Alright soccer fans!...the game is cancelled.

Well, my fellow blogger, Katie, has decided to feed her love of soccer and continue to play as part of the house team for the Austin Indoor Soccer Arena. The game was set to start at 6:50, but come 7:00 there are only three soccer players for the house team. Their opponent was sitting around waiting in the bleachers, waiting for some competition. I was there in my athletic wear and this seemed to be qualification enough to play soccer so Katie, the ref, and the score keeper were suggesting that I play. I was not about to make a fool out of myself for nothing, so I didn't give in, but Katie has promised to teach me the basics so next time I can be a warm body on the field, not necessarily a talented warm body, but a body none the less.

Mine Isn't Working

My class had a lesson with the school librarian yesterday. The lesson focused on the rules when using the computer and internet. You know, things like not giving out personal information, visiting approved websites only, and not sharing log in information with others. The librarian turned the powerpoint into a turning point which is a program that can pose multiple choice questions for the kids and the kids are able to electronically answer the question with a wireless remote. Each remote has a number and the program keeps track of the remotes that have responded to the question. Unfortunately, the program wasn't working as it should. Some of the students were trying to answer the question but their answer wasn't being received by the program. I had my own remote and mine happened to be one that wasn't working. My kids noticed mine wasn't working and constantly informed the libarian that mine wasn't working. "Ms. Hernandez's isn't working." They would all give me advice to try to make it work like "Try getting closer Ms. Hernandez". I'd try and listen to their advice, but it still wouldn't work. Some of them even offered to try for me and would get closer to the receiver, but to no avail. I thought it was really sweet how they were looking out for me and wanted it to work for me. It was a great moment even though the remote wasn't working. A lot of my other kids' remotes weren't working either and they were constantly trying to get closer to the receiver hoping against hope that this time it would work. No matter how many times it failed to work they never gave up. At one point there were quite a few kids crowding around the receiver to try to get it to accept their answer. One of my other students, who I'll refer to as Collin, was sitting and trying to get his remote to work. The kids were all crowding around the receiver and Collin was trying to send his answer with the remote. Finally, he said, "Hey, guys these things aren't made to go through bodies!", as he continued to try to send his answer. I laughed out loud. I couldn't help it. He was right.

Starry Starry Night

As I was leaving HEB I was about to pass a Big Art Sale Tent with oil paintings, copies of original masterpieces of art by present day artists. I decided to stop a minute and take a look. I was browsing through the art and saw a lot of Vincent Van Gogh copies. I've always loved Vincent Van Gogh art and thought some of them would look great in my apartment. Well, I asked the sales rep. and he pointed me to an oil copy of Starry Starry Night, Cafe Terrace at Night, and Sower with Setting Sun. I hung them up above my bed and they look GREAT!!

Students Connect

I gave my students a reading worksheet for homework Tuesday night. We've been working on making connections to the story and characters as we read. This particular worksheet focused on readers connecting to a character's feelings and experiences by trying to relate to them with their own experiences. The students were to first read about a character named Jacey who was feeling sad about moving to a new city and then answer some questions. The final question read: Did your own experiences or knowledge help you understand Jacey's feelings? If so, how? Here are some of my kids' responses. These were so interesting to read because the kids really thought about this and some of their responses were sad, funny and insightful.

No, because when we moved I was only a baby.

Yes, because I moved once from all my friends.

I move a lot.

Yes, when I left to Colorado for the summer I felt sad.

I've had a friend move away so I know what it's like.

Not yet. (I liked this one because he was honest, but left room for the possibility of moving in the future)

I have never had that kind of experience or knowledge, but I feel sorry for her.

My experiences help me understand how she is feeling because one of my best firends moved last year and I didn't get to say goodbye.

Yes, because I had to move from Pflugerville to where I am now and I was a little excited and sad.

Yes, because I have moved houses many times and I cry too when I have to leave.

No, but I know how she feels.

When I lost my hamster I felt sad like Jacey in the story moving into a new house. We both lost something we love, and it's hard to seperate from it.

Futbol - The First Game I Attend

Although I do enjoy watching soccer, my experiences with it have been in front of a television. Tonight, however, I not only had the opportunity to watch my first soccer game in person, but I got to see my friend Katie and her mom playing as well. I was so excited to see them in action. I heard about Katie playing soccer and her mom, too, but now I was going to be able to witness it myself. The game was fun to watch and although the team they were playing for didn't win tonight Katie had some great kicks and I noticed she was even congratulated by one of the veteran players (at least I think she was a returning player). I must admit that I was secretly hoping that one of the opposing players would rough Katie up a little, just to see how she would react, but then again her students would probably wonder what happened to her the next day when she would show up with a black eye. I let go of the secret wish quickly when I realized this. Katie is planning on continuing to play and I'll definitely be there to support her and maybe, just a little, hope for some "excitement on the field", but not too much.

A Simple "Hello" Would Be Nice

I'm sure anyone with a pulse knows of this weather deviant called Hurricane Ike. My sister and brother-in-law live in Houston, so they came to Austin Friday night to escape the potential destruction and devastation (I'm being dramatic here). I like to call them refugees, but the precise term is evacuees. Anyway, I called the house this morning to see if they were leaving today (Sunday). My sister wanted to play poker and blackjack and I wanted to make sure we were still on. I called the house. You need to be aware that my relationship with my mother is on life support right now and has been for quite some time, so in order to not upset this weak entity I usually call my Dad for any and all information regarding family. My logic is the less interaction I have with my mom the better chance of the survival of the relationship. You see think of my relationship as a person and my interactions with my mother we'll call Momphine. Taken in small doses it's perfectly harmless, but taken under certain conditions and in higher doses, it can be hazardous to one's health and potentially fatal. In this instance I didn't want to call my dad because it was Sunday morning and I thought he would be asleep. My mom on the other hand is usually always up by 8 am and I wanted the information badly, I was desperate. Here is how it went:

Ring...Ring...

Mom: Uh, huh. (not the sleepy, I just woke uh, huh, the what do you want uh, huh.

(Fox News report in the background)

Me: Hello.

Mom: Yeah. (annoyed tone)

Me: Hello.

Mom: Yeah, yeah (repeated more fast to tell me to get on with it)

Me: Okay, whatever ( I say this low enough where she can't hear me and I'll explain why I'm a little peeved. She doesn't even greet me with a hello. A "yeah". What's this, what am I? I can't even think of an instance that greeting someone over the phone with quick "yeahs" is appropriate and not excited yeahs either. Annoyed because I think you're wasting my time "yeahs".)

Me: Hi, is Velvette and David leaving today?

Mom: NO! There's not even power over there yet. They can't leave. (She continues but I break in)

Me: Oh okay, that's all I wanted to know. Thanks.

Mom: Okay, bye.

CLICK

Recommended Dosage for Momphine: Take no more than once a week. Do not take on an empty stomach and do not operate heavy machinery for at least 5 hours after taking this medication. For best results take with a glass of any alcoholic beverage. Results may vary.