What are your pet peeves? Post them!
Archive for March, 2006
Pet Peeves
Wednesday, March 29th, 2006North Carolina is a great place to live!
Thursday, March 23rd, 2006I do a lot of traveling, and I just want to say that I think this is one of the greatest states–the scenery, the people, the friendliness–it is no wonder that once people move here, expecially from the north, they decide to stay. North Carolina has been my home now for 7 years, and I really don’t see me moving anywhere else–unless it is South Carolina to the beachy areas. Click here to learn more about NC!
Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence – SouthEast (Grant Essay)
Saturday, March 18th, 2006PERSONAL STATEMENT
Describe why you feel this program would benefit you as a professional. Include your understanding of inquiry-based teaching and learning, as well as your experience with teaching science. Describe experiences integrating culture (particularly African American culture), history, and heritage in instruction.
I will be completing my first year as an 8th grade North Carolina and United States history teacher in June. The year has gone so fast, and I can barely believe it is over! On the first day of school this year, I polled my eighth graders with the following question: Based on your previous years in school, what is your current feeling about history class? To say the least, I was absolutely shocked with the negative responses I received. Most of the students had very bad attitudes towards history and did not understand why they were being “made” to study the past. An overwhelming majority stated the opinion that “history is boring– it’s just dead people and dates.”
Well, I knew that I had my work cut out for me this year! I went back to school on the second day and posed the next question: What would the perfect history class look like? I got some amazing answers: no books, no memorization, and no seatwork. I knew what this meant for me: lots of preparation on my part by reading the material ahead of time and then constructing lesson plans that had the students directly involved with their own learning. I was definitely up for this challenge.
Volleyball Fever
Thursday, March 16th, 2006——^–^–^ 
—–^–^—-^—
—–^–^—-^—Volleyball fever has definitely struck. I began this year as a volunteer coach for my middle school team, NWMS Titans, and by the end of the season I had been offered the head coaching job for next year. Then, I joined a volleyball team at the sportscenter and played 4 on 4 for the fall season, and our team finished 2nd. This was a lot of fun. I also realized that playing volleyball made me appreciate coaching and vise versa. Being in both roles at once kept everything in perspective, and I was able to balance my losing emotions of extreme anger much better when I was losing with my teams, both as a player and a coach.
Survivor
Thursday, March 16th, 2006I want to be on Survivor. I could so win that game, although some of my peers disagree with this last statment. My friend Mike says I’m too honest and my husband thinks I’m too vocal, and both of these aspects could work against me. I’m thinking that I could do anything for 40 days, and you know what? I don’t even want the money. I just want the experience and the ability to say I’ve been there, done that. I want to see what being on a secluded island only working off of mental energy at times is really like. I want to experience the whole idea of depending on others for survival, but having to watch your back, because the very people you confide in could be the ones who destroy you. It’s all a stategy, and I can strategize all day long! I thrive on challenges–this game is definitely for me.
American Idol
Wednesday, March 15th, 2006May 3, 2006
Leperchaun boy should have gone before Paris! What is wrong with people? Down to the final four….
March 15, 2006
All I can say is thank God I was busy and had to DVR the show last night. It would have been a waste of two hours, and I was able to watch it today in about 35 minutes and acquire the information I needed for the results show tonight. My pick for the contestent to go home tonight: Chicken Little or Bucky. Please America, I hope you casted your vote properly and no more Stevie Wonder tunes!! “That was dreadful, absolutely dreadful.”
March 16, 2006
Melissa was voted off, and I guess that is only fair–she did forget the lyrics. However, Bucky and Chicken Little have got to go! I am going to go out on a limb here and predict the top 3 singers for the finals. My gut instinct leads me to believe it will be Chris, Paris, and Taylor.
March 23, 2006
Well, Chicken Little is gone and that is great news! Bucky is next. I will say that this week’s 50s style music was awesome, and once again Chris, the sexy rocker, put his own spin on the song he chose, and did a phenomenal job. I’m trying to take his sexual appeal out of my equation and only think about his singing, but it just isn’t working!
March 28, 2006
Well, Paris definitely has a spot in the top contestants…that little girl can sing. Katheryn did really, really well too, but what is wrong with the rest of those people? Kelly Pickler did not impress me, nor did Chris and they have both been consistent throughout the competition. Chris needs to break out of the mold and become more original…he has a great voice, but he needs to make it his own! And man do I really, really dislike Bucky…he is giving this state such a bad name…he is such a redneck! Anyways, the results will be in tomorrow!
April 11, 2006
Hasta La Vista Ace!
Word of the Day
Wednesday, March 15th, 2006May 31, 2006: equable \EK-wuh-buhl; EE-kwuh-\, adjective:
1. Equal and uniform; not varying.
2. Not easily disturbed; not variable or changing — said of the feelings, temper, etc.
May 30, 2006: pleonasm \PLEE-uh-naz-uhm\, noun:
1. The use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; as, “I saw it with my own eyes.”
2. An instance or example of pleonasm.
3. A superfluous word or expression.
May 29, 2006: forfend \for-FEND\, transitive verb:
1. a. (Archaic) To prohibit; to forbid. b. To ward off; to prevent; to avert.
2. To defend; to protect; to preserve.
May 28, 2006: cerebration \ser-uh-BRAY-shuhn\, noun:
The act or product of thinking; the use of the power of reason; mental activity; thought.
May 27, 2006: malcontent \mal-kuhn-TENT; MAL-kuhn-tent\, noun:
1. One who is discontented or dissatisfied.
2. A discontented subject of a government; one who opposes an established order.
May 26, 2006: junta \HUN-tuh, JUHN-tuh\, noun:
1. A governmental council or committee, especially one that rules after a revolution.
2. A closely knit group united for a common purpose and usually meeting secretly; also called a junto.
May 25, 2006: variegated \VAIR-ee-uh-gay-tid\, adjective:
1. Having marks or patches of different colors; as, “variegated leaves or flowers.”
2. Varied; distinguished or characterized by variety; diversified.
May 24, 2006: torpid \TOR-pid\, adjective:
1. Having lost motion or the power of exertion and feeling; numb; benumbed.
2. Dormant; hibernating or estivating.
3. Dull; sluggish; apathetic.
May 23, 2006: protean \PRO-tee-un; pro-TEE-un\, adjective:
1. Displaying considerable variety or diversity.
2. Readily assuming different shapes or forms.
May 22, 2006: bombinate \BOM-buh-nayt\, intransitive verb:
To buzz; to hum; to drone.
May 21, 2006: incontrovertible \in-kon-truh-VUR-tuh-buhl\, adjective:
Too clear or certain to admit of dispute; indisputable; unquestionable.
May 20, 2006: cognoscente \kon-yuh-SHEN-tee; kog-nuh-; -SEN-\, noun;
plural cognoscenti \-tee\:
A person with special knowledge of a subject; a connoisseur.
May 19, 2006: spurious \SPYUR-ee-uhs\, adjective:
1. Not proceeding from the true or claimed source; not genuine; false.
2. Of illegitimate birth.
May 18, 2006: arrant \AR-unt\, adjective:
Thoroughgoing; downright; out-and-out; confirmed; extreme; notorious.
May 17, 2006: palimpsest \PAL-imp-sest\, noun:
1. A manuscript, usually of papyrus or parchment, on which more than one text has been written with the earlier writing incompletely erased and still visible.
2. An object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent beneath its surface.
May 16, 2006: fulsome \FUL-sum\, adjective:
1. Offensive to the taste or sensibilities.
2. Insincere or excessively lavish; especially, offensive from excess of praise.
May 15, 2006: multifarious \muhl-tuh-FAIR-ee-uhs\, adjective:
Having great diversity or variety; of various kinds; diversified.
May 14, 2006: cupidity \kyoo-PID-uh-tee\, noun:
Eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth; greed; avarice.
May 13, 2006: appurtenance \uh-PUR-tn-un(t)s\, noun:
1. An adjunct; an accessory; something added to another, more important thing.
2. [Plural]. Accessory objects; gear; apparatus.
3. [Law]. An incidental right attached to a principal property right for purposes such as passage of title, conveyance, or inheritance.
May 12, 2006: virtu \vuhr-TOO; vir-\, noun:
1. love of or taste for fine objects of art.
2. Productions of art (especially fine antiques).
3. Artistic quality.
May 11, 2006: derogate \DER-uh-gayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To deviate from what is expected.
2. To take away; to detract; — usually with ‘from’.
May 10, 2006: turgid \TUR-jid\, adjective:
1. Swollen, bloated, puffed up; as, “a turgid limb.”
2. Swelling in style or language; bombastic, pompous; as, “a turgid style of speaking.”
May 9, 2006: otiose \OH-shee-ohs; OH-tee-\, adjective:
1. Ineffective; futile.
2. Being at leisure; lazy; indolent; idle.
3. Of no use.
May 8, 2006: aspersion \uh-SPUR-zhuhn; -shuhn\, noun:
1. A damaging or derogatory remark; slander.
2. The act of defaming or slandering.
3. A sprinkling with water, especially in religious ceremonies.
May 7, 2006: pablum \PAB-luhm\, noun:
Something (as writing or speech) that is trite, insipid, or simplistic.
May 6, 2006:rapine \RAP-in\, noun:
The act of plundering; the seizing and carrying away of another’s property by force.
May 5, 2006: execrable \EK-sih-kruh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Deserving to be execrated; detestable; abominable.
2. Extremely bad; of very poor quality; very inferior.
May 4, 2006: wag \WAG\, noun:
A humorous person; a wit; a joker.
May 3, 2006: temerity \tuh-MER-uh-tee\, noun:
Unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger; rashness.
May 2, 2006: daedal \DEE-duhl\, adjective:
1. Complex or ingenious in form or function; intricate.
2. Skillful; artistic; ingenious.
3. Rich; adorned with many things.
May 1, 2006: luminary \LOO-muh-nair-ee\, noun:
1. Any body that gives light, especially one of the heavenly bodies.
2. A person of eminence or brilliant achievement.
April 1-30th, click here (more…)
Janet Evanovich’s Plum Series
Tuesday, March 14th, 2006Okay, so I am so psyched about the new Stepanie Plum novel coming out June 20, 2006. It is titled Twelve Sharp, and I can’t wait to go buy it, and curl up at home and read it in one day. I am not one to read series, generally, but my older sister got me hooked on this series a few years back and it is so humorous and light that you find yourself laughing your butt off–outloud–while others are staring at you wondering what in the hell is so funny!!
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Tuesday, March 14th, 2006This book has changed my life in several ways. First of all, I broke my all-time number one rule which was to never see a movie before I read the book. I didn’t mean to break my rule, but it just so happened to work out that way. However, it was for the best. In this case, the concepts of the geisha lifestyle and the Japanese culture were so foreign to me, that it was definetly to my benefit to see the movie first. As I read the book a week after I had seen the movie, I could visualize everything that was happening, so all in all, it seemed to work out fine.
9/11 Site
Monday, March 13th, 2006
While in NYC in the summer of 2005 for my On Broadway! Seminar, I did have an opportunity to take the train to the 911 site. This probably rates as one of the most powerful experiences in my life…and it had been nearly 4 years since the attack.
As I departed the train, and brought myself up to street level, the first thing I noticed was the silence. There were cars and people and tourists and traffic and busses, but it was the deafening silence that I noticed. There was a homeless man playing the flute, and the song, “God Bless America” was resonating over the entire area. Some people were crying, some people were talking softly to a friend or relative, some people were embracing a loved one, and others, like me, just stood there in complete awe of the debris and construction.