During my teacher training program one of the awesome teachers I student taught under told me to always have my classroom ready at the end of the day for the next day. She said "you really never know what can happen the next morning." That seemed like great advice to me at the time and I've followed it, if not religiously, at least every time I remember...
Well, of course last night I was in a huge rush to leave my classroom to make it to acupuncture on time. I had students with me until 4:00p.m. when I ran them over to the other building for a poorly organized pizza party and celebration for the end of our after school program. I left school in a rush, never returning to my classroom.
Fast forward to this morning. I get to school early so I can clean up my room and get everything organized in time for my students. I'm smiling and excited to start my Thursday. I get up stairs and put my key in the door..and it won't turn. I try another teacher's key - it also doesn't work. So I call down to the front office - no answer. So I run down four flights of stairs (teaching keeps you thin!) to get an engineer sent up. Its now 45 minutes later and I'm still locked out of my classroom. So much for being prepared today!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thursday, August 14, 2008
We are the bad guys
Sometimes I think I am the only one in the country who is paying attention. Isn't anyone else deeply concerned by the fact that we truly have become a fascist state? Its legal to wiretap American citizens phones with almost no judicial oversight. We have abandoned the Geneva Convention and ignore the human rights of all of our detainees.
Basically, we are no longer the "good guys." We are the axis of evil. We are the cause of the problems in the world. I just feel like I am shouting into an empty room, or to a room full of zombies because no one else cares enough to look into this.
From our treatment of the anthrax suspect, who is clearly not guilty and was probably murdered by our government: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/04/anthrax/index.html.
To the horrific things our government is doing to protect our "liberty": http://www.salon.com/src/pass/sitepass/spon/sitepass_website_refresh.html
To the way we treat immigrants and detainees: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/nyregion/13detain.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=77bb5a81d2b72cd7&ex=1219291200&adxnnl=1&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1218729625-oD4FmOH9CKqCMKKByYYlVA
We live in a police state, but we are all too comfortable with our cable tv, nice cars and pretty houses to care. We have become sheep, and the government is clearly herding us to our collective death (or at the least detainment)
Basically, we are no longer the "good guys." We are the axis of evil. We are the cause of the problems in the world. I just feel like I am shouting into an empty room, or to a room full of zombies because no one else cares enough to look into this.
From our treatment of the anthrax suspect, who is clearly not guilty and was probably murdered by our government: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/04/anthrax/index.html.
To the horrific things our government is doing to protect our "liberty": http://www.salon.com/src/pass/sitepass/spon/sitepass_website_refresh.html
To the way we treat immigrants and detainees: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/nyregion/13detain.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=77bb5a81d2b72cd7&ex=1219291200&adxnnl=1&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1218729625-oD4FmOH9CKqCMKKByYYlVA
We live in a police state, but we are all too comfortable with our cable tv, nice cars and pretty houses to care. We have become sheep, and the government is clearly herding us to our collective death (or at the least detainment)
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Today, it begins...
I am going to start writing the material for a class I think should be mandatory for anyone who wants to move to a city, ever, or even visit a city really. I could even give it a pretty name, like "City Life 101." If that were the case, this would be
Lesson #1: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Ok, so we all have to get places and it is far too expensive to drive your car anywhere in the city, but particularly to work. Which means that the vast majority of us will have to be on the train between 7-9am and again between 4 - 6pm. Well, this is called rush hour. Here are a few Do's and Don'ts so that I don't have to kill you:
1) There is no legitimate reason to have children on public transportation during rush hour. There just isn't. They will get squished, and possibly trampled. Not to mention that they will always walk too slow and get in everyone's way. Its just safer to keep them off until non-peak times.
An important corollary to this, that should never have to be told to anyone but apparently does, your stroller is not welcome on the train/bus/whatever during normal hours, but it is DEFINITELY not welcome during rush hour. Leave it at home. Same goes for your bike during rush hour, but these people tend to be more considerate (and realistic).
2) When entering the bus you enter from front and exit from the back. There is actually a logical reason for this: traffic flow. This way, people can get out, while people are getting on and then things can move much more quickly. What an amazing concept!
Once you have entered, walk ALL THE WAY to the back. Unless your stop is the very next one (and in which case, why are you on the bus?? No wonder Americans are fat!) you should be as far back as you can possibly get. Let EVERYONE get on...it's good karma.
3) When exiting a train station, walk on the left, stand on the right. SOOO simple. DO NOT block people who are later than you by being the asshole who stands on the left side of the escalator while everyone behind you taps their feet and considers shoving you into those pointy things at the top. Seriously, if you want to stand -- be on the right. NEVER EVER NO MATTER WHAT stand two across. This is the ultimate sin. If you have a kid, they go in front and you go on the right. ALL THE TIME.
4) Pregnant women and old people have priority for the seats. ALWAYS. Just get your fat, lazy ass up. Seriously. I'm looking at you men of Chicago... I am ALWAYS getting up for an older or pregnant woman when I see young men all around me too wrapped up in their blackberries and iPods to notice (or they are just jerks).
5) Which brings me to iPod/Blackberry/Cell Phone Use on public transportation. Its inevitable, and I know it. I would never be crazy enough to suggest that you not do it. Just do it respectfully. Your cell phone conversation should be held at the lowest possible decibel and be as short as possible. If your iPod is on, chances are NO ONE wants to hear your music. Keep it to a reasonable level -- I know the train is loud and people are screaming into their phones, but that doesn't mean that you have to be rude too. And finally, when climbing stairs, entering or exiting a train/bus or station please pay attention and not play with your personal electronic device.
6) Your luggage. Yes, we in Chicago are unusually blessed to have trains that go to both of our major airports. That is not free license to carry your entire wardrobe with you on the train. I know you are poor, and taxis cost way too much. But so does too much baggage! Just cut down the shit you are carrying and it'll all be OK. The maximum allowable luggage for a train: 1 rolling or duffel bag per person. And I am not talking about one of the GIANT HOUSE SIZED pieces of luggage we all see, but those reasonable, small to medium sized bags. If you have more than that, you were rich (stupid) enough to pay the baggage fees then you can afford to take a cab and save the rest of us.
I'm sure there is much, much more I could say on this topic, but its just the first lesson. So, I'll save some for later.
Lesson #1: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Ok, so we all have to get places and it is far too expensive to drive your car anywhere in the city, but particularly to work. Which means that the vast majority of us will have to be on the train between 7-9am and again between 4 - 6pm. Well, this is called rush hour. Here are a few Do's and Don'ts so that I don't have to kill you:
1) There is no legitimate reason to have children on public transportation during rush hour. There just isn't. They will get squished, and possibly trampled. Not to mention that they will always walk too slow and get in everyone's way. Its just safer to keep them off until non-peak times.
An important corollary to this, that should never have to be told to anyone but apparently does, your stroller is not welcome on the train/bus/whatever during normal hours, but it is DEFINITELY not welcome during rush hour. Leave it at home. Same goes for your bike during rush hour, but these people tend to be more considerate (and realistic).
2) When entering the bus you enter from front and exit from the back. There is actually a logical reason for this: traffic flow. This way, people can get out, while people are getting on and then things can move much more quickly. What an amazing concept!
Once you have entered, walk ALL THE WAY to the back. Unless your stop is the very next one (and in which case, why are you on the bus?? No wonder Americans are fat!) you should be as far back as you can possibly get. Let EVERYONE get on...it's good karma.
3) When exiting a train station, walk on the left, stand on the right. SOOO simple. DO NOT block people who are later than you by being the asshole who stands on the left side of the escalator while everyone behind you taps their feet and considers shoving you into those pointy things at the top. Seriously, if you want to stand -- be on the right. NEVER EVER NO MATTER WHAT stand two across. This is the ultimate sin. If you have a kid, they go in front and you go on the right. ALL THE TIME.
4) Pregnant women and old people have priority for the seats. ALWAYS. Just get your fat, lazy ass up. Seriously. I'm looking at you men of Chicago... I am ALWAYS getting up for an older or pregnant woman when I see young men all around me too wrapped up in their blackberries and iPods to notice (or they are just jerks).
5) Which brings me to iPod/Blackberry/Cell Phone Use on public transportation. Its inevitable, and I know it. I would never be crazy enough to suggest that you not do it. Just do it respectfully. Your cell phone conversation should be held at the lowest possible decibel and be as short as possible. If your iPod is on, chances are NO ONE wants to hear your music. Keep it to a reasonable level -- I know the train is loud and people are screaming into their phones, but that doesn't mean that you have to be rude too. And finally, when climbing stairs, entering or exiting a train/bus or station please pay attention and not play with your personal electronic device.
6) Your luggage. Yes, we in Chicago are unusually blessed to have trains that go to both of our major airports. That is not free license to carry your entire wardrobe with you on the train. I know you are poor, and taxis cost way too much. But so does too much baggage! Just cut down the shit you are carrying and it'll all be OK. The maximum allowable luggage for a train: 1 rolling or duffel bag per person. And I am not talking about one of the GIANT HOUSE SIZED pieces of luggage we all see, but those reasonable, small to medium sized bags. If you have more than that, you were rich (stupid) enough to pay the baggage fees then you can afford to take a cab and save the rest of us.
I'm sure there is much, much more I could say on this topic, but its just the first lesson. So, I'll save some for later.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
I get more and more important everyday...
So, instead of boring you with tales of how INCREDIBLY AMAZING AND BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS Rage Against the Machine was or how Kanye West literally lit up the city with his charisma (and arrogance) -- even if his music is kind of lame -- I want to remind everyone of the reasons we go to music festivals.
Music Festivals, such as Lollapalooza, are a community. They are somewhat like church for the hippie/heathen crowd. You go to create a fellowship of sorts with your fellow concert goers -- to bond over the heat, the amazing music and your desperation for water. Maybe you share some of you wine, or the candy you snuck in because in the end, we are all one big happy Lolla family.
I feel the need to do this because of two very unnerving incidents I saw at Lolla this year that were totally counter to the spirit that ought to pervade this type of event.
The first time something happened I was sitting with my roommate watching Lupe Fiasco (who was incendiary, btw) when she noticed a phone randomly in front of us. I picked it up and began asking around us to see if it belonged to anyone. Finally I asked the guys in front of us if it was theirs. They said no, but asked to see it. I assumed they had a reason for asking for it, and offered it to them. They grabbed it and started playing with and then passing it around. I figured they were going to call the last call on the phone and try to return it. I mean, that's what I would have done. Then I noticed them pocket the phone and get up to walk away. I was completely shocked. I never even considered the possibility that they intended to steal the phone. Maybe they brought it to lost and found? I doubt it though. I just wish I had not given it to them, or asked for it back after a little while, or even stopped them when they walked away because that is not acceptable behavior.
The next incident was an even more egregious ethical lapse. At the Flogging Molly show (which ROCKED MY SOCKS OFF) on Sunday someone grabbed a kids hat and threw it up in the air. The crowd was batting it around as the guy ran after it trying to get it back. It was a brand new cubs cap. The woman next to me grabbed it when it bounced by her and swiftly put it in her bag. I witnessed all this, so when the guy came walking by asking if anyone had seen his cubs cap I said, "That woman has it. She just stuck it in her bag," and pointed right at her. I had to repeat it several times to get his attention and the woman just kept standing there looking smug. He asked her if she had it, and she denied he. He gave up at that point (maybe to avoid a fight? I'll never know). I was aghast.
Talk about lacking in character! To steal a fellow Flogging Molly fan's hat and then lie about stealing it? A new low for concert goers everywhere.
Music Festivals, such as Lollapalooza, are a community. They are somewhat like church for the hippie/heathen crowd. You go to create a fellowship of sorts with your fellow concert goers -- to bond over the heat, the amazing music and your desperation for water. Maybe you share some of you wine, or the candy you snuck in because in the end, we are all one big happy Lolla family.
I feel the need to do this because of two very unnerving incidents I saw at Lolla this year that were totally counter to the spirit that ought to pervade this type of event.
The first time something happened I was sitting with my roommate watching Lupe Fiasco (who was incendiary, btw) when she noticed a phone randomly in front of us. I picked it up and began asking around us to see if it belonged to anyone. Finally I asked the guys in front of us if it was theirs. They said no, but asked to see it. I assumed they had a reason for asking for it, and offered it to them. They grabbed it and started playing with and then passing it around. I figured they were going to call the last call on the phone and try to return it. I mean, that's what I would have done. Then I noticed them pocket the phone and get up to walk away. I was completely shocked. I never even considered the possibility that they intended to steal the phone. Maybe they brought it to lost and found? I doubt it though. I just wish I had not given it to them, or asked for it back after a little while, or even stopped them when they walked away because that is not acceptable behavior.
The next incident was an even more egregious ethical lapse. At the Flogging Molly show (which ROCKED MY SOCKS OFF) on Sunday someone grabbed a kids hat and threw it up in the air. The crowd was batting it around as the guy ran after it trying to get it back. It was a brand new cubs cap. The woman next to me grabbed it when it bounced by her and swiftly put it in her bag. I witnessed all this, so when the guy came walking by asking if anyone had seen his cubs cap I said, "That woman has it. She just stuck it in her bag," and pointed right at her. I had to repeat it several times to get his attention and the woman just kept standing there looking smug. He asked her if she had it, and she denied he. He gave up at that point (maybe to avoid a fight? I'll never know). I was aghast.
Talk about lacking in character! To steal a fellow Flogging Molly fan's hat and then lie about stealing it? A new low for concert goers everywhere.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Its the first weekend in August
Which means that its LOLLAPALOOZA! Whoo hoo. So, the music is honestly not that good this year, except for the main acts, but who can resist 3 days of laying the sun, getting a tan, eating junk food and seeing lots of other half naked people while appreciating good music and the city of Chicago as a backdrop?
NOT ME!
My roomie and I are going together for the first time this year! Which is super exciting. I'm going to see Radiohead, RATM, Kanye, Flogging Molly, DJ AM and a few others... who are you seeing?
NOT ME!
My roomie and I are going together for the first time this year! Which is super exciting. I'm going to see Radiohead, RATM, Kanye, Flogging Molly, DJ AM and a few others... who are you seeing?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The All Knowing Comparison of Pumpkin Seeds:
So, if you know me, you know I am OBSESSED with pumpkin seeds. Well, really I am some what like a bird because I really like seeds/nuts in general, but pumpkin seeds are by far my favorite. I have decided that a review of the different kinds of pumpkin seeds is an excellent idea. So here it is:
1) Karr's Pumpkin Seeds. So, I have never seen these outside of Bart Mart but they are the best pumpkin seeds I have ever tried. They are HUUUUGGEEE, slightly excessively salty and you never get a bad seed. They are cheap too! I only wish I knew where to buy them now that I am out of Hyde Park.
2) Walgreen's Select Pumpkin Seeds. So, pumpkin seeds are a shitty obsession because you have to work so hard to get them, or maybe that is what makes them an obsession? Anyway -- of course only some Walgreen's carry these pumpkin seeds but they come in a VERY close second. Really, my only issue with them is the fact that bag is like 1/3 the size of the Karr's bag. However, they are more moderately salty than Karr's so that is a major advantage for them. Basically, its almost a tie, but because I am American -- I go for quantity.
3) David's Pumpkin Seeds. So, Davids are definitely the best sunflower seeds out there, but their pumpkin seeds leave a lot to be desired. They are very small, have almost no salt the bag is the size of a peanut! These are for last resort only.
But the A #1 BEST PUMPKIN SEEDS EVER are of course my own. Mmmm...the real reason to love fall. Not only do you get to dig your hand around in a gross pumpkin (which is AWESOME) you get to then eat the delicious fruits of your labor. Personally, I like to bake mine with a little butter, water and garlic salt. I might try branching out this year and making some in different flavors -- maybe even something spicy, who knows? But, if you really want amazing pumpkin seeds you are just gonna have to brown nose me around October 31st.
1) Karr's Pumpkin Seeds. So, I have never seen these outside of Bart Mart but they are the best pumpkin seeds I have ever tried. They are HUUUUGGEEE, slightly excessively salty and you never get a bad seed. They are cheap too! I only wish I knew where to buy them now that I am out of Hyde Park.
2) Walgreen's Select Pumpkin Seeds. So, pumpkin seeds are a shitty obsession because you have to work so hard to get them, or maybe that is what makes them an obsession? Anyway -- of course only some Walgreen's carry these pumpkin seeds but they come in a VERY close second. Really, my only issue with them is the fact that bag is like 1/3 the size of the Karr's bag. However, they are more moderately salty than Karr's so that is a major advantage for them. Basically, its almost a tie, but because I am American -- I go for quantity.
3) David's Pumpkin Seeds. So, Davids are definitely the best sunflower seeds out there, but their pumpkin seeds leave a lot to be desired. They are very small, have almost no salt the bag is the size of a peanut! These are for last resort only.
But the A #1 BEST PUMPKIN SEEDS EVER are of course my own. Mmmm...the real reason to love fall. Not only do you get to dig your hand around in a gross pumpkin (which is AWESOME) you get to then eat the delicious fruits of your labor. Personally, I like to bake mine with a little butter, water and garlic salt. I might try branching out this year and making some in different flavors -- maybe even something spicy, who knows? But, if you really want amazing pumpkin seeds you are just gonna have to brown nose me around October 31st.
Monday, July 28, 2008
I just ate soup
It is yet another day at work with nothing to do. Shit. My boss is out of town which leaves me with a pretty much wide open day. My work is all quick turn around FIX THIS NOW shit so if he is not here, its really hard for me to fill my day.
Additionally, nothing new/ridiculous has happened to me, so I don't even have something to write about. Oh, actually -- I filed the paperwork today to sue a (former) friend in small claims court. It is unfortunate that it had to come to this, because in the end it is going to cost her significantly more than if she had just paid me in the first place.
This friend decided to take over the lease to my apartment after I moved out upon graduating...and I agreed to sell her my furniture. Seems simple enough, right? Well, this girl and her future roommate had to come THREE different times to see the furniture we were selling. The first time she said she would take it all, then the next time only some of it and the final time she came up with a drastically reduced list of things she wanted. Basically just the expensive stuff like the AC/TV/kitchen stuff... Whatever, fine with me. I told her she could have the rest of it for free because at the point it was June 13 -- the day before my graduation and my move out so I didn't really have time to move/sell it.
She shows up with her check that evening and we let her move a bunch of her shit in to our place to store since she was moving out of the dorms. Well we expected she would show up at a certain time and then take around an hour -- oh no, she showed up 45 minutes late and stayed for 2 1/2 hours while our parents (who were all in town for graduation) waited on them to finish up. They scattered their shit EVERYWHERE making a total disaster out of our apartment when we still were living there. And this first gave us a check for the first part of the money and promised to mail one the next day to us.
The next day was graduation and my graduation party so I was busy from around 9am to about 8pm with family stuff -- including the big party my parents threw for me. That didn't stop my friend and her roommate from calling/texting ALL DAY trying to get into the apartment that they couldn't legally access until the next day when their lease started. I wasn't in HP and had no plans to go back since I had turned in my keys to MAC already and moved out all my stuff so I told her that I couldn't help her and she needed to ask my other roommate. While, my other roommate had stuff she was doing as well and wasn't able to make it back to Hyde Park, but that didn't stop this friend from continually bothering both of us all day to try to get into the apartment.
Well, obviously she never sent me the additional money. But around two weeks later she did leave my roommate a message saying (and this really is real, I know it's hard to believe -- but its real) paraphrased:
"Hey (roommate), so I just got my bed frame and took an hour putting it together -- and the mattress won't fit. I guess I bought a double frame. So, do you want to refund me the cost of the mattress or buy me a new frame?"
Um, hell no. You haven't even paid for everything yet and you made a mistake that we should pay for? I think not.
So we sent them an e-mail requesting the remainder of the money. 5 days goes by and no response. So, I send them another e-mail, 4 more days go by and no response. So, I sent them a notice of intent to sue giving them 10 days to pay us or we would file in court. And I get a response that says she's been too busy to sift through "each and every e-mail in the reg." and "Money is not an issue. It is purely principle that we are upset about."
Uh, what principle? The principle that you are spoiled brats and didn't feel like paying after you got all of our furniture and we went out of our way to help you?
Yeah, this makes me so grateful for small claims.
Additionally, nothing new/ridiculous has happened to me, so I don't even have something to write about. Oh, actually -- I filed the paperwork today to sue a (former) friend in small claims court. It is unfortunate that it had to come to this, because in the end it is going to cost her significantly more than if she had just paid me in the first place.
This friend decided to take over the lease to my apartment after I moved out upon graduating...and I agreed to sell her my furniture. Seems simple enough, right? Well, this girl and her future roommate had to come THREE different times to see the furniture we were selling. The first time she said she would take it all, then the next time only some of it and the final time she came up with a drastically reduced list of things she wanted. Basically just the expensive stuff like the AC/TV/kitchen stuff... Whatever, fine with me. I told her she could have the rest of it for free because at the point it was June 13 -- the day before my graduation and my move out so I didn't really have time to move/sell it.
She shows up with her check that evening and we let her move a bunch of her shit in to our place to store since she was moving out of the dorms. Well we expected she would show up at a certain time and then take around an hour -- oh no, she showed up 45 minutes late and stayed for 2 1/2 hours while our parents (who were all in town for graduation) waited on them to finish up. They scattered their shit EVERYWHERE making a total disaster out of our apartment when we still were living there. And this first gave us a check for the first part of the money and promised to mail one the next day to us.
The next day was graduation and my graduation party so I was busy from around 9am to about 8pm with family stuff -- including the big party my parents threw for me. That didn't stop my friend and her roommate from calling/texting ALL DAY trying to get into the apartment that they couldn't legally access until the next day when their lease started. I wasn't in HP and had no plans to go back since I had turned in my keys to MAC already and moved out all my stuff so I told her that I couldn't help her and she needed to ask my other roommate. While, my other roommate had stuff she was doing as well and wasn't able to make it back to Hyde Park, but that didn't stop this friend from continually bothering both of us all day to try to get into the apartment.
Well, obviously she never sent me the additional money. But around two weeks later she did leave my roommate a message saying (and this really is real, I know it's hard to believe -- but its real) paraphrased:
"Hey (roommate), so I just got my bed frame and took an hour putting it together -- and the mattress won't fit. I guess I bought a double frame. So, do you want to refund me the cost of the mattress or buy me a new frame?"
Um, hell no. You haven't even paid for everything yet and you made a mistake that we should pay for? I think not.
So we sent them an e-mail requesting the remainder of the money. 5 days goes by and no response. So, I send them another e-mail, 4 more days go by and no response. So, I sent them a notice of intent to sue giving them 10 days to pay us or we would file in court. And I get a response that says she's been too busy to sift through "each and every e-mail in the reg." and "Money is not an issue. It is purely principle that we are upset about."
Uh, what principle? The principle that you are spoiled brats and didn't feel like paying after you got all of our furniture and we went out of our way to help you?
Yeah, this makes me so grateful for small claims.
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