Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO

SAY WHAT???

Last Saturday, I jumped at the opportunity to participate in a beginner’s photography class. I did the usual online search for such and, in the process, found Bella Pop Photography. They have a really cool website that’s fresh and hip, yet natural and simplistic. I liked the photos and I was excited to learn the professional photographers offered classes and social events.

I registered for the beginner’s class focused on “shooting in manual” and went to the Kimball Art Museum, located in the Cultural District of Fort Worth, with my fancy-schmancy camera and a water bottle. Husband explains the current weather as being in a constant hair-dryer. That’s the perfect way to explain this gosh-awful weather in North Texas. It’s hot. It’s windy. It’s miserable.

This sculpture (thing?) is located outside the main entrance of the Kimbell Art Museum. I think it's a little cool, a little funky, and very mysterious!

Brandon and Brandy, owners of Bella Pop, are wonderful and sweet people. They are very knowledgable about photography (good thing since they’re professionals!) and eager to share their passion with newbies like myself. I immediately felt comfortable (though a little sweaty, but remember it was 4985028520945 degrees outside!) and excited to learn new photography techniques. The class was small, four students in all, plus B and B. During the two-hour class, I was able to ask questions, practice new techniques, and even experience an A-HA! moment or two!

The first came when I realized that if I looked through the little eyepiece-thingy (instead of the LCD screen on the back) I could see the focus boxes, manual settings, AND the light meter at the bottom. Whodathunkit?!?!

(blushing with embarrassment)

Brandy distributed a cheat-sheet of photography tips and techniques, along with an overview of the concepts we would cover during the two-hour class. Shooting in manual involves three components: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Before this class, I didn’t know a hill-of-beans about aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. If my life depended on explaining them, I’d be a dead woman melting in the Texas heat. I knew enough to know I needed a photography class!

Here’s what the professionals (B and B) have to say:

The aperture is the “hole” inside the camera that allows light into the lens. The larger the hole, the more light can enter. The smaller the hole, the less light. 
For creativity, the choice of aperture will control the depth of field of a picture. Pictures with shallow depth of field (subject is focused while the background is out of focus) require a large aperture, such as f/2,8. Pictures with everything in focus (from front to back) require a small aperture, such as f/22.

I recently learned “depth of field” is also called DOF. I’m overcome with genius-ness right now.

Aperture (depth of field) practice

PRACTICE!

APERTURE (depth of field) practice - I'm focused where Brandon is pointing.

MORE PRACTICE!

I don’t know if B  and B are usually subjects in their own classes, but I just clicked away anyway!

The shutter speed is a “curtain” that determines the length of time light is allowed to enter the camera. For creativity, the choice of shutter speed will control motion in a picture. The faster the shutter speed, the more it will “freeze” moving subjects. The slower the shutter speed, the more moving subjects will “blur.”

With this fango-dango feature, I’m realizing how important a tripod is to photographers, especially for still subjects.

SHUTTER SPEED - I "froze" this Beemer with a faster setting so it's not blurred.

I can only imagine what the drivers along Lancaster were thinking as six people with their cameras were on the sidewalk.

The camera’s sensitivity to light, or ISO, is best thought of as a “boost” of power for your camera. For creativity, photographers often “bump up” the ISO settings when there is not enough light or to create a grain effect in camera. Bumping the ISO enables faster shutter speeds in lower light with less blur.

Brandy later explained ISO as the “Monster” for your camera. If you who live under a rock, Monster is an energy drink. I’ve never had one myself, but I know they’re quite powerful. I’ll stick with my sweet tea, it’s got enough sugar in it to power a large metropolis. ISO gives your photographs more of that BOOM-BOOM-POW without an additional flash lens.

Did I learn anything from this class? Of course! I know I need lots and lots and LOTS of practice! I also learned new tricks for shooting in manual mode. I met B and B, along with the other students, who are awesome and great and fun people to sweat with.

This final picture cracks me up and I have to share…sorry Brandon!

I think it pretty much sums up Brandon’s thoughts about me asking lots of questions, having to be a photo subject, AND having to be out in 97429842093486 degrees of heat.

BAHAHA!!!!!!

There you have it, my first photography class. Thanks B and B at Bella Pop for hosting this class and helping me with the basics of shooting in manual. Y’all were super-fun.

If you are in the North Texas area and need a professional photographer, please check out Bella Pop. If you don’t need a photographer but you’re interested in classes or social events, visit Bella Pop’s website for a list of events. They’re really awesome and I’m looking forward to future lessons myself.

Happy Tuesday!

 

the importance of self-exams

I’m going out of my comfort zone today to bring you some information that I think is pertinent, relevant and potentially life-saving. As bad as I hate to admit this, it’s the truth and the purpose for this post:

I did not wear sunscreen when I was younger.

Summer is right around the corner and I doubt there’s anybody more excited than me to see this school year conclude…it’s been one helluva ride! Nonetheless, summertime usually involves reading a book on the porch, mowing the yard, watching the Husband team rope, trips to the pool or river, and hours picking corn and other produce from my parent’s garden in Kentucky. That’s a lot of time outdoors.

I played competitive junior golf for 12 years, including junior high and high school in Kentucky and collegiate golf in Texas. I spent countless hours on the golf course year-round. During the summer, I’d be on the course from dusk to dark. Before I was old enough to drive a car, Mom would drop me off at the country club on her way to work and she or Dad (or I’d bum a ride with somebody else) would pick me up after dark. During the competitive season, I’d stay on the driving range and practice green during the cool morning hours and then walk (yeah, the kind of golf that requires you to walk and carry your clubs) 36+ holes during the hottest part of the day. Stupid? Yes. Strange? Of course. Beneficial? You betcha.

Photo: The Journal Enterprise

If you saw my skin tone now, you’d think I was lying about my past. I’m fair-skinned and I’m perfectly satisfied with this. Being tanned is NOT a priority anymore. Honestly, the moment the dermatologist said she was “concerned” about a couple of places on my face, arm, and leg I immediately had this wave of regret rush over me. I used to have this great tan (the infamous ”golfer’s tan” with the bright white feet) but the price I had to pay later was high. Before my 25th birthday, I had a skin cancer scare.

At 24, I had a mole removed from my back. This was eye-opening for me because my back did not get tanned, it rarely got exposed to the sun. Fortunately, the spot was lab-tested and the results were negative for melanoma.

Thank you, Lord.

However, my parents have had their own scares in recent years and two of my Dad’s tested positive. Luckily, they were removed and he had successful treatment procedures.

Thank you, Lord.

The days of being happy-go-lucky and going outside without ample amounts of sunscreen are over. DONE. I don’t play nearly as much golf as I used to and that has definitely influenced my lighter skin tone and skin-care regimen. I apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 daily under my makeup, my powder foundation includes SPF 15, I constantly apply SPF 30 lip balm, and my sunglasses are always with me and they have UVB protection as well.

The invention of spray sunscreen is wonderful. I especially love Neutrogena’s Ultimate Sport with Helioplex. The SPF is really high and it definitely provides coverage. I first used this sunscreen when I went to Mexico two years ago. I was very satisfied. I’m terrible about reapplying sunscreen, but the spray can is very convenient and useful. Plus, your hands stay clean and dry. This has proven useful when I’m outside with Kevin and he’s got me working in all kinds of dirty conditions (i.e. building/welding a fence, mowing, etc).

I’m definitely not a doctor, but I’m familiar with the ABC’s of skin-care self-exams. You should familiarize yourself with them too:

• Is it asymmetrical?

• Is the border irregular?

• Is there any color variation?

• Is it larger than 6 millimeters in diameter?

• Is it evolving?

If you’re curious or suspicious about a blemish, mole, bump, or other skin spot, don’t hesitate to be overly cautious or concerned. Get it checked out by a doctor. I’m sure you’ve heard before, “better safe than sorry.”

For more information, check out these articles recently published on MSN.com. They have additional tips and resources for skin self-checks and dermatology.

Scan Your Skin

Will I Look Like a Monster?

Related articles

• Your Summer Sunscreen Guide (health.yahoo.net)

“If you can read this, thank a teacher.”

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week…

While my job title says I’m a teacher, I don’t really think I properly fill those shoes. Instead, I consider myself to be a life-long learner. I have a passion for learning. In fact, you could probably say that “learning” is a hobby of mine. 

Since this week (May 2 – 6) is dedicated to appreciating teachers, here’s a brief shout-out of gratitude to some of my own educators:

Miss Phyllis, Miss Terry, and Miss Jackie at Lollipop Campus Daycare and Preschool; Sebree, Kentucky — words cannot describe my experience at Lollipop Campus. I credit my ability to read at a young age to the Time-Out chair there. You think I’m kidding? Hanging on the wall, next to the chair, was a fire extinguisher. I read the warning label all by myself! In fact, I read it on a daily basis. Other days, multiple times. I was a sweet, sweet child. I wish I had a penny for every time I sat in that damn chair.

Kindergarten — I don’t remember my teacher’s name but she had blonde hair and hid alphabet characters in the cabinet. I’ve been afraid of closet monsters since day “A.”

Ms. Hodges, first grade — MEAN RED-HEADED WOMAN!!!!!!!! Ms. Hodges would get so frustrated with me because I was bossy (me? gasp!) to other students and refused to use a pencil eraser. Instead of erasing mistakes, I would start completely over. Is that a symptom of OCD?! I remember celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday by eating green eggs and ham. The local TV station, WFIE, came to school with their cameras. I very eloquently said, in a loud voice (next to the camera AND microphone), “EWWWW!!!!” I made my parents so proud. I wonder what happened to that VHS tape? Wait, who has a VCR?

Mrs. Knight, second grade — I’ll be honest, this woman scared me to death but one thing for: I respected her. Today, I respect and appreciate her stern guidance even more. I knew whatever I did (or didn’t do) would get back to my parents in a moment’s notice. Mrs. Knight and her husband, Bob, were friends of my parents and grandparents. She’s a “friend” on Facebook. My, how the times have changed!

Mrs. Moffett, third grade — I loved reading in Mrs. Moffett’s class. She let us sit/lay anywhere in the room for at least 40 – yeah FORTY – minutes EVERY single day. My favorite reading nook was under a desk. It was dark and cozy. I admit: I fell asleep a few times. But I still managed to read Island of Blue Dolphins – twice!

Mrs. Crowder, fourth grade — awww, Mrs. Crowder, what a sweet lady. Her oldest son, Justin, and I were in the same grade together. Let’s ride down memory lane for a moment. Remember the days when kids played outside until dark and you only had a couple of channels on the TV? Well, if my Mom or Dad were running late to pick me up from school, I’d go home with the Crowders. Nowadays, you have to pee in a cup, provide a hair sample, and scan your fingerprint to get your child.

Mrs. Shemwell, fifth grade — I scored my first 100 on a social studies test in her class. The test covered the 13 colonies – my favorite time period in America’s history. Perhaps this is where my love of social studies and history resonates?

Mrs. Mabry, sixth grade — Mrs. Mabry challenged me, inspired me, and pushed me to be better than the expectations I set for myself. I remember failing a simple geography worksheet because I did not carefully read the directions. In the most sincere but serious voice she said, “I’m disappointed in you, Nicole.” I read directions now. Twice. Graduation day at Robards Elementary was a very sad day for me. I cried knowing that my time in Robards was over. I was also anxious about moving to a new school and being away from the people I knew and loved. You must realize something: I sat in class with the same 12 people for seven years – we completed K-6 grades together! Standing in the girls’ bathroom, crying like a maniac, Mrs. Mabry held my hands, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Nicole, you’re going to be fine!” I cried harder. Guess who’s my friend on Facebook now?!

Mrs. Gillespie and Mrs. Hopgood, high school math — Let’s be honest here. I can balance a checkbook, figure my golf score, and calculate the price of an item with a 60% discount….but linear equations? You gotta be kidding! Math is NOT my strength. However, Mrs. Gillespie and Mrs. Hopgood refused to give me the easy road. They were tough on me! Along with their toughness, they were incredibly compassionate and willing to help me understand foreign concepts called geometry, algebra, and calculus. I still have the handwritten letter Mrs. Hopgood gave me at graduation. Mrs. Gillespie is also very special. In fact, my husband put her atop a pedestal during our wedding in 2007. She catered our reception and made his groom’s cake, which Kevin called a very-yummy-knock-your-socks-off-chocolate-dream-topped-with-dipped-strawberries-cake. It was a serious cake. She even had ice-cold milk in antique jugs sitting on the table. She’s such a sweetheart!

Coach Eric Hogg, former football coach at Webster County High School — He continues to teach me to live every day to its fullest and hold your loved one close. Coach Hogg suffered a fatal heart attack during Project Graduation, just hours after I received my high school diploma.

Ms. Catlett, honors English teacher, athletic coordinator, yearbook sponsor — How does one express gratitude to someone who makes such an impact on their life? Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Ms. Catlett. Even when I walk into my own classroom, I’m thinking of ways to inspire my students and help them reach beyond their potential. I believe all of Ms. Catlett’s students are better people because of their experience in her classroom.

Dr. Bridges, journalism department chair at TAMU-Commerce — Dr. Bridges is one of a kind. His handwriting is awful and I never understood the comments he wrote in my Blue Book for tests. What does “OK” mean?! I passed media law because my best friend and roommate-at-the-time, Kimberly, is a genius. Kim and I were both public relations majors and had numerous classes with a collection of very opinionated, strong-willed, and passionate souls that occasionally (FREQUENTLY) got on each other’s nerves. Instead of playing referee or being a disciplinarian, Dr. Bridges left us alone. “Welcome to the real world!” he would say. “Work it out amongst yourselves. And for God’s sake, don’t involve me!” We all sobbed when Dr. Bridges announced his stomach cancer diagnosis. But, in true Dr. Bridges fashion, he defeated the disease and continues to educate (and entertain with his dry sense of humor) students at A&M-Commerce.

To all educators — teachers, friends, parents, mentors, leaders — I’m so appreciative for your lessons today and every day.

how do you spell that?

Two weeks ago, I graded my students’ essay projects discussing life in rural and urban areas of Texas in the early 1900s. For this endeavor, I opened a new package of  red ink pens. Nine hours and 138 papers later, one pen was dry and the other was close. Students later asked if I was stabbed or in a bad mood because I was nit-picking over little details. Spelling IS a detail.

For the record: I was not stabbed. I was not trying to be a b*tch either. However, I consider spelling, grammar, and punctuation important components of writing compositions. Plus, for Pete’s sake, proper nouns (i.e. Texas) MUST be capitalized. No exceptions! Did I miss a memo about new rules for capitalization? Is this concept still taught in elementary schools? Are students still taught catchy rhymes (“i” before “e” except after “c”) and spelling techniques?

I admit that Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com are saved as “favorites” links. My husband uses them in necessity. He calls me when Spellchecker doesn’t recognize the word he’s trying to spell. Poor guy. As a journalism major and former marketing professional, professional writing and communication are of the utmost importance to me. After all, first impressions count and misspellings are greatly frowned upon. Fortunately, my ability to write and eloquently communicate are skills I use daily in my current profession. In fact, I’ve received numerous compliments on my formal and professional language used in emails and correspondence to students, parents, and colleagues. Thank you.

When I’m in the classroom, I intentionally use a dictionary and/or thesaurus. You know, those thick books usually sitting on a dusty shelf? I almost tripped over a dictionary being used as a door-stop. *sigh* I want students to witness an adult using these resource materials. Sure, it would be easy to use my laptop and visit an online website but that would not benefit the student without Internet access readily available. I still cringe when my students ask me “what is a glossary?” or “where is the index?” Seriously? Several of my students could not answer either of those questions if asked.

I’ve compiled a list of words that I frequently check for my own writing. It might be helpful to you too.

Do you have a word or words that cause you to check a resource?

SURPRISE!!!

No, I’m not pregnant. 

One thing I love most about coming home to Kentucky is seeing familiar faces from long, long ago. Mom and I were in Sureway (that’s a grocery store in this area) yesterday and as I walked through the automatic sliding doors I heard a voice shout, “Oh my gosh, it’s Nicole Marie!” (Do you think it’s strange someone called me by my first and middle name? Personally, I did not find it shocking.) I turn around, but don’t see anybody. I look right, no one there. I look left, then down, and there’s Mrs. R., the secretary of my no-longer-existing elementary school! She gives me the biggest hug she can muster – she’s 4-foot-five and 100 pounds soaked.

According to Mrs. R, I haven’t changed a bit. (Neither has she!) Well, actually, I have. I’m nearly two feet taller and not only have I grown up, but I’ve grown around too. We do the 20-year-life-story-in-10-minutes and suddenly we’re caught up on each other’s lives in an instant. She still lives in the same house, with the same husband, a few old dogs and a couple new ones, plus a few new cats. I live in Texas, married a wonderful man, and teach middle school social studies in Fort Worth. She says I’m heroic for teaching 7th graders but “angelic” for being at a school with almost 1,400 students. Where I grew up and attended elementary school, there were 120 people in the school building — that included students, teachers, Mr. C the janitor/fixer-upper-man, the cooks in the kitchen, and Mrs. N, the principal. Very. Small. School. After I graduated from the sixth grade in 1996, Robards Elementary School was closed a few days later.

This I Believe – Part One

I began reading This I Believe during yesterday’s plane ride to Kentucky and I’ve been overwhelmed by the stories, testimonies, and life philosophies that create a personal credo by answering one simple question.

What do you believe?

This concept was first aired on a 1950s radio program, hosted by journalist Edward Murrow. At the time, Americans gathered around their radios to listen to personal doctrines from acclaimed celebrities such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, and Helen Keller, as well as not-so-famous individuals like cab drivers, secretaries, and scientists — anyone willing to share their life-guiding principles.

Essays shared in the 1950s brought words of comfort to listeners worried about issues such as the Cold War and racial divisions. Today, This I Believe, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, engages people of all ages and from all walks of life to share their values and beliefs in writing, sharing, and discussing brief essays. Visit their website, www.thisibelieve.org, to learn more, or submit your own essay!

In the coming weeks, I will share essay excerpts from This I Believe to my blog readers. In reading this book, I’ve noticed that the stories from the 1950s are just as — if not more — poignant today than they were 60 years ago. I hope you enjoy these life-guiding lessons and, I welcome your response to the simple question: What do you believe?

THE MOUNTAIN DISAPPEARS

By: Leonard Bernstein, as featured in the 1950s series

I believe in people. I feel, love, need, and respect people above all else, including the arts, natural scenery, organized piety, or nationalistic superstructures. One human figure on the slope of a mountain can make the whole mountain disappear for me.

I believe that man’s noblest endowment is his capacity to change. Armed with reason, he can see two sides and choose: He can be divinely wrong. I believe in man’s right to be wrong. Out of this right he has built, laboriously and lovingly, something we reverently call democracy. He has done it the hard way and continues to do it the hard way – by reason, by choosing, by error and rectification, by the difficult, slow method in which the dignity of A is acknowledged by B, without impairing the dignity of C. Man cannot have dignity without loving the dignity of his fellow.

I believe in the potential of people. I cannot rest passively with those who give up in the name of “human nature.” Human nature is only animal nature if it is obliged to remain static. Without growth, without metamorphosis, there is no godhead. If we believe that man can never achieve a society without wars, then we are condemned to wars forever. This is the easy way. But the laborious, loving way, the way of dignity and divinity, presupposes a belief in people and in their capacity to change, grow, communicate, and love.

I believe in man’s unconscious mind, the deep spring from which comes his power to communicate and to love.

I believe that my country is the place where all these things I have been speaking of are happening in the most manifest way. America is at the beginning of her greatest period in history — a period of leadership in science, art, and human progress toward the democratic ideal. I believe that she is at a critical point in this moment and that she needs to believe more strongly than ever before in her and in one another, in our ability to grow and change, in our mutual dignity, in our democratic method. We must encourage thought, free and creative. We must respect privacy. We must observe taste by not exploiting our sorrows, successes, or passions. We must learn to know ourselves better through art. We must rely more on the unconscious, inspirational side of man. We must not enslave ourselves to dogma. We must believe in the attainability of good. We must believe, without fear, in people.

- – - – -

Composer, conductor, pianist, and educator, Leonard Bernstein was longtime music director of the New York Philharmonic, where he led the highly successful Young People’s Concerts series. Bernstein forged a new relationship between classical and popular music with his compositions West Side Story, On the Town, Candide, and others.

I’m the BAD one??????

God bless Friday and great thanksgivings for Spring Break.

Last Sunday, I had a renewed joy and fresh spirit. I was pleasant, kind, and looking forward to the beginning of Lent (I have given up caffeinated cokes, especially cherry Cokes from Sonic). I was also looking forward to the last week of school and anticipating spring break with excitement. Fast forward to today and I’m beatened and battered. Alas, I’ll put my big girl panties on, dry my wet face, and get on a plane tomorrow morning to Kentucky. Home. Sweet. Home.

The grading period ended last Friday. When a grading period ends and another begins, it’s always a stressful time. Students are anxious about their grades and suddenly interested in missing or incomplete assignments. I have had two parent conferences this week with two individuals that, in my opinion (it’s my blog, remember), are two of the most enabling and crutching individuals I have ever met. One said her son is failing my class because I don’t like him and I pick on him. No, he sits in class and plays with his backpack-full of toys and it becomes a problem when he involves the other 28 students. Besides the toys, let’s identify the real reason he’s failing my class: he doesn’t do any work.

OH WAIT, that’s the obvious answer, let’s ignore that one.

The other one says I should ignore deadlines and extensions and give her Beloved another opportunity to do whatever he has to do in order to keep his average above 70 so he can participate in band, orchestra, choir, cadet corps, and on and on and on.

YEAH RIGHT!

I collected more grades last six weeks than I have all year: 18. A variety of daily classwork items, projects, and small homework assignments. No, your eyes are not tricking you: I did not have any assessments (tests) last six weeks. Rather, I use class activities and projects to assess what my students know, rather than the standardized, multiple-choice, paper and pencil test. A person can memorize dates, names and signficant places until they’re blue in the face, but that’s called regurgitation ~ as an educator, I’m not interested in fact vomit.

This week, I was told my expectations are “too high.” According to said parents, I’m unfair.

When is life fair? When do bosses care about the stresses in your life, outside the 8-to-5 job? When do deadlines get extended because you’re burning the candle at both ends and just don’t have time?

I missed that memo!!!!!!

I’ve bent over backwards, many times, for my students and I’ve given them ALL more opportunities than I would have liked. But as a first year teacher, I recognize the politics of this shitty system and yeah, it’s unfair to me too. But, life must go on. I have to deal with it. As hard as it may be, I keep a smile on my face.

The more I read about ”Generation Me” (which, for the record, I belong to but I’m upset about that fact), the problems become clearer and clearer. To the parents that are enabling their children to be inadequate members of society and expect the world (and every person on it) to bend at their every whim…shame on you. And, shame on you for setting the example that it’s OK to disrespect authority and refuse to do a task that’s been asked of you simply because you don’t feel like or don’t want to do it.

I didn’t want to read Beowulf, but Mrs. Hill sure-as-hell made me read it. I didn’t want to read Canterbury Tales, but Ms. Catlett sure-as-hell made me do it (and later I had to dress as The Cook in a presentation to class!). I didn’t want to dissect a fetal pig, but Ms. Turley sure-as-hell made me do it. I had a hard time understanding all the ins-and-outs of media law, but Dr. Bridges didn’t pause so I could whine. I struggled in many classes and came close to failing some too. (Actually, I did fail a class: it was Calculus II my freshman year at Bellarmine. I cried of embarassment when my parents learned the horrific news. I cried even harder because I had disappointed myself.) I have no good reason for taking Pre-Calculus in high school except my friends were in there. I should have been across the hall learning to sew on a button or hem a pair of pants. Instead, I was miserable with struggle. It was a very difficult course for me. However, I refused to drop-out (my parents would not have allowed it anyway) and Mrs. Hobgood knew I had lessons to learn ~ lessons that had very little to do with y-axis. In Calculus, I was an epic failure. Learning the important life lessons of responsibility, self-pride, and honesty, however, I was a star-student. I successfully graduated from high school with an honors diploma. Four years later, I proudly walked across the stage at Texas A&M University – Commerce to receive a Bachelors degree in journalism and public relations. I went to the corporate world and had my ass handed to me more times than I’d like to admit. Bosses didn’t care if I had other things on my personal to-do list, I had deadlines to meet. My job ~ most importantly, my name ~ was on the line all the time, every time. If it meant I missed a vacation or special occasion, oh well. Deadlines loom and there are no extensions. Now, my bell is getting rung in the classroom. Literally and figuratively. But I will get through this. I will. Dammit.

Fortunately, I have the support of administrators and counselors at school. In fact, several of them have been in these conferences with me. It’s nice to have them in the “lion’s den” with me, especially when parents are yelling and screaming because their precious babies are (for once in their lives) getting a reality check.

To the person that attacked me and said very mean things about my family: shame on you and your disrespect. I’m very proud of my parents and how they raised me. I’m even more proud they did not lower their standards and expectations of me. Maybe you should do the same. I’m also proud they let me fall on my ass and learn the hard way. They sure as heck did NOT let me off the hook because I was standing in front of adversity or a challenge. Nope, if I wanted something, I had to work for it. I had to achieve it. I’ve been beaten in the classroom, on the golf course, in corporate boardrooms, and now in the conference room of a middle school. Bring it on, but I will not be moved.

This time tomorrow I will be in Kentucky basking in the sweet and loving kindness of one of my greatest blessings: FAMILY. They are my pride and joy. They are the reason I am and I represent all of them, all the time. You can bet your britches I’m going to set high expectations and aspirations for myself. In the meantime, I’m staying thirsty in Kentucky. I’ve earned this.

Now, I’ve got to get my bag packed. My plane leaves in 10 hours. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Solace in Struggle

I don’t remember the last time a few days felt like an eternity. So much as happened in six days, or 144 hours, or 8,640 minutes, or 518,400 seconds.

Sunday: I resigned as youth director at First UMC in Joshua. Immediately, I felt physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually lifted.

Monday: another day spent at school with students that, to me, lack self-respect and personal conviction to even give a damn about their future, much less their education. I don’t understand the mentality where excuses and “I don’t wanna” are acceptable. What happened to the days of disciplining your child for poor choices, misconduct, and disrespect? Why do young people plagiarise? Why has cheating become so easy, accessible, and require so little effort? I realize Google and Bing make it so easy for them, but am I the only person that reads students’ work and notice the red flags waving when students are submitting eloquently written work when in reality they cannot write a grammatically correct sentence? Heck, a student told me it was too much work to write his name on a paper. Excuse the hell out of me. I’m sorry to bother you for your time. What has happened / is happening to this generation? Truly, I don’t understand. (please, don’t send me hateful comments saying I don’t understand because I don’t have children of my own…I’m telling you now I don’t understand this terrible epidemic sweeping through our country’s future leaders, but I know something needs to be done and I would like to help the situation, not make it worse. Of course, my first recommendation would be an ass-whoopin’ from the ol’ homestead, but that’s just me. I’d love to introduce some of these young people to an individual I call my Dad.) This week, I introduced my students to a little website I like to call GOTCHA! ~ www.duplichecker.com ~ and I intend to use it whenever I deem it necessary. I might have been born in the dark, but it wasn’t last night. Little Fockers. And I don’t mean the movie.

Tuesday: the most boring day of my entire life. Two words, no three: TAKS Writing Test. Oh. My. Gosh. I posted about this earlier but let me repeat: MOST BORING DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!! Let me tell you, my feet, back, head, eyes, and brain hurt. My eyelashes and hair on my head even hurt! The day got worse after lunch, which we had to eat in the classroom, and most students finished shortly after. Boredom immediately ensued. Duh. They’re seventh graders! I’m 27 and was bored out of my ever-loving mind.

Wednesday: I don’t remember much here. Oh, I spent the evening in Rev. L’s office half-listening to her Confirmation class and half-working on stock certificates for a youth fundraising. Yes, I worked on a youth activity AFTER my resignation. I’m not really going anywhere, except I’m losing the title, paycheck, and responsibilities of youth director.

Thursday: If you were to look in the dictionary under lazy, you would have seen my face. Seriously. Before Kevin left for the roping pen, I was on the couch. He returned three hours later and found me on the couch, in the same spot, had not moved, nor did I want to be moved. I finally went to bed. Dirty dishes were in the sink, clothes in the dryer…the list goes on.

Friday: It finally arrived! I posted at 7:01 am on Facebook, “I could break out the I’m-Happy-It’s-Friday dance.” Shake what your Mama gave you, honey. Shake it good. It was a pretty uneventful day at school, except grades are due next week and I’ve been in a sprint race trying to collect missing work from students. I’m so nice to these kids. Probably too nice. Another creature (a.k.a. student) expressed diarrhea of the mouth when he said he could not, and would not, complete his review sheet OR study for the benchmark exam because he had plans this weekend. Really? I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the world revolved around you. Another students says he doesn’t like me, which is why he is disinterested in class and fails to turn in assignments. How nice.

I would like to announce it to everybody, everywhere just how awesome and wonderful and kind and gracious and amazing and just plain sweet my husband really is: he’s all of this and a gazillion things more. Today was an off Friday for him (lucky beast!) but he spent the day getting rid of ranch implements, cleaned the barn, and worked on the electric fence. As a prize for surviving this week of torture, he took me to dinner. Nothing special or spectacular, just Outback, but it was nice. I didn’t have to cook. I didn’t have to clean (which reminds me, the dishwasher is clean and needs to be unloaded and loaded again ~ sigh) and I didn’t have to get dressed up. In fact, it was jeans and t-shirt for him and comfy pants and a hoodie for me. Thank you, Husband, for buying me dinner. I love you.

Prayer request: My Nana is wonder woman. For her 80th birthday in January, I created a list of “80 Things I Love Above Nana.” It was pretty spectacular. Nana agreed because she had it framed. In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a bit spoiled. Actually, I’m a whole lot spoiled…but the GOOD kind! For the record: I am the ONLY granddaughter on BOTH sides of the family. Yes, I count my blessings twice. Everyday. Anyway, back to Nana: I have #81 ready for next year: she withstood the pain and awkwardness of a shot in her eyeball. Yes, you read that correctly: Nana got a needle poked in her eyeball. Can you say OUCH!?!?! I would have passed out long before they ever got a needle that close to my eye, but she took it in stride, in hopes of it relieving the strain and pain of her macular degeneration that leaves her legally blind. Bless her heart.

On a MUCH lighter note, and with celebration-flair of confetti, balloons, streamers, and whatever else you need at a party, I reached not only one but TWO blogging milestones yesterday: 27 & Counting has had more than 1,500 visitors and logged more than 100 daily views for the first time ever. I will always remember Friday, March 4, 2011 as being a very successful and memorable day in my blogging history. 

I really appreciate everyone who visits and leaves a comment. It’s great to hear from you. I’m enjoying the weekly photo challenge and reading other blogs of various genres, tags, and themes. I have so much to learn and I hope the veteran bloggers will share their knowledge with a Newbie like me.

Now I can reset my countdown clock and look forward to the days, hours, minutes, and seconds leading up to Spring Break, which is next week. I leave for Kentucky a week from TODAY – - that’s spectacular news to my ears. I’m beyond ready for a break from school and the busyness I call life. It’s weighing me down and I’m tired.

Blessings to all and to all a goodnight! Here’s to a weekend filled with warmth (cold front’s coming sometime), rest, and lots of love. And perhaps the Cleaning Fairy will find her way to my house this weekend. Or at least bring her Teacher Fairy along and finish my grades. Wishful thinking…

What. A. Day.

Let me preface this mumbo-jumbo by saying I have been locked inside a classroom for 10 hours with 20 seventh-graders. Terrible Tuesday? Possibly. Today was NOT a typical day but, nonetheless, I survived. Praise the Lord.

For some unknown reason, I woke up at 4:15 this morning to the sounds of dogs barking, roosters cock-a-doodling, and donkeys hee-hawing. Welcome to my country life! Got to school at 7:15, finished grading make-up assignments students turned in yesterday. Grading period for the six-weeks ends this Friday, so I’m trying to get everything graded, recorded, and uploaded to the online grade book. One. Step. At. A. Time. (yawn)

On the bright side, I successfully administered my first standardized test today, as a full-time teacher. It was very nerve-wrecking, especially when an education agent strolled ~ silently ~ through the room. I hoped she liked what she saw, I was trying my best to do everything perfectly. These kinds of days absolutely bore the life out of me. I would rather have been taking the test WITH students today than have to administer and patrol the darn thing. My patience wains at moments like these. I feel for the students, I really do, but for the love of Saint Sleep, take a nap if you’re bored AND the teacher allows it!!!!

Photo courtesy of dumbpeeps.com

I would have given anything to sit and close my eyes for a minute or two. Instead, I’m required to “actively monitor” and pace up and down, back and forth, between rows of desks making sure said-students are completing their compositions or darkening circles on their answer document. It’s all fine and dandy until they finish. That’s when the trouble begins. Most of my students dislike reading (unless it’s a text message, of course); so very few had a book, magazine, or other reading material. They are 12-14 years old. Of course they are going to be restless. Of course they want to talk. Of course they don’t want to listen when another adult tells them to sit still, be quiet, and wait for your neighbor to finish. By 2:00 today, I didn’t want to keep walking, be quiet, or wait for students to finish! Hurry up, already ~ geeesh!!!!!!! Thank you, Lord, for comfortable, supportive footwear. I had no problem ~ do I ever? ~ wearing pink Nike athletic shoes with black dress pants and a blue sweater. Needless to say, I didn’t bother with my usual banter at fellow drivers in rush-hour traffic this afternoon either. The opportunity to SIT was so nice. As soon as I got home, I changed into my PJ’s and sat in my chair. I’m still sitting in this chair. My loving, adoring, wonderful, and gracious husband even poured me a glass of sweet tea. Bless his lil’ heart. I’m too tired to eat, I’m not even hungry.

I don’t know where I was going with this post, but I guess I’ve either arrived or fell off the deep end. Either way, I’m going to bed. Dreamland, here I come!

P.S. I think I have a date Saturday. I mouthed off to Kevin saying I wanted to go bowling and his reply, “Bring it on, Gutter Girl. I’ll beat you at bowling if you want.” I’m not very good, but I always have fun. Date night ~ score one for me! If he buys me dinner, I’ve won the lottery. We’ll have to wait and see how this turns out.

Photo courtesy of fluffyfeet.net

Last thing: The barking, cock-a-doodling, and hee-hawing at the butt-crack-of-dawn was for good reason: a baby donkey was born about 4:00 am. Saw the neighbor tonight and one of the Jenny (female) donkeys had a baby. I’m too tired to even consider the proper name of a baby donkey, any suggestions? I’ll stick with Baby Donkey. It’s a small donkey, about the size of a labrador retriever with thick, course fur. He/She is very cute too. Mama Donkey let me pet Baby Donkey. Everybody saw AWWWW!!!!

An unmarked book

I’ve been really fortunate in my education to have really great teachers and professors. In April, Kentucky Monthly (yes, I’m a subscriber) will honor professors at Kentucky colleges and universities in a very unique way: professor superlatives – check out the link here!!!

I cast my vote for Dr. O’Keeffe, an English professor at Bellarmine University  in Louisville, Kentucky as my most memorable professor. I had several classes with Dr. O’Keeffe my freshman year of college, including expository writing and reading literature. He said many insightful things, but there is one statement that continues to stay with me, “an unmarked book is an unread book.” When he said this, we were reading _Things Fall Apart_ by Chinua Achebe. I have to be honest, I struggled greatly in the beginning with this book – until Dr. O’Keeffe made his forever-wise comment. I immediately went to the bookstore, purchased my own copy of the book, and began marking text and writing notes in the margins. To this day, I continue with this habit. Thank you, Dr. O’Keeffe, for this pearl of wisdom and your wonderful reply to my recent email. My heart smiled and it made my day!

So, fellow bloggers, do you have a particular teacher or professor (or educator in general) that made an impact on you?