troubles with blogging

Recently I've been been frustrated that I haven't been doing as much blogging as I'd anticipated at the beginning of the year. However, after pondering this for, oh maybe two minutes, I realized that (1) I just don't have/don't make that kind of time and (2) everything I want to write about involves complaints, revelations, inspiration, frustration, involving students or colleagues and this is just too public of a place to be publishing that kind of information. Who know's who could have access to my blog ? How much would it stink to have my students find this blog and learn that I actually gave them a C on their last test because I didn't get enough sleep the night before grading..oops! No, that's not true at all, but what if? It's just too political to write how I really feel about my experience. That's the crazy thing about blog writing. I'm sure I'm like many other bloggers in that I've always felt I'm much more willing to open up my emotions and express how I truly feel through writing rather than speaking. It's a dangerous thing, this computer, because these keys type my thoughts faster than I'm able to really process what I am saying.

So I'm trying to find a way to share my life at Emma Willard without making myself, the school, my colleagues, and the students vulnerable to misunderstanding and false judgement. My brother suggested starting a new blog in which I could anonymously represent myelf, but then how could I really share what was going on with those of you who know me?? that's the tricky thing. Regardless, I do want to write more. Will see what comes about.

¡¡¡¡¡Esta nevando!!!

I almost tripped over myself this morning after opening the blinds to see snow falling rapidly down to meet a white blanket on the ground (hey that kinda rhymes!). Yesterday it was in the mid-60s, yesterday it was a bright sunshiny day, albeit it a bit chilly, and now it's snowing!!!! These are the best kind of snows....when you have no clue they are coming. Maybe I could take my Spanish classes outside to play!!

Blunder of the day (written Nov. 27)

I just got back from running over to the mail room to stop a disaster. Well, I guess it's not a disaster but one wouldn't necessarily look to fondly on putting a test in a student's mailbox before the test has been graded, let alone even taken. oops! This is a student who missed a whole week of class and of course didn't try to catch up over the week long Thanksgiving break. She is so far behind I don't even know where to start. But anyway, I didn't hand out the graded test to the other students during class so I decided to put it in their mailboxes. The blank test with the student's name on it happened to be in the bunch. whoops!

As soon as I realized my mistake, which took place an hour ago, I ran over to the mailroom. I passed through the day-student lounge and guess who was sitting there on the couch??!! Yup, that very same girl and she had the test sitting right next to her. Feeling a bit like a fool, I kindly asked to have it back. Although she said she hadn't even looked at it, I could feel her sadness floating in the air as I took the top secret info from her hands. I'll be sure not to make that mistake again.

Brother and Sister bonding: "Paperweight"

"Paperweight" by Josh Radin and Schuyler Fisk

Been up all night
staring at you
wondering what's on your mind
i've been this way
with so many before
but this feels like the first time
you want the sunrise
to go back to bed
i want to make you laugh
mess up my bed with me
kick off the covers
i'm waiting
every word you say i think
i should write down
i don't want to forget
come daylight
happy to lay here
just happy to be here
i'm happy to know you
play me a song
your newest one
please leave your taste on my tongue
paperweight on my back
cover me like a blanket
mess up my bed with me
kick off the covers
i'm waiting
every word you say i think
i should write down
i don't want to forget
come daylight
and no need to worry
that's wastin time
and no need to wonder
what's been on my mind
it's you
it's you
every word you say i think
i should write down
don't want to forget
come daylight
and i give up
i let you win
you win 'cause i'm not counting
you made it back
to sleep again
wonder what you're dreaming

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So for some time now I've been trying to find a valuable way to interact with my brother Andy. Often when I'm home the deepest we go is to chuckle over some Arrested Development or watch some funny online videos from youtube.com (good site by the way!). He's an extremely bright person and I am so proud to be his sister. I just wish that we shared more of a consistent and dependable connection. Tonight went a little differently than previous home visits.Recently Andy's been teaching himself how to play the accoustic guitar. He's already got some Jack Johnson under his belt and tonight he wanted to learn this beautiful new one that's typed up above. So he searched the lyrics online and also found a live performance of the song on myspace.com (http://www.myspace.com/joshuaradin). I guess site does come in handy for more than just stalking. So as he was learning the chords I decided to look up the lyrics learn them. Within an hour and a half, he was playing and I was singing right along with his music. This is an unusual experience to report on because typically I need to find something convincingly interesting that will hook his interest and desire to talk or hang out with me. This time it came very naturally. There was no annoyance when either one of us messed up with what we were learning and no sense of eagerness to learn on one's own. we were patient and helped each other learn. Also this was a completely new, and therefore neutral, activity for the two of us. Yes, I sang in choir a while back but the only time I sang along to someone's guitar was at camp in Maine and it's usually blending in with a big group. Point is that it was a fun, new, spontaneous experience that we both enjoyed thoroughly. I'm really grateful to have connected in that way with my brother. ¿quién sabe? maybe you can expect the Hatch twin Cd coming out soon.....

http://www.searchkindly.org/

Looking for an easy way to help the world? A friend told me about this website that's a great alternative to the average google site. Well actually it still is Google but every cent made from advertisers goes to a different charity organization each month. This months charity is INVISIBLE CHILDREN (http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php) . My computer battery is about to run out so I will write more later about the organization as well as their incredibly informative and moving documentary.