Margeaux on the Go

self-worth

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:09:00 -0400

I’m content with my life. I keep good company. I like to think myself intelligent and cultured. I’m fulfilled by my job. I’m paying down debt. I’ve had a loving life partner for the past 11 years.

But, the past few days I’ve been comparing myself to those in my age group, which by the way is totally toxic! I’m been thinking about the things that I’m not and/or don’t have:

1. I am not thin.

2. I don’t have a lot of money.

3. I don’t own a house.

4. I don’t live on my own. I live with my mom and sometimes with my mother-in-law.

5. I don’t own a car. The car that I have is technically my mom’s.

6. I don’t have children.

Now some of the above things I’ve come to accept just fine. I mean, being thin would be nice, but I know that I’m not that fat. And, actually I’ve come a long way in terms of physical appearance. Not having a lot of money, I’m OK with that too. That’s the consequences of me and spouse being a teacher and store manager, respectively.

And, I guess not having a lot of money (and living in this ridiculously expensive area) is the cause of not owning a home, living with my mother, and not owning my own car. But see, I think I’m OK with that too.

But, the fact that I don’t have children is beginning to pine away at my conscience. Many of my peer couples, two of which were married around the same time as me, have given birth to their first child.

But, I don’t think that’s the point of this post. The point is why the hell do I need to gauge my level of self-worth and achievement by comparing myself to others— comparing things that they have/are with things I’m not/do not have. Is this what “Keeping up with the Jones” is? It’s not healthy and lowers the perception of my (our) self-worth.

Now that I’ve said this in public forum, I feel better and just need to move on. And, I must remember what Plutarch says— What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.

Yes...

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:57:34 -0400

I still have a job next year at the same location!

"It’s the government’s responsibly to provide basic learning opportunities so to create..."

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:56:00 -0400

“It’s the government’s responsibly to provide basic learning opportunities so to create an educated society, but it is parent responsibility to raise a well-rounded and balanced child.”

- me (via twitter conversation with @MikeSol007 and @aurers)

My purse that I’ve been searching for the longest time....

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:37:19 -0500

My purse that I’ve been searching for the longest time. Isn’t it just absolutely perfect? It’s exactly what I’ve wanted.

at risk

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:22:35 -0500

could i really be at risk of losing my job or being relocated to another school?

Year 2010 Resolutions

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:35:11 -0500

1. Removing toxins (literal and figurative) from my life.

2. Accepting things that I cannot change.

1. Luna Lovegood 2. Neville Longbottom 3. Hannah Abbot...

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:14:56 -0500

1. Luna Lovegood

2. Neville Longbottom

3. Hannah Abbot (we’d be fighting for Neville)

4. Hufflepuff

5. Hannah Abbot (to make things interesting)

6. Transfiguration

7. Professor McGonagall

8. Ron

9. Lupin

saiorse: sososo cute

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:01:57 -0500

saiorse:

sososo cute

gryffindorkk: Oh, how it’s been so long …

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:07:33 -0500

gryffindorkk:

Oh, how it’s been so long …

(via samisbamboozled) lovely

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:52:47 -0500

(via samisbamboozled) lovely

cinnamonroll: :) Christmas is here.

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:46:53 -0500

cinnamonroll:

:) Christmas is here.

Funny things my students say.

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:51:00 -0500

Almost everyday, it’s a treat to hear such brilliant tibdits that come out of my students’ mouths. They don’t mean to be funny, which makes them so hilarious. I need to chronicle them since this school year seems to be already filled with them.

____________________________________

SETTING: My former students like to visit me during recess. They often line up at my door waiting for the class to empty of my current students. Two students cross paths and tension flares.

Former girl student (from the door as students are exiting): Hi Ms. M!

Current boy student (as he exits) to girl: Get out of here! She’s not your teacher anymore. She’s ours.

_____________________________________

SETTING: I needed to give Danny a thank you card for the generous holiday gift they gave me. He’s playing on the black top. I beckon him to come over.

Me (yelling across the black top): Danny, could you come here please?

Danny (not my core student) to me: OK!

Danny to yard duty person: I’ll be back. My teacher is calling me.

AJ (my core student) overhears Danny.

AJ (yelling) at Danny: She’s NOT your teacher!

**My boy students are rather protective of me. It’s kinda sweet.

______________________________________

Student: Ms. M? Have you ever put a “kick me” sign on someone’s back before?

Me: Oh yes, I did it to you just yesterday.

Student: Ohh, so that’s why my back hurts. *rubs his back in pain*

______________________________________

Student: Ms. M? Why is there so much space in the classroom now? It was so crowded yesterday.

Me: Well, I took my wand and expanded the room. Shh… it’s magic.

Student: Ooooh, that’s Harry Potter stuff, Ms. M. *turns and walks away to tell a friend. They both seem facinated.*

______________________________________

Student: This is not my umbrella. It’s my brother’s. *carrying a relatively small Spider Man umbrella*

Me: But, you don’t have a brother.

Student: How did you know that, Ms. M.?

Me: It’s my job to know these things.

*Boy runs over to friend, but I overhear…*

Student to another: Ms. M can read minds. It’s weird!

Other Student: I know. She’s done it to me too. *goes back to work*

Life changes...

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:34:37 -0400

You make time for things/people that are important to you. Like, if I think reading a certain book is important, I’m sure as hell going to get the book and read it. If I think watching a musical is important, I’m going to go far and beyond to make it happen. This rings true for everything that is important to you. You just make it work and if it doesn’t come to fruition after many times over, then it just wasn’t meant to happen.

"It is the time you have spent with your rose that makes your rose so important."

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:29:00 -0400

““It is the time you have spent with your rose that makes your rose so important.””

- The Little Prince

Musicals I've Watched: Loved and Not-So-Loved

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:40:00 -0400

Loved (scaled 1 being my most favorite)

Next to Normal
RENT (4x)
American Idiot
Spring Awakening (2x)
Wicked (2x)
Miss Saigon (2x)
HAIR
Rock of Ages

Not-So-Loved (scaled 1 being my least favorite)

Phantom of the Opera
CATS
Les Mis
Mama Mia
Lion King
Grease
Altar Boyz

"What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality."

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:35:00 -0400

““What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.””

- Plutarch (via JK Rowling, Harvard commencement speech)

Harry Potter

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:03:46 -0400

It’s been three weeks since I finished the whole Harry Potter series. As a whole, it took me a leisurely four months to finish all seven books. Starting Sorcerer’s Stone at the end of April, I promised myself that I would finish all of them by the end of summer break. Promise fulfilled. As crazy as it sounds (probably especially to those who have never read it), reading Harry Potter just utterly changed my life.

Professionally, as a teacher, I feel I’m a better “read alouder”. It gave me a chance to practice my fluency and expressive reading. I would read some parts aloud to myself and I would listen and study how Jim Dale (the audiobook reader) would utter the words. As I read, I listened to the words in my head, “envisioning” how I might read it to a listener.

But, personally, it gave me a chance at deep introspection. It made me think of how much the Harry Potter magical world/muggle world is so parallel to the world right now. The atrocities and the deeply embedded issues, figuratively and literally, are prevalent in the world today. Genocide, racism, sexism, fascism… almost any “ism” you can think of appears as both undertones and overarching themes in these books.

Most importantly, it made me think of friendships and unity. Firstly, it made me think about how good literature can bring people together. It weaves a common thread amongst those who read the book. Readers empathize with the characters… readers empathize with other readers. It really is a beautiful thing. It’s amazing to have grown a love for these characters and to know that other readers have grown the same love for them too. It is uniting and glorious. Secondly, it made me think of my own friends. How relationships just naturally evolve—and, I don’t want to punctuate this phrase with a “for better or for worse”. I feel deemed more appropriate is relationships naturally evolve into truth.

Thank you Ms. JK Rowling. You’re brilliant. You’re genius. You’re my literary hero as you are to so many others around the world for all time.

I think I'm...

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:07:54 -0400

ready.

"I prefer credulity to skepticism and cynicism for there is more promise in almost anything than in..."

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:23:18 -0400

“I prefer credulity to skepticism and cynicism for there is more promise in almost anything than in nothing at all.”

- Ralph B. Perry

In order from most favorite to least favorite: Harry Potter

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:25:00 -0400

BOOKS

Deathly Hallows
Order of the Phoenix
Half-Blood Prince
Prisoner of Azkaban
Goblet of Fire
Sorcerer’s Stone
Chamber of Secrets

FILMS

Order of the Phoenix
Half-Blood Prince
Prisoner of Azkaban (I liked HBP a tad bit more.)
Goblet of Fire
Sorcerer’s Stone
Chamber of Secrets

(I wonder where Deathly Hallows I and II will fall?)