Friday, April 22, 2016

A little bit of everything

So... the GarthFather is back in the AM on CBS2. Finally. I enjoy him - they don't give him enough to show his fun personality, there, though.

Meanwhile, Bri continues to be frumpy on KABC 7.

Bri is less FrumpY here. This was yesterday morning. I just can't stand her. I literally turn the channel, see what is going on, and then wait until Alysha comes on to get my traffic. Alysha wears whatever she has on well. She is smart, she loves her Waze.

Jessica Holmes on KTLA is just as annoying as Bri. I can't watch KTLA beginning at 7. Jessica doesn't seem LA at all.

And let's talk about Ginger Chan. I picture Ginger Chan a lot like me, try to be relatable, personable, and connect with whatever was being talked about as she segues into traffic. She just gets on my nerves at times. I do like Ginger because she has worked her way up over the years - Filling in for Chuck Street, working weekends at KFI doing news, and now this.


This is probably just a KTLA thing - she always seem so distant from the rest of the anchors because she is over in her traffic center and has no communication really with them. It is kind of weird.

I really love Greg Gory on ALT 987 - the morning traffic reporter on the Woody Show. He's a Log Cabin Republican, and many of his views, are things I agree on. He has an interesting story. I'm listening more to the Woody Show these days than Valentine, and I love me some Sean Valentine.

So there's lots going on at work - I know - you're tired of hearing it.

The cool stuff about work is I am so much more confident about using my Spanish en mi clase después mi viaje a Mexico during Spring Break. I am now conducting my entire Spanish class en Espanol. In mis conversaciones diarios I am using my Spanglish.

I had some asshole come into my class today - I'd never seen him before. After like 10 minutes of me talking - I was talking in Englihs only since this was day 1, then he goes, "this is Spanish?" I said it is. He said "oh hell no, not no white guy is gonna teach me some Spanish." I said this white buy knows more than you. He told me he was not going to do anything for me, he was going to screw around, and "not no white bitch boy is going to teach him Spanish." He then went on that I'm arrogant, I'm a bitch, and "he doesn't like white bitches." I asked if he was harassing me because "me gusta escribir referrals," and sent the ass out on a referral.


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Bonding with my kids over music

I always enjoy being in the classroom and discussing music with the kids. I'm that guy that knows all about the artist and background for writing the songs, even if I don't like the song.

So obviously I know about Tupac, and yes, he is alive; I taught him I tell the kids, and we go out to dinner regularly.

So what's weird is I work in a largely hispanic area, and this year I'm bonding with 3 of my annoying hispanic kids over country music. I will go so far as to play country music for them if they shut up and do their work... Here's the songs they like... I've asked what they like, and its that they sound Mexican, and his a guitar. Apparently this ended up on their youtube playlist, and they like it.





Every year I have kids that absolutely love Riiiitchie, and I love Riiitchie too.

When I was at the middle school, each year, I had kids with his album covers on their folders.

Oh, and while on my Ritchie story, our accountant at work was Lou Diamond Phillips from La Bamba for Halloween.

Some interesting other songs the kids are into this year are:

Sam Cooke


Bobby Vinton


He's so Fine - The Chiffons

And I decided for Halloween this year I'm growing my hair out, dying it black, and am going to be a Greaser.




Dion


Randy and the Rainbows


Johnny Angel

And Doo Wop Diddies like this:


So this past semester my 7th period class was full of these songs on the daily if the kids were doing their work.

Long list, but these are all the songs we played that I specifically recall. I am posting since I was so impressed with their diverse love of the oldies.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Mega Update

Hey guys, not neglecting the blog intentionally. Life has been so insanely busy.

Let's talk, shall we?

Spring Break was amazing -
Got to go to NY, Philly, and Guanajuato, MX. Rented a house in MX with my partner's cousin. We had the absolute best time - maid service, 40 foot ceilings, amazing art, and incredible food. The maid insisted on cooking for us, and of course, we tipped her. It was like our own Mexican abuelita. Lots of time was spent reading, talking, enjoying each other's company, and shopping/drinking.

Never had been to Philly either, and it is on my list of places to get back and visit.

Work -
I am applying for my admin credential today. I am on every god damn committee at work it seems and drawn into every project. My outgoing principal said I needed to be on 2 committees in particular as a part of my admin experience, one of those being the budget. So now that the school year is winding down, we know the funds we will be getting next year, and the budget is due by the end of the year, it is now my project. I do have help. I know it is good experience, too, so that works; it just takes time.

Taxes -
First time I owed - ever - not happy. Stupid Roth IRA is the reason why. Seriously considering getting rid of it and just doing a traditional IRA.

Doggy -
The day we got back from vacation we realized our dog was out of it and lethargic. We took him to the vet the middle of the week after we got back. They said he was having seizures, but not epileptic seizures.
Last Thursday night I happened to be browsing facebook and The Guy's partner posted a photo in memory of their dog who died from a brain tumor. I had to Google the symptoms, and our dog exhibited every symptom.
The dog would have seizures, but not recover, and be super disoriented. His eyes were going back into his head, blindness, rotating his head in weird directions, crashing into things, walking in circles.
2 ER visits and 3 regular vet visits. We realized he wasn't getting better. Yesterday he was pretty much comatose all day. We made the decision to put him to sleep at approximately 9pm yesterday. It was hard, and I was sitting in the vet room crying. I have realized when people are dying - I like to remember them in their happy days - open casket freaks me out - seeing people in their debilitated state is tough to be around too. I didn't want to be there when we had to make the decision - I wanted to remember him in his happy days, chasing water, standing outside the screen door playing with the kitties through the window.
I waited in the car after I said goodbye. My partner remained in the room as he died.

Vacation -
Summer vacay is planned. Thrilled. European travel included. I am trying to plan more trips since airfare is soooooo cheap right now.

Family -
My parents went to VA during break, which they enjoyed.
Still getting together with my dad weekly for breakfast, which he enjoys. He texts me Tuesday nights asking if we are going to breakfast.
Sis is still a hot mess.