Don't you hate the commute to work? People always ask.
But it's not too bad. Not too hard. If you follow this map.
Turn left, and left, and left again to hit the interstate
Where trucks drive soooo slow,
especially when you're running late.
Take the loop on Cornhusker.
Warning: There's construction now,
but if you wave to the workers on the roadside
sometimes they wave back.
You'll drive by McDonald's, Runza, Amigo's, Burger King, KFC, Raising Cane's...
Why am I always hungry???
You'll gain a lane on your right, so try to merge that way.
STOP.
There's a train. Guarantee it.
So sit there and watch cars inch closer and closer to the tracks in front of you,
as if proximity will make the train move faster.
But after this the route gets scenic
with trees and homes with brick and fences.
I wouldn't follow the arrows on 48th
that suggest a used furniture store has been running for 30 years
in the garage behind a yellow house.
Instead drive by Don Bob's Plumbing on your right
and then the house with mannequins in the window.
Yeah, they freak me out too.
On your right a husky might be playing in the snow,
while his Brittany friend watches from the back step.
Soon you'll get to meet the house that loves all holidays
including Thanksgiving with a giant inflatable turkey
as well as the "museum yard" with displays of
motocycles, boats, and ATVs right there on the grass.
Look out for the community center
where bouncy castles on summer days
turn to Trunk or Treat
and Christmas food drives.
You're getting close when you see the football field,
high up on its throne.
Right on Cotner, Left on Huntington.
Bike racks, street parking, and a lone yellow school bus
mark your destination.
(This was just a random thing I was thinking about on my drive to work the other day and thought I'd write it down. Just for fun. Thanks for reading.)
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Different Kinds of Patience
It is said that patience is a virtue. But what kind of patience? You can be patient when waiting for the right job to come along or patient when waiting for the bus. You can be patient with a dog that is disobedient or patient with someone who talks too much. You can have patience to go over your paper five times before turning it in or patience to explain something five times to a student. You can have patience when recovering from a surgery or patience with a screaming baby. It's really a very broad term with so many applications.
From a personal standpoint, my patience has a lot to do with age for some reason. I have no patience with young children. Crying, whining, fighting just once can put me over the edge. Even if it's kids I know well, I can't be patient with them at all and just grow incredibly frustrated. But for some reason, when it's older people like a friend or grandparent, I have no problem with any of these same things. Friends can fight and I can patiently mediate the situation. Someone can cry or whine about something and I can listen for hours. My grandmas can make me move the glasses that aren't in the exact right spot or make me drive her all around town and I will calmly do these things without agitation at all. And I have no idea why this is. I know many people that are the complete opposite and can deal with much more from children than adults.
This is just something I've been musing over this week and thought I'd share my thoughts. What is patience? Why do I have more in some situations than others? This is what my crazy mind does during the day haha.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
What It Means to be an Extrovert
Recently, I have seen a large amount of links on Facebook to articles about introverts. "Do You Know What It Means to Be an Introvert?" "23 Signs You're Secretly an Introvert" "10 Myths About Introverts." I even read a book (a good one) for class called Quiet: The Power of Introverts. It's like we're some kind of rare breed that people want to read about in science magazines. The truth is the world is about 50/50 introverts and extroverts. Nothing rare about us.
I understand introverts just fine because I am one. And yes, sometimes I feel judged because want time alone and at a disadvantage because I am not as social, but I don't think I'm any more "misunderstood" than an extrovert. In fact, I have misunderstood extroverts for most of my life. Why does my dad have to have someone in the room with him all the time? (I'm judging him.) Why can't my students work in silence by themselves? (The "social" ones don't have the advantage here.)
I still don't always know how "the other side" works. But because I'm trying to balance out the playing field, I am going to make my own list. Here's to the extroverts. What does it mean to be you?
1. Extroverts recharge from the energy of others. I heard this metaphor once that we are all phones but we are divided kind of like androids vs. iPhones with different kinds of chargers. Introverts need to be alone to charge and extroverts need to be with others. This doesn't mean that extroverts are weak, or needy, or can't do things themselves. It just means they like having others around and that's not a bad thing.
2. Just because someone is quiet doesn't mean they are an introvert. I think lots of extroverts aren't all that chatty. But when they've had a bad day, they want to hang out with friends or go out somewhere, not sit alone at home. That would just drain them more.
3. Extroverts sometimes just want to talk on the phone. We have come to an age in which we do most of our communicating without our voice at all. To me, that's just fine because I can express myself in words, but this can be frustrating to some extroverts. I had a friend who used to call me all the time and I'd she'd talk and talk and talk. I used to wonder why she didn't just text me, but when I think back I realize she probably went to classes and hadn't talked to anyone all day and she needed that connection.
4. Extroverts don't use small talk just to make introverts uncomfortable. I have read several times in these articles I mentioned that small talk drives introverts crazy. I agree and feel very uncomfortable in these situations, but I really do believe that the guy on the bus that was asking me about what music I was listening to and what class I had that day was genuinely trying to be friendly, not awkward. Extroverts LIKE to get to know new people and they are better at it and I think that's a great quality (even when I'm embarrassed as my dad talks to a random stranger at DisneyWorld.)
5. "Extroverts are commonly found to be more easily bored than introverts on monotonous tasks, probably because they require and thrive on high levels of stimulation." That came straight from a research article people. So when my students are bored to death with an activity that I thought was interesting, it might just be a difference in personality types.
6. Extroverts aren't always great public speakers. Talking "with" people and talking "in front" of people are two very different things and I know lots of incredibly outgoing people who freeze up in this kind of situation. Public speaking is a performance of sorts and not a social encounter and therefore very different.
7. Extroverts are definitely not any less intelligent than introverts. The brooding intellectual stereotype that introverts have is not true either obviously but just because a person is more social and less into quiet study time does not mean they are stupid or don't care about their education. At all. This is a stupid stereotype.
And most importantly, it doesn't matter which side you're on. It's better to work together. In fact, according to Psychology Today, the majority of marriages are between one extrovert and one introvert. We each have different skills and personalities and we can strengthen each other.
I understand introverts just fine because I am one. And yes, sometimes I feel judged because want time alone and at a disadvantage because I am not as social, but I don't think I'm any more "misunderstood" than an extrovert. In fact, I have misunderstood extroverts for most of my life. Why does my dad have to have someone in the room with him all the time? (I'm judging him.) Why can't my students work in silence by themselves? (The "social" ones don't have the advantage here.)
I still don't always know how "the other side" works. But because I'm trying to balance out the playing field, I am going to make my own list. Here's to the extroverts. What does it mean to be you?
1. Extroverts recharge from the energy of others. I heard this metaphor once that we are all phones but we are divided kind of like androids vs. iPhones with different kinds of chargers. Introverts need to be alone to charge and extroverts need to be with others. This doesn't mean that extroverts are weak, or needy, or can't do things themselves. It just means they like having others around and that's not a bad thing.
2. Just because someone is quiet doesn't mean they are an introvert. I think lots of extroverts aren't all that chatty. But when they've had a bad day, they want to hang out with friends or go out somewhere, not sit alone at home. That would just drain them more.
3. Extroverts sometimes just want to talk on the phone. We have come to an age in which we do most of our communicating without our voice at all. To me, that's just fine because I can express myself in words, but this can be frustrating to some extroverts. I had a friend who used to call me all the time and I'd she'd talk and talk and talk. I used to wonder why she didn't just text me, but when I think back I realize she probably went to classes and hadn't talked to anyone all day and she needed that connection.
4. Extroverts don't use small talk just to make introverts uncomfortable. I have read several times in these articles I mentioned that small talk drives introverts crazy. I agree and feel very uncomfortable in these situations, but I really do believe that the guy on the bus that was asking me about what music I was listening to and what class I had that day was genuinely trying to be friendly, not awkward. Extroverts LIKE to get to know new people and they are better at it and I think that's a great quality (even when I'm embarrassed as my dad talks to a random stranger at DisneyWorld.)
5. "Extroverts are commonly found to be more easily bored than introverts on monotonous tasks, probably because they require and thrive on high levels of stimulation." That came straight from a research article people. So when my students are bored to death with an activity that I thought was interesting, it might just be a difference in personality types.
6. Extroverts aren't always great public speakers. Talking "with" people and talking "in front" of people are two very different things and I know lots of incredibly outgoing people who freeze up in this kind of situation. Public speaking is a performance of sorts and not a social encounter and therefore very different.
7. Extroverts are definitely not any less intelligent than introverts. The brooding intellectual stereotype that introverts have is not true either obviously but just because a person is more social and less into quiet study time does not mean they are stupid or don't care about their education. At all. This is a stupid stereotype.
And most importantly, it doesn't matter which side you're on. It's better to work together. In fact, according to Psychology Today, the majority of marriages are between one extrovert and one introvert. We each have different skills and personalities and we can strengthen each other.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
20 Things that Drive Me CRAZY
A common question on most questionnaires is "What is your pet peeve?" I have always had a hard time thinking of an answer to this. I do not mind people who pop their fingers or grind their teeth. Eating with your mouth open won't bother me a bit. Neither will humming. I don't even get road rage and grammar mistakes aren't as annoying as they probably should be for a future English teacher. But the truth is so many things drive me crazy. They just aren't common things. So here is a list of really strange, incredibly stupid things that drive me absolutely bonkers.
1. Bathroom stalls that don't go all the way to the ceiling. There is the bathroom in Andrews Hall on campus and when I stand up I can see people washing their hands. I can't even use that bathroom.
2. When people leave empty boxes or bags in the fridge or pantry. There is nothing as exasperating as reaching for a granola bar and only finding an empty box.
3. Going along with the last one, when people open bags or boxes upside-down. Why?
4. Socks. Just in general. I can't stand socks. They make my feet both sweaty and cold at the same time and I don't know why. I try to pull them off as soon as I get home.
5. When your recliner just won't go down.
6. How dirty keyboards get. They are impossible to clean too. Ick.
7. Really small desks. Just because I am in college doesn't mean I am able to write on a desk that's the size of my hand.
8. Driving with the sun in your eyes.
9. When my eye itch and I have mascara and eyeliner on. The struggles of being a girl.
10. Ice cream with chunks of ice in it. It makes me cringe thinking about it.
11. When a strand of hair sticks to you in the shower and you can't get it off.
12. Having to share armrests at the movie theatre on both sides.
13. When the toilet paper is on the roll wrong. It should always, always roll clockwise.
14. Having to go to the bathroom after you have a one-piece swimsuit on.
15. Too much ice in my drink at restaurants. You are just going to have to refill it for me more.
16. When I get mail addressed to someone else. This keeps happening in my new apartment. They don't live here anymore.
17. Brown and black together in an outfit. I understand they are both neutral colors. But they don't go together. (As a side note, I believe everyone perceives colors differently and this may be why this color combination looks good to other people. http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/your-red-same-my-red)
18. Headphones that are always tangled no matter what you do.
19. When the string in your hoodie or sweatpants gets stuck inside and it completely worthless.
20. Wobbly tables. How does this even happen?
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Interesting Questions
I found this list of questions and thought I'd answer them for fun since I didn't have any other prompts this week. Maybe you'll learn something new about me...I actually might have learned about myself. Feel free to answer some about yourself in the comments too!
*What was your favorite childhood toy?
This is tough. I don't remember being much into Barbies or dolls. I remember a shopping cart that I pushed around and safari animal figurines that I played with a lot with my cousins. I also remember spinning a globe a lot although I'm not sure that counts as a toy. The one that stand out to me was Rajah, a stuffed tiger from Aladdin. I remember sleeping with him most nights. I have no idea what happened to him.
*If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Depends on if this is a physical characteristic or a personality trait. Physically, I change my skin to get rid of my chicken skin and stretch marks. Personality-wise, I'd want to be more comfortable meeting new people I guess.
*Which character from a book would you most like to be?
It's probably cliché but I have to go with Hermione Granger. She is so confident in who she is and strong and smart and has awesome friends. And she can do magic of course.
*Favorite kind of weather?
Definitely sunny and warm. I do like rain and thunderstorms a lot, but nothing beats a day when there is no clouds in the sky and you can feel the sun on your skin. One of my favorite feelings in the world in when you are in a cold building and you walk outside in the summer.
*If you could travel in time, when and where would you go?
This is hard! I have no idea. I think I'd go back to when something momentous was built. Like the pyramids or Stonehenge or Mayan temples or the Great Wall. Those things fascinate me and I want to know WHY? Why would they build them and how did they do it. It just sounds intriguing to me.
*Favorite and least favorite article of clothing?
Favorite is jackets. Which doesn't make sense since I love summer but I just love jackets. I have so many of them, it's ridiculous. My least favorite as of right now is leggings. They are not pants people. I can't tell you how many times I've seen girls underwear through their leggings in the past few years.
That's all for now. I'll probably come back to some of these as writing prompts later. Have a terrific Tuesday!
*What was your favorite childhood toy?
This is tough. I don't remember being much into Barbies or dolls. I remember a shopping cart that I pushed around and safari animal figurines that I played with a lot with my cousins. I also remember spinning a globe a lot although I'm not sure that counts as a toy. The one that stand out to me was Rajah, a stuffed tiger from Aladdin. I remember sleeping with him most nights. I have no idea what happened to him.
*If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Depends on if this is a physical characteristic or a personality trait. Physically, I change my skin to get rid of my chicken skin and stretch marks. Personality-wise, I'd want to be more comfortable meeting new people I guess.
*Which character from a book would you most like to be?
It's probably cliché but I have to go with Hermione Granger. She is so confident in who she is and strong and smart and has awesome friends. And she can do magic of course.
*Favorite kind of weather?
Definitely sunny and warm. I do like rain and thunderstorms a lot, but nothing beats a day when there is no clouds in the sky and you can feel the sun on your skin. One of my favorite feelings in the world in when you are in a cold building and you walk outside in the summer.
*If you could travel in time, when and where would you go?
This is hard! I have no idea. I think I'd go back to when something momentous was built. Like the pyramids or Stonehenge or Mayan temples or the Great Wall. Those things fascinate me and I want to know WHY? Why would they build them and how did they do it. It just sounds intriguing to me.
*Favorite and least favorite article of clothing?
Favorite is jackets. Which doesn't make sense since I love summer but I just love jackets. I have so many of them, it's ridiculous. My least favorite as of right now is leggings. They are not pants people. I can't tell you how many times I've seen girls underwear through their leggings in the past few years.
That's all for now. I'll probably come back to some of these as writing prompts later. Have a terrific Tuesday!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Being Part of a Team
Until recently I'd never been part of a team. You don't notice that you've been missing something your whole life until it happens to you. As I get closer to my "real job", I have collaborated a lot with colleagues in the process of learning to create lesson plans and manage classrooms. This group dynamic, working toward a common goal, is revitalizing. I couldn't figure out why I loved working with others so much when I used to despise anything that involved the words "team" or "group." So I've reflected and realized it's because I never had a functioning team effort before.
Sometimes the lack of teamwork in my past was my fault. I chose to take on all the work in every group project I was ever in for school because I wanted it "done right." I did an individual project for FCCLA and individual events for the most part on the speech team. When I joined clubs, I either let others do the work or completely controlled an event. I never wanted to collaborate on any pages in the yearbook. Other times, it wasn't entirely my fault. In volleyball, I was bullied by the other players and pushed aside by my coaches because I wasn't coordinated or athletic. The same held true for softball as a kid. The plays I was in in high school should have been a group effort, but I think everyone was out to be the best they could be (or just goof off) instead.
The key is, now that I understand I was missing the group dynamic, to continue working with others. I think teaching can be an isolating job if you choose to make it that way. If I take on 100+ kids next year and decide I can handle everything they through my way on my own, I will be missing out on valuable information from others who have had similar experiences. Every person has something to contribute and it is so exciting to work together sometimes.
Sometimes the lack of teamwork in my past was my fault. I chose to take on all the work in every group project I was ever in for school because I wanted it "done right." I did an individual project for FCCLA and individual events for the most part on the speech team. When I joined clubs, I either let others do the work or completely controlled an event. I never wanted to collaborate on any pages in the yearbook. Other times, it wasn't entirely my fault. In volleyball, I was bullied by the other players and pushed aside by my coaches because I wasn't coordinated or athletic. The same held true for softball as a kid. The plays I was in in high school should have been a group effort, but I think everyone was out to be the best they could be (or just goof off) instead.
The key is, now that I understand I was missing the group dynamic, to continue working with others. I think teaching can be an isolating job if you choose to make it that way. If I take on 100+ kids next year and decide I can handle everything they through my way on my own, I will be missing out on valuable information from others who have had similar experiences. Every person has something to contribute and it is so exciting to work together sometimes.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
13 Reasons Why Spongebob Is Awesome
Some of you may be laughing right now, thinking this is a joke. And others are thinking, "Oh Roxie and her Spongebob." Spongebob has always been my "guilty pleasure." I still get home after school (now teaching) and turn on Nickelodeon to unwind. But I really don't think I have to be embarrassed by this show. Spongebob is an amazing show. And this is why.
1. The characters are completely original. I have actually heard people refer to others as "Squidwards" before. They are memorable and unique.
2. The voice actors are awesome. I can recognize Spongebob's laugh from across a room and smile.
3. IMAGINATION. Whenever I hear this word, I imagine a rainbow between Spongebob's hands. Only viewers of the show will get that one, but it's probably one of my top 10 episodes. Overall though, the show uses so much imagination, it makes us think outside the box too.
4. The songs are catchy. I have often caught myself humming the FUN song or Best Day Ever when I'm happy (and sometimes Goofy Goober).
5. The show has had guest stars including Johnny Depp, P!nk, and Amy Poehler.
6. Spongebob has a crappy job with a terrible boss and mean coworker and still manages to love his job. "I'm Ready. I'm Ready. I'm Ready."---I sometimes need to tell myself this too.
7. For the most part, the show doesn't have to use bodily functions (farts, snot, or even vomit--ick!) to get laughs like most cartoons on television right now. I just happened upon a show called Sanjay and Craig the other day and the entire episode was about having gas. I'm not over-exaggerating.
8.The show has been running since 1999. It is one of the longest running animated series after The Simpsons and IS the longest running animated TV series for kids. So I'm not the only fan.
9. You honestly never know what's going to happen next. Because really anything goes in Bikini Bottom.
10. The friendships. Spongebob has Patrick, who is about the dumbest being on earth and makes him want to tear his hair out sometimes, and Sandy, who is a brilliant scientist and often talks way over his head, but it doesn't matter. Friendship transcends differences. That doesn't mean you don't fight. They blow up at each other all the time, but they always make up.
11. It's the little things. Even though Squidward always makes fun of him constantly for his hobbies, Spongebob is perfectly content blowing bubbles and jellyfishing.
12. The animation is often very detailed and really put the show above-par compared to competitors (Fun fact: The creator was originally a marine biologist and was inspired to draw based on weird creatures he observed.)
13. Pharrell had a Spongebob themed birthday party this year. He turned 41.
1. The characters are completely original. I have actually heard people refer to others as "Squidwards" before. They are memorable and unique.
2. The voice actors are awesome. I can recognize Spongebob's laugh from across a room and smile.
3. IMAGINATION. Whenever I hear this word, I imagine a rainbow between Spongebob's hands. Only viewers of the show will get that one, but it's probably one of my top 10 episodes. Overall though, the show uses so much imagination, it makes us think outside the box too.
4. The songs are catchy. I have often caught myself humming the FUN song or Best Day Ever when I'm happy (and sometimes Goofy Goober).
5. The show has had guest stars including Johnny Depp, P!nk, and Amy Poehler.
6. Spongebob has a crappy job with a terrible boss and mean coworker and still manages to love his job. "I'm Ready. I'm Ready. I'm Ready."---I sometimes need to tell myself this too.
7. For the most part, the show doesn't have to use bodily functions (farts, snot, or even vomit--ick!) to get laughs like most cartoons on television right now. I just happened upon a show called Sanjay and Craig the other day and the entire episode was about having gas. I'm not over-exaggerating.
8.The show has been running since 1999. It is one of the longest running animated series after The Simpsons and IS the longest running animated TV series for kids. So I'm not the only fan.
9. You honestly never know what's going to happen next. Because really anything goes in Bikini Bottom.
10. The friendships. Spongebob has Patrick, who is about the dumbest being on earth and makes him want to tear his hair out sometimes, and Sandy, who is a brilliant scientist and often talks way over his head, but it doesn't matter. Friendship transcends differences. That doesn't mean you don't fight. They blow up at each other all the time, but they always make up.
11. It's the little things. Even though Squidward always makes fun of him constantly for his hobbies, Spongebob is perfectly content blowing bubbles and jellyfishing.
12. The animation is often very detailed and really put the show above-par compared to competitors (Fun fact: The creator was originally a marine biologist and was inspired to draw based on weird creatures he observed.)
13. Pharrell had a Spongebob themed birthday party this year. He turned 41.
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