Dialogue - When It's Cold

She said,
You are better than blankets.

He said,
There is enough warmth here between us.

Dialogue - Numbers

teacher #1: It was shocking.

teacher #2: I got it over the weekend.

teacher #3: I have direct deposit.

me (teacher #4): How bad is it? I think I'll get it today.

I opened my first paycheck tonight, as a teacher working under my new title as "long term substitute teacher". I should have waited until after dinner with my family.

Instead, I had numbers with my bowl of rice.

I knew going in, that the numbers wouldn't match what I'm worth this year. I talked myself through dinner. It's important to do work that you believe in and are passionate about. The compensation or reward is not about the money. I don't train students to run marathons, work six days a week and create edublogs for the money. I love what I do.

Then other voices chimed in. At least your working. At least your being paid. You should feel lucky.

Then finally, reality checks me -  I'm not just working. I'm hardly being paid. Career substitutes are out of work because of me. And - I shouldn't have numbers for dinner.

Dialogue - The Way I See It

Father: "It's a skirt."

Son: "No. It's a giant FAN!"

Dialogue - Shiraz & Chips

"LAUSD might layoff 3000 teachers aunty. That might include me."

Aunty nods her head, she understands. "Our department might disappear too."

"We have bills to pay. How many people can go on unemployment?"

"This is happening to the whole world. If Obama can save America, he will save the world."

"And if he doesn't?" I pour myself a glass of shiraz as she reaches for her chips.

"We'll simply have to eat whatever gets served next."

Dialogue - A Matter of Style

"I have an iPod now. I love it!"

"Oh."

"I can't believe I hesitated for so long to buy one."

"What? Did you think it was gonna go out of style?"

"... I love you Vanessa!"