Dear Sandy Victims

I am so sorry for the devastation you are now facing. As a Florida resident and a survivor of multiple hurricanes, I am going to offer some unsolicited advice.

1). Ignore lots of dumb advice and go with your gut.
2). Get the good contractor first...you can argue with your insurance company later.
3). Avoid the drive-by contractors. You will have to live with the results of crappy work for years.
4). Don't think that your insuance company is your friend. You will most likely get less than enough to cover your costs. Band together with your neighbors and get legal help if necessary to be all up in their business.
5). Everything will take time to get repaired. (It took months after the four hurricanes of '04 to get homes repaired.)
6). Don't assume that the government will fix things after the storm. All of those people who were so interested in helping you will lose interest.
7). Expect your insurance to be raised astronomically. Here in Florida our insurance cost rose over 500% over two years. Often, you lose your insurance company.
8). Finally, and most importantly, you are going to run into the biggest problem...having a check to fix your home and no one to do the work.

What is so devastating for those of you in the northeast is the difference in the economic times. Our 2004 hurricanes came during great prosperity. We had money in our pockets. Definitely not the same time and money is not flowing. Keep your chin up. Although it will take time, you will rebuild.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Don't Vote Angry

This is the first election in a number of years that I will be voting at the actual voting booth. Prior to this election, I have always voted in the comfort of my La-Z-Boy. So it's kind of like Obama's ad about it being my first time. I admit...I am a little worried. I changed my address but I may have to cast a provisional ballot, and it's in Florida...we ALL know about voting in Florida. Furthermore, I am a Republican in a very Democratic city. The Obama/Biden signs far outnumber the Romney/Ryan signs. Is it enough to win an election? I don't know.

I can say this. I am trying desperately to avoid voting angry.

As just a non-scientific poll, I can tell you that I am one of the 50% on my street who are unemployed or underemployed. I can tell you that I have applied for countless positions in everything from fast food restaurants to life insurance. I have interviewed for a number of teaching positions, but I have not been offered any of them. They are looking for the younger, cheaper models. I am now like many Americans with a big fat, gaping hole in my resume of nothing. It's like being a Japanese Christmas cake. In Japan, if you are a woman and you haven't married by twenty-five, then you are a Christmas cake...no one wants you. Just like a Christmas cake after Christmas.

As you are unemployed for a long time period, you begin to lose your self-worth. Helpful friends and family tell you that the "right thing" will come along. But it hasn't. You get chubby eating too much ice cream and candy that you got for free from expert coupon-cutting skills.

Then your clothes don't fit when you have an interview, so you have to buy new clothes. Clothes you can't afford. And so on and so on.

So how do I avoid voting angry? Frankly, I hate both sides. Obama's "Race to the top" money, somehow, became worse than Bush's "No Child Left Behind.". And Republican Governor Rick Scott chased a number of tenured teachers out of the profession by making the profession a virtual punching bag with all us "fat cat" teachers taking advantage of the system.

And those are just a couple of issues.

What I know is this: I have yet to have a Republican or a Democrat make my life better! I am not rich enough to get all the good tax breaks, and I am not poor enough to get any freebies. I remember a few short years ago that President Obama considered us "affluent".

Funny...I must have missed the memo. Thanks Democrats and Republicans...living the dream.

Pearls of Wisdom: Why America Doesn't Have Good Teachers

Pearls of Wisdom: Why America Doesn't Have Good Teachers: So, I left teaching in the public sector. Mind you, I graduated Cum Laude in English and have an IQ that is the the really smart category. ...

Why America Doesn't Have Good Teachers

So, I left teaching in the public sector. Mind you, I graduated Cum Laude in English and have an IQ that is the the really smart category. Anyhoo,I decided to float a resume to a couple of private schools. This particular exhange came from an email after a phone interview. In this phone interview, I found out that the job was a metacognition class with a side of some quasi-administrative duties. Basically, a total waste of time and money for students, instructors, parents, and the world at large. Somehow, I failed to qualify for a job that is dedicated to thinking about thinking. It begs the question: who got the job? A pot-smoker from Cali? A yogi from an ashram in India? I should have known it was too good to be true. About as much chance get hired for teaching a metacognition class as there is becoming the head taster for Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. By the by--the tuition for this school is over the $16,000 a year mark...World's crazy, man!



See email below...name has been changed to not embarrass anyone.



Dear Dr. So and So,

I, too, regret that you have moved on with a different choice. It was
truly a dream job that I would have loved. Other than a job in a think
tank (an even dreamier job), the TOK position would have been a
philosophical feast for the mind. The idea of teaching a class about
metacognition...why, that's just crazy talk. I am bummed that I didn't
have a better idea of what the position was going into the interview
because I know I am perfect for that gig. (I was already mentally
pulling all my hippie clothes from the closet for work attire.) I also
wish our interview had been face to face as I would have been able to
make you laugh. That's howI have always gotten my other positions. If
I could, then I would call "do over" like when you are kids and you
screwed up in a Monopoly marathon.


You better tell whoever gets the job that they better thank their lucky
stars because I would have done that job for half the price...I mean,
you're only teaching half the time. Crazy talk...who gets paid like
that for having that much fun?


Have a great day and give me a call if you need someone to sub for your
metacognition class! I promise to never make fun of Keanu Reeves
again...that Matrix stuff...it's deep, man!


Best of Luck!
Jen B

-

-


---Original Message-----
From: Dr. So and So
To: jenb
Sent: Wed, Jul 11, 2012 3:41 pm
Subject: WPS TOK Postion


Jennifer -


Thank you for taking the time to participate in an interview for the
open teaching position for TOK. The time that you invested in a formal
interview and your interest in our school are appreciated.  I enjoyed
the conversation and I am hopeful that you enjoyed it as well. I regret
to inform you that we have decided not to move forward with your
candidacy for this position.  We are fortunate to have been in contact
with a number of well qualified applicants during our search and have
decided to proceed with other individuals as candidates for the
position that we discussed.  


Best wishes in your search for a teaching position.


Respectfully,



Dr. So and So


Exchange with the HR chick:

Dear So and So HR lady,

Unfortunately, I did not make the final cut. I feel good about it,
though. I mean, to get someone better than me or funnier than me, you
guys must have hooked into a mix between the Dalai Lama and Chelsea
Handler. It can happen, right? But seriously, thank you for your
time. You are so bright and enthusiastic...a great gatekeeper for the
school! Don't worry about me...however, if you see someone on the side
of the road with a sign that reads, "Will diagram sentences for
food!"--that would be me--all of the food, of course, would be donated
to my local food bank!

Have a great weekend!
Jen
To: jenbold Dear Ms. So and So HR chick
>
>I thought I would touch base with you and see where Dr. So and So is in his
>selection process. I am truly interested in the Theory of Knowledge
>position, and I know I bring a wealth of philosophical background to
>the table.
>
>I hope to hear from you soon!
>
>Have a great day!
>Jen B
>
>-----Original Message-----

>
>Hello, Jennifer!
>
>
>It was such a pleasure speaking with you today! Thank you, again, for
>your resume submission. As I mentioned, I love your approach of being
>"selective" in choosing your school of employment. I do think our
>campus will impress.
>
>
>As discussed, attached are our preliminary sets of paperwork. Please
>print and complete at your convenience. You can either scan/email back
>to my attention, or should Dr. So and So schedule an onsite visit with you,
>you can simply bring them with you.
>

>
>
>I have you scheduled for Wednesday, June 27, 10am ­ phone interview
>with Dr. So and So, Director of the Upper School. Please advise the
>best number he can call you?
>
>
>Again, it was great meeting you! Any questions, don't hesitate to
ask.
>
>
>Regards,
>
>
>So and So HR chick
>
>