One Man's Highly Qualified Is Another Man's Idiot?

I received official notification today from the Department of Education that I have passed my Praxis III (read about my feelings on these tests here and here). Yeah, I've just been told that I'm a qualified teacher now. So technically, I could have failed my way through school, done a mediocre job with student teaching, but been able to pass an examination and be deemed "Highly Qualified." What's wrong with that picture?

House Update

Since summer is here, and I have nothing to do, there's been a lot of work at the house recently. And thanks to Evan, who came up for a visit last weekend and wasn't afraid to tear things down, the kitchen demo has begun! Here are a few before and during shots. (We aren't really done with anything, but we're getting close!)

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen During:

Office Before:

Office Almost Done:

Jonathan Got a New Hip.

When my brother was five, he was diagnosed with a disease called Calve-Perthes Disease. His ball-joint of his hip was deteriorating, causing him to have significant pain and other problems. After having to wear a leg brace for about two years, his condition improved.

His leg had been fine, but over the last few years, it had started causing him problems. His doctor had been putting off a hip replacement for as long as possible, but in March, the doctor said it was time. His hip had reached a point where the femoral head, or ball-joint, was in necrosis and needed to be removed before Jonathan lost the ability to walk.

We travelled to Little Rock to St. Vincent's where Dr. Newbern and his staff replaced Jonathan's hip. (You can watch a short video on hip replacement here.) After two days, Jonathan was on his way home with a new hip and five inch incision with fifteen staples.

He's been staying with Mom and Dad since his house has lots of stairs and Melanie is at work most of the day. He's been a relatively good patient, not taking too much advantage of not being able to do much of anything. Keep him in your prayers; he's going to be at the mercy of others for another five weeks or so.

Revolutionary Road

I just finished watching Revolutionary Road and am now thoroughly depressed. If Jack and Kate can't make it, who can???

*** This will contain spoilers, so if you haven't watched the movie and don't want to know, don't read past here; read it later!

Revolutionary Road is about a couple in the 1950's who are struggling with the mundane. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star as April and Frank Wheeler. They have two children and live in a charming two story house on Revolutionary Road. Their realtor, Kathy Bates, is a close friend, as well as their neighbors, Shep and Milly Campbell.

Frank works for a marketing company selling electronics. April is a stay-at-home mom. After Frank fraternizes with a new secretary at the company, he comes home- on his birthday, no less- to a dreamy, determined April. She's ready to chuck everything they have and move to Paris. She wants to be the bread-winner and let Frank try his hand at whatever he wants to do. Everything is going according to plan until April ends up pregnant.

Things at work begin going really well for Frank, and he is offered a big promotion. When he tells April, she doesn't act happy and asks him why he hasn't told them he is leaving in September. Because of the baby (or so we think), April and Frank decide not to go to Paris. April then goes into a deep depression.

They end up going out with their neighbors, the Campbells, and when Milly gets sick and Frank takes her home, April then sleeps with Shep. Frank then decides to confess all his past sins and tells April of the affairs he's had with the secretarial pool at the office. She goes off the deep end, and they have a mother of a fight. The next morning she makes him breakfast, they have a very pleasant morning, and she sends him off to work. She then tries to perform a self-abortion and proceeds to bleed to death from complications of the miscarriage she causes.

This movie was completely depressing, and all I kept thinking was poor Jack and Kate (think "Titanic" here). The acting in the movie was fantastic, though. No wonder this movie was up for so many awards. Definitely see it if you get the chance. Just remember to think happy thoughts throughout it.

Holy Crow! What a Day!

I have had an interesting 24 hours. This picture has nothing to do with my day; I just haven't put a picture of Oliver on here in a while.

Yesterday, around 5:30 PM, my computer had to visit the emergency room. Some error message came up and my computer would no longer boot up. After Googling the error, I'm beginning to fear that my motherboard is fried. Really, that's what all the websites said. I almost have no hope.

This morning, I got up early so I could get to school and get things set up, but as I started to walk out the door, I began a 20 minute search for my keys. After I had been on the road with my spare key for about 10 minutes, Dad called and said he found them. After waiting for him for another 7 minutes, he called and said he was at his office (apparently we had a miscommunication- he said park and wait for him, but what he meant to say was park and wait for him at his office). Needless to say, I left Batesville this morning at 7:28 AM. I have a 40 minute drive to the high school. I pulled into the parking lot at 8:02 AM. Whew! Luckily there were no police out this morning!

About 9:00 AM, one of my students pointed out a giant puddle of water forming around my lunch bag. My water bottle lid had come loose, and 24 ounces of water had filled my bag, soaking my food and the floor at the same time. I was thirsty all day long.

But, my bad day got a whole lot better tonight. As I was watching American Idol, I'd come to the realization that Adam was probably going to win. But, fortunately, I was wrong. Arkansas has its first American Idol: Kris Allen from Conway!

Now, if my concert tomorrow night goes like the American Idol Season, I'll be a happy camper. Six more school days until summer vacation begins!

GO KRIS!!!

Kris Allen is through to the finals with Adam Lambert! I'm so excited. I do have a theory. Danny Gokey and Kris Allen are very similar in their musical types, so maybe all the people who voted for Danny will vote for Kris, and then Kris will be the next AMERICAN IDOL!

Well, that's my theory.

American Idol

I have't blogged about American Idol at all this year. I feel so behind. But let me point out something:

I cannot stand how Adam Lambert's tongue sticks out to his chin when he sings. Is he trying to immitate Gene Simmons or Steven Tyler? And why does he only do it when his mouth is wide open, flapping in the breeze? The majority of the time is tongue is relaxed and where it should be, and when that happens he's usually singing in his "broadway" voice. And the other thing that bothers me is how he is such a judge's pet. They call him brilliant, but honestly he does the same screaming on pitch type singing he's done all season. True, occaisionally he tries to be a balladeer, but it's still the same musical theater style performance (I have nothing wrong with musical theater- several of my best friends live in New York and are performers).

I honestly am cheering for Kris Allen to win, not because he's from Arkansas or anything, but because in all honesty, I would never, ever buy a CD in the style of music that Adam Lambert has produced on the show (dare I make you recall his rendition of "Ring of Fire?"). Kris, I would buy that album without even thinking about it...