Fall 2012 #31: The River

The autumn chill is coming in.  We felt it chillingly on our beautiful architectural cruise along the Chicago River today.

We're doing something good here in Chicago that I'd like to tell you about, just in case you have never heard of it before.  It's called VRBO:  Vacation Rental By Owner.  We're staying (along with Eve an Bill)  in someone's condo in Little Italy.  It's a splendid condo in a picturesque neighborhood.  If I could buy this condo, I would not hesitate.  I feel very at home here. VRBO.  It's so fall, and so good.

Fall 2012 #30: The View

Woke up in a totally freaked out state.  This is the day I took off from work so that I could work with Mitzker on the #ncte12 talk.  We think we made some headway, so now I'm feeling happy and ready to meet the legal kinfolk, Eve and Bill, in Chicago tomorrow evening.  I decided I wasn't going to go if I didn't feel good about the talk.  Honestly, I wish we got a bit further along, but we really are getting there and life is pretty good.  In 15 minutes, Mitz is taking me out for birthday round 3, to a new restaurant in town.  So fall, so good.  Chicago, I'll see you tomorrow.

Fall 2012 #29: The Chalkies

Huddle up, peeps, you're going to like this.  All afternoon I worked on giving little thirdies a reading test where I listened to them read and then analyze all their miscues.  It takes a long time to do this job.  When I finished with the last kiddo, I had about 8 minutes left of my day.  Checked my phone to see I had a text from a masterful first grade teacher that said, "Come out and see our chalk drawings." I was pretty excited about that idea so I ran out to find a slew of drawings of pumpkins, fall trees, and some cool ghosts. But here's the cool thing peeps.  Next to each drawing, the firsties had written, "SO FALL SO GOOD."

A first grade teacher / blog reader had her kids write our fall blogging challenge slogan all over the place.  Am I filled with alittlegleeway?  Yes, my friends I am. What a joyful fall day. Thanks, Firsties! SO fall, SO, SO good.

Fall 2012 #28: The Twilight

Here's what's awesome.  Twilight # 2 is on.  It's fall after all, that time of year when we start thinking about ghouls and goblins and Team Edward and Team Jacob. Dakota Fanning shows up, with red eyes.
Today, in my fave place on earth: the cafeteria, some 5ers were being super screechy loud.  I stood back and watched, just to gather my plan of attack.  One kid fell off his seat and was convulsing a bit.  Others were making odd grimacing noises and twisting their heads about.  I ventured forward and asked, "What's up, pups?"

Come to find out they were playing a game called Walking Dead.  It all made sense, since it's fall and all.
It would be super awesome if we could put a cone of silence over every lunch table so that everyone could be free.  Sadly, we can't so I had to kind of put the kabosh on walking dead. Putting the kabosh on stuff.  Turns out it's my specialty. So fall, so good.

Fall 2012 #27: The Meetings

Saved by the bell today.  Someone sent me an email telling me that they weren't going to be at the coaches meeting this afternoon. I had totally forgotten about the meeting, so I was so so relieved to get this email and I got there just in time.  I've been messing up on a few things.  Forgetting to tell people stuff.  Forgetting to send emails I said I would send. Lost a big tote bag full of folders for ncte talk. Lost my phone in the faculty restroom. Just found out I messed up my retirement account so now I'm probably going to be impoverished if I ever get to retire.  Maybe I have a brain tumor.  Or maybe I'm developing Alzheimer's.

I'm back now.  I left for a bit to head over to google to find out more brain diseases I could possibly have, but some of the ones I discovered are so horrible, I had to click off right away and return here.  We'll stick with tumor or Alzheimer's.

On the good side, someone found my phone.  And the weather today is perfect.  And I'm heading to Lennie's with a crew of pals from Old School for birthday round 2. And tomorrow's a new day.  So fall, so good.

Fall 2012 #26: The Digital

Worked almost all day on the ncte talk.  School world will be tough this week because I didn't go in to get the job done.  We'll deal with this later.

After a day of working on the talk, tonight I saw a documentary about the fall of film. The name of this documentary is Side by Side.  This is what I learned.  Film looks better than digital, but digital's getting better, and it's more versatile and it will continue to improve. Film is going away.  Digital will stay.  Keanu Reeves was the moderator, and I've always been partial to Keanu.  Many amazing directors & cinematographers were interviewed.  A little long, but fairly fascinating.  If you want to see it, you should.

Fall 2012 #25: The Brown County

Fall 2012 #24: The Tallent

Had the autumn tasting menu at Tallent on the birthday night.  The chef prepared 5 delicious courses specifically for me. As a vegetarian, I've gotten pretty used to having few to no choice at restaurants, so this was pleasant.  Chef Tallent, you know what you're doing.  Good job.  Keep it up.

Fall 2012 #23: The Birthday

Fall's awesome because I was born in Fall.  Thursday was my 52nd Birthday. I tweeted the day so you may already know that I received a Justin Bieber doll during my stint as cafeteria monitor.  When I pulled it out of the bag, all the 2nd and 3rd grade girls went wild.  I started jumping up and down and screaming as well.  It was like Beatlemania in there.  Or Biebermania as the case may be.  I walked around with Boxed Bieber in the crook of my arm for the rest of the day.

Fall 2012 #22: The Shocker

The fourthies went on a field trip this afternoon to see the Thomas Hart Benton murals on campus.  That's the backdrop for this little story about the shocker.  As I was corralling the lunchers in the cafeteria, I heard a hubbub at table 8.  You need to know that table 8 is near a large window looking out on to our beautiful town.  2 little firsties called me over to rat out a firstie who was shaking his fist at an older woman walking down the street. I gave the evil eye to the firstie and told him to knock off the funny stuff.  5 minutes or so later, a grandmother appeared in the cafeteria.  I know this grandmother and I'm going to tell you she is one of the greats.  She told me she was there to accompany her grandson on the field trip, but she wanted me to know one of our firsties had been  shaking his fist at her as she walked down the street.  I said, "Oh man this is going to be great.  Let's go bust him."  As we walked over to the table, the firstie's mouth opened wide in horror.  I beckoned him over sweetly.  I let him off pretty easy.  He apologized and promised never to do it again.  I told him he couldn't be in a window seat for awhile and he agreed that this was a fair consequence.  Then he went back to Table 8. The grandmother and I chortled heartily. Just then her grandson appeared to get his grandmother for the trip.  I demanded that he teach me 3 facts about the murals upon his return.  I saw him later and he did tell me 2 facts, but for the life of me I can't remember either of them.  The day is such a whirlwind, and as I've told you in the past, I'm having brain issues.

Fall 2012 #21: The Zoo Boo

It's the time of year when people take their kids to Zoo Boo.  So here it is: my official apology to my 2 cool kiddos regarding Zoo Boo.
20 Something and #1, I sincerely apologize that I never brought you to Zoo Boo. I should have done it. Just didn't get around to it.

If it makes you feel any better, Zoo Boo has some issues. Case in point. Talked with a little 2nder yesterday as we waited for a parent to come pick her up.  She went to Zoo Boo last week and LOVED IT! I asked if she got much candy at Zoo Boo.  She said, "No, at the end of the train ride, they gave out bracelets to girls and fangs to boys.  I really really wanted fangs so much, but ... I was afraid to ask."
      "Yikes," I told her. "I wish they could let people just pick what they want."
     "That's what I wondered...why they won't just let you pick?"  Her little face just killed me.

       Why won't they just let you pick?  Story of OUR LIVES, KID!

       So, come to think of it, maybe I'm glad I didn't take you to oppressive narrative Zoo Boo, 20 Something and #1.  Think it through, Zoo Boo.  Way to ruin a great fall memory for little kids across this state of ours. You can do better.