Sunday, September 30, 2007
i -finally- get paid!
after being short on cash all summer long, i’ve been counting down the days to my first paycheck since my first day of work on july 13. yeah… that’s pretty much for the last 2 1/2 months.
i’m so excited that tomorrow i get my first paycheck!! all of it goes towards my credit card which has been building up over the summer, but that’s ok. with this month’s pay i won’t be in debt anymore! i’ll -actually- have spending money!
i think i’m gonna have to buy dinner for perry, marlene, and rita the next few times we go out, too. they’ve been so generous and understanding of my situation.
but as of tomorrow, i won’t be broke @$$ anymore! woohoo! i’m soooo excited!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
quote of the day
so… i was teaching my students how to multiply negatives and positives together. i thought it went fairly well - especially since this is all a review.
but then it was time for them to do independent work, and a student raised her hand to ask me a question.
“ms puen? -4(7)... is that positive 32 or negative 32?”
oy…
Monday, September 24, 2007
our first win of the season!!
yeah… so my girls won their first game today! yay!! i’m so happy!
go colton!
i am fast becoming that quirky eccentric (old) math teacher
today, we were reviewing counting numbers, whole numbers, and integers, and i actually did the count from sesame street.
y’know, count von count!
"one, two, three, FOUR!!! ah ah ah ah ah...."
yeah… that was me in class. you shoulda seen the looks on the faces of the kids who hadn’t grown up watching sesame street (is that the reason they’re still taking remedial algebra in high school?) they looked at me as if i were crazy.
i might be, but not because i imitate count von count!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
my current favorite tv show
or at least the one i’m currently tivo’ing....
the first episode is -always- the best
in the interviews, they asked, “who wrote beethoven’s fifth?”
the aspiring beauty responded “i dont know, i don’t read books, i only read magazines”
oh man oh man.... i love this show!
Monday, September 17, 2007
classroom management
Prov 15:1, NIV “A gentle answer turns away wrath"
i think that the best thing i ever did was read harry wong’s book “the first days of school". and attend the classroom management seminar.
the first few days of school, i had a couple of girls that had attitudes in my last period class. within a few days, using the techniques i had learned in that one class and from browsing through the book, they became the biggest helpers and participators in my class. i was so excited and pleased that within 3 days things had turned around.
and then the counselors threw in 15 more students into that classroom. all of a sudden i had twice as many students, and i felt so naive at thinking the counselors would overlook the fact that the last period class had only 15 students that were regularly attending (i had more on the roster, but they might have moved or changed schools without notifying anyone).
well… when my last period class doubled in size, the students that had become helpers joined the new girls with attitude. together, they ditched my 4th period class, all 5 of them defiantly strolling into my 5th period class -after- the bell rang. i didn’t know what i was going to do, but i knew i had to do something.
so last friday, i got to work early and sat there reading harry wong’s book, looking for tips. and all he said to do was smile at them, address them by name, ask them to do something using the word please, and then say thank you when they comply.
yeah.... it was so easy, but i realized i was treating them with the attitude i didn’t want to have, and so i changed courses and let them do the fun activity even though i didn’t think they earned it. i complimented the ringleader on how great her project looked, and told her she could hang it on the wall when she was finished.
i can’t believe something that small and simple worked.
the girls today were altogether pleasant to have in class, the major disruptors stayed quiet all period, working quietly at their desks. the most i saw them do was motion to each other across the room and mouth words to each other, but nothing worse than that. today i thanked “the ringleader” several times for her great behavior, for staying on task, for being quiet, for being a good student, etc. i tried to be specific and thank her for participating,
it’s so amazing to me that there has been such a drastic change with such a small action. but i sure hope i can continue to do what it takes to keep that trust and cooperation.
Friday, September 14, 2007
these mornings are killing me!
i’ve been up for a little bit now, my alarm has been going off since 6am.
the crazy thing is, i’ve been waking up at 4am-ish every day. i must be on a 4-hour sleep cycle or something. today i woke up around 3:45am, which is pretty much par for the course over the last 2 weeks. the earlier i go to bed, the earlier i wake up. one day, i almost jumped outta bed cuz i was certain i missed my alarm and that i was gonna be late to work - then when i checked my phone i was like - “WHY DID I WAKE UP AT 5AM ON MY OWN!!!”
add the sleepless nights to the 14hour days (i’m headed to work by 6:30am, and then i stayed at school till 8:30pm the last two days cuz we had games) and you have one VERY tired kimi. i’ve been trying to keep on top of my game so the students don’t take advantage of me at work, and so far i’ve been doing a good job at it. and yesterday i actually finished all my prep work by 3pm! i’m sorta proud of myself....
now if i can only train myself to sleep past the 4 hour mark…
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
i think i have this...
when i get up in the morning, i have this. yeah, and i’m a candidate - female, stand on my feet for my job, and have flat feet.
i just always thought my body was full of aches and pains, but i didn’t know there was a specific name for it! and it tells me i shouldn’t run or jog because the high impact is damaging and hurtful to me!
SEE?! i wasn’t lazy - my feet actually aren’t good for those types of exercises! “HA!” to everyone who always laughed at me when i said i don’t run. i win! i was right!
oh wait… but that means i lose =( man, seeing a name on it makes me feel bad… and at such a young age too! =( i guess i -am- a year older now =) hahahha
anyone got a tennis ball? i’m gonna try to nip this sucker in the bud!
Sunday, September 09, 2007
God is taking care of me
i just paid some bills and was updating my information and realized that i really only have a pitiful amount of money left in my bank account - and that with the HOA due this month, plus my EdLoan that needed to be paid, it reduced that pitiful amount to roughly the same cost as dinner last night. yeah… that can’t be good.
and then i realized that i already got the deposit check and the half month’s rent from the roommate who i just found last week, and who will be moving in next weekend. and i realized that without that money she gave me, i woulda had several bounced checks this month. that wouldn’t’ve been good at all.
and this new roommate thing? though i wanted it earlier this summer before my first paycheck comes in october, it’s nice to know that i just found someone at the exact moment of need, and that without her, i would’ve found myself in dire situations.
and so i realized how much God is taking care of me, that i didn’t go bankrupt since i’ve left the grove, but that i had just the right amount of money to make it through till the brand new job kicks in =)
He rocks like that!
28th bday pics
marlene, ching, kat, me, rita, and janet at the barbecue rita threw for me at jason’s house. rita and jason don’t know it, but i’ve -ALWAYS- wanted a barbecue for my birthday. that was sorta hard to do since i grew up vegetarian, but it always seemed like a bundle of fun! not only did i miss out on happy meals and the accompanying toys, i also couldn’t have the fun of the barbecue! darn it! so when i turned 21 or so, i had a barbecue anyways, but it was big franks (which stick) and vege kabobs, and i don’t really like roasted bell peppers, so that barbecue - though it was fun- cannot hold a candle to the barbecue we just had
thanks jason for opening up your house to me! and gavin… your suit rocks!
the karaoke game was pretty fun - here’s kat dueting with herself
and the birthday cookies in lieu of a birthday cake… and the lovely birthday candle in it!! i think we were laughing too hard to be able to take a nice picture
the next morning, we went to maria’s! yay!! perry took this photo of me there
of course, i ordered the chiliquiles - martin knew i ordered them even tho someone else took my order
andy, kuya, and laurie joined us that night at “the granada”
and they surprised me with a cake, which i was ready to eat! they tried to get a “real” picture of me posed with the cake, but we were unsuccessful in that area all weekend long, i think. all my pictures are just silly…
the club was downstairs and we had a great view of it from the restaurant, but no good action shots while kat and i simultaneously danced with the same lead. yup, that’s right, he had each of us on a had and was spinning and twirling us all around. pretty cool stuff
and the picture of us outside the club
on sunday, i had mimi’s w kat and kar, but i forgot to take a picture of us cuz we were having so much fun laughing and making raucous laughter that made others look at us
thank you everyone for making it such an enjoyable weekend!
Saturday, September 08, 2007
the theme of my 28th birthday is salsa
which sorta seems to be the theme of every birthday recently, but that’s cool =)
so this is my birthday weekend, and some of my friends weren’t able to make it to my birthday dinner tonight, so they threw me a bday barbecue last night, with 3 homemade salsas competing (with my ceviche, of course), pimm’s lemonade, playstation guitar hero and a karaoke game, and perry even sang! it was sure alotta fun hanging out at jason’s with a bunch of friends and playing all sortsa games. thanks j for opening up your house =)
then tonight, those of us that can make it are headed to alhambra to eat and dance at the granada. yeah, i know… last year i was in granada, visiting the alhambra, the cool mosque building in spain. here in alhambra, ca, there’s a restaurant/club with live salsa music that calls itself the granada. they serve up some good spanish tapas and of course, how can you beat live music and a dance floor to go with your dinner?
i think i’m hispanic. my last few birthdays have been at sevilla’s (my 27th), catered by maria’s (my 26th), and at pancho villa’s(would that be my 25th?). and now, the granada (for my 28th). plus the carne asada barbecue. oh, and maria’s for my bday lunch =) wow…
happy birthday to me!!!
==========
addendum: i forgot to also say that irving brought me to a mariachi show in LA for my 22nd or 23rd, and for my 24th i went salsa dancing (without really knowing how) with ange, his weird friend, kat, and my brother, and a girl was hitting on kat. hahahahah… but yeah, that would be 6 years in a row? coolio =)
Sunday, September 02, 2007
because i'm bored
i found this survey on myspace and just filled in my own answers…
1. Where is the last place you held hands?
at a restaurant?? i don’t know
2. If you were drafted into a war, would you survive?
as a chaplain, yes.
3. Do you sleep with the TV on?
i fall asleep all the time when i’m watching tv. but if i’m trying to fall asleep, turning the tv on doesn’t work. whatever.
4. Have you ever drank milk straight out of the carton?
when i’m finishing it off, so i don’t have to wash a cup.
5. Have you ever won a spelling bee?
nope, i came in fourth place in 8th grade though! yeah… if i came in at least 3rd, i woulda gone on to the nationals!
6. What is your longest fight with one of your friends?
i have no idea
7. Are you a fast typer?
more than 80 wpm, so yeah
8. Are you afraid of the dark?
only if i’ve seen a scary movie, which is why i don’t let myself watch ‘em!
9. Do you like someone right now?
yes.
10. What ended your last relationship?
different goals
12. Do you knock on wood?
nope
13. Are you drinking anything right now?
water, and eating a vanilla shake
14. Do you think you’re smart?
i like to think so
15. Have you ever eaten a bug?
i’m sure i have accidentally, but my brother ate a worm when we were little!
16. Do you miss someone right now?
yes…
17. What do you want for Christmas?
a wii =) oh wait… no, that’s what i want for my birthday!!! =D =D =D
18. Do you know the muffin man?
???? apparently not
19. Do you talk in your sleep?
i dunno, but i snore! =)
20. Do you remember your 1st crush?
yup
21. Have you ever flown a kite?
yeah, my family used to go to long beach all the time just to fly kites
22. When was the last time that you went swimming and where?
yesterday, at huntington beach
23. Do you consider yourself successful?
pretty much
24. How many people are on your contact list of your cell phone?
like, 300. i ran outta space on my sim card a while back…
25. Have you ever asked for a horse?
yes! and my dad actually got one, but he wouldn’t let me near it. weird, huh?
26. Plans for 2MORROW?
sorta
27. What did you do this past weekend?
newport beach and huntington
28. Miss being at school right now?
nope
29. When’s the last time you told someone you loved them?
i dunno
30. Do you want to be single?
nope
32. Who’s your hero?
i dunno
33. Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?
never =) i even got a teacher to excuse me the few times i ditched =)
34. What are you looking forward to?
hanging out w my friends
35. If you could be stranded with one person for 24 hours, who would it be?
perry
37. Have you ever eaten dog food?
no way!
38. Can you handle the truth?
most of the time, but regardless of how i handle it, that’s all i wanna hear
39. Do you like green eggs and ham?
yes, i like them, sam i am!
40. What 3 things do you always bring with you to places?.
cell phone, keys, and wallet
41. Any cool scars?
i have one on my neck where i had surgery, and one on my forehead from when i was little
42. Are you missing in action?
nope
44. What’s your deepest secret?
45. How often do you talk on the phone?
every day
46. Do you believe in love?
yup
47. Is there something you want that you can’t have?
yes....
48. Four things about the preferred #### that you first notice?
smile, arms, makes me laugh, and that he notices me
49. When was your last time you cried?
i think that was the last time i pms’ed… hahahha
50. Who did you last hug?
kat
51. Do you get along with your family?
most of the time. we just spent the whole day together!
52. Where is your phone?
right next to my laptop, which i’m currently typing on
53. What was the last thing you ate?
the shake, but i have some ramen waiting for me!
54. Favorite color?
red and brown combo
55. Last movie you saw?
i think that would be “the simpsons movie”. oh wait! no… it would be “hairspray”
56. What song are you listening to?
not listening to any song, but friends is playing on my tv
57. What do you want?
cooler weather =)
58. Favorite car?
a limo with a chaffeur! i -hate- driving
59. What T.V. show are you watchin?
refer to #56
60. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
kat