I went to bed at 9:30pm.
I haven't gone to bed before 10pm since before I was in college. I woke up today having had 9 hours of sleep (with a few minutes awake at 3am, since my body couldn't FATHOM that I might actually get that much sleep on a school night).
I'm not sure if this will be feasible on a regular basis, especially once Grad School starts up again (which I am dreading), but I think If I can will myself to do go to bed early every so often it will do me lots of good.
I have no bags under my eyes, my first class when great, I feel refreshed.
Try it sometime -- unless you already do -- in which case, tell me how to do it more often.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Old Friends
Last night I went and saw a friend who was in NYC over her school break. She's now a 7th Grade math teacher out in Watts/Gompers in Los Angeles. While the stories she told about her kids -- good, bad, sad, humorous -- were even beyond most things I've experienced while teaching, that is not what I noticed most about the night.
Last night the people that had gathered to see their friend who was in town were from many different points in her life: Middle school/High school (me), college, and teaching. Yet, each one of those people seemed to have a snapshot of her life as what they knew about her -- even if they had heard a few stories over time, or kept in touch sporadically after our closest years, as I have with her.
I learned from listening to others about her college years, which in reality are all but left out of my experiences with her, and paid close attention to how things are going in her first year of teaching -- especially in comparison to mine. I think its a good thing in some sense that a person can often times be a new person as they move through life into different places -- even if they are not really "new," just placed into different settings, different environments.
Its Friday at school, and thus a much needed Test Day. Good luck students.
Last night the people that had gathered to see their friend who was in town were from many different points in her life: Middle school/High school (me), college, and teaching. Yet, each one of those people seemed to have a snapshot of her life as what they knew about her -- even if they had heard a few stories over time, or kept in touch sporadically after our closest years, as I have with her.
I learned from listening to others about her college years, which in reality are all but left out of my experiences with her, and paid close attention to how things are going in her first year of teaching -- especially in comparison to mine. I think its a good thing in some sense that a person can often times be a new person as they move through life into different places -- even if they are not really "new," just placed into different settings, different environments.
Its Friday at school, and thus a much needed Test Day. Good luck students.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Pub Trivia
Pub Trivia is a phenomenally-odd thing.
One thing that my closest friends know is that I love trivia. I love the idea that I can attempt to show off how much useless information I know, as well as sit around and have a drink with all my other friends who are there for the very same reason.
Every time I know the answer to a question, or hear someone else's explanation to how they know the question, it never fails to amaze me at how little of it we know from our formal educations. In most cases, there is a story, or a scene which can explain how you know the answer -- rarely was it in classroom or a lecture hall.
Maybe it was my inspiration of seeing Slumdog Millionaire, or continuous attempts to as people if when they were younger they read the book A View From Saturday (which you all should at some point), but I think its a really important point to make that most of what we know comes from life as an experience.
Go. Get out there. Learn something today that will be useful useless-knowledge the first time you choose to attend pub trivia.
One thing that my closest friends know is that I love trivia. I love the idea that I can attempt to show off how much useless information I know, as well as sit around and have a drink with all my other friends who are there for the very same reason.
Every time I know the answer to a question, or hear someone else's explanation to how they know the question, it never fails to amaze me at how little of it we know from our formal educations. In most cases, there is a story, or a scene which can explain how you know the answer -- rarely was it in classroom or a lecture hall.
Maybe it was my inspiration of seeing Slumdog Millionaire, or continuous attempts to as people if when they were younger they read the book A View From Saturday (which you all should at some point), but I think its a really important point to make that most of what we know comes from life as an experience.
Go. Get out there. Learn something today that will be useful useless-knowledge the first time you choose to attend pub trivia.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
My Date With A Special Investigator
I walked into Starbucks at 4pm.
I had planned to meet him at 4:30. He said he's be wearing a suit; sure enough he was.
We both got there a half-hour early. I had been secretly (and not so secretly) excited about it all day. I was going to get to talk to a special investigator! Kinda movie-like, right?
I grabbed a Blackberry Fizzy drink -- I think that's what they are called. I've actually never bought a drink at Starbucks from the refrigerator, I always get something fresh from the bar. I guess was was feeling like trying something new. I mean I was about to be interrogated, right?
We sat down. He flashed his badge. HE FLASHED HIS BADGE. He had a badge. I don't know anyone who has a badge (well I guess police officers, but I don't know any, and I don't think their badge is as cool).
As we sat there for about 45 minutes, we discussed a friend who was applying for a job with a security clearance, and so I basically was quizzed about his entire life, and my involvement in his life. Questions stemmed from how I knew him, when I lived with him and how often I talk about him...to the REALLY fun ones, and ones I nearly burst out laughing during, which included, "Have you ever known this person to have forcibly attempted to overthrow the United States Government?" I also had to confirm that, to my knowledge, he loves his country. Which he does, I assure you.
While this was happening, people in the Starbucks continuously looked over at us in confusion, trying to understand what this conversation was about, and why I was trying to create a time-line of events, as well as why the man across from me cared about someones allegiances to the United States. Although the answer to those questions are not too excited, since it was really just a formal background check, I'd like to think that the people in the Starbucks thought that I was someone exciting, important and maybe even slightly in trouble with the Law.
That would be cool, right? Oh well.
I had planned to meet him at 4:30. He said he's be wearing a suit; sure enough he was.
We both got there a half-hour early. I had been secretly (and not so secretly) excited about it all day. I was going to get to talk to a special investigator! Kinda movie-like, right?
I grabbed a Blackberry Fizzy drink -- I think that's what they are called. I've actually never bought a drink at Starbucks from the refrigerator, I always get something fresh from the bar. I guess was was feeling like trying something new. I mean I was about to be interrogated, right?
We sat down. He flashed his badge. HE FLASHED HIS BADGE. He had a badge. I don't know anyone who has a badge (well I guess police officers, but I don't know any, and I don't think their badge is as cool).
As we sat there for about 45 minutes, we discussed a friend who was applying for a job with a security clearance, and so I basically was quizzed about his entire life, and my involvement in his life. Questions stemmed from how I knew him, when I lived with him and how often I talk about him...to the REALLY fun ones, and ones I nearly burst out laughing during, which included, "Have you ever known this person to have forcibly attempted to overthrow the United States Government?" I also had to confirm that, to my knowledge, he loves his country. Which he does, I assure you.
While this was happening, people in the Starbucks continuously looked over at us in confusion, trying to understand what this conversation was about, and why I was trying to create a time-line of events, as well as why the man across from me cared about someones allegiances to the United States. Although the answer to those questions are not too excited, since it was really just a formal background check, I'd like to think that the people in the Starbucks thought that I was someone exciting, important and maybe even slightly in trouble with the Law.
That would be cool, right? Oh well.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Back to School
Today, break ended.
I went back to school. It's amazing how as a teacher your anxieties are essentially the same as when you were a student: Fidgety; Unable to fall asleep; Putting off going to sleep since you know you'll be unable to fall asleep; Playing out different scenarios in your head; Wondering if everything you did up until then will be moot.
I finally fell asleep, of course after reading a few political articles. A few about Gaza (none of which I've found say anything new or unexpected anymore), one on public service (which is a must read...
I went back to school. It's amazing how as a teacher your anxieties are essentially the same as when you were a student: Fidgety; Unable to fall asleep; Putting off going to sleep since you know you'll be unable to fall asleep; Playing out different scenarios in your head; Wondering if everything you did up until then will be moot.
I finally fell asleep, of course after reading a few political articles. A few about Gaza (none of which I've found say anything new or unexpected anymore), one on public service (which is a must read...
http://www.newsweek.com/id/177725/page/1 )
I'm not quite sure what it is that makes me fall asleep. I've started to wonder if I fall asleep or wake up in the same position every night/morning. I think I might do a study...you know, mark down exactly how I am when I get up, kinda like a crime scene. Maybe I'll have chalk marks all over my bed, but who cares. If I can figure out the secret to sleeping the night before something big, it'll be worth it, right?
Another note: I walked into my classroom today while there was another teacher in there, in the middle of teaching. She proceeded to stop to tell me that she liked my sweater and that she got one exactly like it from Old Navy (where mine is from) for each of her nephews. Mind you, this entire 2-3 minute ordeal was done right in front of the class--underscoring of course how young I am, since I'm like her nephew, she said to them. Thanks.
I'm not quite sure what it is that makes me fall asleep. I've started to wonder if I fall asleep or wake up in the same position every night/morning. I think I might do a study...you know, mark down exactly how I am when I get up, kinda like a crime scene. Maybe I'll have chalk marks all over my bed, but who cares. If I can figure out the secret to sleeping the night before something big, it'll be worth it, right?
Another note: I walked into my classroom today while there was another teacher in there, in the middle of teaching. She proceeded to stop to tell me that she liked my sweater and that she got one exactly like it from Old Navy (where mine is from) for each of her nephews. Mind you, this entire 2-3 minute ordeal was done right in front of the class--underscoring of course how young I am, since I'm like her nephew, she said to them. Thanks.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Never Ending Hanukkah Celebrations
I had my final (I think) Hanukkah Celebration for Chanukkah '08, although admittedly, it occurred in 2009.
One thing that my family has never been able to do is have Hanukkah parties during Hannukah. The intention is always there. The e-mails go out, the family members respond -- each with their own reason as to why having a party during Hanukkah won't work. Sometimes the reasons are legit, such as that they are college students still at school...or...that they are off in some exotic country on a family vacation. I accept that.
However, is it really all that hard to find ONE day during an EIGHT night holiday to all get together? I mean, If I didn't know better, I would think that the reason for Hanukkah being an eight night holiday is because knowing that, as a people, Jews have a tendency to be late, that with eight days we'd be sure to be able to all find time to get together.
Maybe next year it'll work out, right?
One thing that my family has never been able to do is have Hanukkah parties during Hannukah. The intention is always there. The e-mails go out, the family members respond -- each with their own reason as to why having a party during Hanukkah won't work. Sometimes the reasons are legit, such as that they are college students still at school...or...that they are off in some exotic country on a family vacation. I accept that.
However, is it really all that hard to find ONE day during an EIGHT night holiday to all get together? I mean, If I didn't know better, I would think that the reason for Hanukkah being an eight night holiday is because knowing that, as a people, Jews have a tendency to be late, that with eight days we'd be sure to be able to all find time to get together.
Maybe next year it'll work out, right?
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