Knitting and what not

So what have I been knitting? I seem to be getting very good at finishing small projects... those small shawls, mitts, and what not, seem to fly off the needles. I think that I have finished more projects in the past month than I did all year.








Scroll Lace twice, Damson, Liesl, Ishbel.... hmmm seems like I have been knitting Ysolda... well, what ever works!

I was going to coach again... now I am not. Why? Good question, but not one that I am prepared to talk about, so let's just say stuff happens. This is the first time that I can honestly say that I know I will coach again, someday. I'm a little depressed, because this was a great opportunity. Hopefully it will come again some day.

How I am spending my summer vacation

I’m going to be doing what???

Do you see this woman:


She looks harmless doesn't she.... Mom always said to watch out for the quiet ones!



So… what did my teammate get me into? I am excited about learning/doing something new, but I really don’t want to screw-up someone’s research. I seriously have not been in a science lab since high school, and Mr. Saia was a great chemistry and physics teacher, but that was YEARS ago. So as a math teacher, is this really the right place for me? I am looking forward to working with RC, and hopefully our plan for a course will make it all the way to implementation.

Lab??



Life in the Lab… so my pipetting (sp?) skills leave much to be desired, though they are improving. I’m still not sure about the units of measurement, but I seem to be learning. I am excited to actually have numbers to “crunch”. Finally, something that I know how to do, though I have finally discovered something that I miss from Excel ‘03… graphs/charts seemed to be easier, but I’ve got it now. I was even able to do the error bars.

We are still struggling with what the “new class” is going to look like, but are gradually making some progress. Hopefully, we will get some answers to our questions, and will be able to proceed.
Lab to Class


From Lab to Class:
So, my lab skills have improved, but then there was no place to go but up. I am still not sure exactly what we are supposed to be doing… that’s not quite true, I do know the goal, I just don’t know how we are supposed to accomplish the goal. I haven’t been in this situation in a long time. The discomfort I feel is reminiscent of my undergrad experience in Abstract Algebra. I am hearing a faint echo of Dr. Dan Saracino… “Frustrated, good, now you are ready to learn something”. I have the frustration part down pat…and am ready to learn something.


I greeted RC today with…”I want to change…..because the data doesn’t make sense to me.” She, being the good sport that she is, says “okay.” Hmmm if I keep revising our practice stuff, will we ever get to the “real deal”? Kory said when we got here that it could take 5 years to get a 6months of “good” research… let’s convert that to weeks






so for our six weeks… our goal is 4.2 days… but we don’t really get 6 full weeks… so I’ll be happy if we get 3 days…

PotLuck

Another amazing potluck. What a tremendous variety of women, ideas, and personalities (and the food was good too). It is heartening to see the wide variety of backgrounds, religious beliefs, political affiliations, and life experiences gather together around this amazing craft. We all can admire and appreciate the workmanship of each other. I learn something new each time. I'm not sure if our beloved local yarn store owner knew what she was getting herself into when we started this, but I am eternally grateful that she allows us to continue to invade her shop the 2nd Tuesday of the month. I look forward to it every time and am never disappointed. It is rejuvenating.

Bag Sale :-)

So another 5th Saturday Sale... Did I get all that I wanted? Hmmm... not really, but I probably got all that I should. I purchased the yarn to make the Vine Yoke cardigan and I've wanted to try the ty-dye wool, so that's good. But I probably should have purchased more for Christmas Gifts. Oh well, there is another 5th Saturday in October!

On another note... I love my hair stylist! I went to the salon with a friend, and my stylist happened to come in (she wasn't working). I mentioned that I wanted a cut...wasn't happy with the hair... she brought me back to her chair, wet, cut, and dried my hair (it was MUCH more than a bang trim)... and wouldn't charge me! She said it was my back to school present (and she knows how I'm feeling about going back). (yes I did put $ in her drawer)

Rachel at Colour Roxx in the Shoppes at Louviers, a genius with color.. and just terrific! Thanks again Rach!

Furlough?

So because the state legislature voted to implement a 2.5% pay cut, state agencies were directed to find a way to "furlough" the corresponding amount of days in such a way as to not cause overtime/additional costs. For me... that means a total of 4 furlough days, 2 of which are this week (yesterday and today). Why is it then that I am being asked, by the people I work with and for, why I am not at work? Or aren't you going to be at school today?

This is my new resolution... I only work for free on stuff that I want to work on... (or for people I want to work with).

Here we go again

So here we are the new school year. I'm trying to find the joy, really I am. I always look forward to going back to school. Even as a student, I couldn't wait for the first day of school, the unknown was exciting, the known was like coming home. Not so much this year. For the first time in my career, I'm not looking forward to going back to work. The good news is that driving into the parking lot today I didn't feel sick to my stomach, but I really am not looking forward to walking into that building on Monday. I wish that I could just take every day that the kids aren't there off... hmmm... Since I "don't relate well to staff" or was it that I "don't work well with adults"? I wonder why I should bother to try? Or a better question, why have I been asked to give presentations to adults, or to lead planning sessions with adults.... I'm obviously not qualified to do so, or so the powers that be would have me believe.

It was nice being rushed by some of the football players (though they wondered why I hadn't been around earlier) and the requests from other students were reaffirming. so I will look forward not to Monday, but to September 1st when my real job begins again, the reason that I chose this career path... when kids are in the room.

Refocus

So the boss decides to make changes... no notice, no warning... and yes I feel used. I have been wallowing for a while now, and it's time to snap out of it. Yes, my future is decidedly different, and a little more uncertain than I am comfortable with, but seriously.. I have a job. I'm really good at what I do, at least the working with kids part, but based on recent requests, I would be willing to say that I am good at working with teachers as well, despite what others may think. So why am I complaining? I always say that I don't want to leave the classroom, so this year I won't. I'll have to do some outside work to make up for the lost income, and my yarn budget may be severly limited, but it is time to refocus. I'm not looking forward to teaching in isolation again, but with the "stand and deliver model" that the boss has chosen, I won't have much of a choice. I'll also be spending the time getting my certification in other states, better safe than sorry, right? I do wish that I knew what my schedule will be so that I can at least be a little prepared.

So the depression will lift, and this feeling of being punched in the face will lessen... but when will the feeling of being used go away?