Autumn Is A-Coming In

... loudly squawk cockatoo.

I know it doesn't quite scan, but it does fit the the loud welcoming sounds the 'toos give as the cooler weather approaches ... if it ever decided to descend into Texas. Ah, well, at least we didn't hit 90 degrees on the first day of fall.

The first 6 weeks come to a close as September ends, and in some ways it won't be too soon. We've had many a change this school year: a switch to an A-day/ B-day block schedule, mandatory enrichment classes, more paperwork, eventually a new computer -- and other wonderful things that make you really feel that you're a "classroom teaching unit" and not a teacher. I wonder how old Socrates would have felt about the matter -- he might've drank the hemlock earlier ... It seems that technology has made our jobs more difficult than easier; every time they introduce a new idea, you have to "play" with it in order to learn how to make it work -- but you can't take the computer home with you, so you either use time before or after school to work with the programs or you choose to remain ignorant (in some eyes). I don't have the technology that the district expects us to have ... if I want a printer, I'll have to go to Wal-Mart and buy a cheap one. Otherwise, it's run to the library every time the principal wants us to print a hard copy ... For this I went to college?

On a more amusing note, I did get an earring order today. The theatre teacher wore her purple and white seed bead earrings today ... and the art teacher stopped me in the hall to ask about ordering herself a pair. So, we made the trip to Jo-ann Fabrics, as well as two Halloween stores, for the purple beads ... they're not quite what I like, but they should do well. If she doesn't like them, I'll wear them myself -- and maybe get another customer!

Everything's Archie -- or manga -- in the comic zone around here. Joy's rediscovered Riverdale, so we're re-reading the rivalries of Archie and Reggie, Betty and Veronica ... They lived in a very different universe from the large urban high schools of the late 20th century; we're passing the duplicates on to Sunset HS, where a new batch of kids can discover Archie and the gang. Supposedly Sabrina the Teen-Aged Witch will return to her old (pre-Melissa Hart) self; no one knows whether the Groovy Ghoulies will make a re-appearance ... ah, even Josie & the Pussycats have made a guest appearance in the digests.

I spotted an interesting bead embroidery technique that I may have to develop for the dolls -- it's not cost effective for a human-sized art piece ... at least, not around here ... oh, and the art teacher wants to see chain maille earrings too. Where are the Intergem tickets when you need them?