Cranky Jennie ;-p

What a difference a semester makes!

Last semester, I batted one for three for decent teachers.  My math teacher didn’t teach and my chemistry professor didn’t really want anyone to do well.

Lo and behold, I’m batting 1000 this semester.  I’m taking two pretty hard classes - Biology 202 and Organic Chemistry.  In biology, my professor gives you so many different ways to earn points, you’d be a fool not to capitalize on the opportunity.

My “O” chem professor actually wants us to understand what we’re learning, apply it, and do well on his exams.  He takes the time to methodically go through each new concept until we understand what is going on.  If someone needs additional help, he has made himself available on weekends, through office hours and by staying after class and lab.  Amazing!

I am well aware that not all teachers are as dedicated as this, but it is really refreshing to be taught this way.  Granted, you don’t frequently get the average or below student in an organic chemistry class, so that helps.

Speaking of average or below students, I read a comment the other day that drove me crazy!  In essence, it said that there should be no honors or gifted classes because if the teacher were truly doing his or her job, then every student would earn an “A”.  REALLY???!!!!!

This faulty line of thought goes back to my previous post about how we are not equal and how I fully disagree that we can all learn a concept if given the time and attention.

First, to the commenter, you have quite obviously NEVER been a teacher.  Meeting the needs of 30 children in your classroom is no easy task.  What exactly does this moron propose the brighter kids do while Joe Schmo is getting specialized tutoring and attention so he can keep up?

This is exactly why I believe in tracking.  Why are we holding the brighter kids back?  Why are we stifling their learning curve?

I believe there are two universal truths in K-8 education: first, teachers have to “teach to the test” because they are evaluated on how their students perform (which is inherently WRONG), and second, when there are mixed-ability classes, the teacher is forced to “teach to the middle” because that is where most of the students fall.

The beauty of a specialized class in college is that most of the students actually want to be there.  In K-8, teachers also have to deal with home life issues, discipline problems, hormones, etc.

What this means is that there really isn’t a reason to have a college professor who sucks.  It raises the question: are people born to teach or are teachers made?  I believe you either have the ability or you don’t.  Thank GOD, I have two this semester who actually have that trait!

Nancy Pelosi scares the crap out of me!

She is a one-woman steam-rolling, havoc-wreaking machine.

Explain to me why her new health care bill is 400,000 words of legalese.  What is she trying to hide?

The Democrats keep saying they want to increase competitiveness within the private sector of health care.  Yet, these are the same people who insist of restricting interstate competition.  They are the same people who want to offer a new public option, but at the same time, add NEW restrictions to the private insurance companies that do exist.  Interesting.

Whenever the government intercedes in private industry, it seems to cost ME money.

Whenever the government intercedes, there’s more red tape, more bureaucracy and escalated costs involved.  Did I mention the costs trickle down to ME? and to you?!!!

The last time they spent my money, in the form of the stimulus bill, how well did that go over?  Where are all the new jobs the stimulus bill was going to create?

It seems to me that Nancy Pelosi, President Obama, Harry Reid and the like just want to tell people what they want to hear.  Why would they do this?  Duh.  They want to get elected.  They crave the power.  They don’t give a CRAP about Joe Regular Guy.  They don’t know what it feels like to live paycheck to paycheck.  They don’t know what it feels like to struggle to put shoes on your children’s feet.

They are Band-Aid People.

Band-Aid People like the quick fix with no sense of consequences.

In a previous post I did agree that something needs to be done to improve our health care system.  I would absolutely support and pay for health care for all children.  I would support loosening the laws so that private insurers would have more competition, thus driving costs down and opening up options for adults.  I support covering all health care costs directly caused to those who worked at Ground Zero.  I believe in insuring public service workers who get paid crap, and military personnel who protect our freedoms.

I do not support covering those who do not fall under the aforementioned umbrella.

I do not support this Democrat Runaway Train currently ruling our country.  Where are the Checks and Balances?

Enough Already!

Why are Pelosi and Reid in such a rush to get these bills through?  Are they afraid someone will catch something in the text they are suppose to overlook?   At almost 2,000 pages deceit and subterfuge are surely in there somewhere (sorry, but I can’t help but be pessimistic).

When I was a child, I remember doctors were wealthy.  They earned it, no?  6+ years of school, hours away from family and friends, etc., etc., etc.  The Establishment has slowly stripped away at all the things that were great about medicine because politics became involved.

STAY OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope to GOD that in 2010, the voters in this country will have gotten a clearer view of Washington and DO SOMETHING!  Get rid of the Pelosis and Reids and find people who have a CLUE what it means to be a middle class American.

This week, I made my first “real” trip to Boston.  I was there once before when I was a teenager, but we didn’t have a chance to really see the city.  This time, I had the chance to really take it in.

I should preface this entire blog by saying I am a die-hard NY Yankees fan, so all the “B” hats and Red Sox jerseys were a bit much.  Once I accepted that I would just have to live with all the red, I was able to appreciate the city for what it is, rather than feel pity for all those pathetic baseball fans

Boston is a great, great city.  We traveled in via the “T”.  Granted, it wasn’t an express train, but it gave us a glimpse of the different outlying areas.  I am used to everything being the color of dirt, so the suburbs were visually stunning.  I love the old Victorian homes and Colonial houses.  They have character.  I love the grass and trees.  I even had my girls climb a ginormous birch tree with me, since that is an activity in which we rarely partake.

Once we arrived in Government Center, we walked through Quincy Market to the New England Aquarium.  Everything was well-maintained and clean.  We had a great time at the aquarium.  I particularly enjoyed the penguins.  They have such great personalities.

The next day, we went to the Boston Children’s Museum.  We didn’t have a chance to really, fully enjoy it since we were driving back to NY that afternoon, but my girls loved all the different activities.  You could easily spend hours there (my girlfriend and her children did).

I am attracted to the ocean and you’re surrounded in Boston.  I like the idea of all the history too.  I wish we had had more time to really get into that, especially since my girls learned about the colonies and some of the historical figures this year in school.  We may have to plan a longer trip back there next summer.

My one complaint about Boston (besides all the Red Sox paraphernalia) was the lack of good signs and directions.  Thank GOD for the police officers!  The signs are lousy and few and far between.  The girl at the toll booth gave us horrible directions, so we spent an hour driving through all sorts of neighborhoods trying to find the Children’s Museum.  Other than that, I love the city of Boston (and wish I had gone to college there - what a great place to go for an education).

I’ll have to make sure NOT to wear my Yankees hat though!

When I first became a mom, I made sure I did my hair and make up every morning before I ventured out with my adorable baby for the day. This lasted for quite awhile. I had baby number two and continued this routine. Then I got over it.

I mean, really, who has time to glam it up when you have two toddlers running around, you’re knee deep in toys, bottles and sippy cops, spit up, dirty diapers, etc.?

I grew my hair long so I could sweep it up into a ponytail. I invested in gym clothes, t-shirts and sneakers. I threw my dress slacks, nice heels and make up in a box and put it in the top of my closet. Those things make an appearance from time to time.

When my daughters grew older and finally started school full-time, I had become so accustomed to the routine, that I continue the ponytail, sneakers and sweatpants routine to this day.

What’s funny, is that now, when I do “dress to the nines”, people don’t recognize me! They’re used to the unglam Jenn. In my defense, I’ve been honored with the MILF designation under both conditions. Hey, a compliment is a compliment!

When I pick my girls up at school now, I could care less about how I look. School pick up is not a fashion show. But, there are a good number of moms at my girls’ school who don’t know this.

I don’t know if it’s a North Scottsdale, nouveau-riche, wannabe thing or if it’s like this everywhere. The moms at school look like they’re ready for a night out on the town (not all, but a good enough number to notice). They have on their stilettos, tight I-can’t-breathe jeans, form-fitted shirt, full make up and perfectly coiffed hair.

Do they roll out of bed in the morning and look like that?

I’ve never understood getting fully glammed up unless you were going out somewhere nice. Yes, in high school I had to do my hair every morning and put my make up on. But that was high school. We’re adults now (or at least some of you are!).

I’m not saying you have to walk around all slummy and gross. You can be presentable without going overboard. You don’t have to wear the shirt with holes in it or the sneakers that you can smell from down the street. A clean shirt, decent shoes (flip-flops are o.k.) and a pair of jeans works.

I just don’t think you should have to try so hard. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe the Glam Squad needs to get all gussied up so they can have men ogle them and make them feel wanted. Maybe that’s where they get their self-esteem and confidence. Maybe that sense of still being able to attract the opposite sex makes them feel good.

I don’t know.

What I do know is that I have a good man who loves me, thinks I’m a MILF and a content life. That’s enough for me. I don’t need some random divorcee dad at school checking me out. Ok, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad…

But I’m not going to spend hours on myself just to get a quick once-over.