Getting into the holiday spirit!

So, my roommates and I have been talking about getting a Christmas tree for a while now, and we were all pretty excited to start the holiday...and I'm most excited to start a holiday vacation! As city lights are going up, people are killing each other for the newest tickle-me-furby, and radio programming is transitioning to 24-hour holiday Delilah, the new addition at our local outdoor market is the Christmas tree guys from West Virginia. So, we planned for this friday to be our big night. The key to understanding the post would be, the red-head is Brett, and the girl is Meg. Both my roommates, neither of which am I dating (but they are dating each other!)

We bought the tree we liked the best. (Sorry, you'll have to turn your head...sometimes the internet is dumb)



Then we walked it home (yes walked...only about 6 blocks in the cold.) Not quite the "cut it yourself and walk through the woods" holiday experience, but we tried.















When we finally got home, we turned up the Christmas tunes to 11 and started decorating.




I figured I'll save money on a Christmas card this year. I hope you enjoy this one (a classic pose, and a family favorite) Merry Christmas:

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know. That was last week, but give me a break...I'm still mad that the vacation didn't last a whole month! I can't complain, because I have the best 9-month-out-of-the-year job, in the world! Sometimes, I feel like I'm trained well for something in the security profession though.

Anyways, I would have written more this weekend, but I got to play tour guide for another visitor (and this one cooked for me and bought me presents...keep that in mind if any of you want to visit...just kidding!) No one cooks like a mom, and my mom even flew across the country to cook for me. Its a good feeling to be gluttonous and lazy every once in a while...if only that could be my profession. I feel like my tour guide skills are improving and I tried to fight my laziness, with my mom waking me up early on my vacation, but I understand its a waste of daylight when you're in a city with so many things to see.

We made it to several pretty cool places, and a few new activities I had not done, like seeing a few memorials at night that make things kinda eerie and somber (until tourist-teenagers come screaming up the Lincoln steps with their cell phone cameras flipping around!) We went to the National Cathedral, and I even got my mom to ride the Metro without getting lost or mugged (just kidding...you'll only get jumped in the hallways of my school!) Mom even made her way to my school to distract my students from working and telling them embarrassing stories about her son (thanks again for that...a mother's favorite past-time!) I think the half attempted Thanksgiving traditions even made it, with a sappy movie and a delicious pumpkin pie, and the oddities made it good too. With a roommate and the music teacher from our school to round out the Thanksgiving dinner party, it turned out to be a great holiday, and a great weekend.

I keep forgetting that I need to have a social life, and when people come to visit, that helps to remind me. So, thanks mom! And, I'll be on the west coast again in a few weeks for the next much-needed break from grading papers...speaking of playing catch up...I hear coffee calling my name. Look for posts coming soon about: little known DC facts, dramatic accounts of Mr. Milliron's teaching adventures, and another family visit! Thanks for reading to the end...and now for the payoff!

Don't call it a comeback!

But after a month with nothing, I'm probably shocking your system with too many posts. This time with 37% more pictures, 26% less boring stories (no promises) and the whole thing is biodegradable (still not approved by the FDA).

So, I should start with a brief background of my hostess for the weekend: In short, we took baths together when we were little...and in terms of gossip blog spin-control...we aren't dating. (Beth, does that about sum it up? ) Actually Beth is one of my oldest friends, and mostly by default because our parents are friends. But, now without adult supervision, we had our own fun, and I even made a few new friends (her roommate and friends who hangout, but don't pay rent). So, here's to a great weekend:

I got in late Friday night, and met her friends (all surprisingly from the great state of Tennessee, which makes them automatically a joy to be around). We were fast friends, but in the morning, Beth and I were quick to ditch them for what would turn out to be several train/subway rides. After winding our way up to the Bronx, we dropped our stuff off at the LV house, where Beth had made some friends over the past year while she was volunteering in the not-so-distant state of Rhode Island.

Then, what better way to see one of the largest cities in the US (largest by population) than by foot. So, we got off on the wrong side of Central Park (walked it, and even had a not-so-celebrity siting...but at least I know his name now...you've been googled!), then changed our minds about 20 times on what to do next (walked some more, as it got colder) saw a few more sweet things along the way to dinner, and then to the John Butler Trio concert! Let me directly quote the repeated phrase Beth used to describe the concert: "Freakin' Awesome!" Ditto (and not only because she said it 50 times) it was awesome! He is a ridiculous guitar player, and probably has the most talented/entertaining drummer and bassist I've seen (sorry Keith Urban not really in the band). They definitely rivaled DMB and BHIC for live shows! Anyways, check out those links.

The rest of the night we enjoyed the high...no, we weren't high, but plenty of the concert-goers were...so, let's say the drug-free excitement we picked up from the concert was great. So, we tracked down Beth's friends somewhere near Times Square. While we traversed NYC above and below ground, I saw Broadway (someone turned out the lights), Birdland, homeless guys spooning, little kids awake at 2 am, subway/street performers, all before a subway ride back to the Bronx at a decent hour for the city that never sleeps (you think I'm going to admit the time?...my mom's probably already had a stroke that I SLEPT in the Bronx...I'll spare a few details!)

So, I'll let pictures tell the rest. The next morning we had a few fun stops before we went back to Long Island, where Beth lives. Times Square again, the Top of the Rock, and McSorely's (did I mention I want to be Irish and hangout withe guys every day?) Sorry, it seems like I wrote a lot...so I'll go hideout for a few more weeks and let you catch up reading (and I'll catch up on lesson planning!) Not to mention my mom's coming for Thanksgiving...might need to pick up the place! Thanks for all your comments, and thanks again to Beth for being a great hostess...and avoiding the tour guide Barbie stuff! What a great weekend!

Whaddaya mean I can't pump it myself?

So right after my last two part message, I pulled up to get gas. I forgot my friend told me once that Oregon and Jersey were the only lame states to make pumping your own petroleum prohibited. It was an interesting experience to have on the east coast, but so was seeing all of New York City from the top of Rockefeller! Another pointless story brought to you by Jake...who else!

No sex. No drugs. No rock & roll.

Part 1 of 2...

Okay maybe not all three...

Although most parents said "don't do anything I wouldn't do" or "be home by midnight", my dad would usually forbid me of those three evils before going to see friends. And though I'm sure my family was more afraid of me being mugged this weekend I stuck to the rules as best as I could. No sex, little to no drugs and a sweet concert that rocked my face off! The John Butler Trio is somewhere within those bright lights and that was one of many highlights from NYC. The lowlights include sleeping on couches and driving back through New Jersey. But as soon as I make it back home and can upload some more pictures and links i'll share more about the weekend! Alright, more gas, more driving.

I've been magically whisked away to...

...Delaware and I thought I'd share thoughts from the road. Little known fact. Buckling up is the law, Delaware is the First State, and they charge you part of your manhood for gas now. Since when did they raise gas prices a million dollars? I'm so glad I walk to work. Anyway, why are you in Delaware Jake? Thanks for asking. I'm in need of a mental vacation and I have a friend who lives in New York. So i'm off for a 3 day weekend and I'm going to live it up a bit. I'll try to post a few pictures of fun from around NYC! Oh and i'm trying to forget that i got cussed out by a student for failing him today...i'll try to forget about that this weekend. Hopefully he will too. Have a great weekend i know i will!

No my writers didn't go on strike...

Well, I guess doing too much at the same time has finally caught up with me! Thanks for your worried posts, and to answer the burning question: I didn't get locked in the closet by my students. Though on some days, I'm sure they'd learn just as much if I was teaching from another room. Alright, I will save depressing school stories for another post when I had a better day (hopefully not a month from now), but for now a few things you've missed, like: visitors in DC, my visit to Seattle, and oh yeah...I had a birthday too!

Alright, I'll go first...I turned old. Not exactly old, but hanging out with immature adolescents who truly believe they are grown adults makes you feel old. My birthday (which is now becoming chronologically distant in my story-telling) was great, and I have a few more places to add on my "I'll take you there if you come to visit" list. In short, I didn't get to have my mom's famous birthday cake...but my roommates pulled through with a cake, some kids and teachers at school even gave me cards and a present, and I think I missed about 20 phone calls and text messages that night because my phone died! By the way, its ok if you didn't remember my birthday...because its too late now!

Then, the next week I had my first visitor! My friend Amanda from college came to town for a conference (so not actually someone intentionally visiting me) and I had my first shot at showing someone my new hometown. Though it was great to see her and hangout with someone who I've known for longer than 2 months, I'm still perfecting my local skills. I think I faked it pretty well, by only pointing out things that I know. The problem in DC is that every building is something, and it looks as such. Seriously. The department of this, the museum of that, and the District of Columbia something. So, if you come to visit...I'll point to my school, my house...and after that its, BYOTB (tour book)...I'll supply the boo-yah!

Then, the last installment of things I never mentioned: My West Coast Return! Okay, not return...just a visit. Some of you had the pleasure of seeing me in Seattle, and I even had the opportunity to stalk some of my friends and visit them last minute. The purpose of my visit was because my dad had a birthday at the end of October, and part of the present was that my genius sister got tickets to Spamalot! That was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. And even though the trip was long (by plane this time!), and the time was short, I still loved being back in the Northwest to see friends and family.

I know what you're thinking... "but you didn't come to my house when you visited" (in a whiny voice just like my students after I give them homework). And that may be true for some...but Santa won't be visiting their houses this year either. I'm only kidding of course, and I will hopefully let you know more about when I'm back in the greater NW during Holiday Break (call it Christmas Break...I dare you...public school teachers are so insensitive!) Alright, now I'm remembering why I don't post very often...cause I'm so long winded and now I need to grade 50 tests before bed! Goodnight...and in case you wondered...yes, I celebrate the birth of Jesus and exploitation of merchandising opportunities.

I'm Columian...

...or maybe a District-ite, Districter, DCer...forget it. But, I do have proof:

And the best part is, that I was able to effectively waste an entire Saturday. One of the many government agencies in this city that locals claim are "inefficient" and "inconvenient". I'm starting to think that the only thing people like around here is the Metro. Most of my experience driving in this city has been painful and annoying, so the only motivation to get a driver's license was to prevent idiots from checking my ID and saying: "Hey, you might want to get that renewed...it's gonna expire soon." Yeah, thanks. I heard that one already...what, no "Hey, you're birthday is coming up!"

Because my impending license expiration was an annoyance, I endured nearly 4 hours of boredom and waiting. Most of that was in lines similar to this picture on the left (which is outside the building, wrapping around to the dumpster out back...that line took 45 minutes). Once, inside I found out that I hadn't brought enough information so I had to drive back home (45 minutes roundtrip) wait in another 20 minute line, just to get a number and wait in the waiting room (for about 30 mintues). This picture on the right shows only half the room that could probably contain about 150 grumpy DC-ians at a time. I saw most Districtators reading, some with PSPs and iPods...I caught up on some grading. Once out of the tension filled room I noticed people starting to smile. Then it came clear to me: after the unhappy government employees process your paperwork, take your money and DESTROY your old ID, they send you to have your new ID picture taken. After another 20 minutes in line, the guy says: "Please stand in the blue box, look at the yellow dot, and smile for your picture." And that is why people are smiling, because they finally get to smile and leave!

I'm smiling too, but for a minute I realized that I was waiting and waiting for that little piece of plastic that confirms I have officially moved, 2801 miles away! I know that may make a few of you sad to hear that, and it makes me a little sad too, but this adventure still hasn't lost its excitement.

I continually stumble around and find new things, like Ebenezer's, which is DC's version of the Service Station. They have a "Coffee with a Cause" slogan, and are owned by a local church. Its a very big-city version of this church connection it seems...but small world moment: Brandon Heath played here last week. I love Brandon Heath (YL camp musician), but I found out too late about the concert. I need to stumble around with more convenient timing. Anyways, that's probably enough about my weekend, and I've spent too much time here this weekend (stupid Verizon, giving us internet trouble and won't fix it...that's another story that involves my roommate yelling at the Verizon 24-hour help guy!). Enjoy your Sunday!

To quote a student:

"But Mr. M, yo' momma's not a big black lady!" How right you are young man. That is generally the response you get when you tell a student you are calling home. Though my intentions for Parent/Teacher Conferences are not to get any kids in trouble, I imagine there are some students who heard it from momma.

This afternoon/evening and I had a series of unscheduled, improvised conversations with individual parents. I mentioned to a few that their child had problems turning in work, or I had to give him/her instructions no less than 11 times per activity per day, or my favorite: your student believes paper is for throwing/eating/spitting/flicking/plucking/inappropriate- note-passing and not school work. In most cases, the response was something to the effect of: "Oh no s/he di'int!" (that's not stereotyping...it's generalizing, and that still really happened!) I am glad to know that I have a few parents on my side, but I'm still waiting for a student's mother to come into my classroom and come at me for something. Trust me, I've heard some stories.

In a completely un-related story taking place no where near I live, [Ironic] You live in Medford? Come on lady!

Alright, in all seriousness, I feel very safe at my job and I will stop kidding about this for those of you who don't think its funny (Mom). But I get that comment from a lot of people, and usually find it ridiculous because if I can't feel safe talking about math with uninterested 12-year-olds then the terrorists have won.

And because I'd love nothing better than to be a crazy old math teacher some day, I decided to do something completely unrelated this weekend in DC. I saw Raul Midon in concert last night, and temporarily doubted my life choices, which could have been aspiring to do this. (Sorry I had to use Leno...I heard him first on Letterman a while back) Alright, I'll never be able to do that, and I have my sense of sight...oh well, teaching math it is! I hope I gave you enough links/videos to watch and be entertained because nothing really exciting happened at conferences like I thought.

The day I've been waiting for...

Alright, any pre-3-day-weekend day is a day I'm looking forward to (or day to which I look forward...for the English teacher). But today was especially strange, being that I didn't teach the first two periods of the day. All students were held in the auditorium because of an incident that happened yesterday after school. Lets just say...these kids think they are tough...then they had an assembly to threaten them with being arrested for being stupid (Yes, you can be arrested for that!) and getting into fights.

However, the good part of not teaching 2 periods, is that you have one heck of a planning period, in which secretaries and aides come into your room and help you "decorate" your room so that it is up to "standard". Alright, I'm just a little bitter that as a teacher, I am required to have certain things (standards, data and other glorified decorations) posted in my room to somehow highlight my teaching, just to be ignored and unused by my students. And truth-be-told no amount of "decor" will detract from the eye sore in my room in the form of 3 10-year-old computers...talk to me when you take out the trash!

Alright, I'll stop whining...just one more thing: DC doesn't know when Oktoberfest weekend actually is celebrated. But, at least I have roommates to celebrate late with. Alright, I haven't posted in a while...and then I just complained. How about this: I'll let you know next week how my first Parent/Teacher Conferences go! I've been told that I have nothing to look forward to...unless a parent wants to chew me out. Stay tuned!

DC's Finest

If you felt like I have been MIA it might be because I had a pretty crappy week at school and talking about it didn't change that. So I sat around this weekend trying to figure out ways to make my job easier and decide on the best way to deal with some classroom issues...because they don't like it when you solve problems by beating students. So in between those times I watched a few football games. One of which was live...and may not be what you're thinking of football. I went to a Major League Soccer game! DC United makes the Nationals look like the ugly step child of DC pro sports. The title of this entry refers not only to the relative status of the team in its league ability, but also to the rowdy group of folks in the picture. The Barra Brava fan club gets pretty crazy and celebrates goals by screaming loudly and throwing beer on each other! The whole game was fun to watch even
though I didn't get a beer shower I didn't chant along!

Tell me something I don't know

This article about wasting time in traffic isn't really worth reading, but I scrolled to the bottom and noticed that my former home, the fair city of Spokane is the LEAST congested metropolitan city IN THE COUNTRY! Congratulations! (Wait...did you say Spokane was a metropolitan city? Alright, I'll allow it.)

In my infinite nerdiness (as a self-admitted geek), I googled the original report so that I could look at the actual data. The facts of interest from the study was that Spokanites waste the least amount of time waiting in traffic delays, and have the 3rd lowest gas wasting population in the study. After reflecting on the level of complaints of road conditions/traffic problems I witnessed when I was resident of Spokane, I realized that no matter where you live residents will invariably whine about transportation. I'm going to ruin the surprise, but not every state can have the orange road cone as its state tree, or believe that the 4 seasons are fall, winter, spring and construction (end rant).

The flip side of the news, is that now I've moved to the 2nd-worst-traffic-delayed-5th-most-gas-wasteful city in the nation! This was an ironic discovery, because I was reading the article on CarFreeDC Day and I had also pledged to not drive my car all week (even though I walk anyways, and have a tourists knowledge of the Metro). I am quite sure that my good deed can be traded in for a carbon-offset, or indulgences from the pope. More likely, is that now they have my name and I'm going to be called to sign global warming petitions or donate my organs to those less fortunate (end rant...tw0).

If you can't already tell, this was rather amusing to me, thanks for listening. From Spokane to DC. Its a small world.

Just thinking out loud...

Or actually using the web to think. But if you need my new email or address to contact me, just use the last email address you have. I am checking all my emails right now, and i'll try to consolidate soon. And that way i don't have to post all my personal information on the internet.

Whats that in the distance?

A giant tower with little people running under its shade after a stupid flying piece of plastic.

What do I do with my life you ask?

I truly couldn't answer that question even if I knew. I am half way through the weekend, and I still need to spend two weekends worth of work getting caught up on lesson planning! I told someone I need 8 days in a week the other day to have a real life, but I managed to have a little fun yesterday!

If you can't tell by the picture posted above...that is the Washington Monument...and people playing ultimate frisbee. I'm sure my friends from Whitworth would either be proud (more likely indifferent) that I found a frisbee team! (Or that John found me to play on his team). But when he gave me directions, I forgot that was just south of the White House too. Needless to say, pretty good view to the north and south while playing. Though there are more important things in life, we did win the game, and they may even pretend like they want me to come back. They were fun to play with...it was jut fun to run around in the sun.

Who's John you say? Well, I won't give you the whole back story on meeting John...but suffice it to say he's excited I play ultimate and am a math teacher. Apparently he wants me on their team because I'm young (little does he know that I'm not good) and he also wants me to tutor his daughter in math. So, he took me out to dinner Friday night with his family so I could meet his daughter (4th grade) and wife and son (6 years old). It was fun to meet them, and I will officially have taught all 3 school levels math by the end of this (my first) year of teaching. So then he says: "what are you doing tomorrow at 2pm?"...of course my answer is: "I have no life"...such a lie...but I can't pass up fun like that.

I also spent money I don't have at Target, and watched stupid television on my DVR. Those things were not on the original agenda...I just got bored and lazy. So, its Sunday morning and I've been walking around the market for a little while, now I'm having coffee with some interweb and fresh air a la carte. There is this cool gospel group performing on the street corner that I'm listening to also (did I mention I live in a cool neighborhood!) Alright, I should go back to work...I mean home. And before you know it...it will be bed time again!

Can't a guy just come home and blog in the comfort of his lone piece of IKEA furniture?

I promise i'll stop posting about fights when they happen, but today was a bad day so it kinda figures two kids were beating each other outside my class to add to it. I'm told we get internet tomorrow. Just in time to report on Parent Night! I can't wait...i think. This is going to be a rough week.

Things i've learned about being a different kind of Washingtonian...

On a lighter note: No fights today. But thought i'd share some interesting big city stuff and if anyone can link to facts that would be preferable...because i'm posting this as a text message...and we all know how truthful blogs can be! So this picture is of the trailer park where Russel Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio are filming "Body of Lies" and it also happens to be our playground! It was only for a day and they did blow up a car on the street in my favorite neighborhood market...which i will take you to if you come to visit. I'm sure the movie will be terrible but there is also a scene shot in our gym! No lies...we are making money off hollywood! And the other dumb thing i learned was that now that my roommates are back in session with congress...the light is on at the top of the capitol. I know...stupid stuff a local should know. I'll know it all in due time...everything except how
politics works that is! I'll be in the loop eventually! Enjoy the picture taken through my window!

Day 7...Fight 2

I'm a little bit more distressed by the fight today, but i'll be honest: it doesn't get easier. Today's incident happened before 6th period instead of while i was teaching but now i have 4 boys in that same class who have beef with each other and two of them have made each other bleed. I'm not sure what the administration thinks of me but they sure won't tell me...and i guarantee they don't have new teacher training for this. I wish i could get these kids figured out before they come back in my class because we might have some math happening soon. It is interesting the advice i get from some teachers about covering my a%§ and as helpful as that is...i'm not the one who needs help. I have no desire to be a counselor but i am feeling a little out of the loop from admin and that is sad. I'm glad today is over and we have things to look forward to tomorrow but if i go 4 for 4 on breaking
up fights this week i may just have to beef up and watch some more pro wrestling shows.

Days of school - 6, Fights - 1, Kids suspended - 2, Actually teaching math - Priceless

Cold-cocked. Messed up. Owned (Pwned). Straight jacked in the jaw. The business end of a rabbit punching.

And tell Mr. White what he's won: that's right...get out of my class!

I thought I was just putting off the talkative kids at first. Now I realize, that when students complain about others "clownin' on me" that means: if you don't listen to me I'm going to make they other guy look like a clown with a big red nose and black eye (alright, if you want the real definition, try the link to UrbanDictionary.com for one of many entries in my blog!)

So, I was pretty surprised I made it through a week without it, but for now...I'm glad the swing wasn't taken at me. I pulled the guys off each other pretty quick, but I'm serious about the rabbit punches...he got a few quick ones in and then the chairs went over. I had pretty good attention of that class for the first time in a week. I threw one kid out to security and then had the rest of them: "This is a good example of how NOT to act in Mr. Milliron's class...are we clear?"...I love having that attention (minus the fight part)!

So, I'm at an establishment down the street that provides internet and refreshments. As for the rest of the day, I'll head home to my house (that is internet-less) and couch/chair-less (I don't know which luxury I would like more?) but I am setting up my place pretty successfully. Well, at least I have a microwave. I'll upload some pictures here in a while also. We'll make the roommate purchasing trip to IKEA next weekend (I'll be sure to let you know what HELL is like) and I hope that I can keep a steady stream of teacher stories coming for you! Thanks for listening...err...reading.