We have a winner!!

I never thought that having a blog contest would cause me such angst. It seemed simple, post some photos, have people make suggestions, have all the people who actually saw the space vote, tally the votes to find a winner.

The first hurdle was getting everyone to vote. There were only four of us so it shouldn’t have been that hard, but between my delay at getting the choices out and their delay in voting it took a while.

I finally had the votes so it seemed like it should be easy. Then I looked at the votes. Each of the four of us had chosen three favorites and when examined them I discovered we had voted for 12 different entries. Was that possible? None of us voted for the same one? It’s amazing we were able to decide on restaurants during the trip.

So today I made the decision to move to plan B. A drawing among the 12 vote getters. Luckily I am surrounded by 11-year-olds who are willing to do a random drawing they don’t understand!

So, drumroll please, the winner is…

“Easy! That’s Early (Middle, Late) Jersey Shore or just plain Jersey Shore. It’s a mix of what was in the place when you bought it, stuff donated by relatives, garage sale finds, things you have no place for (or your partner won’t allow) in your regular abode), gifts people bring when they come to visit and the obligatory nautical flags and knots. Variations on this style can be seen all along the shore.” from Dana. I think the random system worked, she hit the nail on the head! So Dana, drop me an email and your prize will be on its way to you!!

Thanks everyone!

Knitting update

What, you may ask, is that blurry blue mess over there? It is my pathetic attempt to photograph a dark blue linen knitted object in the dark. I guess you will have to take my word for it that I am making progress on the Moss Grid Hand Towel. I am, in fact, on the ninth repeat of twelve so there is hope that it will be done soon. Of course then I have to start another, because one towel does not a wedding gift make.

In other knitting news I have been resisting temptation to start on any of a number of baby projects I have planned for some of the (at least) five babies I know currently in production. I really want to start on some socks, but instead have been focusing my in-school knitting on Avery, the sweater that I must finish for Bunny before he out grows it. What was I thinking making a sweater out of sock yarn?

I have been looking at the book YNotKnit. It looks great and may be the jump I need to really change over to continental. However since it looks like the family income will be dropping from two paychecks to one on October 20, I think I will hold off on any purchases for a while. Good thing I have a large stash so I can keep knitting! PS: anyone want to hire a JAVA programmer? I know one who is looking for a job…

Do I really have anything to say?

I’m composing this in the hour I have in my classroom waiting for the parents on back-to-school night. The thought that always goes through my mind on this night is what to say. I feel like on most days I am a pretty good teacher, and I have made much of my career talking not only to children but also to adults.

But on this night, I wonder… do I have anything to say?

OK, that’s not fair, I have plenty to say. But will I be able to make them understand? Help them realize that I do what I do because I believe in their children, believe in the responsibility they have given me by sending their children to me. I want them to understand that the math class their children experience will not be the math class they experienced and that is intentional. The math class they experienced left so many distressed, confused, bewildered. I believe their children can learn, and understand, and dare we say it, enjoy mathematics. Can I do it?
Wish me luck! Here they come!

Groundhog Day

A few years ago after viewing part of the film Groundhog Day for religion class (don’t ask), one of my students said to me “It’s kind of like Groundhog Year for you.” She went on to explain, that each year, over and over, I was in 6th grade. I laughed when she told me, but the comment stuck with me. I thought a lot about it and decided that it wasn’t really true.

Each year the kids change, I change how and what I teach, and I am always tweaking the routines in hopes of getting the maximum teaching with the minimum aggravation.

Last week was different, I had the strongest teaching deja vu (Groundhog Day moment) yet. It came when I was tinking yet another piece of mangled knitting. Yep, knitting class has begun again. For those who don’t know, Julia and I teach an after school knitting class for 6th graders and this year are also doing a project knitting class with 7th graders.

They learn so quickly that in the six months since our last beginners I had forgotten just how a beginner knits! As a result it’s tink and repair time for me. Tomorrow we meet again to see who has it, and who is still knitting Swiss cheese!

What’s in a name

I always read memes in people’s blogs and think, “I should do that” but then by the time I get to it the wave has passed… but tonight while surfing rather than sleeping look what I found here!

My 10 Names Meme

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: ( pet and current street name) Lattice Strata [sounds like a geology “rock” band]

2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandfather/grandmother on your moms side, your favorite candy) Mac Reese’s, hmmm Isabelle Starburst might be better!

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of last name, first three letters of your middle name)
C. Ros

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Green Badger

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Rosenstein Lancaster [Sounds more like the name of a has-been who would be on the Love Boat if only there still was the Love Boat]

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 2 letters of mom’s maiden name and first 3 letters of the town you grew up in.) Colbemclan [An Irish cheese monster?]

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (“The”, your favorite color, favorite drink) The Green Beer? Hmmm. The Green Diet Coke? Ah, The Green G&T, that’s better.

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first name of both your grandfathers) Mac George or perhaps George Mac. I also had a bonus grandfather so perhaps Mac Len George.

9. FUTURISTIC NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne and the name of your favorite shoes) Nothing Dansko [If the future involves perfume I hope it also involves a lot of antihistamine!]

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother/father’s middle name ) Mary Morris [not bad, and very alliterative]

Well, there you go! I did a meme. Your turn!

It’s all good

While I would not say that I am a pessimist, I am frequently taken aback when people use the phrase “It’s all good.” Really, it’s never all good. There’s the whole people are hungry thing, the war thing, and so many other pieces of non-goodness in the world. Even in my life, I tend to think about the bad with the good.

This week I decided to try a new attitude. There’s a nip of fall in the air so here goes, it’s all good!

Knitting goodness: I finished my first ever pair of socks! I really like them and while there are things I will do differently next time I feel like they were are really good first attempt. And the 12-year-olds that I spend my days with were marginally impressed (high praise from the tween set). I started on a Moss Grid hand towel and I will save my thoughts on knitting with linen for a post that’s not supposed to be all about good stuff.

Goodness on the Bunny front: Tomorrow Bunny’s nursery school will finally be full day. He has now gone four half days and is loving it. He comes home dirty and exhausted so I figure that’s a good sign. On Saturday he asked why he couldn’t go to nursery school, it’s all good.

Goodness on the school front: OK, I will admit that right before I sat down to write this I declared that I didn’t like children, but that aside I think my class is off to a good start. They are working hard and really thinking, which was one of my goals for this year. Also, I started the week with the lessons for every day already planned. I don’t think that has ever happened in my teaching career. Let me tell you it’s good to know what’s coming next!

Goodness on the body front: I lost 2 pounds during the first week of school! I have been to the gym four times in the last 7 days and fit into a skirt I had forgotten about. Also helping is the fact that we have been eating at home, thanks to Meal Makers.

Are there things that aren’t so good? Of course. World hunger, war, and linen yarn jump to mind. But that, my dear reader, I will save for another day.

First day!

No, not my first day of school, that was Tuesday. Today is Bunny’s first day of nursery school. It’s a little strange for him since he has been coming here every day since he was 7 weeks old, but today he starts as a student here, not just a faculty child. In fact, as I type this he is being dropped off in his classroom by the great people that have been taking care of him this week when some of the school is in session and some is not. He’s really excited about starting and yesterday got to choose the stamp that he will use all year for his work. Much to my surprise he didn’t choose any of the animals, but instead chose a pair of cherries on stems. Go figure, just when I think I know my kid…

On the knitting front I have made progress on Avery after a long break and am almost done with my first ever pair of socks! Photos to appear soon, as soon as I decide how to bind them off!

“Name that decorating style” contest winner to be announced soon… I just have to get the votes from one more person!