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22418. arkymalarky - 8/13/2007 2:47:31 AM I grew up watching Merv Griffin.
Judith, do you think he's stressed about this new job? He may be moving up into a new slot he's still unsure about. 22419. wonkers2 - 8/13/2007 2:56:03 AM Arky, don't make excuses for him. He sounds like a real jerk to me. 22420. judithathome - 8/13/2007 3:13:14 AM We went to tour the new prep school where our friend is now Dean. It's in the middle of Arlington TX but is on a campus that is several wooded acres and has covered walks all through it. It's a marvelous place...quiet and removed from the hustle of a megamillion dollar football stadium being built less than a mile away from the campus.
Our friend is so excited about this school...it's mandatory that all graduates be college ready and signed on to one. It's K through 12. He did the neatest thing: he got our other friends' two brilliant kids enrolled there. These two are exceptionally bright and have been bored to death in public school. This is the best thing that could have happened to both of them!
This school is considered a private public school...small enrollment and if you as a student screw up once, you are out and back in regular public school. It's underwritten by the Gates Foundation.
And Arky, judging from the way he became almost a commandant when we entered the premises, I don't think he is nervous AT ALL...this is the job he was made for. But I have to admit, I am happy for him because he was wasted in the school where he taught before. He has good ideas and commands respect and always impressed me because he wore a shirt and tie every day to his old school where they had no dress code whatsoever...here, he'll be in a school blazer.
And by the way, my little topless story went off without a hitch: he fell for it like a rock. It will be years before I spill the beans about it, too. I'd love it if he somehow got a date with her and asked about it...bwaaahhaahahahaha!
22421. arkymalarky - 8/13/2007 3:26:12 AM The Gates Foundation needed to expand to K-12. High school alone wasn't working as well as it should have, and they changed leadership fairly recently. I have mixed feelings about charter schools. The very fact that they can be so selective gives them a leg up and keeps poor at-risk kids from getting chances if they're behind or discipline problems--yet they receive state and federal money. My sharp senior who almost got thrown out of Michigan urban schools wouldn't likely have gotten in there, but the small school environment is exactly what he needed.
And a new job that is a step up and dramatic change would be stressful, which to me is very different from being nervous or insecure about it, even though it's exciting and even when you're made for it. His preparation may be seeping out into his social life, simply because a job like that is all-consuming. Or I may be making excuses, as Wonk said. I can't say, since he didn't give me the opportunity to meet him. ;-) 22422. alistairconnor - 8/13/2007 7:59:24 AM You are as fully fabulous as a person who should have a Mac, is.
An interesting and true remark. Friends who have Macs are generally artist types. It used to be true that the best software for music, the graphic arts etc. was only on Mac, but now it's evened out. Mostly, they tend to be people who can't be bothered being "computer literate", and want clean lines, good design and simplicity. A single supplier with a relatively cool corporate culture. Some sort of socialist chic. 22423. alistairconnor - 8/13/2007 8:02:10 AM Betty,
"Was that an invitation?"
Well actually I was thinking of myself and my two daughters (Shame on you!!).
But now that you say that... there are some Almodovar films I haven't seen yet... and my girlfriend has a Spanish lesbian colleague who's in love with her... (How dare you put such thoughts in my head!!) 22424. judithathome - 8/13/2007 12:32:01 PM Arky, what you say is true but he had a similar job at his ESL school...and his recent actions are in no way foreign to his personality. He's always been a bit of a jerk. Ha! 22425. thoughtful - 8/13/2007 2:07:43 PM Thanks ulgine, no apologies needed. I've certainly run the gamut of emotions over this thing including the fact that he took the chicken sh*t way out...though at the same time my heart breaks for the awful despair he must have felt to get to the point where suicide seems not only reasonable but the optimum choice. 22426. thoughtful - 8/13/2007 2:11:44 PM J@h, thought of you at about 3:30 this am when I couldn't sleep. I flipped on cspan, book tv and they had on Erik Larson. While he talked a little about his new book, he spent a lot of time telling various anecdotes about his career as an author. Sounds like this new book is going to be as good as the others. He also mentioned his first book, which he liked, but which apparently never sold much called the naked consumer...I'll have to look it up. 22427. Ms. No - 8/13/2007 4:43:10 PM I'm going to hold off on laptop shopping until I get back from LA next week. I'm heading out Saturday morning and then coming back on Tuesday and will have just under two weeks before school starts at that point.
I'm resistant to laptops. I used to be far more resistant except that I've been working on one for the last couple of months and since I can plug a regular keyboard and mouse into it and don't have to use that stupid fingerpad thing I've been fine.
As for Mac v PC, I like the initial concept of Macs and their branding image as it used to be, but not so much in recent years. Plus, I'd go nuts if I couldn't take the components apart and put them back together. I mean, when your PC goes south you can work on it yourself or call a friend who knows what's going on. If your Mac craps out you have to take it into a certified shop and then let them do whatever the hell they do to it charging you the hourly rate for however many days they keep it.
I can get my PC fixed for the price of a good home-cooked meal. 22428. Ms. No - 8/13/2007 4:45:25 PM Judith,
That's definitely someone not to invite to the theater anymore. He clearly has no concept of the social protocols involved. 22429. judithathome - 8/13/2007 7:12:37 PM Thoughtful, that is so weird! I took Isaac's Storm with me to the doctor about 8am and saw The Naked Consumer listed in the front of that book and decided to get it!
And I DO have a stress fracture on my left foot...the x-ray doesn't lie. Well, technically, the stress fracture doesn't show but the "healing" of it does, proving I have one. 22430. judithathome - 8/13/2007 7:14:34 PM Arky, when you check in, I mailed your stuff today and it should be there in three days.
I also tried out the Sula scent in my diffuser and I absolutely LOVE it...it may be too flowery for you but I like the "oriental-ness" of it. 22431. Betty Jo - 8/13/2007 9:57:53 PM testing 22432. arkymalarky - 8/13/2007 10:35:24 PM Hey Betty Jo! Welcome to the Mote!! 22433. arkymalarky - 8/13/2007 10:38:22 PM Thanks Judith! I'll be looking for it.
I think I'll do that diffuser this evening. I just got home from the first day back at work, and it's going to be a good but demanding year. Things are tightening up, so no more "Michael Moore of school teaching." I've got to re-civilize. Not a problem since I bought clothes and I'm no longer in grad school. Plus I no longer have a reason to protest. 22434. Betty Jo - 8/13/2007 10:41:09 PM Thank you, Arky. 22435. Ms. No - 8/13/2007 11:19:47 PM Hiya, Betty Jo! Welcome! 22436. wabbit - 8/13/2007 11:32:41 PM Welcome aboard, Betty Jo!
JaH, another broken bone? What in the world are you doing to yourself?
Mike Douglas, Tom Snyder, Merv Griffin ... I suppose Phil Donahue is next. 22437. anomie - 8/14/2007 1:09:01 AM Ms. No, Check out the latest Consumer Reports for their review of laptops. A Toshiba for 700 bucks was check-rated. I have a Toshiba I bought for 800 and it's great. I even do some video editing on it.
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