Contest!!

The Heathen Housewife is having a contest. (I love contests) If you enter from my blog PLEEEZE give me credit - then I get another entry (Happy Dance!)

Knitting Disaster

Megan wants to know what my worse knitting disaster is:



Well...there it is ;)

I made those slippers for myself - first and only attempt at felted slippers....I have no idea what I did wrong - but as you can see - they DON'T fit :)

Clarification on Summer school

In Minnesota, we have what is known as the BST (Basic Standards Test) in Math, Reading and Written Composition. Last year's 9th graders were the last class "required" to pass these tests in order to graduate. (Below 8th grade will be required to pass the MCAs which is a much harder test)

This session of Summer school was offered to prepare the students for the tests, and give them one more chance to take the tests.

I had a list of 10-15 kids (9th - 12th grade) that still need to "pass" this test in order to graduate. Our district offers the test once during the school year and it's our option to offer it once during the summer.

Originally this session was offered a week earlier and was to run for two weeks, however, it was discovered our session didn't line up with the testing window that the state mandated. So, our sessions were moved down a week and supposedly all students were called and notified of the change of dates. I suspect that is where the problem came to be.

I will still administer the Reading and Math tests next week to whoever chooses to take the opportunity - they just don't get the practice that could have happened.

Oh - did I mention the school's percentages of passing students is published and a lot of public opinion is based on these scores - which could be a whole post in itself - but, we'll save that for another day....

Summer School - Cancelled...

due to lack of interest...NO, not mine...the students.

Drug (dragged? pulled?) my lazy butt out of bed at the unGodly hour of 6:00. Actually showered, brushed teeth (okay, maybe that does happen at least once a day), and DID my hair - No ponytail for this teacher...put on CLEAN clothes. Am I the only slob that lets go all summer long or are there other teacher's out there that can relate??? I dress very professionally 170+ days a year (disregarding the jeans on Fridays and the utter chaos of Homecoming and Sno weeks) - So - during the summer - well, it's ugly. That's all I am going to say.

Anyways...back to the post at hand (actually end of fingertips) always maintain proper typing posture...right Becky? - Anyways - where was I - oh ya - showered, hair done, eyeliner on (had to go home one day cuz I forgot eyeliner - always check for eyeliner) - got in my car - drove 30 miles to school - ran around like an idiot pulling things out of cupboards (kleenex box, CD player, electric pencil sharpener, necessary items) - finding materials for the four students I expected to show up at 8:00...8:00 comes ...and...All to no avail...there I was... all alone, not a student in sight (lone tear slowly runs down shiny clean, eye-linered face) - WTF! sorry. but that's what I actually thought. So I call the Superintendent, she has no idea - suggests that I spend the next two hours calling students, which I happily agreed to do, cuz that's the kind of obedient, team-player, all around good teacher that I am. Long story-short, summer school is canceled except for the state mandated testing that will happen next week. Yay!!!! - I can go home, put my hair in a ponytail, change into my smelly shorts and stained t-shirt - and KNIT!!!!!

Sweater progress

Check it out at Vanilla KAL.

Emily's Dishrag contest

Emily wants to know how many knitted dishrags you have in your house....

I have 7 or 8 - the picture isn't complete - I didn't want to show the really ugly old ones. I have made all of the new ones within the last month.

I wonder if it's acceptable to knit dishrags during summer school...hmmmm...probably not.

Ravelry

Thanks to Cass I checked my spot in the Ravelry line. Here's the news:

* You signed up on July 8, 2007
* You are #14993 on the list.
* 9174 people are ahead of you in line.
* 1575 people are behind you in line.
* 33% of the list has been invited so far

If you would like to check your status: Click here.

too cute

Just had to post.

Dishrags...

This is the result of the end of one skein and every other row being solid blue...No pattern - but It still looks cool....



I really like how the colors turned into a pattern - I struggle with "random" - (It's a Math teacher thing)

Yarn...I must find more yarn.

Knit vs. clean...

It's a Saturday morning and I have no energy to do anything that I should be doing. Andy and Chris are both at work and Nathan is getting ready to go to work. I should be cleaning the house, doing laundry, or starting one of the numerous projects that I want completed before the end of the summer. Am I doing any of that? Nope.

Newsflash: Apparently we have a chipmunk that has been able to find it's way into our three season porch. Nathan is on the hunt with Max (see previous photos). They had it (Mr. Chipmunk) cornered...I am not quite sure what went down...a wild combination of 15 year old testosterone plus clueless dog combined with scared chipmunk. The bottom line...Mr. Chipmunk escaped; lived to taunt another day. Too bad we don't have any pictures.

I can't believe the summer is half way over. I am teaching summer school for the next two weeks. It's only from 8:00 until noon - but the day is half way over by the time I get home...which is why I should peel my butt out of my knitting chair and do something constructive with this beautiful Saturday. (Ohhhh, but I just want to knit...*whine*)

On the knitting front...I have gotten into the dishrag rut. I just can't help myself...as fast as I BO, I find myself casting on with another yarn. They are such simple knits using the seed stitch. I found a way to use up the remaining ball of yarn...I bought the huge blue Sugar and Cream...I am alternating leftover and the blue to create stripes - fortunately the blue matches so closely - you can hardly tell..I'll post pics when I finish it. I think the main purpose of the dishrags is to deter any continued progress on my sweater - I am terrified I am going to screw it up.

Well - I am going to go clean (knit).

Sweater progress

Check out the progress at Vanilla KAL .

It was a very full day...

First - the interview....It went VERY well - I have everything crossed - hoping....

Check out the outfit...yes?? no?? Do I look professional enough? Actually - I'm thinking I look more like a funeral director than anything else...

Color...we need color!!!!

Doctor appointment: Swimmer's ear = earplugs.

Sidewalk days: Rock-A-Billy Revue + downpour = cancelled.

(bummer! although they played "our song" I Love how you Love Me ~ Paris Sisters before it rained...)

Shopping: I've been looking for some yarn to spoil my Swap Pal - I found some Sugar and Cream at Michaels - not exactly what I am looking for - but I bought it anyway...Here's a peek at the dishcloth I am making...



I really like using the seed stitch. It makes such a basic cloth - but the texture is awesome and it uses the variegated yarn nicely.

I stopped at one (of my two) LYS - they had nothing...I was bummed (can you tell I am a child of the 70s? Bummer!!)



I did buy two skeins of sock yarn that was on clearance and picked up a copy of Interweave Knits I like the hat pattern they have and it uses a sock yarn...will put it on my "to do" list.

I picked Nathan up from his first shift washing dishes - He was so excited about the job, and the people he works with...It's all good.

My Stampin Up stuff was in....It's all good.

It's all good.

It's a new day

I have pics to post - interviews to go to, doctor appointments, shopping and a band to listen to.....

News on all of that coming soon.

I'm smiling again - and thanks to all for kind words uplifting conversation (you know who you are)

Catch ya on the up side...

Life is what happens while you are making other plans.....

I want to live in a world where all is well - people are kind, make rational decisions and respect the dedication, dignity, professionalism, and commitment of teachers!

I am trying really hard not to be negative right now. Probably the only thing holding me back is the realization that I might just say something I will regret someday down the road and I am not an anonymous blogger - my real name is out there for all to "google" Maybe I should start a new blog - yeah, an anonymous blog, let's see I could call it....pissedoffteachers... or screwedupschoolboards....or maybe....okay, that's enough - it's getting a little out of hand - and I always try to maintain an upper hand.

What? you are asking could possible be setting off this mild mannered, sweet-natured, slightly anal math teacher? Careful the voice in my head is warning....

Umm...how to put this nicely so it doesn't bite me in the tush someday.....I am a part time teacher - thanks to budget cuts... the other full time teacher quit...leaving me the lone teacher (I kinda like that title ...HI HO Tonto!!!) Sensible, logical solution would be to offer full time position to the part timer (me) and hire another part time math teacher....Not our district....I found out today - they hired a full time teacher and would not even give me a chance to interview for the full time position. BUT, They DID give me Tenure!!!!

It's been a very long day with a wide range of emotions.

One of my closest friends got a job in a different district so I went with her to school today to help her "pack her things". I will miss her dearly. I am so glad she has the opportunity to move to bigger and better - but gosh darn it's hard being the one left behind....My other close friend also abandoned ship and moved clear across country to be with her family - imagine that - (darn you Kim!)

Sorry - this post is such a downer - but life isn't always about the good stuff - sometimes it smells really bad - like...oh, I dunno - something that smells really bad.

On the upside - son Nathan got a job today washing dishes at the local restaurant - funny how appealing washing dishes becomes when there is minimum wage attached.

Hope your day was better than mine....As I said, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans."

It's Monday

It's Monday...

I think I am going to haul my teenagers out of bed and make them go shopping with their mother! Oh, they will protest - but I will promise them food... lunch and snacks... it always works...

I might even make them go to Michaels....