Learning to eat...

I fed Lucy today and most of the food went down! I still cannot get myself to change a diaper...

I made a couple more show entries... and worked more on a project...

Also received the new ICP course catalogue in the mail... I am thinking of actually taking one of their one or two session classes...

Spent some time looking up music based on record reviews. Well, I still think record reviews stink. I remember a time when I could rely on a review to know if I should check something out or not. Not anymore. While the internet takes the fun out of the record hunt, it saves me a great deal of money because reviewers have horrible taste! And the comparisons to existing or defunct bands is so far off... I am also having a hankering for record shopping. Hubby gave me a book on record shops... oh so nice... We have been thinking our town needs a good independent record store. Forget all the oldsters who shop at the Wal-mart and don't set foot on main street. Open a shop that caters to to the newcomers who spend more time improving the town... heck yeah! Now I am all fired up....

Ho hum...

So laundry is almost done, the radiator in the upstairs bath is scrubbed - last one to do - I spent a couple hours on art, read like crazy yesterday, and I now think I deserve a nap... I found a couple more art shows to submit to and started working on scanning stuff to enter in them. My negatives from the Diana Mini are better than the photos printed from them. I wish I could have Walgreens just process the film without printing the images. I could just bring the film to another place that would do just that, but it would be expensive...

I have my sister's old iMac and worked on the images on that. It is weird... I have to use the mouse on the right b/c of the table it is on and the monitor is smaller than my Dell, but then on top of all that, the Mac-isms are hard to get used to again. The last time I worked on one was at the job in NYC and that was before teaching! Heck, that was on Photoshop version 3, for crying out loud! Not really frustration, just ssslllooooowwwly learning how to work on a Mac again... I am thinking it would be easier to have the two computers on a network so I do not have to transfer images on the flash drive all the time, but heck, why spend the money?

Speaking of spending money... Kino Video has a sale going on and I shopped and bought - they are two different things, you know... I ordered the restored full Metropolis, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and a DVD of 100-year-old Christmas footage! I can't wait until they come in. I missed the Caligari showing at the NGA one year in DC and have never seen it... I am thinking of getting the special Nosferatu set too and this German Expressionist box set and an American Horror box set... all silent films, of course! And then I can bring them all in for the Photo students to watch when they claim they have nothing to do!

I tend to get itchy when I have nothing to do or read, so it suits me to have lots of little projects this break. I am also testing the right arm/hand situation. The doc upped one of my prescriptions because it is something that can also relieve physical pain. This work will enable me to test that... all I know is it makes me soooo tired at night. So doing more art will use that hand more... with the benefit of not being bored and getting things out of my brain and into the physical world....

Plans? What plans?

So there is a blizzard coming. Apparently if you do not have cable TV, you have your "head in the sand" - as sister lovingly put it. Three phone calls around 9 am wanting to let us know about the blizzard coming. You see, this was the day we were going to New Hope to see the Vasa's for Christmas. But, silly people, I have... internet and knew about the impending weather! Ha ha! And brother-in-law even called to see if we need anything! Good grief... We do buy food and necessities...

So I wore a Christmas top that was a gift last year and everyone at Christmas Eve loved it! The food was good and none of the non-fun relatives were there. That made it pleasant... then watching Lucy ham it up on Christmas morning was a trip! Not that I like other babies, so do not get the wrong idea. The students are still going to be my only children... but Lucy is a barrel of fun, when she's not screaming...

I was wondering about some of the gifts students received since some mothers contacted me about gifts... so I am hoping to see some posts... now to shop for silent films on the Kino Video site. Heck, I may even buy something!

Can't wait to shovel....

All set...

Spent last night watching The Nutcracker on PBS, drank egg nog before bed, wearing a fab holiday outfit for the Christmas Eve bash tonight at the parents' house. I won't be able to hold the fart machine aka Lucy because of the cold that will not quit.

Super delighted that all classes - except most of period 7 of course - worked with no arguments yesterday! I don't mind being in the minority of teachers not showing Christmas cartoons on the 23rd. I think the classes do want to be in the darkroom!

But I have to buckle under and get period 7 back on track. I let the little things like Scholastic and portfolios get the majority of the attention. First, I will be making sure those who don't work, get bothered by me wanting to have art discussions, so they will be bored into working! Then I am bringing in my DVD's of silent films to have students watch to get inspired. I should probably order a couple more over the break. If I find them inspiring, I am sure the students will too!

I will miss the students an awful lot but I need a break and Millie has been super twitchy lately and she needs some time with me and some love....

Time to go look up some stuff then read with the Mill-Mill....

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Snow!!!?!

There might be snow Christmas weekend! Woo hoo!!!!

I am nearly done with all the grading. One thing that was disappointing was that the Photo I classes didn't really get the idea of formal portraiture. Did they get lazy about it or did I not convey the idea strongly enough? So I cannot grade that too harshly...

This is the week of gluttony because of the goodies for the teachers all week and my tummy felt it last night! I couldn't even eat dinner! but I do not do the Christmas party thing in my classroom. We always get a not telling us not to. I know most teachers do, but I do not want to get caught breaking rules...

Excited to do some art this break and cuddle with Millie...

but the sore throat is back with a vengeance and that is not good... and I need to be able to yell at the students not working... ugh.....

Baking...

After stress last night, I decided to bake right away this morning. Managed to get three recipes done in 2.5 hours!

I was hoping to wake up to snow and no such luck.

Santa comes through town on a fire truck. I heard the truck and saw it one block up. Got Millie to show her Santa and... there he goes, turning left down the hill, skipping our block! Just like when the ice cream man started to come up our street, the kids are out across the street ready to buy, and there he goes, throwing it into reverse back down the hill to turn around! Jeez... living on one of the steepest hills in town just stinks sometimes!

Usually I am really stressed out this time of year. I am way behind on baking and/or shopping. But without yearbook, I am not behind! It feels so strange... but good. I am almost done with grading too... I really like this...

Extremely aggravated with Scholastic right now...

I need a Lucy break....

And Millie found her present... now Daddy has to put in in the attic...

Yes, the tree in all it's glory... The only thing missing is the occasional tree base dweller, aka Millie...

So, tired of the sore throat - and I guess lecturing about a new assignment wasn't a good idea - I stayed home today. Slept, sucked on throat drops and drank egg nog all day. Millie was super happy.

Read the last journal entries. I guess I was expecting more responses relating to other countries where this has happened. Do the PV students know this is currently the situation for the residents of some areas of the world? Do they know of the times it has happened over history? I wonder. All the answers were the same... But if they really thought about it, if the government controlled art to that extent, they would also be controlling the art you see - museums - and other arts such as music and dance. So that means they regulate the music you can hear... they control the radio... and some of you think it stinks that I control my radio!... The answers just didn't dig deep enough... I remember reading about things like this is certain Eastern Bloc countries in the 80's and just being amazed that bands even formed and played without getting caught and that it meant jail for them if caught. But the secret underground network and support was amazing... So now I wonder how to get people today to understand that all they have access to doesn't mean everyone has the same access... and those people are not necessarily living in some jungle or on some savannah....

On a happy note, without yearbook I am able to fully enjoy this holiday season. Usually I am tearing my hair out right about now. I have talked to some staff who are very frustrated. They may think it is the new advisor, but what they truly do not understand is that that is how it was for me every single year. I took on the aggravation so they were not affected... but I received little to no help from the administrator then in charge.... the stress they are experiencing was my life for 8 years... and it took its toll... at least they will find support if they speak up...

Ick...

Supposed to have friends over with their two kids, go for lunch, walk Main Street. This is not the weather for that...

I also have a sore throat for the second day in a row...

Have to check on Gimpy and Ernie at my parents' house because they are away... they stalk professional ice skaters, I mean go to ice skating competitions...

And, the last three of my right hand fingers are moving real slow... like they are on a time delay... it makes typing a you-know-what...

Now for breakfast...

Hmmm....

I do wish students did not procrastinate. The pressure from this is giving me chest pains... And then I get cranky and snippy because I can't stay after Thursday and possibly Friday to help and then I feel bad about that and I have a sore throat and I want the students to take all this seriously and not be pulled in directions they should not be pulled in and .....

Oh dear, I think I need and egg nog (non-alc), Millie on my lap and a good Christmas special... Millie is on my lap right now but I am still stressing over work and the apple cider in the glass is gone...

At last night's town meeting, I sort of was acknowledged for bringing up the litter issue to the town and getting them to up the fines. Of course they could not say my name and thank me but there was that brief comment and I was happy. I would be happier if they actually adopted the rewritten codes I submitted, but that is not acceptable as an outsider.

Been thinking quite a bit about this outsider status I wear like a noose. I will always be one at PV because I wasn't here "back then" - so 9 years isn't long enough? - and will always be one in town because I wasn't born here - though it is a freak town and by definition I should belong - and I feel like I belong in DC.... Just do not make the money needed to live there.... sigh....

Oh well... dinner time...

Phew!

The tree is done!!! I finished today using a mix of old Shiny Brite glass ornaments dumpstered and Grandma and Grandpa Berry ornaments. Had to borrow lights from sister... I give it a week before a string goes out...

Hubby started on the outside but too cold to finish. We will have three light-up deer in the backyard, visible from the street!

I also just completed a submission to a gallery. This was so involved - artist statement, bio, resume, slide list - and I just wish there was a standard file size for all galleries. This way I could keep the digital files all set and just change the name. Some want 300 dpi, some want no bigger than 1000 pixels in any dimension, some want no more than 1 MB. Annoying and time consuming. I tossed two applications from the pile - my work wasn't quite right for them... I have another two I want to do this week. And about another 10 with varied due dates... And I still have a shoot idea jingling around my brain that I have to do...

But tomorrow night I go to the aldermen meeting at town hall. They are adopting higher litter fines courtesy of yours truly. I - with the help of the Design Team - rewrote the litter codes. But they don't seem to need they revamping. The only thing they agreed with me on was that the fines need to be higher. So I will show my face there as appreciation, but also to speak about enforcement... Let's see how well that goes over - two strikes against me are that I am female and not a "long-timer" in the town...

And now to go rest and read with hubby and Millie....

The tree is assembled and up, the lights are on, and I will begin decorating tonight. I am going with all glass balls and all colours. Now, as usual, once I have the tree fully decorated, about a week later, half a string of lights will go out... hoping to invest in LED lights for next year...

Also looked at the latest issue of Shots. The only time I have seen a publication with images of children that was not cutesy, cliche and nauseating. Just a really fantastic selection. I may require all Photo II's and III's look at it online...

Fatio...

Yes, another security word...

Funny, because I am going out to eat tonight. There is a town nearby with two gallery openings tonight so we will be going to those then to a nearby Thai restaurant. Wearing pants that will give me the room I need to fill the tummy...

So because I have been swamped this week - worried about getting the students to complete their Scholastic submissions, prepping work for another student show, HPC meeting, a sold item on Esty and dealing with the banking stuff and more! - I forgot to look at my pile of show submission forms. I missed 5 good ones! I am sooo ticked at myself. There were a couple I truly wanted to try to get in... But that is what happens when you fall asleep by 9.00 pm almost every night....


Also hoping to print a bit in the darkroom this weekend. Developed the 120 film from DC and they look good.

Wanted to go to a Christie Town Hall meeting in Parsippany today after work, but got out at 3.00 and it had started at 2.45. I couldn't expect to waltz in that late. He was there mainly because the town's school super recently signed a multi-year contract for well over $250k. And then this week, the Newark police force union stopped negotiations with the city and one reason was reportedly over not wanting to make concessions regarding overtime. Sigh... and teachers do not make anywhere near $250k and do not make overtime but we have the rotten reputation. Then I look at the pictures from my parents' trip to visit relatives in Italy this past July and see the gorgeous centuries old house mom's cousin has and he and his wife are retired teachers! I do not want a huge house - I like mine fine - but I just wish the respect and appreciation was a little more THERE..... The students learn to disrespect us because their parents see us as the problem and their governor sees us as the problem and we are robbing them blind...

I think I should have told the Cablevision guy at my door yesterday that I can't afford cable TV because I am a public school teacher, not one of the 2% some politicians think deserve more tax cuts....

Where is the fairness? And yeah, can you guess third period was rough and I was irked seventh period?

Soul-less

So I registered with Freecycle in the hopes of getting some things for the classes and getting rid of some stuff at home. I have managed to get rid of a pile of magazines - given to a DJ form my favourite station! - and acquire a pile of classical 78's. Nothing for the kids yet. I almost had a vinyl portfolio for them to transport their stuff and a Minolta camera. But I am always second or third in line.

But...

There are some freaky funny things offered. Underwear, pads, tampons.... but this morning I saw one that beat them all...

"Chicken souls any of them...."

Now I know what this person means - the chicken soup is good for the soul books - but..... this is just hilarious...

Do you think I could ask for some rocker souls? I'll take a Jim Morrison, Sid Vicious, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, and Michael Hutchence. Let me know when I can pick them up.....

In other news, my sister and I had our first Etsy sale! She sold a hand made book! Woo-hoo! Maybe sales will take off now.... not really.

Went to the Met yesterday. I had so much fun. The photo exhibits were amazing. I really do love the Photo-Secessionists. After much thought, my vote goes to Steichen. Then we ventured around and found the period rooms. Then... the open storage. I could barely contain my excitement! You have to understand, the museum does not always have all galleries open due to budget constraints. So every time I have been there, those galleries are closed. But, after over 15 years of trying to get in, I DID!!! Demsey is definitely good luck. All the beautiful furniture, the decor, the history! I was in heaven. And I think the students had fun too. They each received a free pass for the family, and they had better use it!