The Whine thread.

[Reanok]

Warpgirl it's awful someone tried to steal your dog. I know what it's like for someone to almost steal a pet a few years ago someone tried to steal my cat when she was outside and some guy had got out of his car and tried to grab her.Needless to say I grabbed her to bring her in the house. and he didn't think anyone would see him trying to grab her. She hates strangers and being a siamese she'd put up a fight.

[Alelou]

I'm coming late to this whine thread, so I don't have to offer sympathies this time, only congratulations and "wow, close call."

Yes, I also taught at a Community College long ago (introductory micro- and macroeconomics). It's not that hard. And I have no doubt in your English skills, Alelou! I'm glad you are going to share your knowledge with those all eager students . . . Or maybe you will get some continuing education adults who actually want to write? What kind of English are you teaching?

Oh, they're clearly desperate for your basic Freshman Composition instructors. Enrollment is up 17% over last year. She has me down for literature in case it pops up, but I'm sure it will be comp, comp, comp. Which is fine, that's what I expected and what I enjoy. If it's like most classes there, most will be kids just out of high school, with a few older students who've decided to do the college thing at last, and a range of abilities from borderline illiterate to quite capable.

I taught Freshman English for two years when I was a grad student and loved doing it so much that I figured the most important thing I learned in grad school was that I liked teaching. That's why I went into teaching high school, though I had to do it through a nontraditional route since I hadn't majored in education, just in English. And if my provisional certificate from NH had transferred to NY, I probably would have stayed in teaching. But I got tired of jumping bureaucratic hoops (unlike NH, NY was utterly unimpressed that I knew my subject area well but hadn't taken all the ed courses). I had to eat and pay rent, so I went into publishing instead. And frankly, publishing was a lot easier and better paid, and then advertising was even easier and better paid, so it was hard to leave. So it's been a looooooong road back to a classroom for me and a depressing one in terms of pay, but I'm excited about it anyway. But I do hope it works out to something that pays a living wage eventually.

[WarpGirl]

You'll do great I know. If you have a passion for your subject and for teaching in general you're a step ahead of many, many, people who teach. I've had some AMAZING teachers and some AMAZINGLY AWFUL teachers.

[Alelou]

Yep, there's quite a mix of people in the field, including some who started strong but are just tired and burned out but can't afford to leave.

This is heresy to most teachers but I totally favor national standards and national tests and the ability to get crappy teachers out of the classroom. But it needs to be done in a way that protects individual teachers from local politics.

[WarpGirl]

Well SOMONE is screwing with my dog. They let him off of his new leash AGAIN! Now I'm just getting angry. Whoever is doing this is very, cruel. Now I'll freak out whenever I have to put him out. I am very upset.

[JadziaKathryn]

That's terrible.

Really, I'd at least call the police and see what they can do. Sounds like someone's out for twisted laughs.

[WarpGirl]

Where I live this isn't something the police take care of. I wish they did, of course I live in a Really rural area and people think my dog has great hunting potential. Nevermind he gets sick trying to eat a kill. The dog has the weakest stomach I have EVER seen in a canine. But no cop country bumbkin or not will touch this.

[CX]

Set up a camera in a place it's not likely to be seen and record during the times this is happening (if there's a pattern at all. Otherwise you may have to invest in a game camera. And presuming you live in the US, if the local police won't do anything, contact the state police and point out that this dog is your property and someone is tampering with it. After all, if a dog's owner loses control of their animal, they are responsible if the dog bites someone, for example, or even if someone hits it with a car and it results in damage.

[WarpGirl]

I live in the Shanendoah Valley, maybe I 'll do that. But I swear it's cruel, I haven't felt this bad since I was 7 and I fell on a sidewalk in Queens (NY) and the kindly "gentlemen" who helped me up stole a braclet off my wrist. Why would someone do this? I live in a tiny neighborhood, everyone knows me and Jar. They know I'm in a wheelchair, this is madness.

[Alelou]

Is there a local paper or TV station? Or just a good way to spread the word? If you got the word out, someone might come forward about who's doing it. Idiots who pull that kind of crap tend to brag about it to others.

But it also sounds like it's got to be someone really close by. One of your neighbors' idiot kids, most likely. How fun.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

People are a**holes sometimes!

Get a gun!

[WarpGirl]

While where I live it would be easy to get one, (black bear country) it wouldn't do any good EVERYONE in my neighborhood has one. Besides I tolorate shotguns, because they are needed here, I don't like guns in general except for non organic target practice. And my hands aren't strong enough to shoot straight anyway. Dang CP and arthritus.

[CX]

Well, you don't have to shoot straight with a scatter gun.

[WarpGirl]

No just blow my hands off. I have a dart pistol, but I prefer to shoot at non-organic targets. Besides my victims would be children most likely, I can't do that.

[Alelou]

Not to mention she might hit the dog she's trying to protect....