Once upon a classroom

So first day of work...not to bad, in fact I most dearly enjoyed it. It mostly consisted of sitting in the classroom monitoring the girls completing school, assignments and answering questions. I kept myself occupied via "Brain Quest" flashcards...what? Yep. Those 5th grade tall stacks of random trivia that kept us entertained on long drives to Sea World and Disneyland. These ones were from 2005 and I had great fun entertaining myself to see if in fact I was as smart as, if not smarter than a 5th grader. I am proud to say I knew most of the questions.

So I was reviewing fraction multiplication, history (where was the first battle of the Civil War), tallest waterfall in the world, and then I came across a highly surprising question...Who was out to get Harry Potter...Lord Voldemort or Professor Snape. WHAT?! Since when is this practical 5th grade trivia???? Aye aye aye aye aye. I just you all would like to know what our funds are supporting. Definite applicable life skills.

So then a girl needed help with a test question. (Random fact about me: I love patterns) It was "Find the next two numbers in this sequence: 32, -48, 72, -108. a. -162, 189
b. 162, 243
c. -162, -189
d. 162, -243

I'm sad to publicly admit that it took two of us an hour to find the answer, low and behold I finally found it!! Can you? Let me know how long it takes you, maybe math truly is not my specialty...answer next time! Part of my job was also to do a grammar check on a paper. I have never seen so many semicolons in my life! I think the shear number of them made me forget how on earth they are supposed to be used. I've never graded an english paper in my life, and the last formal english class I had was about six years ago when I lived in California. I found the past tense problems and all, but I was ashamed to note in myself that I did not feel competant. I think I was distracted by all the short sentences. So one of my summer goals: learn to correctly edit/grade these papers.

So overall I'd call my first day a success. Its crazy I can say no, I have authority, I am in charge!! I'm generally speaking not a very assertive person, but this year I have to be. Oh boy to being stretched.

Well, thats all for now, I have yet to come up with another "Life's amusements according to Tracie" story, so for now I hope you have been entertained. Oh wait! So imagine this little two block tourist town, with a population of maybe 2,000. And you are walking around just seeing the sights (post office, park, souvenir store, high school) when all of a sudden you hear a scream. You look up and right in front of you is a fair. Yes, I was walking around Cody and low and behold there was a fair in the school parking lot. The ferris wheel, merry go round and funnel cake fair! And as we (I was with my coworker) were looking at the various attractions they had a "pet a live sting ray" exhibit. WHAT? I've decided nothing can shock me now. Live sting rays in Cody, Wy? What on earth is the world coming to. I was truly amazed. The day of my last blog ended on a mile river trail marked by this sign: (I don't know how to get it off my phone)

Wild Animal Alert! Bears and Snakes May be Present ON TRAIL (picture of bear and snake)

And for few other reasons than wonderful signs like that (and this), I think I am falling in love with Wyoming.
PS - The wind here is unreal, truly I've never experienced anything like it. Here is a picture of another great Wyoming sign (not too far from the truth either!)

God Bless,
Tracie