Hedgetoad Teaching

I still have a draft from the 16th about making a final decision regarding the bungalow... at that point, I decided that I couldn't make a decision and started to freak out. I couldn't even post about it. So I called everyone and said "I'm not buying that house." I start looking at other houses. Not only was it disappointing, but I'm convinced that one was even haunted. And had scary wiring. Every house I looked at, I would think, the yard isn't as big as the bungalow, the kitchen doesn't have as nice of a lay out as the bungelow (and it was built before actual appliances, so you know that kitchen really sucked ), etc. Then the bungelow disappeared from the selling agent's website. A clear sign that an offer has been made? I basically spent the holiday weekend pressing refresh trying to find out. I realize that not only do I desperately want this house, but I'll probably cry real tears if someone else has snatched this diamond in the rough. I...

I am completely caught up with my grading. There's one assignment that is sitting in the box, but I'm not going to really grade it. I'll just put a check on them all and call it good. Shhhh! Don't tell. We talked over the material in class - I know they got it, understood it and could probably regurgitate upon command if needed. That's all I really needed to know. Seriously, my plan for the weekend was to sit on my ass, knit, sew and decorate for the holidays. Then my landlord called, wanting to show my apartment to a potential buyer of the building. It doesn't bode well - local landlords have an abnormal view of themselves and their properties. Basically, they believe that renters are idiots who will pay anything for a dwelling with no rats. My rent is o.k. given what I deal with... but the potential buyers seem to think it's too good of a deal. God! I hope I find a decent house in a decent neighborhood soon! Tomorrow I'm having a sorta stuctural engine...

I knew the rental market was horrendous in this area (crap, crap, crap... and hey! look! more crap!), but now I'm convinced that all visual/decorating/color choice taste has been sucked out of the entire region. What is wrong with these people to think that someone will pay top dollar for a house with a kitchen floored in 68 cent vinyl tile? Do they really think that no one is going to notice that the counter top is bright orange and the all the appliances are baby poop green? Where is the law requiring that updated kitchens must have blah oak cabinets and updated bathrooms must have molded fiberglass bathtub/shower/tub walls insert? Who adds on a "bonus room" with no windows and one electrical outlet? I'm in such shock I can't even type straight. I'm still waiting for an opinion regarding the foundation, fireplace, etc. from the bungalow. I took a really long look at the fireplace yesterday and was disheartened. I think it's pulling away from the house un...

I knew the rental market was horrendous in this area (crap, crap, crap... and hey! look! more crap!), but now I'm convinced that all visual/decorating/color choice taste has been sucked out of the entire region. What is wrong with these people to think that someone will pay top dollar for a house with a kitchen floored in 68 cent vinyl tile? Do they really think that no one is going to notice that the counter top is bright orange and the all the appliances are baby poop green? Where is the law requiring that updated kitchens must have blah oak cabinets and updated bathrooms must have molded fiberglass bathtub/shower/tub walls insert? Who adds on a "bonus room" with no windows and one electrical outlet? I'm in such shock I can't even type straight.I'm still waiting for an opinion regarding the foundation, fireplace, etc. from the bungalow. I took a really long look at the fireplace yesterday and was disheartened. I think it's pulling away from the house unt...

If you're looking for an education related post, please peruse the blogroll to the right. Also, English teachers may get a kick out of the grammar article in the NYT. In the meantime, I'm obsessed about this house. I've written and called everyone I know - and a few people from the blogsphere. I have little notes scattered all over my apartment that read things like " asbestos?" and "wiring '94 - call PUD." I'll be gathering all those notes to put into the notebook I'm using to keep all the paperwork together... although I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I have a notebook (it's sherbert orange and actually says "sherbert" on the cover). I have at least two more people to drag around the house before proceding and either could give me deal-breaker information (foundation? bad! EEEKK!). And secretly, a small part of me hopes that someone else will make an offer before I can get all that done because the ...

We have conferences all week. Basically, we all sit in a common area and wait for parents to drop by to chat. Little actual education of students goes on (the parents however... totally different story). This year we have wireless interent connections, so in between parents I've been perusing the American Bungalow website. It's full of interesting information. Last Friday I mentioned that we couldn't figure out what was on the wall in the bathroom of the house my friend and I toured. Thanks to American Bungalow, I learned that it is actuall scored plaster faux tile and it's fairly common. I even learned how to remove various paint layers without harming the plaster - how fab is that? Seriously, after seeing some of the horrendous stuff that these people have fixed with little previous experience, I'm thinking that this house is in fairly good shape. The floors didn't tilt in excess and I can actually see the plaster walls (most were covered in the 70s with hid...

When it comes to making a big decision, I'm a talker. I'll talk the hind leg off a dog - and keep on talking for the other one. When I stop talking, the decision has been made... and right now, I'm dying for someone to talk to. Buying a house is a huge decision! And there are lots of things that keep me from crossing the line besides the lack of decent properties. Issues 1. Can I commit to living in one place for several years? My friends and family have entire pages devoted to me in their address books. Since graduating from high school, I haven't kept the same address for more than two years (and that was a P.O. Box!) Granted there were outside issues - roommates, dorms, finding myself , butt-ugly apartments, bad neighbors... etc. If I do purchase a house, I can make it not ugly, kick any potential roommate out and research the neighbors. What happens when I start feeling antsy and want to move on? So far, just thinking about moving all my books has quelled the idea o...

I've been house hunting for a while and I have to say that it is not easy. Western Washington is not the greatest place to look for a place to live - especially outside of the Seattle Metro area. Most of the time I'm driving by house that appear to crack dens. What's the point of looking inside. Today I went to look inside - it was in a good neighborhood and didn't appear to be on the verge of falling down. Of course, the friend who went with me immediately pointed out that the chimney seemed to be tilting towards the roof... maybe that "falling down" comment was a little hasty. The hysterical thing about touring the house - I'm mentalling making price lists in my head, like the project estimators on Flip this House . Switch fireplace to gas - $400; house value increase - $1000. Remove 50 years worth of pain - $100 (and every free moment until June); value increase $5000... there's a shitload of paint, but it's gorgeous underneath. Sadly, as the ...

Our school Book Club selection this month this month is A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. First, let me recommend the book because it's a great read! Basically, it's a bio of a alcoholic crackhead doing a stint in re-hab. However, it's not preachy in any way. The author is matter of fact about the whole thing and more than a little resistant to the traditional AA path... for himself. It is pretty graphic at times and I can see a lot of students really getting into the book. There's also a lot of swearing, which is always popular with 14 year olds. Some students were put off by the recommendation of Oprah. Her being old and having a show for housewives (in their eyes) pretty much deems everything from her as "stupid." Someone also point out that some parents may have issues about the language and there is discussion about a rape and a couple of other sexual scenes. However, it wasn't anything worse than I see written on various notes I've taken fr...