The One With The Crazy Gas Station Goers

Did you ever have one of those five minute periods where you shake your head at everyone you meet in a five minute stretch. I did earlier today when I was getting gas. And, boy, did it stick in my craw.

First, as I was pulling into the station itself, a Porsche Cheyenne owner also pulled in and sort of stopped to try to figure out where to go. I had to try to move out of his way because his decision to stop left me in the road. As I tried to go around him he decided to move forward.

As he moved into position in front of a Toyota that was trying to get gas I realized I would have to go on the other side. I turned the corner to get ready to go on the other side when a red car blew right into my spot. Argh. So, I actually had to leave the lot, turn the corner, and come in again.

This time, I positioned myself behind the Toyota, assuming the lady pumping the gas would eventually move. While I waited for her to pump gas - it took some time - and guy turned around in a dark blue car at the pump on the other side of her (which is something I could have done), behind the red car. As soon as he gets out, he unlatches his gas cap and grabs the gas pump....which a lit cigarette in hand. Fortunately, he didn't blow up the entire neighborhood.

I watched as he doused the cigarette and pumped gas. Meanwhile, the Toyota lady finally finished pumping and walked in front of her car. I was home free...she was ready to leave.

Or so I thought. A few moments passed and she never remerged. She literally disappeared. Where she went, I don't know. I am hoping she made it back to her car....but it was like a ghost was there.

I moved around the Toyota to go to a whole new bank of pumps, only to have a large truck pull into the pump I was aiming for. And, he could barely fit and had to back up, almost hitting me.

Needless to say, I had enough. I left (to come back successfully ten minutes later). Fortunately, I had Emmie, Kiff, and Bri with me, otherwise I might have thought I was dreaming.

The One Where Emmie Passes the SEI Test

Ah, the bane of every Massachusetts' teachers existence. The SEI dilemma. Do I take the course (all teachers have heard about that) or do I take the test (they've heard about that, too)?

What to do? What to do? What to do?

Well, recently, Emmie had to make that choice. I gave her a lot of feedback I had received about the course - which is one of several reasons I took the test - and she decided to give the test a go.

Now, I have to admit that the test is not one of the better constructed ones by Pearson, who normally do a pretty good job with these MTELs. This one has some flaws, but with some sound studying and strategy, I know I did well. But that essay - ZOINKS!

And that is what happened with Emmie. She studied a lot (I passed along my old resources to her...and there are so many better ones out now). She took the test. And got her feedback last night.

And she passed. And she did better than me on the essay, which I hope improved in nature since I took it!


Very impressive. Congratulations Emmie

The One With A List of Places We Have Been

We are planning to create a traveling in New England website and are trying to put together a list of places we have gone. This includes:


MA

Sturbridge/ Sturbridge Village
Hanover Theater
Salem/Salem Willows/National Park/Shore
Walden Woods
Battle Lexington and Concord/Minuteman Park
Sandwich/Heritage Plantation
Edaville Railroad
Winthrop/View of Air Planes at Logan
Patton Park
Wenham Museum
Boston Museum of Science
New England Aquarium
Hard Rock Boston
Columbus Park/North End
Boston Tea Party Museum
Blue Hill
Newbury Street
Boston Common/Boston Public Garden