Just one bite of a donut is enough

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Sometimes we need to eat something we don't like, to remind ourselves we don't like it.

DH loves donuts - sometimes I think I'm married to Homer Simpson, he does the same "uuuuuuhhhhhhhhh, DOOOOOOOOOOOOOnuts" and practically drools all over himself. (Really!)

So today, at brunch, after his eggs and bagel and home fries, he got what he calls a cruller, but really is just a stick of donut - chunk of dough rolled long, fried, covered in glaze. He always offers me a bite.

Today, it just looked good. I know I don't need a donut, I'd eaten (eggs and multigrain roll and half an order of home fries) - but it just looked good.

So I took a bite. And all I tasted was grease, days old grease, permeating the whole thing. YUCK!!!!!!

I remembered why I don't like donuts. I don't taste dough, or sugar - all I taste is the grease. Not even butter, just old grease that probably could lubricate a fleet of cars.

BLEAH!

Anyway, I won't be tasting one of those again for a long long time.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PHEBESS 3/7/2010 10:20AM

Home-made jelly donuts for Chanukah are wonderful and the way donuts should be - crisp outside, soft and sweet on the inside, filled with raspberry jam (my fave). And I remember French crullers as a kid - round like a donut, fluted outside, and a lighter dough so they just melt in your mouth. I have no idea how to make them or where to buy them, thankfully!!! But the donuts we get here - gross! Totally rancid tasting! I really don't know how DH manages to eat them!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SAPNA. 3/7/2010 4:46AM

I am still trying to get off the 4 pounds I gained eating doughnuts on Chanucah. I will never eat another one again as long as I live. Report Inappropriate Comment

SECRETFUN 3/6/2010 9:20PM

Only donuts I ever crave: the old Shipley's chocolate filled chocolate frosting (now they are gross if even available) and the chocolate frosted Spudnuts in C'ville (potato donuts and wonderful while even kind of healthy; place looks like a shack about the fall down). Never was a big crueler fan. Report Inappropriate Comment

WATERMELLEN 3/6/2010 5:37PM

I don't do donuts: to me, they DO taste rancid!! (Thank goodness). Report Inappropriate Comment

MILLISMA 3/6/2010 4:50PM

That is so true and every time I forget and try a bite, I taste is for hours after. Must be the fat that it's fried in. I even know what a cruller is! Never thought of it as a donut stick. Mary Anne Comment edited on: 3/6/2010 4:52:05 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

Pretending I'm a college student again

Friday, March 05, 2010

I've been working on the paperwork for the summer class I'll be attending. I had to sign a Code of Conduct, a Hold Harmless Agreement, get a doctor to sign paperwork saying I'm mentally healthy and can handle living overseas for a month (duh, I LIVE overseas!), all kinds of stuff. Each form has room for parents/guardians to sign if the student is under 18 yrs of age.

It seems so unreal. I've attended various programs overseas, for college credit - never did I have to go through all this paperwork.

Makes me wonder what I'm getting myself into!!!!!!!

On the other hand, the staff at the college were very helpful when I explained via email that most insurance companies are unable to sell insurance in the VI unless they are registered as a business here, and that this complicated the air evacuation and repatriation insurance they required - so my contact emailed her risk management officer, who contacted legal, who contacted an insurance company, who said they'd cover me. I'm keeping a copy of the email, since I had to use my father's address in order to do this online - they don't include VI as a state in their menu.

What a hassle. Good thing this is the last class I need to renew my certification - by the time I need another renewal, I'll be retiring.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WATERMELLEN 3/6/2010 5:38PM

And . . . . it's going to ge such a great class!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MILLISMA 3/5/2010 11:08PM

I'm laughing but it's sad what you have to go through. Good thing you won't have to do it again!!! Mary Anne Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 3/5/2010 7:47PM

Yeah, DH said it's all about preventing lawsuits and covering their tushes. Liability and risk management. That stuff. Report Inappropriate Comment

JLPNURSE 3/5/2010 2:34PM

They must have had someone sue them or something Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 3/5/2010 11:14AM

Trust me, I'll photocopy every document for DH to hold while I'm gone. I finally managed to get the insurance, dr visit - we're just waiting for the blood test showing I've had measles and mumps. (Dr asked if I'd had the vaccine - uh, no, I'm your age, it wasn't around when we were kids. We both laughed at that.) Report Inappropriate Comment

MSSNOWY 3/5/2010 10:39AM

Ah, the joys of bureaucracy. I've been dealing with medicare for my mother -- another amazing bunch of rules and regs and do this, not that, but only on every other Wednesday and only when the moon is in its last quarter. Sheesh. Have fun in your class! Report Inappropriate Comment

SAPNA. 3/5/2010 10:38AM

It all seems very complicated and time consuming. better make 2 copies of everything just in case. lol. Report Inappropriate Comment

Award Day at school

Thursday, March 04, 2010

As part of the Positive Behavior program, we make a big deal about students who do the right thing. So we have quarterly award programs to recognize honor roll students, perfect attendance, most improved grades, spelling bee and math counts students, etc.

Today, honor roll students were allowed to wear "business attire" instead of the school uniform - kids showed up in suits (boys and girls), slacks and nice shirts, a few dresses, and generally looked very nice. (Two boys were in mini-tuxes, which were very funny.) Most teachers took it seriously and dressed a little nicer than usual - I wore black pants and a black blazer trimmed with beige. (As an art teacher, I tend to dress down since we work with messy stuff.)

The cheerleaders created a cheer - "Today, today, today is award day" and something about "read read read and test test test" - it was funny.

We also had musical selections, a very motivational speech by the former assistant principal (and husband of my BFF), all the usual stuff. Plus parents of honor roll students were invited to attend, so we had a good showing of them, taking pictures, all proud of their kids.

My morning class was either in band/steel band, or on the honor roll - so everyone showed up dressed up. Some felt their outfits were a little too casual, so we had a discussion about what clothing is appropriate for what kind of job - that how you dress as a hairdresser is different than if you own a clothing business, which is different than if you're a judge. I pointed out that I dress down to work with art materials, but today I was dressed as if I was getting a teaching award from the President. I also made them line up in a certain order when we entered the auditorium, explaining that we were making a fashion statement and we wanted to present a cohesive line of clothing. (We all were in black or grey, with touches of white, red, or yellow - it was funny how cohesive we really were.) As art kids, they all totally understood - which also was kind of funny.

The kids even have a nicer-than-usual lunch - turkey, peas and rice, salad bar - and they get to serve themselves instead of walking with a tray that the cafeteria staff plop blobs of food onto.

All in all, a nice morning!!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MILLISMA 3/4/2010 10:20PM

That is such a great idea. I'm sure they all enjoyed being able to dress up and not to have to wear the uniform. Wonderful motivation for the kids. Mary Anne Report Inappropriate Comment

AIDELADE27 3/4/2010 1:53PM

That's so great for the kids! Dressing up and showing that doing to right thing is a big deal is such a motivator to keep staying in school and doing to right thing. And little kids dressed up is always so cute Report Inappropriate Comment

SAPNA. 3/4/2010 12:16PM

Sounds like a really good way to get the children to enjoy their studies more. Also dressing up nicely must give them a feeling of self worth. having a good lunch must be the icing on the cake for these kids. School dinners as I remember it were just awful. Getting an edible meal must be a real treat. Report Inappropriate Comment

MSSNOWY 3/4/2010 11:45AM

Awards day sounds like a great thing -- and how neat that you were able to use marching in to make a fashion statement! I've just had a similar discussion about dressing appropriately for work with my daughter who was annoyed that her higher-up was quibbling about what she wore to work (sweats) because she is a trainer and has to teach students how to do physical tests to determine injuries (for example, on her own shoulder) -- which she can't do in a shirt and blazer. And she gets better results with them understanding if she is the person they work on. She pointed this out to the higher-up but it fell on deaf ears. Too bad, as it is absolutely appropriate for the job in question. Report Inappropriate Comment

NAVYGIRLTAM 3/4/2010 11:33AM

Awww what a great thing for the kids. It is funny how all the artsy folks (who tend to be individualistic as possible) dressed similar. Report Inappropriate Comment

I made two students Switzerland

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

My second class comes to me mostly from music, and the largest group comes from steel pan class. Two of the boys never seem to get along, and today they arrived ready to hit each other, they were cussing each others mothers (the worst insult here), on and on. I grabbed the bigger boy, T, and sent him down the corridor to walk it off. When he came back, I sent the other boy, I, out to walk while I talked to T and got his side of the story. We talked, I told him to pretend I is a ghost, but that I'd talk to I. When boy I returned, and had him tell me his side. (He ended up in tears, he's one of those kind of slow and chubby kids who just gets picked on, and he retaliates by picking on people and insulting them before anything even happens.) We talked, I got him calmed down, said I know he gets picked on but I wouldn't let anyone pick on him in my classroom.

Then I called my twins over, J1 and J2. I explained that Switzerland has always been a neutral country, and doesn't get involved in other countries' wars. I asked if they were willing to be like Switzerland - J1 would walk to class with T, J2 would walk to class with I - their job was to keep the two apart and not talking to each other, so they wouldn't get mad and start insulting and fighting and all. The twins are very well-behaved, bright, reasonable guys - and they liked the idea of being Switzerland, so they laughed and readily agreed.

So we'll see how it goes for a few days. Otherwise I'll have to set up "restraining orders" - I tell the two arguing students they HAVE to stay 6 floor tiles away from each other at all times. They like this, plus learn something about the legal system.

But I kind of liked making the guys Switzerland.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PHEBESS 3/7/2010 9:41AM

That's a lotta luck, LOL! Report Inappropriate Comment

SECRETFUN 3/6/2010 9:17PM

Awesome! And good luck to the lot of them and you! Report Inappropriate Comment

SECRETFUN 3/6/2010 9:17PM

Awesome! And good luck to the lot of them and you! Report Inappropriate Comment

SECRETFUN 3/6/2010 9:17PM

Awesome! And good luck to the lot of them and you! Report Inappropriate Comment

SECRETFUN 3/6/2010 9:16PM

Awesome! And good luck to the lot of them and you! Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 3/3/2010 8:13PM

Hey, you grow up with 3 younger brothers, you learn to do crazy things as discipline. Sometimes the crazier the better! Report Inappropriate Comment

JLPNURSE 3/3/2010 7:49PM

You are very creative with your classroom discipline. LOVE IT Report Inappropriate Comment

MILLISMA 3/3/2010 4:57PM

That is such a fantastic idea. Hope it works for you. Mary Anne Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 3/3/2010 3:53PM

LOL Myrna!!!! I was the family counselor when I was a kid, I think that's where I got my practice! Report Inappropriate Comment

SAPNA. 3/3/2010 3:32PM

You are a born diplomat. You could even be a hostage negotiator. Have you ever thought of that as an alternative profession.? Report Inappropriate Comment

THOMS1 3/3/2010 9:15AM

You must be a great teacher. The world needs more like you. Thank you! Report Inappropriate Comment

March is Women's History Month

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

I had a few of my students help me take down the bulletin board featuring African American artists for Black History Month (February).

Then we sorted through my "know the artist" posters and pulled out all the women artists, and will put these up for March. I told the students that March was Women's History Month, so we'll feature women artists.

So one kid says, "When is Men's History Month?"

I looked at him and said "The other ten months of the year."

I don't think he caught the irony and sarcasm.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MILLISMA 3/2/2010 10:19PM

I loved your comment! He will get it some day. I think what you're doing is great. Can I attend your class? Mary Anne Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 3/2/2010 11:36AM

Posters are of these women artists: Berthe Morisot (one of my faves) Mary Cassatt Helen Frankenthaler Frida Kahlo Georgia O'Keefe Deborah Butterfield Betty Woodman Sandy Skoglund Louise Nevelson Alexandra Nechita Janet Fish Lois Mailou Jones There are a lot of others not covered in the posters I have (it's a series of about 70 posters) - and no one has much on the women artists of the Renaissance, such as Artemesia Gentileschi, who was wonderful! What amazes me is that our social studies teachers will teach about the fact that African Americans couldn't vote until 19-whatever, with the 16th (or so) amendment - leaving out the fact that WOMEN OF ANY COLOR couldn't vote until about 20 yrs after that (with the 18th or 19th amendment) - I'm bad at the actual dates, but I do know that black men had the vote a full generation before any woman in the USA was allowed to vote. And over half our social studies teachers are women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JLPNURSE 3/2/2010 11:20AM

Maybe you can explain it to him a little. That traditional history has left out the accomplishments of women and people of color. Or maybe it will sink in eventually. BTW, I love the stories of your kids. They are so interesting. Report Inappropriate Comment

SAPNA. 3/2/2010 11:18AM

Can you post the list here please if there is room. Very interesting. Report Inappropriate Comment