ktandie's Xanga

OK, Dan, I'm updating!

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:54:20 GMT

I know it's been a little while. 20 comments on my last Xanga entry, and I guess I decided I just didn't need to post for awhile. I've just been busy! This won't be in depth, or anything, but just to record the last couple of weeks of my insanity.

WORK
1. Dell TechKnow is over. Our students graduated and have their computers! Yay! I'm sure I'll be helping troubleshoot until the end of the school year. In some ways, I'm a little sad the program is being discarded next year. It's really a good program.
2. I've been teaching The Giver by Lois Lowry. This unit sucks me dry, but I love it! We have the most wonderful conversations & I've set up a discussion board in my classroom to address some of the kids' questions in writing. It's really neat to see their conversations. Tomorrow, we start creating artistic representations of a memory and then next week we start digital stories.
3. New computers have been installed. Our classroom projectors are going to be installed on Wednesday! I love new toys!
4. I have a lot of failures. Bummer. A sign that it is certainly May.
5. I now have an admitted crush on our campus tech. I'm pretty positive he's taken. It's weird.
6. I had the opportunity to sit in on interviews for our new Campus Teacher Technologist. It was an enlightening experience, so far as interviewing goes. I kind of want to interview for a job just to put into practice my new findings.
7. ONLY 18 DAYS LEFT OF SCHOOL!!!

MARATHON TRAINING
1. I worked out 6 days last week. I'm so impressed with myself!
2. My body's immune system seems a little weakened. I'm having problems with my left eye again (itching, redness, eyelid swelling, can't wear my contacts), and I'm not sure how to approach this with my doctor. It's getting pretty constant and bothersome. My throat hurts today, and I've been battling fatigue and nausea-- I think my hormone levels are out of balance. All of these things are wearing down on my ability to run.
3. I ran 3 miles Saturday morning and amazed myself. I didn't run them solidly, but the first 2 I did. I know that's a little backward, but at least I'm getting stronger.
4. Trying to start swim lessons by the end of this week, in hopes that I get my Dell TechKnow check sometime this week.

WRITING PROJECT
1. We have a picnic on Saturday and I have no idea what to do for my memory basket. I have an assignment!
2. I wish it was June.

FAMILY
1. My brother graduated from Texas A&M on Saturday, and I am so proud! He didn't get the job he wanted with the Houston Texans, but he's looking to stay there. I wish I didn't live 5 hours away from him!
2. My youngest brother graduates from high school on June 5. Too weird!
3. I made my mom a delicious breakfast for mother's day, since I was home. I'd much rather do something nice for my mom than get her something nice. She has always done wonderful things for me, so I think that's the more important favor to return.

In other news, still no men on the horizon and I'm getting antsy now that summer is approaching. I need to go out on a stinkin' date, just to go out!

Something more interesting/insightful later. I'm going to finish Atonement (I highly recommend the book-- it's WAY better than I thought it would be), and hit the hay. Sweet dreams until I can sit here again...

Rockin' Hard, Runnin' Harder

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:19:43 GMT

Today is officially the first day of marathon training! Woo! I ran 2 miles pretty solidly and I feel great! I also set up my fundraising website and received my first donation!

I'm running with Team In Training, also popularly known as TNT. TNT has been around since 1988 to raise money for blood cancer research and to support families whose loved one is suffering from a blood cancer like leukemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myeloma. At the kick-off party on Sunday, we heard some pretty amazing stories--cancer survivors are incredible people of all ages. Fortunately, the survivor rate for blood cancers is steadily rising; however, it is certainly not 100%.

My personal motto for the next 6 months is, “One more step!” Although each step seems grueling to me, I can’t imagine how hard it must be to go through chemotherapy round after round, or have spinal tap after spinal tap, or feel like my home is a second home—because my first home is my hospital room. “One more step,” because each step is a little closer to the finish line. “One more step,” because each step is a little closer to a cure for blood cancers.

For more information, please visit my fundraising website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/rnrsa08/kandersd6i.

And for the first time ever, I'm going to ask you to please recommend my post. Thank you so much!

Added April 29: BTW... I ran like a CHAMP today! :)

Preparation

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:39:59 GMT

I don't know exactly what I weigh, but whatever it is-- I want to be 26 lbs lighter in 6 months.

A lot of days, I wish I could just wake up and be a size 2. I wish I had just been so lucky as to be size 2 without all the work I constantly have to put forth to not be a size 10. I wish my BMI didn't show me to be overweight, and I wish my stomach was flatter and my thighs tighter. I wish I could shrink myself. I wish I didn't have to be hungry-- I wish I could eat whatever I want.

But all that wishing won't do much. Starting Sunday, my exercise regimen is going to be a lot stricter, my eating more limited, my carbs, protein, and fat intake monitored. I'm training for a marathon and I am going to kick its ass.

A lot of work, but I hope so very worth it.

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:18:46 GMT

ACL is the most anticipated event of the year for any hard-rockin' Texan, and I am damned sore when I miss it. For the third year in a row, my loving father is spoiling me with a 3-day ticket. Does he love me, or what? Although the fest is planned to be held on September 26-28, I already have a sub for my classroom and plans for attendance are in full swing! The lineup was finally revealed yesterday, and in no particular order, this is my I-just-can't-miss-this list:

1. The Raconteurs
Two years ago, I fell in love the moment "Steady As She Goes" was played on the radio. Then I saw them live at ACL in 2006 and was absolutely blown away. Their new album, Consolers of the Lonely, is newly released and fuses practically every genre into a very tasty musical stew. I might go ahead and put it out there that their new album could possibly be my favorite album of 2008. Yet to be proved, seeing as there are approximately 8 months left in 2008.

But this year, I'm really going to lick Jack White's face.

2. The Mars Volta
Absolutely can't miss the greatest band in the last decade. The. Greatest. Band. No shit, not lying, 'nuf said.

3. Gnarls Barkley
I will be dancing.

4. Beck
If there were a god, he would be 2nd to Beck. The promise of seeing Beck live is making my vag quiver with delight. I am so damned excited.

5.Tegan and Sara
Oh, yes, my emo side is emerging. I love these ladies, their eccentric voices, and well-spun lyrics. Poetic, dark, and a little juvenile, but totally a piece of me.

6. Stars
I thought this band dropped off the face of the planet; however, I apparently, am just totally out of the loop. Much to my joy, this band is still lightly rocking and synthesizing some amazing music, and I am giggly with anticipation.

By the way, have I ever mentioned how much I love Canadians? That might now be apparent....

7. Cansei de ser Sexy
Music is my hot, hot sex, too.

8. The Octopus Project
The first time I saw The Octopus Project was years ago with Dismemberment Plan at Emo's in Austin. I loved them, but my friends failed to understand my enthusiasm. I am definitely looking forward to a more mature band, and I hope they get an after-dark set. It's really only appropriate.

9. Silversun Pickups
My little brother has turned me on to this band, and although I'm fairly unfamiliar with them right now, I expect I will be in love by September. I can't wait to have my first concert experience with him either!

10. Heartless Bastards
I saw a very small portion of their set last year, and loved what I was hearing. This year, I intend to go back and stay for the set-- why miss twice?

11. Jenny Lewis
She's the voice of Rilo Kiley, and I imagine her to be a big presence. She's doing her own thing at ACL, and I am curious to see what she can do solo.

12. The Foo Fighters
A '90s band which has survived into 2008. I hope they don't disappoint.

Will Dave Grohl ever not be insanely hot?

There are many other bands I really would like to see, but these are the ones I really hope don't drop from the schedule and/or do not have major conflicts with one another. Other very, very mentionable names include: Robert Plant and Allison Kraus, Erykah Badu, G. Love and the Special Sauce, Flyleaf, Jamie Lidell, Mason Jennings, Louis XIV, Neko Case, Iron & Wine, and Mates of State.

Who's joining me for a weekend of musical debauchery?

No time for sexy-time

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:30:33 GMT

I have been busy, and my schedule shows no signs of relenting. Saturday nights are becoming my only opportunity to get out, socialize, and have a few drinks since I am starting intense marathon training. Yes, that's right, you read it correctly; I am going to run a marathon in November. I'm joining Team in Training to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and reaching my personal goal of running a marathon in the process. Why wait? I'm very excited, and if you are interested in donating, I will soon post my website. I need to raise $2900 to run the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Antonio. I am going to run in the evenings, except on Saturday mornings when we have team runs, and Laura is teaching me to swim with correct form for my cross-training. Amanda and I intend to get up every morning at 5:30, go to the Natatorium, and then get to work by 8 AM. Glad to have a partner!

Secondly, my orientation for the National Writing Project (North Star of Texas) begins on April 26. Arts and Jazz Fest is also that weekend. As well as my Team in Training orientation. Bizz-nass.

As far as my classes are going, we are finishing our poetry unit Friday. I'm glad, I'm kind of sick of poetry right now and I'm ready to move on. The next unit (THE LAST UNIT OF THE YEAR!) will be on memories while we read The Giver. I have improved upon last year's writing project with this novel, and I'm jittery with anticipation. I can't wait to get started. Digital storytelling: Part II. Hopefully a successful venture.

In other news, it's likely I will never get laid again. Last night, many, many of my favorite ladies and I went out to the newest pool hall to drink and were excited to discover a band playing (and no cover!). Two of the guys were members in a band a mutual friend played in a few years ago. We flirted, danced, did the whole eye-sex bit with them and Laura & I had our respective boys picked out. Well, here comes last call and the end of music, and I am dizzied up with some Michael Jackson-inspired funk and many a Blue Moon under my belt. I go to hit on the bassist, invite him over to the girls' house, and geez... I am dumb. He was headed to "the other side of town," which more than likely means his girlfriend (?). Don't know. More shots, I extend the invitation again with little luck, but Laura manages to convince the guitarist to come over. She shoots-- she scores! I'm just not charismatic, I suppose, and less so after 5 hours of solid drinking and smoking an entire pack of menthols. I can't win. And then I wonder why I'm putting the va-jay-jay ring in again; I probably won't need it again this month.

John has left a hole, a void, I really want to fill. It's just been impossible to do. At least I have plenty to keep my brain occupied and the drinks far from my hand.

PostSecret

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:19:25 GMT

I know Dan's (TheTheologiansCafe) not posting, so I thought I would just share my favorite from PostSecret today.

fart.jpg (image)

In other news, I'm waiting to hear if my best friend, Natalie, is engaged. I suspect it may be happening today since her boyfriend is leaving for the Air Force basic training on Tuesday. I've got my fingers crossed!

It's spring again.

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:26:47 GMT

    I know this because I spent my Saturday outside, in the humidity with overcast skies, but my face now has a slightly pink tint. Oh, Texas. I will most certainly need to invest in some foundation which offers SPF.

    Why did I spend my Saturday outside? Because I was a delegate at my local Democratic county convention. It was quite a lesson in the workings of politics.

    I woke up at 9:17 A.M. and managed to get out the door by 9:40. The convention was held at a local park, and I conveniently live just down the street, so I walked. Why waste the gas? It is $3.19 a gallon now. Ridiculous.

     I directly made my way to registration, and found myself in the longest line. Supposedly, all precincts with a 400 number were supposed to be in this line, but I was becoming suspicious because I didn't see anyone I recognized. Finally, a man walked up with the actual precinct numbers in that line-- Oh! Mine wasn't on it. Argh. I was even in the wrong senatorial district, so I searched out the correct line. A 5 minute wait, which was MUCH better, considering I had just spent 15 minutes in the wrong line. I got to talking with an older lady, and she applauded the youth coming out for this vote. I was proud.

    I found my precinct, which is so small we had to be grouped with 3 other precincts in order to garner one delegate for the state convention. The grouping of delegates was interesting: there were 5 older people, all Hillary supporters from one precinct.   In my precinct, there were 3 delegates (all Obama), an older African-American woman who I made friends with easily, and a Hispanic male, only slightly older than me who was also a teacher. No one showed from the third precinct, and the largest precinct was also the most diverse. Two male college students, a loud, bisexual graduate student who cracked us up all day long and was the most conversational of everyone there, the precinct chair was an older (and quite annoying...) man, a funny elderly man, best described as a "Yellow Dog Democrat," who held an unlit cigar in the left side of his lips all day, and elderly woman who was quiet and knitted for most of the day. Ah, diversity. I loved it! I had so much fun just getting to spend time with these people and we all got along reasonably well. I even made new Facebook friends!

       But most of the day was all about waiting, waiting, waiting. Whenever a vote took place, there was usually at least one or two people who had something to say, but the chairman was more concerned with his line of business than anyone else's. He was almost voted out of his position; however, I was appreciative that he took care of the concerns of the people in the back who said they couldn't hear the questions being asked after a younger girl ran against him. The older delegates seemed pretty off put that any of the younger delegates were interested in running for chair, secretary, or state delegates. Oh, yes, we came out!

    The one issue of the day that irked me was that so many people would vote to retain their ignorance. When the vote was put up that the rules be suspended and the resolutions be passed to the state convention without a "for" or "against" recommendation, it passed. This irritates me. If you'd rather not stay to hear the resolutions, leave, but many of us do care about what resolutions leave our county for the state convention's say on the Democratic platform. And our resolutions look better if they go up with a stated "for" or "against" and are not just being passed up. I'll be curious to look them up on Monday at the county Democrat office. I want a copy.

    I left around 6 P.M., once I knew we weren't going to hear any of the resolutions and our precinct's state delegate and alternate were selected. I don't know if I'll want to attend this process again, it totally just depends. I'm not really loyal to either party, I had a long discussion with a couple of the other delegates about how to work for a multiple party system here in the U.S. Frankly, I'm glad the Libertarian party is making headway. I wish some others would be as highly represented in office and candidates as they are.

    But I do have to say, 2008 is a pretty darn good year to be a Democrat.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:48:12 GMT

Night has fallen
The stoplight at the corner
a lone beacon of human communication
Warning wails wind through the streets
An announcement of emergency
Fading
    until I can no longer hear them
Motorized machines maneuver the lanes
Gold eyes approaching, red flairs
Retreating
   to their final destination
Creeping cat cadences keep a rhythm
While trampling dry grass
Hidden
    camouflaged for protection

             Where are they going?

"It's written in plain English, what does it mean?"

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:55:04 GMT

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson

    My classes are watching Akeelah and the Bee this week.   In the latest educational movement, there is a trend to show only clips, not whole movies; however, I think taught in the right context, Akeelah and the Bee provides so many opportunities for discussion and thought in the middle school classroom. I could read the book, yes, but the movie is so engaging. And that's what we're all going for, right?

    Today, I showed one of my favorite scenes, the one in which Akeelah goes back to Dr. Larabee to ask him to be her coach. He asks Akeelah to step up to a framed document and read the quote which is a shortened version of the preceding Marianne Williamson quote. Dr. Larabee asks Akeelah what she thinks the quote means, and when she responds, "I don't know," he is quick to retort, "It's written in plain English. What does it mean?" Akeelah comes to the conclusion, "It means, I shouldn't be afraid of... me."

    We all are, a little.

    My students have a writing assignment based on the quote, and I hadn't given it too much thought after school today.   Reluctantly, I drove my tired body to yoga--only to find that Becky had chosen this theme of the "auspicious one," the self. I immediately woke up from my daze and was able to tune into class. She worked us, the room was hot, I broke a sweat, we tried challenging positions, we even did hand stands! Although physical challenges were posed, we all rose to the occasion. The tune of yoga was absolutely beautiful.

    Often I do not feel as if I am capable of all the things I dare reach for. A half marathon? I mean, really Katie, a half marathon? Oh, the audacity of such an attempt! I have become lackadaisical, and my training has virtually come to a stand still.

    Yet, I think, everyday I put my students through trying tasks, they face new challenges, we set new goals.   Finally, the most delicious part of the year has arrived, the end is nearing, and our year-long goals are looking at us head on. Although I have doubted my ability, I have doubted their work ethic, I have crossed out errors, circled unclear thoughts, asked questions, and pushed them to their limits-- these kids have not been broken. The inner strength of these little humans is shining through.

    So really, who am I to think I cannot too, be great? Why not go that extra mile for success, to look within the self and realize what truly can be done? Human ability is great, it is will power which can be lacking.

    Now I see, the greenest season of the year is upon us, and my little fruits are ripe for picking. As I revel in the sweetness, I hope to spread desire in my students to finally do the same. How auspicious!

Jonas Wha--?

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:37:17 GMT

I teach middle school. I'm forced to stay far too up to date with preadolescent angst, drama, and pop culture. It was icky when I was 13; now at 23, I find the whims of middle schoolers to be flat out obnoxious.

I just found out who the Jonas Brothers are. Never has more ridiculous, whiney racket assaulted my eardrums. Granted, they played "Take On Me" by A-ha, and I can only enjoy that tune on 80's night at Hailey's, but I sensed a deeper level of prepubescent pop pestilence. Seeing as radio music has never really been my thing, I was totally unfamiliar with the overall sound of the Jonas Brothers. Curiosity called and I even searched iTunes solely to figure out what they were putting out on the radio. The Jonas Brothers make Hanson in the "Mmm-Bop" days sound like Mozart.

Ugh. Teenagers.