Friday, July 28, 2006

Friday, July 21, 2006

Ding Dong My Camp is Done

Yes, yesterday was the final showdown for my class. The parents came to see some of the final projects their children had created and I spent my time wildly trying to burn CD's and finish the year book. That was a total fiasco. The students had made all the finishing touches on their book, but the sheer number of pages made organization a nightmare. Trying to apply a coherent order to the final project was fun... I was afraid of forgetting pages and having students return home to realize their work had not made it in.
I had a great visit from my favorite parent, where she complained that my class was not enough about bugs... Which was interesting, since at the beginning of the class she had stated that her child had previously taken a bug class and would be much more engaged with the computer side of the class. Well regardless of expectations, the course description clearly stated that this class would be focusing on the world seen through a bug's eye view, referring to the microscopes that would be bringing our surroundings into a new level.
All in all I feel that the class was a success, the students learned many new skills, created power points, keynotes, pages, inspiration, kidspiration, and garage band projects, as well as using digital cameras and proscope microscopes. They gained fine motor skills related to navigating with a mouse, understanding of many new programs and so much more...
Had lots of fun, nice to have a break.
Laters

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Quite The Eventful Day

So today, I wake up early... Watch what disgracefully passes for animated entertainment these days, pop in a movie, and begin my day. Starving for human contact and company I head over to Autumn's house at 10 AM, it is completely silent as everyone was still sleeping in compensation for the previous evening's activities. I begin cleaning and wandering about, waiting for signs of life from the basement to become apparent... Finally they stir and wander up stairs. After a spectacular breakfast I acquire Autumn and head toward Deetering farm.
We drive out Coburg and make our way... Suddenly we come to a halt as the town slows to a crawl. Apparently we had come in the middle of the small towns only festivities... As a natural leader, I don't accept defeat or traffic willingly. So I chose to blaze my own trail and find an alternative route. Soon I am leading the way down winding streets and alleys with 4 cars trailing behind. I navigate my way back to the main road and join the procession. It doesn't take long to realize I am now part of the parade. With children on a flat bed truck hurling tootsie rolls at the onlookers from in front of me, and a tractor covered in American Flags following behind. So Autumn and I take this opportunity to practice our Miss America Waving skills and blend in as best we can. So at each turn when the parade slowed down, Autumn would jump out of our moving car and pick up the candy that was thrown from the float in front of us... We would then spit the loot and redistribute it to our own waiting onlookers... This went on for some time before we were finally free of our ordeal.
So we arrive at the farm, spend hours picking blueberries at a mere $1.10 per pound. Quite the steal these days... After loading up on raspberries and blue berries we made our way home, stopping by the McKenzie River to skip stones in the water.
After depositing our berries at the house and enjoying a smoothie so chalked with seeds that I resorted to sputtering them across the floor...
Next we made our way to our local pawn shop to make our latest additions to my already obscenely large movie collection.
Back to the house to kill some time and then off to Pink Martini, in what was one of the best shows I have ever seen. Sitting in the arena, eating my Ben and Jerry's ice cream, I was able to whiteness dancers on stilts and in flamingo dresses accompanying one of the most out ragious marching bands I have ever seen. After that came the real show... Pink Martini got up and sang every song I had ever heard them play, plus three from their new album. The event went on for hours. At the end, I did my usual maneuvering and took off like a bat out of hell to be the first one out of the parking lot, narrowly avoiding 600 mini vans all trying to get out of the parking lot and head home...
But wait there's more... After finally arriving at home I lay down to relax only to hear a woman screaming for her life in the parking lot behind my home. My friend ran outside with a 4 Ft. sword and called the cops. Apparently the woman had ran down a cyclist and tried to flee the scene of the accident. So after being detained she was still screaming that it was her boyfriend that she had mowed down and that it was ok. So the cops and ambulance showed up and took care of it all. Lots of screaming and running made for an interesting end to an overwhelming day...

Good night Folks, I'm out.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Monday and Extended Weekend

Alright, sadly I don't have too many pictures for you this time, but I will post the ones I have soon...
Thursday: Madly put away class, return library books, make credit card payment, go grocery shopping, collect camping gear and get on the freeway in an amazingly short amount of time... Drive to Salem and meet up with Sara.
Caravan in with Sara and embark on 2 hour journey to Tilamook for camping extravaganza. Arrive watch 2 movies and pass out.

Friday: Wake at the crack of Dawn... Cook breakfast... Eggs potatos, and onions... Wander around, and hit the river. Kyak up steam and chill out with a few beers and play some cribbage with Sara while waiting for new guests. Savagely burn a random spot on my back and whimp out to take a nap. Sammy arrives and I begin to prepare the next meal... More sleeping... Wake up and begin the next, next meal... shishkabobs and salad.... Sleep... Help Liz assemble her scrap book.

Saturday: Hitch a ride with Sara's Step mom to Corvallis, meet friends, drive back to Salem to retrieve car. Aquire car... Back on freeway to sit in gridlock for hours while work crews clean up huge accident in left lane. Drive past rolled car and ex-owner who is shrowded by a yellow sheet. Enter Eugene, sleep.

Sunday: meander to Autumn's house, meet crew, head out to the fair. Work at Autumn's mom's booth, sell pottery, and eat everything in site. Sleep.

Monday: Teach kids to use kidPix. Have students begin work on their movies. Yearbook, introduce Inspiration, and slideshows in Keynote.

And that was about it...
Sleep.

Less than thrilling, I will add the usual flare later, I am exausted.
KC

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Dan


Dan
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Sierra


Sierra
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Cheryl


Cheryl
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

These are the bacon-kabob's that I mentioned... A great idea for lazy people... and they make the most delicious bite sized morsels ever... You can put some sauce on them or enjoy them in their original splendor...

Shishkabobs


Shishkabobs
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

These are better than they look, and the bacon ones are insane.

My Lunch Break


My Class
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

So through out my day I am busy tending to my class and preping for the next one... So my breaks are a welcome moment of relaxation and reflection in preparation for my next shift of avid students.

So it comes as some surprise that at the same time, each day... I am suddenly inturrupted by random students staking my class out as a hideout or recreation area. It first began with the students who would follow me from wing to wing and not leave my side... That was fun, they were my little stalkers...

Now they have evolved... I just want to read a bug book... I won't bother you... I can be quiet... I have heard it all... and reguardless of my explaination of the facts, they seldom if ever leave my room... So my moment of peace is suddenly spun into watching my students redesigning my room with their toys and eventually cramming themselves into their lunch box as a means to gain some much needed attention...

I just thought this was cute.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Weekly Update

So this week, things are really going better in my largest class. I don't know if it's the weather, students getting used to me, or that they are all worn out from a big weekend, but they were borderline perfect by my newly lowered expectations. They really know what they are doing... Be completely off the walls for the first week, and set the bar for the rest of the Summer. So of course by comparison, now they couldn't be better...

So we actually made some progress Monday. I set them up in front of the projector, and showed a slide show using proscope images. I then explained that we would be making these today and that they could be used to wow their parents.

So we went over the concepts as many times as possible and like it or not, most of them got it.

And we assembled our class tree... I went on a mad hunt to find some brown paper, through my self on the ground with Sharpee in hand, and quickly traced out the ugliest tree known to man. I then promptly sprinkled a handful of scissors on the ground and announced I needed helpers. Those kids took to the task like a swarm of locus, and in moments flat my tree was on the wall...

Other developments... Apparently I am going to have some visitors for the next few weeks. It turns out that Korea mandated Talented and Gifted education be available for all eligible students in 2000. So the next logical step would be to observe countries that you surpass in every category... Sure. Yes, academically they are doing better than us from what I can tell, so I was surprised to hear there would be a group of 33 teachers coming all the way from Korea to observe our humble little camp. But why not?

Just Keep in Mind: the group of observers is twice the size of my largest class... I can't even imaging the effect it will have on my class of 4. They say, just do what you normally do and don't worry about the crowd. This all is beginning to make me feel like a exhibit in a museum. I just hope they can read the signs and won't try to feed us...

anyways, that's all folks.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Thursday, June 29, 2006

My Summer is Super, Thanks for asking

Ok, so I am now done with my first week of summer teaching. And what a week it has been. Today was parent visitation day, and for the amount of money they have invested in their children, of course they want to see what goes on.

I, being the slightly spacey lady we all know I am, was not privy to this information. So I sit down with my first class, joined by a certain mother, who immediately pulls up a chair and stairs blankly at me for some time. After clearing that matter up, I do my best to engage the class in a series of meaningful activities, including the Cricket song... Where I get up like an idiot and shake around the room. So that went well...

Class two, my year book class. These kids have it down. I send them off with missions to take pictures around the school, they come back, import their photos, and begin writing articles. Super

My last class. These kids have we around their finger... This is my largest class, kindergarten, and three of them don't speak English, or so they pretend. Yeah, I have a hard time giving demos on technology when a 5th of my class is completely ignoring me and hitting anyone within range. So yeah, that has been a challenge. I really need to lay down some more boundaries for the group so we can make more progress...

So tomorrow I will be chaparoning a field trip and so on...

But now, I must pass out from exhaustion...

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Demolition Party

These are a few of the highlights from last Wednesday's events, which took place near campus, in a house that what scheduled for demolition over the summer. At first glance it was easy to see why this building had to go, but sad at the same time that it had fallen into such disarray and been neglected for so long. The cast and crew was not my usual bunch, and it was interesting to mingle with a new and unusual group... There were the usual festivities, a band, and the more common fire dancers, who have now become a staple in my extracurricular entertainment routine. It seems that the firedancers are as essential to any get together as the food and the people, and I am always left in sheer amazement at their accomplishments, and the absence of law enforcement. I am one of those kind of people who stare at the door waiting for the cast and crew of COPS when ever someone turns their stereo up, so for me to participate in an event where there are fire twirling locals dancing ablaze it is hard for me to relax. At any rate I am getting used to the show and always have a hose ready for the worst...

So here are a few shots of the flames and the show that ensued at 14th and Hilyard on a Wednesday night...

Santino
Autumn-Santino
Fire Dancers
Fire Dancers
Fire Dancers

Friday, June 23, 2006

This is Just Sad....

You know what... I actually hurt myself playing Frisbee Golf, you heard me... The one with the little plastic discs that fly through the air... I mean, it doesn't get much more pathetic than that... I used to give my sister a hard time after she ended up in the emergency room from a game of badmitten... (no, that's still good, never letting that go) but now I have my own ridiculous injury story...

Anyways, the 5 of us are showing off our new skills, I am consistently miles off in the wrong direction with every new throw... Other than the apparent lack of skill from the group as a whole, excluding Diana, who is a Frisbee master, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary... So how is it, that I could possibly hurt myself?? You throw the thing and go pick it up, doesn't sound to high impact to me...
So we are almost off the course, I throw the thing... It disappears, and then I can't feel my leg...
I am limping like a wounded dog in a Western film, waving my arm, dragging my leg, and whispering..."Just go on without me, I'll be fine"
All four of them were on the ground crying by the time we got to the next hole... Apparently, this was not a common occurrence.

Now whenever Autumn invites me outside, I say I can't cause I don't want my old golf injury to flare up...

Sad...

Frisbee Crew

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Dorina Lake

So after talking with some friends about great places in the outdoors to explore, Autumn and I decide to check out Dorina Lake... So we get on the Freeway, drive for an hour, and become hopelessly lost, wandering the random streets with only the support of our local Park managers... What follows are the adventures, captured in motion of our less than thrilling response to the wonders of the area... Everywhere we went looked like a post card out of Deliverance and we were sure to lock our doors upon each venture... Not daring to stray far from the car.

Hill-billy Fish'n

Autumn

Reflection: What am I doing here?

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

This Lady Screwed Up Bad

So I go into the Bla Bla bank in Florence... I walk up to the counter and say I would like to make a withdrawal of $500. I give her my bank card and ID and patiently wait. She returns moments later with the same face I have seen so many times before, even in reference to a .99 cent sandwich from Subway. The mouse woman slowly looks up from the floor and says, "You've been declined". It seems like a phrase that she must rehearse in front of a mirror for added effect.
She asks if she should run it again, and perhaps for a smaller amount... I agree, out of sheer shock.
For the first time ever, the money is there and I can't understand what the hold up is.

So again, the solemn creature returns to the counter, again saying that I am a worthless human being and that she has the receipt to prove it.. At this, I kindly take my cards and leave... Knowing that I had checked my balance that morning and that there was more than enough to cover me.... So I sit in my car, fumbling over the 10 digits to contact my bank... 15 minutes of irritating elevator music, and just when I was about to hang up, a woman from Georgia comes on line... The usual verification shpeel and we are ready to move on....

I explain the situation, and ask what my balance is... She says, you have a hundred dollars... (deep breath, I started my morning with $1,200.... and made no transactions... So either the underwear gnomes have taken up a new profession, or else this lady better start making sense fast. Grrrr.) So she says that I had made $750 worth of withdrawals that had just gone through...
This woman should have been working at the snack bar... I tell her that those transactions were never completed and she is completely mystified... She says, "I see a withdrawal of $20" , I say, "mam, that was a deposit..." "Oh... It was?" (And I am thinking, how hard up for employees are these people??? A simple screening test too hard to do?) "Ok, and then you took out $250"
"No, I didn't get any money, they didn't go through!".... "Well you better go tell the lady you want your $250 back"

"It was $750 lady, not $250, the lady charged me for $750!!!"

At this point, I am done with this bank, they have screwed me for so much over the years I can't even begin... But damn, lady, know the difference between deposits and withdrawals and nail a calculator to your desk if you have to, but keep up with simple math...

So I finally got some of the charges reversed and got my money, but as of now the balance is way off what it should be...
Grrr... We will see if they get it right or if I have to go make a scene... And I will... I have no shame and no qualms about raising hell if you steal my money... I am more than happy to let gravity and stupidity steal it, but no frivolous transaction fees without warrant...
So done...

Is This a Bad Sign

I saw a police officer bust a lemonade stand... The kids had their illegal operations stationed on the corner of 24th and Friendly. The cop saw the kids, waving their signs and drinks, under their rainbow umbrella and immediately saw through the front. These kids, all of 7-8 must have been operating some illegal drug ring... You would have thought it, at seeing how fast the officer turned his bike around and went after them. I guess the deadlines for quotas are coming up fast, and no one, not even the little ones, will be left out...

In other news, I have finally finished taking down my lab, putting everything thing neatly in it's place... (for those of you who know me, it will come as no shock that I swept everything off my desk, into a box, that will never see the light of day again.) This is my version of cleaning, and it suits me just fine. I used to try, put things into alphabetical order, label things, fold... But then I realized organized clutter, consisting of piles of documents in chronological order was just as effective. Seeing as I would never be able to find anything ever again anyway, why waste the time of organizing it. Point and case: the last time I had a cleaning party at my house, face masks were not optional...

anyways, I begin my Super Summer camp this week, orientation tomorrow, and the classes begin on Monday. I am very excited for the chance to do some hands on activities with the kids. We are really going to go all out... I have some equipment that would rival most CSI teams. We will be using digital microscopes, laptops, cameras and so much more. I hope everything goes well... The first few days will help me gauge the course of the term for my kids... Though there will never be a shortage of activities... Oh no... I only hope we have enough time to get everything done... We will see what we will see....

Laters
KC

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Trunk Monkey


Come see the Trunk Monkey...
The latest in Car Security.

Everyone Has Had More Sex Than Me


Go see the bunny.... It is the funniest thing on ice.


http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/bunny.php

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Someone Cut me off


Someone Cut me off
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Ok, I'm Done


Ok, I'm Done
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

House Party


House Party
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

First Try


First Try
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

second try


second try
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

SnowMan


SnowMan
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Pirate Party


Pirate Party
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Ezmarelda the Wench


Ezmarelda the Wench
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Arrg


Arrg
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Sarah


Sarah
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

My New Car


My New Car
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Plenty of Room


Plenty of Room
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Escape Route


Escape Route
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Looking Down


Looking Down
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.

Me


Me
Originally uploaded by Miss Clare.