Now, Willie (I found out today that that's how he spells it, now) has been at NE for a week and 2 days. His first day was my first day. He seemed well mannered, shy, intelligent, and had a particular style. His style is one I 'd expect to see in the suburb he moved from. Baggy, but not too baggy jeans, no hat, some kind of silver neckless, a button down shirt, skate shoes. He looked nice, but not dressed up. He acted the same way. Relazed and put together. He held himself high those f...

We played math fraction games today again in groups. I was sitting with a group of two. Willy and Quincey. Quincey decides that I, being the teacher, haven't ever heard penis jokes before. The presumed purity of teachers...ha! So back and forth Quincey and Willey crack jokes. Quincey keeps saying things like, "Put it there, Willy" "Oh, Willy, right there" Willy, that's right" "Willy, right there, yeah" "Willy...Willy...Willy..." As a response, Willy just keeps saying "Dude ...

Nothing too interesting today. I am more amazed that some adults never got a full math education. Math anxiety, some say. It's your teachers fault, you know! Teachers seem to hate explaining the hows and whys that make for a real understanding of math, instead of just number munching. I didn't understand the hows and whys of math until I started taking calculus. That's insane. It's much easier to explain these things in elementary school and prepare kids to think algebraically, ins...

We walk up the steps to the patio. He hands it to me. Breathe in. I hand it to her. Around and around. It’s been a long time, much too long a time. I couldn’t really remember, anyway. My head is in my hands, between my knees. It takes me a while to catch by breath. I hear the world before I can see it. It can’t wait, especially the sun. She has to say her final farewell. She demands I say mine. Hip, knee, ball, toe. Hip, knee, ball, toe. I clutch him. I don’t know how I go...

Today was my first day of three weeks teaching middle school math. During second period, one of the boys, who happens to tower over me, grabbed another kid's binder and whipped it across the room. Papers, pencils, and books went flying everywhere. Whew! Glad I wasn't standing in the line of fire, although I was near. The papers were at all around me. The kid who did the throwing seemed to think it was alright because the other kid touched his stuff. Damn. I found out later that last we...

I think I need your opinions, Joe Users. Breast feeding in public. I don't get the hype. Breasts serve many functions, one of which is nursing a human baby. When nursing, breasts are being used non-sexually. So, why are so many people against nursing in public. I was discussing breast feeding with a group of my friends. The two women said they would never do it in public. One of them even ripped on her sister-in-law for breast feeding at the state fair without a blanket covering her...

I used to cry. Once in a while, but real big when it happened. I'd shake. He'd wrap his big hands around my head and press my face into his chest. I'd shake there and he'd rock me back and forth, soothing me like he'd always done, even back to when I didn't sleep the nights through. When I left I saw him cry for the first time for me. It was for me, no one else. I admit it. It felt good. I got to sever the ties. I had the power. I got to move on. He had to deal with his first...

With my youth club, I went to the Raptor Center today. They were facinated. They got to see raptors poop, talk about vomiting, and talk about viscious things like how hooked beaks work well to meat off other living things. Yikes! I was facinated. I can't wait to go back and have them bring journals. Think of all the things they could write about! Turkey vultures have bald heads because they eat so many gross things that their head would be nasty if it were covered in feathers. They...

To Grandpa: WWII. To Uncle Steve: Vietnam. To all who served and now promote peace. ll

Sick to death of the old, stinky, hand me down couch we had in our tiny apartment, we decided to make a change. We went couchless! Where do you sit, you ask?? On a LoveSac! We have a 6 foot bean bag, but it isn't really a bean bag because there is no beans in it. It's made from the material that is inside couches. So, there is the stuffing sac, and then a cover that goes over the stuffing sac. For covers, you can choose from a varieties to match your decore. We chose gray courderoy. I...

As usual, today I was in the schools again. From across the third/forth grade room, I saw a black t-shirt with pink glittery writing on it. After a second, I noticed it said: . "What Stinks About Boys" Ugh. I hate these kinds of shirts anyway, but I asked the young lady (a whole 8 years old) to come over so I could read it. Two of the five comments were of particular interest. 1. Boys don't gossip. 2. Boys don't shop. Where have all the feminists gone? Did their heads get hal...

This week has been insane. Besides all the hope and joy of my social circle that turned into saddness and anger early in the week (not meant to be an offensive comment, just some feelings!) one event after another seems to have sabotaged our (my boyfriend and my) life. It's unbelieveable. Monday My boyfriend works at a research center for health care and the likes. The manager there tend to not like men with facial hair or earings (or so I hear). He was on the phone and reading whil...

Beep... beep...beep Sleep Beep...beep...beep Sleep Beep...beep... Rush, rush, rush. Slippers, robe, bathroom, coffee, cat, fish, plant light, lunch, books, planner, binder, backpack, keys, phone, wallet, jacket, shoes, lights Slam! Repeat daily in the a.m. Not on foggy days though. I savor the time between engagements. The air softens. I can't help but be lulled, slow my walk, breath it in, let it go, stroll. It lightens my load, as if the air itself is acknowle...

Ghiradelli crinkilng gluey paper tearing blue and gold quickly naked broken open corner by corner goey inside cool at first then melting coated with sugar cocoa, dark and milk through the middle swallowing savoring goodbye gone brown fingers lick 'em