The Prestige

TJ and I saw this movie last night. All I can say is "wow." I really enjoyed it. It was about two magicians in turn of the century London who always were trying to outdo the other (sometimes with disastrous results). It was told sort of in three parts at once--past (twice) and present. It was one of those that you try to piece together the whole time and, when you do, your like "Oh my God...is this really happening?" I finally got it with like 10 minutes to go--and I was floored. I don't know if I breathed or blinked for the last part at all. Really--just when I thought I had it all something else came up. It was well written film and Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale were amazing. Let's not forget Michael Caine and a small role by David Bowie (yes, that David Bowie--I didn't even recognize him).

Although TJ didn't like it as much as I did I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery type movie. Be prepared to devote all your attention to it, though--if you miss one minute you miss a lot. If you haven't seen it yet--what are you waiting for? Go, now, to Blockbuster to get it! :-)

If you have seen it, write your review here and let me know what you think. Don't spoil the ending for those who haven't see it, though...it would ruin the experience.

Enjoy what's left of your long weekend.

Visual DNA

As I was surfing through my friends' Myspace pages I came across something very cool--Visual DNA. You complete a series of statements with pictures and at the end the site gives you your visual DNA personality profile. Mine was pretty accurate. Now I'm sure it is most likely like horoscopes (you know--so general that it fits nearly everyone), but it was still a cool thing to do and gave me a chance to really think about some of my answers. Here is my visual DNA:

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

You can get your own at http://www.imagini.net/. What are you? Did your visual DNA match your personality? Was it way off? Let me know--I'd love to see what you thought. Enjoy!

Teenagers (Part I)

No, not mine (since I don't have any)...

As anyone who knows me already knows, I teach freshmen...well, teach is a relative term. For many I babysit 8 hours a day. Anyway, I digress.

We decided at the start of this semester that the kids would be working to earn a "work ethic certificate" that would gain them entrance into our freshman field day (read: day for them to do whatever they want outside). We told them they had to get 14/20 points to go. That really isn't asking much. So, the deadline comes about and nearly half my kids don't even turn in their papers...and they asked "can I have extra time?" Uh, HELLO! It is a WORK ETHIC certificate...duh.

Anywho, today was the day. We held our RAP auction in the morning for all kids (which was awesome, by the way) and then, after lunch, we called the kids who earned the certificate (hereafter known as the good kids) up to leave the auditorium and the other kids (hereafter known as the bad kids) had to stay in the auditorium and do work for three hours. Let me tell you...they were PISSED that they didn't get to go. I mean, not to brag about how awesome the day was, but we have a DJ (outside), Mr. Softie came to give the kids ice cream, they had free drinks, and entire field to run around in...for over two hours. It was amazing (hot, but amazing). The kids on the field were well behaved, everyone was having a great time and they really seemed to enjoy the free time (and so did we--we had just about as much fun as they did).

Then the end of the day came and I popped in to check on the bad kids--and boy, were they BAD. They had trashed the auditorium, refused to do work, were throwing things at one another and refused to behave. I found out that nearly 25 of them had been written up already (much to the distaste of our in school suspension teacher), but it still wasn't good enough. As I walked out I heard "this isn't fair" "this is cruel" "this sucks." You know what...it does. But you put yourself in that situation so I have ZERO sympathy. ZERO.

And, to top it all off, bad kids were sneaking out of the auditorium to hang out with the good kids. Why? Because somewhere in the last few years many kids have developed this sense of entitlement that I can't understand. (I was eating candy in class the other day and this kid said "well, if you get to, then so do I." I was like "excuse me?" I would have never said things like that). Anyway, the bad kids really felt that they had the right (and were entitled to) attend field day. Their punishment? A day of in school suspension. (whoopideedoo!) Like they care--that means they don't have to be in class for a day. Why is that punishment?

Overall, today was great. I did realize that I really like some of the kids that I have--they are nice and funny and respectful. I also realized how much I don't like the other kids that I have. They are rude, disrespectful, mean, angry and have a sense of entitlement. I'll be glad when that half goes. Wait--what am I saying--they'll fail and I will see them again! Lucky me!

Will I be sad to see some of the kids go on June 5th? Sure. But, there are other kids that have opened up and shown me their true personalities over the course of the last nine months and I will really miss them. Too often they leave their freshman year and I never see them again--they forget me (although they say they won't) and I rarely, if ever, get thanked for any work that I do for them. But, if I were in this for glory, I would be in the wrong place.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am off to take a shower--I need to wash the "field day" off. Enjoy your Friday!

My Addiction

As I sit here enjoying my morning cup of coffee, I think about the fact that it is my one true addiction. I like chocolate, but I don't have to have it everyday. I like pasta, but I can do without it for a few weeks at a time. I enjoy a glass of wine every now and then but not all the time (which is good because that would lead to an entirely new post and an intervention or something of that nature).

Coffee, however, I cannot live without. I have to have it each morning. I'm not sure if it really wakes me up or if it is just the ritual that I am tied to, but, all I know for sure is that if I try to go a day without it I am a grumpy person indeed (more so than I already am for those of you who are like "so what's the difference?")

So, I have shared with you my one true addiction. What's yours? What one thing (or many things) can you absolutely not live without (even for a day)?

To Yoga or Not to Yoga

A few weeks ago I decided that I was going to start taking Yoga classes. Why? Because I was watching the movie The Next Best Thing and I thought "what the hell--I'll do Yoga." I mentioned to a couple girls at work and they decided they wanted to go, too. Beginner classes are Thursdays at 6:15, so we readied ourselves to go. Unfortunately, Julie's daughter was sick, so she had to miss. Leann and I headed out today not knowing what to expect.

Let me just say that it was interesting...a good interesting. First off, I will tell you right now that there are parts of my body that will hurt tomorrow that I didn't know could hurt. Second of all, it was incredibly relaxing. There was ten minutes of quiet time at the end of class where the lights go out, calm music plays and you just breathe. I had no idea how relaxed I was until the instructor told us to roll over on our side. My brain was saying "roll over" and my body was totally having none of that. I actually felt a little lighter (if that makes any sense) after we left. Both of us were amazed at how relaxed we actually felt. Third (and lastly)--I wish the place wasn't so close to Subway--every time I did a deep breath in through my nose I smelled food.

We were both bad at it and I realized that I have zero balance and little flexibility, but we are going back. We both also realized that we often forgot to breath (since we were concentrating on not falling on our asses). It is something worth pursuing, I think. I'm glad that I went (even more glad that I didn't have to go alone) and I am looking forward to next week. At least I say that now--if I can move tomorrow :-)

Things That Annoy You

I am sick today so I am in a bad mood. Being sick annoys me because I don't really have time for it...taking time off work for me is super hard. This annoyance led me to think about all the other things that bug the piss out of me. Here is my short list:

George Bush (sorry for you fans, but he annoys me), loud chewers, Britney Spears, The Office, kids throwing temper tantrums in public, rain, people who keep their turn signals on long after they have turned, Charles Dickens (the man rambles forever--I guess that's what happens when you get paid by the word), emptying the dishwasher, clutter, loud cell phone talkers, bass so loud it shakes my car, slow drivers, construction, fog, tags sticking out of peoples' shirts, the word "phenomenal" (long story), arrogant people, severe weather interruptions during my favorite show, dog hair, algebra, back-talk, bad hair days, rude people, the war in Iraq, the Chicago Bears (as a Packers' fan, I have to include this), the length of baseball season, small minded people, the price of gas, spam (not the "meat"), dishonest people, bad service, stupid charges on my cell phone bill, Sanjaya, hiccups, close-talkers, people who talk through movies, made up holidays, and power outages.

Okay, so not so short (but not nearly everything I could have listed)...what about you all? What annoys you?