how you came to be sitting 10 feet away from Willie Mays, and whether you talked to him, and what he said.

I did not talk to Mr. Mays - the line to talk to him before lunch was huge, and I didn't want to bother him while he was eating. The guys sitting at his table looked like the cat who got the cream, though.

Benitez was very positive and optimistic about the season and his role in it - he's looking so much healthier than he was, and he's really determined to stay healthy and show his talent and teamwork. (And yes, I know they have to put their face on, but it was still nice to hear.) He also demonstrated his grasps for his pitches and talked about the new ways of communication between the pitcher & the catcher that the Giants are trying out (they're not using hand signals any more).

Zito? Looked like he stole Beckham's wardrobe, but he smells good.

Omar Vizquel said a few words and was hilarious. Steve Kline was right behind me and very jockish. Rich Aurilia also spoke and is very happy to be back with the Giants.

All of it was in support of Junior Giants and the Giants Community Fund, so we had a lot of tributes to that. And to Willie Mays. It was cool.

Kiss your mother for me, Cindy.

I'm tired of being looked down on by students and American society in general for being a teacher. The educational system may fail some students, by and large, most teachers don't. I chose this job; I didn't "fall back" on it, and I'm fucking smart; I could indeed being making more money as a lawyer or a doctor but I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I spend more time with more kids than most parents.

I impart morals; I teach ethics; I encourage free thinking and reading and tolerance and joy and creativity, and I hold students to high standards. Kids have my phone number, I make sure they have food; I celebrate their lives with them, and and am like a big sister and an aunt and a strong female role model for boys and girls alike.

I do not deserve ANYONE'S scorn.

(Wow, this has REALLY pissed me off! Still.)

Can you call her family, Erin? I don't blame you for being outraged. And I know how much of yourself you put into your students, just from the things I've seen you do here (the book drive, etc.). You are one of the gems for whom most parents would sacrifice their eye teeth, if they could get you to teach their children. I have to say that about all of our teachers, here. I'm always so impressed with all of you. I'm sorry the kid is so rude and hostile.

I love you, Erin. You've nicely summed up my opinion of education.

For a funny teaching moment, I was going over something with a student today and said, "C.S. Lewis was Irish and J.R.R. Tolkien was English. You need to find quotes by Asian people."

She looked at me amazed and said, "How do you know that?"

I just looked at her. She looked a bit cowed and said, "Wow, you're smart."

I laughed and said, "I'm a teacher. All teachers are smart."

So, maybe that last statement was exactly true, but it got my point across.

Post Toasties,

And I agree with Cindy. Would a call home do any good?

So, maybe that last statement was exactly true, but it got my point across.

I love that this sentence doesn't have a 'not' in it.

I love that this sentence doesn't have a 'not' in it.

Oops! So much for that "smart" cred!

No, because her mom totally spoils her. Her mom is part of the problem, always takes the daughter's side.

Granted, the student has had some heinous medical issues, and I do feel sorry for her about that, but it doesn't entitle her to this disdain. If the mother wants a conference, that's fine, but it doesn't accomplish anything but add to the girl's parentally reinforced sense of entitlement.

Ah, me. She's just a sad little nasty-tongued teenager. What makes it so hard is that I could tear her to shreds with a few carefully chosen words, but I won't. Because it would provide nothing but a (nastily fine and pleasant) temporary sense of satisfaction. And my job is to take the high road, and today I did let me temper get away from me a bit.

Her mom is part of the problem, always takes the daughter's side.

That sucks. In situations like that, I wonder if the parents realize that they are assisting in turning their Dear Child into an adult no one will like.

What makes it so hard is that I could tear her to shreds with a few carefully chosen words, but I won't

If it will make you feel better, I can pretend to be a nasty teen girl and you can say them to me.

Hee. I did that in my head walking back from the bookstore. I was coldy contemptuous, acerbically pointed, and, most of all, RIGHT.

But even in my imagination, it didn't do any good.

Le sigh.