The 25th Hour ~karenjcardoza.com~

So, while I’m still sad about the Patriots loss, I’m getting over it and moving on. I’m sure these kids are thrilled but I must say , it pains me to see it!

Patriot Nation is reeling this week but not because of living in the past, rather, over the 10% - 51% ticket price increase for the upcoming season. Folks are feeling that WE are paying for those fines incurred as the result of Spygate. Speaking of which, someone on the Rams filed a 100 million dollar lawsuit against the Pats for taping their Superbowl 36 walk through. Sigh… I so hate drama and unfortunately I think there will be more before it finally gets put to bed.

On a happier note, I’m now on February vacation and will be out of school all next week. And while I’m not going away or doing anything fun, I’m glad to be home. I’ve got lots to do and NEED this week to get them done. So here’s the game plan:

• Catch up on Alternate Assessment portfolios for my students. (This is the biggie.)
• Go back to square one and diligently housebreak Chloe and get rid of the pee pads now that she’s older and the weather is warming up. (I’ll be washing all of my floors then going strictly by the book in terms of taking her out then not letting her roam free to play with Bella unless she’s just gone. It’s hard for me to keep her crated when I’m home but I’ll have to do it for the week so that she doesn’t have any accidents.
• Drive my son back and forth to daily wrestling practice.
• Get lesson plans done for 2 weeks and set up outline for the rest of March.
• Exercise daily.
• Read a book or two. (Currently reading The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell. I saw the movie and loved it so I’m enjoying reading the book which is a collection of the actual kids’ essays.) And Fluff reading: The 6th Target by James Patterson. I’ve got a stack of mags that I’d like to whittle away too.)
• If I didn’t have so much school stuff to do, I would love to paint my bathroom but it will likely have to wait unti April vacation.
• Of course, the usual weekly chores, errands, and stuff needs to get done as well.

So, while “a whole week off” sounds like a long time, it really isn’t and will fly by. I definitely have no choice about getting the Alternate Assessment done so I’ll be jumping right in and unplugging to get it done as it’s priority #1.

Wish me luck!!

Thoroughly enjoying this long weekend and I’m so thankful for the time off to get caught up on stuff, do things that I love, and just relax a bit. Best thing is, it’s only Sunday and I’ve still got a whole day ahead of me tomorrow

I was able to finish reading Tedy’s book, Never Give Up, to a friend, which was my big goal for the weekend. My house is clean, laundry’s caught up, Muse with Me Podcast recorded and posted, pot of soup on the stove, and apple crisp is baking in the oven. Next on the agenda is to go through my old computers and weed out what’s no good from what I can salvage. Thorough cleaning of the family room is in order as Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away and I’ll have a houseful.

It’s a beautiful fall day, and I’ve got pumpkin spice candles lit and a fire burning. Since the Pats are on a bye, it’s nice to watch football today without an emotional investment. I’ve got some books that I want to crack open tomorrow and I may even hang on the couch watching a movie! WOW

hmmmmm… wordpress is being wonky and isn’t allowing me to add a photo to this post… oh well, I guess EVERYTHING can’t be perfect this weekend.

Tags: patriots mrsb musewithme tedybruschi books

This past weekend Christopher Price, Boston sports writer and author of The Blueprint: How the New England Patriots Beat the System to Create the Last Great NFL Superpower, stopped by the tailgate to sign his book and talk Patriots football with us. The conversation can be heard on this week’s podcast, Show 133: Skins skinned: Colt Crushing Next. Chris would like to come back to join us again to visit before the end of the season. I’ll post the date so that you may bring your book if you’d like to get it autographed.

Direct Link to Audio

Complete tailgate report with pictures to follow.

Technorati Tags patriots pats nfl razorsedgetailgate mrsb patriotworld christopherprice TheBlueprint author Boston

Finally managed to get a Patriots podcast done tonight which is the first since before vacation. My life has totally been focused on school stuff since I got back and that’s been taking most of my time these days. (Between going in early, staying late, making materials, planning, and reading, there’s little time for anything else.)

A website update is on it’s way but I’m currently on the laptop making this quick post before opening a book then calling it a night. Since I don’t have the capability to update from anything other than my desktop PC, it’ll have to wait. Don’t worry though, it’ll be up to snuff before the opener against the Jets this Sunday.

I finished Rafe Esquith’s other book, There Are No Shortcuts and thoroughly enjoyed that one as well. (I had read Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire over vacation and raved about it here.) Right now, I’m reading various educational books that are listed on my site; fiction is out of the question for awhile that’s for sure! Right now, school is priority number one.

So, fall is almost here, school is back in session and the NFL kicked off tonight…. Soon, we’ll be at our first tailgate and everything will be in full swing. Guess I better hold on to my hat and prepare for the ride!
Technorati Tags: Patriots patriotworld mrsb Rafe+Esquith teaching

Just finished a great, inspiring, book by an awesome teacher, Rafe Esquith called Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire. While many of the academic things going on in his room are not appropriate for my kids, the passion with which he teaches is something to be emulated and admired. The environment of trust and respect is the basis of everything in Room 56. The level of commitment to excellence on the part of the teacher and the students is reflected not only in the academic achievements of his classes of students but in their evolving into wonderful humans with direction, commitment, and passion themselves. Teaching in an inner city, I was definitely inspired by what happens in Room 56 in his school in LA.

I had checked the book out from the library and read it on the first day of my vacation but will be ordering my own copy as this one is a keeper and definitely deserves a re-read. And it’s just in time to see my kiddies next week!