Deconstructed Toddy

I have a cold and the attendant raw throat and assorted aches. As remedies go, nothing beats hot tea, honey, and whiskey.

Since I’ve never cared for the traditional hot toddy, I set up a little flight: mug of black tea, rocks glass of whiskey (neat), and a shot of honey.

Drink in whatever proportions and in whichever order suits you.

Eases the pain…

The Science of Sleep

I feel like I just ate too much cotton candy. Either go high or stay home.

An ATR No More

Like a pupating caterpillar about to emerge, I am finishing up my last day as an ATR today. My school is creating classes for me – three in my subject area, two wild-cards – and on Tuesday I get to pretend it’s the beginning of the semester.

Yeay? (throat clear) Yeay.

I do feel bad for the classes I leave behind, who innocently bought my bluff that I was the real teacher no matter what it said on their program card. They’re getting my least favorite colleague as their teacher, if and when she ever decides to return.

Ah, public school…

Start your holiday shopping early

The MTA has some interesting items for sale.

When Will You Die?

Calculate your life expectancy here. It said I would live to be amost 92. (It didn’t ask about my habit of playing in traffic.)

The Black Dahlia and The Last Kiss

I unwittingly had a self-curated mediocre film festival this weekend.

Timecapsule: 9/16/06 (The Spinach Wars)

2 Republicans in Senate Vow to Block F.D.A. Pick

(F.D.A. Warns Against Eating Bag Spinach)
Debate Grows as Colleges Slip in Graduations

(Stores Throw Out Bagged Spinach After Warning)

Rebuff for Bush on Terror Trials in a Senate Test

(Possible Source of Bad Spinach Is Named as Outbreak Widens)

California,Taking Big Gamble,Tries to Curb Greenhouse Gases

(Tainted Spinach Traced to California)

Focus on the Positive, parte dos: The Joys of being ATR

1. I’m totally uninvolved in the school’s phase-in of Small Learning Communities, and therefore am forced to attend neither daily planning meetings nor Saturday staff development.

2. I get to do the crossword during my prep.

3. I’m still getting paid and still have my benefits.

That’s all.

Quinceañera

I had no idea when I saw Quinceañera yesterday that it was a big 2006 Sundance winner (Grand Jury and Audience Awards). I’d originally gone thinking I could show the film, which is mostly in English but has some Spanish in it, to my classes.

That ain’t happening.

Drug use? Check. Sex? Check. Profanities? Check.

I will say this: if I decide to quit my job and go out with a bang, I will indeed show it.

Flying Wings Nutri Chips

I tried three flavors/prescriptions (“Calm” olive oil/feta [salty but good with some prosecco]; “Jet Lag” French Onion [fine, my favorite of the three, but not very onion-y]; and “Empower” New York Cheddar [super salty, not cheddary] of these low fat/high vitamin/got-some-protein-and-fiber chips.

My advice? Stick with some Kettle Bakes.