A few on Friday

• I'm absolutely knackered after this week.
  

• There are only four more teaching days left in the semester and I'm not entirely sure if I'll get through everything I need to.

• It's also that time of year when the kids freak out and all want to come in for extra help. Nevermind I've had to be writing comments for all of them, grade OLD assignments, grade tests, write tests, write exams, write answer keys for all of that.

• Yesterday was Thanksgiving. I went to a friends place for dinner and we had some chicken, stuffing, the works. It was all really really good but I definitely paid for it that evening. My stomach wasn't used to food that rich and let me know it.

• I got my ticket to Hong Kong today. Should be a good time.

• I've finally gotten a carpet 'installed' today. I came home to find everything shoved around and completely disorganized. I'm a little less than thrilled about that, especially with the last week of school coming up and all that jazz. Thanks hospitality for being so... what's the word? Hospitable.

• I also attended the fall play this evening. It was Neverland. It was student directed and student run. They actually did a pretty bang up job, and I was quite impressed. It was a little hard to follow at times because of awkward script cuts and the audience cheering when their friends came on stage, but it was enjoyable.

• There were attacks on Mumbai this week. It's been all over the media and any time I've actually had a chance to even look at the news that had been what they were talking about. Apparently there is still some stuff going on. And don't worry, we're pretty much nestled in a relatively quiet corner. As my boss put it, we pump enough money into the economy that the shopkeepers would probably through up a bunch of barriers to protect us.

• Now that it's the day after Thanksgiving I can actually break out the Christmas music and not be ashamed.

• I've been rereading my favourite book: Zorba the Greek. My copy is totally falling apart. If only I had a fresher copy... *sigh* I really like it because it's not really about anything in particular, just life. And the entire time you never find out the narrator's name. He's just referred to as 'boss.'

• Just wanted to share one little story: Last weekend when I was in Rishikesh with my friends Jeanne, Jennie, and Megan we were walking back to meet our taxi. As we passed a rather holy looking man in robes a man turned to us and, at least I felt, rather mockingly said, "konnichiha." I couldn't help but laugh because Jeanne is, I think, Taiwanese and Megan is Korean (Jennie is a tall white girl that sticks out like the chest bursting alien). Talk about Americans being ignorant. I'm sure he just thought all Asians look the same.

Nostalgia

Decided I'd take a little break from exam writing to put a little update up for my adoring fans.

Yesterday I took a little trip down to Rishikesh, a famous holy city on the Ganga known to the west as the place the Beatles went when they got into their less poppy and more trippy phase. I went with three other teachers, all girls. They primarily wanted to get some good food and massages. I was down with the food but not so much the oily rubdown so I brought along a book. It just so happened that the massage parlour was just upstairs from the cafe we wanted to eat at. So I claimed a table, ordered some masala chai and cheese toast and nestled into early twentieth century Greece with my good buddy Zorba. I waited for the girls for about two hours. We had lunch afterwards which took another two hours. I had ordered spinach and mushroom lasagna and, instead, received spinach and mushroom musaka. By the time we were finished eating we were supposed to meet our driver so we left. I didn't get to see much but it was nice to get away from school for a day.

Anywho, on to what I was really meaning to write about. Thanksgiving is in just a few days and after that the Christmas season is upon us. Well, those of you in the states... it's been upon you for at least a month now. I hadn't really thought much about it until I put my itunes on shuffle and ended up hearing a few Christmas songs. A little Bing, a few from the trans Siberian Orchestra, and some other random artists. The one that always gets me though is Peter Paul and Mary's A Holiday Celebration. And you know what? It's not even a Christmas song that does it. It's Hayo Haya, the one all about Antiochus, the Maccabees and Hannuka. Not so much the material and the music itself and the way it was sung. It's the one that really got to me that first Christmas after mom died. I ended up putting out the lights, lighting a few candles and just listening to that entire cd. Maybe I won't be such a grouch this year around Christmas... who knows?

Then tonight I came across a link to Hallmark's ornaments for this year. We used to get at least one every year so I thought I'd take a gander and see if they had any worthwhile ones. I used to get all the Star Wars ones. The ones this year kinda suck. However, I was looking through various ones and they reminded me of various peoples.

Mike
Charles
Becky
Matt
Kaylee
Mike again
The Old Man
Mrs Maybarry
Mom

If I had the money I'd know where the bulk of my Christmas presents would be coming from. As it is, you can expect me to be rounding them up after school is out and sending them off probably in January or February (whenever I finish up (i.e. start) with the stuffed animals).



Oh, and dad, fair warning. My buddy T said that he was going to be making a trip to the midwest over break and was going to stop by the house to snag your pipes from the attic. So, if a 40 some year old Indian guy stops by the house claiming to know me, that's why.

Whoa

Just got on here and looked at that little thingy on the side that tells you where people are visiting from. There are two visits from Jakarta. Now, I realize this is a 'global' blog with me being in India and most of my readers back home in the US. Heck, Camber's in Hong Kong and checks the page out once in a while. I even have some friends in Europe and South Africa that read from time to time. But who is in Jakarta? Is it just some random person? Did dad and Cindy move there and not tell me (in the midst of remodeling the brown bathroom no less)? Life is full of mysteries. Mayhaps this one will be solved. Who are you Jakarta person?

SHOW YOURSELF!

[Edit: So, I figured it out. I delved into the depths of the bowels of the tracker device and it told me that this person from Jakarta arrived here via the Woodstock website. See, they put a call out for blogs so I gave the go ahead to use mine. And as I searched I also found others that had come across the blog from WS. Must be looking at international teaching positions.

If you're a science teacher, come, love Woodstock. It's a great place and the people are wonderful. Besides, I really don't want to end up prepping the grade eleven chemistry next semester when Sue leaves for Australia.]


Anywho, compose yourself.


k


So, I've meant to give a good update with activity week and all but things have come up and it's been neglected. I have about 75 pics from that week I want to put up but I've yet to find the time. See, I've been sick. I'll spare you the messy details (believe me when I say messy) but let's just say it's good to be back on 'solid' ground.

Just a quick update sans pictures:

There is only three weeks left of school before exams start. The pressure is really on. I'm only a whole chapter behind where I'm supposed to be. It's ok though, the entire department is. To top things off I have a huge stack of papers in need of grading. Not only that, but I also have to have my final exams written by Monday so that they can be reviewed, copied, stapled, placed in folders, and given to the principal by next Friday. Don't expect a real update anytime soon.

Last week we had a visitor, Dr. Bunhead. He's a great guy. It's too bad that he was only here for a day. He gave a show to each of the schools. The old head of department said it was the first time she had seen liquid nitrogen here at WS. There was lots of wee and booger (or bogey as he calls them) jokes. Let's not forget to mention the launching of a hamster from a cannon, blowing up a hot water bottle, making freedom fries with a tennis racket, and igniting his head on fire. All in all, a stellar show.

This past Saturday was JSB (Junior Senior Banquet). Basically, it's the equivalent of a prom or matric dance. The theme was the Oscars and the tenth graders I advise did a bang up job of decorating and serving throughout the night. I showed up in my suit and bowtie claiming to be the maitre d'. I only wish I had brought my tux shirt with me. Que sera sera...

Ok, so I lied. One picture:

My indie rock album cover.
(And don't freak out, the cigarette's only a prop. It's not even lit. Besides, I have a pipe.)

To satiate your thirsts...

Update coming soon...

However many I feel Like on Saturday

1- The week has been insane. Every teacher was giving tests which really stressed out the students. They in turned stressed me out. Somehow, my stack of papers to grade tripled this week.

2- Tuesday was Diwali. It's been described to me as the Hindu equivalent of Christmas. There's lots of celebrating and gift giving. T and I went down to Gargi's to relax and have some dinner. I took down the accordion and we sang 'Diwali Carols.'

3- The 12th grade boys spent Diwali protesting. They had some points that were good (poor living conditions, etc) and some that were not so good. There's been lots of talk this week about 'intangibles' here at Woodstock. The boys feel like they're being taken away from them.

4- I fixed the broken reed in the accordion. I'm good at stuff like that. I just need to figure out how to remove the bass strap so that I can get it replaced. I also need to find a pattern for shoulder straps so I can get them made as well.

5- Tomorrow I'm leaving for Sarab Talla (I think that's how you spell it), a village about 3 hours away, for activity week. I'll be with two other teachers and 12 ninth graders. Basically, we're learning about the culture of the villages and giving the kids a bit of an eye opener.

6- If my life had a soundtrack it would be predominantly Vince Guaraldi. The man's got a way with the piano that is nothing short of amazing. I think the main track would have to be 'Cast Your Fate to the Wind.' If ever there were a piano piece I wish I could play...

7- I have a headache that just won't go away.

8- The weather's getting colder and colder. I'm kinda dreading/excited about spending this next week in my tent. Don't worry, my sleeping bag goes down to 30F and I packed some underarmour and a skimutze. And big fuzzy socks too. The same kind of socks that are great for making sharfins out of.

9- I'm about to start payments on my student loans. Here goes my paycheck for the next 15 years.

10- I still haven't gotten up to the top of the hill to see the snows yet. Hopefully I'll get up there when I come back from the village. Definitely expect pictures of that.

11- I was doodling and accidentally drew a picture of dad. He's yelling, "An Ammonia Leak!" For some reason, that's usually what I think of when I think of him.

12- Yesterday was Halloween. We turned one of the old dorms into a 'haunted house.' Well, I didn't. I've had my fill of haunted houses with APO. Haunted houses are dumb.

13- Indian candy involves boiling milk a lot and then coating the top with a thinly beaten sheet of silver. Nothing says sweet to me like heavy metal poisoning.

14- It's November. I like November.

15- Finally decided that I'm going to Hong Kong over my winter break. Camber is working there teaching English and acting. She invited me for Chinese New Year and to stay for as long as I want. Dad and Cindy aren't coming. I told them not to unless they're going to spend at least two weeks here. That goes for everyone else too. I'm not going to have a bunch of people come visit me and the only thing we ever do is go to the Taj and see Delhi. BORING!

16- Beckers is preggers again. Just means another damn stuffed animal for me to make.