Umm, read me?

[apple_pathways]

I had a minor twinge of agoraphobia in Dick's Sporting Goods today. I went there because I need a new combination lock, and I thought they might have a larger selection than the local hardware store. And I had time to kill.

WHY IS THAT PLACE SO FUCKING HUGE? It's just...wow. Yeah, I think it was a combination of the sheer size of the place, the cheerful tenacity of the fleet of employees who ambushed me at the door, the ubiquity of creepy, looming mannequins, and the unshakeable feeling that I DO NOT BELONG that set me off. As I was riding up the escalator (why does a sporting goods store need an escalator???), I got that strange feeling of unreality that always precedes a panic attack. Fortunately, I was snapped out of a full-blown attack when I was cheerfully greeted by the phrase 'WATER SPORTS' displayed prominently in giant yellow letters right above my head. (Having a mental age of ~13 years old really helps out in a pinch.) I had a hearty chuckle while fingering the goggles, then turned right around and took the down escalator the hell outta there. (And bought a really snazzy new combo lock from the hardware store.)


I have a new student. He is 6 and in the first grade. He can't read, he can barely count, and he lacks even the simple ability to stay in his chair for three minutes while I speak to another student. (He gets up and hides under the table.)

The real problem is not that I had to remind him to sit in his chair about three times over the course of the hour: that I don't mind so much. The real problem is the other students, who think it's so OUTRAGEOUSLY FUNNY every time he does it. It was mildly irritating today, when there was only three other students on hand. Tomorrow there will be EIGHT. FML.

(Before anyone thinks I'm a heartless bitch, he really is a sweet kid, and I know I'll be able to help him. It just takes weeks to train the little ones to a level of self-sufficiency where they can work independently for five minutes at a stretch without shouting across the room, raising their hand after each and every answer, and getting up and wandering off in the middle of their session. Seriously, what kind of hippie schools are these kids going to? Are they just kept in large, foam-padded, free-range pens where they're allowed to wander at will? Why is it such a surprise that I want them to choose a chair and SIT IN IT? THIS IS WHAT THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL SYSTEM HATH WROUGHT!)

I need a drink.

Anyway.

Students Who Crack Me Up:

Henry: "I've got a present for you! ...it's my study guide." [dramatic pause] "SPOILER ALERT!"

Max: [makes loud grunting, snuffling noises through his nose] [looks up at me] "I hate it when people do that!" [I try not to laugh, because he's been talking during his whole session, and I want him to settle down and start his homework. I fail and start giggling uncontrollably] "See, I knew you wanted to laugh! Ya gotta let it out: it's good for you!"

Going to Chicago this weekend! I'll be visiting my friend Kelly and her new family, my friend Cassie, her husband, and their 6 month old baby Ella, and Miss evilhippo, my lovely Queen of All Things Meta and Surreal. (We'll work on the title.) The plan is to do the museums and just catch up with friends, but if there's anything super fun or super special I should check out while I'm there, do let me know.

Now, four songs I've had on constant repeat lately:

"Skinny Love", by Birdy. A cover of the Bon Iver song. It's just...well, gorgeous. And I've read the singer is only 14. WHAT?

"Little Talks", by Of Monsters and Men. According to all 'the blogs', this group from Iceland is going to be the Next Big Thing. I don't know about that. But this song is really catchy, and supremely happy-making. I was singing it all day at work today. "Hey!"

"A Million Years", by Alex Ebert. The frontman of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes (and others) gone solo. I first heard this song a couple months ago, but just got around to buying the album. I haven't listened to the rest of the album enough to give a real opinion, but this song is sweet and fun. Like candy! (Damn, why don't people pay me to review music?!)

"Pumped-Up Kicks", by Foster The People. This group, likewise, is all over. They have a couple other songs floating around the blogosphere, but this is my favorite. Gets stuck in my head like nobody's business!

Comments

[inkdancer.livejournal.com]

:D

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

*mwah!* ;)

[evilhippo.livejournal.com]

I don't get full-on panic attacks in giant sports goods stores, but I definitely get that oppressive "I do not belong here" feeling. Which is problematic, because I still need to get fenders for my bike, among other things. (-;

And ahhh, you're going to be here in just a couple of days! Do you think you'll be able to make it downtown in time for dinner Saturday? I can definitely manage to locate some kind of interesting dining for us if you let me know what you'd be up for (cheap, fancy, weird, exotic, etc.). As for other thing... I haven't quite figured much out. Though the Chicago Movies and Music Festival will be going on, which I've been meaning to check out.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, I don't get full-on panic attacks much at all anymore! BUT, this is the closest I've come in recent memory. ;)

Dinner would be awesome! I'm spending Saturday downtown visiting museums with the married friends--the ones with the baby who goes to bed at 6:30! So, I imagine I'll be done with them well before dinnertime. As long as it's not too expensive (more than $30.00/person) I am down with whatever! We can try someplace new you've wanted to visit, or go to an old favorite. I'm a total foodie, and will pretty much eat anything.

Gonna check out that link now!

[evilhippo.livejournal.com]

Only $30? I wanted to go to Alinea! (-; But really... $30 is totally doable. I've been meaning to go to the Publican (they serve sweetbreads!), though that'd butt up against the upper limit, especially if we got drinks (definitely one of the "foodie" choices, though).

The main way I've learned my way around most Chicago restaurants is to pick an ethnicity, go to that neighborhood, and pick the place that looks best. That tends to be hit and miss, though, and to be honest what I'm probably going to do is poke around the LTH Forums, which is where all the Chicago food snobs hang out and debate restaurants/grocery stores/where to find the best pickled shark fin/etc. (basically, my favorite Chicago forum ever). (-;

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

My estimate of $30 does not include tip, tax, or beverages, so don't let it be too much of a restriction! (I am always willing to shell out for drinks. Always. :P)

The Publican looks yummy, actually! There's a lentil and escargot dish I'd like to try. (It has a French name. You can pronounce it for me, so I don't feel like an idiot. :P) And they "showcase" produce grown by inmates in a program that helps them get their Master Gardener certification. (I totally eat that shit up, being a social worker and all. :P)

Anyway, that place looks good to me, but let me know if you turn up anything exciting on that forum!

[evilhippo.livejournal.com]

It completely depends on what you're up for. Downtown tends to be classier and foodier, whereas the neighborhoods trend into the more "authentic" stuff (I'm currently looking at the menu for a well-reviewed Thai place that serves "Fried Worms (Bamboo Caterpillars) $5.50" and "Yum Jelly Fish $5.95 Jelly fish, onion, cilantro mixed with Thai spicy sauce"). LTH is great for the latter. If we're going to do the downtown thing, I think the Publican is our best bet, since it comes highly recommended but is still new to me. I'd just need to remember to make reservations, because it tends to be busy on Saturday nights. (-:

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I feel up for a foodie adventure! Let's go for the Publican, if that works out for you.

[evilhippo.livejournal.com]

Publican it is! That was easy. (-;

[(Anonymous)]

As someone who went to a Montessori school, I can assure you I wasn't out of my chair every five seconds or unable to concentrate and therefore the transition to conventional systems at my (private) primary and secondary schools were not a major issue. In fact it was the biggest leg-up I could have hoped for in terms of reading age and general IQ (though my social skills left much to be desired at that point - perhaps they still do...)

"Hippie" schools (as distinct from Montessori) are definitely a problem though - we had one individual at my Montessori school who arrived from just such a hippie background; he was a complete layabout and his parents still insisted he was actually "really clever". I completely understand where you are coming from when it comes to kids being unable to sit down, but I think it's a parenting problem more than anything else. I expect you'd find the same kids aren't forced to sit still at the table for dinner either.

Stewart

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Ah, see--I meant that mostly tongue-in-cheek! I have no problem with Montessori schools--more than that, I know they all operate differently. I was just thinking of one attached to a daycare I used to work for, which was total chaos, with the kids pretty much wandering as they pleased.

I don't know why so many kids have such an issue sitting in their chair and not getting up without permission--it would have been unthinkable for me at their age! But in the case of this particular kid, I suspect he has deficits in maturity as well as math, and that's why he finds it a particular challenge to stay in his seat for the hour.

[tierfal.livejournal.com]

O_____o No sporting goods store could ever possibly NEED two floors. Just sayin'. I mean, I'm pretty sure some of the Costcos around here could encompass a whole city block, but... at least they... sell tons of different things? ...and the free food samples redeem all of Costco's flaws to me, because I am easily bribed with food. XD

I am... startled that a kid could GET to the first grade without being taught to sit down and stay there and stfu. O_O To the best of my knowledge, school has only gotten stricter since I was that age, and we would have gotten our asses handed to us if we'd tried to wander around all the time. I salute your perseverence. D:

...any kid who would finish a statement with "SPOILER ALERT!" gets my stamp of approval! XD

I know nothing of Chicago-an pursuits, but the whole thing sounds like tons of fun. :D

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Costco is another world entirely. I haven't been inside one in 15 years, but I remember wandering around there as a child. Where else can you buy new tires for your ATV 15 feet away from a barrel of Cheetos?

To the best of my knowledge, school has only gotten stricter since I was that age

If it has, I see no sign of it! It's true that the kids are expected to learn more: they've moved the curriculum down, and homework is a hell of a lot harder than when I was a kid! But as for general discipline and behavior standards? No. WAY more lax!

Ugh, I am just so worn out and cranky today! That one new student, combined with two other new students who also need a lot of attention and guidance, combined with old students with special needs, combined with OVER-SCHEDULING by my employers...ugh. Yeah, tired. (My favorite part today was when one of my bosses was giving her selling spiel to a parent who was thinking about signing up her kid. She said, "And we never schedule more than 5 kids per instructor!" *looks up* *sees EIGHT children seated* "Well, today is an exception..."

BULLSHIT TODAY IS AN EXCEPTION!)

Sorry. You get the "Angry Reply Of The Day!"

Hooray for mini-vacation! :D