It's Not Easy Being Green.

Dustin got this really great book that has quotes by and about Jim Henson. This one really spoke to me.

"Usually adolescence is a time when kids feel that the world is doing it to them, whether it's their parents doing it to them or their teachers doing it or their other friends doing it to them, and that they are the victim of all of this. Somewhere in here, you have to learn that you're not the victim, but instead you're the one that's doing it. That moment is sometimes a long slow realization or sometimes it's turning on a light switch. All of a sudden you realize that you are the person who has control of your life." -Jim

Boobie Zoo

This is one of my new favorite quotes from "How I Met Your Mother."

Robin: Bras suck. They're so confining and unnatural.
Lily: Yeah, they're like a boobie zoo.

Finished

Last night at about eleven o'clock, I uploaded my final research paper for my master's class. I am FINALLY done with this horrible class. All day I'll be singing,"I'm done with my class. I'm done with my class" to any Christmas tune I hear!

Working Woes

I had a pretty good week where I felt like my students were really learning. Then after school, right before the weekend was about to begin, my bi-polar, fun-sucking boss decided to have a meeting with some of the teachers that ruined my day. Immediately after the announcement of the meeting, I roll my eyes thinking, "Please, let me just have my weekend in peace." She proceeds to talk down to 9 teachers; 4 of which have more experience that she does. The whole stupid meeting was over our preferences in how we want to use laptops in our classroom. And when she asked our opinion, we were told we were wrong (I didn't know opinions could be wrong.) I wish she would just tell us what she wanted us to do and not asked us what we thought. Then our own opinions wouldn't have been belittled.

Now that I've vented, I'm going to have a wonderful school-free weekend (except for my own homework in my master's class, but that is a whole other vent.)

Decorating

I absolutely love decorating my home for Christmas. Dustin and I have spent the past two evenings putting up the tree and other decorations. We have so much that we even have decor in the bathrooms. I don't care though. There is just something about sitting in my living room, the lights from the Christmas tree glowing and drinking hot chocolate next to my husband. It makes me want to skip grading papers, skip doing my own homework, and skip going to school all together. I just want to enjoy my surroundings.

On a side note..... the answer to my vague riddle of people's names changing....

I going to be an Aunt, my brother a dad, my sister-in-law a mom, and parents will by grandparents. Oh, I can't wait to spoil my little niece or nephew! Now I just have to count down to July!

Holiday movies

These are movies I can't wait to watch around the holidays:
1. Love Actually
2. Home Alone
3. Serendipity
4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
5. Rent
6. Polar Express
7. Miracle on 34th Street (I like the Mara Wilson version... she's too cute!)
8. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Faeries

I have thought for a while of being a teen or children's book writer or reviewer. I love them. Dustin talked me into finally writing down some of my ideas that I have for a faerie world. Maybe one day, I'll write a complete story. Until then, I'll just keep dreaming.

Its been a while...

I realized that I hadn't posted in 4 months. For as much as I love reading other people's blog, I figure I should contribute. What to say today...

School is OK... but very time consuming. I am putting in about 50-60 hours a week, and I still can't keep up. I guess this is just part of the job. At least, I really do have a great group of kids who work their butts off for me.

Graduate school sucks... Besides the fact that I have about 12 hours of homework a week, my most recent set of directions are very unclear. It is stressful when trying to complete assignments and you honestly don't have a clue where to begin. I'll have 15 hours of my masters in Library Science complete after this class is over. I'll still have 25 hours to go.

Most exciting news... I have very, very awesome news to report. However, unfortunately, I have to wait until the weekend if over to disclose. Can you guess? I'll give you a hint... some people's names will change. :0)

Help Name Our New Car

Dustin and I bought a new car! We are so excited! We are still getting used to driving a 5-speed, but we'll get better. My family has always liked to name our cars. Let us know if you have any ideas for a name.

Overwhelmed

Right now I feel overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings. I thought maybe if I typed them all out I could sort through them.

First, I found out this weekend that my grandma has cancer. She'll start chemo August 1. I'm so overwhelmed with fear and sadness I don't know what to do. I always thought of her as a strong, exciting woman. She is so lively and fit. She takes dance lessons at her church, travels out of the country every year with plans to go to Ireland in the fall. And ironically she sews many scarves every year for cancer patients to wear. It just blows my mind that she has cancer.

The rest of my list seems so petty, but I guess they are still in my mind.

I wrecked Dustin's car last Sunday with him, my brother and sister-in-law in the car. Luckily besides some bumps and bruises we are all fine. On the interstate a dog ran out a few cars ahead of us and everyone swerved and slammed on the breaks. Needless to say, I couldn't slam quick enough and hit the truck in front of us. Our car was totaled the truck had a small ping in the bumper. So now, Dustin and I will be looking for a new car soon. We will be tight on money since we've been living without a car payment for a little while. At least Dustin will get to drive a newer car soon.

My dad, stepmom, and sisters have moved back to Elizabethtown from Germany. Holidays just got even busier, if that was even possible.

I'm taking my second degree brown belt test next Monday...One week and counting.

School starts in a month. I'm excited so far. My goal for the year is to be less stressed.

Timing is Everything

I was thinking this morning how lucky I was that my life has had awesome timing.

First, when Dustin and I met, I had been single for a while, and I was ready to be with one person again. If we would have met any earlier, I might not have been ready to date exclusively. Dustin and I also fell head over heals for one another at the same time. Again, luckily it wasn't just one of us falling in love, we fell at the same time.

Then, in May of 04, Dustin and I got engaged after graduation. This was also good timing because I wanted to get married in the summer, and I would need about a year to plan the way I wanted. For my career, this was also good timing because I knew I wanted to work before getting married. I guess it was to prove to myself that I could make on my own if needed.

Later that year, Dustin and I saved enough to buy our first home in March of 05. Yet again, good timing allowed us to buy the home that we knew we wanted from the beginning. Then, in June, Dustin and I got married. It was a great day with the sun shining and a cool breeze blowing.

And now a year after begin married (our anniversary was yesterday,) I realize that a lot of my happiness was because in October of 03, Dustin thought it would be a good time to take a chance and ask a girl he just met out on a date.

Off to a rocky start

I've officially started my "health plan" by joining the Y today. Dustin and I both joined and with my teacher discount, it was a great deal. I have also bought my season pass for Weight Watchers so that my summer is paid for. I figured if I go ahead and pay, not only will I save money, but I won't be able to quit either. On the down side, my eating habits have been horrible. The last days of school are pretty hard to eat anything but school lunch because of scheduling and between my birthday and mother's day, I've been eating out a lot. I've also gotten major cravings for ice cream. I bought low fat, but when I eat three scoops it kind of defeats the purpose. I found my new favorite ice cream at Cold Stone...Mint ice cream with chocolate shavings, oreos, and granulated almonds. I am hoping when school is out, I will get back into writing down what I eat and "tracking" my points so that I will eat better. Bring on the veggies and fruit!

Wanting to Give Up

So, I'm to the point where I want to just give up my diet. The most I lost was in the fall of 2005 with a grand total of 18 pounds. However, since then, and another five months later, I've done nothing but gain and plateau. Now, my grand total for the amount I've lost is only 9 pounds. I told the leader of the WW meetings that when that number shrinks to 0, I'm giving up. Until then, I'm going to do my best to stay on that diet and continue to loose. I honestly don't want to quit.

So here is what I am going to do:
1. Join the YMCA after hell is out so that I can take a variety of exercise classes.
2. Eat more fruits and veggies.
3. Drink more water.
4. Write everything that I eat down, and keep track of it.

I'll keep you posted on how I do.

Who is Harriet Redvines?

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet and current street name)
- Zack Caroline

2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandfather/grandmother on your dad's side, your favorite candy)
- Harriet Redvines

3. YOUR "FLY GIRL/GUY" NAME: (first initial of first name, first two or three letters of your last name)
- KMc

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite animal, favorite color)
- Orca Blue

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
- Elizabeth Oxnard

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of your last name, last 3 letters of mother's maiden name, first 3 letters of your pet's name)
- Mcc Ake Zac

7. JEDI NAME: (middle name spelled backwards, your mom's maiden name spelled backwards)
-Htebazile Ekahs

8. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, the automobile you drive)
- The Blue Camry

Confessions

Fess up!
Mark your confessions:

[ ] I'm afraid of silence.

[ ] I Talk A LOT when I get really nervous.

[ ] I am really ticklish.

[ x ] I'm afraid of the dark.

[ ] I'm afraid of facing my back to open doors at night.

[ ] I can't sleep in a room if the door is open

[ ] I am homosexual.

[X] I believe in true love.

[ ] I've run away from home.

[ ] I listen to political music.

[x] I collect comic books. (Only through my husband.)

[x] I shut others out when I'm sad.

[X] I've stayed out all night.

[ ] I open up to others easily.

[ ] I am keeping a secret from the world.

[X] I watch the news. (I look for snow days.)

[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs

[X] I love Disney movies.

[X] I am a sucker for green eyes.

[x] I am a sucker for brown eyes

[X] I am a sucker for blue eyes

[ ] I don't kill bugs.

[X] I curse

[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.

[ ] I've slipped and fell in public

[ ] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation.

[ ] I love Spam.

[ ] I bake well.

[x] I have worn pajamas to class.

[ ] I have owned something from Abercrombie.

[X] I want a better job.

[x] Talked on a phone for 6+ hours.

[ ] I love Dr. Phil.

[X] I like/love someone.

[ ] I am guilty of TypiNg LikE thiS...

[X] I am self-conscious.

[X] I love to laugh.

[X] I have tried alcohol.

[ ] I drink alcohol on a regular basis.

[ ] I have tried a cigarette.

[ ]I have smoked a pack in one day

[x] I loved Lord of the Flies

[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick.

[ ] I can't swallow pills

[x] I have a lot of scars.

[ ] can't sleep if there is a spider in the room. (Mice on the otherhand...)

[X] I love chocolate.

[ ] I bite my nails.

[X] I play computer games when I'm bored.

[X] Gotten lost in the city.

[ ]Thought of suicide before.

[X] Seen a shooting star...

[ ] Had a menage a trois.

[x] Gone out in public in my pajamas.

[x]Have kissed a stranger.

[ ]Have kissed someone really strange....

[X] Hugged a stranger.

[ ] Been in a bloody fist fight with someone of a different sex

[ ] Been in a fist fight.

[ ] Been arrested.

[ ] Laughed and had some type of beverage come out of my nose.

[x] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator. (I was young.)

[ ] Made out in an elevator.

[ ] Swore at Liberace.

[ ]Kicked a guy where it hurts on purpose

[ ] Been skydiving.

[ ] Been bungee jumping.

[X] gotten stiches.

[ ] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.

[ ] Bitten someone

[ ] Been to Niagara Falls.

[x] Gotten the chicken pox.

[x] Crashed into a car. (It crashed into me)

[ ] been to Japan. (I'd like to though)

[X] Ridden in a taxi.

[ ] Shoplifted.

[ ] Been fired.

[X] Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.

[ ] Stole something from your job.

[ ] Gone on a blind date.

[ ] Had a crush on a teacher/coach --

[ ] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

[x] Been to Europe.

[ ] Slept with a co-worker, and/or employee. --

[ ] Been married. (Currently am)

[ ] Gotten divorced.

[X] Saw someone/something dying. (Unfortunately, someone)

[ ] have a list of people you want to kill.

[x] Driven over 400 miles in one day

[x] Been to Canada.

[X] Been on a Plane.

[X] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[ ] Thrown up in a bar.

[X] Eaten sushi.

[x] Been skiing.

[X] Been ice skating

[x] Cried in public.

[ ] Walked purposely into traffic with your eyes closed.

[X] Liked someone even though you knew you shouldn't have.

[X] Thought of someone almost 24/7

[ ] Hated the world

Pass this on with your own confessions.

Inconsiderate People

I hate inconsiderate people; people who don't take other's feelings in consideration before speaking. People who make light-hearted comments about something that has only broken you days before. And what's worse, you are working your ass off, doing these inconsiderate people a huge fucking favor, and not only is there no help or thank you, but they kick your in the gut when you're already down.

So now what? Do I ignore that anything has ever happened? Do I avoid the inconsiderate? Do I engage and stand up for my feelings? I guess right now, I'll vent so that if I do engage, I do not become an inconsiderate person who says something without thinking of other's feelings.

"What a waste of precipitation!"

So last weekend, the wonders of snow blessed Richmond, but unfortunately did not come quick enough nor stay long enough to make much difference in the world of public education. After learning about water and weather over the past month, one of my students affectionately used his vocabulary correctly when saying "What a waste of precipitation!" I couldn't agree with him more. To top it all off, as of today, the wonderful weather.com is predicting snow showers again for the weekend and nothing much for the week when it is really needed.

One week later

Over the past week, I have had multiple ups and downs. On the upside, I did have a wonderful snowday on Wednesday and the rest of the week went smoothly as can be expected at school. However, by Friday I had an infection and spent the whole afternoon along with most of the weekend in bed. I decided to take Monday and Tuesday off school and made a doctors appointment for Tuesday. I basically have a virus and my ears are infected so now that I'm on antibodies, I'll be going back to school tomorrow. On the downside (besides going back to work) my car needs a new transmission. So with car costs and rental costs it has been a little stressful also. Basically all of our savings are going to be put into my car. It sucks when you are trying to save money to have to spend it all at once.

Forcast says it will be a dismal Tuesday

This weekend went well. Dustin and I stayed in town for once and finally got the last of our Christmas gifts exchanged. I got some new shoes (which rock) some shirts (all under 3 dollars 'yes I did say 3 dollars') and a corduroy blazer. Dustin also came away with a sexy corduroy blazer, a pair of jeans, and a new pair of shoes. On Sunday, we had some friends over to watch the Steelers whip up on the Colts and spent Monday watching rented movies. All in all it was very relaxing.

Tonight was the first night of my online class and because technology sucks, I couldn't stay online for more then a minute in the virtual classroom before getting booted. It sucks especially since I guess there is nothing I can do about it and the class meets online every Tuesday. So I guess my online class has just become my coffee house class in hopes that my internet problems were the fucking internet instead of my laptop. (I would call my laptop and naughty name, but it would probably break on me and then I would be royally screwed.) The only glimmer of a light at the end of my tunnel is that the weather is supposed to become icy and dreadful. That gives me hope for a snow day tomorrow. Wish me luck!

A little "Sound of Music"

So here it is the wonderful masterpiece adapted by my coworker from The Sound of Music about our cunt of a principal.

How do you solve a problem like our Lisa?
How do you keep ambition wrestled down?
How do you find a word that stands for Lisa?
An overachiever? A pain in the ass? A wound?

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her.
Many a thing she ought to understand.
But when she sits in an office all day
She forgets any other way
Than whatever latest scheme she's got planned.
Oh how do you solve a problem like our Lisa?
Why does she hold our weekends in her hand?

When I'm with her I'm confused,
Out of focused and bemused,
And I never know exactly where I stand.
Unpredictable as the weather,
Never satisfied with better,
She's a kiss-up, she's an artist, she's a ham.
She's obsessed with any test,
And she never let's us rest,
Seems like forms and lengthy meetings are her world.
She is pitied, she's reviled,
Tries to care for every child,
She's a headache, she's our mentor, she's a pearl.

Oh, How do you solve a problem like our Lisa?
How do you keep your spirit safe and sound?
What will you put upon my head, now, Lisa?
A new obligation? A friendly relation? A crown?

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her.
Many a thing she ought to understand.
But how do you find a way
To say what you need to say
Without having a chilly comment make off-hand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like our Lisa?
Sometimes I want to quit or get canned.

New words

These are the new words to describe my principal:

Teacher eating, fuck needing, cunt!

I just thought I would share them with everyone. Enjoy!

At least I'm Not Alone

So I have found that the sanity of school has spread and I don't feel so alone in the hatred of the place known as hell. One of my fellow teachers broke down crying today and another wrote a song similar to that of the one I wrote on Scott's blog. If she emails the song to me I'll make sure to post it. What is funny is that the song writing teacher did NOT know that I had already written a masterpiece about my frightening life as a teacher. I guess we all have creative tension that needs to escape.

By the way my fellow reader(s) are not replying to jobs they think I should have, please reply!!

New Jobs:
Party Planner
Conversation Heart Taster
Dental Hygenist
A Watcher for the Slayer

Thanks for coming

We had a great get together for the Steelers/Bengals game. I wanted to thank everyone for coming and propose more get-togethers where we can watch movies or sports games or even play games. I miss playing Nerts at night. It was a great stress reliever and its a great way to get to know people (it's how Dustin and I got to know one another!)

More Jobs:
chef
pharmacist
translator
personal assistant

Career Choices

I hate that my job is so stressful. When I decided to become a teacher I wanted teach children. However what they don't tell you in college is that besides lesson plans and grading papers you have to spend hours and hours on end in meetings and filling out spreadsheets that show how well the students are testing. Its killing me. All the stupid paper work and the microscope that keeps getting so close that it is squishing me is going to burn me out. So, I've decided to come up with other career ideas. Please let me know if you have any ideas for careers that you might think I would be good at. Here are some choices I've thought of so far.

Horticulturist (not sure if that is a word.)
Anchor-person
Meteorologist
Interpreter
Librarian
Book Store Owner
and finally, The Slayer

Let me know if you can think of anything else that you think I would be good at.