Saturday, July 30, 2011

5QF 7-29-11

Yep, once again I am running a tad bit late with this.  How in the world am I going to stay on top of it when school starts. 

1. Vow renewal ceremonies-yay or nay?

Might be kind of fun to do, especially if I could lose enough weight to get down to what I wore when we got married.  Of course if I could do that then any celebration would be worth it.
2. What sound/s annoy you the most?

Fingernails on a chalkboard.  Oh how I hate that sound.  Sends shivers down my back.  Thankfully anymore most classrooms have a white board in them.  So much nicer, plus there is no chalk dust.
3. If you had to pick, would you have only all boys, or only all girls for kids?

Since I have 2 girls, 2 fur babies that were girls and no boys, I would have to say all girls.  I am not sure what I would have done with a boy.
4. Do you believe in alternative medicine?

it really depends on the type of alternative medicine.  Some of the alternatives are very successful, but some of them in my opinion may be a hoax.  You really need to look into what you are putting your trust into and make sure that it is legitimate.

5. Would you take a family members children and raise them if they needed it?
Of course, they are family after all.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

7-22-11 5QF

It is time for another 5 question Friday and I am actually on time for a change


1. If your husband had the BIG V and you got pregnant what would your first reaction be? For the dudes, what would your first reaction be if your wife told you she was pregnant after the Big V?


I would probably be in shock and then want a test done to make sure that the process hadn't reversed itself.  I do know someone who became pregnant after her husband had the big V.  After testing, they discovered that the process had reversed itself on him.
2. Best memory about this summer so far.

I was able to go to the Model Schools Conference this year.  What a great and exciting time.  I learned so much and was refreshed.
3. How often do you change your sheets? Your kids sheets?

I am ashamed to actually admit this, but we change at least every season, and then only as necessary. 
4. Having just gone through TSA, would you rather have a full-body scan or a pat-down?

Full body scan.  I just went through the system and didn't find the process that bad.
5. Since it is fair time...what's your favorite fair (county or state) memory?
Now this one is easy.  We just ended our county fair and the best memory for this year is my youngest daughter earned reserve champion junior exhibitor, in other words out of all of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade 4-H members in the county she had the 2nd highest point total of all of them. 

Sunday, July 17, 2011

A late 5QF, but so busy with the fair

So I have been so busy with the fair this week and prep stuff for the fair, that I am off by 2 days.  This years fair has been so full of ups and downs.  Good things happen only to get disappointed with something else, or thanks to all of us being ill we ended up forgetting important things like judges comment sheets.  However, there have been a few good things as well, including a surprise award this morning. I will post more about it tonight or tomorrow along with the pictures from the fair.  Another thing that happened at the fair is that I finally upgraded the phone plan so I know have a smart phone.  Still trying to learn how to use it however.  Haven't got it all figured out yet.

Well on to this weeks questions
1. If you knew your best friend's spouse was cheating on her or him, would you tell her (him)?


Good question.  Since I have never been in this situation it is hard to tell what I would do.  I do have a friend whose husband was cheating on her and then got the other person pregnant so I know how bad that hurt her.  I guess I would hope that I would tell this person, but also be able to find a way to do it as gently as possible.
2. Soda in a can or a bottle?

I will take my pop any way that I can get it, however, I have really been trying to cut down on the amount of pop I drink and instead drink more water.  Sometimes however (like at the county fair where there is a heat advisory) it is really difficult to do.  I do kind of miss the old glass bottles that pop came in, compared to the new plastic versions.
3. What do you wash first, hair or body?

I start first with my body, then move to my face and finally my hair. 
4. What advice would you give to any new mama?

First off, don't worry about the house, sleep when the baby sleeps and second, do not make night time changes and feedings a fun time.  Keep the house quiet, be very business like with the little one.  He or she will soon learn that it is more fun to be awake during the day and sleep during the night.  Also, don't bring the baby into bed with you no matter how easy it is. 

5. What is your best hangover remedy?

No idea, never been drunk or in need of one, but I have heard that coffee works.  And I will never forget watching the old Little House on the Prairie movie, where Pa keeps dunking Mr. Edwards in the water to bring him out of it. 

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Another 5 question Friday

I don't know if anyone is really reading these, but the questions are making me think and I am having fun with them.

1. Do you think cursive writing is overrated? (Schools in Indiana have now voted to take teaching cursive writing out of their curriculum.)

With the advent of computers and most students having to do their work on a computer I would have to say that yes, cursive writing is sadly on its way out.  With that being said I will admit that as a teacher I prefer to have students turn in work that was done on the computer. It is so much easier to read than some of their handwriting and this way there can be no discussions that the word was spelled wrong.

2. Do you still use a pocket calendar or notepad or do you keep your info on your smart phone?
Since I don't have a smart phone, I use the calendar on my email system to record everything.  This is so easy to do and I can find something in a minute or two. 
3. What 3 things would you save if your house was burning down? (family & pets are already safe)
The first thing that I would go for is all of my pictures.  So many cute and adorable family pictures including family members that I never knew, but I would hate to lose them.
The second thing would probably be the computers, because anymore it seems like so much data is stored on them.
While there are many other things that I could grab at that point I am thinking everything else would be replaceable, or at least easier to replace and wouldn't matter as much.
4. Country Mouse or City Mouse, err Person?
I grew up in a town, but am proud of my families farm background.  I spend many days on the family farms as a kid and have fond memories of most of it (except for gathering eggs) and feel sad that my children will never experience this kind of life. 
5. If you could pick ANY reality show to go on, which would you pick?
None, I think that they are stupid, but I did hear of one that has been proposed (tongue in cheek).  Something like this I would support.  I am not sure that the general business person in the United States really knows what it is like in the classroom setting.  Now don't get me wrong I love teaching and my students, just getting tired of teachers getting all of the blame.  I don't want a lot of bad comments because of this, yes, I know that there are bad teachers out there, I have had them, my kids have had them, and yes I may have even worked with some of them at one point, but I just spent last week with over 7000 highly committed teachers and educators learning all of the new things and ways to get every student involved. 

I have received this in many emails. 
Next Season on Survivor….
Have you heard about the next planned “Survivor” show? Three businessmen and three businesswomen will be dropped in an elementary school classroom for 1 school year. Each business person will be provided with a copy of his/her school district’s curriculum, and a class of 20-25 students.
Each class will have a minimum of five learning-disabled children, three with A.D.D., one gifted child, and two who speak limited English. Three students will be labeled with severe behavior problems.
Each business person must complete lesson plans at least 3 days in advance, with annotations for curriculum objectives and modify, organize, or create their materials accordingly. They will be required to teach students, handle misconduct, implement technology, document attendance, write referrals, correct homework, make bulletin boards, compute grades, complete report cards, document benchmarks, communicate with parents, and arrange parent conferences. They must also stand in their doorway between class changes to monitor the hallways.
In addition, they will complete fire drills, tornado drills, and [Code Red] drills for shooting attacks each month.
They must attend workshops, faculty meetings,and attend curriculum development meetings. They must also tutor students who are behind and strive to get their 2 non-English speaking children proficient enough to take the state’s standardized tests. If they are sick or having a bad day they must not let it show.
Each day they must incorporate reading, writing, math, science, and social studies into the program. They must maintain discipline and provide an educationally stimulating environment to motivate students at all times. If all students do not wish to cooperate, work, or learn, the teacher will be held responsible.

The business people will only have access to the public golf course on the weekends, but with their new salary, they may not be able to afford it. There will be no access to vendors who want to take them out to lunch, and lunch will be limited to thirty minutes, which is not counted as part of their work day. The business people will be permitted to use a student restroom, as long as another survival candidate can supervise their class.
If the copier is operable, they may make copies of necessary materials before, or after, school. However, they cannot surpass their monthly limit of copies.The business people must continually advance their education, at their expense, and on their own time.
The winner of this Season of Survivor will be allowed to return to their job!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

5QF a little late

Because I was gone this week, went to a totally awesome conference.  The Model Schools Conference, learned so much, met some neat people, and hope to go again, I am late getting this weeks 5 question Friday done.  I am way behind on my blogs and am playing catchup. 

Here are this weeks questions

1. If you had the opportunity to bungee jump, would you?


Are you kidding?  I value my life.  There is NO way you are going to tie some elastic band around my ankle and convince me to jump from some really high spot. 

2. Would you rather go to the movie theater or to the drive-in? 

I actually went to a drive in once when I was very little.  Saw Bedknobs and Broomsticks and then fell asleep during some movie about monkeys.  I don't remember much else about it, except that mom popped a bunch of popcorn.  I might be willing to go to a drive-in again if the conditions were right. 
3. Do you have your groceries delivered?

No, I am not even sure if that is an option where I live.  Even if it was, I don't think I would get them delievered as I actually enjoy grocery shopping.  Of course, the girls are old enough to stay at home, so I either get to go by myself or with the hubby.  I find it to be a relaxing time with no arguing.
4. Eyebrows: Do you wax, thread, pluck, or stay au naturel?

I go au naturel.  Not really much of a makeup person
5. Would the people you went to high school with be surprised by your life today?

Possibly, I was kind of quiet in high school.  I am still kind of quiet but get out more and am involved in several things.