mood: sleepy
listening to: the hum of the computer


I love my early work schedule, but loathe it when my body being set so early keeps me from sleeping in on the weekend. I also couldn't turn my mind off...I kept thinking about the reunion booklet entry I had to get in to our class reunion committee by today. So, I've been up writing that, chatting with m0ri-san, setting the table for dinner tonight, and putting away dishes from the dishwasher.

While checking my gmail, I did receive an email that Cavender's is having a big sale through the 10th. Yippee! I have been wanting to order from there, and I can get one of Dad's Christmas pressies knocked out, too. :) I already found something for Mom a couple of months ago and stashed it away. I also have something picked out for D's mom...just need to order it after payday.

Now...for some shoutouts:

Corrin - have a good time this weekend and give Ollie pets from Auntie Smegs :)
Traci - welcome to the blog! feel free to comment on anything, Lady!
Ken - your bday card will be in the mail before the weekend is over.
Ari - looking forward to gourging on your world-famous spinach artichoke dip tonite!
m0ri-san - thank you for keeping me entertained so early on a Sat. morning ;)

Labels: shopping

mood: amused
listening to: Complainte De La Butte - Rufus Wainwright (Moulin Rouge soundtrack)

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn't make sense. NO CHEATING!

Will you get far in life?
Love Me Tomorrow - Chicago Soundtrack

How do your friends see you?
Go the Distance - Hercules Soundtrack

Will you get married?
Mamma Mia - Abba

What is your best friend's theme song?
Call Me - Blondie

What is the story of your life?
Speak Low - Billie Holiday

What was high school like?
Tank! - Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack

How can you get ahead in life?
Centerfold - J. Geils Band

What is the best thing about your friends?
We Built This City - Starship

What is today going to be like?
I've Been Thinking About You - London Beat

What is in store this weekend?
That's All - Michael Bublé

What song describes you?
When I See You Smile - Bad English

What song describes your grandparents?
Sad Lovers Song - Two Tons of Steel

How is your life going now?
Maude (theme song) - TeeVee Toons

What song would they play at your funeral?
Anything For Love - Meatloaf

How does the world see you?
What Is Love - Haddaway

Will you have a happy life?
Charade - Harry Connick, Jr.

What do your friends really think of you?
You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth - Meatloaf

Do people secretly lust after you?
Ruins - Melissa Ethridge

How can I make myself happy?
Sanford & Son theme song - Teevee Toons

What should I do with my life?
Complainte De La Butte - Rufus Wainwright (Moulin Rouge soundtrack)

Will you ever have children?
Rise to the Occasion - Climie Fisher

I heard this story on JB&Sandy this morning. Looks like it happened a few weeks ago, but it just really got under my skin. I mean, heaven forbid our children be exposed to art...whether or not nudity is involved. It's not like she took a kindergarten class...they were fifth graders! When I was in fifth grade this would not have been an issue. Would we have giggled about the nude statues? Sure! Would we have gone home complaining to our parents about it? No! Would our parents have allowed us to go to an art museum if they had concerns about such things? No! That's what permission slips are for!

from the Dallas Morning News

Teacher: Reprisals began after field trip

Frisco ISD: 5th-graders saw nude art; board supports principal

07:38 AM CDT on Thursday, August 24, 2006

By KAREN AYRES / The Dallas Morning News

FRISCO – A veteran Frisco art teacher says school administrators have retaliated against her because a student reportedly saw a nude sculpture during a field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art.

District officials say they are supporting a principal who reprimanded Sydney McGee over the field trip and other performance issues.

At Ms. McGee's request, the situation was aired in public during a school board meeting Monday.

The school board rejected a request that would have allowed Ms. McGee to transfer to another school.

Ms. McGee told the board that the principal of Fisher Elementary School criticized her performance and threatened her job after a parent complained about the April field trip.

Ms. McGee's attorney, Daniel Ortiz, said she didn't receive any negative reports until shortly after the field trip.

"This case is about censorship. ... It's about retaliation front and center," Mr. Ortiz told the board.

Ms. McGee, who has taught in various Texas districts for 28 years, said she visited the museum and spoke with museum staffers before the trip to ensure that it was appropriate for the fifth-grade class. Ms. McGee said she does not know which piece of art offended the parent, and the district did not identify it.

Ms. McGee said principal Nancy Lawson called her into a meeting the day after the trip to admonish her about the parent's complaint. Shortly thereafter, she received a negative review and a series of directives about displaying student artwork and creating lesson plans.

"You have to start somewhere when you've seen things you don't believe are in the best interest of the students," Superintendent Rick Reedy said.

In a memo to Ms. McGee, Ms. Lawson wrote that students were exposed to nude statues and other nude art representations during the trip. Ms. Lawson said she received complaints from parents and other teachers about the trip.

Ms. McGee said Monday that she was afraid of being fired. Ms. Lawson told the board that she planned to have Ms. McGee return to Fisher this fall.

Ms. McGee said she sought to resolve the issue by requesting a transfer.

"There was such hostility, I didn't feel like that was a good environment," she said.

That grievance and another transfer request were rejected by administrators. The school board unanimously upheld those decisions Monday night.

Some board members said it appeared that Ms. Lawson was trying to improve the art teacher's performance and should be allowed to do so.

"It is a principal's job and their duty and responsibility to give directives to the people who work for them, and I don't want to circumvent that process," board president Buddy Minett said.

Board members said there were other performance issues in question beyond the trip complaint.

But Ms. McGee and her attorney said there is a clear connection.

"She made a great effort to see to it that the April 26 field trip was in fact a big success," Mr. Ortiz said. "Apparently one parent complained, and that changed Sydney's work."

mood: sleepy
listening to: JB&Sandy


Mr. PicassoHead

also of interest:
Calling All Bloggers: Things to Eat Before You Die?

edit:
I created my own Mr. PicassoHead :)

mood: fair
listening to: nothing...forgot my iPod :p



Why I haven't been posting (for those interested):

Dustin's grandmother took very ill and passed away at the beginning of the month. We had to make several trips to New Braunfels, of course, and that left no time for online diversions.

Work has been INSANELY busy. I have not even had time during lunch to post or read personal emails. After getting home I was too exhausted to even turn on the computer.

Things going on with our house: We have been trying to schedule our new floor being put in, running deposits to the flooring place, etc (it is definately Oct. 12 & 13th now, though :)). We also have a continuing issue with some of the plumbing in our house. I'll spare you the details, let's just say it ain't pretty. We had to move in new furniture to the front bedrooms that D's mom passed down from Oma. Also had to replace the windshield wiper control on my truck. That was minor, but on top of everything else, it was overwhelming.

As if that were not enough, I have had HORRIBLE allergies for the past 2+ weeks. The worst I have had since starting my allergy shots. Like, I can't function at night when I get home and I had to take off a day and a half of work bad. I seem to be better today, so maybe the change in weather has removed some of the offenders. :p (yay almost-fall weather, btw!)

A few notes on everyone else's journals:

Cary - Thanks for your inspiring words about Ann Richards. Also glad you made it back from your trip safely.

Erwina - Woman...you had a LOT of posts for me to catch up on! :) The horsies look faboo, though, and I can't wait to see you guys in November. You and A-man should stay over the night D and K go hunting. :) We have plenty of room for you guys now.

Ari - I am so sorry you are still not feeling well, chica. Hope you are better for Thursday night, though. Heck...I hope I am! :)

Corrin - Super big huge congrats on your weightloss. :)

Final notes:

Juls - So glad you made it back from Ireland. I go crazy when you aren't here for me to chat with at work. *smooch*

Ken - If you are stopping by to read this...I am glad we are back in touch. *hugs*