Life & Death, Yin & Yang, & Reviews & Re-Visions…and Teaching?

Watch this awesome video a person I know gave about his experience with depression, and how the “head bullies” created a warped view of the world in his mind. Any and everyone can relate- everyone gets a little depressed and a lot of people get a lot depressed. As he put it, we’re on a continuum of depression (vs. happiness)

It’s a 2-part video, here is the conclusion:

That’s depressing. I mean, no offense to Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz, we’re all human, but @#$% #$%. Way to sensationalize these storms like they’re scintillating news stories. The potentially “crippling” snow storm (I actually don’t even want to link to NBC’s article on it- don’t want them getting visits/ads) looks like it’s sort of winding down, and according to the latest weather updates, it could be pretty much over for us in PA by 3-6am. So vague, these weather reports!

Philadelphia’s Grub Street blog had a great idea – suggesting some places in the city with some beers to help you toast the snow storm and “pray for a snow day”.

I’ve been wasting time, getting increasingly upset (thought for sure it’d be a snow day earlier, then thought least a late start- now not even sure of that!), and starting to do work in preparation for what could be not just a regular day of school, but one with an ugly commute. And that means I have to stay up later doing work, and get up earlier to leave to go to school

Why do I always seem more like a student than a teacher?!

I can’t get into it too much, for obvious reasons (the internet and the tubes), but, I do have one other more promising potential lined up. I’m serving up maternity leaves left and right, maybe that’s my new thing.

Oh, wait, no. It’s not fun. It doesn’t have that ‘job-security’ thing teaching is supposed to, and it means a lot of getting used to things and work only to have to leave and start it all over again.

No thanks. If I’m going to last in the teaching profession, I need to find the right school and stuff. More on this later. Maybe.

For now, everyone in the Philadelphia area, PLEASE PRAY FOR MORE SNOW! :p

**IMPORTANT UPDATE: I did get a snow day!**

My boyfriend went home, and, in being away from me for a week, somehow got a virus on his computer (I won’t blame him, except for letting other people use his computer).

He got the “System Tool” virus.

It disabled his anti-virus, and wouldn’t allow any similar programs to open, shows scary messages threatening that you have a lot of viruses on your computer, prompts you to do a fake scan, and then it tries to get you to buy the premium to remove them. And it’s a…dundundundun…trojan virus!

I used some website or other that gave good instructions on how to get rid of it (I’m sure you could google to get your own).

Long story short,

Restart your computer, but hit f8 at startup so you can go into “safe mode with networking” and then download the malwarebytes anti-malware tool.

I was at first wary of the malwarebytes anti-malware I’d have to install once in safe mode, but after reading about it on download’s review, I felt better.

It did as it promised, and found 5 infected viruses, 3 trojan, 2 rogue, and it removed them.

Fast shipping, would buy from again!

Err…meaning, I am pleased with the results. It was nice to be able to do that, I felt empowered, as a woman, you know. Well, at least, somewhat tech-savvy.

Happy New Year!

I felt pressure to get in an end-of-year-looking-back-summary-blog, thinking I’d done that every year, but I haven’t. Only a few times. I’m more likely to discuss what is the world today.

Overall, 2010 was stellar. It was amazing. My personal life was swell, my job situation changed for the better, and I got good news about my dad’s health. I could have done things differently/better, but I also really realized I was placing too much of a priority on perfection, and stressing myself out with unrealistically high expectations. I came to see that making more time for spiritual growth and reflection would in the end give me more time.

There was some tragedy, more than I ever would have thought possible. Two very sad deaths. One of them being a cousin, married to a childhood friend of mine, leaving behind 3 children. The other, also unexpected, was my best friend’s brother. I still can’t really tell how they’ve affected me. Life goes on, but, it has led me to think I will probably leave the teaching profession in 2011. It’s too much to be so “on display” all the time. I need a lower-stress job, and, for me, teaching is very stressful.

But I had a lot of good interactions, great times (amazing vacations, getaways, and awesome weddings- including my brother’s!!!), and a whole lot of love.

I can’t complain. I really can’t. I’m very lucky, and very in love with life. I am glad that 2010 was way better than 2009, but also very different. Each year is an exciting, different path in the challenge of life’s ups and downs.

It’s an interesting experience, life. 2011 brings exciting possibilities for me. I have some goals, but, I’ll save those for next year.

Since I haven’t done hardly anything responsible in the past few days (about a week now I’ve been mostly sitting on the couch and watching stuff all day, playing snake intermittently on and off). Uh…fewer brain cells.

Anyway, one link I’ve kept open on my computer, is one dealing with money. A love-hate thing for SO many people. And necessary for virtually everyone.

This particular article deals with an idea that can help you figure out what you need to deal with most, financially. I believe (to give credit to some company I love, I found it on mint‘s blog site).
“Out with the old, in with the new- do a mind sweep”. It is a great idea. You basically brainstorm everything you’re thinking of, ironically, and it will help you figure out what to do. Allowing yourself enough time to come up with every to-do and pesky nagger, and thing you’ve been neglecting, obsessing, or conveniently forgetting.

Anyway, it’s funny that they suggested a ‘cold winter weekend day’ or something like that. I could have done that any of these past 3-4 days. But, alas, I really indulged in being sick and getting over it. By doing…..nothing. Watching stuff.

It’s cool. Now that I’ve blogged about it, it’s there. And maybe someone else will be inspired by it!

Until the next time, I’m out nerds! (30-rock marathon speaking).

I wrote “hear” instead of “here” as a reference to all the end of year mashups/best-of’s people make (Rolling Stones’ lists, anyone?). I care most about music, so I like a lot of the “best album of the year” and all that stuffs. But, I also love DJ Earworm’s top 25 billboard mashups.

I mentioned Taio Cruz’ Dynamite a few months back after my little brother got married and that was the song they danced in to.

I believe I’ve also mentioned DJ earworm before? If I haven’t, I’m appalled. He does some great mashups.

And here is his 2010 hot hip hoppity hits song smashup.

I like it a lot.

My favorite is still. @#$%. I forgot which year. I’m getting older. Some don’t compare to the others as well as the others. I guess it all depends on your personal preferences, which I’ll allow. I also guess there have been a number of other factors that have caused me to have positive feelings for some of this crappy popular music.

What can I say? It’s time to get down, ladies and gentlemen…the end of the year is almost here!

My END OF YEAR REPORT BLOG (or whatever it’s called) is almost here!

a lot of people are on vacation. even more schools are on vacation. i must admit i’m sad that i’m not yet on vacation, and sometime around these parts of the year, my birthday happens. i’m happy to say i will be free-sailing soon. and i did get an observation at school that went pretty well. good times.

i could be doing a lot more, a lot better, but, i deserve a break. so i’ll start easing into it now.

too bad i can’t go away somewhere for the big C-mas. to help me get in a unique holiday spirit, i’m now going to go watch the “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Christmas Special”. reminds me of one of the first dates i had with my boyfriend, of almost a year now!

lots to celebrate, i guess. and once i’m on break, i’ll feel it. i’ll know it. i will love and cherish it.

i’ve got it. it’s the 11-12 hour workdays, and the uncertainty of the future, combined with a number of other things. like not having much to do/not knowing where i’m going (if anywhere) for christmas. and i work up until december 24th.

that might be the most depressing thing. and i kinda hate it. and. my birthday is some point around this time and i’m sad i have to work for it.

guess it’s part of being a 20something. suck. my attitude could use a makeover. but i’m surprised at the extent to which i’ve been affected.

i’m sure the 4-5 hour a night sleep average is causing much of the issue. and it’s work/school/stress-related. and yet i cannot stop the cycle. even when i “just do my work”, there still seems to be more and more.

i might up and leave EVERYTHING and head to a spanish-speaking island, so i can disappear, and learn spanish.

good idea.

This video is great. I love Taio Cruz’ “Dynamite”, but it did get a little tired.
But, it’s been a while, and, this goes out to all the Jewish people I know.

“Candlelight” – The Maccabeats

Great a capella, hilarious, delightful.

…but how could I inspire them if they beforst me had not inspired me?!

Except in the case of the kids, where I think it is a one-way street.

JK! Students teach me lessons all the time, granted, a lot of the time it’s sort of a what-not-to-do kind of instance.

Love the world! (Running makes me euphoric).