Shades of Hoover?

I'm a union member. My union has done some good things for me and some bad things, but the good things have been far more numerous. When I was struggling with my first two grade seven classes, they protected my job by enforcing the professional evaluation process, which ensured me another chance. I've become a good teacher in large part because the union wouldn't let any of those first four principals fire me. (Yes, four. In two years. Three were within five months - and I got knocked for lack of consistency in following office procedures. But that's another story.)

So when I learn that the Bush administration is going to sneak through a changed definition of who constitutes a manager, to include pretty much every senior worker in most industries, I get angry. I'm the lead literacy teacher for the junior division at my school. I would meet the new definition of management - though I have no power to define anyone else's job, hire, or fire. Oh, and some years I have an EA, who is technically under my supervision.

This doesn't affect me, thank God. But anything that makes it harder for workers to get fairness from their employers is a bad thing.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/38823/?cID=154141#c154141

Baa!

Stolen from the ever-wonderful sassy_fae, who stole it from the equally-wonderful anidada.


01. Elaborate on your default icon.

My daughters, when the younger one was less than a week old. I love this picture.

02. What's your current relationship status?
Married

03. Ever have a near-death experience?
No.

04. Name an obvious quality you have?
Very opinionated, and not inclined to change opinions without an awfully good reason.

05. What's the name of the song that's stuck in your head right now?
"Poor Unfortunate Souls", from "The Little Mermaid." Yes, I have small children.

06. Any celeb you would marry?
No way.

07. Who will cut and paste this first?
No idea - Melstra, perhaps?

08. Name someone with the same birthday as you:
My second cousin Rene. I haven't seen him in about twenty years - I believe he lives on a military base down East, but I'm not sure.

09. Do you have a crush on someone?
Yep!

10. Have you ever vandalized someone's private property?
I don't think so.

11. Have you ever been in a fight?
Yes. I'm the eldest of four kids. Outside of family - no.

12. Have you ever sung in front of a large audience?
Yes. Lots. Once at Roy Thompson Hall.

13. What's the first thing you notice about a member of the OPPOSITE sex?
Their intelligence, as defined by their conversational skills.

14. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
Chai latte - but I don't go very often. I'm a Timmy's girl.

15. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
No.

16. Say something totally random about yourself.
I have the most wonderful little family in the world.

17. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
Yes - my husband once said I look like Anneke somebody, a Dr. Who companion from the seventies.

18. Do you wear a watch? What kind?

No. I've never found one that doesn't cause a rash from my nickel allergy, and still looks professional.

19. Do you have anything pierced?

My ears used to be, but the nickel allergy made it so difficult to find decent earrings that i let them grow over.

20. Do you have any tattoos?
No.

21. Do you like pain?
Not particularly.

22. Do you like to shop?
Yes, to my occasional chagrin.

23. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
A bunch of plastic storage containers at the dollar store.

24. What was the last thing you paid for with a credit card?
Two nursing bras. And they're fabulous.

25. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone?
My MIL.

26. What is on your desktop background?
My older daughter, under her Winnie the Pooh umbrella, walking in the rain.

27. What is the background on your cell phone?
I have managed to avoid the cell phone craze entirely.

28. Do you like redheads?
Yes - I wouldn't be at all upset if the hint of red in Claire's hair decided to stay put. Surprised, yes; upset, no.

29. Do you know any twins?
Yes.

30. Do you have any weird relatives?
My husband does. Mine are generally weird in very commonplace ways. But the stories we tell about his Brockville cousins. . .

31. What was the last movie you watched?
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

32. What was the last book you read?
All the way through? The Saggy Baggy Elephant.

33. Did you or are you planning to go to college?
University. What an obviously American question.

34. What is your favorite pair of pants that you own?
My navy-blue cords for comfort, my black brushed cords for style.

35. Do you like to party?
Not exactly - I like intimate gatherings of friends with whom I feel comfortable, where the noise level is not too high for real conversation and/or gaming.

36. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Sending my second child to kindergarten, possibly with a smaller one at home still, but probably still teaching and still in this house.

Breastfeeding link

http://www.todaysparent.com/pregnancybirth/breastfeeding/article.jsp?content=20060706_094643_4768&page=1

It's about the doctor in Toronto who is considered the leading expert on breastfeeding anywhere.