems, the housing market, etc. but back in 2003 I was a sophomore in high school and just couldn't imagine that.

I hate doctors, especially my idiot Kaiser doctor

I have been having a problem since Saturday. It is not a pretty problem. I first noticed the problem Sunday morning, then it got progressively worse. On Tuesday I was fed up and went to Kaiser and saw my idiot doctor. I first protested and asked not to see my doctor when I called Kaiser, but naturally he was the only doctor with an opening.

Ok- so let me give you a little background when I say idiot doctor. I went to the doctor once this summer because I was sick or something and he completely ignored my problem. He instead told me my pulse was really fast and I needed counseling, as well as a vacation. A few days later he had his nurse call to say that I should also get a massage.

Fast forward to Tuesday when I unwillingly go to the doctor for my appointment with this lunatic. My pulse was extremely high yesterday, but he didn't mention anything. No, instead I told him my problem, said it was probably stress related, and told me I needed a massage. Um... a bowel problem and I need a massage? I said I thought the problem wasn't stress related and so after some arguing with him he asked me when I first experienced the problem, then told me I probably don't have e-coli and just "keep on pooping" and eventually things will get better. Some people throw up, but I need to poop was his answer. I realized I was talking to a wall and so once the appointment ended I went to the pharmacy.

At the pharmacy the physician's assistant listened to me and what I said my symptoms were, then recommended that I try some anti-diahrrea medicine, when to take it, and things of that sort. She also said Tylenol should help.

I would complain to membership services, but it would do no good. I did however call to switch doctors because I am tired of this tool that I have and was told that there were no available doctors unless I choose a primary doctor 15-30 miles away. Sure, I'll do that, but when I call for an appointment here in Riverside, I'm sure I'll be told to see this fool.