The other day I had a dream that I showed up to sub in the life skills class, and not only that school’s life skills class, but another school’s life skills class was there, too, and none of the teacher’s assistants were there, so I was trying to wrangle twenty mentally and physically handicapped children all by myself, and things were getting out-of-control. I woke up and was happy it was just a dream. Anyway, when I showed up for work that day, none of the teacher’s assistants were there, and I really did end up wrangling some kids, but luckily there were only six of ‘em. After about twenty minutes one of the assistants showed up and then later the other one showed up, so things ended up working out fine. It was actually a pretty fun day.
The rest of the week I subbed for a Latin class and just showed movies, so that was pretty boring by comparison.
02/25/2003:
School was canceled today, because of ice on the roads, and it’s a good thing, because I think I may have a cold or something. I did a lot of sleeping and lounging around the house. In the evening Somer thought it would be a good idea to go to the grocery store, because no one would be there, but instead it was hoppin’. I even saw one of my students, but luckily she didn’t see me, ‘cause I didn’t shower today, and I’m really haggard looking from feeling sick and sleeping so much.
02/24/2003:
I had another relaxed weekend. I slept a lot as usual. I need to sleep more during the week, so I won’t sleep so much on the weekend. Anyway, the biggest thing that happened was that I tuned the ol’ gee-tar to open G and played many a jig.
Today I subbed for a PE teacher who has one math class at the end of the day. The teacher didn’t leave me any instructions or an assignment for the students, so I spent all my free time hunting for lesson plans and asking other math teachers what they thought I should do. One of the teachers was nice enough to give me some worksheets, so I ran them off and had the students do ‘em after I gave a little lesson. All day other teachers had been warning me that the kids were rowdy, and I guess they could’ve been, but somehow I managed to keep ‘em working for most of the period, and most of ‘em actually seemed to be learning a little.
02/20/2003:
I finished that ESL assignment today. I cracked the kids up when I tried to speak Spanish. They couldn’t get enough of it. Then they tried to get me to say obscene things in Spanish thinking I wouldn’t know what I was saying, but I told ‘em I couldn't be played like that, and they needed to watch their language! They thought that was even funnier.
02/19/2003:
I’m working a three-day assignment in an ESL class, and the kids are wearing me out! The language barrier can make it kind of tough, but we can usually work it out between my broken Spanish and their broken English. Actually there are a few students who are almost fluent, and they help me a lot. The coolest thing is that I get to teach a bunch of different subjects. Usually I’m either a math or a science or an English teacher, but for this class I get to teach English, Geography, Science and History, which makes it more fun for me. Also instead of just giving the kids a bunch of busy-work, I’m actually getting to give short lectures, lead discussion, play games and make kids go up to the dreaded chalkboard to share their work with the rest of the class. It’s almost like being a real teacher...maybe.
02/17/2003:
I had the day off today. I didn’t sleep in too late, so I was able to get some stuff done. I’m trying to improve the look of this website. I don’t know. Maybe it’s getting better.
Somer started her new job today, and she says she likes it so far. I made her tacos for dinner and she liked it, so I felt good about that.
I just got back from the bank, which is too far away, but I’ve been putting off, so I got it over with. Now I’m going to work on this website some more. Peace!
02/16/2003:
I slept way too much today.
02/15/2003:
I watched La Strada today. The last time I saw it I didn’t like it very much, but this time I loved it! It’s weird to me that my taste can change so much, but I guess it makes sense, because as I gain experience points in life my perspective on things will change.
02/13/2003:
I was able to fall asleep last night, so it’s all-good.
This morning I woke up a little early, so I could get to school a little early, and it’s a good thing I did, because Somer’s car wouldn’t start, so we tried jumping it, but that didn’t work. She dropped me off at school and drove my car to work. I made it to the classroom just seconds before the bell rang to let the students into the building.
Luckily it turned out that Somer’s car was just out of gas, so she bought a gas-can, filled it up and took it back to her car at the house. So in the end, everything worked out, except now my car smells like gasoline.
Somer left for the Metroplex today in order to go to her niece’s birthday party on Friday and her sister’s baby shower on Sunday, so I’ll be going it alone on Valentine’s Day. Well, not really, since I’m working in the life skills class tomorrow, and I’ve been told we’ll have a little Valentine’s Day party, so that’ll be fun. Maybe I’ll get some cute scribbled valentines I can put on my refrigerator.
Right now I’m listening to some kick-ass Elf Power, and soon I’ll be in bed reading, until I fall asleep.
02/12/2003:
I spent another day subbing for the math class. Today was even mellower.
Once I got home I took a nap. Hopefully I’ll be able to fall asleep tonight.
02/11/2003:
I subbed for a math teacher today. The students were taking a test, so once I got ‘em started it was pretty mellow. Usually I spend my conference periods doing paperwork and getting ready for the afternoon classes, but, since the kids were so good, I did all that stuff during class and spent my conference periods reading Dune.
When I got home I had a nice surprise waiting for me in my mailbox: I finally got the comics I ordered oh-so-long-ago from Highwater Books. Most of them are krunk, as the kids say. Well, krunk might mean they’re messed up, ‘cause I’m still a little fuzzy on some of the lingo, so I’ll just say that most of 'em rock.
Oh yeah, I’ve also been updating other pages on this website, so look around.
02/09/2003:
I slept in late. Around two o’clock my brother stopped by on his way back to San Antonio, and we talked about books and movies for an hour or two. He wanted to go see the new Lord of the Rings movie, but I wasn’t up for it. Three hours in a dark movie theater is a long time, plus I really needed to go to the grocery store, so I’d have some food to put in my sack lunch tomorrow. We agreed to go see it when it’s at the discount theater.
I’ve already got jobs lined up for the whole week, which is how I like it. I’ve also got a lot of jobs lined up for the week after that. Also Somer made some kick-ass tacos and peach cobbler for dinner. My days are getting brighter all the time.
02/08/2003:
My brother came up from San Antonio on Thursday to visit Somer and me. We picked up some Chinese food and rented and watched Slaughterhouse Five. Then we all went to sleep, ‘cause Somer and I had to get up early. My brother went on to Dallas while I was at work. He said he might stop by on his way back on Sunday.
Let’s see...on Friday I subbed in a life skills class, and once again we went bowling. It wasn’t as hectic as last Friday, but it was still pretty exhausting. Later in the evening Somer and I watched Monster’s Ball, which both of use thought was pretty silly, although I liked the ending.
Today I did a lot of sleeping.
02/04/2003:
I cracked up my students today by trying to use hip-hop lingo. It never fails to get me some laughs (and, yes, I know they’re laughing at me, not with me).
02/03/2003:
I just finished re-watching François Truffaut's L'Argent de Poche. Man, that movie is awesome! It is proof that a movie does not need a plot in order to be enjoyed. Why aren't there more movies like this?
Also I sent off my tax return. I like to do it as early as possible.
02/01/2003:
It’s been a nice easy-going Saturday. I did a little laundry and house cleaning. I watched a cool documentary about Andrei Tarkovsky making his last movie. I read a little more of Dune. Later Somer and I went to the park and saw some cardinals and robins. I read and wrote a few e-mails. It would have been a perfect day if there hadn’t been all that death and destruction due to the space shuttle Columbia breaking apart.
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