Saturday, October 18, 2008

My second job

This is the post I've been trying to write for a few weeks now. I realize that the New York City High School application process is completely foreign to most of you yet it is now consuming much of my life. I thought I should share this pain...I mean process with you.

Here is the timetable I'm working with. We have to pick up to twelve schools, then list them in the order we prefer, favorite being first and descending from there. There are small schools, career and technical schools, small learning communities, charter schools and specialized high schools. Some of these schools require tests, interviews, essays, one even encourages bringing a portfolio of your achievements. Most of the others only look at your seventh grade report card, test scores and attendance. We do all these things between now and late November. The application is turned in by early December. The schools then decide who they will admit. Of the schools that admit you, you only get into the highest one on your list. For example, say you get into schools 2, 3 and 7 you only actually get into school number 2.

There is a chance that you will get into none of the schools, at which point you will deal with the appeals process in the Spring. The New York City Department of Education assures us that 80% of students get into one of their top 5 choices. Whew that makes me feel better...not.

The there are the Specialized High Schools which we are lucky to have as an option since Avery is considered gifted. These schools involve a test all their own and are outside of the application process. To be honest Bronx Science and Stuyvesant aren't really in the running. Avery is put off by the math and science focus as well as their 2800+ student populations. He is interested in American Studies and Brooklyn Latin (although we'd have to be pretty desperate to let him travel from the Bronx to Brooklyn everyday). He's got to test high enough to get in. American Studies only has 90 slots, it's population is less than 300 students.

All of this leaves me in a state of high [school] anxiety. I went to Stuyvesant, hated it, was miserable and screwed up my academic career because I went there. As parents we need to choose the best school for our child, not necessarily the best school. That is easier said than done with this system. This is why outside of work all I do is research and visit schools with Avery. At least by December our part will be over. We find out about the specialized High Schools in February and the regular High Schools in March.

After going through all this, college applications will seem like a breeze!

On a lighter note a friend shared this test with me. Nothing surprising here:

Your result for The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test...

Pure Geek


For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.


You scored better than half in Geek, earning you the title of: Pure Geek.

It's not that you're a school junkie, like the nerd, and you don't really stand out in a crowd, like the dork, you just have some interests that aren't quite mainstream. Perhaps it's anime, perhaps it's computers, perhaps it's bottlecaps, perhaps it's all of those and more. Your interests take you to events and gatherings that are filled with people you find unusual and beyond-the-pale, but you don't quite consider yourself "of that crowd." Instead, you consider yourself to be fairly normal.
Which, you are.

Congratulations! You're the one on the RIGHT!

Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

Take The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test at HelloQuizzy



Have a great weekend all! All you people out at Rhinebeck fondle yarn for me, ok?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Memes count as posts

I am way too tired to actually post so it must be time for a meme.

Stolen from, hmm not sure. It's been making it's way around I can't remember where I saw it first.

37 Things about me:

1. Do you like blue cheese? no
2. Have you ever smoked cigarettes? only while drinking in a bar but I gave it up after my father's death
3. Do you own a gun? nope
4. What flavors Kool Aid was your favorite? red
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? yup
6. What do you think of hotdogs? yum yum, especially Nathan's hot dogs
7. Favorite Christmas movie? We're No Angels (Humphrey Bogart version)
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? coffee
9. Can you do push ups? sorta
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? my grandmother's ring
11. Favorite hobby? can't you guess?
12. Do you have A.D.D.? nope
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? yes
14. Middle name? Joyce
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
a - Sleep.
b - I don't want to go to work tomorrow.
c- Sleep.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, tea, coffee
17. Current worry? my job security
18. Current hate right now? Sarah Palin
19. Favorite place to be? The Cloisters
20. How did you bring in the New Year? home asleep, I hate new year's
21. Where would you like to go? Scotland
22. Name three people who will complete this. Anyone who wants to.
23. Do you own slippers? yes but I never wear them
24. What shirt are you wearing? pink tank top pajama shirt
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? god yes
26. Can you whistle? yes but not well
27. Favorite color? blue
28. Would you be a pirate? absolutely
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? anything, Green Day lately
30. Favorite Girl’s Name? Josephine
31. Favorite boy’s name? Zane
32. What’s in your pocket right now? no pockets in my jammies
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Harold and Kumar go to White Castle on DVD
34. What vehicle do you drive? I don't drive
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? sprained ankle
36. Do you love where you live? yes
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Getting my act together

I'm having issues. Issues in life, issues in knitting. Pretty much the same issues. I have urges, ambitions even but I lack discipline and have poor time management skills. From the knitting perspective I have to admit that for the first time in years I have a number of UFOs. Two shawls/stoles, booties waiting for buttons, the socks I'm currently working on and a second sock waiting to be cast on (which I count as an ufo). I also have enough yarn for 4 sweaters which I'd love to start on (any one will do) and a Perry the Platypus to design and knit for my youngest's birthday in 2 weeks. I have a horrible case of starteritis and I have no idea how to combat it.

The socks are moving at a glacial pace which means Perry must be cast on now. That means that there is one more project not completed which means I feel less than successful. I'm having similar issues with my writing. Prior to the summer I was writing for Pink Raygun yet I haven't turned in an article in months. I simply never have the time to sit down and write it. I do seem to have plenty of time to feel guilty about it.

Blogging is also a victim of my issues. I suspect this all stems from the uncertainty in my professional life but it seems to me that should be more of an excuse to focus on the things I can control and that bring me pleasure outside of work.

Any ideas people? I could use some advice on getting my ass in gear.

In the middle of all this I am at the very least loved and appreciated. My dear blog/plurk bud Dani nominated me for the I Love Your Blog award. Thanks Dani I needed that! Here's the lowdown:

1. Please put the award on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. You must nominate at least 4 fellow bloggers for this award.
4. Add links to the recipients.
5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award.

I’ve read the rules, and I promise to comply, so here it is - my shiny new ribbon!






My nominees are:

Ann because 9 times out of 10 she brings a smile to my face.

Roe because she is my newly discovered kindred spirit. We geek girls gotta stick together!

Shameka because I am always in awe of her ambition and accomplishments. In knitting and in life.

Bron because we've been traveling this blog road together all these years, through good and bad. Reading her blog is always like keeping up with a dear friend.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Just can't seem to find the time

I have no idea where all my time goes. Work is fairly slow but I still have things to do. There's a lot of open houses, tests, interviews and fairs to shuttle Avery back and forth to. Oh and my aunt and cousin visited this weekend from Iceland. It seems to me I should still be able to blog somewhere in there.

The socks are coming along nicely:
The knitting is more pleasant now that I've finished increasing. Just mindless knitting round and round. I'm enjoying seeing the colors play out as well.

When I got to work this morning I found the latest from Spunky in my mailbox:
I can't wait to spin this one up.

It looks like there's no Rhinebeck for me this year. Rinaldo has to work that Saturday. I was thinking of going Sunday but I realized I don't have that much of an urge to go. I haven't been knitting as much this year so I still have plenty of things in the stash. My spinning hasn't progressed enough to justify making any big fiber purchases in that area either. I'll save my cash for next year.

I still have to share my adventures in high school applications and my token Islander fan friend ;) had something special for me this weekend on her blog so I hereby promise to blog twice more this week! Maybe then I'll be back in the habit.

It's Monday but it's almost over, that's something to celebrate!