:: The Princess Diaries ::

:: 31.10.02 ::

ahh... the memories.... sniff, sniff...

so, the kids are watching "harry potter" before going on our fieldtrip. and now, every time i watch it, i get all weepy-eyed. it reminds me of my summer spent in oxford, england. and since the movie was filmed there, i recognize a lot of the places and all of the memories come flooding back. oh, i miss oxford and london soooo much! and those accents! how can you not love the great accents? it makes my heart melt... ahh...

:: debbie 10/31/2002 09:44:00 am [+] ::
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my kids are beating me up

now, i've dealt with brattiness, tantrums, dirty looks, attitude, and the occasional inappropriate comment from my students. but, i never thought i would be hurt by them, physically. and of course, when it happens, it's two incidences in one day! i'm so lucky!

incident #1: after trying to tell a student, who "likes his snot," to throw away the tissues he shredded many times, he decides that he wants to make a ghost. he started bunching up the tissue (some of it used) in his hand and tries to make a ghost out of it. then, he looks at me and says, "i want to make miss kim a ghost." and i saw the glimmer in his eye. "no, throw that away." "i want to make miss kim a ghost." "no, you're going to throw that away." "miss kim, i want to make you a ghost." then, he proceeds to turn towards me and throw the tissue on me. and in the process of throwing, hits my clavicle. and it hurt, not a lot, but it hurt. so, not only did i get to have used tissue thrown on me, but i also got hit on my clavicle.

incident #2: shortly after that, in PE, a student, who is about 4'10", probably about 150 lbs, and quite strong, grabs my arm to "play" with me. after whirling me around, she pulls on my hand really hard. "wow! that's my hand!" she giggles, walks away, and continues to shoot baskets. and now, my wrist really hurts.

i love my job.

:: debbie 10/30/2002 10:53:00 pm [+] ::
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ten minutes means....

ten minutes, damn it!
yesterday, i had a group presentation in class. and each group member was supposed to have ten minutes for our parts. and our maximum time limit was an hour and a half. but, of course, i had to have some of the "talkers" in my group. you know who i'm talking about. it's the people who don't know when to just shut-up. they are the ones who make class longer than it has to be. they are the ones who think they know everything. they are the ones who like to just hear themselves talk. and they are the ones who piss me off. by the time 4 of the 8 of the group members went, two hours already had passed by. well, where does that leave the rest of us? we went well over time and there was still another group who had to present their topic. so, the last four of us had 3 minutes to talk. what the hell is that? i mean, come on, now. but, that didn't stop one group member, she still talked for about ten minutes. God forbid talking within the time you were given, so the rest of us could talk. i just don't get it. and here's a pleasant thought, these are the people who are going to be the teachers of your children. home-schooling doesn't sound so bad now, does it?

:: debbie 10/30/2002 04:31:00 pm [+] ::
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humbled by someone else's pride

i saw "bloody sunday" this past weekend. and damn, it's a good film. "bloody sunday" is a film that stands alone. there was no soundtrack or any fancy special effects to make this a blockbuster. i came out of that movie humbled and in awe of the strength and pride of the people of northern ireland. but, at the same time, it's sad to think that such a small country is dealing with so much turmoil and hate. "bloody sunday" is truly a film of great caliber. anyone with a soul will respond to this film.

I can't believe the news today
I can't close my eyes and make it go away.
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
'Cos tonight
We can be as one, tonight.

Broken bottles under children's feet
Bodies strewn across the dead-end street.
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Oh, let's go.

And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won?
The trenches dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters
Torn apart.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
'Cos tonight
We can be as one, tonight.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your bloodshot eyes.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality.
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die.

The real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus won
On...

Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" - U2

:: debbie 10/28/2002 10:43:00 pm [+] ::
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out of service

i've been thinking about what i can write. and i can' t think of anything. i mean, there are things i can write, but nothing of real interest or entertainment. i think that's a bad sign. i've been sucked into the monotonous life that i dreaded. and i'm only 23 years old! damn, i might as well be in my 30's or something! what's become of me? will someone rescue me from this?

please?

:: debbie 10/24/2002 10:40:00 pm [+] ::
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am i a teacher or what?

after years of worrying about how i would turn out in yearbook pictures, my first year working, i decided i wouldn't take a staff yearbook picture. and i was really happy with that decision. i promised myself that as long as i work in a school, i would not take yearbook pictures. that is, until this year.

this year, the staff was told that if we didn't take a yearbook picture, "they" would use our id pictures. seeing that id pictures are never flattering, i was left with no choice but to take a yearbook picture. i was suckered into this little game... and lost.

all of a sudden, i felt like i was in high school all over again, as a student. and now, i'm debating on whether or not i want to retake my picture. what has the world come to? since when did i care what puny, spoiled high school students thought of my picture? i don't! really, i don't!

:: debbie 10/23/2002 10:17:00 pm [+] ::
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"they're watching you!"

there is a student in my class who a couple of weeks ago started telling me how pretty i was. and for the first couple of times, it was flattering. i know i don't take compliments well, but this is just too much. now, everyday, she says to me, "miss kim, you're so pretty!" and not only that, but then, i'll catch her staring at me and it's creepy! i'm not sure if she's in a daze or fog, or if she's thinking some insano thoughts. freaky, i tell you! just straight out freaky!

:: debbie 10/22/2002 04:40:00 pm [+] ::
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You're in my mind all of the time
I know that's not enough
If the sky can crack there must be someway back
For love and only love

"electrical storm" - U2

:: debbie 10/21/2002 04:30:00 pm [+] ::
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crink in my neck

so, this morning, i woke up with this terrible "crink" in my neck. and for the entire day, i couldn't turn my head to the left. i told one of my students that i had this "crink" and all she did was just giggle at me. then, later on in the day, i was working at a computer and this same student decides to come up behind me and put her arms around my neck! and anytime she hugs or puts her hands or arms on me, it's like all of a sudden, this tremendous amount of weight has descended upon me. good grief, i can't describe how nervous i was. it didn't hurt that much, but i was afraid that with any sudden movements of jerks, she would send me into a terrible shock of pain. but, then again, because she has such a strong grip, i was going to ask her to massage my neck and sore arms. but, that would be consider some sort of harassment or something. so, i sucked it up and went the whole day tense and in pain.

:: debbie 10/21/2002 04:09:00 pm [+] ::
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is it friday yet? oh my goodness! it is!!!

all day yesterday, i kept thinking it was friday. but, it wasn't. can you imagine the misery i was going through?
but, alas, today is friday! oh the joy! but, this has not been a typical friday and that's all right. i guess distruptions and unexpected outbursts make for an exciting day. and if that's the case, my day has been an action-packed, heart-stopping morning. and the day isn't even over yet. i know you're jealous. you know you want to be here...

:: debbie 10/18/2002 12:25:00 pm [+] ::
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when you least expect it, but when you need it the most.

it's great how when you're feeling your worst, the littlest things can make you feel so much better (even if it is a bit childish and trivial.)
i was having the week from hell. you know, the kind that just doesn't stop and makes you want to run around screaming and stuff. and so, after my midterm, i was facing another night of reading and studying. so, i decided to head over to my place of comfort, starbucks, and get my most favorite drink, a caramel macchiato. and as i'm driving, very aggitated and annoyed with every driver on the road, i get a phone call. the next few minutes just made me perk up. this phone call was something i totally needed. and so, i was able to drink my caramel macchiato (skim milk and extra caramel) happily and in a good mood.

yay for surprise phone calls!!!

HRH debbie

:: debbie 10/16/2002 10:51:00 pm [+] ::
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as the young second year staff hurries out of the building on her way to class, she sees two boys outside fighting. there are many things that she ignores or "doesn't notice," but fighting isn't one of them. she tells the boys, who appear to be freshmen, to stop. and instead of stopping, they ignore her and continue.
annoyed, she yells, "you need to stop!"
the two young boys look at her and say, "are you a teacher?"
a bit more annoyed, she looks at them and says, "yes." she doesn't pull out her id figuring that she doesn't have to "prove" herself to the freshmen.
one of the boys, who stands at about 4 feet 10 inches, says, "it's not my fault. he started it."
not caring one bit and more annoyed, she says, "i don't care whose fault it is. you aren't supposed to be fighting."
the other involved boy is just standing laughing. the little boy then proceeds to say, "oh man. i'm always the one who gets in trouble."
"no, you're both in trouble. give me your ID's."
both of them don't have it. "you don't have your ID's?" a bit pissed off now, she then has to pull out a piece of paper and a pen.
the two boys continue to argue and make matters only worse for themselves. now, the young second year staff is annoyed and says, "you need to stop. and to make things worse, you've made me late." she takes down their names and id numbers and brings the two boys inside to the security desk.
the two guards at the desk are enjoying themselves, chatting and snacking. she gets their attention and tells them the situation. one of the guards looks a bit bewildered and takes a minute to soak in what was said and what was going on.
the smaller boy of the two is still talking and arguing. the young second year staff, completely annoyed and pissed, turns to him and says, "you're not in a good situation right now. so, you just need to be quiet." and that finally shuts him up.
when everything is said and done, the two boys will be referred to their deans and the young second year staff gets to leave the strange place people call a "high school." and as she heads out to her car, she hears the boys say, "i thought she was a senior or something. the teachers usually have that id."
not wanting to deal with the teenagers anymore, the young second year staff walks to her car and heads downtown to class. and all the while in her car, she is still aggitated and begins to feel the stress and pressure from work and school getting to her. there isn't any physical pain or anything. but she just feels so pent up. and she finds it strange that this isn't the type of stress that makes her want to spend money, listen to gangster rap, eat, or sleep. it's a new type of stress. and it just feels like she's about to burst and go into a frenzy. and she continues to ask herself, "why am i doing all of this? why?"

:: debbie 10/16/2002 04:42:00 pm [+] ::
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as a young second year staff walks back to her classroom, the teacher on hall monitoring duty, who has seen her many time before, stops her and asks, "excuse me, pass?"
she stops and shows him her id. she never leaves the classroom without it. feeling foolish, he says, "oh that's right." she keeps on walking and he says, "you know, that's a compliment."
she thinks to herself, "well, not when you're 23 and you're being mistaken for a high schooler." she just smiles and goes back to the room.

a few days later, the same young second year staffer is walking briskly back to her classroom. and the same hall monitor just from a few days before rudely says, "uh, where is your pass?"
a wee bit annoyed, she stops dead in her tracks and thinks, "did you not pay attention the first five weeks of school and all of last year? seriously annoyed, she turns and says, "i'm a teacher." it takes a while for the napoleon-complexed teacher to soak in what was said. and he replies, "oh, that's right. well, you shouldn't be running in the halls anyway."
she thinks to herself, "what just happened? running? you've got to be joking me. whatever."

later on, she tells her co-workers about the annoying incidents. and they say to her, "oh, yeah. he's weird. he was probably flirting with you."
"he's retiring this year. he likes the younger women. i'll say something to him."
what? that is disgusting! for God's sakes, man! you're supposed to be a professional and besides, you're old!

that's nasty. but, that's what i deal with at work on an almost daily basis.

:: debbie 10/15/2002 04:39:00 pm [+] ::
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have you gone? is it my turn yet?

something i've been thinking about and realized is how good i've become at waiting. well, at least, that's how it appears on the outside.

and is it just me or when a person emails or calls another person, is it not up to that person to reply in a timely fashion? these waiting games are just ridiculous and quite annoying. "waiting" and "patience" has been a recurring theme in my life these days. how long does a person have to wait? how long is too long? i feel like i'm waiting for santa claus, when in reality, he doesn't exist. well, damn, can someone help me out here?

:: debbie 10/14/2002 04:30:00 pm [+] ::
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the new love of my life...

yesterday i went to a bulls' scrimmage game with mina, min jung, yoo jung, esther kang, phyllis, phil, victor, vincent (victor's brother), and two of vince's friends. we went early and stood outside for what seemed like forever. when we got inside the united center, we hit some lines to get autographs. and after the mj-pippen-rodman dynasty, i stopped keeping track of who was on the bulls. the only player i knew was jalen rose. but, when in rome, right? so, i got some autographs from players i didn't know. but, on the way to get jalen's autograph, i got an autograph from david graves, a rookie. and at first glance, he just appeared to be a tall white guy, not that bad looking. he was really friendly and stuff, but, my eyes were set on jalen. i got his autograph and moved on. we went inside and kept changing seats. we ended up seating in the third row. we were so close. it was fun. there was so much going on that i had such a hard time focusing on anything. but, not to worry. i soon found something (or rather someone) to watch. that rookie, david graves was sitting across the court on the bench. and the more i looked at him, the cuter he was. for the almost an hour, i was fixated on this rookie from notre dame. he seemed like he was having such a good time during the scrimmage, even though he didn't get to play. it turns out that he is also the same age me. pretty cool. so, i guess i have reason now to watch bulls' games this season. graves is my second chicago athlete crush. apparently, i'm fond of chicago cubs pitcher, kyle farnsworth. yeah, i'm a loser, i know.

:: debbie 10/13/2002 10:35:00 pm [+] ::
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it doesn't take much to make me happy.
a good movie. a slice of tiramisu. peanut butter and chocolate ice cream.
a U2 song. the chicago skyline. the smell of autumn... and a good haircut by an amazing stylist.
this one goes out to VJ, my stylist, who made my "hair" dreams come true and for fighting the bigger battle.

~ i first met VJ when i was just desperate to get a haircut and she happened to have an open time. not only was she a good stylist, but she was also a proud mother, a sweet lady, and a dedicated stylist. she gave me a great haircut and showed me how i could make my hair wavy. and you don't know how long i had been wanting to be able to make my hair wavy. and then, she told me that i could get a perm that would produce the same style. i felt like i was enlightened, i was so excited. so, i made an appointment to get my hair permed. a few days before i was supposed to go in, my appointment was cancelled. i was told that my stylist, VJ, had an emergency and was out sick. "what? oh man." i was so disappointed and had to reschedule for two weeks later. so, i went in the other day, after a long day at work,whiny and tired. when i met VJ, she apologized for cancelling and we proceeded to start on my hair. while she was putting in the rollers, she told me that she had breast cancer. and at that moment, everything i was going through and my complaints shrank into nothing. i was ashamed that i had been such a baby. and after a week of having surgery, VJ was back at work, giving me a perm with her stitches still in, trying to lead a normal life. wow. she also shared that she didn't tell many people. i was flattered that she confided in me. and so, after many rollers, three bottles of perm solution, nodding off in the chair, and three hours, VJ's "project" was complete. and it turned out great. once again, VJ had worked her magic hands and gave me a great style. she made me feel so great despite the fact that she felt like crap.

my hero of the week - VJ at mario tricoci's - old orchard.

:: debbie 10/11/2002 10:12:00 pm [+] ::
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it's friday afternoon.
do you remember friday afternoons in high school?
how about in elementary school?
well, take the sugar level of elementary students and place them in a high school.
that's what we have here, at niles north. you gotta love it.
but, sometimes i wonder how i haven't gone insane or turned to the bottle yet.
"serenity now!"

:: debbie 10/11/2002 01:19:00 pm [+] ::
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Hello everyone!

I thought it might be fun and amusing to share with my fans my thoughts and opinions now and again. I know you're all thrilled, so please calm down. But, why "The Princess Diaries"? Why else? Because I'm a princess. So, stay tuned folks...

:: debbie 10/11/2002 09:28:00 am [+] ::
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