The snow is blowing sideways

I'm just saying.

It's late April, after all. You know?

Not so healthy dinner

But I'm sure there are less healthy dinners than strawberry shortcake. It has fruit, breads, and dairy after all.

Mmmhmmm. Note, this shortcake should be served cut it into slices like a pie, cut each slice into a top and bottom half, and serve with half-and-half and strawberries. I found out this weekend that whipped cream is not an acceptable substitute. It's a drier cake, so it soaks up the half-and-half and is just goodness.

(I'm not sure where the recipe came from. My parents?)

Strawberry Shortcake

Preheat oven to 450º.
Grease 9” round cake pan.
Cream together:
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
Add and beat in:
1 beaten egg
Combine in bowl:
1 3/4 c. flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Add dry ingredients to first mixture. Stir in with fork.
Add:
1/3 c. milk
Stir until thoroughly mixed. (Do not overbeat.)
Pat dough evenly into prepared cake pan.
Bake at 450º for 12-15 min. or until golden on top.

There's never enough time

Feeling kinda on edge. So I'm going to bed. Ignoring grading. Hoping that I somehow get through the planning this week. *Sigh*Rawr*Bah*

Don't like changes

I stopped by my assistant principal's office this morning to talk about when I should schedule my final. (Given that I don't expect students to be around that last week of school....)

Found out that he's not going to be here next year. Supposed to keep it quiet, but he's turned in his resignation letter today.

He's made this year bearable. Students love him. Not that he's perfect, but that he's been AMAZING to work with this year. I'm gonna miss him....

I'm not from Rome

I love the This I Believe essay entitled "Always Go to the Funeral." It's something I connected with. When people are mourning you do what you can to show support. Whenever someone's having a hard time, you do what you can.

And so, I ended up at a wake for a student's grandmother this evening. (The funeral's during school tomorrow, so I'll miss it.) I'm decent at funerals, but visitations....I went to the one for my great-grandfather. I don't think I've been to any others. It's not a tradition I'm familar with in my own culture. Trying to learn what to do in a different culture makes it all the more confusing. I ask for guidance from people I work with. They tell me that I'll learn. But still, I feel like it can be such an awkward blending of cultures. Being the outsider from the encroaching culture brings home the feeling that I'm not "from Rome." I'm just copying the Romans the best I can, asking what we're doing so I can learn the motions for myself.

Returns are hard

The surprise break was great. Even though I didn't get out of town, just having time away from school was good.

But coming back is hard after any weekend. And the longer the break, the harder the return. I was great over the weekend, but this morning homesickness has hit. Hopefully, I'll get excited in the half hour before students come in for class.

Yummy

Recently discovered Tastespotting. New favorite food inspiration. Pretty pictures, often linked to recipes. And many are quick and use basic ingredients. Since I discovered the site last Thursday, I've made at least four recipes: Broccoli Pasta, Saj Borek, Lemon Custard, Peanut butter cups

Didn't even go grocery shopping. At least not for anything specific. (I do have a well-stocked kitchen....)

Note to libraries

I don't have anything to say on my other blog today, but wanted to write something somewhere...

When my family visited, I was able to visit the library in the town where they stayed. (It's always closed when I go to town otherwise.) Coolest idea that needs to be adapted. They have a collection of cakepans you can check out.

Because you know you want to make a R2D2 cake, but you don't want to spend the money to buy the special pan.

still snowing?

During the day it was clear blue skies. Sunny. Grass beginning to show some hints of green (at least in the sections where it was laid down last fall). It was cool, but I was still wishing I could be outside.

Bell rings. I go home, excited to be able to get out for a walk. Before I make it home it started snowing.

That was six hours ago. It's still snowing.

Boo. Don't they know it's April?

working harder than 9 to 5

I'm not sure I want to go back to real work.

Lesson planning takes up so much time. Prepping for school eats up my life.

Last week we had testing. I had free time. I got to school 15-30 minutes later (between 7:50 and 8:05). I left earlier. (Except for family night.) I didn't plan forever after I got back. Instead I went for walks. Cooked good food. Talked to friends. Read books. (The fact that I've had three short weeks in a row now is also contributing here.)

It's been lovely catching up with people. Honestly, falling out of touch like we have can make me sad. Even though it is because we're busy with other adventures. Icky schedules not meshing. Time zones. Work hours. Spotty service. Traveling. Visitors. You know...that stuff.

Okay.

Six and half more weeks. And then I get to go wander.

Breathe out

The mother I was fearing didn't show up at family night.

See, I'm failing her daughter. By that I mean both that her daughter's grade in my class is a solid "F" and that there is something that I am not doing as a teacher. At least she's not learning.

I was all prepared, had the grade reports for everyone printed out so that I could show you point by point what assignments were contributing to your grade. But before we got to that we'd review your attendance. Because, with 13 absences and another dozen or so tardies since January, well, do you think you should be passing? But mom's been angry as the grade has dropped from a C to a D to a D- to a high F. I was dreading her.

Instead I got to talk with the families of four of my favorite students. Many who want to know what they can do to bring their grade up more. (Well, at least if 50% is many.) Parent night was actually kind of fun. Wow.

A head's up. I may not be blogging as much here in the next few weeks. I agreed to post on a blog for a class at my college and am trying to get my other blog updated some more. The class blog is locked (at my request, and maybe the request of some other alumni) but if you actually know me and want the address to the teacher blog, comment to give me a head's up or just send me an e-mail.