Sunday, May 31, 2009

Kermit's Adventure in New York

Kermit The Frog and I went on a little trip to New York City this past week with my 8th grade students. It was a great trip, but like so many to short. Here is our amphibious hero enjoying the sights.



















KTF on top of the Empire State building and sitting on the bull near the Stock Exchange for good financial luck.



















KTF inside the Apple store checking out an iPod touch and looking at the Apple Store sign.



















KTF checking out Time Square and the dinosaur exhibit in the Natural History Museum.

Enjoy ~SJ


Saturday, May 30, 2009

Skywatch Friday (ok Saturday)


Fresh back from his New York City tour, Kermit enjoyed many sights. His favorite was the Statue of Liberty where he can be seen here doing an impression of her. Happy Skywatch!

Enjoy ~SJ


Sunday, May 24, 2009

The Grown Up Meme

Play along if you wish, this originally came from Amity


1. What bill do you hate paying the most?

Since I am a math teacher you would think that I enjoy the task of paying bills, but mostly I just dread sitting down and paying them all.


2. Do you miss being a child?

I was just talking about this last night with friends, there are great parts of being a child and great parts of being an adult.


3. Chore you hate the most?

Anything to do with laundry, just ask The Mother.


4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?

The Music Man and I went to Slate's, always a wonderful dinner.


5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?

What sort of question is this?


6. Name of your first grade teacher?

Mrs. Collins, and Bob had a different chair than the rest of us.


7. What do you really want to be doing right now?

This


8. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A dolphin trainer


9. How many colleges did you attend?

One for undergrad, and another one for masters and doctoral


10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?

It was there on the pile


11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?

Got to get the motorcycle out and drive it more.


12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?

No alarm today, it is Sunday.


13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?

Long weekend.....


14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?

Gary Larson


15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?

Gone of the road a few times due to icy conditions


16. If you didn’t have to work, would you volunteer?

Yes


17. Get up early or sleep in?

Both


18. What is your favorite cartoon character?

They aren't a cartoon, but I loved the Fraggles


20. When did you first start feeling old?

When I got my first real job


21. Favorite lunch meat?

I hate lunch meat


22. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?

Lean Cuisines, that way I don't have to eat lunch meat for lunch


23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?

It works for some people, so no


24. Favorite movie you wouldn’t want anyone to find out about?

??


25. What’s your favorite drink?

Fruit smoothies


26. Who[m] from high school would you like to run in to?

Well I ran into a whole bunch of them last night, it was great to catch up with them all.


27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?

NPR.


28. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?

Sopranos, I had hope for Desperate Housewives but it just got too weird.


29. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work?

Yes, and sometimes we wave across the hall/library to one another when we shut our classroom doors.


30. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?

Yes, a coffee cup caught on fire it the microwave. Moral of the story: Some plastic travel mugs have screws in them and fire extinguishers can make a huge mess!


31. Last book you finished reading?

Prep


Enjoy ~SJ

The Dump

Most people I would imagine just put their trash out to the curb and never wonder what happens to it after that. If you live in an area without trash pickup, like me, then you know a little more to the story of your trash. The Dump, or more formally known The Transfer Station has a series of etiquette that needs to be followed:

1) If it a busy day at The Dump wait patiently in your vehicle in line for the next available space.
2) If you are waiting in line make sure that you have moved your vehicle as far to the right as possible so vehicles can still get out.
3) Once you have a space close to "The Hopper" (giant pit where trash goes) quickly move to get your trash and recycling in all of the appropriate receptacles.
4) If you see someone you know (this always happens) talk quickly while taking care of trash, this is particularly true if there is a line.
5) Anything that might still have some use goes along the wall, "One persons trash is another persons treasures" this saying can not be more true than at The Dump.
6) Put all of your trash and recyclables in the correct place or The Dump Guy might come and yell at you. You must listen to him, he has a name tag and will remember you.
7) Do not leave your vehicle doors open, it makes it difficult for others to park close to "The Hopper".

Enjoy ~SJ

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Skywatch Friday


The Music Man and I took the motorcycles out for a ride last weekend to the Height of Land an the way to Rangeley. As always the view was amazing.

Happy Skywatch Friday!

Enjoy ~SJ

Friday, May 15, 2009

Netflix Origami Fun!

In my relaxing hours of the evening I sometimes like to practice a little paper folding art. As I have mentioned earlier origami has been a hobby since childhood. I have a lot of origami books, none of which have a hippo pattern in them! I recently stumbled upon this website that is origami out of Netflix envelopes, environmentally friendly and exercises your visual-spatial skills! So far I have tried the shirt, frog, and crab.

Enjoy ~SJ

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Skywatch Friday!

It has been awhile since I have posted a Skywatch. Last week while driving home from the middle school production of Annie the moon was reflecting beautifully on the river. Oh, and I guess I am the "Skywatch Host" for another week - such an honor!

Enjoy ~SJ

Origami Hippo

My students and I have had a running joke about hippos that steams from the Pythagorean Theorem. We also have been working on origami on and off all year long, so last night I got the idea of teaching them how to make an origami hippo. One small problem though, I don't know how to make an origami hippo, nor do I have a pattern - Google to the rescue! I did a little searching, found a few patterns but nothing that I really liked. While in search of the perfect paper hippo I updated my Facebook status to "is wondering how to make an origami hippo, anyone know?" Within moments I had a response complete with links, another few moments and I Mi Prima offer to look at the library for me today. Talk about service! Today I had a few moments so I gave one of the hippos a try, very simple and it might be the one I teach them how to make. With a few changes in the "nose" folding it could become an elephant too!

Enjoy ~SJ

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Just Too Funny!

On my list of SJ facts that I have not shared yet is that I am a fan of the HBO show Sex and the City. When Indexed came out with this new chart today:
I added Indexed to my Google Reader about a year ago after Rach pointed me in that direction. The science/math geek in me just loves the almost daily index card chart outlining some phenomena. If Indexed isn't in your Google Reader I suggest you add it now.

Enjoy ~SJ


Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!


Happy Mother's day to those two very special ladies in my life, with the continuous encouragement and support from the two of you so many things have been accomplished.










Enjoy ~SJ

Thursday, May 7, 2009

If I Only Had A Brain Pythagorus

I have been teaching about the Pythagorean Theorem this week and I made reference to the fact that the Scarecrow quoted the Pythagorean Theorem when the Wizard gave him a brain. I decided today to look the scene up on youtube so that I could share it with my students tomorrow. Come to find out the Scarecrow misquoted the theorem! This makes it even more fun to share with them tomorrow. Can you find the mistake?




Enjoy ~SJ

Saturday, May 2, 2009

It been a week....

.... and SJ has not posted anything new to her blog. Sorry readers, I think I am back into a state of blogging doldrum. Life has been filled with the same old routine - school, homework, sleep, eat, and maybe a motorcycle ride squeezed in. The Music Man and I did go to a great concert at Bates College last night with some friends, but other than that, nothing to exciting to blog about. The Mother is on her journey northward and will be arriving at the Shamrock on Wednesday, very excited to see her after her 6 months in Florida. Tomorrows goal is to take a picture of something exciting to post.

Enjoy ~SJ