artykins

In accordance with last night's brainstorming, this is going to be my half hour writing fest for the day.  Of course I'll probably give myself ten minutes extra, just to get used to timing myself.

It's been a busy day.  STAR testing is coming up, which means that the state has once again mandated that every student be given a standardized test despite possible inabilities or learning disabilities.  This test will be given, taken, sent back to the state, scored and ranked.  And then we all get to hear how badly we're doing as a state to teach our children.  We'll be told that knowing full well that the people whom numbers matter to will not be taking into consideration that children with learning disabilities or physical barriers are being given the same stupid test as able-bodied children and those that have no disabilities.  Of course the scores will be skewed!  Ugh!  #$(#))!)*#*!

Anyway, my morning was spent returning a weeks' worth of emails.  I also had a phone call from a district contact that shall remain un-named because I have tact (despite his glorious ineptitude) making an excuse as to why a letter was sent out on April 7th for a portion of a state mandated physical fitness test.  This letter states that all students need to be tested between 'February 2, 2009 and April 31st, 2009' and that result should be sent back to district headquarters no later than May 2nd.  

*huge sigh*

Well, apart from the fact that THERE IS NO APRIL 31ST (!...!!!!), it was dated April 7th and received Friday the 10th.  That gives us...two weeks to do this stupid test.  Not even that.  Our school runs on block scheduling, so really that two weeks gets cut right down to four days, one of which was today...so three.  

And I got some lame, pansy-ass excuse that with district cuts, things are getting backed up.

Well, !*@($&! you, district employee who shall remain un-named!!  Get off your high-horse and volunteer to mail materials yourself a little sooner.  Do something to actually earn that big fatty paycheck you get...you know, the one that seven other people lost their jobs for so that you could stay put with your cushy salary while the lower-downs get sacked?

I detest you and I think someone should punch you in the wiener as punishment for your level of gross ineptitude.  

UGH!

*breathes*

My afternoon was much more enjoyable.  Despite my morning spent dealing with douchebag anonymous, my afternoon was spent organizing and categorizing the materials from all the districts that have, thus far, sent me STAR testing materials.  I deal with up to 15 different districts on a weekly basis and this week and the coming ones will be no different.  Talk about superhuman efforts, well this is definitely one of them.

I find the repetition of organizational work soothing.  I also find cleaning and cooking to be therapeutic.  When I get upset with something/someone, I can almost always be found in the kitchen doing this or that.  Luckily, my afternoon therapy saved my kitchen from seeing a lot of action when I got home.

It's another warm one today.  It's a little hotter than yesterday, so one of the first things I did when I got home was shower.  I've had the blinds and curtains drawn all day, so it's deliciously cool inside the apartment.  I'm not even using the oven or burners for dinner.  The only heat that will be anywhere will be the heat from my George Forman grill when I use it to make quesadillas for dinner.  Dinner, by the way, is something I'm looking forward to.  I'm really hungry this evening.

Dinner will be a combination of quesadillas with corn and black beans (there's sour cream and guacamole for the outside of the yummy beasties) and Mediterranean wraps with loads of veggies, hummus, peppered turkey and feta cheese.

Mondays are also my days to plan the weeks' dinner schedule.  I also find lists therapeutic.  There's just something about crossing something off a list that you've made...

Anyway, dinners are set and I've got a list of groceries to get from the market.  Monday nights are shopping nights.  After dinner, Matt and I clean up and head to the shops to get stuff for the week.  This weeks' list includes things like scallops, filet of sole, chicken, scallions, beans, tomato paste and shallots.  I'm making scallop piccata tomorrow night, followed by black bean soup, filet of sole with lemon peppercorn pan sauce and taco salad (yum to this last one!).  There's also some staple items on the list like eggs, Greek yogurt, apples, peppers and frozen green beans.  I'm also gonna see if I can manage to sneak some edamame into the trolley this evening so I have something to munch on mid-morning this week.

Today Matt ordered me a study bible from Amazon.  He was reading over my shoulder at intervals last night as I was blogging and I think this is his way of helping me get on with something.  I deeply appreciate it.  I'm actually kind of excited about getting it.  I've already warned Matt to not be appalled when I write in it.  It's something I do.  I like writing in books.  It makes for a great memory technique.  My college books that I kept are completely scribbled over.  My copy of The Sound and the Fury alone has enough writing in it to become a book of commentary.

Still, I'm going to try and keep my writing to a minimum in my bible.  It seems wrong, somehow, to add anything to something so perfectly written, even if it is just for the sake of my remembering.  Perhaps I'll invest in a Moleskin diary to tote along with my bible.  I have no reservations about writing in one of them!

Along with my bible, Matt also ordered me a Bento lunch box.  It's not box-like in any way, but it's inspired by the lunch boxes Japanese people carry around with them.  My dad had one when he was growing up in Malaysia.  It's like a Thermos, at least in its shape.  It has stackable compartments that you put different things in and you carry it to go.  There's a container for soup, one for rice, one for meat and one for veggies, but I doubt I'll adhere strictly to the traditional lunch items for such a box.  I see yogurt and hard boiled eggs in this compartmental future.  I, like Jed, seem to have a special place in my heart for hard boiled eggs.  And let's face it, they make a great nutritional snack in addition to being darn tasty!

I love rice.  I'm dad's girl that way, so it's a safe bet to make that I'll be keeping rice for lunches.  I also love a ginger tofu soup that I make with bok choy.  That's a safe bet for future eats as well.

Well, it's been half an hour (plus ten minutes) since I started writing and I seem to be ending on a very good note.  Food is delightful.

Oh, one more thing before I go.  I wonder, more at certain times than at others, what people would think if they knew what someone was saying to me.  Secrets aren't good for you if you plan on keeping them forever.  

- Arty