101 Things to Do With Mini Toast

Posted on 10/7/2008 by alianora

I would like to tell you that i have many many stories that i am just bursting to tell you about.

and i probably do.

but with the fact that second graders and lesson plans are blowing my brain cells, small evil dark lords are able to go get their pjs out of a pile of clothes when directed, and McCain and Palin continue to terrify me into open mouthed astonishment, ive got nothing.

well. that’s not entirely true. I do have this video.

All my life, I never knew the one thing I was waiting for was for Steven Hawking to call someone a ‘tool.’

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Signature Signs

Posted on 9/29/2008 by alianora

I just found out that, according to freebies4mom that Signing Time is soon to leave public television. Honestly, this kind of makes me want to cry.

And while I would love to own every single dvd, they are rather spendy.

Good news, though!

Freebies4mom has a giveaway going on for one Signing Time dvd. You can find the sign up form HERE

And, the Signing Time website has a $1000 Sweepstakes going on now through the end of October. It’s one of the Scavenger Hunt type things, which I’ve been working on in bits and pieces for the last day or so. Pretty fun! Click the link at the top to play!

So, even though it’s leaving public television (*cry*), at least there are still a few ways to get your hands on some free copies of the dvds! Good luck!

Posted in *poke* | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Drop in the Bucket

Posted on 9/24/2008 by alianora

Lately, Ive been a little money focused – and by “lately,” i mean, “since i was born.” So, I guess it would make more sense to say Ive been MORE money focused lately, due to the move and spending too much money to get stuff like a bed and a tv and a place for the child to actually sleep, instead of the pack and play where we would go in to check on him and find him sprawled out asleep on the fabric covered railings with the too thin mattress folded up over itself shoved into a corner.

Let’s just say the past couple of weeks, especially. have pretty much been the definition of “stress.” And this week has been the definition of the phrase “sucks ass.” Due to an entire story I just dont have the energy to type out, we found out that the NC teacher licensing department hasnt even HEARD of Brandus, much less processed his paperwork and gave him his license.

on top of that, with an even longer story I am not ABOUT to go into, HR at his school district (who, by the way, were supposed to have sent in his license paperwork a good TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AGO) got into a snit about how he answered a question on his application, accused him of lying, and said they would have to talk to their lawyer about the whole situation. and then when he called to find out what the heck was going on with the license paperwork, they told him, good news, we THINK you wont be fired!

AWESOME.

oh, and by the way, if he doesnt get his license by October 1st, he’ll be pulling sub pay until he gets it. Which is even more awesome! because he’s already being underpaid until his license gets in! he’s only making what a 1st year teacher with his BS would make, instead of a 3rd year teacher with two Masters should be making.

for those of you keeping score at home, that would mean he’s currently making NEGATIVE $600 EVERY SINGLE MONTH under what he should be being paid.

oh, and please, let me remind you, Im not working a full time job. Im working as a substitute. that would mean that im not bringing in any set amount of money at any set time.

to sum up: AWESOME I HATE THE UNIVERSE AND THE WHOLE WORLD YOU BASTARDS.

yesterday was a very cranky unhappy day in the Thorenson house, with Brandus and I discussing worse case scenarios if he ended up quitting – as there is NO WAY he’s working a classroom that difficult for sub pay.

And then? I dont know, it’s like the universe decided that it had fucked with us enough. I got THREE job offers today – one a long term sub position, one where Brandus’ principal AND someone else from the district asked if I was still interested in teaching SpEd, because they NEEEED me, and one involving more subbing. And Brandus got a meeting with the principal where she explained how very valuable he was to them, a meeting with an HR person saying not to worry, that he would not be paid at sub pay and he WOULD get paid the correct amount, with back pay and his job is very very safe.

Im very confused. But, Im not arguing. And the very thought of teaching full time as a special ed teacher makes me want to go cry in a corner, so Im taking the long term sub position.

Yeehaw. And pass the backpay.

Posted in *poke*, teach me | Tagged | 3 Comments

Les MisBarak

Posted on 9/12/2008 by alianora

The national campaign office for Barak Obama has just won the ENTIRE FUCKING INTERNET.

If I wasn’t already voting for him, I would vote for him based on this awesome AWESOME piece of awesomeness.

This makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER, and brought a smile to my face while I was dealing with the seething rage that occurred after I learned that Sarah Palin allowed rape victims to be charged for the cost of their rape kit.

*seethes*

Honestly, that’s what did it. I have stated that I really dislike her stances, her beliefs, and her policies, but that one little fact just sends me around the bend. I cant even EXPRESS how angry I am. I might sound calm right now, but trust me, I am not. That is the most disgusting, most VILE thing I have ever heard. To take a woman who has been brutalized, who then has to relive the entire thing verbally AND experience another type of violation in order for the rape kit to be completed, to then be HANDED A BILL for the rape kit? Completely, horrifically unacceptable. Violation on top of violation piled on top of pure utter shit.

I will not be voting for you, Sarah Palin. I will not be voting for you, John McCain.

Your policies overall go against every shred of decency I possess.

Yes, we fucking can.

Posted in political, rant | 3 Comments

I Reckon

Posted on 9/8/2008 by alianora

Brandus returned home triumphantly from school the other day – if by triumphant, you mean ‘tired,’ and i do. And he is discussing how his day went while I attempt to shove more sustenance into the Dark Lord’s gaping maw then he manages to throw on the floor – and when I say attempt, i mean ‘fail.’ And Brandus, the light of my life, my dearest love, says:

“My mentor teacher is driving me crazy! She keeps saying this weird weird phrase, and it makes my teeth itch.” He snarls at this point, then blows a raspberry on Voldemort’s arm. Just so you know what this conversation looked like.
“What does she say? And why is it weird? Kid, please dont dump your milk in your hair.” I reclaim a sippy cup and fish a handful of crumbles from down the child’s shirt. And another from his pants.
“Might could.”
“You might could what?”
“No, that’s what she SAYS! THAT IS NOT REAL GRAMMER.”
“For reals?”

Now, my husband KNOWS that I handled village English in Alaska. Heck, some of it was pretty catchy! But he ALSO remembers that there is one phrase he says, one thing that made me cringe and want to claw at people, the entire 6 years I lived in Colorado. This phrase is a very short, two word thing that involves adding an S to the end of the word ‘real,’ specifically when it follows the word ‘for.’ This phrase makes my ears bleed. And yet, for this instance, this glorious glorious instance where I saw my life open up before me and the heavens sing at knowing just how to drive him insane, I USED IT.

FOR REALS.

Posted in *poke* | Tagged | 2 Comments