May 14th, 2005

Subject: Highly UNqualified! Time: 10:39 pm Current Mood: infuriated

Let's think back to a few weeks ago when I was required to take the Illinois State 'Assessment of Professional Teaching' exam, just to make sure that I truly am pedagogically informed. (Please keep in mind this really was not necessary as I received a perfect score on the exam in AZ.) Now, in one of the most offensive and intellectually insulting experiences I've ever faced, the state of Illinois has informed me they are not quite sure that I possess the proper knowledge required to graduate from 8th grade. In order to obtain an Illinois teaching certificate, I am being forced to take the Illinois Test of Basic Skills; all despite having a college degree, an AZ teaching certificate, and 9 months experience teaching 6th grade. This is RIDICULOUS!!!!! THREE CHEERS FOR JUMPING THROUGH THE HOOPS OF GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY!!!!!

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May 10th, 2005

Time: 04:04 pm

The Keys to Your Heart You are attracted to good manners and elegance. In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored. You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage something you've always wanted... though you haven't really thought about it. In this moment, you think of love as something you don't need. You just feel like flirting around and playing right now. What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

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October 4th, 2004

Subject: Evaluation Fairy Time: 04:05 pm

The Evaluation Fairy visited all of the scheduled classrooms today...EXCEPT for mine!!!! UGH!!!! That means I have to make MORE details plans and find MORE flashy lessons for tomorrow...Another late night of looking up stupid Illinois State Learning Standards! BOO!!!!

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September 17th, 2004

Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote of the Day #8 Time: 08:37 pm

"It's the people we love the most who can make us feel the gladdest...and the maddest! Love and anger are such a puzzle! It's hard for us, as adults, to understand and manage our angry feelings toward parents, spouses, and children, or keep their anger toward us in perspective. It's a different kind of anger from the kind we may feel toward strangers because it is so deeply intertwined with caring and attachment."

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September 16th, 2004

Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote of the Day #7 Time: 09:04 pm

"Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like 'struggle.' To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now."

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September 15th, 2004

Subject: Excitement of the Day Time: 04:35 pm Current Mood: ecstatic

YAY!!!!!!!!! Today was payday...my check was MUCH larger than I thought it would be...This full time job/salary thing is definitely working!

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Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote of the Day #6 Time: 04:27 pm Current Mood: pleased

"Part of the problem with the word 'disabilities' is that it immediately suggests an inability to see or hear or walk or do other things that many of us take for granted. But what of people who can't feel? Or talk about their feelings? Or manage their feelings in constructive ways? What of people who aren't able to form close and strong relationships? And people who cannot find fulfillment in their lives, or those who have lost hope, who live in disappointment and bitterness and find in life no joy, no love? These, it seems to me, are the real disabilities."

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September 14th, 2004

Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote of the Day--#5 Time: 05:10 pm Current Mood: happy

"Who you are inside is what helps you make and do everything in life."

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September 13th, 2004

Current Music: Good Day Sunshine--Beatles Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote of the Day #4 Time: 06:41 am Current Mood: happy

"Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime's work, but it's worth the effort."

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September 12th, 2004

Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote of the Day #3 Time: 02:17 pm Current Mood: cheerful

"Little by little we human beings are confronted with situations that give us more and more clues that we aren't perfect."

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September 11th, 2004

Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote #2 Time: 08:40 am

"If you grew up with our 'Neighborhood,' you may remember how we sometimes talked about difficult things. There were days...even beautiful days...that weren't happy. In fact, there were some that were really sad. Well, we've had a lot of days like that in our whole world. We've seen what some people do when they don't know anything else to do with their anger. I'm convinced that when we help out children find healthy ways of dealing with their feelings--ways that don't hurt them or anyone else--we're helping to make our world a safer, better place. I would like to tell you what I often told you when you were much younger: 'I like you just the way you are.' And what's more. I'm so grateful to you for helping the children in your life to know that you'll do everything you can to keep them safe and to help them express their feelings in ways that will bring healing in many different neighborhoods." From a Public Service Announcement Following the Events of September 11, 2001

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September 10th, 2004

Current Music: Vindicated--Dashboard Confessional Subject: Mr. Rogers' Quote--Day 1 Time: 09:41 pm Current Mood: contemplative

Looking for something in my room this evening, I came across one of my favorite books of quotes--"The World According to Mr. Rogers." I remember when I had no worries and my biggest fear was missing the daily episode of Mr. Rogers. Man...to be that simple again... As silly as this seems, I've decided to begin posting a daily Mr. Rogers' quote. I'm not quite sure if it's meant to benefit all of you or just to reassure MYSELF...either way, ENJOY!!!!! So here goes...the Mr. Rogers' Quote of the Day... "I have always wanted to have a neighbor Just like you! I've always wanted to live in a Neighborhood with you. So let's make the most of this beautiful day; Since we're together we might as well say, Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor?" From the song "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

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Current Music: And So It Goes--Billy Joel Subject: Lament Time: 08:17 pm Current Mood: crushed

I don't know why I trust when I only get used; I don't know why I continue to put my heart on the line and allow it to be stomped on; I don't know why I still say it when I get half-hearted responses that are said but not meant; I don't know why I try to get close to others when I just end up getting burned; I don't know why I attempt to get control when I end up barely surviving; I don't know why I invest my heart and soul when I always come in last; I don't know what I have wants when they never seem to be fulfilled; I don't know why I hang on to hope when hope is dead; I don't know why I make an effort when it's not appreciated; I don't know why I care when I don't feel cared for; I don't know why I bother to cry when no one steps up to hold me and make it better-- I just don't know!

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August 8th, 2004

Current Music: Norah Jones--Sunrise Subject: INTRODUCTION!!!!! Update Time: 03:55 am Current Mood: cheerful

As the upcoming school year rapidly approaches and I was obtaining, either through other people's generosity or the stretching of my limited budget, tons of stuff for kindergarten... I accepted a NEW teaching position. I'm moving to SIXTH grade!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty excited...have returned the Kindergarten teaching manuals (after removing the collected dust) and have brought home 6th grade stuff to collect dust. The best part though is that I was in my room and all the furniture is there!!! I was able to draw my floor plan, and hopefully, on Monday, the custodian will have everthing moved. The biggest thing though is that this doesn't seem real yet. I'M GOING TO BE A TEACHER!!!!!!! WITH MY OWN ROOM!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (ps...Sparky, my hermit crab died...I'm very sad!!! I loved that name for a crab...what will I do now to name my new one?)

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July 15th, 2004

Subject: HOME!!!! Time: 05:42 pm

I have safely returned home from my 13 day escapade in Tempe. It was GREAT to see so many of you when I was there...sorry to those I missed...hopefully, we can meet up next time. I had soooooooo much fun being back in AZ. It was nice to be there for an extended period of time...gave me that sense of normalcy that I always miss when I bop in for the weekend. The absolute best part was that I laughed more over the 2 weeks than I have laughed in the past 4 months. It felt amazing. I sometimes forgot how lucky I am to have someone who just cracks me up (in a good way).

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June 21st, 2004

Current Music: Kylie Minogue--Heaven Subject: DDR Update 1 Time: 11:15 pm Current Mood: optimistic

Just burned 361 calories in 50 minutes doing the DDR workout mode...that's equivalent to jogging 4.5 miles!!!!! Man...it's HARD work and I definitely worked up a sweat...I'm doing a bit better on the routines...helps to count!!!!

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Subject: VK Time: 11:11 pm Current Mood: excited

Just a quick note to all of you currently residing in Arizona-- I've made my VK plans...I will be arriving at Sky Harbor Airport at 2:24 on Thursday, July 1 and will departing at 3:25 on Tuesday, July 13. I'd love to get together...Call the cell and we'll meet up when I get in town...

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Current Music: Kylie Minogue-Love at First Sight(only DDR level I can pass) Subject: DDR Time: 09:35 pm Current Mood: determined

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finally got my DDR... I read this article in the newspaper about how people have been losing tons of weight by playing Dance Dance Revolution. What a concept!!!!! Such a concept, there's even a website dedicated to it: http://www.getupmove.com/ Anyways, I figure if Tanya from Seattle can lose 95 lbs and Matt from I don't know where can drop down 151 lbs, there's no reason why I can't lose at least 10... Unfortunately, I've hit my first snag...despite the fact that I have a minor in dance...I SUCK!!!!!! It's much harder than it looks. Maybe the problem is that I'm playing the game mode and not the workout mode...that's what I'm trying next... Wish me luck and I'll keep you all updated...

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June 19th, 2004

Time: 10:31 am Current Mood: frustrated

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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June 18th, 2004

Current Music: Bon Jovi--Living on a Prayer Subject: Class Time: 10:40 pm Current Mood: relieved

I have officially completed my first Graduate level course!!!!! I had soooooooooo much fun!!!!! I still do have to finish a few parts of my journal, but that's it...I HOPE I get an A!!! You know...During college, I couldn't wait to get out; now, I realize how much I wish I was back. Though it was a LONG week...it was nice to get it done in 5 days (keeping in mind we went 8-4). I was AMAZING at problem solving and even turned into Teacher's Pet...I loved every minute of the attention. The best part though was that I finally feel like I have some grasp on the type of math instruction/routine I should have in my Kindergarten class. I'm starting to believe that I may actually be able to handle a bunch of Kindergarten munchkins and still get some learning done. GOOD NEWS!!!!! I found out today that Illinois is going to honor my provisional ESL endorsement. I'm joining a cohort in my district to finish the full endorsement--only 4 classes left. The best part is that I got in contact with a professor from Illinois State University who has some type of grant, and he is going to pay for my endorsement...THE WHOLE THING...YAY!!!!!

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