educator extraordinaire

I said to Jenny today, "I wish there was something I could change my major to." "For what purpose?" she asked. "For the purpose of not being an English education major."

But today ended up being one of those affirming yeah-I-really-can-be-a-teacher days. I had a meeting with Dr. Morgan, my professor for teaching writing and my advisor, and it went really well. Maybe he's easy to please, but he made it sound like I had some educational insight that my peers don't. He really seemed to like the ideas I have for my writing sequences, which surprised me because I threw them together in about fifteen minutes. Mind you, this is supposed to be forty-days worth of instruction planning.. His encouragement was much needed and very appreciated.

He also told me that getting a Spanish minor is pointless, that they probably wouldn't even put it on my diploma. Sheesh. He suggested that Get a double teaching certificate. English and Spanish. I don't know about any of that. Does anyone else hear the 4.5-year plan being sucked out the window and being replaced by the nice, round 5-year plan? I'm not so sure I do.

Oh, and he also said the might have left the stack our essays in Mexico. Interesting. It puts the lyric "I'm messed up in Mexico, living on refried dreams" in my head. That's right. The still-mulleted Tim McGraw, from his first album Not a Moment Too Soon. Somewhere, I have the tape.

Anyway, after I left Dr. Morgan's office, I went to the library to work my teaching demonstration for tonight. I'm not sure what got into me, but I cranked out two pages worth of notes and rationale. I was completely prepared and quite confident. It might not have gone as well as I wanted--I'm not sure, and I don't want to watch the video tape--but it went well enough for me. I used all of my 25 minutes. And I wasn't even nervous. Before or after, which says a lot for me. Anyway, the theme for my instructional unit is about memory and the profound effect is has on the self. Tonight was funy because the lesson was centered around "Cry in the Sun." Yay, BTE! One of the already-teachers in my group and I bonded over the band and "This Time of Year."

I have a question. What is it about guys doing their teaching demonstrations and saying German words with the appropriate accent that gets me every time? It's happened twice, and I looove it.

Well, I think I'm going to work on my unit plans. I need to get them knocked out because, sometime between now and next Friday, I have to write two research papers. I'm not looking forward to that. As the person who always says, "I like the English better than the education," I'm going to savor the few moments that the reverse is true.

wake up dead

I guess it's allergies. Whatever it may be is killing me. I can't breathe. The doctor at health services said he couldn't "hear any asthma." What on earth? I'm hearing noises coming from respiratory system that, at first, I don't realize I'm making. "What's that exasperated rattly whir that sounds like my laptop when it's intending to explode? Oh, yes. That's me." Consciousness is a bit difficult to maintain since my nose is useless for breathing and my bronchial tubes are closed. There's no detour for air.

I did get prescriptions. A new inhaler so I don't have to suck on an expired one. And Singulair. I'm not sure if I can discern any improvement after taking those medications. I am, however, shaky, nervous, and discombobulated.

I also managed to sleep about nine or ten hours last night. I was so exhausted by 8:00 that I had to go to bed. That was kind of nice. But I wasn't so sure that I was going to be smart enough to sleep and breathe at the same time. Apparently, I did okay.

Hope you all are having good days.

to do, to do

I registered for classes this morning. At 7:35. You know, that is a weird feeling. 'Cause you know the RacerTouch lines opened up for me at 5:00 am. I just happened to wake up with a start at that time this morning. I didn't realize I could've scheduled because I'd already planned on scheduling once I got to work. I might be wrong, but I think it's the first time I didn't call as soon as the lines opened. And I got right through. I didn't even hear the "Welcome to RacerTouch. Please hold for the next available line. --acerTouch. Please hold for the next available line. Welcome to RacerTouch please hold for the ne--" guy. But, oh, how his mantra will forever be emblazoned on my memory. Anyway, I'm moving on back to the fifteen hours next semester. It's history of the English language, world literature, teaching literation, intro to fiction, and Spanish 301.

It yet another no-class Thursday. We cancelled teaching writing so much that I don't have a clue what's going on in there. I do know that I have a unit plan and a portfolio due in there by the end of the semester. I also have a unit plan to do for teaching reading. And I have two research papers--one for women's lit and one for advanced comp. I also have a poster presentation in Spanish to be preparing for. I am tired of school.

Thirteen millions things to do, and I'm not sure which one to start with. I also have a philosophy post due tomorrow that I need to work on. And I need to fill out some crap for KIIS. (I thought I was through filling out stuff.) My study abroad orientation is at UK this weekend. I need some driving directions.

And of all people, the crazy lady just walked in.

fifteen minutes of fame in the refrigerated section

I'll have you know that I am officially cooler today than I was yesterday. That's what the Jones Soda Co. people said, anyway. Wanna know why? Because I am now famous. My riverfront chain photo has been chosen for a Cream Soda label. (It's the eighth from the top on the far right.) They sent me ten copies of the label, which is rather nice. I've been all over town looking for a bottle with my photo slapped on it. From what I could tell, the BP, the Citgo, the Pocket Shell, Movie World, nor Fast Track had it. But it's kinda hard to shuffle through roughly thirty glass bottles that are squeezed into sloped corrals without breaking the bottles, blocking the refrigerator for ten minutes, and letting all the cool air out before the cashier kicks you out of the store. But I tell you what. Why don't you keep an eye out for it, and if you find some, buy them out. I'll pay you back. They also sell Jones in the T-Room, by the way.

Despite the rain and despite the coming stress, it's been a rather okay day. Thank you, Jones Soda Co. Thank you, half.com seller from whom I bought Surprised by Joy. Thank you, KIIS people who finally put up my course syllabus for this summer. Thank you, Philosophy 201 for the 99 on the test.

stupid english

Oh. My. Gosh. I do not want to revise my BarbCobb paper. Just thinking about it makes me mad. It is a dang good paper with a dang good argument. Okay, so maybe it's not that good, but it sure doesn't deserve the hatin' BC gave it. This isn't just a revision she's wanting this time. The one time I think my argument is sound, she wants me to start all over again! The nerve...

So I got my bike today. I'm not so sure it's not a dude's. And who knew that riding a bike is only so much fun in the memories? Yeah, it kinda hurts. I'm gonna have to do some conditioning before I make my big campus debut. Till then, I'll just keep whirling around in the parking lot and chickening out when I get to the stop sign at Poplar.

I bought another pair of flip flops at WalMart. I'm coercing my White Stage ones into being comfortable. We're getting there. But I went ahead and got some Sand N Sun jobs to make do. They have red thongs. I wanted black. Oh, well. They didn't have them.

I'm really tired. It's midnight. I am so tempted to just not do the paper, and come into class saying I'll have it on Wednesday. But I don't need to do that. I have way too many other things to be worrying about. Putting this paper off will not help at all. What I'll probably do is a really crappy revision of what I've got. I'll not succumb to her torturous comments. And then she'll hand it back to me for another revision. Stupid English major.