Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Final stretch!
32 more days until the end of school! (Though 27 REAL days, excluding field trips and in-house work days)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
To Baltimore!
So my school organizes some crazy field trips. But probably the craziest field trip we've taken this year (and will ever take again) occurred last Friday, when the entire fourth grade went to Baltimore, Maryland to see the (drum roll, please ...) Great Blacks Wax Museum.
Now, I don't say this is crazy because we went to a wax museum. Or that we went to Baltimore. I'm just saying ... what is the point of paying for a charter bus to take a bunch of kids on an eight-hour bus ride through four states to see a wax museum, when we have Madam Tussaud's downtown, about a half-hour bus ride away?
Oye...
But even after the rambunctiousness and the three students who threw up on the bus (gross), it was overall a pretty fun, though still unnecessary, trip.
Oh my gosh, it's Barack Obama!!! In wax, anyway.
My kids (Steven, Jesslyn, Darilis, Daniel, Luis and Heriberto) pretending to be mummies.
Darilis and Jesslyn, saying: "Reading is COOL!"
Once I finally got the kids to start reading the signs, instead of just looking at the wax and moving on, they learned a thing or two. This photo was taken right after Luis, Daniel and Heriberto learned that George Washington Carver invented peanut butter. All three of them turned to the wax figure at once and said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
Bad idea: feed a bus full of kids at an all-you-can-eat buffet then tell them to get back on a bus for four hours. How do you expect them to NOT throw up?
Before we headed back to NYC, we stopped by the Baltimore harbor, which was very nice. Here, the kids were trying to feed ducks candy from their pockets. Oye ...
Darilis pretending to be Barack Obama giving a speech.
My kids! Well, half of them, anyway. L-R: Steven, Daniel, Khristian, Luis, Heriberto, Jesslyn, Darilis, Kimberly, Naomy.
Now, I don't say this is crazy because we went to a wax museum. Or that we went to Baltimore. I'm just saying ... what is the point of paying for a charter bus to take a bunch of kids on an eight-hour bus ride through four states to see a wax museum, when we have Madam Tussaud's downtown, about a half-hour bus ride away?
Oye...
But even after the rambunctiousness and the three students who threw up on the bus (gross), it was overall a pretty fun, though still unnecessary, trip.
Oh my gosh, it's Barack Obama!!! In wax, anyway.
My kids (Steven, Jesslyn, Darilis, Daniel, Luis and Heriberto) pretending to be mummies.
Darilis and Jesslyn, saying: "Reading is COOL!"
Once I finally got the kids to start reading the signs, instead of just looking at the wax and moving on, they learned a thing or two. This photo was taken right after Luis, Daniel and Heriberto learned that George Washington Carver invented peanut butter. All three of them turned to the wax figure at once and said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
Bad idea: feed a bus full of kids at an all-you-can-eat buffet then tell them to get back on a bus for four hours. How do you expect them to NOT throw up?
Before we headed back to NYC, we stopped by the Baltimore harbor, which was very nice. Here, the kids were trying to feed ducks candy from their pockets. Oye ...
Darilis pretending to be Barack Obama giving a speech.
My kids! Well, half of them, anyway. L-R: Steven, Daniel, Khristian, Luis, Heriberto, Jesslyn, Darilis, Kimberly, Naomy.
Spring Break ... finally!
From April 9 to April 19, the most wonderful thing happened: spring break! To celebrate my freedom from responsibility, I spent six days chilling with Robby in the deeeeeeeep south of Alabama, where we ate fried pickles at Hooters, conquered some Native Americans, chased tornadoes and watched the confederate flags fly.
The very first thing I saw in Alabama. A yellow pickup truck titled "BAMA." I thought it was appropriate.
Robby, pre-haircut.
I really liked the use of Zs and no Es.
Turns out Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, where Robby lives. Of course we had to visit her birth place! Robby claims there is a sign that says, "Helen Keller Birthplace: Come See What She Couldn't." AWESOME.
Right across from HK's birthplace is the Tuscumbia Art Museum! I didn't know they even had art in Alabama!
After exhausting ourselves at the extensive art museum, we took a ride to the park, where we conquered this Native American carved from wood:
The streets turned Tornado-ey very soon, but, unfortunately, we didn't see any. We did find some cows, though.
It was about this time that I started asking myself, "Where AM I?"
Here's one last picture of Robby (post-haircut) making Rob-burgers. Man, I miss those Wickles!
Since I got home, and spring break ended, I haven't been up to much, except work and grad school work. We took a class field trip to Baltimore last week, so expect pictures of that sometime soon.
Coming up, I only have eight more weeks of school before summer (wahoo!). And in a couple of weeks, all of the fourth and fifth grade are taking a weekend trip to Washington, D.C., and Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, Virginia. I think I'm more excited than the kids are!
The very first thing I saw in Alabama. A yellow pickup truck titled "BAMA." I thought it was appropriate.
Robby, pre-haircut.
I really liked the use of Zs and no Es.
Turns out Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, where Robby lives. Of course we had to visit her birth place! Robby claims there is a sign that says, "Helen Keller Birthplace: Come See What She Couldn't." AWESOME.
Right across from HK's birthplace is the Tuscumbia Art Museum! I didn't know they even had art in Alabama!
After exhausting ourselves at the extensive art museum, we took a ride to the park, where we conquered this Native American carved from wood:
But then we heard word that there was a TORNADO WARNING nearby. So we jumped in the car and went in search of the twister!
The streets turned Tornado-ey very soon, but, unfortunately, we didn't see any. We did find some cows, though.Probably the most interesting part of Alabama, to me, was the prevalence of so many confederate flags ... like, here, on this car:
And here, a flag flying:
And here, on a sign in the park:
It was about this time that I started asking myself, "Where AM I?"
Here's one last picture of Robby (post-haircut) making Rob-burgers. Man, I miss those Wickles!Since I got home, and spring break ended, I haven't been up to much, except work and grad school work. We took a class field trip to Baltimore last week, so expect pictures of that sometime soon.
Coming up, I only have eight more weeks of school before summer (wahoo!). And in a couple of weeks, all of the fourth and fifth grade are taking a weekend trip to Washington, D.C., and Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, Virginia. I think I'm more excited than the kids are!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Spring is (sometimes) here!
The past week has been quite excellent, and here's why:
1. My meanie-faced assistant principal actually (almost sort of) complimented me. He said my class doesn't look as bad as it used to. SHABAM!
2. There's a bar in Brooklyn that has indoor bocce ball. Suhweet!
3. K-Mart at Astor Place SELLS bocce ball sets. And it turns out Morningside Park is an excellent place to play. (Although I maintain that Rome's Circo Massimo has to be the best place on earth for the bocce.)
4. Two more school days until Spring Break. Alabama, here I come! (Never though I would say that.)
5. It's kind of almost feeling like spring. In between days of downpour and chills, there have been several absolutely beautiful, mid-50s days, perfect for bocce, parks and even a little outdoor napping.
Spring is almost sprung!
Morningside Park from atop the hill near Columbia University. That grassy area is where Dakota and I played a rigorous game of Bocce. (I won, by the way! Not that that is what is important ... )
Morningside park from the bottom of the hill. Nice day!
1. My meanie-faced assistant principal actually (almost sort of) complimented me. He said my class doesn't look as bad as it used to. SHABAM!
2. There's a bar in Brooklyn that has indoor bocce ball. Suhweet!
3. K-Mart at Astor Place SELLS bocce ball sets. And it turns out Morningside Park is an excellent place to play. (Although I maintain that Rome's Circo Massimo has to be the best place on earth for the bocce.)
4. Two more school days until Spring Break. Alabama, here I come! (Never though I would say that.)
5. It's kind of almost feeling like spring. In between days of downpour and chills, there have been several absolutely beautiful, mid-50s days, perfect for bocce, parks and even a little outdoor napping.
Spring is almost sprung!
Morningside Park from atop the hill near Columbia University. That grassy area is where Dakota and I played a rigorous game of Bocce. (I won, by the way! Not that that is what is important ... )
Morningside park from the bottom of the hill. Nice day!Saturday, March 21, 2009
March Madness ... Only, without the Basketballs
March has, so far, been a very good (and very productive) month.
At school, our State Math tests have come and gone. I think most of my kids did a pretty good job. Things, in general, are starting to look up. We've finally gotten to where we can walk in a straight (and mostly quiet) line in the hallway, and there hasn't been a real fight in my class in more than two weeks. Exciting! On two different occasions, different teachers have commented to me that they've noticed a change in my class. That feels really good.
In life, things have been looking up, as well. The weather has started getting warmer (meaning lows in the 30s instead of highs), and daylight has been lasting a little longer. It's about time.
Here's a review (in photographs) of the last couple of weeks, from most recent to ... least recent.
I had a very New York weekend, because on Friday I went to my first show on Broadway (I saw a very strange play starring Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, and the sherriff from "Roswell") and on Saturday I went to the New Museum on Bowery, just south of Houston. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the play (though that is a quite funny story). However, the museum did allow the chance for some cool photographs.
There were some pretty interesting exhibits, but the best part was the rooftop view. This was a much different view of Manhattan, because it's in the south part of the city. Most of the time, when you get "the view," it's of midtown, where all the tall buildings (Chrysler and Empire State, etc.) are. So the view from the top of the New Museum was unique in that sense.
At school, our State Math tests have come and gone. I think most of my kids did a pretty good job. Things, in general, are starting to look up. We've finally gotten to where we can walk in a straight (and mostly quiet) line in the hallway, and there hasn't been a real fight in my class in more than two weeks. Exciting! On two different occasions, different teachers have commented to me that they've noticed a change in my class. That feels really good.
In life, things have been looking up, as well. The weather has started getting warmer (meaning lows in the 30s instead of highs), and daylight has been lasting a little longer. It's about time.
Here's a review (in photographs) of the last couple of weeks, from most recent to ... least recent.
I had a very New York weekend, because on Friday I went to my first show on Broadway (I saw a very strange play starring Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, and the sherriff from "Roswell") and on Saturday I went to the New Museum on Bowery, just south of Houston. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the play (though that is a quite funny story). However, the museum did allow the chance for some cool photographs.
There were some pretty interesting exhibits, but the best part was the rooftop view. This was a much different view of Manhattan, because it's in the south part of the city. Most of the time, when you get "the view," it's of midtown, where all the tall buildings (Chrysler and Empire State, etc.) are. So the view from the top of the New Museum was unique in that sense.
The view of Bowery, looking toward Houston.
That's me, looking to the north. You can see both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in that shot. (They are the two tallest ones to the right of my head.)
My good friend, Dakota, with a view toward the south end of Manhattan (the Financial District and whatnot).
Saturday afternoon I got quite a different view of Manhattan once again. This time, from across the East River. After visiting a delicious cheese shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we walked to this nice park right on the bank of the river.
Nice view.
Delicious picnic! The cheese shop even had my all-time FAVORITE Italian Ringo cookies. Yum!!
On Tuesday this week, I took time away from school preparation to celebrate St. Patrick's Day the best way I knew how: at the bar. I didn't feel too guilty about it, though, because it worked out just perfectly that we had a field trip to Randall's Island on Wednesday. Fate, or excellent planning? I have no clue, but I was quite glad.
Perhaps the best part of St. Patrick's Day was that Becca and I got to wear our matching green shoes. And we made a green shoe dance on the subway. Here is our green shoe-leaf clover.
We started with dinner at this great Japanese food place, where you get to make your own cotton candy for dessert. Here's Becca trying her hardest, to no avail.
Dakota eating my cotton candy, because I am the cotton candy-making queen.
The night ended at a Karaoke bar in the East Village. Here's Bryan, Courtney and Becca swaying along to Dakota's rendition of "Piano Man." If you ever want to see video of mine and Becca's duet of "Part of Your World" from the Little Mermaid, then you're out of luck! 'Cause that video is C-L-A-S-S-I-F-I-E-D.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The rest of vacation and beyond
Mid-Winter break has come and gone, and I'm now back into the flow of school. Our State Math tests are coming up this week, so my school-themed dreams (nightmares?) are back in gear full time.
So, of course, rather than continue preparing for this week at school, I'm taking time out to reminisce. Here is a low-down of my last few days of vacation, which I never posted about.
I stayed in Massachusetts with my dear roommate Becca through Wednesday, when I headed back to the city to "get some work done." That morning, though, we went for a hike through the woods around the lodge. It was extremely beautiful, albeit a little chilly. But it was a very nice end to a short vacation of doing absolutely nothing.
A little water fall at the top of a creek.
My attempt at a snow angel. Something seems to have gone terribly wrong (especially with my hands!)
Along our walk, I spotted a fallen tree branch over a section of the extremely cold, partially frozen creek. So, of course, I say to Becca, "Hey, you should go sit in the middle of that tree." She surprised me by actually saying yes.
Lovely!
After returning to the city Wednesday and trying to do some work on Thursday, I was ready to leave again. So come Friday morning, I went on a last-minute trip to Montauk with my friend, Dakota. Montauk is a town at the very tip of Long Island. Why did we choose to go there? No idea. But it was a very nice trip for the day.
It all began at about 7 a.m. when we arrived at Penn Station to catch the Long Island Rail Road. About three and a half hours later we arrived in Montauk, welcomed by freezing temperatures, blustering winds, and a very interesting cab driver named Peter.
Montauk was very beautiful.
But VERY windy!
Here we are at the fourth oldest light house in the U.S. (the oldest one in New York state). It was commissioned by George Washington.
Here's me with Peter the crazy cab driver!
The lighthouse from a very unglamorous, yet (I think) still beautiful view.
So that was basically the end of my vacation, if you include lounging around the city and then (finally) getting some work done. There are now 28 more school days until the next break, when I'm going to Alabama to visit Robby for a bit. Until then, it's just school, school and more school. Fun!
So, of course, rather than continue preparing for this week at school, I'm taking time out to reminisce. Here is a low-down of my last few days of vacation, which I never posted about.
I stayed in Massachusetts with my dear roommate Becca through Wednesday, when I headed back to the city to "get some work done." That morning, though, we went for a hike through the woods around the lodge. It was extremely beautiful, albeit a little chilly. But it was a very nice end to a short vacation of doing absolutely nothing.
A little water fall at the top of a creek.
My attempt at a snow angel. Something seems to have gone terribly wrong (especially with my hands!)
Along our walk, I spotted a fallen tree branch over a section of the extremely cold, partially frozen creek. So, of course, I say to Becca, "Hey, you should go sit in the middle of that tree." She surprised me by actually saying yes. 
Lovely!After returning to the city Wednesday and trying to do some work on Thursday, I was ready to leave again. So come Friday morning, I went on a last-minute trip to Montauk with my friend, Dakota. Montauk is a town at the very tip of Long Island. Why did we choose to go there? No idea. But it was a very nice trip for the day.
It all began at about 7 a.m. when we arrived at Penn Station to catch the Long Island Rail Road. About three and a half hours later we arrived in Montauk, welcomed by freezing temperatures, blustering winds, and a very interesting cab driver named Peter.
Montauk was very beautiful.
But VERY windy!
Here we are at the fourth oldest light house in the U.S. (the oldest one in New York state). It was commissioned by George Washington.
Here's me with Peter the crazy cab driver!
The lighthouse from a very unglamorous, yet (I think) still beautiful view.So that was basically the end of my vacation, if you include lounging around the city and then (finally) getting some work done. There are now 28 more school days until the next break, when I'm going to Alabama to visit Robby for a bit. Until then, it's just school, school and more school. Fun!
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