aaargh for the the reports

I still haven't finished those pesky year 8 and 9 reports. To be honest I can't be stuffed. I know that I don't have to be in at the work place Monday and I can't find the motivation. I would rather sit and do my own thing.

Actually the house work looks inviting.

I really need to finish my reports - I'm having hallucinations about the beauty of housework!

Today - after the reports are done and I've emailed them to my buddy.....(lucky her) and I've done some of the neglected housework (4 weeks since the vacuum cleaner and I have had a date) I am going to a dvd night. Have no idea what we are watching but it will be great.

One bonus of tonight is a catch up with a girl that I had dinner with last night. You would think we would have talked out everything last night but we were at a 'meet at dinner'.

There is nothing like meeting 5 other single people over dinner in a nice restaurant. I laughed when I saw her, as did she. The others at the table thought we had met at other dinners as two of the men said they had a few times. We explained that we were in a book club together but it came out, not my intention, that we knew each other through a social club.

We might debrief together. I already have my views of the gentlemen that I met. I might just see where she lies in the same situation - do we have the same taste in men?

It feels great to be out there again. Not much at this stage but I need to get out and mix with single people again.

Oh dear - off to report write. I think I might just have to do the vacuuming...........decisions. I apologise to all those who left the comments about finishing - I promise it will be done NOW!

All done!

I have finally finished teaching my classes. I haven't, as yet, finished my reports for years 8 + 9 but that will be done by tomorrow afternoon.

The whole concept of finishing early is mind blowing. This is something I haven't quite got my head around.

I think that's it.

tv themes

Today I'm on TV themes that I loved as a kid because they were for my shows. I tell you - they don't make them like this anymore!

The wombles of Wimbledon common are we......





Kimba the white lion is the one.......




Monkey magic, Monkey magic.



Goodies, Goody goody yum yum



We'll make you happy.....



This was actually known by me as the Happy show! I loved David Cassidy as a kid. I was about 5 when I discovered him.....

I don't think I like many tv theme songs now....Maybe Red Dwarf - but that is a good ten years old!

So please tell me what your favourite tv show tune is.

tired

Hands up those who are tired?

good.

I'm not alone.

I'm exhausted.

Last night I hit the bed at about midnight. Tossed and turned lots. Up at 5.30.

I was finishing off the marking of this last exam! Hard slog but really valuable Professional Development! It was a hard paper to mark and I have only been teaching the subject for 12 months. I'm right now for next year.

Early night tonight. Can I go to bed now?

No music tonight. I might wait for a while.

More videos and influence

So I decided to give you two links today. (update 15 exams to go! Spider bite almost gone but still itchy!)

The two links i am giving to you revolve around Paul Weller! What a legend. I am in the process of rebuilding my collection of his work.

Here is "A Town Like Malice" from The Jam



and Style Council's "The Walls come tumbling down"




I have to investigate his work a lot more.....While I'm on re investigating artists I am checking out David Bowie, Paul Simon and a few others. Keep a look out for my thoughts soon.....

one week to go!

So I have finished my first lot of the next subject of exams....they were hard. Hard to concentrate mainly. I'm tired......oh well.

I have 4 more working days left in the school year. Yay me. Between now and next Friday I need to do the following:
* Finish marking this exam.
* Drop the set of results of to headquarters - which is a decent 1.5 hour drive from my house!
* Write reports (which includes 2 year 11 classes, 1 year 9 class and 4 year 8 classes!)
* set work for the orientation week for my year 12 classes (should be fun)
* perform at the junior school concert. last one for the year.
* go into the VIT interview for registration for my mentoree.
* sort out my desk so it is squeaky clean for the beginning of next year.
* bring home preparation work for my various classes.....

I think that is it.

Roll on Friday afternoon!

Now here is one of the major influences in my music history.

Split Enz. I loved this New Zealand band SOOOOO much as I was growing up. I was lucky enough to go to their 2nd last Australian show - at the tender age of 14. Mum only let me go as I was able to convince 2 friends from a traditional Greek background to go. One girl was only able to go if her father dropped us of and picked us up from the venue - set in a dingy part of Melbourne. Mum was quite happy with that one.

So here is "History Never Repeats".

More videos....

So I am continuing down my path of music I like and hoping you are enjoying the show.

Butterfingers - Get up outta the dirt. Great Australian hiphop in my view. Not my favourite song of theirs but its not bad - would prefer to show you others but have a thing about language and also there are many bad home made vids to some songs. (Two I'm thinking of FIGJAM and I love work)




ON other issues I am still correcting the styles paper. Getting faster at it!

Have my school reports to go. I only have a week left in the school year! Hooray to me.

Justify your response

I've learnt lots about musos today. They are a unique bunch who really like to know where they stand in relation to you. This is all subjective but you have to justify your position with hard documentary evidence.

Today I did the training for the Music Styles exam. OMG!! This is one tough exam. It is SOOOOOO subjective. Once I start reading and applying the whole marking scheme it will be easier.

It was a tough exam for the kids to do and it is tough for the assessors.

There is seemingly a multitude of answers to the questions that have been set. If you can justify your response then you have the ability to do really well. You also have to be able to interpret the question - how much do you utilise a term if the question asks you to 'refer' to it? Depends on how well you talk about the main focus of the question.

Then there is the whole idea of there being so many works the kids can talk about. There are no set works that they MUST refer to in a certain way. This is like a can of worms. I love it but I am scared.....

The big difference between the training for this study and the one I did last week is today I'm one of four - last week I was one of 16 (I think). Your opinion REALLY matters and you have to be able to justify your response.

So once you throw your hat into the ring and start assessing the walls come down as you can argue your point about why you awarded something a certain mark.....If you can make it stick then there is a level of respect.

Tonight we had our Stage Bands jazz night to raise money for their trip to China next year. Instead of verbally justifying your existence there was a push to stake your claim with melodic lines, virtuosic playing and emotional understanding in relation to the music. Tough gig for the amateurs amongst us. Thank goodness I was witnessing this instead.

I wasn't going to go tonight as I need to get these papers marked - but I think I will do some in the morning and it is all good so far.

I am really glad I went. I saw the kids performing in such a different light. The Stage Band played - they were tight and kicked some serious bottom.

The leader of the band had some of his mates (who he has performed with for YEARS) play. The interaction between these guys was something to behold. There was finger pointing when they thought that someone should take a solo. There was no music and there was a great deal of stage craft being utilised. It was fantastic.

After interval we had some ex students performing. The playing was really out there and there was a level of sophistication that I really hope my current kids can attain. Well to be honest I know they could easily.

The stage band got up again and there was a noticeable difference in the way they played due to what they had witnessed earlier. It was great! They are learning so fast and they are easily inspired.

Now to bed so I can rise early and mark another 5 papers before work.

Spider bite is much better since the drugs have had 24 hours to kick in. The swelling is reduced, redness going and the itchiness has improved.

Also I have decided to show you lots of bands that I love. If you have suggestions for me to view let me know.......

Here are The Waifs.

Incy Wincy spider.

So after celebrating finishing all those exams a spider (or something just as vicious) bit me!

Not once, nor twice but EIGHT times on my right elbow.

I didn't notice until the next day about midday. I thought it might disappear with some time. 4pm and I realised that this was serious. My year 12 kidlet was doing his exam for Music Styles (history and literature of music) until 5.15pm so I hung around.

It wasn't until I was driving home that I remembered my arm. It was really itchy. I had left my phone at home so couldn't ring my regular doc. When I got home I found that they were shut and then spent the next 45 minutes finding a doctor to go to. I was reluctant to go the hospital but in hindsight I think it might have been better.

I found a late opening surgery and got there 10 minutes early for my 7.30 appointment. I filled in my forms, paid some money and finally got to see the doc at 8.15. She looked at my arm and tried to convince me that it was not a spider bite. Her reasoning was that spiders only bite once and then run away. I was not convinced.

She gave me some topical cream and told me to take antihistamines. I woke in the middle of the night scratching like a dog suffering from mange.

Through the day today I was convinced by a couple of people to make an appointment to see my regular doc. I took their advice.

She was great. She looked at it and immediately told me what was going on. Bacterial infection. She was a bit cross that the other doc hadn't picked it up. When I showed the cream she said "No! You must be in pain!" yep! We are talking an area the size of my hand. It's radiating heat and it's red with slight cellulitis.

I am now on antibiotics and she has drawn around the hot, lumpy area. If it gets bigger I am to go back and deal with it tomorrow morning.

I'm still on the antihistamines and been told to take some paracetamol for pain. I also am meant to keep my arm still....

I was meant to go out for dinner tonight. That's not going to happen as I would be moving my arm lots......

Early night tonight I think.....I'll let you know how the area changes.....



Just thought that I would add this video of Augie March an Australian band. A friend from work is in it....the one who starts at the clothes line

finished

Hooray me! I've JUST finished 150 exams. I am so pleased with myself. They weren't as tortuous as I thought they would be and the neighbours were quiet which meant I could concentrate really easily.

Tomorrow is the day to finish school based correction and really get stuck into the reports.

Wednesday the year 11 kidlets do their exams for me (2 subjects) so I will spend that day doing my correction for that.

Thursday training for the next subject I jokingly put my hand up to mark. Apparently they are desperate. I did ask "were you desperate?" To which I got the answer "yes". Lesson to be learnt....don't ask such questions. From what I could ascertain they didn't appoint all the examiners from last year. Not sure why. Don't care. Just know that it will make for a new and exciting experience for me!

I just worked it out that I only have 9 more school days left for the year! But if I deduct the training day on Thursday and the student free day next week (report writing) I have only 7. That report writing day happens to be on the Friday and I think I might just have all mine finished by Monday instead!

I am glad that you enjoyed the car cake. We had a similar ad idea here in Australia but they sculpted the car out of sand. It was awesome. There are some interesting ads out there to say the least.

So now i am feeling rather chuffed with myself and I am going to go for a walk to the local post box to send of my local council election form. For all you Americans out there we HAVE to vote in all elections including the local government ones! I might just drop into a friend of mine as well and drop of the little present I got for her.

Tonight I will edit one year 11 exam and finish the audio so I can print and bag that tomorrow.

I am typing furiously as I haven't really spoken to anyone all day as I have been on a mission to accomplish what I did!

GO ME!

cake and cars

So I love Cake Wrecks. I laugh when I see some of the slightly demented cakes that appear on the screen. I wonder how people think what they've created is good.

Today they posted this gem which I think is amazing!



Then I went to have a look at the making of this ad




I hope you enjoyed both but check out cake wrecks cause they're fantastic!

road signs

I have finished 100 exams - now I have only 50 left to go! Yay me!

I also have year 11 exams to correct for school, LOTS of correction and ALL of my reports.....Great!

Anyway I decided to go out for dinner tonight with a few friends - something about staying in all day reading papers that throws you out of kilter, just ask Frogdancer as I spoke at a massive rate of knots last night when I lobbed myself on her kindness.....

I had a lovely dinner with K, Foo and J.

Driving home I came across a road sign that had me laughing loudly. "FTG Rd" is what I read. Proper green road sign with white trim. This particular road is Ferntree-Gully Road. Cost cutting has certainly gone far.

I would like to share this video with you.

Before you watch it I would like to explain how I ended up becoming a Red Dwarf fan. One of my sisters introduced me to the show when it was on a Sunday afternoon. A strange show - robots, a cat that interbred to become a human like character (the main singing and dancing male), the last surviving human in the world (the one with bad rats tales) and a hologram (silver H on forehead). I loved it instantly.

this is a dream sequence of the cat which is captured on the dream machine





I love the slightly dated look.........now to sleep and then finish of the first 100 exams (75 done) Thanks to Frogdancer for putting up with my manic mood this evening

marking begins

If you don't hear from me in a while - I'm marking.

Today we learnt about the paper completely and compared our marking......wow! A day full intrigue.

Now I have a few to mark (100 by Sunday then 50 after that).

I'll leave you to it.

Exam marking again

This time last year I was learning how to mark year 12 papers and I was seriously learning about time management.

This year I am back marking year 12 papers. Different paper so we have to learn how to mark it again. Work out how the information actually fits into the set questions. It proves interesting.

Teaching is a very personal industry. You train with a group of people - about 40 or so that you have direct contact with. You work in a few schools and you get to know a few more people. I have worked with over 300 people in 15 years at 4 different schools. Really that is not many.

Within your own subject area the numbers become smaller. At my first school I worked in a department of 7 teachers. Two classroom and the rest instrumental. My next school was 2 classroom and 5 instrumental. Third school I was the classroom teacher (as well as drama teacher) and there were 3 instrumental teachers. This school has 4 classroom teachers (huge) and 16 instrumental teachers. In essence I have only worked with about 50 music teachers.

The point of all of this is that I work in a small subject area. Everyone knows everyone - or at least knows of everyone. If they don't really know you then they pretend. Today in training there was a lot of pretending. There was also a lot of bizarre antics that went on.

There was a lot of one-up-manship going on. We listened to the various pieces that are on the syllabus and then we talked about what we heard etc. Some of the people had to outdo each other. I have to admit, I joined in on that. I am not immune to this posturing. If I hear it enough I will take part in it too. There is an element of "pick me, pick me!"

So I have learnt today that you have to play the game. Make sure your voice is heard by the right people - but I still have to find out who they are.

I have also learnt that you have to watch your back. There are things that were said today that I had to react against - quietly, I promise. I found myself having to defend against unwarranted accusations of an unknown group......I was, unknowingly to this cohort, part of the unknown group. I spoke to the chief assessor when we had a break and it was never mentioned again!

I have realised that the assessors put themselves on a pedestal. The exam setters are also on their own pedestal. The unknown group are the vetters. This group read the paper and make sure it reads well, fits the criteria etc. I think I did that but it was the beginning of the year so my recollections are hazy and there was a bit of stuff going on in the background so I was not completely focused on the task. I could have written something that has come back to bite the whole exam on the bum! It happens. But it might have been someone else.

Enough said of the unknown.

Tomorrow we go through the paper in full, slotting in today's information and start marking as a group. We compare our marks. We discuss differences. Then we do it again. By the end of the day we should be a cohesive group.

I then take home my 100 papers (or 50 depending on the numbers and who I am partnered with) and I mark them on my own. I call into the central office with the 'control' papers and compare my marks.

I worked out last year that it takes about 2-3 days to mark 100 papers.

It really is an interesting process but it is quite tiring. Thank goodness I get paid per paper.

litter bugs

I am so over people throwing things from their car. I've become a bit of a nasty on this one. I report them!

Take today for instance. Stupid person (not sure male/female but assume male due to make of car) slowly cruised past me and then moved into my lane without indicating. This riled me. Don't mind if you move into the lane in front of me BUT let me know you are going to!

The window wound down and a lit cigarette butt appeared out through the window on the drivers side. Now I was really cross. It is so dry at the moment and the temperature today is very warm so it is only an IDIOT that thinks it is ok to throw out a lit cigarette butt out of the window.

Then there is the pollution issue - these butts don't decompose and are washed into the storm water drains which go straight into the bay, if we had any rain.

So I memorised the registration number and where we were. Once I was home I got onto the EPA website and reported the dirty litter bug.

If you know me and live near me be warned.....I'm watching you!

all ironed out

Crochet......I have joined 40 squares. 20 to go. Then edging. It looks good. there will be no photos. I don't have camera. Will be done tonight as it is getting hot in the next few days and I want the blanket out of the way.

I didn't finish last night as I was ironing.

I got a new iron.

(just noticed that this blog is becoming riveting!)

The last iron didn't survive the nose dive it took two weeks ago. I thought it had survived. I turned it on a few days ago to iron a shirt or two but it never got warm. I own a lot of cotton and linen summer wear so I need to have an iron.

One of the stores that I go to had a 20%off sale. I know this sounds great but the price scanned in wrong to begin with. It was marked at $130. (20% 0ff = $104.) It scanned in at $100. I only paid (well I went halves as a present) $80. I saved $50!

At some stage I will write an exciting post.....but not today.

crocheting the night/day away

I have 60 crocheted squares around me at the moment. I now have to work out the order to put them together in some sort of order.

As I changed hooks at one point I have slightly smaller squares than others. Oh well. I am sure I will make it all fit.

I want to have this all finished by the end of today - well at least together - maybe not all the way round with a nice scalloped edge.

Happy Sunday to you all.

a new craft shop

I love a good craft shop. I especially love it when I find that they are having a sale.

One craft shop has opened just near my singing teachers house. This is dangerous.....

I spent 25 minutes in the shop in the opening sale....feathers, glitter, paper, crochet hook, glue....there was so much more I could play with but I restrained.

While wandering around I noticed so many people who had never been in a craft shop. Open mouths, eyes moving from one shelf to another and they were touching everything......It was funny. One man was with his girlfriend. Every time she picked up something she would say this is great, he would ask her why they would want it! She had no answers.

I'm in awe

I am sitting in my lounge listening to the speeches from America. I am jealous that I am not there at Obama's rally as I feel as if this is one of those moments that is a time in history that you will remember where you were......

One of the big differences between the American democracy and the Australian experience is, not the way we have to vote but, the great use of the English language you hear in American system. I am always amazed with the emotive and poetic use of language in American speeches. Why is there such a difference? We do have and have had great orators but nothing, as I can recall, to the level of the Americans. (At this moment in time I have the 'great' speech of the then Prime Minister Bob Hawke after Australia II won the America's Cup and stated "Any boss who sacks someone for taking a sicky today is a bum!" - Nothing like that for great rhetoric!)

Both McCain's speech conceding defeat and Obama's speech taking victory were amazing.

learning never stops

Cup day today in Melbourne. Reserve Bank had a .75 cut in interest rates. America votes for new president overnight our time.

It's an eventful day all up.

I went to a friends house were a group of us sat around and nattered away. A good day all up.

Learnt something today. I need to shut up sometimes. I didn't say anything really but my actions did stop another conversation taking place that needed to take place. For that I am sorry.

I like learning things. I just hate the way I have to learn things. I bash my head against the wall to realise that the wall is solid and it will hurt my head. Sometimes it would be good to learn by observation...

On another completely different note --- we had a sweep at the party for the cup. Now I know that I said I didn't gamble when I was at work on Friday.....but I entered the sweep. As luck would have it, my horse came in 2nd. I made some money out of it. I don't do this often but today I let my guard down.

Holiday Monday

Holiday Monday. Love it.

Went for a walk which became lunch. I've just got home now at 3.30pm! I left at 8.30 this morning. Love that.

Been having some introspective time this weekend. Had good times and sad times. I am quite happy but just a little 'empty' at the moment. Trying to work out the situation as to why etc. Not really able to do anything to change it but I can change the way I deal with it.

I brought a canvas yesterday for my vision board that I will be completing at some stage in the next few months. Today I painted it, reds and blues etc. I will throw a few other ideas on it with some shadowing ideas. I've never really dabbled with paints before so this has been fun. Just swished paint all over and it's now a board of colour....

I've also begun a visual journal for myself. Colour pencils, textas etc.

On a completely different level I saw "Burn after reading" last night. I haven't laughed so hard in ages. It's such a quirky movie that has many a twist and turn you wonder if it will all unite. It works out in the end, if you can call it that.

Thanks to all about the extra kilos - I have a few new tops now......it's all good.

changing the diet - or buying new clothes

I am enjoying my long weekend immensely. If anyone asks me what I did "nothing" comes to mind fairly quickly.

Today I will take myself shopping for a few more tops. I have squeezed into a few tops lately - I have put on a few extra kilos...am mightily peeved with myself but I am working on removing said extra kilos.

(I realised that a diet that has a high amount of chocolate, chips, dips etc is not really good for the waist line although the quick sugar rush was stimulating......so they're almost gone from the diet and been replaced with fruit and vegies.)

I might even take myself into the city area to catch up with a few people.....maybe.

the long weekend

It's the long weekend - well at least for me and a few lucky others who are taking Monday off before the 'Race that stops a nation' on Tuesday. (Melbourne Cup day)

Next year we wont get this day off. Note to self - enjoy the weekend and do lots of stuff......

On Friday we had a morning tea to recognise all teachers in Victoria. As a consequence I had fruit for lunch.....In amongst all this they ran the sweep for the Melbourne Cup. I have made a pledge this year that I am not going to throw money at these sort of things. I haven't taken part in the footy tipping (really 'missed' that!) and now I haven't bothered with the cup.

The male my desk is next to asked me (in the same way that he asks about anything - tone implies arrogance) if I was taking part in the sweep. I replied "no, I'm not into gambling anymore." [you might remember this strange man from the horoscopes post this week.]

His glib reply "so how do you get out of bed everyday?"

I gave him one of most withering looks but remembered that he doesn't understand facial expressions or body language, so switched it off to conserve my energy.

Having received no reply from me he concluded that I didn't understand his comment and decided to explain it so that I would. I replied with a noncommittal "hmm" which was enough encouragement for him to go further.

I picked up my stuff and left for class. He continued talking.