It's Official

I heard today that I've been recertified to teach the redesigned SAT.  As I wrote earlier this week, I figured I would be recertified, but it's nice to know it's official.

As an added bonus, I also got word that I passed a quiz to complete an ACT training update based mostly on upcoming changes to the essay.

Hooray for me.

Matz at the Bat

Steven Matz made his Mets major league debut today. There was a lot of talk that what the Mets needed wasn't another pitcher, but a hitter.

Today Matz gave them both: strong pitching as well as a record setting performance with four RBI's.

The Mets are on a four game winning streak, swept the Reds and are now three games over .500.

Can I believe again?

TCM Summer of Darkness

I signed up to take a free online course, Summer of Darkness, via TCM (my favorite channel) and the Canvas Network on Film Noir. It started on June 1, and I'm woefully behind.

I get emails Monday through Thursday with short clips from selected films and some thoughts. TCM airs the full movies and more each Friday. Students can comment on Twitter and/or TCM message boards. There's some additional reading and video lectures.

Students can certificates for completing the class if they take quizzes. I'm working my way through the emails, films, reading and lectures, trying to catch up.

SAT Re-Certification and Training Weekend

I have the weekend off, a stark contrast to last weekend when I had  RSAT--redesigned SAT training--for two full days. I also had a lot of prep to do beforehand. We have four new books and a new test (no, I didn't do them all.) I'm sure more materials and changes are on the way. It was an intense weekend, but it was also fun.

The RSAT doesn't debut until next March, but the redesigned PSAT will rear its ugly head this October. We have to be prepared.

I haven't heard officially that I "passed." That's slightly annoying, but I'm sure I would have heard already if I had messed up.

Posting Problems

A more precise total would be Not-Posting Problems. 20 days since my last entry. Why haven't I been writing?

I can't explain it. I've been relatively busy, but not crazy busy, so that's not it. I know that each day without a post puts posting further back in my mind. Then by the time I think about posting--I'm too tired or lazy.

I've started about four posts when I haven't been posting. Ah, that's it. It's the finishing that's the problem. That could be my six word novel mantra. Yes, I can finish six-words. Apparently not short blog posts.

I'll have to try harder.

Wonder if anyone missed me.

The Fourth Visit's the Charm

For the first time this year, I made it to the gym four times in a week. Ideally, this would be a common occurrence and not a rarity. But for now, it's an accomplishment. Hooray for me.

DP Thursday

This afternoon Spike and I went to the dog park. It was a beautiful day: sunny, cool breeze, flowery scent. It was a great time.

          I need to remember how much I enjoy these visits, More importantly, I
          need to remember how much these visits mean to Spike.

       

Happy Anniversary Johan and the Mets

Three years ago, Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in Mets history.

Many other pitchers had come close with one-hitters, but Johan remains the only Met to go that distance.

I hope this game didn't short circuit the rest of his career, as some have claimed.

Who will be next?

On Time Management and To-Do Lists

A recent post describes a week derailed. I realize how much more my week would have been affected if Spike had been a child rather than a dog.

I wrote last year that I can't expect what to expect.

These thoughts are swirling in my mind. As I write this, I realize that I won't get to bed early, which was my plan about an hour ago. But when I was doing the dishes, I realized that I needed to write. I've been remiss in blogging; my last post took me several days to finish. Even if no one's reading, I'm better when I write.

After my derailed week and feeling wiped out by a severe allergy season, I started this week by trying to be focused and goal oriented. Today my goals were to go to the gym, make carrot ginger soup, clean the kitchen (maybe the bath too) and tutor.

But it occurred to me that today was a perfect opportunity to make chili. It was rainy and cool and I didn't have to work until 4. So, I changed my plans. After my workout, I stopped at the grocery store to get two cans of crushed tomatoes. I had everything else I needed to make a double batch of flank steak chili. The result is that the kitchen floor is still dirty, but I have more food options for the next two weeks. We had chili for dinner tonight with a salad. I froze about half of the remaining chili and have a few lunches or dinners of chili in the frig. Tomorrow we'll try the carrot ginger soup at dinner. I also froze almost half of that. I think the sacrifice of a clean kitchen floor was worth it.

Tomorrow is my late night; I work from 4 to 9. I need to prep for a tutoring student and my ACT class.Thinking about a pasta salad for dinner along with the carrot ginger soup. I should be able to clean the kitchen floor too.