All the honeys who makin’ money, throw ya' hands up at me. All the mamas who profit dollas, throw ya' hands up at me.

YAY! Just finished teaching the unit on monopolies, oligopolies, cartels, etc., which culminates with a few days of throwing dice and playing Monopoly. I love it, as it entails the kids getting into groups, doling out the cash and asking me five thousand times when they can start erecting houses on their property. Um, when you own all of the colors, i.e. you HAVE A MONOPOLY. I get to catch up on grading and it gives me time to wander the room and get to know my students a little more in a non-naggish way. Originally I was just going to allot two days to the gaming experience, but they were so focused on the task at hand today that I think we'll take it through Monday, because having to do anything that includes a PowerPoint on Monday sucks.

Random facts about the board game:
1) The race car was voted the favorite token in 1998. I always liked the thimble and iron. You know, because I'm sooooo domestic.
2) Tokens in the "Here and Now" version include McDonald's fries, Starbucks coffee and the Toyota Prius. I guess this says that, while we may be filling ourselves with caffeine and greasy food, at least we're taking care of Mother Earth. Go us.
3) Neiman Marcus created a $600 chocolate game in 1978.
4) After Fidel Castro assumed power in Cuba, he ordered all Monopoly games destroyed. Capitalism sucks!
5) Escape maps, compasses and files were inserted into game boards smuggled into POW camps inside Germany during WWII. Real money for escapees was slipped into the packs of Monopoly money.
6) The three most-landed-on properties are Illinois Avenue, "GO" and the B&O RR. Next time you play, buy those properties quickly and thank me later.
7) Dad always wins. Always.

Titan Swim and Dive 2010

I have officially been crowned head swim coach at Frontier High School (how...HOW?!) and am eternally grateful for the amazing guidance I received from my dad while at Liberty, and all the help he continues to give. In an effort to keep the kids and parents informed and create a real "culture of unity" (Jack Donaghy would be so proud-if only I could fit the word "synergy" in there), I have created a website/blog for the team. Take a look and see when our meets are, read my incredible words of inspiration each week, find out where to send fatty checks to help us buy pool buoys and canopies, etc. titanswim.blogspot.com (It is not linking; copy and paste it yourself, lazy. What am I, your maid?)

Fa-la-la-la-freakin-da!

It is finally here! Christmas break has officially arrived. Happy holidays to all.

Live simply, so that others may simply live.

I know I blow money on totally unnecessary crap (but I LOVE my LAMB purse, so back off) and the following is my attempt to redeem myself and my American decadence.

I like to wrap up the semester of supply and demand/scarcity/monetary policy blah blah blah chitchat with something that my students can actually connect with-I have found it with kiva.org. It is a website featuring microentrepreneurs: people in the developing world trying to be self-sufficient but lacking the access to banks and loans that are more available in the good ol' USA.

I first found out about microcredit from a documentary entitled "Small Fortunes" (through BYU's Center for Self-Reliance) that tells the stories of people who have received such loans. After viewing some clips and discussing the issue (some classes included more blank stares than actual discussion...1st period) I showed my kids the website and challenged them to donate. We are shooting for $200 ($1 each-you are impressed with my math skills) and I will match their donations up to $200. This is a great way to give the gift to "the person who has everything" (or just won't tell you what they want) and gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside...and isn't charity really about making yourself feel better? I jest...

I know money is tight for everyone and it seems like there is someone sticking their hand out asking for donations every which way we turn (back off, Salvation Army), but it is amazing to see how just $10 can change someone's life in the developing world.

Fun fact: Dr. Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 (step up your game, Obama) for his work with the Grameen Bank and the microcredit movement.

In it to win it.

I am heading up the blood drive committee at Frontier High School this year and we just had our first event. 150 students signed up to donate (yay!) but we had to turn away about 35, as Houchin Blood Bank just did not have the staff to process that many kids before school was out. Boo.

Anyeatironrichfoodsanddonate, it is a district-wide competition among all the high schools, and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE if we had the most donations, because cheap plastic trophies are cool and saving lives is even better. This post is my request to everyone who donates over the next year to please credit your donation to Frontier High School. Additionally, Houchin will bring the bloodmobile (that sounds disgusting, I know) to your office/business; employees can donate during the workday, and this can also be credited towards our school. And come on! In between helping annoying customers and clients and dealing with ridiculous co-workers, who wouldn't want to be poked and prodded?

For anyone who has ever engaged in a game of Trivial Pursuit/Scene It/Cranium, etc. with me, you know I do not mess around when it comes to such contests. I bring the pain, and this competition is no different. Bonus: great and easy way to help out those in need. And please do not look at the post's image and think I support such crap shows. I am not into the whole vampire/Twilight thing, but I thought it was appropro for my message and the Halloween season. Team Harry Potter. All. The. Way.

100th post: Strength.

There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be. -George Sheehan


This school year has been a difficult one, for various reasons, and I have found solace in an activity I used to dread every day during the fall season in high school at the ringing of the final bell: running. I joined cross country because Nicole did it, liked it, and dragged me along. I still remember the numbing pain I felt after my very first practice, which rendered me unable to climb a flight of stairs without wincing at every step. Out of shape? To say the least. My dad recently started getting back into top form for his Mt. Whitney climb this summer, and suggested that he, Nicole and I do the 5 mile "fun runs" at Yokuts each month. Thus, I altered my workouts, foregoing the cardio I used to get on the exercise bike and elliptical for lacing up the New Balances and hitting the pavement outside.

I have been blessed with a crap metabolism and know that I am doomed to a lifetime of workouts and calorie-counting. With this in mind, I have busted my butt too many hours to count with various workout tapes (old school Jane Fonda, anyone?), moves from websites, and at various gyms around town. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, though, can compare to the feeling I get when running outside. The beauty of running is that it can be done anytime, anywhere. No one needs a membership or special coordination to do it. Just go. There are times when I blast the music (Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" is my favorite-what music motivates you?) and moments, usually at night, when the quiet surrounds me and allows my mind to clear of all the confusion.

I used to laugh when people would cite "running" as a hobby, thinking this was just a way for them to let others know in a not-so-roundabout way they were sporty spices and always workin' on their fitness. And while I maintain my belief that this is the motive of most of them, I now get it. My hobby, my peace, my nirvana, my drug? Run, Candice, run.

Who is running things?

As we all know by now, schools are kind of in a financial pinch...as is everything else. They keep track of what we print; limit our paper supply (I had to ask permission for ten pieces of card stock to print tickets for a senior class event); and I currently have 198 students, compared to the 150 from last year. These examples signify just a few of the cutbacks and changes that have occurred. I get it, we are all having to tighten our belts, and yes, there is a LOT of waste that occurs that needs to be reigned in-I am grateful for a job at this point. So where the heck did the district come up with the funding to drop off a big ol' gallon of hand sanitizer for EVERY classroom in the district?! (And how much did the huge "Property of Kern High School District" sticker cost? Yeah, because I'm going to steal it.) Swine flu, schwine flu...