My name is Lori and I am a shopaholic.
Retail therapy is the best therapy. You see, when you're angry, shopping makes you smile. When you're nervous, shopping can calm you. The best retail therapy happens when you're sad, too. It not only gives you instant gratification, but it makes you feel just as good the next day because you're wearing something new. And not only can I shop, I can rationalize just about anything.
Well... Mommy dearest gave me a scarf. She bought it because scarves are the "in" thing. But she didn't like it, so she gave it to me. However, it's not really in my color scheme (I wear black, grey, white, and more black) and I just needed something to wear with it. I had the perfect outfit picked out-- crisp white button down and striking khaki's. Sounds good, right? Except the khaki's I was thinking about don't exist anymore. They were a casualty of the life of a teacher. They were washed with colored paper that bled all over the load.
What's a girl to do when she doesn't have what she wants to wear the next day? Shop. Duh.
So, if you give a girl a scarf, chances are, she's going to have to shop for new khaki's. When the store doesn't have her khaki's, she'll need a second choice. When the second choice involves a different cami, chances are she'll have to find a new one. When she finds the top she's looking for, she'll look for a new scarf to go with it. The new scarf will be in the coat section. If she heads to the coat section, she'll probably find a new coat that she just has to have because her old coat is black and her beloved Zoey is white. And of course, the coat will just make her want a new scarf.
I still need those khaki's. Damn.
I'm back in Maryland and ready to get back to "normal", whatever that may be. I suppose it will be my new normal. Again, whatever that may be. It's just a little strange to wake up and think, "Wow. My Dad is dead. I'll never get the chance to hug him. Tell him I love him. Or hear his crazy laugh." But, it's a reality and I will get through this.
Please, please, please. Go hug your dad. Tell him you love him. You just never know what tomorrow may bring.
When I arrived home today, I found my apartment completely spotless. Even the couch was vacuumed. Seriously. My friends not only cleaned my house, they did my laundry, and went grocery shopping for me. These are the same friends who also did my planning for this week so I wouldn't have to do anything when I get into school tomorrow. I have the greatest friends. Especially since I left both my house and classroom a complete disaster. I ran out the door. There were dishes in the sink. I NEVER do that. And my friends didn't even care. They didn't judge me. I am SO lucky.
In addition to a clean house, my students made me cards and they were waiting for me when I got home. My personal faves?
"Dear Ms. L, I'm not sure how your dad died but I love you."
"Ms. L, I hope you don't cry a whole lot because if you cry, I'll be sad. I don't want to be sad because I love you!"
*Disclaimer: I am going through a bit of an emotional roller coaster, so I can't guarantee the quality of my posts for the next couple of weeks. Especially through the holidays. Even though they've been cancelled at my house.*
At the hospital in Michigan. Dad had a coronary embolism, went into cardiac arresst. They did cpr for 40 minutes and got a pulse. He's on life support.
Please send positive vibes for my family. We have some tough decisions to make in the next few days.
Not that I have to worry about that this year. You know, Punta Cana and all.
The Boy, Maryland BFF, and Maryland BFF's husband and I were all discussing Christmas decorations. We had the great Christmas Tree Debate. You know, what kind of lights, bulbs, decorations, etc.
The Boy prefers colored lights (preferably the big ones, you know.. circa 1983) with many different colored ornaments and tinsel. Lots of tinsel. There can never be enough tinsel, lights, or color.
I don't.
Give me a tree with white lights, red, green, and silver bulbs (with glitter, natch). A star on top, maybe.
The Boy just couldn't believe I would sacrifice the 1980's lights AND the 1980's bulbs for white lights and tri-color bulbs. Um.. hello? Has he met me? I like things just so. I do not. I repeat. Do NOT like clutter. He thinks only a grinch would give up the color. I believe his exact words were, "You're a scrooge."
He also made mention of a silver tree. I about fainted. My poor heart can't deal with that insanity.
I was in a meeting all morning and it was a pretty tough one. It was about school improvement, which is a really interesting topic for me, but it took me away from my little ones. Apparently I missed some awesome comments and a temper tantrum of epic proportions. I'm sad they didn't save it for me. Don't they know I love their comments?
Which is why meetings are the bane of my existence. It means I'm lacking blog fodder. No kids = no funny stories.
Buuuuuuut... on a brighter note, two weeks from now I'll be relaxing on the beach in Punta Cana, enjoying some adult beverages, sans kids. No blog material, but plenty of sunshine, relaxation, and margaritas. Yes, folks, I'll be spending Christmas in the DR (that's Dominican Republic, but apparently the cool kids call it DR and you KNOW I'm a cool kid).
Today I ran a 5k. Without any training. Seriously, zero training. Unless you count tossing back a few beers last night or chasing the dog in the yard.
I ran it in 37 minutes with a 9 year old girl by my side.
It was 34 degrees. I was cold.
Now I"m inspired. I just need to get some cold weather running pants. Any runners out there who may have some suggestions? I wore Under Armor leggings with cotton pants over them and I was cold. I don't know if it was because it was really windy or what. But it was COLD.
Thoughts?
Ten on Tuesday! (even though it's Wednesday
via Ashley's Antics
1. Where are you from? Have you lived there your whole life?
Currently, I live in Maryland. But I'm originally from Michigan. I lived between two streets that were a mile apart for the first 18 years of my life. Then I attended Western Michigan University (GO BRONCOS!) in Kalamazoo, MI. While in college I spent a semester in Heidelberg, Germany completing my internship and then moved back to Kalamazoo for a semester and then headed off to good old Maryland. I've been here for almost 5 years.
2. How would you classify your clothing style?
I'd say I'm more preppy than anything. Not too much prep, but enough to get it right. I love cardigans, skirts, and bows. Give me ruffles and I'll think I've died and gone to heaven.
3. What kind of car do you drive?
Ford Escape and I love it. I used to hate SUV's, mainly because they are gas guzzlers. But, I was in a minor fender bender last year and my Escape really held its own. Not a scratch. I like being up a bit higher and feeling secure.
4. What would your dream home look like if you could have it (or already do!)?
My dream home would be anything with a crafstman style. I love the look of straight lines and simple features. It would have plenty of warm tones inside and some great architectural elements. Structure makes me swoon.
5. Do you have kids, and if so, how many and how old were you when you had them?
No kids. Maybe someday, but we'll see.
6. What is your favorite hobby?
Reading and being crafty. I also enjoy shopping.
7. Are you going to have any New Year's resolutions for 2011?
I'm going to try to show my appreciation more and try not to take things for granted. I'm going to be thankful for the little things and laugh a bit more.
8. What is something, if anything, that you'd want to change about yourself?
My waistline. It's just not the same anymore.
9. What is something that you love about yourself?
I love my sense of humor-- I'm sarcastic and witty.
10. Pick one of the following: Someone to cook for you, someone to do your laundry, or someone to do your dishes.
Definitely someone to do the laundry. My dryer is nothing but a nuisance and often takes more than an hour to dry a small load of laundry. Having someone to do my laundry would make my life that much easier. It would also eliminate the piles of laundry all over my floor. Yuck.
You know you work with kids when you over hear someone say, 'let's only speak in Russian or German to eachother and pretend we know what we're saying!'
Then you hear yourself remind them to only speak in English when talking to you.
Their response? 'Ms. L..we thought you knew everything. Why can't you understand Russian?'
Maybe because you're not actually speaking Russian? There's a thought...
I've been nagged to update. So here I am.
Just had a nice convo with one of the ladies who lives in my complex. I was commenting on the cold weather and taking her dog for a walk when she said, "Your dog is so cute and so well behaved! I watch you with her all the time."
Um... hello stalker. I've never ran into her while walking Zoey. It's only ever been when she was with her dog. So I kind of figured she had no idea I had a dog. Until she fessed up that she's a peeping Tom (or.. whatever you would call a peeping woman) and she watches me from her window.
Weird.
Things I'm loving right now....
Lunch choices for today included hamburgers. Pretty normal, right? Totally.
Until..
Mr. Wiggles: "That's my nickname!"
Me: "Huh? What is?"
Mr. Wiggles: "Hamburger! Hamburger! My mom calls me hamburger. Or little hamburger."
Me: "Hmm. Really? That's a unique (read: weird) nickname....how did she come up with that? Were you always eating hamburgers?"
Mr. Wiggles: "Nope! It's because I look like a hamburger."
Me: "You do?"
Mr. Wiggles: "Yeah, I'm the color of a burger! No cheese, though. That would be yellow."
Another little guy: "Ms. L! We're like the mayo on his hamburger. You know, white and creamy."
Oi vey.
One year ago today, I thought my life was over.
Now I realize, it was only the beginning of a journey towards self-discovery. If someone would have told me I would be 27, divorced, and living 500+ miles away from my family and friends, I would have called them a liar. I may have crawled under a rock and wailed like a baby. Or, I may have realized a few things in life don't turn out as planned and that's okay. It's more than okay. A blessing in disguise, perhaps.
While it's been a long, tear-filled journey, it's been a true lesson in life. Here's a sampling of things I've learned through this journey...
Brooke Mueller, Charlie Sheen's soon-to-be ex-wife, will be receiving $55,000 a month for child support. $55,000 a MONTH? And, they will have joint custody. What in the world costs that much money?
Let's do the math here. Divided by two children, that's $27,500 a month per child. Annually? That's $660,000 a year. That woman is making more money a month for her children than I make in a year, working. You know, actually doing something. Like, educating our youth. (And all you mom's out there, don't go crazy on me. I know you do things when you're a mother-- it's totally a full time job. But it's a volunteer position, ya know?)
Mom's out there, please explain to me what could cost that much per month. I know diapers are expensive, but that's just ridiculous.
Don't believe me? Check it out here.
Overheard today...
"No, no. The quarter is the one with the guy with a pony tail on it." "Yo! Ms. L.. why does that man on the quarter have a pony tail? Who ever heard of a white guy with a pony tail?"
"My boo boo smells funny. It...smells...like... (whispers) boogers! Stinky green booooooooooooogers!"
"You know what? I think I'm going to be a bird. I want to migrate to Africa, too! But I'll come back in the spring because I don't want to go to fourth grade in Africa."
"Why do they call fall autumn? Why not just call it fall? That's it's name. Fall. Because the leaves fall. Not autumn because leaves can't autumn. Autumn is not an action word."
"Sometimes I get so sick of Lil' Man. He's just so annon..anno.. annoying. Annoying? Is that right? Ugh. Never mind. I get sick of him because he bugs me."
**I know you're jealous that I get to talk about boogers, migrating, and action words. All in the same day.**
Poop, poop, and more poop.
I had a poopy (I want to say a stronger word but this is a friendly place..) day at a meeting, then back to school for complete chaos due to my absence in the morning, and home to poop and lots of it.
Little Miss Zoey decided she would get into a homemade fudge kit I received as a gift. In that fudge kit was a bag of chocolate chips. Chocolate and dogs don't mix. Someone had a bit of a tummy ache. She threw up in the middle of the night, so I assumed (wrongfully) she was in the clear. Apparently not. Came home to a poopy mess in the living room. So after cleaning up the "poop" in my classroom, I came home to clean up more poop.
All of this on the heels of the anniversary of my separation from my ex. It was around this time last year that all of that poopiness went down. I'm a bit emotional and that just put me over the edge. I shed a few tears, ate a lot of pizza with the Maryland BFF (who is pregnant, so she was totally cool with devouring an entire pizza between the two of us and joined me in the tears) before taking my anger out on the kickball field.
Zoey's better. I'm better. And tomorrow is a new day. Oh and my birthday is Saturday. Booyah.
for those of you counting, I said poop 10 times in this post. bet you can't beat that.
I may or may not have done cartwheels all the way down the hallway today.
Apparently way back at the beginning of the school year (when I was desperate, I'm sure) I made the bold statement that I would do cartwheels all the way down the hallway if all of my kids had a level 1 day. (Levels are part of our behavior program and level 1 is the best) And yes, I'm fully aware that rewards for an entire group of students is really a bad idea, but our kids get lots of positive rewards for individual behavior and I was really hopeful that something so off the wall would really encourage them to encourage others to make good choices. Either that, or, I was losing my mind and I was really desperate.
Either way.. today, we all earned level 1's and I did cartwheels all.the.way.down.the.hallway. We're talking about 50 yards. That's a lot of cartwheels.
My kids watched. My principals watched. Everyone cheered. It was awesome.
Except when I thought I was going to puke when it was all done because I was dizzy as a .. well.. whatever is something that is super dizzy.
But, I'd do it all over again to see their faces. I really am proud of those little kiddos. We've come a long way together and I'm glad we were able to celebrate. Wonder how many parents are rolling their eyes thinking, "No way your teacher did cartwheels down the hallway."! Ha!
Why is it when one part of your life becomes organized, another one slips through the cracks?
Because Maryland is having so much fun debating between fall and summer weather, my house looks like a tornado blew through. Seriously. I have fall clothes and summer clothes battling it out over which season is going to stay in style. I live in approximately 600 square feet, so you can imagine that space is at a premium. It just isn't enough room for two seasons of clothes to be out and about.
I'm drowning in a sea of clothes! I know it's not the worst thing that could happen, but for someone who is a wee bit neurotic, it's a little difficult to manage.
So I have to know, ladies, how do you organize your clothes for in between seasons with limited space? What am I doing wrong here?
Where in the world am I? Notice those white columns...that bright green lawn. Ah, yes. The White House! I was fortunate enough to take a tour of the gardens today.
Not only was it a beautiful place to be, but the weather was AMAZING! It truly was a once in a lifetime thing to do. And I followed up the tour with drinks and lunch at The Old Ebbit, which is rich in DC history.
All in all? A fabulous way to spend the afternoon!
If you know me in real life, you know I'm pretty much a closet nerd. I read for (gasp!) fun. And not just your typical run of the mill chick lit. I also enjoy educational books, books on behavior interventions, and books on how to improve teaching. Everyone I work with knows this. In fact, I often get volunteered to read books that my principal is thinking about for book studies because she knows I will a) read them and b) devour it quickly and probably talk about it for hours. I also get volunteered for many other things because people know I will do them and do them well.
I've now added to my nerd credentials because I was super excited that my school district was paying for me to attend the NCTM conference in Baltimore. NCTM is the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, in case you were wondering. When asked what I was doing for the professional development day this week, I happily replied, "I get to go to the national math conference!" I was met with some eye rolls because they knew I was going to come back with lots of staff development for them. I can't help it, teaching math just really excites me.
As I was digging through my purse today, I realized how big of a nerd I really am. Not only did my purse contain a pencil, pen, highlighter, and post-it notes (seriously, those have come in handy SO many times.. I often thank God for that invention) but it also contained my math conference stuff, a book on Higher Order Thinking, a book on assessment in the primary grades, and it also contained "Breaking Dawn", which is the last book in the Twilight series. Because I often freak out about emergencies (you know, like making sure I have on clean underwear in case I get in a car accident and have to be rushed to the hospital in just my undies...) I began to wonder what the emergency personnel would think if they rummaged through my purse to find identification. I assumed the conversation would be something like this...
"Dude, look at what she has in her purse!" "What's that?" "Three books and a math conference badge." "What a nerd. I beat up kids like her in high school"
I may be a nerd, but I'm an educated nerd. Oh, and I'm prepared. Post it notes and all.
Seriously, there is nothing better than Michigan in the fall. The colors were in full bloom this weekend and I was able to enjoy the leaves while I was home. The car rides with my family included lots of "oooohs!" and "aaaaahs" over the colorful leaves and we even took the golf cart out (yes, I'm from a rural area) to stake out the property and get some close ups with the beautiful changing leaves.
It's always quite funny when I go home, because home is such a stark contrast to my new home in Maryland. For one, I would never wake to the sound of gun shots in the woods. The only gun shots I would hear in this area would be from a homicide. In Michigan? Just the hunters. I probably wouldn't be wandering through a dress shop and hear the woman comment that she just ordered a wedding gown in camouflage. Ah, the joys of living in an area where hunting is truly a religion. I often comment that I feel like Reese Witherspoon in "Sweet Home Alabama" when I travel home. I leave the hustle and bustle of a big city to live a quieter, slower paced lifestyle.
And that's why I love my life. I get to enjoy city living most of the time and can also appreciate rural America when I travel back to see my parents. There's just something special about looking in the backyard and seeing sand hill cranes and deer, with the colorful leaves poking through and a combine or two with the irrigation system in the field.
Have I told you lately that I love fall? The only thing that would have made this trip would have been apple picking and pumpkins. Because that? That's fall in Michigan.
Very few pictures this week.. I either didn't remember to take a picture or I was running behind when I left for work. So... you get only two this week. But one of them was from Date Night and I totally need your opinion, so make it count.
The Boy is a police officer who works alternating shifts and has a completely different schedule every week. It really cramps my style because I work Monday through Friday and have every weekend off. Plus some random holidays thrown in there, too. What it really means, though, is we have to make the most of the time we do get to spend together because it can sometimes be a struggle to get our schedules to mesh.
As a result, this neurotic teacher has had to step out of her comfort zone and embrace the spontaneity in life. It's tough because I have a hard time going away from the "schedule" of life. Which sounds really depressing if you think about it. My life is scheduled. Yuck.
Anyway.. the whole point of this story was to tell you all that I actually went out ON A SCHOOL NIGHT. This is huge. And not just any school night. A Monday night. Where did I go? Dave and Busters, ya'll! They aren't joking when they say it's Chuck-E-Cheese for adults. We had a blast! We played some skee-ball, challenged each other in some racing games, played some hoops, and more.
I'm no longer going to turn down invites for things to do on weekdays because I truly believe it was good for my soul to break out of the routine and have some unexpected fun.
Me: "No! We do not put our hands in other people's pants! Keep your hands to yourself, please."
Little Mister: "But, but, he told me to feel how long his pocket is. It's really long! Try it!"
Me: "Um.. No. We do not put our hands on anyone else for ANY reason. Even if they have long pockets. We only touch ourselves."
Oi vey.
In bed by 10:00 pm on Friday night.
Lesson planning/chores Saturday. Coffee date with my Instructional Assistant at 7:00pm. All we talked about was our classroom. In bed by 10:30pm.
Sunday? Lesson planning, baseball game, probably in bed by 8:00pm.
Yes, I just realized I'm a hypocrite. Not in an extremely bad way. But a hypocrite nonetheless.
One of my signature lines in my classroom is, "Ignore them. The only person you can control is yourself. You can't control what others do." In fact, it's such a signature that I've actually had kids repeat it while I was saying it. We've dissected what it actually means and what we can do to help a situation, even if we can't change what others do.
That being said? Why on Earth do I think I can control what others do? Maryland drivers drive me crazy. But I can't change them. I can only control my reaction to them. My kids drive me crazy. I can't control what they do. I can only control my reaction to them. (I can encourage them to make better choices-- but I can't change the choices they make).
This is particularly frustrating to me because I'm such a rule-bound person, except in the case of the speed limit because I'll be darned if I can actually drive it. I follow rules because they are rules. Not because they even make sense. Simply because someone has said it's a rule.
And that's why I yelled at some driver who was talking with their cell phone to their ear. The law changed October 1st in Maryland: you must use a hands-free device. I paid $60 to get a bluetooth so I could follow the rules. For some reason, it just didn't seem fair that if I couldn't drive with a phone to my ear, he shouldn't be able to either. I may have yelled at him and pointed to my hands free device while "encouraging" him to get one, too.
After Ashley questioned my whereabouts, I'm back. Just for her. Hopefully she played along, too.
Just a few random thoughts this evening.
Little Old Man: You know what? If you looked up w w w . your school sucks . com, your picture would show up!
Me: Huh?
Little Old Man: Yeah! Your picture would show up because you make this school suck.
Me: I can tell you're pretty angry, buddy. What is this all about?
Little Old Man: You let HIM sit by you!
Apparently I suck because I let another kid sit by me. Wow.
And.. I can't even believe I'm admitting this to you all. I've been sucked in. Bitten by a certain series. (Do you get the pun?!) Yes, Stephanie Meyer has made me a convert. I swore I'd never fall for these books. Vampires? Psh. Yeah right. And then, I made a promise to the cuz. I promised her I'd read just one. She promised if I hated it, I had every right to make fun of her, but I couldn't make fun of anyone if I hadn't read them myself. Then it happened. I began reading and now I can't stop.
I read the first one in a week (it only took that long because I actually had things to do, like work). I'm now really angry that I have to wait until tomorrow to get "New Moon".
Sigh. Life is tough.
1. What kind of hair(color/cut) have you always wanted but never had the nerve to do it?
I've always wanted brunette hair. I love brunette's with light eyes and fair skin (which I possess, duh!). Every time I go to the salon to get it done, the stylists talk me out of it. They say my skin is perfect for blonde. I would LOVE to go brunette with a cute bob or long curls.
2. If you haven't been/or could do it over, where would/did you go on your honeymoon?
Well.. the ex and I didn't have a honeymoon, as we were married in Aruba. So it served as our wedding/honeymoon that happened to include our closest family and friends. I'm still pro-marriage (as long as it's the right person, duh!) so I'm hoping to get a do over. I would LOVE to go to Greece or any Caribbean island.
3. What is your dream car?
If we're being realistic, I'd love a Jetta. If we're talking true dream car, I'd love nothing more than to rock a 1964 1/2 Red Mustang Convertible.
4. If you would move anywhere in the world where would you go?
Germany. I LOVED living there before and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Except this time I'd live off post and within walking distance to a quaint little downtown.
5. What famous lady would you love to be or be bff with?
I'd have to go with Jennifer Aniston. She seems so chill and down to earth. Plus, she's super adorable.
6. What colors did you do or do you want to do for your wedding?
Black/hot pink. The ladies wore black dresses with pink flowers and the men wore black tuxes with hot pink vests/ties.
7. What trashy reality show are you embarrassingly addicted to?
Which one? All of them. I love me some reality shows. Bring on The Bachelor/ette, Bachelor Pad, Real World, any of the Real World Challenges, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and many more.
8. Do you you remember your first kiss? How old were you and how awkward was it?
I honestly cannot remember. It obviously was pretty lame.
9. What is your guilty pleasure?
Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper chips. Mmmmmmmm!
10. What is your favorite chick flick?
I despise watching movies more than once, but I do love me some Sweet Home Alabama and Pretty Woman.
11. What is your favorite beverage?
Alcoholic? A nice glass of white wine, preferably a Riesling or pinot grigio.
Non Alcoholic? Diet Pepsi or water with lemon.
12. What is your theme song?
Definitely something by Britney Spears. Probably "Oops! I Did it Again!" but not like the lyrics go. Mainly because I'm constantly doing something I shouldn't.
13. Who is your style icon?
Jennifer Aniston. I love how she rocks classic with a twist.
14. When was the last time you cried and why?
Yesterday. I have a lot going on and I was just super-stressed. Maryland BFF is pregnant and hormonal, so she was crying too. I'm a fan of crying to release your feelings. It's amazing how a good cry can actually make you feel better.
15. What playlist/cd is on your CD player/iPod right now?
I'm totally rocking out to Jack Johnson. Ironically, I knew nothing about him until someone posted a video a few weeks ago. Basically, I heart him now.
16. What is your favorite dessert?
Turtle Cheesecake, dripping in caramel. Mmmm.
YOUR TURN!
I tag...
Lizzie
Lil Woman
Little Daisy May
and anyone else who wants to play!
I think we all have one trait/quality that is a little less endearing than the other wonderful qualities we possess.
My fatal flaw?
1. Favorite way to travel (plane, train, automobile, etc.)
I enjoy traveling by plane. There's just something about being up in the clouds and the excitement of reaching your destination.
2. Where’s your favorite place to travel to that you’ve been to?
I really enjoyed Germany. The food, beer, and sights were amazing.
3. Where’s the place that you want to go but have never been?
I would LOVE to go to Australia, Iceland, and Greece. I'm hoping I can cross those off my list before I leave this world.
4. Do you deal with traffic well?
I live in the metro DC/Baltimore area. I don't much have a choice. However, when people are driving slowly in Michigan, I tend to "talk" to them. And by talk.. I mean scream and shout.
5. Ever had an emergency while traveling?
Can't say that I have. Let's hope I never do. You know how I freak out with emergencies.
6. Do you have a passport? What countries have you been to?
I do! In fact, I just sent out for a new one for my trip to Punta Cana. I've visited Aruba, Mexico, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Egypt. Thank goodness for studying abroad. I'm so jealous of people who have more stamps in their passport book.
7. Are you’ve light packer or do you pack everything but the kitchen sink?
I'm somewhere in between. Having had to carry around a backpack while in Europe, I learned to pack lightly. However, I do love me some clothes and I never know what I'll want to wear on vacation, so I pack more than I need.
8. Do you take the fastest route or the road less traveled?
Depends. In life, generally the fastest route.
9. Do any activities on the road? (like road games, reading, sleeping, etc. )
If I'm on the plane, read. In a car I get car sick if I read, so I tend to sleep or chit chat. I also enjoy jamming out in the car on a long road trip. Or listen to a book on tape. Yes, I'm a nerd.
10. Use a paper map or GPS?
GPS. There is no way I'd a) understand a paper map under pressure or b) be able to drive and navigate at the same time. Thank goodness for GPS that tells you when to turn!
It's almost always funny when someone trips. It's even funnier when it's your dog. And she barks at the step, as if to say, "Dude.. what the? Get out of my way!"
I'm pretty sure I'm overly exhausted, but I just cried hysterically on the phone with my mother because my camera is broken. In my defense, though, it was a gift from my grandmother and she has since passed. It was a wedding gift, so on top of being sad that my camera broke and that it was going to cost me at least $150, I was also reminded that I have a failed marriage under my belt.
While I'm normally able to handle the flood of emotions that often come when you are grieving the loss of a marriage, it's almost crippling when you attempt to handle the grieving that comes along with a grandmother who has passed away. And to be completely honest with you, I'm not sure I've actually handled that grief. Unfortunately, she passed while the emotions were still very raw with the divorce. While I was okay handling one loss, two was not possible. It's only been recently that I've actually been able to come to terms with my grandmother's passing, which was difficult because she was the last grandparent and she passed while in the care of hospice. If you've ever gone through that, you understand the trauma that comes with it.
Combining the two at 9:30 at night? Not so good.
I'm going to run to bed. Thankfully, I have the day off tomorrow. Somehow I think those ice cream snickers I bought tonight, for no apparent reason, might come in handy. And, I had to buy a new duvet cover because Zoey ate M&M's on it and stained it. So at least I'll have ice cream snickers and a new duvet cover to cuddle with. Oh and Zoey. If I take her off my sh!t list.
Kids...really do say the darndest things! I had 4 kids absent today, leaving me with only 3 friends to hang out with. When you're not constantly battling behaviors and correcting students on a regular basis, you actually have time to talk to kids or listen to conversations they are having with classmates themselves.
Convo with little miss diva, or little miss drama queen...
Lil Miss Diva: I have a lot of motto's.
Me: Motto's or models?
Lil Miss Diva: Motto's. Words to live by.
Me: Really? Like what?
Lil Miss Diva: Never, ever trust a talking cat.
Overheard.. and it should be noted that this little guy wasn't talking to anyone in particular. Just himself.
Wow! This glue stick is purple, but when it melts it disappears. I can't even see it! It's like an imaginary friend. You know it's there, but you just...can't...see... it. We'll call it Imaginary Glue Friend. We'll be best friends forever. Forever. You and me, Mr. Imaginary Glue Friend.
That's how I spend my days. Talking about talking cats and imaginary glue friends. Oi vey.
If you know me in real life, you know I'm a little crazy. Not I'm-going-to-kill-someone crazy, but a wee bit neurotic. As in, I like to have things a certain way. And if it isn't that way? Watch out.
Ashley over at Ashley's Antics (who is a real life friend, btw) may have called me out for numero uno on the list of neurotic things that I do. Of course, it was all in fun. So, I thought it might be good for me to come out of the closet with some of my neurotic things just to see if others do them. You know, to see if I have some friends out there who might just actually join me on the crazy train.
So, without further adieu.. here's the crazy baggage I carry.
Little dude: Hey, kids! Be quiet.
Little Old Lady: Kid? Who you calling kid?
Little dude: You.
Little Old Lady: I'm not a goat! I'm not a goat!
Little dude: Huh?
Little Old Lady: A baby goat is a kid. You kids don't know anything. I want outta this place.
Touche, my friend. Touche.
Flying with a head cold is by far one of the worst things ever. I think it should be used as corporal punishment, it's that bad. There was not a single moment on the 2 hour flight that I was comfortable.
On a positive note, I had an awesome weekend celebrating the wedding of a great friend and her super-awesome husband! I suppose the 2 hours of torture was worth it.
It's my first time playing "What I Wore Wednesday"... Thanks to Abby over at Babbling Abby, via the Pleated Poppy.
I only started taking pictures on Monday, so I don't have an entire week. And.. taking pictures of yourself is mighty hard to do.
Things that make me smile...
8 year olds are quite a unique breed of little ones.
Me: Hey, Little Miss Diva, quit chewing on your hair.
Little Miss Diva (LMD): I like it. It makes my tummy feel better.
Me: How does it make your tummy feel better to eat your hair?
LMD: It's like a dog eating grass, but I eat my hair.
Me: Wait, you're like a dog?
LMD: Woof. Grrrr. Woof.
Me: I guess you are like a dog. Nice dog impression.
LMD: I've been practicing.
This beauty was waiting for me on my desk this morning. Seems one of my little guys has taken quite a liking to me. I assure you, I do not look that frightening in real life and I certainly do not wear a hula skirt. I also have feet and normal hands. They are kind of large, but the drawing is not to scale.
If only I could find boys over the age of 8 to fall desperately in love with me... I kid, I kid.
Wow! The first day not only flew by, it was FABULOUS! My kids were great, my new Teaching Assistant is seriously like my right arm. It helps that we've worked together in the past and we're friends. Seriously, I think she completed my sentences every time I talked to her.
Funny of the day:
"Ms. L.. we doing science today?" said Little Man.
I replied, "Nope, social studies this week. Science next week."
"Ugh. I didn't come to school to learn social studies!" he shouted.
Um, welcome to the real world my friend. You have a lifetime full of disappointments ahead of you, get used to it.
My only complaint from today is that my feet are killing me. I forgot what it was like to stand for 8 hours straight. Oh, and I'm really tired of hearing myself talk.
I'm crabby. REALLY crabby. We're talking I-could-bite-your-head-off-if-you-look-at-me-wrong crabby. On a scale of 1-10, I'm about a 9.5.
The really sad part? I'm not 100% sure why I'm crabby. It might be because plans fell through. It could be because it's Friday night and I've spent all evening holed up with limited interaction with actual human beings. But, I kind of think it's because school is starting and I'm a nervous wreck. I'm a nervous wreck because I'm the only returning teacher in my program so all eyes are on me, and I've taken on some more leadership within my school so even more eyes are on me. Plus, I'm teaching 3rd graders this year.. and we all know third grade is a tested grade.
It's no fun being crabby.
You know what's annoying about wearing glasses? Other than the fact that when you take them off, you can't see a darn thing. Yes, I'm practically blind. Seriously. Your eyelashes. That's what's annoying.
I can't stand when your eyelashes rub on the lens and your mascara makes smudges all over. Seriously? Why do my glasses make me hate my long eyelashes? Some people pay lots of money to have long, thick eyelashes. Instead, I'm left hating them. I cleaned my glasses no fewer than 96 times today. In fact, in one meeting (a 2 hour meeting), I cleaned them 5 times. I know this because I counted instead of listening to someone tell me about how to be a better teacher. I know, I know.. I should have listened.
Sidenote: Zoey just fell asleep sitting up. Her head nodded and fell on my arm. Weird.
I'm barely surviving, ya'll!
School started this week and I was super excited until I remembered everything I have to do. Then I remembered I'm the only returning teacher in our program. Then I remembered this is the first year I haven't been able to have my room set up at least a week prior.
But.. then I remembered, it will all get done if I take a deep breath and stop worrying so darn much.
Why is it when you type a word over and over, it begins to look wrong? I had to go back and check every remembered I typed!
I went car shopping with a gal pal and we parked on a really steep hill. As I was freaking out about how to park on the black diamond hill, she was all "Just use your emergency brake, that's what it's there for! Times like these, when you're on a big hill and you don't want your car to roll."
Okay. Easy enough. She pulled the brake and we were on our merry way.
Until we went to leave. I have a little lot of anxiety about a few lot of things in life, so started to panic about the emergency brake. I had to stage whisper to Em across the parking lot, "Hey! Em! How do you turn off the parking brake?"
Dude who sold us the car (and had to listen to us cackle like a bunch of school girls while driving down the road) looked at me and gave me the dumb blonde look. Em also gave me the dumb blonde look as if to say, "Seriously? How do you not know that?!" Car salesman guy then walked over to make sure I was able to get the brake off and move the car.
I shrugged and said, "What?! I've never used it before! It's not like I park on steep hills everyday.."
I realized how stupid I sounded, called my mother and told her that if that car salesman had a blog, he'd for sure blog about me because I totally would have done the same thing. If I were him, I'd make fun of me.
Mom: "Hey (insert nickname here).. I haven't talked to you in a few days. What's up with that?"
Me: Um.. Well... I've been busy.
Mom: "Oh yeah?"
Me: Well.. actually.. I was almost done with my book on tape and I really wanted to finish it. So, every time I was in the car, I couldn't call you because I was listening to the book.
(It should also be known that every.single.time I drove somewhere, I took the long way AND I would listen for an extra couple of minutes after I turned my car off.)
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| The pie I made for The Boy's roommate. His initials are MJ. You should probably know that I'm a domestic goddess and this entire pie is homemade. Well... maybe not entirely homemade. Semi-homemade. Okay, not homemade at all. It was pre-made pie crust and pre-made pie filling. But the cut outs were all me. |
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| This? This is how Zoey chose to ride on part of the 10 hour road trip to Michigan. You can tell I'm pretty happy in the picture. She was shaking approximately 99% of the trip. The only time she didn't shake and pant heavily? When I let her out of the car or when she was on my lap. We will NEVER make this trip together again, unless someone else is in the car for her to ride on their lap. It's annoying driving with a 30 lb. dog on your lap. Not to mention the dog hair. |
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| Oh Oberon, how I've missed you! If you're not from Michigan, you probably don't know about this lovely micro-brew. It's brewed in my college town and it's simply amazing. Don't think I didn't buy two 6-packs to bring back to Maryland. Oberon is the official sign of summer in Michigan. |
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| Remember those two six-packs I mentioned? Here they are in the fridge. It's a shame that I've had them in there for two days and haven't opened a single one. I blame it on the fact that I don't have anyone to drink with. Maryland BFF is pregnant so she's out of the running. The Boy is working midnights, so he's out. And.. beyond that? I don't really have any friends. |
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| This is my fridge. The only things in there are beer, sweet tea, hot dogs, butter, eggs, cheese and bagels. Yes, you read that correctly. No milk. No bread. No pop. No water. I'll be changing that in about 20 minutes. There's also tomato soup. Why do I have tomato soup but no fruit? Blame it on being out of town... yeah.. |
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