Two Thumbs Up for Superman

We went to see "Superman Returns" today. Loved it, and it wasn't just because Brandon Routh is from my hometown (wish I could say that I knew him, but I didn't). The plot was typically murky--villain had vague plan for world domination that depended on even vaguer technology--but Superman was more heroic than ever, and I admit that it was worth the price of a ticket to watch him single-handedly pull a luxury liner that was sinking like the Titanic from the depths of the ocean, Lois Lane of course on board.

The New Guest Room

Thanks to my good friend Bruce--and IKEA--our downstairs room that was formally empty sans a ratty hand-me-down couch, is now a passable guest room. After we return from our Ozarkian vacation, it's just three days before the family descends. My biggest stressor--not having enough comfortable space for everyone--can now be checked off my list. While the jury is still out on the bamboo that Bruce advised me to buy, no one will end up sleeping in the living room.

Confession:

I'm skipping my book club tonight so that I can watch Matt Lauer interview Britney Spears on Dateline.

Would Life Without A Cell Phone Smell As Sweet?

While the plumber installed a new faucet today, I spent the better part of an hour on the phone with a representative from Verizon, trying to get him to reverse the charges of an account that does not belong to us. Because it was my husband's name on the bill rather than mine, for "privacy reasons" I could only get so far before we had to call Mark at work via a 3-way to confirm that he too wanted these changes, and that I was authorized to make them. Once Mark gave me the "okay," he was free to go, but I was left prisoner to the telephone while I listened to the far-off clicking of keys and answered occasional questions about the bogus bill.

As unthinkable as it is to even consider not owning a cell phone these days, I wonder how much better my life really is because I do...I feel like I spend so much time dealing with the complications from the technologies that are supposed to make my life more convenient, that I really wonder if it's worth it. I don't remember thinking, in college, that life would be so much easier if I could just call my friends from the library rather than making plans ahead of time to meet up.

Still, we've succumbed to the allure of being always accessible, and the hassles are what we have to pay for this privilege. Life is surely better now....right?

Here We Go Again

In what must be pretty near a statistical impossibility, our kitchen sink needs a plumber again. I wasn't even that surprised yesterday when I reached underneath the sink to pull out the garbage can and felt soaking wet plastic. I turned on the faucet and stuck my head under there, spotting the leak immediately. The one good thing about a consistently busted kitchen faucet is that I know exactly who to call--we've finally settled on someone we really like, though I am aware that this kind of familiarity with the plumber suggests a situation that is less than ideal. Anyway, Katie the Secretary remembered me and said she'd have Bill come over right away tomorrow. I know the drill: clean out under the sink, transfer money into our checking account and have a Diet Coke in the fridge for him.

He Really Did Just Want Some Extra Study Material

Tomorrow is the day of the semi-annual placement test, and my students were beside themselves with anxiety. The instant the first person read my note on the board and urgently translated it to everyone else, my lesson on appointment-making was history. All they wanted to do was review practice test questions (we have old test forms in the cabinet, and my students know they're there), over and over and over.

"Teach-ah, I no good, I no good," they lamented to me, "test no easy, no easy!"

We reviewed, and they begged me to let them take the tests home so that they could study. This is really not allowed, and I told them that, much to their dismay.

After class, Tou Houa, a 21-year old with tattoos and long, stringy hair that he combs straight down over his eyes, stayed to talk with me. He smiled at me (I think--his mouth is pretty well concealed by his hair) and said,

"Teach-ah, Chong take test." It took a few exchanges for me to understand that Tou Houa was actually tattling on his friend Chong, who apparently had escaped with a test in his backpack. Tou Houa met my eyes in this weird kind of challenge, and I got it: I either bust Chong, or I let Tou Houa take home a test. In a "I don't really want to choose this battle, but I guess I have to" moment, the two of us marched out the room in search of Chong, whom we spotted walking VERY quickly toward the front door.

"CHONG!" Tou Houa shouted, and I glanced sideways at the hallway monitor who likes to give me a hard time about my students not wearing their IDs. Chong waved at us like he was leaving, but Tou Houa yelled something in Hmong, amusement evident in his tone, and Chong headed back toward us, eyes on the ground.

Chong made me ask him for the test. At first he acted like he didn't understand, but I knew better--he's my #1 student--so he guility handed it over to me. He glared at Tou Houa, who just laughed, and after Chong said, "Sorry, teach-ah," to me, the two of them started arguing in Hmong, and hitting each other only half-playfully.

I should have known better than to think that the year would finish up without at least ONE more middle school flashback!