Fridays on Defend

[treelizard]

Go see comedy tonight. Work my second job from 3-6 on Saturday. Try to decide whether to go to one or both or neither of the dinner things I got invited to, also on Saturday. Daikomoyosai BBQ on Sunday, where my man gets to meet a bunch of ninjas. That'll be fun. I also have to grade 60 writing benchmark tests and 60 research papers and figure out what the heck to teach the day before vacation next week. Oh, and cleaning my house is somewhere in there too.

[Hardball]

Go see comedy tonight.

Was it funny?

My two prospects turned out to be two new $tudent$. I hate to use martial arts for profit but I offer a good product in return for the $$, Besides we live in an oil economy and all the extra bucks are needed to pay Exxon, Shell, Mobil and the Utility company.

I just got to get to the remaining leaves tommorow or else my yard is going to be condemed. LOL

I need to find time for striking this weekend as most of the week was working on throws and takedowns. Two private lessons scheduled this weekend plus the normal boatload of chores.

I need to drop 14lbs by spring. It sounds easy but when you are 50, those lbs are stubborn. LOL

What's on tap with you?

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Going to pick my sister up after school and take her to go see that Sweeney Todd Movie. Looks to be pretty promising.

[jubaji]

How heavy is she?

[treelizard]

Was it funny?

Yes. We saw Paul Morrissey. He is hysterical.

Today, after I'm done entering grades, marks my survival of my first semester of teaching. I'm going out to dinner and maybe margaritas except that I'm so sleep-deprived I may not enjoy it.

My weekend will consist of going to the library, listening to continuing education tapes so I don't have to later, doing laundry, reading, catching up on e-mail, packing and getting the hell out of here.

[Hardball]

I had no idea you were a rookie teacher. You write and talk like a seasoned pro.

[treelizard]

I had no idea you were a rookie teacher. You write and talk like a seasoned pro.

LOL. I'm a total rookie. I appreciate the compliment, though!

The good news is that I got my grades posted with ten minutes to spare and then spent two hours rearranging my classroom so I can move around better and people can see the projector. Now I get to go home as soon as I drag all the stuff back to my car!

Yee haw!!

[Hardball]

They let you surf the internet at work? LOL

[treelizard]

They let you surf the internet at work? LOL

LOL. I was contracted until 2:21. Grades were due at 1. I stayed until 3:30 or so just cleaning and redecorating when they made an announcement kicking us out so they could lock up. 'Nuff said.

[Hardball]

So what would have happened if the grades weren't ready by 1?

[treelizard]

So what would have happened if the grades weren't ready by 1?

I don't know. Usually they extend the window, but this time they said they couldn't because the computer does it automatically and it goes to somewhere else. Probably all of those kids would've gotten their report cards with no grade in my classes and the principal and I would've been bombarded with phone calls.

[Hardball]

I don't know. Usually they extend the window, but this time they said they couldn't because the computer does it automatically and it goes to somewhere else. Probably all of those kids would've gotten their report cards with no grade in my classes and the principal and I would've been bombarded with phone calls.

Probably would not have been good for your performance evaluation. LOL Good job on getting things done on time.

[treelizard]

Probably would not have been good for your performance evaluation. LOL Good job on getting things done on time.

You know, I think performance evals are a bit of a joke... It would only reflect on the evaluation if the person evaluating actually knew about it, and oftentimes the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. There are a ton of factors involved in evaluations that have very little to do with performance. Also, nobody outside of the district ever even sees the thing, so it is very easy for teachers who receive poor evaluations to just switch districts. In addition, it is extremely easy for teachers to bring union reps to them for every meeting, making it difficult for the administration to do their job. People who should be fired or on improvement programs get any action towards them delayed because the union will decide someone in administration didn't dot their i's or cross their t's. I am soooo anti-union.... When people ask for water during their fights my MMA coach always says "Water. Good fighters don't need it, bad fighters don't deserve it" and I feel that way about unions and teachers...

Anyway, I am supposed to be on vacation now so enough of my anti-union propaganda... I will go back to enjoying my Hanukristmas presents and drinking beer with my neighbor...

[Hardball]

Well, I have to disagree with you on the union thing. They have reps that know the rules, regulations and rights of workers and when you need a rep the union provides them for free. For instance, management is known for clear cut violations like firing people they don't like. Without the union or attorneys we would all be delegated to being ass kissers for the sake of saving our jobs.

On my job (State Accountant), the performance evaluations determine if you get your annual pay raise and are a viable tool to measure pay for perfomance. Once again, if a boss doesn't like you it forces him/her to document the how, when and whys of the problem. Most of the time a honest worker comes out on top with performance evaluations and union memberships.

[jubaji]

when you need a rep the union provides them for free. .

They're not free, they are paid for with all those union dues, just like the generous salaries of the union bosses.