It's Better to Burn Out...

I have many interesting conversations with my ladies in my adult class on Wednesday mornings.
Today, we talked about some social/environmental issues and opinions on these to practice passive voice. We were talking of animals in zoos and whether they/we thought that was good or bad. One woman was saying how she appreciated the zoo when her sons were young, but now she thought that animals should not be kept in cages and that they should be in the wild.

I was reminded of how when my kids were young I also appreciated having a zoo to take the kids. The kids spent hours looking around the zoo. We spent a whole day there for a measly 50 cents - it was usually a dollar (or so) but it was half price when we went because it was Children's Day. I also remembered how we also went to a museum on the same day to see a dinosaur exhibit. The boys LOVED dinosaurs, but they went through that exhibit in like, five minutes. We spent at least 10 dollars a person to get in. Probably 20 for adults. I thought, What a waste of money! Of course, I naturally appreciated the zoo a lot more. Now that I don't have small kids, and I am a bit older, I don't feel the necessity of a zoo as much. I understand how people would feel it was just cruel to animals. And in this day and age, when museums provide digital tours, it seems that we could do without actual zoos and have 3D digital wilderness tours instead. Is there such a thing? Then I began to think of the cost-effectiveness of the zoos here and how much more expensive museums are and began to wonder why. Doesn't feeding the animals cost a ton of money? And yet, zoos are subsidized. While museums and other attractions are not. Why is that? Museums should be subsidized so that more people can go and enjoy the art or archeology or whatever.

** I also thought a bit about how zoos actually protect animals from extinction as well - how if we did do away with zoos for the sake of letting the wild animals roam free, they would be out of sight, out of mind, for those of us in populated areas, and be killed off for various reasons including poachers.

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I had a weird day today. I was in a crazy chipper mood with the kids in the afternoon, much less tired than I usually am. In my first class, my students were doing a test. At the beginning of the test was a dialogue for which the children had to fill in the blanks. The dialogue went like this:

Happy Birthday, Jenny! How old are you?
I'm seven years old.
This is for you! (giving present)
Thank you!

We had practiced this dialogue together so they knew it by ear, but can't really identify the written words much yet, and they couldn't remember how the dialogue went so I was trying to give them a hint by humming to them the rhythm of the conversation. Here, you can listen to me humming it. (You can share your version too if you like LOL) One of the students totally got what I was getting at. She is much more musical than the other, which may have helped. I was giggling away as I hummed it, I thought it was soooooo funny at the time.

Oh, I made pizza with cauliflower crust today. It needed a little more work for next time - more sauce, more cheese, but it turned out pretty good and the food made me happy even without anything weird in it (as far as I know...). OK, I just looked up cauliflower and it "is full of vitamin B6 and folate, which your body uses to make neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine." So, I guess maybe that was it???! Plus, I ate a ton of lentils yesterday. That could have done it too. LOL!

Anyway, I thought I'd share a bit of my interesting/weird day with you.

I am watching How to Get Away with Murder. I am in Season 2, I think, where Conner and Oliver break up... or rather, Oliver dumps Conner. I sat there going, "no. no. no...... no don't do that.... oh, no.... poor Conner awwwwwwww!!! *heartbroken*" OMG Conner was so adorable and kawaisooooooo :((((( booo. I'm still watching Shameless, but not continually because I can't watch it on TV. HTGAWM was so dark and depressing at first I wasn't intending to keep watching, but as the students gradually got to know each other and bonded, there were good friendship moments, there were more romantic moments and sometimes even comedic moments and it got much better.

The site where I was getting my free digital books was shut down. Boo. I know, I know, but it's the only way I can afford to read as many books as I want. I wish I could get a proofreading job or something so that I could read a gazillion books for free without feeling guilty about it.

1) What are you wearing right now?
An ivy green sleeveless knit shirt and navy culottes with a white sunflower or merrygold print all over the culottes are very light cotton, long and easily mistaken for a skirt. I also have some ankle socks on.

2) What would you rather be wearing right now?
I am not unhappy with what I am wearing, but I wouldn't mind just being in my shorts and tank. It is so hot and muggy. Also, I really need some more tops that fit my present stature more. All my clothes are so baggy.

3) What is your favorite outfit of clothing that you currently own and wear?
A long pencil style cotton brown skirt that flares down at my ankles. I bought it in Canada before my wedding and I have gone on and off wearing it due to my changing weight, but I can wear it again and I am enjoying it.

4) What is your favorite outfit of clothing that you have ever worn?( Because there are cute pictures of me below the cut )

1. If you could spend 24 hours locked in a room with anyone, from any time in history (including present) or a fictional character, who would you choose?
Jesus. Yup.

First I thought my favorite fictional character, Dean, from Supernatural. I would have a lot to say to him. The fact that he changed my life, that he gives many people courage to keep on fighting, and have some hot steamy sex if he is agreeable.

But what if I could talk with The Man? AND have the chance to hear his answers? I thought God at first, but Jesus seems more sympathetic. I'd ask him about all the stuff in the Bible and otherwise, and see what is actually true and what is made up bullshit. Are there angels? Are you really an alien? Did you really rise from the dead? What is heaven and do people actually go there after death? Is my dad there? Is he watching over me or just at peace? I would ask about my personal problems and how I should deal with them, people around the world and their hidden agendas, ... so many things.

2. Is there any one question you consistently ask everyone important to you?
I guess, "how are you?"

3. If you had to choose one personally important question to never have the answer to, what would it be?
Does that mean I never want to have the answer to it? I guess... When I'm going to die or how. Unless knowing it will give me the opportunity and choice to change it.

4. If you could change one life-changing event in your life, would you?
Probably not. I love my kids and changing any life choice would have robbed me of them. Well... maybe I should have gotten an education degree in uni. If I had known I'd end up as a teacher, I would have. My son also opted out of getting his teaching certificate, and I am a bit worried he will regret it later.

5. Which household chore do you hate the most, and why?
Vacuuming and general room cleaning :P I put it off for ever. I don't know why. I like the clean house and it doesn't take THAT long to do. Maybe I am just scared it will lead to further cleaning and it actually will tire me out in the end.

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In other news, the cherry blossoms are coming along nicely in the parks. Hopefully they will be perfect for the picnic next Sunday.

We are getting new students, which is a BIG relief. We have had a very hard time keeping afloat the last few years. Hubby has used up all of his mom's savings to do so. Every year, at this time of year, kids quit and new kids apply because April is the start of the new year, but the numbers had just been going down. This year looks a bit more promising *crossing fingers* Hope to make up all the losses. I did have to write a difficult mail yesterday. I have a one student class and the space needs to be opened for some new students so I asked the parent if she could move to another class - or else pay for a private class. Her older sister is a one student class too, but it is at a later time and I don't mind doing it for a group price, but 4:30 is prime time and we can't afford it. If she quits because of it though... :( It was hard to write. I hope the mom doesn't take offense.

I have been binge watching the Agents of SHIELD, AGAIN. I love this show. I am a bit frustrated with Sky/Daisy who is supposed to be the compassionate one but who is so cruel to Raina after they are both turned. Raina is so misunderstood. Ward is the most interesting character of the show - most complex and mysterious. I love how the show shows later on how different he would have been in a different life. Also Fitz.

I tried to watch Wolverine because I had always wanted to, but I am disappointed. Maybe it is too old? It feels really fake and dumb. I really liked X MEN, but I wonder if I will feel the same about that if I rewatched it. It makes me hesitant to watch other Marvel movies I have missed.

What else? I have mostly had a quiet week, it being Spring Break. Audrey is finished with her second year of JH, Alex has got his graduation certificate and came home that day pleasantly drunk after going out with his friend from uni. Julian seems to be worried about his health in some way, and went to the doctor yesterday. He wouldn't tell me why though :P

I am planning to make lasagna tonight for our usual Saturday dinner.

Some pictures!( Read more... )