Where Have I Been???

I have spent this past week (8 days) in Sugar Land visiting my parents I decided to go without my laptop. My parents don't have wireless internet so I didn't think it was necessary. For the most part, I didn't miss my laptop but I did feel like I lost a week of internet. I feel like I had lost a weeks worth of news. I spend several times a day checking out vacations boards, blogs, Facebook, etc. Because I was so busy this past week, I didn't have time to do that so I have been playing catch-up.

I did have a wonderful time with my family. It is always good hanging out with them. I have a very close relationship with my mom and my dad. Being the youngest, there were two years, when both my brothers were off at college, when it was just dad, mom, and I. Mom and I went to Galveston one day and Beaumont another day. One night, Dad cooked steak and crab. YUM-O!!! I always have had a taste for the finer things in life.

Now, I need to get back to the rest of the internet and see what I have missed all week.

Government Language

At dinner tonight, Jeff and I were discussing his unemployment benefits. It seems like the terms of the benefits can be confusing. The way I understand it is that the government has provided extended services for people if you fall under a certain category and then there are others who are having the benefits ended. Now, we are concerned that Jeff will no longer be receiving benefits.

So, after dinner, I went to the Texas Workforce Commission website to try to determine which group we fit in. Well, that was like reading Greek. It was like if you can stand on your head and spit nickels then you no longer have benefits but if you can ride a unicycle while juggling, then you get to keep your benefits.

With all that being said, it looks like we will keep our benefits until November. I hope that is true and I hope he has a job by November. I guess I just need to keep praying and keep my fingers crossed. Surely something has to come around.

Starting Over!!

Okay...so I started my blog as an assignment for school. Since then, I have abandoned it. So, here I am starting it again. I get to write about what I want to write about--unlike the first 20 or so posts.

Well, I am about 3 weeks into summer vacation and I have done nothing extraordinary. I have spent most of the time catching up on TV programs and reading. I guess you can say that I have been "relaxing."

The books that I have been reading have been great. I read the first book in the Janet Evanonvich series with Stephanie Plum. I have not decided whether or not that I will continue the series. I tend to enjoy this type of genre so maybe if I try the second book I'll enjoy the series.

I have also just finished "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" by Beth Honeycutt. I really enjoyed the book. It was a recommendation from a friend. It was a fast read. It is about a young girl who is forced to move from Ohio to Savannah, Georgia to live with her great aunt. The book goes through CeeCee's life as she deals with some of her demons and adjusts to life in the south.

The other book that I have finished reading this summer is "LA Candy" by Lauren Conrad. I consider this book my tribute to my reality TV addiction. Lauren Conrad was once a star on the MTV show "The Hills." I have to say the book was a pleasant read. I read it in three days and it was kind of addicting. I wanted to know what happened next to the characters. I also kept wondering how much of it was based on personal experience. Conrad has said that the book it not an autobiography but I am sure some it has to be based on personal experiences. There is a sequel to the book that I am thinking about reading as well.

Until, the next book...

One Final Thing...

It is kind of sad knowing that I am done. I feel like there are still so many things that I haven't learned. Also, I know that things are changing all the time. I feel that all the new things that I learned will be ancient within 6 months. I hope that is not true. But, I would love a "refresher" course as more tools are introduced.
After all is said and done, my favorite thing is the image generator. I still go back and try to add fun pictures to my blog. I also enjoy going back to Flickr. I love looking at other people's photographs. As I go forward, my goal is to keep my knowledge of Web 2.0 tools. I also want to find more ways to incorporate these tools in my classroom. I think it will make my teaching that much more exciting.
Before I say good-bye (for now), I would like to thank my librarian Elizabeth Warrick for encouraging me to take this class. I would also like to thank Andrea McFadden. She was a great resource when I had questions as I worked through the 23 things.

Adios for now.

Thing #23

Classroom 2.0 is a wonderful resource. I loved having the ability to communicate with so many teachers in one place. Also, there were so many great ideas in one place. I think that a teacher's best resource is another teacher. Classroom 2.0 provided ideas from teachers that teacher all grade levels and all over the world. I spent quite a bit of time scrolling through the forums and looking at different teacher's question. I also found some great suggestions of things of Web. 2.0 things that other teacher are doing that I would like to try in my class.

Thing #22

Hello, my name is sweetpea and I am addicted to FaceBook. They say the first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem. I am already a member of FaceBook and I am on it ALL the time. Most of my friends are teachers that I work with. FaceBook is actually a great networking tool. Numerous times I have "facebooked" a friends to find out information about things that are going on at school. It is a wonderful way to keep in touch while not in school. Facebook is also a great way to release stress after the school day. There are great games to play and other applications that I enjoy. I will continue to use FaceBook to stay in touch with my friends.

Thing #7b

The dictionary word of the year is "unfriend." I loved this article. I love that the New Oxford American Dictionary is always thinking of ways to make itself modern. I kind of relate to my previous post with the word "google." I think when dictionaries add these pop culture words to their publications it keeps the English language modern and up-to-date.

This year's addition is unfriend; as is "I am going to have to "unfriend" you on FaceBook." I LOVE IT!!!