I am a lover of words. I constantly am looking up words I hear that I may not know. I also love to look for the origins of words to know why people use them the way they do.
Yesterday I heard someone on the television say that someone had "scared the bejesus out of" someone else. Of course I have heard the phrase, have even used it mockingly. But I have never really looked into the origins of the phrase.
Most dictionaries have the basic definition of bejesus being that it is an exclamatory term. All fine, but I wanted more.
I ended up coming onto this website. Which is hilarious. Absolutely had me laughing aloud with its explanations of bejesus and how to gain and lose bejesus. It is a bit long, but it flies by as you laugh and read and share with whoever is around you.
05 November 2007
15 October 2007
A few things
If I am ever teaching and a student comes to me after a school shooting telling the media that he was in the bathroom and saw the shooter loading his weapon, but just went back to class and forgot about it, I will literally kill said kid. How can you forget that occurred. I try to make class interesting, but was what I was teaching about blood diamonds or the Aztecs really so engrossing that you forgot that a fellow student is about to blow some students and potentially some teachers to smitherines?
And why did Kelli tell me today that a grown-ass, college educated woman, a teacher at that, has no idea of what apartheid was. No idea who Nelson Mandela is. What is really going on with the whitening of American education? This is why I teach African Studies. This is why I have discussions with students about historical topics unrelated to the material in the curriculum. This is why I talk about issues with friends. This is why I am going to have the children who swim out of my womb reading books at a young age and listening to NPR as I drive them to school or to their little kiddie practices after we go to the library and check them out their weekly, non-school related reading books.
To take my mind off some school mess and my fluid-filled elbow (this is what I get for deciding to work out after four years off) I decided to watch a little video. You can watch, too. Enjoy. Makes me smile, and giggle.
And why did Kelli tell me today that a grown-ass, college educated woman, a teacher at that, has no idea of what apartheid was. No idea who Nelson Mandela is. What is really going on with the whitening of American education? This is why I teach African Studies. This is why I have discussions with students about historical topics unrelated to the material in the curriculum. This is why I talk about issues with friends. This is why I am going to have the children who swim out of my womb reading books at a young age and listening to NPR as I drive them to school or to their little kiddie practices after we go to the library and check them out their weekly, non-school related reading books.
To take my mind off some school mess and my fluid-filled elbow (this is what I get for deciding to work out after four years off) I decided to watch a little video. You can watch, too. Enjoy. Makes me smile, and giggle.
11 October 2007
Homecoming times two
So we had our reunion which turned out to be cooler than I thought. People, for the most part, were much more relaxed and not as clique-ish. Some things changed and some stayed the same.
There was the “popular jock” crew who now instead of their letterman jackets all have their wives with the massive diamond encrusted rings. Everyone in the crew. Kind of like they all had to get a ring just as shiny and sparkly as their buddy. I guess you gotta keep up with the Jones even if it means you are deep in debt. This is also the crew who regularly dines at Bush’s Grove. A place where Brishen said the cheapest drink is around 7 or 8 bucks.
There was still the crowd that didn’t really socialize with more people than their cluster.
Some things were pleasantly refreshing. Like chatting with Don who is now really chill. And absolutely hilarious. Stories I could not imagine coming out of his mouth, obsessions I never would have dreamed, jokes that literally made me spill drinks. And it has to be funny for that, cause I’m not one to part with the liquor easily.
Also chatting with Roo and wife and Brian and wife. Both of them are still cool. More open with me, or easy to talk to, than before. I always thought Roo was a bit standoffish after I started to wrestle. Both of them have really awesome wives, too. I actually think I talked with them more than their men.
I went back to the school and looked at the old sports picks. Really funny seeing me all skinny in the wrestling unis. And thinking I was all hard and fast on the track picks.
Reuniting with Brishen and Anna was cool. Haven’t really talked with them since school, but, with Brishen especially, it was like no time had passed. We were still cool. There were few people at the reunion that I had conversations with beyond “What have you been up to? Where are you now?” etc. I know it sounds cheesy, but the conversations that were real, were really real. And the people were all people that I was cool with before, but haven’t spoken with in fo-ev-ah.
Homecoming number two.
I don’t know why it is that Homecoming at the school I teach at typically has to have some scene that gets stuck in my head. Last year it was the big girl (BIG) running into the splits.
This year it was a girl who in the middle of her routine moved forward in front of everyone, putting her hands on the ground and raised her legs into the spotting hands of two girls. She then proceeded to booty pop on a handstand.
In case you don't know what this is, she gyrated like crazy while on her head. Very stripperesque. Looked like it actually took a lot of practice on walls or poles or whatever to learn to do that while balancing upside down.
Of course, the guys went crazy. My jaw dropped. They immediately cut off the music and ended their routine with that presentation.
I also decided to partake in a teacher v. student tug of war contest. Shouldn't have done that. Not only did we lose easily despite having seemingly fit faculty members on our team (hard to compete against a team with people who honestly outweighed our team by about 300 pounds, at least). I also got a rope burn on my obliques. And had my hands hurt for awhile.
All in all, two very memorable homecomings.
There was the “popular jock” crew who now instead of their letterman jackets all have their wives with the massive diamond encrusted rings. Everyone in the crew. Kind of like they all had to get a ring just as shiny and sparkly as their buddy. I guess you gotta keep up with the Jones even if it means you are deep in debt. This is also the crew who regularly dines at Bush’s Grove. A place where Brishen said the cheapest drink is around 7 or 8 bucks.
There was still the crowd that didn’t really socialize with more people than their cluster.
Some things were pleasantly refreshing. Like chatting with Don who is now really chill. And absolutely hilarious. Stories I could not imagine coming out of his mouth, obsessions I never would have dreamed, jokes that literally made me spill drinks. And it has to be funny for that, cause I’m not one to part with the liquor easily.
Also chatting with Roo and wife and Brian and wife. Both of them are still cool. More open with me, or easy to talk to, than before. I always thought Roo was a bit standoffish after I started to wrestle. Both of them have really awesome wives, too. I actually think I talked with them more than their men.
I went back to the school and looked at the old sports picks. Really funny seeing me all skinny in the wrestling unis. And thinking I was all hard and fast on the track picks.
Reuniting with Brishen and Anna was cool. Haven’t really talked with them since school, but, with Brishen especially, it was like no time had passed. We were still cool. There were few people at the reunion that I had conversations with beyond “What have you been up to? Where are you now?” etc. I know it sounds cheesy, but the conversations that were real, were really real. And the people were all people that I was cool with before, but haven’t spoken with in fo-ev-ah.
Homecoming number two.
I don’t know why it is that Homecoming at the school I teach at typically has to have some scene that gets stuck in my head. Last year it was the big girl (BIG) running into the splits.
This year it was a girl who in the middle of her routine moved forward in front of everyone, putting her hands on the ground and raised her legs into the spotting hands of two girls. She then proceeded to booty pop on a handstand.
In case you don't know what this is, she gyrated like crazy while on her head. Very stripperesque. Looked like it actually took a lot of practice on walls or poles or whatever to learn to do that while balancing upside down.
Of course, the guys went crazy. My jaw dropped. They immediately cut off the music and ended their routine with that presentation.
I also decided to partake in a teacher v. student tug of war contest. Shouldn't have done that. Not only did we lose easily despite having seemingly fit faculty members on our team (hard to compete against a team with people who honestly outweighed our team by about 300 pounds, at least). I also got a rope burn on my obliques. And had my hands hurt for awhile.
All in all, two very memorable homecomings.
20 September 2007
What's going on
First of all, what things are the people of this country missing information about while they are preoccupied with finding out about Britney Spear's return to performing and OJ Simpson's arrest. Think of all the important news of the world that is being neglected.
Look for yourself. There is so much happening that I don't even know where to start.
In other news, I have finished the longest week and a half of my life..
Last week was a hell week. The first three days of the week I didn't get home until after 9. Then had a weekend full of craziness. Travelling to KC to see my long unseen best bud. Then the school another school week with the most annoying student I have ever come across in my life. Really I only have had him in class this year four or five days total. But they seem like forever. He is so annoying that they kicked him out of school. Today I had a kid that I honestly wanted to put my hands around his throat. Even envisioned it as I was walking toward him. Had to seriously stop myself. These are the moments I wish I coached a full contact sport so I could use that as an excuse to fuck up some kids.
I am digging most of the rest of the kiddos, though.
Life is hectic.
Keep up with the news. There is a lot going on that people do not realize and that my head hurts too much for me to get into.
Headaches blow. This one is reminiscent of the ones I had a couple years back when I thought I was literally dying and had to get an MRI.
I am digging most of the rest of the kiddos, though.
Life is hectic.
Keep up with the news. There is a lot going on that people do not realize and that my head hurts too much for me to get into.
Headaches blow. This one is reminiscent of the ones I had a couple years back when I thought I was literally dying and had to get an MRI.
02 September 2007
An effect of pop culture
Just graded an assignment from African Studies; one part of it was to ask three people the first five thoughts that come when they hear the word 'Africa'. All the responses were pretty typical. One really stood out to me.
This girl wrote that her mom "thought of beautiful things like the exotic animals and the Saaphyri."
That is how she spelled safari.
I can only blame it on Flava of Love and Charm School -- Vh1 tv shows.
Wow!
This girl wrote that her mom "thought of beautiful things like the exotic animals and the Saaphyri."
That is how she spelled safari.
I can only blame it on Flava of Love and Charm School -- Vh1 tv shows.
Wow!
27 August 2007
511 Days left
I almost think I should not put this person's full name on here.... But I want you all to be ready in 12-24 years when you hear that this person has murdered his own mother.
The full name is Pursyphane Ewuzznme Darling Jones. WHAT!?! Yes. That is the name.
School so far has been cool. Best start in all my six years of new school years. Students have matured a bit. And there have been no fights with soup cans in socks.
Wedding over the weekend reminded me of how I dread the actual event. Marriage is awesome, I'm sure. The ceremony and the party and all it takes to get all that stuff ready is a headache. Congrats to the brother for getting engaged to his lady. Wishing them many stress less days until the day finally comes next summer.
Oh, yeah. Good news, I think. Gonzalez resigned. But is that really such a good thing? We all know that G-Dubb is just going to put someone else in there who is likely worse than Roberto. Only hope is that there is only a year and some months left of it all. January 20, 2008. Can we all wait, though? Can we all continue to suffer the consequences of all the people who voted for him? Those are the questions.
Some hope: Thursday I talked with Kate after trying to do it for two years. She said her parents voted for this man, but are understanding their mistake. They have seen the light.
Hopefully others will open their eyes and see the same things they are seeing. Though with all the conservative, fundamentalists out there, I am sure many of them will not take the big blinders off their eyes to see reality. They will continue to vote for issues that are really not that important to the successful running of this nation. They will continue to focus on those issues and the stability of their incomes. Regardless of the fact that their taxes (or lack of them) are what is causing bridges to fall and schools to fail and babies to die. Why are they all about saving unborn children, but not the living ones who a small amount of tax money would help their lower income parents take care of their living children?
Whole different issues. Discussed a whole 'nother time.
The full name is Pursyphane Ewuzznme Darling Jones. WHAT!?! Yes. That is the name.
School so far has been cool. Best start in all my six years of new school years. Students have matured a bit. And there have been no fights with soup cans in socks.
Wedding over the weekend reminded me of how I dread the actual event. Marriage is awesome, I'm sure. The ceremony and the party and all it takes to get all that stuff ready is a headache. Congrats to the brother for getting engaged to his lady. Wishing them many stress less days until the day finally comes next summer.
Oh, yeah. Good news, I think. Gonzalez resigned. But is that really such a good thing? We all know that G-Dubb is just going to put someone else in there who is likely worse than Roberto. Only hope is that there is only a year and some months left of it all. January 20, 2008. Can we all wait, though? Can we all continue to suffer the consequences of all the people who voted for him? Those are the questions.
Some hope: Thursday I talked with Kate after trying to do it for two years. She said her parents voted for this man, but are understanding their mistake. They have seen the light.
Hopefully others will open their eyes and see the same things they are seeing. Though with all the conservative, fundamentalists out there, I am sure many of them will not take the big blinders off their eyes to see reality. They will continue to vote for issues that are really not that important to the successful running of this nation. They will continue to focus on those issues and the stability of their incomes. Regardless of the fact that their taxes (or lack of them) are what is causing bridges to fall and schools to fail and babies to die. Why are they all about saving unborn children, but not the living ones who a small amount of tax money would help their lower income parents take care of their living children?
Whole different issues. Discussed a whole 'nother time.
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