The Stories of the Life of a Wandering Bean

WTF

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:28:12 GMT

WTF?! That is all.

ACK

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:45:03 GMT

Ok so I never post in this thing but I figure my most recent drama is post worthy.

First of all there is always drama in my life. I don't know why. There just is. It makes things entertaining though.

So Monday I actually managed to get out of work at a decent hour. 3:30. Only an hour after the time we can technically leave. During SOL time that's amazing. So I needed transparencies because I had a ton of maps and charts to do with my AP kids Wednesday because I was going to have them for three hours (thank GOD) so I needed to do MASSIVE REVIEW the day before their test. So I went to the Office Max behind the school because that's the only place I can find transparencies anymore. So I finally found the dumb things. I know, I know, who uses the overhead anymore? Doesn't your school have powerpoint projectors? You forget where I teach. We have them but you have to check them out of the library and fight for them. So unless I have pictures or something that really requires powerpoint I don't get one. Anyway, I found them (which is hard because they move everytime) and bought them and was a little poorer and went out to my car. I got in, and was putting the bag in the floor of the passenger side when CRUNCH. The guy next to me pulled forward to leave by going through the empty space in front of him and hit my door.

So I get out. The guy gets out. And he wants to call the cops. I told him they probably wouldn't come as it's a parking lot. Parking lots are private property and the Norfolk police have better things to do. But the guy kept saying that (nevermind he had a freakin' phone) so I called my insurance company and they told me that I could call the cops but they probably wouldn't come since it was a parking lot and that since I was the parked car I could either go through my guys and pay the 500 dollar deductible or go through his since it sounded like it was his fault. So no shit I'm going through his. So I told him we needed to exchange information and he told me AGAIN to call the cops, even after I told him what my insurance people said, and it was getting annoying as hell, so I did call the cops and they told me that they wouldn't come because it was private property but to exchange insurance information (NO SHIT). So the guy FINALLY gives me his information, USAA, and he had the standard military duffle in his trunk, so I'm assuming navy, and I give him mine and I sit in my car and call USAA, give my statement, yadda yadda, they set up an appointment to get the damage appraised and get pictures. Thel set it up at 8:30 Tuesday. Luckily I had planning until 10:10 because of SOLs and was actually NOT giving a test so I could go.

8:30 I go off to the body shop and get my car looked at, etc. Didn't want to say I was getting it done there right away because:
A) Didnt' know anything about the place yet
B) Didn't have 100% assurance that USAA was paying and I certainly don't have a 1000 bucks to throw around.

So I called the lady and left a message asking if a rental car was covered in this because I have to be able to drive while my car's getting fixed, turned off my phone and taught my kiddies. When they were at lunch I checked my messages and had a lovely message saying that they had to wait to get pictures of his car because his statement conflicted with mine (he said I hit him, douche) and that they had left a message and he hadn't called back. So I was PISSED but couldn't do anything about it at the moment so I went about my day pissed off (which made for a fun day because 7th bell freshman scholars bugs me on a good day) and when my AP kids came for their afterschool review I turned my phone on and apologized and told them my car drama story. They told me it was a great story and I should tell it in class. Yeah they wanted out of work for 15 minutes because they knew I was going to slam them. And the lady calls me back about 3:30. Just judging by the pictures of my car alone she said there was no way I was liable and they would cover my repairs and rental. YAY.

So I call the body shop to set it up and they can't take me until Monday. Bummer. Especially since I can't get there until the afternoon because I'm giving an SOL test Monday morning during my planning and God knows Lake Taylor won't let me out. So I tell them that and they say that's fine I can bring it after work and they'll start work on Tuesday. Ok. Fine.

Call insurance people, leave a message, get a message back saying to call them and they'll set the rental up for Tuesday since that's when the work begins. Um... ok... so how do I get home Monday? So now I'm going to have to call the car people back and ask if I can drop it off Tuesday morning (while MY kids are SOL testing and I'm free) so I can have a car.

So in conclusion, life sucks.

Disney!!

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:23:01 GMT

So I'm going to Disney World this summer. I want to come up with a song that will stump the people at the piano bar. Any suggestions?

Oh I also have to get pirate Mickey Mouse ears for my niece. Her intials are ARR!!

Meme

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:11:40 GMT

I got this from EK and decided to do it since I'm avoiding work. The work is still there. And I have to do it. But I don't want to.

1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you which song or movie you remind me of.
3. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.(if possible. If not, I'll say something that only makes sense to me.)
4. I'll tell you my first memory of you.
5. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
6. I'll ask you something I've always wondered about you.
7. I'll tell you my favorite thing about you.
8. I'll tell you my least favorite thing about you.
9. If you play, you MUST post this on yours.

But this is ok because I'm not terribly active on this thing and only have like five friends. Sweet.

Meme: Flashback to 1998!

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:13:17 GMT

5 Things I was Doing 10 years Ago:
(1) OM: Which later became DI but was then OM. This was the year we were aliens and Ashley was the sun and Bailey was a drum that fell from the Space Station Mir when they threw out the trash and Trey tried to shoot us with a chicken and a banana that he got from his lunch box and we went to Richmond and that's the way we all became the Brady Bunch. Yes, I had a weird childhood.
(2) Marching Band with the high school because we're cool like that.
(3) My first All-District Band: though I'm not sure what chair I was... I think I was 1st Concert... but I think I was originally 2nd Concert but 1st didn't show up... I don't know... not important but it was my first one!
(4) In Mrs. Bartley's 8th grade English class making a sign for her to call on me and writing letters about the One-Eyed Cat to Melissa Hill for that letter assignment. One-Eyed Cat was NOT a good book.
(5) Watching Channel One News with the self-contained class because my homeroom didn't have a TV and I had to keep a journal on it for English. The self-contained teacher was the most annoying lady in the world.

5 Things On My To-Do List Today:
(1) 6:45: Get to work, cut large sheets of paper and set up for character collages
(2) Meet with Berg and Pierce with the rest of my team during planning to be told how too many kids are failing the 9th grade
(3) Take work to ALC, Call parents, Eat Lunch
(4) Go home: Make lesson on French Revolution and quiz and worksheets for stupid scholars class
(5) Try to be done with work by midnight

5 Snacks I Love:
(1) Chicken ball
(2) Sausage dip
(3) Anything with cheese
(4) Bagels that have way too much cream cheese
(5) Cool Ranch Doritoes and squeeze cheese

5 Things I Would Do If I Were A Millionaire:
(1) Quit working in Norfolk before something horrible happens to me
(2) Buy a house (or put money away for that)
(3) Pay off my car loan
(4) Pay off my student loan
(5) Go back to school (preferably in London as that's my current pipe dream)

5 Places I've Lived: Do places I've gone to school count? I'm assuming they do.... they do now.
(1) Vinton, VA
(2) Farmville, VA (Farmvegas!)
(3) Derby, England (Nunnery Court.... I decorated my room with empty bottles)
(4) Virginia Beach, VA
(5) Wishing I had someplace cool to put here....

5 Jobs I've Had:
(1) Babysitter
(2) Data Entry: Trane, National Linens, US Cellural Engineering
(3) Receptionist: Trane, National City Mortgage, Legg Mason (where I had three employees to answer the phone for and mostly sat around and read my books and tell people where the bankrupcy lawyer who had his office above ours was and spent my hour lunch break wandering the Farmer's Market.... that was seriously the best job EVER)
(4) Human Resources Generalist: Orvis
(5): High School Teacher/PO/Zookeeper/Bouncer: Norfolk City Schools

That was fun. I need to live more places.

Medical Conditions Galore

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:33:18 GMT

So.... if I vomit due to gross rabbit cage (I let it wait waaay too long... I didn't realize how bad it was because I've got that super bedding that doesn't smell, and he digs before he pees because he thinks he's a cat so he buries it, so when I move that top layer it was like "whoa... tons of rabbit pee... that's a nasty smell" moment and that on top of pizza, wine, and 2am lead to vomit... but anyway) right after I take my inhaler (for those of you who don't know apparently I have asthma...) do I take it again?

I guess it wouldn't hurt... the doctor said he was starting me on one puff because it has weird side effects sometimes and he doesn't want to like... make my heart explode... But if it's inhaled through my lungs it wouldn't matter if I vomit right? Different passages.... Yeah no, not going to inhale again.

So I took a sick day to go to the doctor Wednesday. The only reason I did that is because at my annual check-up at another doctor they told me I had to come back in the morning before I eat or drink for blood tests. That's extremely complicated. I always schedule check-ups and doctors appointments for the afternoon or during the summer. So after resceduling twice I settled on Wednesday morning... a day where I could afford to miss, so I booked a sub and decided to take a doctor day.

Since school started up I'd been having breathing issues. I've suspected asthma since last year when I was coughing three weeks and the doctor (which was scheduled AFTER school of course) said it could be asthma. Shrugged it off at the time as I didn't know I had a family history of that (problem with no one on mom's side telling me squat about their medical stuff) but then I started thinking "well... maybe... weird since I've never had that mentioned before but... maybe" but it sort of cleared up around the end of June... (after broncitis medicene and the smoke from the swamp fires lessened) so I didn't worry about it. Then school started up and it was like "Oh crap.... can't breathe" and then about four weeks ago I started coughing like crazy. People kept giving my cough drops, but they don't do you any good when it's coming from your lungs and all this clear fluid keeps coming up. So gross.

So I went and got my blood tests at 9:30 then drove across VB to Green Run for my crappy doctor's office. All the doctors on my insurance seem kind of sketchy... but that's ok... I don't go often. So I wait in the waiting room for the usual hour and a half (10:45 appointment, I got in at 12:15) and read my book and the rude nurse asked me about my book and scoffed when I told her I've read Angela's Ashes multiple times (I love Frank McCourt... he has a fun sense of humor about his traumatic childhood... and the movie sucks, it took all the humor out and was just "look how sad this guy's poor childhood was!!") and finally the doctor came. I took a breathing test, and yep. I have asthma. Then he was asking me a ton of questions and asked about childhood symptoms and how I was when I ran or played sports and I said I avoided running because it made me cough and wheeze and he said that was probably asthma. Which I found funny. I always thought i coughed and wheezed because I was out of shape and didnt' run so I didnt' run because I didn't like coughing and wheezing, but now I have a medical excuse. Haha! Suck it PE teachers, I had ASTHMA!! I'm not sure if that's really why I wheezed but whatever.

Then I figured while I was there and I paid my 20 dollar co-pay I may as well ask some other medical questions. So I had him look at that weird not itchy not painful rash that keeps coming back. That's apparently fungus. Ew. I don't know where I picked that up, but whatever now at least I know what to do to get rid of it (which it's apparently hard to get rid of but whatever). Then I noticed the night before I had a weird bump on the back of my head so I asked about that. It's an infection and my lymph node back there is swollen. So I got pills for that. All and all, successful doctor visit.

Anywho now I have inhalers. One that I take in the morning and evening and one for when I can't breathe. The problem is I keep forgetting about them. They really are working though, it's nice.

Anyway, that's all my medical issues for now. I still have nasty bruises from getting beat up at Busch Gardens but that's a whole other kettle of fish. Just felt like updating. I know asthma isn't that big of a deal and no one really cares, but it's all new to me. And really, who gets asthma as an adult? I swear it's because my school is all moldy. Work gave me asthma. I need a new job.

The Grudge

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:35:10 GMT

So... the Grudge? What was scary about it? Everyone told me it was the scariest movie ever and I shouldn't watch it alone. I just did. Not scary. Not even all that interesting.

Meowing little boys just aren't that scary. And that "death rattle" noise was just annoying.

Yeah I don't see what all the hype was about.

Haha so true...

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:10:42 GMT

Your results:
You are An Expendable Character (Redshirt)

An Expendable Character (Redshirt)		90%
Jean-Luc Picard		75%
Uhura		70%
Deanna Troi		70%
Mr. Scott		60%
Beverly Crusher		60%
Geordi LaForge		60%
Chekov		55%
James T. Kirk (Captain)		50%
Spock		50%
Leonard McCoy (Bones)		50%
Will Riker		45%
Worf		40%
Data		39%
Mr. Sulu		10%

Since your accomplishments are seldom noticed,
and you are rarely thought of, you are expendable.
That doesn't mean your job isn't important but if you
were in Star Trek you would be killed off in the first
episode you appeared in.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

Hanna Shmanna

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:21:41 GMT

Who went to the dentist in the middle of the tropical storm? Me that's who! TV said "Stay inside and stay off the roads" I said "Screw you TV this is my first dentist appointment in two years and I'm not missing it!"

The dentist was kind of crappy. My teeth are fine apart from not being cleaned in two years. But the dentist office didn't strike me as clean (the things that should have been white weren't white and they didn't have any of the fancy crap my old dentist had...) and they kept stabbing my gums. No duh they're going to bleed you're puncturing them! Never had a more painful trip to the dentist. But! They have appointments on Saturdays so I don't have to miss work or leave work early and rush out of there, and my copay was five bucks.... and I imagine my DHMO only has crappy dentists anyway so.... I'll stick with him for now.

In other news, Hanna sucked. You call that a tropical storm? More like a tropical bore. My power went out for a little while and my backyard is a mess from tree limbs but other than that nothing happened. I was actually out in the worst of it.... I went to the grocery store for kale but they were out. Honestly, who runs out of kale??

Wine tour... post one

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:46:20 GMT

Man so I realized tonight as I was eating my fake Mexican (Mexican from a box dinner... it's really good though if you add more cheese and a ton of sour cream... of course that's true of most foods...) that I still have a ton of wine in my house. Amazing. I think it's because I'm reluctant to drink anything I can only get at the vineyards alone and none of my friends here drink wine. Tonight I'm drinking the Rockbridge Tuscarora Red which is not as good as their chambourcin (that they don't make anymore.... which is sad because I loved it.... this is a blend with the chambourcin grape so it's close but not the same...) which I can replace because I found this at the Total Wine store on Great Neck. This could get me in trouble though because I have drunk an entire bottle of this myself in one night before... I try not to do that at home alone because getting drunk alone is sad but this is yummy wine... it's hard not to keep drinking it.....

I think I'm going to do a wine tour of all the wines I have in my house... so each night I drink one I'll post about it. Because I think I want to make wine my new hobby. So.... here's my evaluation of tonight's wine... keep in mind I'm no where near a wine expert and like to pretend I know what I'm talking about. I could be totally wrong... this is just what I think of the wine.... I could be totally wrong and sound dumb.. so if you're a wine guru don't read. I'm embarrassing myself.

Rockbridge Vineyard Tuscarora Red: This is a chambourcin blend (which I know because the people told my parents when they were sad there's no more chambourcin...). It seems like a good with everything wine because it's dry, but it's not quite as full as a merlot. It's smoother than a merlot and not as oaky as a cabernet. I love cabernets.... too bad I don't have a Fincastle Cabernet Franc.... I love their Cabernet Franc. Anyway... this wine kind of has a more full berry taste. The website says it has a soft tannins.... note to self... look up what a tannins is. I hear that word thrown around a lot... it's about time I figure out what it is exactly.... Anyway, I know from experience that it stays just as good if you don't finish the bottle and keep it in the fridge a week or so before going back to it. But I have one of those air tight thingies where you pump the air out of the bottle and I'm not sure but that seems to be keeping my wines better than when I just had the plain plastic cork. But I've saved it before my sister gave me that for Christmas and it was fine.

Anyway, it goes fast (I started this post on my first glass and am already halfway through the second... yikes!) and isn't a knock you on your ass you're drinking a dry red wine wine. I'd say it's good for someone who isn't keen on red wines but wants to look all cool and sophisticated and serve one.

I think a trip to Rockbridge to go tasting at this vineyard might be something I need to do in the future. I've yet to meet a Rockbridge wine I didn't like but I haven't been tasting there (my parents went before I was 21....so it's been a while since they've been and I've never been but have drunk the benefits of their trips) so who knows? It can be on my way back to Roanoke.... might be worth the stop....

If anyone wants ot know more here's their website http://www.rockbridgevineyard.com/

And now onto my third glass!

Adventures at the AP Institute

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:47:29 GMT

So I'm sitting in the UC at William and Mary using the wireless internet because the hotel charges 10 bucks for it each day. Dude. That's a lot. That's more than I had to pay in Greece for god's sake. Anyway I'm going to try this access stuff back at the hotel later probably but right now I'm down here... I'm good. And I'm actually avoiding the people I work with. Not that I don't like the people I work with... I just want some me time and since I don't have my own hotel room... sitting in the UC with the scary old man painting (I think that's what it is) staring at me will have to do.

Yeah so I'm in Williamsburg this week for my AP conference. The guy's kind of boring but the information is good. I definately needed this conference... I just wish people would stop getting him off task by asking RANDOM questions. And then he spends 30 minutes answering them. I did get a TON of "free" books. "Free" because the school paid like 550 bucks for me to be here. Thanks Norfolk. I also kind of lucked out because our school's paying for the hotel... which is nice... VB and the other Norfolk schools are making them drive... which I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand I don't have to leave my house at 6am every day in the hopes of beating traffic and praying the HRBT isn't too blocked up.... but I have to stay here and I don't get to go home at night. Our class is actually being held in the hotel we're staying at which is really really nice because now all I have to do is go downstairs in the morning. Sweet.

So I was asked by a parent on a tour group (two have come through) if I liked going to school here... I should have told them "Hell no! Longwood's better! Whoo! FARMVILLE!!" Because Longwood's cool like that. That's right. I have school pride. Go Lancers! Yeah we have a crappy mascot but our football team is undefeated bitches! ;-P Though I must say William and Mary did provide us with a pretty good breakfast this morning. But snack kind of sucks. The US history and English Lit people got there first so all that was left were a couple of burnt cookies. Oh. And the coffee kind of sucked. So I put in a TON of sugar.... but it still sucked. And what's with the half and half and fake sugar? Which is saying a lot because I usually drink like... maxwell house. I think tomorrow I'll go the tea route. And I can get their wireless to work unlike at Longwood where they tried then told me my wireless card was broken. Um... then how come I can get it to work everywhere else fools? Man I'm hostile.

And my observation: College kids travel in packs. Seriously at mealtimes I swear they're pack animals. Longwood people used to do that too. Always in groups of four or more except the two dorky guys who are sitting a little bit away from me talking about physics. That conversation might explain why there's just two of them... nobody really cares about physics. Physics sucks.

Sweet just got a text that the group's not going to dinner until 6:30... I can bum around here another 45 minutes and not be accused fo being anti-social.... which I sort of am. I need "me" time.... which is with my computer.... talking to people.... haha I suck at life. Seriously, I'm not sure I could go a week without internet unless I was doing something really really fun all day and night that distracts me from the fact I'm no on the internet. I even checked my internet stuff like at least every other day or so in Greece (yay hotel internets! props to Crete for having the most free internet service in the hotels). I'm glad I packed my old crappy laptop or I'd be calling up people I know who came here and finding out where the computer labs are....

Another observation... what is it with colleges and random works of art?? Is that true at every school?? Ok I quit. I could go on and on about all this. I'm paying a fortune on food this week. I was hoping the hotel would have like a little fridge and a microwave but no..... that sucks. And Williamsburg is super tourist central so there's no escaping the fact that I'm going to spend a ton on dinner.... lunch I've been going to Wawa. It's quicker and cheaper than going to one of the delis or something. I'm all for cheap.

Work

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:31:17 GMT

So apparently I have to give a presentation on either the 21st or 22nd on how to use the Quarterly test data for remediation. Heh. I hate the quarterly tests. They're stupid and they annoy me. But I have used the data before.... sort of.... I usually know what they need to work on without a test telling me.... but whatever. Now I have to prepare that presentation. I wonder who it's for? The head of social studies for Norfolk's supposed to call me and tell me more.

Hopefully they'll pay me for this. It's nice that they think I'm good enough to tell other people how to do stuff... but on the other hand... I have to go in on the day that I'm supposed to be off (when I have company at home) to do this. It'd nice to get some money for it... at least to cover the gas to because I'm sure it's downtown :-)

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:55:43 GMT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080630/ap_on_fe_st/britain_exam_expletives;_ylt=AvXmBsJYhe6OSmSrXEkJyyztiBIF

So something I would do if a student did that in my class :-P

Summer Update

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:39:28 GMT

So I haven't posted in forever..... summer is here. Which should be relaxing, and it is for the most part. Got to be better than working anyway. So I have some time while I'm building up the energy to spray my carpet after my sister left with her puppy (dogs are cute but there's a reason I don't have one... I don't appreciate puppy poo on my carpet or in my kitchen) so I figured I'd post....

So I got really sick right before my kids SOL tested. That wasn't cool. I got sick about that time last year so I counted it as a cold and went on about my life. I didn't take any sick days for it because my kids needed to review so I powered through. Then I still wasn't better but I kept going to work because our scores kept not coming in. So we kept having to review. It was horrible. You try to get kids to review for two weeks after they took the test... but we didn't know who failed so we had to review like they all failed. The kids whined... I told them it was pointless because there was nothing I could do about it so shut up and do the freakin' work. I made it as painless as possible. Lots of games. A huge fist fight started during one of them. They knocked over half the desks in my room and knocked everything off my desk (which I had JUST freakin' organized and cleaned.... I was so mad about that). Always fun. Anyway, once the scores FINALLY came in, and my kids retested they did well. 91% final pass rate. That's REALLY good for freshmen at LT. I was proud of them.

Anyway, I was still sick. I was sick for like three weeks so I finally went to the doctor after work one day. He gave me drugs and told me I probably have developed asthma. I didn't realize until afterwards when I talked to my mom that I have a family history of that. With all the smoke and stuff in the air I'm starting to think he's right. It's been REALLY hard to breathe. And my lungs will hurt when I take a breath. And I get this hacking cough that I can't control. So bad.

On the car front.... that's a long and complicated story. I was on my way to my cousin's graduation party in Lynchburg and I got into an accident in Suffolk. It sucked big time. So I got my car towed off and come to find out it would cost too much to fix it so I have a new car now. That's a payment I didn't want to add to my bills for another few years but what happens happens. What's really odd is that the guy told me it was 4000 dollars worth of damage, after looking up stuff on the car the Cavalier was worth between 3000-4000 dollars, so it was a total loss. But the other day the insurance company told dad they were sending him 5700 for it. Dude. He had them repeat it twice. I think they've messed up... so we'll see how much they actually send.... but that would be awesome. I put 5000 down on the new car, well actually my parents did since I don't have that kind of money, but I was going to pay them the difference once they got the insurance check so I was thinking I'd be putting about 1500 down on this car out of my savings.... but if we get that much that'll cover the car and then some. I'm thinking mom and dad can just keep the extra 700 since they spent a TON of money on me that week between lawyer fees and food and stuff and insurance.... but if I don't have to pay anything towards the downpayment that'd be awesome.

Work wise, I'm teaching AP World next year, which seems to be the hardest AP history course. It's got a crazy amount of information. And they're not double blocking for me.... so I have to cover the material in half the time the old teacher had. It sucks. I'll be in Williamsburg for a week doing the institute stuff.

As for work during the summer I'm not really. I do seem to be hosting a bed and breakfast out of my house. Last week my parents were here. Which was good because they helped me find a car. We also went to some wineries on the Eastern Shore (which meant crossing the CBBT.... 30 miles of BRIDGE) that were really really good. I got a merlot at one and a merlot and chardonnay at the other and some rose for Jen for her birthday... I normally don't like white wines as well but thsi chardonnay was good. It had a good balance of oaky and buttery tastes. I liked it. I'm saving them for when I have company. Then last night Kristin and her boyfriend spend the night with the new puppy they picked up in Norfolk. Then next week my cousin is coming to stay for her senior trip. Then I'm going home for about a week for my mom and grandmother's birthdays (they're on the same day... so dad get in big trouble if he forgets). It's grandma's 80th so all the relatives will be in town that weekend. And Vanessa's wedding is that Saturday. Then I'm coming home that Sunday and picking up margin_oferror at the train station in Newport News as she's visiting that next week. Which will be awesome. Then I'll be in Williamsburg. Then it's August. Then school starts again. Dun dun dun.... summer's flying by. Anyone else who wants to visit you'll have to come in August. July is booked. It's nice living two blocks from the beach.... and my house is pretty. If I owned it I could really fix it up nice... but I don't and I could never afford to own it in this neighborhood. Chix Beach is expensive. Any beach is expensive.

Well I think I updated enough. That's what's going on with me. How are you? How's life? Having a good summer? That's good.

Weird things my kids have left in my room

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:08:13 GMT

WSo my kids are extremely forgetful... I mean granted I used to leave a textbook in french on occassion and I left my dad's Silmarillon in my precalc class once and freaked out because it wasn't mine and he would kill me if I lost his book... but never anything weird... so here's the list... I'm sure it's not complete and it's not in order:

1) Shoes (that was today... but that's happened before, both gym shoes and REGULAR shoes... what were they wearing on their feet??)
2) Socks (to go with the shoes... I didn't smell them... so I don't know if they were clean or dirty)
3) The New Testament of the Bible (which no one ever claimed... they either were hinting at something or gave up on it)
4) An alarm clock (a big radio one that plugs in)
5) Underwear (both of the boxer and whitie tightie variety.... and not in a bag... EW)
6) A notebook with a complete play about life in da park.... (yeah it was hilarious... there was no plot but it was really funny to read)
7) Stephen Colbert's book (ok that's not weird in the normal world but it is if you knew my kids)
8) Toothpaste
9) First aid cream
10) Plastic toy trucks (three of them.... on different days....)

This is just what I could think of off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more and weirder things. Someone left toothpaste and shoes today so it got me thinking.

LLAMA!!

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:23:48 GMT

You Can Really Taste The Llama!

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Random Meme...

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:48:23 GMT

1) My username is _____ because ____.

Jumping_Bean because my nickname from 7th grade is bean... it's from the book Ender's Game... not Mr. Bean. I've never even seen that movie. It's funny how all my online names are still associated with a middle school nickname.

2) My name is _____ because ______.

Stephanie Anne because my dad was sure I'd be a boy and he wanted to name me after his Great-Uncle Stephen. But I was a girl so they changed it to Stephanie. Mom thought about naming a girl her maiden name or her mother's maiden name which would have been Logan or Dabney... that's an old Virginia family thing... like my mom's middle name was Dabney, her mother's maiden name... but she was afraid the other kids would make fun of me if my name was something weird like Logan or Dabney. Too bad because I was weird anyway... and I like the name Dabney it's cute, so if I have a daughter I may name her that.

Anne... I think was just because they like it. There's a dead person on dad's side that was named Anne Furin but I'm not sure that had anything to do with it.

3) My journal is titled ____ because ____.

"The Stories of the Life of a Wandering Bean". It's sort of long... but I am a wanderer. I get bored with places easily and have restless life syndrome and have to move. That and I like to travel a lot. So I came up with that.

4) My subtitle is ____ because ____.

"Don't goats eat hobos?" I was camping with Ashley and Bobby like five years ago and we were making spagettios by putting the can in the fire (because that's what you do when you're camping) and were talking about something and I said "Don't goats eat hobos?" When I meant to say "Don't goats eat cans?" Somehow I got my words jumbled. It was funny. So I put that on there.

5) My friends page is called ____ because ____.

Insantiy is Contagious. Because it is. People around you act crazy... that means you'll act crazy. It's how it works.

6) My default userpic is ____ because ____.

Me when I was in Portsmouth (England... not Virginia) when my sister visited me in England and there was a fake pirate so I got her to take my picture with it. That's my only one. I'm not big on userpics. I don't know why. I'm just not.

Stolen Meme

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:31:10 GMT

Everyone has things they blog about. Everyone has things they don't blog about. Challenge me out of my comfort zone by telling me something I don't blog about, but you'd like to hear about, and I'll write a post about it. Ask for anything: latest movie watched, last book read, political leanings, thoughts on yaoi, favorite type of underwear, graphic techniques, etc. Repost in your own journal so that we can all learn more about each other.

Yeah I stole this from EVERYONE. Looks fun. Though I never post so it could be almost anything...

Surprises

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:53:47 GMT

So I got home from work today and I turned on the computer.... Heath Ledger died. I had such a crush on him in middle and high school... ever since that Roar show was on Fox. Heath Ledger in leather pants with a sword stabbing random Romans.... hehe... he always stuck me as someone who would be an asshole in real life for some reason but he sure was nice to look at.

I also JUST realized it's TUESDAY. I was sitting here thinking "Man... there's nothing good on TV tonight" then I realized it was Tuesday. Duh. My show is on Tuesdays! So that makes Boston Legal tonight even better because it's sort of a surprise because I forgot it was Tuesday. Hehe I'm excited now. Though now I have to get my work done by 10... I don't have a lot of it... and I'll have like two hours of planning first thing tomorrow morning.... but still.... deadlines man.

Crappy TV Shows I can't get enough of...

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:43:20 GMT

This is why I love Wife Swap.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NYPLU92Kgk

Crazy ladies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7GpFFbfTLg

Crazy spoiled kids!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k720zqQJlOs&feature=related

Pirates!

Yep. That's my crappy TV show that I'm addicted to. Gotta crap TV night.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:55:44 GMT

... And in Roanoke he makes you go to bed so he can come move presents from the extra bedroom to the den. Hehe.

Yeah, I'm in Roanoke for the week. It's awesome. I haven't stayed here this long since I got my job. I'm planning on going back Sunday it seems. My bed here is so comfortable. I can't get up. Seriously. It's all squishy and nice. Figures my parents get better furniture AFTER I move out.

Anyway, just wanted to update and say Merry Christmas! I can say that... Orthodox Christmas hasn't happened yet. Hope Santa was good to everyone. I got a Nags Head Hammock chair for my balcony. It's sweet. Now I can have balcony time in my nice chair instead of the crappy plastic ones the people who lived there before me left. And I got a gift certificate to Bed Bath and Beyond for my table and chairs I want for my porch. Then all I'll need is something to go on the patio (and my FIRE BOWL!!!!) And I'll be set. I have the feeling by the time I've got all the stuff I want for my outdoor spaces I'll move to a tiny condo or something when NO outdoor space. Then I'll be sad. Guess now not only will I be hunting for places that hold my GIANT kitchen table, but my outdoor furniture too.

In other news, I want opinions... what's with Vera Bradley bags? Does anyone else think they're ugly? Or does everyone in the world think they're awesome? What's the deal?

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:34:48 GMT

Ugh. I just got home from work ten minutes ago. Yes. I stayed there until 7. I deserve a freakin' medal. Or at least extra money for doing all this. Can I get paid for staying back to help other teachers??

Ick

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:03:10 GMT

I have to work tomorrow. I worked after work today. Stupid SOL Remediation. They're not even my kids or my former kids.... which is good because most of the kids who failed the SOL last year that were mine were hopeless of annoying or both.

Oh, and I stood out in my driveway talking tonight and now I'm cold. Next time I'll wear a sweatshirt.

Gross medical stuff people don't need to know

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:54:27 GMT

So I have this rash on my back. I've had it for a really long time. At first I thought it was because I got a new type of soap but it took me a while to remember I needed new because I had a full bottle. So I changed soaps, it seemed to be going away, but it's been two weeks since I changed soaps and it's still there.

It doesn't itch or hurt. It's not really really really distinct. It's just a faint rash on my back. I wouldn't notice it at all if I didn't happen to look in the mirror at my back. It's odd.

So then today I heard a rumor that MRSA (they called it mensa... I was thinking staph was the thing schools are paranoid about right now.... but then I googled it and it gave me MRSA and I mayocliniced it and that said staph.... diseases are confusign) or something is going around the school system. That along with a letter home from the principal about finding a hit list. Um.... scary. But now I'm thinking I guess I should go see a doctor about this rash. I'm sure it's not that MRSA thingie. Mainly because it doesn't hurt or itch or really do anything. It's just there, and it doesn't resemble "pimples or spider bites". It really just looks like someone faintly colored on my back and I washed it off but it's not all gone. But I feel stupid going to the doctor and going "Hey I've got this rash um... it doesn't do anything but.... why's it there?"

I hate going to the doctor. I've never even been to mine. Anyone know what this could be so I can not go to the doctor?

Maturin_Bean02@yahoo.com — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:48:24 GMT

What I spent my Friday night doing:

Características geográficas de Grecia

1. Montañas

•Terreno rocoso, áspero.

•Las marcas viajan a pie difícil

•Aísla ciudades

2. Tierra de labrantío limitada

–Arable: Aterrice que es bueno para cultivar.

•Necesidad de encontrar otros recursos para el alimento y de apoyar sus ciudades.

•¿Adónde dan vuelta?

3. El mar:

•Línea de la costa desigual larga

•La gente puede vivir cerca del mar

•Los Griegos hicieron pescadores, marineros, y comerciantes

•La gente de Egipto y de la crescent fértil vino negociar.

•Los Griegos instalaron a colonias a la ayuda con su superpoblación

Resultados

•Los Griegos formarán Ciudad-Estados en vez de grandes imperios

•los Ciudad-estados negociarán tan bien como compita

•Extensiones del comercio Helénico cultura

• Cambie de puesto a a Economía del dinero

Primeras civilizaciones en Grecia

Minoans

•Convertido en un grupo de gran alcance en Crete alrededor de 2000 B.C.

•Palacios impresionantes construidos adornados con los frescos.

–Ejemplo: Knossos

•Cayó de energía alrededor de 1628 B.C.

•¿Por qué?

el volcán del *A entró en erupción causando las ondas de marea que limpiaron hacia fuera las ciudades de Minoan, destruyeron sus naves y cosechas, y debilitó el Minoans.

Mycenaeans

•Continente controlado Grecia de cerca de 1600 a 1200 B.C.

•Clanes y tribus construidos fortaleza-como ciudades en el Peloponnesus

•Crete conquistado y costumbres adoptados de Minoan

El Polis

•Comenzó a formar durante el 800s y el 700s A.C.

•Convertido alrededor de una fortaleza

•Totalmente independiente a partir de la una otra

La mayoría tenían…

•Población menos de 10.000

•Un acropolis

•Un agora

•Los ciudadanos tienen derechas políticas

Los Griegos eran diferentes…

•Lealtad a sus polis individuales

•Independencia política

•Dinero

•Sistema de pesos y de medir

Griegos compartidos…

•Lengua

•Religión

•Cultura

•Festivales

•Opinión forasteros y bárbaros

Atenas

Estructura social:

Ciudadanos: hombres Ateniense-llevados. Pueden votar y sostener la oficina pública. Las mujeres y los esclavos no pueden ser ciudadanos.

Metics: Hombres Foreign-born. Pagan impuestos pero no pueden votar o sostener la oficina pública.

Esclavos: Gente conquistada en guerra

Gobierno:

El gobierno de Atenas desarrolló en un cierto plazo (cambiante)

1) Monarquía: Regla de un rey

2) Aristocracia: Gobierne por la nobleza, o la abundancia. Esta gente era terratenientes.

3) Tyrants: Líderes que ganaron energía siendo populares entre la gente

a. Tyrants importante:

i. Draco: Escribió el primer código de la ley en Atenas. Los leyes draconianos son los leyes que reciben los castigos ásperos para los crímenes de menor importancia

ii. Solon: Divida a ciudadanos en 4 grupos basados en abundancia. Solamente el dos más ricos pueden sostener la oficina pública, pero todos pueden votar.

Origen de principios democráticos

•Tenía democracia directa: Todos los ciudadanos votan sobre leyes y decisiones por la ciudad.

Importancia puesta encendido:

•Discusión público

•Deberes de un ciudadano

•Educación

Crecimiento encima de ateniense

Muchachos.

•1-6: La madre tomó el cuidado de usted.

•7 y suben:

–El pedagogo tomará el cuidado de usted y enseñará maneras

–Escuela: Lectura, escritura, gramática, poesía, música, y gimnasia.

•18: Un año del entrenamiento militar.

–Quién podría producir la armadura rica sería hoplites.

Muchachas.

•1-6: La madre tomó el cuidado de usted.

•7 y suben:

–Permanecido casero

–Docto cómo funcionar una casa.

–No recibió generalmente ninguna otra educación.

•13 y suben:

–Casado (el marido puede ser dos veces su edad) y comenzó a familia

Sparta

Estructura social

1) Iguales: Descendientes directos de la gente que invadió la región en el 1100s A.C. Esta gente controla toda la energía política en Sparta

2) Mitad-ciudadanos: La gente que no es descendientes directos que la paga grava pero no participa en vida pública

3) Helots: Esclavos que exceden en número grandemente el Spartans. El miedo de una rebelión auxiliar conducirá el Spartans para desarrollar a una sociedad militar.

Gobierno espartano

•Oligarquía: Regla de un grupo pequeño

•Dos reyes: Uno manejó el ejército, otro manejó la ciudad.

•Consejo de ancianos: 28 ciudadanos masculinos sobre la edad de 60 quién propuso leyes y actuaba como corte.

Crecimiento encima de espartano

Muchachos.

•En 7 muchachos muévase a los cuarteles militares.

–Educación basada en el entrenamiento militar

•En 20 comience el servicio militar.

–Pueden casar, pero todavía deben vivir en los cuarteles.

•En 30 pueden vivir en el país.

•Los hombres son elegibles para el servicio militar hasta 60.

Muchachas.

•Permanecido en el país

•Entrenamiento recibido en cómo funcionar una casa

•Entrenamiento físico riguroso también recibido

•Dedicación enseñada al ciudad-estado

•Esperaba manejar el frente casero cuando sus maridos fueron a guerrear.

That's right. I typed (since they're all in powerpoints) and translated three classes worth of notes in my World History class to spanish for my student who doesn't know english. Neat trick huh? Now I just have to stick to it.