Jo's Blog

Long Weekend

2007-08-26T21:36:44Z

It was a long, productive weekend. I had my first weekend class for the year. I am working toward my Master's in Education with an emphasis in Teaching, Learning and Leadership. The program is through Southwest MN State Univ. We meet one weekend a month throughout the school year. Luckily we had enough interest in the area to form a cohort group, so the two instructors come to us. Last year we read a couple textbooks and wrote a couple papers and/or implemented projects in our classroom each month. This second year the work is more intense as we prepare our final literature reviews and action research projects. We are also creating portfolios of our growth in leadership and education. It is a diverse group of teachers both in terms of subject areas and personalities. It has been interesting to watch the dynamics and the relationship between everyone change as time goes on. There is a lot more joking and friendly teasing. We trust each other this year, so right away people are more willing to say exactly what they think when we disagree with the reading or each other. I'm looking forward to the upcoming year, but I am glad to be done for the day.

Happy Un-anniversary to me...

2007-08-26T21:34:46Z

Life has been an interesting journey so far. Phillip and I were never really a good match long term, and of course we see that in hindsite. I am just thankful that our friendship has been strong enough to survive one of the most painful experiences of our lives. Our marriage and divorce taught me a lot of things about myself, some good, and some bad, but I definately am a better person for it. Kind of philisophical about it right now as we were married four years ago today and this is our first un-anniversary. (We seperated in July and the divorce finalized in November last year.)

I love my new town, I have a great job, a supportive church group and great friends. I recently ended my first serious relationship last month since the divorce (it lasted 7 months) and I'm still feeling optomistic about love. So all in all life is good.

jo_aus_usa @ 2007-05-14T18:22:00

2007-05-14T23:28:46Z

Okay. So it's been a year since I've posted. Apparently some people still have me on their livejournal lists despite my inactivity so that makes me feel good at least.

I like livejournal. I like having a place to air my thoughts and feelings and knowing that someone may read it and someone cares about what's happening in my life. That is also the drawback of livejournal. The only people who read it are people who know me. So it's not really a great place to share innermost thoughts and feelings because ultimately they may come back to bite me in the ass. There are a lot of things going on in my life right now and a lot of confusing thoughts and experiences and emotions, but the person I most want to talk to about them would be most hurt by them and so I remain silent.

I miss my best friend.

Apparently I've changed...

2007-05-14T23:13:59Z

http://www.okcupid.com/personality?type=DGLM&g=0&o=1

The Maid of Honor
Deliberate Gentle Love Master (DGLM)

Appreciated for your kindness and envied for all your experience, you are The Maid of Honor.

Charismatic, affectionate, and terrific in relationships, you are what many guys would call a "perfect catch"--and you probably have many admirers, each wishing to capture your long-term love. You're careful, extra careful, because the last thing you want is to hurt anyone. Especially some poor boy whose only crime was liking you.

Your exact female opposite:
Half-Cocked

Random Brutal Sex Dreamer

We've deduced you're fully capable of a dirty fling, but you do feel that post-coital attachment after hooking up. So, conscientious person that you are, you do your best to reserve physical affection for those you respect...so you can respect yourself.

Your biggest negative is the byproduct of your careful nature: indecision. You're just as slow rejecting someone as you are accepting them.

ALWAYS AVOID: The False Messiah (DBLM), The 5-Night Stand (DBSM), The Vapor Trail (RBLM), The Bachelor (DGSM)

CONSIDER: The Gentleman (DGLM), someone just like you.

Link: The Online Dating Persona Test @ OkCupid - free online dating.
My profile name: : Princessof711

Anoth Quiz

2006-03-22T01:16:43Z

The Window Shopper
Random Gentle Love Dreamer (RGLDf)

Loving, hopeful, open. Likely to carry on an romance from afar. You are The Window Shopper.

You take love as opportunities come, which can lead to a high-anxiety, but high-flying romantic life. You're a genuinely sweet person, not saccharine at all, so it's likely that the relationships you have had and will have will be happy ones. You've had a fair amount of love experience for your age, and there'll be much more to come.

Your exact opposite:
The Stiletto

Deliberate Brutal Sex Master

Part of why we know this is that, of all female types, you are the most prone to sudden, ferocious crushes. Your results indicate that you're especially capable of obsessing over a guy you just met. Obviously, passion like this makes for an intense existence. It can also make for soul-destroying letdowns.

Your ideal match is someone who'll love you back with equal fire, and someone you've grown to love slowly. A self-involved or pessimistic man is especially bad. Though you're drawn to them, avoid artists at all costs.

BEWARE: The Hornivore

CONSIDER: The Gentleman, The Loverboy, The Boy Next Door

Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating.
My profile name: Princessof711

schools can be scary

2006-03-08T03:41:17Z

I don't understand what's going on with some students today. 4 of my 8th grade students were expelled this week for terroristic threats.
One of the students created a hit list of students and teachers he wished to kill. He's a disturbed boy who had been receiving counceling for suicide and self mutilation. I feel really bad about the situation, but the district removed him because he fit a dangerous profile.
The three other students were involved in a bomb threat and were actually arrested and held for three days. It was scary even though the school didn't feel the threat required evacuation. It was the second time in as many days that students threatened to kill other students in my school. I had taught two of the four students and would never have guessed they would do such a thing even if they thought it was a joke.
After all the school violence I've seen these past few years, as a teacher, I'm kind of jumpy about it, but students seem to be unfazed. I just don't get it.

I'm innocent I tell you!

2006-02-18T03:45:17Z

<td align="center"> Jo Anne --
[noun]:

A person who likes to steal tins of tuna

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com</td>

Survived Trivia

2006-02-13T21:23:02Z

so did the house. Everyone was super this weekend, taking out the garbage, doing the dishes etc. Even though we were outside of St. Cloud, I think our house worked well. It was big enough to allow people to spread out enough so we didn't drive each other as crazy as usual.

As for the results, we started off in the top ten, but slipped as the contest wore on. We finished 25th of 72 teams with 10525 points. Not our best finish, but far from our worst. I can't wait until next year!

You know that feeling...

2006-02-11T13:01:25Z

you sometimes have after an interview that went so well that you just know they are going to hire you? I didn't get that feeling after my phone interview today. Even though it didn't go as well as I'd hoped, I learned a lot from the experience and I feel I'll be better prepared in the future.

If I could do anything...

2006-02-07T02:13:38Z

If there were no restrictions, I would travel the world. Not in the traditional sense of sight seeing and pampering, but rather in an attempt to get to know the people of different nations. I wish that I could participate in a life long exchange program spending each year in another country, working in each if possible, (though nothing too hard.) I am fascinated by how different ideas and perspectives people have are influenced by their backgrounds, both cultural and familial. When I first returned from my student exchange program, I wished to become an ambassador. That idea still appeals to me, but no longer in the official role. If there were no restrictions, I’d be an ambassador for all nations, not just my own.

Because I like the commercials more than the game

2006-02-07T00:34:08Z

http://www.davesdaily.com/videoclips/superbowl-commercials.htm

Controversial Cartoons

2006-02-07T00:10:54Z

I think that some Islamic people are out of line in their reaction to the cartoons, that is those few who choose to protest violently. However, Muslims are right to be angry about their religious leader being parodied. We would never accept an anti-semitic cartoon in our major newspapers and I don't think that this should be treated differently. The perception is that people of the muslim world are violent, and that perception, the majority of the time is wrong. Continuing to perpetuate it helps no one. I was glad that so many news organizations chose not to show the cartoons.

(I do find it interesting that the major reaction we're seeing today occurred almost four months after the original printing.)

Job interview on Friday

2006-02-05T01:57:44Z

Most of you already know my teaching position is being eliminated next year due to budget cuts. Shortly after hearing the news, I began my job search. Luckily, I have a license to teach English as a Second Language as well as German so my prospects are pretty good. I have only applied to one position so far. (Most schools don't have openings posted yet.) They called me for an interview! I am scheduled to have a phone interview with Austin Public Schools on Friday, though I may try to find away to get down there in person instead. They are looking for an ELL teacher for the elementary or high school. I'm excited about this opportunity though my portfolio isn't quite ready for presenting. Wish me luck. Any advice on phone interviewing would also be appreciated.

The one big downside to Austin is that it is so far from much of my family and friends. I shouldn't count my chickens though, right? I may not even be offered the job. It will be a good learning experience anyway. I have only interviewed with a school district once before, the one that hired me. :)

Another Quiz I wasted time taking

2006-01-27T00:05:25Z

Your Social Dysfunction: http://www.quizgalaxy.com/quiz.php?id=72
Happy
You're a happy person - you have a good amount of self-esteem, and are socially healthy. While this isn't a social dysfunction per se, you're definitely not normal. Consider yourself lucky: you walk that fine line between 'normal' and being outright narcissistic. You're rare - which is something else to be happy about.

This is not the result I was expecting...

2006-01-26T23:32:49Z

You fit in with:
Humanism

Your ideals mostly resemble that of a Humanist. Although you do not have a lot of faith, you are devoted to making this world better, in the short time that you have to live. Humanists do not generally believe in an afterlife, and therefore, are committed to making the world a better place for themselves and future generations.

0% scientific.
40% reason-oriented.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Enneagram Type

2006-01-26T22:57:59Z

The Enneagram Type Indicator Sampler Results (RHETI Version 2.0)
Questionnaire Date: 1/25/2006 11:34:01 PM

Type 1 **
Type 2 ******
Type 3 *******
Type 4 ***
Type 5 ***
Type 6 ******
Type 7 *****
Type 8
Type 9 ****

"Based entirely on highest score, you appear to have Type 3 personality characteristics."

The Achiever
The adaptable, success-oriented type. Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent, and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness.

If you'd like to take the test go to http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/dis_sample_36.asp

Lost again...

2006-01-26T05:07:21Z

Played cribbage tonight at Chopper's. For the second week in a row I was eliminated from the double elimination tournament after playing just two games. Oh well. At least I got another free drink token. Next week I'm going all the way, baby!

Received $2000 in the mail today...

2006-01-25T23:42:32Z

It was a late Christmas present from an uncle. Super cool, especially since he usually doesn't give me a Christmas gift. (This year his accountant recommended selling some stock for tax purposes.) Money's always nice, but now I have to figure out what to do with it. Spend it, right? That seems obvious. Thing is, I will lose my job June 1st, so maybe I should start an emergency fund. And I also have credit card debt, about $1000 worth. Plus student loans, but they have a lower interest rates and are deferred until June. Deciding how to spend $2000 is a nice problem to have, but I'd appreciate feedback nonetheless.

Slacking for trivia

2006-01-24T04:25:38Z

I finally finished posting grades. I would've finished sooner if I hadn't been using my prep periods to research visual trivia. (http://www.kvsc.com/trivia/news.html) I started corrupting other teachers today as well. The science teacher is hooked. She nailed the birds and we're working on the eyes together. I'd like her to come to the actual event, but I'm wary of exposing her to my friends. They're basically good guys, but tend to offend. Anyway, more trivia to research. Send me your e-mail address if you'd like to help.

Better Mood

2006-01-21T06:31:07Z

Boy was I cranky the last time I posted.

Had a super week. Wednesday night I went out to supper with my husband at a new bar/grill. While we were eating I noticed a sign for a cribbage tournament to begin shortly. I'm not very good at cribbage, and I've never competed in a tournament of any kind since high school, let alone a cribbage one, so of course thought it would be a good idea to sign up. Besides, it was only five dollars to play and we didn't have other plans. Phillip agreed to play, he's actually pretty good at it. I was eliminated immediately, but I got a "free" beer for being the biggest loser. Phillip won second place. I may go back next week.

Tonight I went to the union 1/2 Way Day party. There was good food, drinks, and dancing. Also numerous prizes. Nothing fancy; books, bags, etc. First semester is done, now I just need to finish posting grades. I'll have to head in tomorrow to finish up. Despite having to work on Saturday, I'm looking forward to this weekend.

So first post, I'm biligerant and this post I'm writing a letter. Hmmm. I'll get this blog thing figured out yet. Or maybe its me that needs work?

First Post

2006-01-21T06:29:40Z

I'm creating this blog to air my thoughts, not for your entertainment. I probably won't post on any sort of a regular basis, both because I am busy with my two jobs and home life and I don't often have things I feel strongly enough about to write down. Get over it.

School Today

I started my students on a research project yesterday. People always think those are the easiest teaching day. They're not. Not because there's a lot of lesson planning involved, but because it's so time consuming. Students always have a thousand questions and all of those techie skills they use at home to find the back doors into porn sites, disappear as soon as they need to find information for class.

As part of our incorperating technology curriculum, students have to create a powerpoint project in one of their language classes. Silly me I volunteered to do it with the eigth graders. I was excited about seeing what they could do until I discovered that many of them had ever seen the program before, let alone used it. I think technology is important and fun most of the time, but incorperating it in a class of students who don't have the skills necessary is frustrating. I'm supposed to teach German, not multimedia.

Enough whining.