September 30th, 2005 ~ Friday

10:41 p.m.

It needs to stop..

I just watched Holes on the Disney channel.  I really like that Shia Labeouf. 

Now...I may have ranted about this before.  I can't remember.  But...Disney channel actors singing classic Disney songs?  WHY!  Why would you do that?  Why?  Why destroy a classic?  Now...I feel kind of like a bully because these are just kids singing.  Well..some of them are old kids.  Oh psh, I just looked up Raven...she's almost 20!  So I don't feel bad about saying that about her.  But man...you just can't redo classic Disney songs and put a pop beat behind it and have mediocre singers singing...it's sadness!  It's beyond sadness.

When you have classics...leave them be.  Don't remake Psycho.  Don't go in and add digital effects to Star Wars.  And don't let wanna be pop princesses remake classic songs (disney or otherwise). 

Bah.  Humbug!

3:46 p.m.

One Down...

It has been one week of vacation.  Already.  And if you are already bored then it means you don't truly know what it means to be busy =D  I say that with love. 

I went to Old Navy yesterday, and a strange thing happened.  There was a woman standing in the middle of the aisle so that nobody could pass.  Now normally, when you approach someone like that they move out of the way, right?  But I walked toward her and she stayed where she was, so I politely said, "Excuse me."  She then sighed and said, "Okay..." in a very burdened tone.  I found that odd.

I had a strange dream last night, too.  It involved one of my 8th grade boys from last year (who shall remain nameless).  But turns out he was a backup singer and dancer for Britney Spears (ick).  He was really into it, too.  His hair was all spiked up and...well needless to say, I found the whole thing thoroughly entertaining.

All right, well that's all.  Let me know if you get bored and I'll post some amusing websites.

But in the meantime...must go practice.  Again...

Fall Break!...it sounds like a fake vacation, doesn't it?

Every time I talk to friends who aren't teachers and I tell them I'm on fall break, they think I'm making it up and am just taking a random vacation.  (shrug).

Well, I hope you are all enjoying the beginnings of your vacations.  I have had a wonderfully dorky beginning to mine.  I have baked some chocolate chip cookies (the lazy way, though...not from scratch), I have gone grocery shopping (because food is good), I've cleaned up (it's never good when all your clothes are on the floor and you step on them...), and am now listening to the soundtrack of Amelie (because I dig French music).  But the dorky part...okay, here it comes.

I have these pencils that I love.  They are colorful and have colorful squiggles on them....they're wonderful and I've used them forever.  They clip on stands well, they stay in my ponytail, they are cheerful, and they don't break.  I hate when you get mechanical pencils and the eraser falls off and all the lead comes out...sad.  Sad!  So these are my wonderful pencils that I love and adore...really more than a person should love a pencil. 

At the beginning of the year, when it was time for me to go on my annual school supply shopping binge, I went to 3 office depots, office max, sav on, and staples in search of these pencils that I have used every year for...ever.  And alas, I couldn't find them anywhere!  I was so bummed, and bought some other pencils (that weren't the same and ultimately ended up breaking and having the eraser fall off and...sadness ensued).  I did find one pack at Rite Aid (which caused massive joy).  And since then, I keep my eyes open for these mechanical pencils whenever I go into a drugstore or office supply store...or anywhere, really.

I really like these pencils.

Yesterday, I was at another Rite Aid closer to my house, and they had the whole school supply aisle since the traditional schools are now starting.  And there, among all the other pencils...yes, that's right.  My beautiful pencils!  I got so excited.  I picked up 4 packs...and then 2 more...and then ended up taking all 8 packs that were on display.  =D 

So I'm REALLY going to be mad if people steal THESE pencils.  Grr!  =D

  <- isn't it beautiful?  *sniff sniff*

Eeee!!!

All I can do is squeal.  And clap my hands like a small child.  Why?  Because I just watched the trailer for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!!  Eee!!!  Eeee!!!

It's gonna be gooooood!

I can't get over how the first two movies were all Disney-esque, and then suddenly we took a very dramatic turn.  The triwizard tournament looks intense.  The veela aren't as stunning as I thought they'd be.  I was picturing bleach blonde hair...white blonde hair...(shrug).  Cho looks mixed...she's pretty and it's going to be sad to watch her become lame in the next movies.  Stupid lame Cho.  I love Ron =D  I am wondering, however, why he's dancing with McGonagall.  I don't remember that happening in the book.  Geez, can you imagine dancing with your teachers?  (Though when I student taught at a high school, I did get asked to prom.)  Daniel and Rupert (Harry and Ron) need haircuts.  Come on, boys.  The shag look isn't working.

I thought Sirius' face in the fire was Voldemort and got very frightened.

November 18th!  November 18th!  That's Friday!  Let's take a field trip!  :D  Not really, but...eee! 

I can't wait.

(Those of you who aren't into Harry Potter are going to have to put up with my excitement for awhile.  As you may already be able to tell, Harry Potter excites me to no end.  Eee!)

Tick Tick Tick Boom

Not much going on.  I'm doing grades (woo hoo...blah).  I actually hate grading, and you will hear me complain about it every month, no doubt.  I realize I do it to myself in a way (if I didn't assign anything I would never have to grade things, right?), but take that to be emblematic of how important I think it is for you guys to practice, listen, and reflect.  It's important enough for me to have to subject myself to grading hundreds (it's 700-800 per MONTH!) of papers. 

The reflections are both my favorite and least favorite to grade.  They're my favorite because I get to read what you guys write about and notice, and I also get some insight into the way you think about music (among other things).  However, it takes a LONG TIME to grade.

Oh!  This is more for my Symphonic Orchestra musicians than anybody else, but I was watching Gilmore Girls on Tuesday (hey, leave me alone, I like that show...I don't care what you say!) and when Rory and Lorelai are at the Friday night dinner (anybody who has never seen this show must be lost by now) and Logan arrives....guess what was playing in the background!  That's right... Brandenburg Concerto No. 3!  Classical music in real life....well kind of...who knew!

All right, back to grading I go.  Why is 1st period so darn big...