Friday, March 31, 2006

Madness! --

This is really, really fun! (Or do I just think it's fun because I haven't been able to go clothes shopping in almost 7 months? ^_^)

Dollmaker!

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Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Plans --

Yesterday, I submitted my final grades online so the only thing I need to do is clear my desk at the department and I would've completed all the requirements for this semester.

My stint at the ALLC ends on April 21 and I really, really want to take on a second module for May -- but my ever-growing girth is slowing me down and this infernal heat is really, really, REALLY getting to me.

April 9 marks the end of the Childbirth Preparation Seminar that we've been attending for the past few Sundays now.

April 13 to 16 is Holy Week and we haven't really made plans yet.

* * *

Remembering --

Had lunch with E yesterday at Ateneo. We ate at the Clubhouse (Manang's -- to the younger batches) and I was telling him my plans.

We talked about how much free time I will have after the baby is born and he said, "Well, the bright side is that you get to write again."

And that's when it struck me -- that I had forgotten that. And I am glad to be reminded of it -- it is something to look forward to. ^_^

* * *

Take 2 --

My Johari window --

Again. ^_^

Saturday, March 25, 2006

A bite at a time --

So this is what's been on my checking pile:
- 6 brown envelopes containing my En11's group project on Critical Thinking <-- done!- 21 brown envelopes containing my En11's individual evaluation papers (a follow-up to Critical Thinking)
- Final exams of my Lit13 classes (x2) <-- done!

Deadline for grades has been pushed back to April 3 but, if all goes well, I'll be done by Wednesday next week.

H'ray! ^_^

* * *

Am curious about this --

Sebastian's Ice Cream
Flavors:
BANANA BONANZA - Banana Ice Cream with chunks of Dark Chocolate and Walnuts
SWISS CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE - Delectable Cheesecake ice cream with Graham Crust pieces and chunks of Toblerone Chocolate with honey & almond nougat
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH - Creamy Vanilla ice cream with gobs of unbaked Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Walnuts
CHOCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Rich Chocolate ice cream with a thick Fudge ribbon & even more Dark Chocolate chunks
BAILEYS FUDGE - Bailey's Irish Cream ice cream with a thick ribbon of rich chocolate Fudge
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE DOUGH - Dark Chocolate ice cream with unbaked Peanut Butter Cookie Dough loaded with chocolate chips
BERRY WHITE - White Chocolate ice cream with a luscious Strawberry ribbon made from real fruit
PB & J - Choco-Peanut ice cream with Graham Crackers & a whimsical Strawberry Jelly swirl
MAPLE WALNUT - Sweet Maple ice cream loaded with crunchy Roast Walnuts
MIDNIGHT PEANUT BUTTER CUP - Devilishly rich Dark Chocolate ice cream with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
MACADAMIA WHITE - Delicate White Chocolate ice cream garnished with Macadamia Nuts
MANGO SANS RIVAL - Buttercream-Cashew ice cream garnished with wafer pieces, Cashews, and a luscious Mango ribbon made with real fruit

Contact info:
sebastians.icecream(at)gmail.com

* * *

It's been a while --

I love my hubby. ^_^

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Errata!

Mothers Day is on May 14! (not March 26 as I previously wrote)

Friday, March 17, 2006

Almost there --

It's the last week of classes. Next week, I just have to be in school on Monday to proctor the Lit13 exam and on Friday to receive the final papers from my En11 class.

My parents are arriving next week and I'm looking forward to going baby shopping with them. (The last time they had to go into a baby section for a massive purchase was when my youngest bro was born 26 years ago! O_o)

On my watch list is V for Vendetta and *koff* She's the Man.

Monday, March 13, 2006

A follow-up to the previous post --

After that wonderful experience of discussing syllogisms with my class, I decided to give them a quiz (to check how much they've actually understood).

My class looked at the syllogisms on the blackboard and quickly went to work analyzing its validity. Some used the Venn Diagram method and others had an improvised version of it.

The outcome, everyone in my class got an 8 and up. (The perfect score is a 10) And no one groaned or complained when I announced there was a quiz.

* * *

School year's ending! --

It's almost over and I have survived another semester! Hurrah!

I had wonderful classes this semester and I'm proud of myself for rising up to the challenge of making this an interesting semester for ALL of my classes. Normally, I would be complaining about how tedious it is to teach English and how I prefer to teach Lit. This time, however, I'd like to say that my English class has made the whole semester enjoyable.

My only niggle this semester was having to check papers pregnant. No more lying on my tummy in bed checking. I have to sit at the dining table or the coffee table or fashion a table of sorts using pillows on the bed to check. But I have checked ALL the papers and I have NO backlog whatsoever.

Yes, I am smug. ^_^

* * *

On the weather --

I hate it. It's hot and humid and sticky and bleh.

I have made a mental note that, next time I get pregnant, it will be during the rainy months.

* * *

Activities this month --

Lit13 Exam - March 20
Mom's birthday - March 22
Bro's birthday - March 27
Submission of Grades - March 31
Bro's despedida - some time end of March, early April

ALLC teaching stint - TTh until April 21
Childbirth Preparation Seminar - Sundays until April 9

Thursday, March 09, 2006

So that's what THAT looks like --

My class and I have been struggling with syllogisms for the past two weeks. While other teachers have moved on to the next chapter of the lesson, my class and I are still neck deep in major premises, minor premises, conclusions and S, M and P (terms in syllogism).

I admire my class' determination to really understand the lesson and it's been quite a challenge.

Yesterday, we had a breakthrough -- we finally figured it out! After days of listless looking students, you could really see the spark of interest returning to their faces. So many hands were raised in recitation and students were offering ways we could improve our improvised Venn Diagram.

Tomorrow, we test how well we understood everything with an activity and then we move on to Fallacies.

* * *

You know your bro can't help you when --

You ask him if he knows how to plot Venn Diagrams
and he replies, "Why does that sound familiar"

* * *

Silver lining! --

I have, in a cardboard box sitting in our dining table,
the two-disc widescreen special edition of the RENT DVD
the DVD for Mirrormask
and the boxed sets of Seasons 2 to 5 of Gilmore Girls

... just in time for the summer. Whee!

* * *

Sweet thing my hun did --

My hun is a fruit hater -- who especially hates mushy fruits (and vegetables). I have recently developed a liking for avocados and was able to purchase really beautiful avocados from the Dizon's stall in Megamall.

I had forgotten that I had two neighbors (my brothers) who also love avocados so, in an act of SUPREME SACRIFICE, I gave up my perfect avocados so my brothers can enjoy them.

When I came home the next day from work, I saw four perfect avocados waiting for me. Apparently, my hun stopped by SM Makati on his way home from work and was touching/squeezing/weighing avocados to make sure they were nice and he got some for me. ^_^

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Bleh --

This is what I've been reading for the past few days now --

Syllogisms (wikipedia)
Syllogism Evaluator
Syllogisms (philosophy pages)

I finally figured out an easy way to teach my students this -- I do feel the satisfaction of having conquered something so unwieldy but, at the same time, the cynic in me know that my students will not appreciate the effort and will forget about this on Friday.

~sigh~

* * *

New experience! --

I took my mom's advice (that I should try to keep working until before giving birth so I won't have a difficult time recovering) and accepted the teaching stint with the Ateneo Language Learning Center.

It is an interesting experience -- twice a week, I meet with a group of 12 students from different parts of the world and we try to help each other improve our English.

I started today and the stint runs until end of April.

The challenge is to keep the class interested in learning English (and not killing their poor fingers from the activity sheets)

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Oscar Cheer List --

Monday is Oscars and I'm rooting for the following to win:

Actor - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote

Supporting Actor - Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man <-- He should've been nominated and would've won for Sideways

Actress - toss up between Judi Dench, Mrs Henderson Presents & Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice

Supporting Actress - Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener

Animated Film - Howl's Moving Castle!!!

Picture - Capote / Good Night & Good Luck

Director - George Clooney, Good Night & Good Luck
<-- it would be interesting if he won, but I think they're going to give it to Ang Lee this year

Friday, March 03, 2006

Finally! --

Johann and I finally got to watch a movie! Pride and Prejudice! H'ray!

We watched the first show at Gateway yesterday. I really enjoyed the movie -- Matthew Macfadyen is so cute!

* * *

I made this --

Watched Tyler Florence's Ultimate Cheesecake and suddenly started craving for one --

After the movie, Johann and I went to Rustan's Fresh and got the ingredients for cheesecake --

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It looks a bit melty because I was impatient and took it out of the fridge before the prescribed 4-hour chilling was over. But it was yummy!

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

New Toys! --

My bros were recently in Singapore and this is what they brought home for us --

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I kept the Shuffle and Johann's using the Nano (I didn't want the Nano because it looks to fragile =P) --

So, what's on my shuffle? A lot of classical music and a Podcast of Fairy Tales. I stick one earphone in my ear and the other one in my belly button and *voila!* ^_^