I almost forgot!

I didn't relay the news about my weekend debate trip to ATL. Ohhhhhh my God ... the word "clusterf--k" comes to mind when considering how disorganized the conference was the entire weekend. When we arrived they told me they didn't have our paperwork so we would have to leave. I kept my cool ... and called our program's administrative assistant and she worked everything out. So ... we got our rooms - 3 rooms: Lester and his wife in one, Danny and Zarko in one, and me, Tasha, Naama, and Sarah in the other. Now ... important note here ... Lester and his wife drove up to ATL separately, so all of the other people I mentioned drove with me in one of the college's vans. I was driving, of course. So ... anyone who's driven from T-town to ATL knows it's only about a 4 hour drive. It took us SEVEN hours. Why? Because we stopped at every whim. On one of those particular "whims," we found a community thrift shop. The guy who worked there was mentally challenged and we ran into him at the store next to the thrift shop. He invited us to come and browse ... and so we did. The picture depicts what I bought. We affectionately call her "Goldie." She became our good luck charm ... our talisman, if you will. I wish I had a video of when she was carried through the lobby of the hotel ... into the glass elevator ...and into the guy's room.

I can't post ALL of the pictures we took of her. I was with college students after all ... so some of the pics are X-rated. Suffice to say ... alcohol didn't help stop Danny and Zarko from performing lewd acts for the camera. I put them on my facebook ... go there to see more.

Ohhhh, and Goldie didn't prove to be that much of a good luck charm. We didn't make it to finals, but I am so proud of our debate team. They were critical thinkers ... and I couldn't have asked for more professionalism than they showed that day.

We stayed in both nights - the first night we practiced. The second night ... we drank and played spades in the hotel lobby bar. We had sooooooo much fun ... a weekend I won't soon forget. Not only because we had so much fun, but because Tasha snored so loudly that we had to buy a box fan (for the noise) and ear plugs on Saturday just to get some sleep.

All in all ... I haven't had that much fun since New York this past summer ... and THAT was really fun.

J

Thanksgiving

Well, we had our first Thanksgiving in our new house. We moved in last year a week before Christmas, so this was the first Thanksgiving. I, of course, cooked for an army even though it was just me, Ron, and the kids. I did have a method to my madness, which was that I didn't have to cook again for FOUR days. Can you say ... leftovers?
Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without some killing, right? The picture says it all ... this was one of Ron's "kills" this past holiday weekend. Some people at this time of year smell burning leaves, fireplaces lit, turkeys in the oven ... I smelled a dead deer in the rut. Peeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuwwwwww.
Thankfully I only have two more weeks of classes. All I have left to do is three lesson plans, a Powerpoint on action research, finish my research proposal, and write roughly 6 book summaries (have to equal 3500 pages). That's all ...
Not too much else going on right now ... oh, other than my phone call to the Chief of Police (a former student of mine) yesterday complaining about the traffic situation in front of the high school. When I dropped Hannah off this morning there was TWO officers out on the road directing traffic ... when my sister-in-law picked up Hannah this afternoon she called to tell me there was FOUR officers out on the road giving tickets! The next step is writing an e-mail to the superintendent (and copying the school board members) about the rudeness of the principal at the high school. When I called him yesterday to ask what he could do about the unruliness exhibited in the school parking lot, he copped an attitude with me on the phone. Um ... 'scuse me???? Is this how it's going to be? Oh, okay ... no problemo ...

So ... I'm outta here for now to begin formulating my e-mail to the superintendent ...

H-O-T-L-A-N-T-A

Me and 6 college students are headed to Atlanta this weekend for a debate competition. We've been practicing for a month (learning the Parliamentary method of debate, no less ... "boo hiss"), so I hope they're ready. It'll be easy for me ... just watching :)

Normally I'd be psyched to head to Hotlanta ... of course, normally I'd be headed to watch my Braves play .... but nooooooooooooooo, the damn season had to end :(

Anyway, when I return I'll post some pics of the competition. Joy, right Will?

At least the hotel will be nice ... can you say, Heavenly Bed?

My kids from Scholar's Academy

Here in big 'ol Thomasville, we have a special school (which is an extension of a local middle and high school) called the Scholar's Academy. As the title implies, students attending are academically gifted (hence: scholar). I tend to believe it borders on elitism, but that's another blog posting in the future ;) ... anyway, I teach there 2 days a week. The 12 kids in the pictures are earning their Associates of Arts degree WHILE they're earning their high school diploma. They are all 10th graders now, so when they graduate in 2010 (gosh that sounds so far away ... like we'll finally be driving hover craft) with their high school diploma, they'll also graduate with their associates degree. Cool, right?

Anyhoooo ... the institution created some shirts for the kids (you can't see on the shirts, but they have embroidered "The AA List" on the front left pocket area) ... and I gave them to the kids today. We all walked across the street to MacIntyre Park to take a quick shot, and this is one where they are being silly.

I really like this group ... they're smart, funny, and very energetic. Oh, and they're VERY VERY COMPETITIVE. I have to mention weekly that GRADES DO NOT DEFINE YOU ... but I'm wondering if that is sinking in ...

I'll keep ya posted ...

SPAIN

Well, it looks like Hannah and 3 K's are headed to Spain this summer! She's been asked by her spanish teacher to go on a summer 08' trip to Spain with her high school. They get to spend 3 days in Madrid, 1 day in Toledo, 2 days in Seville, 2 days in Granada, and 1 day on the Costa del Sol. Hannah is sooooooooo excited about it. I still have to talk with her teacher and get many more details, but I checked out the website the teacher provided and learned more about the company in which the tour is handled. Oh, and there is also the issue of the 3K's ... I mean, I think the money isn't the deciding factor ... it's not as if it is 30K ... that would be completely impossible ... but Hannah has only stayed overnight somewhere without me or Ron TWO TIMES in her life! We'll have to keep discussing this thought ...

But ... I sure hope it works out for Hannah. Parents are encouraged to go, but that's another 3K's ... and I couldn't leave Eli for that long. I'll keep everyone posted ...

J

MySpace.com: Read Bulletin

MySpace.com:Read Bulletin

This is for Will ...