I think the count is down to seven...

It's been a while since I've updated everyone (and by everyone, I mean my mom) via this outlet. That's not to say that I haven't attempted, because I have. In fact, there is a WHOLE little ditty that I wrote about home in an open and untitled Word document that has been minimized in my doc for about a week now. I began it when my students were finishing Slumdog Millionaire. It began as a look at how my definition of family has changed. Because for me, home used to mean this:

and this...

and this...

But over time, it has melted, and changed. Home is now this...

and these people...

and...

and...

and...

I could go on, and on, and on. Also, I REALLY need copies of some group photos I know are floating around somewhere...

But my point is, home changes. It's not a physical location (even though I still KNOW Portland/Scappoose is my home), but it's a state-of-mind.

But enough of all of that. Since I've gotten back from Spring Break 2010: Tour de Tejas, I've been busy, busy busy. But I've also let the procrastination monster catch up to me. Here are some highlights:

New bedroom furniture:

Pretty, no?

Totally worth losing my 503 phone number, and becoming a 713. 

Anything else interesting? I'm counting down the days till summer, which promises to be epic, and incredibly too short. I'll miss my kiddos fo' sho', but I need a break, as do they. Oh, and I'm finally getting a new debit card. I've been holding on to my Washington Mutual card for much longer than any other person. I often get strange looks and interesting comments when I pay for things using that antique card, but I swear I was told by Chase that they wouldn't give me a new one until that one had expired. But today I was in Chase and was talking to a teller about wanting a new credit card that earned me airline miles but that I don't have a long enough credit history (not that it's a bad thing) to get the one I wanted. She informed me I could actually get a new debit card that earned points, which is better than having a card that doesn't earn points. I get to keep my card number, but as long as I run the thing as a credit card, I earn POINTS that I can use for TICKETS (and other cool stuff).

Ok, so that all sounds really geeky, but whatev. I'm pretty excited. 

Now I need to tackle this procrastination monster head-on. Wish me luck.

One More Left

I'm entering grades for the third quarter tonight. That means there is one more quarter left.

Let the countdown commence!

Also, I want to move to Austin. Maybe.

Spring Break... It's SOOOO close

After my dedicated post to the amazing Diana Ziser, maybe it's time to actually write about what's been going on in Houston and KHHS.

I'm giving midterms this week, but they aren't true midterms. Really they're just a unit test over SW Asia. My honors kids are taking them today, and on-level classes will take them tomorrow. While they are testing, I'm trying to tackle the grading that I let accumulate over the past few weeks. I was doing so well with grading at the beginning of the quarter, but I'm afraid I let life get in the way of keeping up. I mean, I still haven't finished grading their AIDS papers. I'm a horrible teacher. :-( Or maybe not. My kids can now talk about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with confidence and accuracy. That's pretty awesome and impressive if I do say so myself. And soon they will be able to describe social and political issues in China and India with the same confidence.

On Thursday and Friday I'll show a documentary that I watched with Michelle, Jake and Andy about children in Israel and Palestine. It's called Promises and is AMAZING. I really hope they can make connections between what we learned in class, their own lives, and the video. That's the goal.

In other news... it's rodeo season here in Houston, and I was lucky enough to see Kenny Chesney on Thursday night, along with wagon racing, calf-chasing/wrestling and Muttin' Bustin'. Now, I've been to my fair share of rodeos, mostly in Columbia County; I've seen roping, riding and wild cow milking. But never have I seen children under the age of 6 climb on the back of a sheep and hold on for dear life as it races to the other side of the arena. That is COURAGE. Or child abuse.

I'm in full concert-going mode lately, and saw John Mayer on Saturday night. Again, he is a musical genius. I will see him as many times as I can. What other concerts will roll through Houston soon?? I'm already planning on seeing Dave this summer in the Gorge. Of course.

Hmm... other things of note:
I now have an iPhone and a new phone number. And I know that this is absolutely ridiculous, but I am really heartbroken to not have my old number anymore. I had been with T-Mobile since I got a cell phone as a sophomore in high school, and have had the same number since. That's an 8 year relationship that I built and since I was such a loyal customer, T-Mobile says I can give my number to someone else. How strange of a perk is that? I can GIFT a NUMBER. Who wants it???? Any takers?? Also, iPhones are pretty fun.

I'm REALLY excited for Wyeth. He is going to travel to Rwanda for his thesis. How awesome is that????

I guess that's all that's been going on. I miss home A LOT right now. I miss my family and my friends and really want to do nothing more than sit on the deck at home and play with the dogs and drink good coffee and eat yummy food with everyone. Hopefully I can make this happen sooner than later.

And be on the look out for for a post next week sometime about Spring Break 2010: Tour de Tejas!!!! I'm embarking on a road trip with three girlfriends to San Antonio, Freddericksburg, and Austin. I'm so excited!

Things I Love (About Diana Ziser)

I know it's been a while since I've written anything of substance. Actually, I take that back: commenting on the weather is substance! I LOVE meteorology and sometimes wish I were a weather lady. I get all excited about weather and clouds and cold fronts!

But this is a blog about something MORE important and awesome than weather. This is a blog about Diana Ziser. You see, my dear friend Diana recently joined the blogging world, and recently posted a list of things she LOVES. I laughed out loud as I read this list, and pictured her in 4 inch leopard heels, eating spinach artichoke dip with a heaping side of mac n' cheese and drinking a gin and tonic while writing it. And this inspired me to create a list of things I LOVE about Diana Ziser.

1. Her obsession with leopard print. It's true - this woman LOVES anything that looks like it was skinned during a safari. And it reminds me of her whenever I'm shopping.

2. When Diana talks like a Jewish mother. GOD this cracks me up and makes me feel loved all at the same time.

3. When she mails pictures of us together. That picture of us from our summer fiesta in the silver frame is one of my favorites. That party was also one of my favorite nights, and I think about Diana and all of the good times when I look at it.

4. Diana singing show tunes in our living room/kitchen/deck/basement/car. Mmm, yes please. I'd listen to that for a good, long time!

5. How Diana once made Mac and Cheese with more than 4 sticks of butte and I ate it. Thank goodness we fixed this little problem by the time your goodbye party happened!

6. Any conversation with Diana. About anything. Anywhere. I love them all.

I could go on and on, but I really want to add pictures and I can't since I'm writing this from the iGoogle app and photos aren't an option. I'll come back later and amend this post with photos of all these wonderful things.

I love you, Di, and I hope you are taking in Baltimore. You are more awesome than even you would admit!!

The Same

According to the weather application on my dashboard, it is the same temperature in Houston as it is in Portland, and 4 of the next 7 days the temperature will be within 3 degrees of each other. Brr.

Sharpening the Knife

As we are wrapping up Africa, my students have been completing a review packet to get them ready for their test on either Thursday or Friday. Part of their packet contains an Op-Ed from the NY Times.

Thursday will be the 20th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison. Never ceasing to amaze me, the NYT found several people who were imprisoned for political reasons during the same period of time as Mandela, and asked them to write a short Op-Ed on their reaction to his release, as well as any other thoughts towards Mandela. My students have read about and watched videos on apartheid and South Africa and have a good understanding of the events that happened in the not so distant past, and I thought it would be good for them to read the opinions of others during that time.

After reading, we talked about their reactions and the important lessons that can be learned from Nelson Mandela. Typical answers include to never give up and to stand up for what you believe in: typical KIPP answers.

When I read to them the response from a man who was imprisoned in China in the 90s, I heard some really great responses. In this piece, Wei Jingsheng references a Chinese saying that notes that "a knife must be ground to be sharpened." I asked my kids what this meant, and what it was referring to. It took them a minute, but they finally made the connection between the saying and Mandela's 27 years spent in prison where he studied and read and made himself better.

We then talked about how hard KIPP is sometimes and why we do the things we do. We talked about going through hard times and how that makes you a better person, a wise person. We discussed laziness and dull knives and how dangerous they are. We dug into the importance of knives and survival and helping others; about how knives aren't a bad thing, but a good thing.

I just love when I can help students make connections like this: from an abstract idea like persistence and adversity to making a better life for themselves.

Appropriately Inappropriate

The HIV/AIDS paper seems to be a never-ending pain in my rear end. We keep going over the requirements, the expectations, and the resources that they can use. I've been asked what a hook is over and over and over again. But this is not the part of this project that I will remember. What I will remember is how HIV/AIDS will prompt 14 and 15 year old children to ask many, MANY questions about sex. Here are questions/statements that I've heard in my class over the past two weeks:

Female student, while reading a pamphlet found in the commons near the counselor's corner about STIs and HIV: "Miss, what is petroleum jelly?" Me: "It's the stuff that they use when a woman gets an ultrasound on her belly." "Why are they talking about it in this pamphlet? Why is it bad for condoms?" "It's bad because it can break down rubber and make the condom ineffective." "But why are they using it? What's it for?" "It's a lubricant." Another student chimes in: "It's lube. Like in Superbad." I turn red and tell them that the conversation is now over.

Student writing a paper on how the distribution of condoms will be the most effective way to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa: "How much do condoms cost?" My answer: "I don't know." "Can we google it?" Students already at the computer: "According to Google, they are $3.00 for 3 at Rite Aid." Another student: "But let's look at Trojans. They're the best, right Miss? They have all of the commercials." Good job Trojan. You've got them eating out of your hands. Poor Durex.

A male student definitely referred to condoms as 'rubbers'.

Question "Miss, what is ejaculation?"
Answer "It's what comes out of a man during sex." (Or did I say when he climaxes... oh Lord)

Question "Does all kinds of birth control stop HIV/AIDS?"
Answer "No, it has to be a physical barrier, like a condom. Oral contraceptives don't stop STDs."

Question: "Is it the sperm that has the HIV?"
Answer: "I'm not sure because there are other fluids that come out so it might be in there."

So there, I've probably told these kids more about sex than many other adults. But you know what? I'm glad they're asking these questions. The last thing I want is for a kid to think that just because she's on the pill that she can't get an STD.  I'd like to stay naive about the whole situation and hope that none of them are having sex. I really wish I could just sit them down and say "Wait. Don't do it. These high school boys/girls aren't going to be worth it. Just wait till you're older and you know yourself better and you're more mature and it's someone you REALLY like. Please just wait." Probably a conversation I can have with my advisory girls since they are my advisory girls. I'll have to work that in somewhere.

On a lighter note: G Love this Saturday. Sweet. I've never seen them but I've heard they're great live. And the Super Bowl - we can't forget that, especially since I'm in the South and the Saints are pretty much the most important thing right now. And I may or may not have mentioned how much I love the Maple Leaf Pub, with their $1 mimosas on Sundays and now Trivia and $14 Steak, potato and you-call-it on Thursdays, but I'm mentioning it now. It love this place. And they have darts and board games. All they need now is shuffle board and I'd probably never leave.