Spring Break 2012

 Already a memory...


That is the thing about looking forward to something...
It's behind you before you know it!

Day 1 -
Friday was the first official day of break and we decided to tryout the Evergreen water park in Macminville... 1.5 hours away.  I mention the 1.5 hours because we drove the 1.5 hours to discover that when Josh checked the hours of operation he got it wrong...

So plan B....
We went to lunch, OMSI saw OMNIMAX movie Tornado alley and checked out the science center and topped it off with ice cream :)

Day 2 - Monday
Josh had to work and I went to the school and graded papers and did 4th quarter prep...didn't feel like spring break but felt good to get lots done...

Day 3 - Tuesday
Josh had to work, Ty went to a friends house and I worked on my Masters class

Day 4 - Wednesday
1st REAL day of vacation...packed up and headed to the beach with my Mom and her hubby.
Had to drive through snow and lots of it to get to the beach!

Spring snow makes for some pretty pictures...

We arrived in the pouring rain but were thrilled with our house and its location on the beach.
This was the view from the back deck, living room, dining room and kitchen...
 

We expected rain...
But the weather was really great!  We are talking Oregon Coast in March so the term "great" is relative :)

We saw whales from our deck. :)

Day 4 Thursday
We drove north to Newport to meet up with some other friends also vacationing at the beach

We enjoyed the scenery and local wildlife...

Day 5 - Friday we woke to gorgeous, glorious sunshine :)

We spent the day exploring the sea lion caves, lighthouses, blowholes, and soaking in every drop of sun :)

 The weather was so nice my Mom decided to take a shower :)  sneaker wave :)

Grandpa surveying the scene

 I spent lots of time just climbing around on the rocks and taking pictures

Day 6 Saturday

We drove back up to Newport and explore the aquarium and Marine science center.

 Our last night we had a stunning sunset!

One of the favorite features at the house was the game room with the pinball machine...Josh was the champ :)

It was a great break...


Over too soon!


Frychik

Historiography is stupid!

Brace yourselves...I'm venting.

Historiography is a challenging topic.  I am a very concrete thinker and I'm struggling to find the concrete.
Last week my research proposal was due.  Which meant I had to submit two paragraphs and my bibliography for what I plan to do my major research paper on (40% of my grade).
Because this is "historiography" I am not to pick a specific historical event or person but the history of history or the school of thought regarding a specific historical event...or a favorite historian...I'm to have a favorite historian?  I have favorite topics in history but I have not chosen a favorite historian...I only know the names of a few historians...But if I did pick a historian it wouldn't be a paper about them but about how he/she interpreted history...
I'm suddenly feeling very, very, very dumb...

I really struggled with my proposal but was able to submit it on time and held my breath waiting for my score and her comments.

Her first comment "Double spaced means double spaced."  Now I will admit to being a bit sensitive but I'm a 43 year old and I don't appreciate being spoken to like that...Really?  And to be clear it wasn't listed anywhere that it should be double spaced, she continued "All manuscripts through school and through the publishing world are double spaced." - again this was two paragraphs not a paper and I was a little put off by her tone...
Things just progressed from there. For example I don't know when, why, or where I picked up the habit of double spacing after a period.  Was I taught that? Where you taught that? Is it just a habit I developed? I think I was taught to double space after a period. Well, your not supposed to! She dinked me for that as well. There were further comments and a score of 45/50 =90%  I should also add this is my 3rd proposal for this school and never has any other professor had issue with my double spacing habits...

Now, before I knew any of the reasons, I saw my score of 45/50.  Previously for each assignment comments pop up in a comment box beside the score explaining the score. When I checked there was no explanation given for the score. I naturally needed to know what she didn't like about the proposal so I could fix the problems. So I sent her the following email.

On Mar 19, 2012 at 5:19 PM, Fry, MIchelle (4220999) wrote:


Hello,
I was wondering why I received a 45/50 on my proposal? I didn't see any comments that would inform me what was lacking. I believed I followed the instructions?

To which she replied -


Dear Michelle,


Given the number of comments on the returned copy of your proposal, comments on how to improve your work for the final paper, I think it is obvious that you did not turn in a perfect assignment so should not expect a perfect grade.The grade is based on quality as well as filling in something in each required category. A grade of 98% is a descent grade.

Sincerely,

Anne Millbrooke, Prof.

To which I replied-

I was not expecting a perfect grade I simply had not found your comments so I would know the reason for the 90%(not 98% as you indicated) you gave me on the assignment. My question was simply so I would know what to work on and not a demand for a perfect grade. I have since found your comments. Sorry to trouble you.


Is it just me or does she come off condescending?

I am so ticked right now.  I so want to quit this stupid class but it is not an option.  I wish so much I had classmates to commiserate with.  Taking online has its advantages but not being able to see people face to face has a very isolating affect.
I also wish with all my heart a retired history professor would move in next door...

Thanks for listening...

I'll be cheerier next time 

Frychik

FLS - Extremely Loud & Increadibly Close

-FLS-

It was a treat that Book Club snuck up on me this week.

For various reasons we didn't have to wait as long between meetings this time

which suits me just fine!

I enjoyed our book choice.

It was quirky...

very unique...

and most importantly a quick read...



Of course Suzanne, our hostess with the mostess set a gorgeous table

with fantastic food...

We were spoiled!

I loved her cleaver touch with the place mats...

She had written various quotes from the book on each mat...

It seemed we all came with "heavy boots" on...

For various reasons most of us had stressful days/weeks/months

and to top that off one of our own is moving away next week and it will be her last week with us :(

Heavy Boots indeed...

But if you've got them...

its best to wear them to a friends house...

and suddenly they feel lighter...



Lets hope the sun decides to show up and we can kick those boots off

and wear some flip flops!

Frychik

Spring?

It seems odd that I would be complaining about snow...
And I'm really not...
It's just that It's March 13 and for two glorious days last week it was in the 60s and I lost an hour of sleep and it just doesn't seem right to wake up to sloppy, wet snow...

It doesn't look like much and you'll notice the roads are clear...
But we tend to over-react when it comes to snow around here...

It does make for some pretty picture taking

And as you can see, there is evidence of Spring out there...its trying to Spring...


My Tue/Thur classes have been decimated in the past few weeks...I have thrown my plans out the window because despite my best efforts I cannot compete with mother nature...

We have had one snow day and two late starts due to snow all on a Tue or Thur.
We had a lock down drill on a Thur.
We had our first 67 degree day on a Thur...(Mrs. Fry can we please go outside and feel the warmth of the sun on our cold lifeless bodies...)

So today I say Mother Nature you win...you can teach my Sophomores for the rest of the year...


Frychik

Don't trust me with your kids....

Confession time...

I have been in a few REAL emergency situations with students
 -one hit by a car
-kids accosted by unfriendly types under the Eiffel Tower
-Kid mugged in Boston
-Kid broke window with hand bleeding profusely
-various cuts, scrapes, sicknesses

I have traveled THOUSANDS of miles with kids and ALWAYS brought them home safely

I have always managed to handle fire drills efficiently getting all my kids safely out of the room and to the designated safe zone...

But today I "killed" half of the Sophomore class...to be clear the half of the Sophomore class that was my responsibility to keep safe...

Today was my very first "Lock Down Drill"  Sadly we live in a world where it is essential to know what exactly to do if an armed person were to suddenly appear on campus.

I was a little nervous about it and I knew it was coming but the kids did not and I was trying to time my lesson plan around the time the drill was to take place...

It was not announced as a drill - the announcement just said "we are immediately going into Lock Down."  However, we did not want kids calling parents or dialing 911 so after I had bossed the kids around appropriately (Jill pull the blinds, Jeff turn the lights off, everyone on the floor against this wall and be quiet...) I quietly told the kids it was a drill and please don't dial 911...

We sat there quietly for 10 minutes which is like 3 hours in teenager time...and my time for that matter...

We were quiet as we heard the door handles rattle....we were quiet when we saw shadows of people passing by the outside windows...

But then there was a knock on the door...and I could see through my uncovered window (something that will be fixed shortly) that it was a Police Officer. He not only knocked but also said "the drill is over".  So after checking carefully that this man was in uniform ( I could even see his holstered gun) I went to open the door...my kids told me not to do it but I said "its a cop it's ok!"  Of course, as soon as I opened the door, Mr. Policeman told me I shouldn't have opened the door....to which I replied but your a cop!

Long story short I failed Lock Down drill...

Frychik

Cotton Candy and Sun Days

So we have a late start this morning...
It is gorgeous and sunny outside - see...

Daffodils are blooming outside and inside....

My teaching schedule is a mess!
Last week I missed two days one because of sickness....one because of snow....

This week is SWOP (Student Week of Prayer) Which means all classes are shorter and the schedule is a mess...


And now in the midst of SWOP we have a 2.5 late start! Which means for me because of the added complications of the assembly day + snow day = crazy confusing schedule - I have two sections of the same class one section will be 30 min. long and the other will be 57........  So much for balance...


So I braved the treacherous roads and ran at the gym this morning.  The sun was pouring in which meant I was dripping with sweat!  I am not pretty when I work out... I pull every strand off hair I have off of my face and neck with a series of bands and barrettes that will hold as I run.   I soak my shirt with sweat, My face is bright red and while I would like to blame the smell on the guy next to me I think I have to claim some of the credit...

I have huge mental hurdles I have to overcome EVERY time I run. They go something like.... I can't do it, I'm hot, I don't want to do it, I can't do it, I'm HOT! (not in a good way!) So when I accomplish my goal I feel amazing! Because I have overcome those stupid mean voices in my head!

It is an amazing feeling as I begin to cool down on the treadmill!  I tell myself that was awesome and I did it and I have to brag to anyone who will listen because I did it and I really doubted if I could!  In the midst of these happy feelings...she showed up.  I realize that at 43 I have no business comparing myself to someone I'm guessing to be maybe 22.  But I can't help it!  I also realize it was unfair to compare my stinky, sweaty, self to miss fresh perky and I kid you not, she smelled like cotton candy!  But I did...

But I'm over it! I kicked butt today :)
Let the sunshine motivate you today!

Frychik

One of my favorite things...

Happy first day of spring!

What a surprise to wake up to a winter wonderland this morning!

Yesterday it was a miserably cold, nasty, rainy day...the worst kind 36 degrees and the rain is frozen so its extra cold when it pelts you in the face...the kind that makes you wish for warm tropical beaches...

It's the first day of spring so I'm ready for warm weather...I've given up on all hope of snow and then...

I woke up to this :)
 And I decided that spring could wait another day...

And Teddy totally agreed with me :)

Its just so darn pretty...

However, because this was an unexpected snow (the best kind) the worst thing possible has happened!

I didn't rush to the snow and buy milk...so I'm without milk and there is snow outside...oh no! ;p


Happy snow day!

Frychik