Very Sweet Day

I can’t explain how much I love the beginning of the school year. Big, bright eyes and giggly smiles enter my classroom and make me laugh all day. I am probably one of the luckiest teachers alive. I teach at a gifted school in Brooklyn. The parents of these children have done everything they can to  prepare their children for school. And that makes my job so much easier. Whatever I do during the day, I know is being discussed in homes and at dinner tables.

I am feel very grateful to be a teacher today. It’s been one of those sweet days.

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The Right Person for the Job

I admit I was thrilled when I heard McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. Although I wasn’t a fan of McCain, I considered him for a few moments after he chose Palin. I would love to have seen a woman become Vice President. As I read and learned more about Palin, I realized she wasn’t the type of person who represented me or most of NYC.  About the only things ultraconservative Palin and I share is the same gender and the ability to look great in a ponytail. Then the news of her daughter’s pregnancy broke and I didn’t care for the spin that was put on the situation. I mean there have been so many other young woman who have gotten pregnant and had people point the finger. Yet, when the daughter of a Republican candidate shows up pregnant, people applaud her decision to keep her baby. We didn’t applaud Jaime Spears (Britney’s sister) for not aborting her child. Everyone pointed the finger at Lynn Spears parenting and her lack of time at home because she was helping Britney. Not once have I heard anyone mention Palin’s mothering or lack of time at home.

When I heard Obama’s speech, my first thoughts were that he is so appealing because he is giving hope for change. Yet, after thinking about his speech, I realized although he wants to accomplish a lot, he doesn’t have the experience or a realistic plan. Is he ready to lead a country? I feel that so many people want change that they are overlooking Obama’s lack of experience.

So I want another choice. I am hoping that someone with more experience runs as an independent candidate.  Even Al Gore and John Kerry are appealing to me at this point.

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A Brooklyn neighbor I wouldn’t be thrilled to have

I love trees and nature. The more trees the better. In Brooklyn, there is plenty of sidewalk! So when the city started their million tree plan, I was thrilled.

But of course some Brooklynites are not thrilled about getting a tree in front of their place.  And when I read stories like this, it makes me cautious about buying a house in Brooklyn. What if I get a neighbor like this?

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The Magic is Starting

The beginning of the school year is always magical for me. It’s going to be my 15th year teacher. When I thought about it this summer, I thought wow 15 years and it didn’t feel like anything exciting was going to happen.

Yet, today I was told I will be teaching two Spanish classes in addition to my technology program. (Yes, I speak Spanish). I am so excited for the change and I look forward to sharing language with some bright eyed sixth graders. As I started to plan this afternoon, I felt my eyes twinkling and the excitement building. Teaching is my passion.

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I Liked Obama’s Speech

Although I wanted to see a woman as the next president, I really like that Obama gives people hope. He says the word ‘change’ a lot, but after hearing tonight’s speech I felt that he really understood what’s needed. Even more, I liked how empathetic he was to America’s problems. Besides, his wife Michelle is lovely.

Unless McCain has an incredible VP, I don’t see myself voting for him. I guess I feel that McCain is too detached from my world. I mean I am a woman in my thirties living in an urban area and I can see that change needs to happen. People are losing their jobs and homes and the government isn’t doing enough to help.

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I went back to school

I’ve had such a wonderful summer that it’s hard to return to school. But I went back today and fixed up my lab. It’s a beautiful room and as I cleaned and rearranged, I thought about all the great things that kids have done in my room.

This will be my 15th year teaching. The years have gone by so fast and I can’t believe that students who I taught are now teachers themselves. I love that students from many years ago still contact me to let me know how well they are doing or to ask for help along their journey.

Something tells me something is going to be *very* special this year. I ask Jesus to give me patience as I begin with a new group of students. I ask Jesus to continually remind me that I can make a kid (or many kids) day, week or year with kind works.  I hope that you and your children enjoy going back to school!

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Hilary’s speech

Barack should be satisfied with Hillary’s speech. It must have been very hard for her to give the speech. Clinton bashed her friend, John McCain McCain, but in particular the opening of her speech caught me:

“I am here tonight as a proud mother, proud to be a Democrat, as a proud senator from New York, a proud American and a proud supporter of Barack Obama.”

Hillary shows she is an honest person. I noticed that she never said she was a proud wife.

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Brooklynites are being eaten alive

There is definitely a mosquito problem happening in Brooklyn. Now this is not your standard bug-biting mosquito season. It’s definitely intensified. Every time Karen waters the garden, she comes inside and has two or three fresh bites. So hats off to Gersh Kuntzman of the Brooklyn Paper for reporting about the Asian Tiger Mosquito. Apparently, the Asian Tiger Mosquito likes to bite between 10 am and 3 pm. We report much later dining habits in this section of Brooklyn though! The Asian Tiger Mosquito doesn’t usually carry the West Nile virus and many Brooklynites are concerned about that because it the Heath Department has reported they found the West Nile virus in mosquitoes in Brooklyn. Some San Diego residents aren’t so lucky.

Of course, Brooklynites are clever and have come up with some solutions:

Pardon me for asking offers a solution of putting up bat houses to combat the ‘squitoes.

The Brooklyn Brownstoner even posted about this cool machine (love gadgets) that dispenses carbon dioxide to get rid of the mosquitoes.

Readers of A Brooklyn Life point out that Peppermint oil and Lemon Eucalyptus repellents are helpful.

Brooklyn Yelp’ers tell their mosquito repellent secrets to use take vitamin B supplements, odorless garlic pills and use Avon Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil

Meanwhile while we are being eaten, this clever NYC teacher has been selling homemade muffins on Smith and President in Brooklyn. I must find her before she returns to school on Thursday! She’s so cute with that apron!

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Crushed Olympic Dreams

Of course everyone has been cheering for USA’s Mike Phelps and his victory at the Olympics.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder how awful some of the athletes  must feel going home empty handed. Even worse are athletes like Alicia Sacramone, US gymnast who was dragged through the media as the reason why the US Women’s Gymnastics Team took silver instead of gold. Alicia wasn’t he only member on the team and all the girls on the team recognized that, but the media shined the light on her.

Then today, Alicia competed in the vault competition. She did good and things looked hopeful for her. When one of the athletes from China vaulted and fell on her knees, I thought Alicia will at least take silver. She scored higher than Alicia Sacramone. It didn’t seem right that an athlete who wasn’t able to execute the vault got such a high score.

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Bay Ridge Real Estate

Bay Ridge is a beautiful section of Brooklyn. One of the worst things in Bay Ridge is parking. Hardly any homes have a private driveway. I don’t want a partially detached house or to share a driveway with people because some people in Brooklyn are ridiculous. So I have started looking in Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst.

I am so glad that the prices of homes have fallen so much. It’s great to see that a lot of homes are going for well under $100,000. A few years ago, people had bidding wars. Yet, now many people can’t get a mortgage.

So we are ready. If you know of a nice Brooklyn house with a driveway and backyard, let me know.

Edit: Thank you for all of the e-mails Brooklyn! The house I want: An unattached (or semi unattached) two family (or mother/daughter) with a private driveway and backyard. I don’t care if a lot of work needs to be done to the house – I’ve got Lee for that. Areas: Dyker Heights, Bay Streets. Beginning of Bensonhurt & Bayridge.

I have Bay Ridge Brooklyn Real Estates here.

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18th Avenue Feast

If you are in Brooklyn, get down to 18th Avenue and enjoy the feast!

2012 Update CLICK HERE

It runs every night on 18th Avenue in the high 60s and low-70s from 6 pm-11 pm through August 31.

Great Italian pastries and sausage sandwiches.

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Around the Web

I always see such great things around the web. Here are some this week:

Rodney tells about the saddest obituary ever.

Chocolate chip muffin recipe that I must try from The Full House 

The most charming blog & prettiest handmade items you have ever seen at Indie Fixx 

Organizing Junkie is reminding me that the end of my summer vacation is near. Check out all of the great backpack stations everyone has.

Kim at Accidental Mommies is giving a virtual baby shower. It’s quite amazing to read her blog and all of the cute baby items.

Finally, the most influential blog entry of the summer: Angie’s Blink post has changed the way I speak and interact with those I love most.  Angie’s blog is absolutely amazing. If you decide to read any of her older posts, be sure to bring a box of tissues with you.

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