Yeah, I know I said that posting would be light, I was wrong. Here's an update on all that needs to be/has been done, schoolwork wise. Notice that things like grocery shopping, doing laundry and cleaning the apartment aren't on the list. Yeah, not sure when they'll get squeezed in.

1.) give a microteaching demonstration (April 29th)
2.) write up the self-reflection of said microteaching (due the 4th)
3.) create an ESL teaching portfolio (due the 5th)
4.) write a final paper for a class (due the 5th)
5.) write a final paper for another class (due the 8th).

Edited May 1, 2009, 8:16 pm.
Edited May 3, 2009, 10:50 am.
Edited May, 4, 2009, 9:15 am.

Hey D.C. readers, Bread for the City's looking for an intern. They're a fantastic organization with whom I hope to become more involved with in the near future.

We Need You: Intern with Bread for the City

Seeking a Development and Communications Intern

Description: As an intern at Bread for the City, the successful candidate will help give shape to an innovative communications platform through which we will tell critical stories about the dynamics of poverty, social service, and Washington DC.

This is a great opportunity to learn about non-profit communications, new media, social justice advocacy, and a wide range of urban policy matters. We can assist with coordination of academic credit for students.

Responsibilities:

• Daily analysis of major and local newspapers, blogs, and select magazines.


• Work with BFC staff and volunteers to identify clients and community members with compelling stories to tell. Conduct interviews of BFC staff, clients and community members in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. Transcribe interviews and compose for publication.


• Write posts for Bread for the City’s “Beyond Bread” blog. Outreach to local blogs.


• Engage with nascent Bread for the City network on Facebook.
• Twitter, even.


• Other tasks as assigned by development staff.

Requirements: Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate and work with a wide variety of people. Working knowledge of media, both mainstream and online. Helpful but not required: experience with photography and/or journalism, HTML-literacy, proficiency in Spanish, and an ear for stories. Willingness to take direction and also to work independently; confidence, flexibility, and, above all, a commitment to social justice.

Interested people should contact Greg Bloom at gbloom [AT] breadforthecity [dot] org with a cover letter, writing samples, and links to and comments about a couple of Beyond Bread posts that you really like.

The semester is almost over, but I've a lot to do before I can have that celebratory drink. Between now and May 8th (yes, May 8th, an assignment due date was moved) I have to do the following:
1.) give a microteaching demonstration (that'd be tonight)
2.) write up the self-reflection of said microteaching (due the 4th)
3.) create an ESL teaching portfolio (due the 5th)
4.) write a final paper for a class (due the 5th
5.) write a final paper for another class (due the 8th).

That's kind of a lot to get done in the next week, which means posting will be light, but you already knew that.

Until next time I leave you with some good news: Obama Welcomes Specter to Democratic Fold

Allergy season has begun and it's coming at me with a vengeance! I've been taking generic Claritin pretty much as soon as I gt up in the morning, all week and it helped to keep the sneezing and runny nose at bay.

But not today, the Cedar count is ungodly high.. Oooh Nelly. I think it has something to do with the drastic temperature change but as I am not very good in science (although I do love it) so I could be wrong. Even with the generic Claritin I just had to pop some generic Tylenol allergy meds. (I'm all about generic if the ingredient listing is exactly the same.) I'm sure it's not the healthiest thing to do, but I'm boarding on non-functional the allergies are so bad.

And not being functional is not an option. I've to finish reading Horace's Compromise this afternoon and get working on the draft of my microteaching lesson plan, and I've no idea which model I'm going to use, Inquiry or Concept Attainment, so I need time to figure out what I want to teach and which model will best suit it.

So here's to hoping one of the meds will kick in soon and I'll get back to feeling as normal as I can for the end of the semester.

No, not THAT Clap. This Clap, or Clapotis.

I had to rip back a few rows due to a mistake, and was able to fix it with ease. And I think it's looking super nice, can't wait for it to be finished!!


Lorna's Lace Worsted Weight, Red Rover, on size 8

Dropping by for a quick post. The four assignments due in two days hell (three of them due on one day) has passed and I was able to take last night off from doing any schoolwork. It was absolutely fantastic not to have to think about any of it and just fart around and do what I wanted (which was work on the Clap and watch the Lost recap). 

I did take a much needed nap when I got home from work, which wound up being two hours. TWO HOURS! It was wonderful and surprisingly enough didn't affect my ability to sleep last night. I've not been sleeping well the past few weeks, partly due to stress, partly due to Lady Gray wanting to play fetch/jump on me at four in the morning, so anytime I can catch a nap does my sanity a world of good. 

Once I get home, 'tho it'll be back to the grind. I've to write a lesson for next week's microteaching, the last one of the semester, as well as work on my portfolio for the ESL content based class I'm taking. The next week and half are going to be busy, but will not suck out my soul in the same way last week did.

Now back to doing some Google searches.

Because it's not just your kid who's affected from an outbreak...

(Two of the exposure areas are right near where I live, one of them being the Harris Teeter I shop at multiple times a week.)

Details Released in Measles Outbreak

Health officials have confirmed five cases of measles in the D.C. metro area, and released a list of potential exposure sites to the public. Measles is a highly contagious disease that has been technically eradicated in this country since 2000, so any reported cases at all are taken very seriously. WTOP has been all over this story today.

The list of potential exposure sites includes stores and restaurants in the District and Arlington and Montgomery counties. People who were at any of these locations on these dates and during the specified times may have been exposed to measles, and are asked to call their respective health departments. If you were both at one of these locations and are experiencing symptoms such as rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, or red, watery eyes, you're asked to call ahead before showing up at the doctor or emergency room so steps can be taken to avoid putting other people at risk.

D.C.
Saturday, April 4
Pot Belly Restaurant (Near Federal Center Metro) 409 3rd Street SW, 3:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 8
Safeway Grocery Store, 401 M Street SW 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 10
Safeway Grocery Store, 401 M Street SW 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

If you think you may have been exposed during these dates and times, call 311 if you are a D.C. resident, or the D.C. Department of Health at (202) 737-4404.

Maryland
Saturday, April 4
Bethesda - Used Book Fair at Stone Ridge School, 9101 Rockville Pike 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Rockville - Vegetable Garden Restaurant, 11618 Rockville Pike 12-3 p.m.
Rockville - Jiffy Lube, 5535 Nicholson Lane 1-3:30 p.m.

If you think you may have been exposed in Maryland, call the Montgomery County Health Department at (240) 777-4200.

Virginia
Sunday, April 5
Saigon Saigon Restaurant (Pentagon Row), 1101 S. Joyce Street 7 p.m.-11 p.m.
Harris Teeter (Pentagon Row), 900 Army Navy Drive 9 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

If you think you may have been exposed in Virginia, call the Virginia Disease Prevention Hotline at (800) 533-4148.

Between January 1 and July 31, 2008, 131 U.S. cases of measles were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as compared to 158 cases during the entire period between 2004-2007. A quick search reveals that other measles outbreaks have been reported recently in Pittsburgh and Spencer, Ia.

Mom & Dad had to put to sleep beautiful Cash Cat Thursday evening. It turned out he had kitty Alzheimer's, and after one last romp in the fields behind the house it finally caught up with him and he quickly began to fade away. He was taken into the vet where they informed M&D that Cash would most likely not make it through the night.

I found out yesterday and am really saddened by his passing. He was such a snugly cat. He looked mean and tough but had the most gentle meow. I am going to miss seeing him when I venture home for visits and snuggling with him at night.

Safe travels to kitty heaven Cash Cat. I hope the weather is always warm, there are lots of nice cats to keep you company and may there never be a lack of bunnies for you to chase (but let escape).
 

Last night there was a special on the history of telescopes on PBS. If I were good in math I think I would have gone into astronomy, the two semesters of it that I took in undergrad I really enjoyed. Watching the special got me thinking about all the cool images the Hubble telescope is sending back, and did a hunt for some and thought to share the link with you. Check it out, it's really, really cool!

HubbleSite -- Out of the ordinary...out of this world.

Have been frustrated lately with all the crappy news, and having to read a book on how awful NCLB is to our students hasn't been helping matters. So imagine my surprise when I saw this wonderful headline on the front page of the NY Times website.

Patterson Will Introduce Same-Sex Marriage Bill

I know it's got a long way to go before it gets passed, but it's a good start.

Happy Dingus Day!!!

Read all about it here.

Yeah I'd write more about it, but need to work.

Taking a quick break to share some good news with you if you've not already heard it.

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 11:17 a.m. ET

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage -- and the first to do so with a legislature's vote.

The Legislature voted Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override.

The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law.

It's now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.