I feel for my daughter who is so frustrated with the job market. She applies for jobs and no one gets back to her in a timely manner. What's worse, she is a better worker than most and takes responsibility. This evening she told me that her best qualities were that she is responsible and can do the job. Neither quality is valued in the current job market. What is up with that????

I wish character was a quality people looked at. Why do we focus so much attention on the experiences of potential candidates? It's a money thing. Those with money can have a greater number of experiences thus they look more attractive to potential employers. If only I could do something to make things easier for my girl. She has worked so hard to do well and should get something for her efforts. Does this world really have to be about who you know instead of what you know?

As I age I find I am more sensitive to scents. Many of the students in my classes use the flowery scented lotions hawked by stores such as Bath and Body Works. I don't mind them so much but they are too heavy. Years ago I used to wear a fragrance that I liked (still sort of do when I smell it) but it was very heavy. So heavy in fact that I had to stop wearing it. Now, I want a new fragrance and it's not easy to find one.

I went to the store of stores for perfume -- Neiman Marcus. They have any top line fragrance on the market. I sniffed and tried and walked around and ultimately left with nothing.

Why? It all costs a lot of money and I'm not convinced I like the fragrance enough to invest. Perhaps the perfume companies should sell very small quantities for a smaller cost to entice wearers. As I was at the fragrance counter other women were making the same comment: "Do you have a sample? I don't want to spend the money to find that I don't really like it."

Maybe these companies should sell a 5 dollar spray to sample. That way the prospective buyer could see if she likes how it smells on her with her particular body chemistry. If it works, then she would feel more comfortable spending the big bucks on a new fragrance.

A three day weekend. Ah joy.

I only wish I had plans. There is not much going on here -- the weather has turned (and I got the best sleep since I've been here as a result) and the pool is out of the question. But I don't have a real urge to do anything other than go home.

Well, at least I had a really good laugh at work today. It was a professional development day so no students were present. That gave me time to hang out with the people in the English dept. including my friend Drew. Gosh he made me laugh.

Gay men are quite entertaining as friends. They like all the things I like (well, I am generalizing and I don't mean to -- I obviously don't know all gay men) and can be just as catty as I. However, there is no competition of any kind the way there sometimes is between women. Perhaps I'll give my friend a call this weekend and see what trouble we can hunt up.

Just to have sleep will be wonderful!!

How can I get my underachieving kid to do something? It's infuriating. And when I called tonight to ask where he is having success in school he told me everywhere. Really? Someone needs a reality check.

And on the other side of the coin is my job as teacher. So many of my students do not do work and are receiving a grade of F for the first marking period. I've communicated with the parents; the students know what is required of them and still they do nothing. With the parent frustration I'm hearing, I wouldn't be too surprised to be one or two less kids in a couple weeks when the report cards come out.

Ugh.

I have a three day weekend ahead with no plans. I have a bitch of a week following because I have no prep period on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. I have to proctor the proficiency exams to 11th graders. What burns me up is that I don't even teach 11th graders. AND, I have to have sub coverage for two of my own classes because I'm scheduled to proctor exams. Really, Nevada stupidity is hard to understand. Reason 8,000 why I would never move my underachieving son out here. I can only imagine how much lower he would sink out here in the land of no brains.

I am so tired tonight. Let's hope I can get some sleep without the neighbors having a knock-down, drag-out fight -- should I call the cops or no -- though I do find the argument to be interesting in its absence of merit.

Really, though, I was beat today as a result of the neighbors waking me up at 2am and then trying, after hearing them fight for an hour, to get back to sleep. I did get back to sleep but that just made the alarm clock all the more dreadful. After dealing with freshman who are rude and obnoxious all day, the last thing I felt like doing was going to the gym. But I had to. I had an appointment with a personal trainer to help me get it together.

So, I went to the gym, got my plan, and ran the track. And I felt regenerated. I was actually able to go home and grade papers without having any caffeine to keep me afloat (and too bad the essays I graded did not help my spirit). Obviously we'll see how I feel tomorrow. Still, it was good to burn some calories.

Let's hope I get back to the gym soon.

I'm off to bed.

Working in a punitive place is really wearing me down.

Two weeks ago I caught shit because I did not submit my ineligibility list on time. The following week I got an email from the woman in charge of the ineligibility lists that had the following message:

DUE FRIDAY AT NOON

DUE FRIDAY AT NOON

DUE FRIDAY AT NOON

Okay, I get the message. But, like, can't you been understanding of a teacher who makes one mistake. I would get it if I had been habitually late. I was late ONCE.

I don't really understand how the system works when students are withdrawn from the school. No one actually contacts me, but apparently I've been screwing that up too because I get emails from my supervising administrator telling me to do the paperwork for the withdrawn students. While I realize I have to do my job, I don't understand why the woman in charge of the withdraw paperwork can't contact me herself -- why rat me out to my boss? Further, if someone who is new to the school keeps having trouble doing what you want done when you want it done, why not ask if there's anything they don't understand??

I feel put upon. A couple weeks ago I had to give up my free period for testing. I have to do it again in a couple weeks only instead of giving up one period, I'll be giving up 3. Funny how I don't see the other teachers being put upon. Actually, there's a word for this: HAZING. I don't like it.

Maybe there's a job in NYC I can scoop up while I'm home for Christmas. Because, really, I'm not sure I'm going to get through this year.

I feel so cranky when I come home from work. It's really not a good place to be especially when I deal with children. why is it that some kids just feel the need to get under my skin? Ugh.

Anyway, I have begun thinking about the annual Christmas card. Usually by this time I have a picture of the kids at the ready. Not so this year. I am putting together a collage card -- the best of the best and all of us will be represented.

Case in point: Julia's picture. Pure happiness. Shouldn't everyone see that joy?

I could sure use some today.