So my beautiful friend gave me a book, Bedroom Feng Shui. Actually she gave it to me almost 2 months ago before she went back home to Spain. Anyway, I dug it up and have started using some of the suggestions. I am proud to report that the 'self-diagnosed' plantar fasciitis is MUCH better! It turns out that my side tables, next to the bed were shooting poison arrows and intersecting at my feet region. The poison arrows, according to the book, were produced by the corners on the end tables. The simple solution -- besides getting rid of them -- was to place any extra pillows between the bed and table -- specifically at the bottom corner closest to the bed. I am happy to report that I have noticed a difference! I have now decided that I need to 'tweak' some areas in my bedroom. Most recently, I straightened up the 'relationships' area. I am ready to tell the Universe that I am indeed ready...for the right thing, of course.


Recycling in general is a wonderful thing. However, when it comes to education, it has become an industry. You see, if you take an old idea, give it a new name, and get super jazzed about it, some big wig education dude -- or dudette -- will get excited and book you for a seminar. Yes, this has happened in my district. The new term is...Gradual Release of Responsibility. Now, I assure you that I released most responsibility in my classroom years ago! I am NOT one of those coddling teachers that babies children and does everything for them. In fact, I am quite the opposite. So I received an email about another inservice...you know how much I LOVE those things <insert extreme sarcasm> I will say that two of the days I am interested in. It will be on a new writing program that the district is implementing. The third day is this 'gradual release' bullshit. I did a little research on it -- may the Universe bless Google! It is an old idea with a new make-up job. It's a 'regifting' sort of thing. In a nutshell...it's recycling old ideas! Why is it that education will accept any crap that comes up? It's not like it even needs solid research behind it. That's what kills me about education, you can show it a jazzy improv show and it eats it up! So needless to say, I"m not attending that day. I will spend it in my classroom. A much better use of my time. 

Yes, I am fully aware of the way I spelled 'tail'. It's a play on words.

So for today's inservice we had people talking to us about Gangs for 3 hours. I was good for the first 2 hours with the Gang Task Force guy. We heard about the beginnings, saw pics of signs, tats and more. The third hour was spent with a Rev. that comes in to towns to help set up interventions. The organization is good, even if a Rev. runs it ;)

The afternoon was spent learning about how to use Promethean Boards (interactive whiteboards). THAT was useful! Learned a lot and thankful that we got some training in it :)

Now, to the tail part of my day. A few months ago, some heartless mofo dropped off a chihuahua in our neighborhood. Fortunately, it's not one of those small, shaky types. It's a hearty chihuahua. A few of us have named it Pepita. Several of us have been feeding it and wanting to catch it. Well, she went into heat a few weeks ago. A neighbor, who let's his dog run around the neighborhood shitting on everyone's lawn, allowed his dog to have at Pepita...several times a day...like she was a $2 whore...and now she's preggers. Not that she was innocent in this whole thing, she was a horny dog who stuck her ass in a male dog's face. Oh, don't think that the male dog's owner didn't know what was going on. One morning she yelped -- no doubt sore from all her rompings -- I ran outside because I thought she was hit by a car. Instead, they were doing the deed. The male dog's owner came out to see what the fuss was about. He saw what his dog was doing, told his son to leave the dogs alone and walked back into the house...NICE! So finally, someone must have called Animal Control. They came out today and set up a trap in my neighbor's driveway. So if we can catch Pepita, I may foster/adopt her. However, if Samson doesn't get along with her, I will try and find another home for her. Samson comes first!