Halloween might start with Hall, but it does not end in eluiah!

This morning I garbed myself in my best spy-wear. I had everything right down to the dark trench coat, ear piece, and dark hat. The kids were so pumped about their costumes. They were also pumped that I was a spy. They said, "wow... I knew that you would be a spy." (Because I have told them many times, if I was not a teacher, I would be a spy.)

We had the traditional Halloween Parade. The fifth grade classes led us out around the track, and the rest of the classes followed in line. After that the fifth grades looped around again to see every one's costume and then we all went inside. The entire thing took from 8:40 to 9:15. The pour little children had red cheeks and noses by the time they reached the end of their long parade. But, It was fun.

First grade was fun as well.

Fifth grade, my first class did awesome. Congratulations 5W you are my best fifth grade class as of late! 5V made up for the awesomeness of 5W right down to bodily harm and racial slurs. (sometimes children are truly evil. there is no other word to describe it.)

Third grade had the potential of being fun. They made it half way, and then slid back down the mountain of the anticipation of this evening's festivities.

It is only 12:30. I still have half of the day to go. I have a head ache to beat the band, and I have two 27 member 2nd grade classes coming up.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name...

Hallowhat?

This is a fitting picture for the festive season by which I am being harassed.





This is an actual conversation held in the office at my school building. The names have been changed to protect the individuals involved.

Secretary - “This is going to drive me crazy.”
Teacher’s aid - “What is going to drive you crazy?”
Secretary - “This E-mail notification.”
Teacher’s Aid - “What E-mail notification?”
Secretary - “Dina’s E-mail notification.”
Teacher’s Aid - “Dina’s E-mail notification?”
Secretary – “Yes Dina has an E-mail notification.”
Teacher’s Aid – “Dina has an E-mail notification?”
Secretary - “O My G#@, I am going to have a seizure just having this conversation with you!”
Yah… That is pretty typical for the office.

Halloween is effecting my life

Just because it is Halloween does not mean that my students have to act like Monsters. I am going to have to bring in the reigns this afternoon, or my Munster-family-like children will send me to an early grave, and I am not talking about the kind of grave that is used for decoration this time of year.

I am not going down to third grade to read with them. Instead I am sitting in the comfort of my classroom which is silent right now, and listening to the hum of the fans that keep my room cool.

Please Lord, let this day go fast!


This weekend in review:
Friday night: Japanese food in W with the ladies
Friday Bunk: My parents guest room
Saturday Morning: Hanging with the fam
Saturday Lunch: With the fam getting ready to look at an apartment for sister and husband
Saturday Afternoon: Renting apartment
Saturday Evening: Hanging with Chris
Sunday morning/afternoon: Church, Chris, Baking pie, Cleaning out my car
Sunday night: Sophomore sit down, and pie with friends.

Homecomming Part 2

Well,
Saturday dawned bright and early. I got up and got ready for the choir concert. Chris called me half an hour early to see if I was ready. The answer was, "Um, no. And don't come over either cause none of us are ready and half of us are still asleep." I got ready in plenty of time and was dazzled by the skills of the choir as well as the hand bell group and the brass ensemble. [ensemble is probably my favorite word because you can say it En-sem-bloo (oo- as in book)]

After choir I went to see the alumni soccer game, and not many people were there... correction, there was almost no one there, but I got to see Kylie and her new baby which made the entire journey well worth it.

We dedicated the Town houses at 11:15, and by this time I was starting to get hungry... grumpy hungry... honk the horn and yell I'm hungry hungry (See Previous Post). We went to the young alumni tale gate party, and we found out that it didn't start for another hour. So we wandered around, and I bought a large cookie from the snack bar, and then we went back to tale gate. Our food blew away in the gusty winds that whipped through the tent. We had chip races down the table. (Much to the dismay of the people sitting down wind from us)

The Ball game was fun. The weather was wonderful even though we lost. It was good to see people and hang out with parents on both sides of the datehood. I got asked/told about Eldon,

Guy - "I didn't know that this is your father in law."
Me - "He's not."
Guy - "He's not yet at least."
Me - "You never know."

My last statement may have concerned my supposed future father-in-law. Besides, people shouldn't assume things. Do you know why? Because it makes an ass out of u and me.

After the game we went to "Old Town" for German food. Man it was good. I maintain that their verenica are the best around.

We went to watch Honk, on very full stomachs. Stomachs that were so full they could have been cut open to end world hunger. (Now isn't that appetizing)

The show was wonderful. Elise and Kelli knocked my socks off. The entire cast was incredibly talented and the voices were wonderful. There were also some pretty funny appearances by some underclassmen men.

After the show we went over to some friends house and watched the beginning of Space Balls. I have never seen the movie, and I enjoyed the beginning more than I thought that i would. I don't know about the end, because I fell asleep, as did everyone else in the house. We woke up at 1:00ish and left to go to bed.

That is the end of Saturday. Sunday is too boring to mention so I will skip it when I write my next entry. If I would mention it it would go....

Chris had a headache... I drove home... He slept all day... I slept all night... The End!

Homecomming Part 1 (mostly for my own memory)

So,

Last weekend was homecoming weekend. I am so exhausted. I went to bed at 9:30 last night and slept hard till 6:00 this morning. The weekend was a wonderful whir of well wishes and Winnebago's. (alliteration is so in vogue)

On Friday, Chris and I wanted to get out of town as fast as we could. As soon as we were done with work, we took off into the wild blue yonder. About 10 minutes from home, I realized that I was famishingly hungry. I began to complain and moan my hunger, which turned into me yelling, "I'm Hungry!" and honking the horn about every five miles.... All the way to Walton.... For an hour.... Poor Chris....

We arrived at Gertie's house and her blessed mother fed me the nourishment that I had been longing for. My mood improved greatly! We hung out with friends and talked and laughed for a long time. It was good to hang out with her and hear all of her life's excitement and woes. She works for United Way, and when I say she works, I mean that the WORKS!

We all started yawning and yawning and falling asleep so we decided to head for the burro. I drove... I almost took three wrong turns between Gertie's house and the burro. (Not an easy thing to do, since there are only three turns on the way).

Once safely in the burro, I went to Myra house and hung out with girlie friends there and went to bed.

Stay tuned for the excitement of Saturday...

Please Pray

The school that I teach at lost a student last night. She was diagnosed with a brain stem cancer less than a year ago. She passed away yesterday. Pray for her family, a mother and a brother who is in fourth grade. Pray for our school counselor that she can be supportive and strong for those who need her help. Pray for her teacher last year as well as her teacher this year that they will get through this time of sadness and be able to take care of the kids in their classrooms.

A time to weep and a time to mourn.

It's official

Well,
It's official, My parents finally made the trek to Indiana, land of milk and honey, or at least "land of blueberries and sweet corn." Yes, I know, it took many months to get there, but they have finally left their lovely native state to journey far back to their childhood homes.

The only bad part of it is that I wanted to go to. It is a rough thing not being able to go somewhere when you want to. Man... If I made a list of all of the places that I want to go, but can't get to I would be old before the list was done and then I wouldn't have time to visit any of them.

Maybe I will stop wishing and start scraping and saving some money to get to some of those far off lands that are calling my name. It is time... it is definitely time for more stamps in my passport.

Flounder is not just a fish in the ocean

You know the saying, "D Nile is not just a river in Egypt." well, "Flounder is not just a fish in D ocean."

I feel like floundering is a common theme for me this year. At least I learn from my mistakes. For Instance:

My first class today was a mistake, the entire thing, completely.
I fixed the second class.

My third class was fine.
My fourth class was a technical error. The kids couldn't handle technical so they created errors.

My fifth class did an exceptional job. They were GREAT!
My sixth class was an interrupted mess. In the middle of class, we got an all call to go out to the playground and make a giant paw print and then take a picture. My class was one of the last to go, but we had to hear the all call for ALL of the other classes to be dismissed. Every time the voice came over the all call I prayed, "Dear Lord, Please Oh Please deliver me from these third graders and let me take them out to the paw print on the lawn." Now I am just praying, "Lord I will rejoice in suffering, but I rejoice better in ease..."

Not that school is all bad, but seriously, I have a feeling that this afternoon is not going to be the cakiest of walks.

who knows...maybe I will be wrong... but there are five xylophones sitting at the front of my classroom that say I am right.

WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT!!!

Warning, The grammar in this next post is atrocious, and I warn the picky reader not to continue.


I may make the aforementioned song the title for my year.

Man I about murdered some third and fifth graders this morning. Yes, the third and fifth grade classes which I have spoke so well about. Today a seasoned teacher told me that the fifth grade is only going to get worse as the year goes on.

Well I have news for the world, EITHER THEY GO OR I GO!!!

Which basically means, THAT AIN'T GONNA FLY IN MISS MUSIC'S CLASS!!!




In other news. Yesterday Chris and I went on an insanely long bike ride all over town. It would have been more pleasant if the wind hadn't been gusting at 600 miles an hour...(at least that's what it felt like.) I seriously could feel the wind resistance in my spokes. Yes, in my spokes - the thin metal wires that keep my wheels from collapsing. Those spokes. The spokes that are so thin that they have never heard the word resistance before. The spokes that laugh in the face of wind, because they are so thin that they should cut through the wind like a hot knife through soft butter. The spokes, that yesterday, almost sent me side-long into a passing car because the stupid KANSAS WIND WOULDN'T STOP GUSTING ME INTO THE UPCOMING TRAFFIC!!!

The best part of the bike ride was the fact that once we turned so that the wind was not, A. Headlong, or B. Side gusting, but C. at our backs, we coasted for probably a mile. Literally coasted with little to no peddling from Magnolia to Crawford. I have never coasted for that long...in my life...ever... and will not ever again! (because of the fight to the coasting)

I have a class coming, and I should probably get my new BOOM WHACKERS out. Yesssss!!! I got boom whackers. I will probably bemoan my love of boom whackers from now on, because that is why the fifth grade class stunk so much, so I completely scrapped my fourth grade lesson plan and re-wrote it. I hope it works!!! keep your fingers crossed.

What's the matter with kids these days

In the musical Bye Bye Birdie Kim's Father sings the song What's The Matter With Kids Today. Today I want to ask myself that question. Seriously, what is the matter with kids these days? Today especially. I have not given a good behavior report since my first three classes this morning. One fifth grader had the guts to tell me that it is because I am young and students think that they can take advantage of me. I came back with the statement:

"I didn't go to school for 23 years to get here and have you not respect me. I worked hard to be here, and you should work hard when I ask you to. I may be young, but that does not mean that I am less qualified to teach you than any other teacher in this building."

For the life of me, I could not remember how long I went to school...

17 years is not 23 years, especially since I am only 24

I didn't mean to fib. It was the first number that came to my head, and sounded logical to me when I was MAD in class. This was earth shattering for me, because I haven't gotten mad in class yet. TODAY I AM MAD



Kids!
I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say!
Kids!
They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we're on the subject:
Kids!
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can't they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What's the matter with kids today?
Kids!
I've tried to raise him the best I could
Kids! Kids!
Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons!
And while we're on the subject!
Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll!
Why can't they dance like we did
What's wrong with Sammy Caine?
What's the matter with kids today!

I am not saying that every child I have taught today is a complete mess, and even some of the complete messes have redeeming qualities, but on the whole, as a group, they are a disaster. Maybe I see the disaster in them because I constantly see the disaster's in me. Perhaps I need to extend grace to both of my students and to myself. That's right... that's what I will do...


TOMORROW

Sing the Praises of the Lord: even when He sends you out to Canaan

Psalm 113
1 Praise the LORD. [a]
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.

2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.

9 He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.

I will praise the name of the Lord,
Even in the midst of the unknown,
Even in the midst of trials and tribulation,
Even in the midst of longing for the past,
Even in the midst of defeating the odds,
Even in the midst of understanding the future,
Even in the midst of admitting miscalculation,
Even in the midst of desiring answers,
Even in the midst of impatience with myself,
Even in the midst of LIFE

I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a child with it's mother is my soul within me.
Oh Israel, Trust in the Lord, From this time forth, and FOREVERMORE

The Buss, the trip, the elesticacity

Today is Body Walk Day. All of our kids get to go over to the high school and go through a model of the human body. This is the first time that some of these kindergartners have ever ridden the buss. I could tell that it was on their minds pretty much because it was coming out of their mouths. That and the fact that some of this town lost power last night made it hard to begin class. As soon as class started I was assailed by loud clamoring of

"Miss Music, We get to go on a trip!" (I Know)
"We get to go on a field trip!!!" (Yes, I know)
"We get to ride the buss all the way to the high school!" (Wow!)
"Miss Music, Did you know that the power went out yesterday." (old news buddy)
"Miss Music...um...we hadda wear socks for the trip of the body." (Good for you)
"Miss Music, Last night my dad said... my dad said... dad... the lect..ele...ctric...elesticacity was broken." (I hope my elesticacity never gets broken.)

So after class when it was time to line up I said, "Ok kindergartners, time to quietly line up."

I was answered with, "Yah cause if we don't hurry we're gonna miss the buss!"
(This happened at 9:05 am, and the kindergartners were not supposed to load until 9:45. I am guessing that it was a long morning.)

I was also informed that one responsible kindergarten citizen offered their kind buss driver money for buss fare this morning. Oh the joys of being little.

Stick in the mudd no more

Sorry that I have been such a stick in the mud. The honest answer to why my posting has been infrequent and low quality is this: being a first year teacher is the hardest thing that I have ever done.

It stretches me to think, problem solve, teach, research, learn, inspire, guide, and all other noble things that teachers do. It also stretches me to stay calm, not stress, stay positive, and even get out of bed in the morning.

I finally feel like I am getting over my cold/sinus infection, so I am ready to post.

Yesterday was a pretty good day. I had the fifth graders present the projects that they have been working on for a week or so. It was the simple task of coming up with a rhythm accompaniment to a song that we have been learning. After they performed their presentation, I asked the groups questions like: "How did you come up with what you wanted to do? How did you come up with your group name? Were their any natural leaders in your group? Did you feel like the entire group participated?"

One bold and somewhat cheeky student answered the last question in the frankest way possible.

"Well Miss Music, Here's what happened. First K got bossy, and then I got bossy, and then we both got bossy, and then I got mad and quit, and then I got in trouble with you, and then I decided to let K be bossy, and then I just did what she said to do."

All in one breath, all in an impartial definitive vocal tone, which caused the entire class (including me) to erupt with laughter.

"Well," I said "At least he is honest."

The other great thing that happened yesterday was right at the end of the day. I was in the hallway when two of the most upstanding fourth grade boys came down the hall. They were carrying something small cupped in both of their hands. One boy had his hand as the base and the other had his hand as the lid. They were equally sharing the task of transporting this unknown object outside. As they walked by they said,

"By Miss Music, We have to take Chester outside."

"Who is Chester?" I asked.

"Well," they rebounded "We are reading a book about Chester the Cricket in our class and all of the sudden this big cricket shows up in our classroom."

"Can I see him?" I asked, and immediately they produced one of the largest crickets I have ever seen. "Wow, He is huge!" I exclaimed as the cricket realized that he was no longer the captive of his keepers.

The sly cricket began to inch his way up the boy's arm. As soon as my fourth grader realized this cricket's intent, he began to whimper. I thought that he would be ok, because he was holding the darn thing in the first place, but instead of hold his ground the whimper became a cry, the cry became a yell, the yell became a moaning, screaming, yelling, fourth grade boy. They both ran off outside to be rid of Chester the Cricket.

Ah Chester... You made my day

sick

being sick takes all of the fun out of posting...

maybe I will post soon...

maybe not.



Oh Yah, and Hurray for Kylie and Ryan and new little bundle of joy!!!

more to come

I am still thinking, I am trying to perfect a kindergarten post, but I hit a creative wall. I think I need to blow some bubbles or fingerpaint. Something that is fun, without being too constructive.

I also need to get back to work.

Dad's birthday

So, I should have posted this yesterday, but I didn't have a chance, because I was effectively going crazy all day long. Yes, It was an all day thing, and yes it was crazy. I have my yearly end of the summer cold, and it is hitting on me like a bat on a ball.

Ode to my father:

Dear old dad
What good times we've had
You're up in your years,
But don't let that cause fears.
For age makes you wise
and gives wrinkles round the eyes.
Wrinkles made by smiles
That you and I've shared for miles and miles.

Much love,
Much joy,
Much peace,
Much patience,
Much kindness,
Much goodness,
Much self control.

Your darling daughter,
Jen

A cheesy poem is all I really need to show you how I feel.

Stare down at the KF choral in (kinder) GARTEN town

Genera: Western

Setting: A Flourishing Boom Town on the Frontier

Characters:
Ban the Man,
The Innocent Garteners (Citizens of Garten town),
and Sheriff Music.

Imagine a bright and sunny day in (kinder)Garten town. All of the little tykes are behaving like good citizens in the booming town of Garten. The KF Choral has only been in existence for four weeks now, but all of it's (kinder)Garten citizens are walking, talking, listening and learning just like they should.

All of the sudden a shadow falls over the sun. The silhouette of a lone kindergartner dressed all in black with a black cow boy hat and a red bandanna has stepped between me, Sherif Music, and the light from the sun's radiating path of knowledge. It's Ban the Man. A slight breeze blows a tumble weed across the classroom er... Choral. A kindergartner has broken not one rule but three as the camera angel zeroes in on his slightly taller than his peers frame. His eyes slowly move from looking down angrily at the ground to meet mine as I call his name.

(Whistle the theme from every western stand off ever made, It will bring a better effect to the post) (doo Doo doo Doo doooooo, wah, Wha, wha, doo Doo doo Doo doooooo, wah, Wha, WAH!!!) (rattle snake tail...rattle...rattle...)

We stare at each other, our eyes narrow. I place my hand to my belt loop hoping for my golden lasso, but to no avail all that I find is the remote to the CD player.

"You've got two choices mister. Either you behave like a gud citizen, or I'll set you down in the pokey (time out chair) for the remainder of class"

No one made a sound. The tension in the air was so high you could have powered the whole of Garten town for a year on that one little moment. The stare down was on.

Seconds ticked by, and then Ban the Man flinched. It seems that he knew that I mean business, and he grudgingly turned toward the next activity.

Hopefully you won't have to stay tuned for more adventures of Sherif Music and Ban The Man

I'll Eat My Hat

Wasn't Labor Day weekend wonderful. I have a seriously large appreciation for the long weekend that I just had. I think that people who do not get to have labor day weekend should be paid double for their efforts, because really, EVERYONE should have a labor day.

So, as part of labor day weekend, Chris and I traveled back to the burro to help with music in church. We felt so at home back at our church, that it was almost too good for us. It reminded us of how much we miss the burro and the people who we. We even missed the goofy parts of church like the Hour long announcements, the awkward moments created by the children's story, and that one person who sings loudly off key. (come on now, Every church has one.) This Sunday the hour long announcements were welcomed by our ears, the awkward moments in the children's story were hilarious, and the one person who sings loudly off key was oddly comforting.

And now I have to eat my hat for missing the burro. The little town that rolls up the sidewalks at 5:00 on main street and 8:00 at the grocery store has gotten under my skin.

I keep having to remind myself that I will begin to feel at home here up north. I like my job, even though it is hard, and I like the people whom I have met. Change is a process, and I have to learn how to go through the process.

My one good Kid story of today. I was asking my kids what George Gershwin was, and I was pointing at the word Pianist on the bulletin board. I made the P sound and one first grade child earnestly raised her hand and said. "George Gershwin was a Poser?" "no" I said, "He was a pianist and a composer" Poor George, He couldn't even defend himself.

The Legend of Chuck

Chuck, What a strange name to linger on as a legend. I know some pretty cool Chucks though from my past lives (AKA my childhood and high school years, so it is isn't that surprising to again be presented with a pretty cool Chuck. The problem with this is that presentation of Chuck has not been fully revealed to me.

Chuck was a teacher here at my school for many many many many years. One of the teachers here said that she taught with Chuck for more than 15 years, and Chuck was around before she was. Chuck taught fourth and fifth grade, and his legend lives on.

The teacher's lounge here at school is affectionately called Chuck's lounge, because Chuck spent so much of his "extra time" there. E-mails go out that say, "birthdays are posted on the fridge in Chuck's Lounge." I feel cheated because I have not met this glorious Chuck, and I fear I never will.

Chuck lives right close to the school, so some times they announce things to him. (Our P.A. system is heard clearly even if you are about a block away from the school.) Teachers meetings begin with, "All teacher's please come to the library for staff meeting. Chuck, you can come on over if you would like."

I have even seen this legendary Chuck in the hallway. He passed me by one day while stating that he was here to eat lunch with his 15+ year teaching partner, but I didn't have the guts to say, "Wow, you are the legendary Chuck...I expected you to be taller."

It just goes to show how one person can make an impact on so many people. Even on people like me who have never met Chuck, and even on people driving by the school at 7:30am with their windows down.

My school days roll with the weather, My Rollerblades don't roll at all

This morning I had someone ask me how my days went. I started to think about it, and my school days literally roll with the weather.

If you have ever been in the kid business, you will know that Kids are like little barometers - their moods change with the shape of the atmosphere. If a front rolls through, and doesn't matter what kind of front, the kids change their behavior in a somewhat Jekyll and Hyde way. For example yesterday was a cloudy and stormy Wednesday. The children who I teach on this morning of the week have a pretty good track record, and the students who I teach in the afternoon are known for giving me small ulcers. Well yesterday, I hung up my hat after my morning classes went poorly. (Ha, who am I kidding, they were full of threats of no behavior note, and missed recess time.) Yet, the afternoon classes all got their behavior notes. (A reward that the students get for good behavior and class participation.)

Today the weather is nice and bright. After I post I am going to check up on the front forecast to see if I will have to plan any back up lessons.

NEXT STORY

A couple of nights ago, Chris and I got inspired to go rollerblading. Both of us had loved it in our youth. Chris even used to go to a park in W and Rollerblade a lot. Well, we both got our skates and headed for the park. After we parked the car and pulled on our stellar (child of the 90's) skates, we set off. I will admit that I was a little perturbed that Chris was better than me, and seemingly more in shape. If you don't know, I have been exercising more than I ever have in my entire life as of late. I have been running, jogging, elliptical, biking, and walking a lot. I didn't get why I was the one breathing hard and trying to keep up.

I deduced, My Skates Don't Work!

I complained to Christopher...

"These skates don't work! They Stink! This is hard! SLOW DOWN! No, I do not know how to put all of my weight on one blade and push off with the other one! SHUT UP!!!"

I was not kind... I was um... a brat.

So Finally, after pushing me for a while, Chris conceded that the barrings in my wheels were shot. I finally agreed with him on something.

I decided to persevere for just a little while longer, when I looked down and saw that the front wheel on my right skate had CRACKED DOWN THE CENTER AND WAS FALLING AWAY IN CHUNKS!!!

To end a long and painful story, I ran while he bladed. Then I huffed back to his apartment where we both drank a gallon of water, and then I went home to bed.

Like I said, My school days roll with the weather, My Rollerblades will NEVER ROLL AGAIN!

MISS MUSIC ABANDONS SHIP / KINDERGARTEN BOREDOM

I can earnestly say that I have abandoned ship.

I have recently been trying to figure out the inner-workings of the average kindergarten student's mind. Let me tell you, It has been no picnic.

I knew that kindergartners could get bored, but I never knew that they had their own language of communicating this boredom.

The first surprising sign of boredom is the "Scab Pick." This strong cry of self mutalation surprised me as a sign of simple boredom, but even more surprising is the fact that this symptom or sign can follow a child until he or she reaches third and in some extreme cases even fourth grade. As evidence to this symptom, I offer the fact that I have been through 15 band aids in the first two weeks of school in the primary grades alone. (Kindergarten-Second)

The second symptom of boredom is the "Excuse Me" accompanied by the ever wiggling raised hand. This is the "Excuse Me" that begins with "One Time + a sibling = blood, guts, and pain." It ends with me saying, "That was not a question, that was a statement. A question would be you asking me something, and not telling me a story."

The third sign of kindergarten boredom is the worried hand to the mouth accompanied by an "I'm going to be sick face." I have affectionately named this one the "I'm gonna frow up, or the I frew up." Now this one can not be taken lightly. This needs to be met with a bio hazard bucket, which will be spit in, and taken to the bio hazard dump (aka the maintenance room).

(perfectly good waste of a bio hazard bag)

The first three symptoms of boredom are quick recovery symptoms. They can be dealt with and brushed away. The next two are worse to deal with because they could sink your ship and cause you to abandon your lesson.

The fourth and ever threatening sign of boredom has a lot to do with the third, but this demonstrates the true power of suggestion. When a child claims the: "I don't feel good" what they really mean is: "you are not interesting enough for me to pretend to be interested, so instead I will pretend to be sick so that I can sit and watch you try to entertain the rest of these suckers." If this statement is allowed to sink into the rest of the minds in the classroom, you will immediately deal with 35% to 45% of your students who have the "I don't feel goods," or the "I feel sicks." AKA ABANDON SHIP!!!

The fifth and final symptom of kindergarten boredom is the most deathly to a well planned lesson. I call it the "Miss Music? I have to go to the bafroom." I have just two words for you, GAME OVER! That's it, Pack up your bag O' tricks and go home!

So that's what I did, I packed up my bag of tricks, but I didn't go home. Instead of going home, I went back to the tricks that I knew would work.

We can sing eight variations of Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes till the cows come home as long as I never have to hear, "Miss Music, I have to go to the bafroom!"

Why can't I sew a circle to a square and have it come out right?

Last night I was AGAIN stuffing and sewing pillows for Christopher's new place. This wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't had the brilliant idea of making cylindrical pillows for the chairs. "Come on," I said, "They will look so cool!"

Well, they didn't start off bad. One seam and I had a cylinder. Next I took a circle. I pinned, I sewed, I ripped, I pinned, I sewed, I ripped. I pinned, I substitute cursed*, I ripped. Finally I came up with a plan. "sew the dumb thing on and fix it once it is connected." This was not the best idea in the world, but in the end it turned out OK.

The point being, If you are ever in the vicinity of Chris' living room and happen to see a couple of lumpy dumpy cylendars... do not complain to me... I fought the cloth and the cloth won.


*A substitute curse is a word that makes no sense. I throw this word into my vocabulary instead of a real curse word. Most of these words sound like the German word for Eating House. (don't ask why)

87 million new passwords

So,
As a part of being a teacher, I have to know a lot of passwords. My network log-in and password, my e-mail log-in and password, my grade book log-in and password, my phone log-in and yes... password, as well as many others that I can't remember right now. I started thinking about this Log-in and password system. It is great in theory, but the fact that some of the log-in and passwords change every 75 days, and others change every 45 days is beginning to seem daunting. That plus the rule that your new log-in and password must not be the same or similar as the last 12 passwords that I have chosen. In some cases that means that I can not use any of the same Log-in and passwords for the next three years.

For some people, this would be no problem. Yet, I am not some people. In fact, I am not most people. I have had the same or similar log-in and password for the past 5 years, and I am a creature of Habit. When 75 days roll around, I fear that I will freeze up and go into something similar to diabetic shock. Why oh why can't this system be like the system in the burro. One log-in, One password, Every year the same. I am ceremoniously sticking my tongue out at my cruddy compy. (PC for you techies out there)

Random Thought: If you really want to throw someone off in a durring a task that should be mindless and uneducational, Press the Spanish button in the self check out at the grocery store for them. It is amazing how much more we have to stop and think about what we should do next.

Week one down, Week two in progress

Well,
I am successfully done with my first week of being a real teacher. It is an unusual experience to have a classroom and get to do whatever one wants (within reason). I am learning a lot about the developmental abilities of elementary students. Just when I think I might have second grade figured out, they pull a fast one on me and I am back at square one. All that I have to say is that the only lesson that I think went amazingly wonderful with my second graders involved me singing and dancing to a song called Zudio for about an hour. I did not go to the YMCA that day. I already had cardio jumping around with those kids.

I also have made a wonderful discovery about the wonders of exercise. Just when you think that you have given it your all, you should try pushing yourself physically to the next level. It will do wonders for your relaxation ability. (burning 400-500 calories doesn't hurt either). I have already told Amy that I am going to become a Y rat, and I am well on my way. The only draw back to the y rat-ness is the fact that there are other more fit and physically gorgeous Y rats who make me feel like a Y possum rather than a Y rat. My goal is to become a Y prairie dog. That way I won't feel so intimidating or as intimidated as a true Y rat.

(if you understood the last paragraph, you need mental assistance.)

Another new event in my life is the fact that Chris finally has a job in the same town as me. It is a wonderful feeling that he is just minutes away working hard at a new thing just like I am. Yesterday we tackled getting him settled in his new little duplex. I am not kidding when I said it was little. It works Great for him, but the closet system in the place leaves something to be desired. Thank goodness that there is a wonderful second hand furniture shop in which he bought a beautiful cedar lined wardrobe for less bucks than big bucks. Tonight after group conferences we will probably again tackle getting him settled, and hopefully the fiber fill from stuffing chair cushions will someday dislodge itself from every crevice of my living room floor.

Well, I fear that I have rambled on long enough. I guess that this is enough information for you to sink your teeth into for a while. If you want to know what I did on the weekend, the answer is simple: I did what I have done every weekend since I moved north.

Spent Friday night at my parents house. Saw my friend Sabrah from CA. Talked in my sleep to my sister, which included saying "boom" when she dropped her boot while putting it away, as well as telling her "make sure you put the books on the shelf, like the doctor did." Spent Saturday with Justin and Elise, Spent Saturday night at Rachel's, Spent Sunday in the burro, and came back north on Sunday afternoon.

Off to great adventure and molding young minds!

Lots back to being gone!!!

57 hours

Last week I worked 57 hours in my classroom. I am still tired.

Anyway...

The kids come tomorrow. I am nervous. I am in Mac town with my family for my mother's birthday. I don't want to go back up north to work because of my nerves. Da' Gum...

I know that once I start, It will be better, but man... If it doesn't start I might run scared.

Here are some interesting facts about starting my job.
1. I will be on evaluation for the next three years.
2. It will take three years to become a tenured teacher.
3. It will take two years to get my complete teaching certification.
4. It will take me a lifetime of teaching to actually reach the best I will ever be, and then I will retire because the life of a teacher is constant improvement.
5. Changing school districts is a pain in the butt.


Although these things sound discouraging, It is all part of the great governmental plot to try to inspire teachers to be lifetime learners. I believe that they have some of their screws loose.

New Things

I have not posted in a while. I will attribute that to the exceedingly long days I have been working in preparation for the school year. Yesterday in fact I worked a 13 and 1/2 hour day. Yes, From 7:00 am to 8:00pm I was either in meetings or working to get my classroom in order. Which is why I am not going to let this post linger on.

All that I have to say about being a new teacher so far is that getting used to a new school system is a bigger job than I thought that it would be. I also miss Sharon and Patti over at the burro M.S.

This afternoon calls for a Pride and Prejudice sound track and a cup of iced tea. Too bad I only get one of those things.

Well, I am going to plan some seriously awesome first week of school lessons. Ta ta for now.

My New Neighbors: For ages 16 and older

Sometimes there are things that I would like to write on this blog, but I choose not to write them because of the adult nature of the subject matter. I don't know who reads this, but I certainly want to keep it to G rated material.

Yet, sometimes life gives us Neighbors who bring incidents that are not G rated into our lives. This was my case last week. The entire situation brought me to tears in laughter.

So, I will for one post diverge from my normal G ratedness.

I recently moved into my first apartment complex. It is not a large complex, and it is in a nice part of town. My neighbors are not frightening in the least. For the most part they are quiet and respectful of the other occupants.

Except for my upstairs neighbor who takes a shower every night at 1:00 a.m. or later, and insists on throwing up loudly on Monday mornings for at least an hour. The first time I heard it, I kind of wanted to call 911 because it sounded like he was DYING. At least now I know the full effects of a full weekend hangover.

Here is the part of the story when apartment life truly turned over a new leaf.

New Roommate and I were enjoying a nice Italian Chicken meal when we heard a knock at the door "knock,knock,knock." We immediately thought, "No one knocks on our door, It must be the neighbor's door. A short time later and there was another, "knock knock knock." we got up an answered the door and it was our neighbor. She had come by to see if we wanted her business cards. She told us that she does slumber parties. We excitedly answered "Slumber parties, that's fun." (thinking cookies, and movies, and late night girl talk) Little did we know that "Slumber Parties" is a company that sells bedroom unmentionables, edible body butters, and other adult toys. "Gasp" Our neighbor sells sex toys, and we said "Slumber parties, that's fun!"

On the up side of things, we invited her in and she stayed while we made and ate cheese cake. We talked about a lot of things and were open about our faith, our relationships, our views on drinking and other serious issues. At the end of the evening she asked us if we wanted to go walking some time. I was so glad that she was still comfortable around us after we had shared so openly. Hopefully we will keep getting chances to share our lives with her.

One thing that New Roommate and I are nervous about is the fact that someday our neighbor will want to give a slumber party hosted by us. We decided that we would have to make it the first ever three person "Slumber Parties" party, and hope that she won't mind that we don't buy anything.

Sad Strainge Little Car: part 27

So,

Throughout the entire month of June, I had the predicament of deciding whether I wanted to fix my car or not. I opted to not make payments on a new car, and instead fixed my car. I had to get an entire new air compressor for the circulation system in my car. It takes care of: Drying, Cooling, Air conditioner, Heater, Defrost, and many other helpful things

On the way back from my new home a couple of days ago, I realized something. I couldn't get the car to cool. The air conditioner was like a hand dryer blowing directly in my face. I tried every method I could think of to fix it. I tried circulating from the outside, inside, on max, not on max, from the vent, with no cooling power on, and with cooling power on. NOTHING.

Today, I am stranded at my parents house. My dad had meetings in the burro, so he took my car to see if they could FIX IT. Hopefully it will be fixed for free and in one day.

I am not keeping my fingers crossed.

Ha, I can post!!!

For all of those people who have written me on facebook, who also read this blog, I am sorry that I can't reply to you. The computer won't let me.

Anyway...

So this past week and weekend was great. I spent wonderful times with my family. We went to Cottonwood Falls to eat catfish and listen to a town blue-grass get together. It was a truly good experience. We also went out to the bestest Mexican place ever and ate the bestest enchiladas ever! Good food, good times, good company.

I was kind of bummed on Tuesday. I was back up in my northern apartment and had just read my devotions about the pharasees giving Jesus a hard time about his life (a common occurance), when there was a "nock at my chamber door" (common quote by Jenna). I opened my door expecting to see Chris' family, but instead of them it was CHRIS, 100% in the flesh. I was so surprised. I was also so broken up about him surprising me that I immediately started crying and almost shut the door in his face.

We had a wonderful day. ate little burgers for lunch. drove around and got aquainted with this town. ate Italian for super and all in all had a fulfilling day of rest and good conversation.

God knew exactly what I needed. He isn't just talking big when He says that He will suply all of our needs. I didn't understand His timing on this ocasion until after the visit, because I thought that my needs were more urgent than He did, but He waited until I was receptive to His will and then He gifted me with the company I had longed for.

testing, testing, one two three

This is a test of the wireless internet not working right broadcast system. This is only a test to see if this works. If it works, there will be more to follow.

Not much

I am sure that I have a lot to say, but right now I don't really feel like talking about it right now.

I am with my family this week. It has been good. I haven't slept much. The first couple of nights because of a girl movie marathon. The no sleep the next couple of nights has been due to the fact that my sister has moved into my room and insists on keeping that TV on into the wee hours of the night. I have listened to more partial episodes of COPS than I have since my freshmen year of college.

I think I may go nap now. Or read. I only have 200 more pages left in my 840 page book.

ttfn

Oh the places you'll go

So every year at highschool graduation one of the english teachers reads a Dr Seuss book that reminds her of the graduating class. Seuss has a book called "Oh the places you'll go," I believe that he could have also written a book entitled "Oh the people you'll meet." I have been in my new town for a week now, and I believe that I have met more new people than have been new places.

There was the young boy at the D.A.V. who thought that they had forgotten to pay their electricity bill when they turned their lights out as the store closed.

Or the clerk at the D.A.V. who exclamed with her head bobbing like a valley girl, "I expect to see you back now that you know the HOT PLACE TO SHOP!" (punctuating each bold word with a jirk of the head)

There was the Drafting teacher who I met at my teachers meeting. He was nervous about working in such a large school. I (along with english teacher guy) assured him that because he can grow a five o' clock shadow by three that he will have no problem holding classroom authority.

There was the little asian woman at lap swimming who exclamed to me, "Is hot! You hot too? Here's what you need to do, just dip your head back. Dip it back, dip it, DIP IT BACK! Now you see. Much cooler, yes?"

So you see, Even though I am just in one new place, I have met a handfull of delightful people. I hope to get to lap swim with Asian woman again. She cracked me up.

Other than that I am just trying to get through the rest of this summer without getting too nervouse about the upcomming school year. Pray for me as you think of it.

Update

Well,
I have officially moved. I have only been there for one night though. I am currently at my parents house though. I am excited to start feeling at home in my apartment, but it is just so different from the burro. I guess that I need to get out into the community and start establishing some familiar places. I think that I have been in the same small town for too long because I kind of like knowing all of the checkers at all of the two grocery stores in town.

Last Sunday I went to a spiritual DNA class. Among other things, I found out that I am energized by people, but I am structure oriented. Basically that means that I like to be with people and they are more important than the task that we may be working on, but if we don't have some structure in our day or activity I get tired and shut down. (Honestly, I don't know how I have made it thus far considering that my group of friends and family don't do the structure thing that well.)

Tonight I am going to see Josh in By By Birdie. I am excited to hang out with the girls. It will also get me up north enough to actually stay in my apartment for the next couple of days.

On Thursday I have a new teacher's meeting. I get to have a drug test! (Just as a side bar, I hate lab testing of any kind.) I also get to turn in my employers copy of my teaching license. I have a teaching license. I have that little slip of paper for which I worked ridiculously hard. Huzzah!

I have also officially resigned myself to no trip this summer. I am probably not going to get to go anywhere out of the tri-state area. This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but you must understand my love of travel. I like it so much I even added the feature "Where I have been" on facebook. It is the one new application which I will accept. Maybe I will go to the Library and get some travel videos. I think I will photo shop my picture into some photos of Southern Europe, Northern Africa, South East Asia, India, or North East United States.

The Last "Last Week"

Do you remember the feeling that all of us got during finals week, when everyone was busy taking their room apart? People would move out their old beds and bring in the bulky college beast beds. They would take out their decorations. The rooms would echo more. The hall was loud. The air conditioner would compete with the opening and closing of doors. People would slowly announce their departure. "Alright, I'm going now," or the high pitched voice that was so popular freshmen year, "By Guys!" We would hug, and say "See you next year." We didn't acknowledge that each of these last weeks would lead us to the very last week we would ever move away from Tabor College.

The problem for me is that "last last week" didn't ever happen. Graduation weekend was so much of a crazy rush that I didn't have time to let the thought of leaving sink in. Then I student taught in the fall, and it felt like I had a job on campus. In the spring, I got a job on campus. Hillsboro got under my skin, and I got into Hillsboro.

I finally feel that "Last week" feeling again, but now I am in my office. I am leaving this week. Steve is leaving this week. Clint is leaving this week. The back four offices in our building are cleaning out. The air conditioner is fighting the opening and closing of doors. The rooms echo more. The hallway is loud. Steve announced his departure, "I'm Out! I'm Gone!" and on his way out Clint and Leda told him, "See you around campus."

I am leaving. I will come back to visit. For five years I have been home in this little town in the middle of the middle of the US. No longer will I walk across campus to visit the friends who I have met. No longer will I skip out on obligations to watch Soccer in the fall. No longer will I have late night play practices. No longer will I call people for the phonathon. No longer will I change addresses and update databases.

This is it. This is the break. This is the feeling that I have been waiting for since graduation last year.

Now I can embrace the memories. Now I can come back for reunions and home comings and feel like I am visiting with old friends. Now I can touch a new group of people, and tell them the stories that my Tabor friends already know because they were there when the stories began....

moving

College promotes moving. New jobs promote moving. Living as a twenty something in the 2000's promotes moving.

I am not only moving out of my apartment to a different apartment,
I am moving out of my office into another office at tabor, and then moving into another office when I get the keys to my new job.
I am also moving my sister from her apartment to my parents house and a storage building four or so days before I move myself.

I have been talking about scheduling a message for a long time. I might just have to actually make good on that promise to myself.

Girls in the summer......... (and one boy)

Yesterday was a Girls day in the summer. I took off of work an hour early, and went to Amy and Rachel's. We took care of the cat (I am cat sitting again), and took off south to N.

We ate Chinese food down town. It was so good. They had a wonderful crab salad, coconut shrimp, chicken and broccoli, and scallion beef. I tried the Vegetarian Loe Mein, but it had much too much peanut oil in it. Amy and I split this thing that was labeled butterfly shrimp, but the more I think about it the more I think that it must have been something else. It was like sausage wrapped in rice noodle paper and boiled. (like a dumpling) Not so grand.

After lovely Chinese, we hung out at 10 Thousand Villages. I found so many things that I would have liked to buy, but I restrained myself. Someday I am going back and buying some of the cd's that they had.

We went next door to the etcetera shop, and the buying began. I got a scarf, a large basket, and a corduroy blanket from the 70's. I might make a rug out of the blanket. It is pretty cool.

After that we drove down to an antique store/flea market. Amy picked up these dinosaur toys and started quoting "Firefly." (origionally I wrote The Land Before Time in the quotes.) I was shocked at how many word for word lines she pulled out. I still laugh when I think about it. Amy also found a chair for her parents re-enacting, Rachel found a cup for Laura and Muppet's Treasure Island, and I purchased two ginormous wind chimes. They are beautiful.

I can't imagine that there are people who have never shopped at a garage sale, thrift store, flea market, second hand store, or auction. It is so much fun going out in search of hidden spoils. I think if the average person went in search of this kind of Booty (pirates treasure) instead of the other kind of booty the world would be a much different place. (Unnecessary Wal-Mart shopping would also be cut down considerably.)

After scavenging we went to Josh's house and took naps. (Group nap time is a beautiful thing) When we woke up, Amy and I drove Laura's truck back to Hillsboro, Rachel Drove her car to Taiquando, and Josh and Laura drove out into the country and GOT ENGAGED!!!

Amy and I ate Hamburgers and then went to Justin and Elise's to watch Gilmore Girls and eat Nacho Cheese Doritos and Chunky Chips Ahoy. (Which I decided to forever call Chunky Chips OF HOY)

It was a wonderful day of Girls in the summer.

Lost Dog

For the past week there has been a great dog just wandering around Tabor's campus. The dog is male, medium sized, and speckled in brown and white. It looks like the kind of dog that people use for bird hunting. He is nice, does not bark, follows people around, but does not appear aggressive at all.

So, I want this dog to get back to its origional owner. I don't really know what to do. I don't want to call the police, because I don't want the poor dog to sit in the pound. I can't take it in either because I don't think that Fern would appreciate a dog in the house or even in the yard for that matter. So, I found a sight for lost and found pets as a link on kiddlive.com.

The link is:

http://www.petfinder.com/

I looked to see if his owner had posted an add about the dog, but they hadn't. The thing is that I don't feel like I can post an add about it, because I can't be sure that I could find the dog to return him at any given time. He hangs out around the college in the mornings, but I have no guarantee that I can find him when I need to.
For now, I will try to keep tabs on his comming and going. Hopefully someone with their own back yard will have a heart to help him out.

Tie up loose ends

A couple of weeks ago a lot of things in my life went nuts. Well, some of them are righting themselves.

First of all: We found an apartment! It is larger than the one that we had before. The entryway is kind of sketchy, but the actual apartment is really nice. We are renting from Lenky (my fond entitlement of my new land lord). He is the guy who we were going to rent from the first time. He felt bad about not renting the original apartment to us, and so he told us that he would discount the rent $50 a month plus throw in a washer and dryer for $15 a month. I am glad that we will get our own washer and dryer. I don't want my clothes to smell like someone else's clothes.

Second: I am down to the last straw with my car. My dad told me to fix it and if I find something else that I want, he will drive my old car. I only have one more possibility. I am closing the doors after that. It may not work out anyway because of the length of the time that it will take for the deal to come through. But all in all, I will have a car sooner than later.

Third: I have actually made some definite headway in my packing efforts. I have reached a level where if I pack more, I may not have the things I need to function in my house for the last couple of weeks that I am here. I want to continue in my quest, but I need to get some of these boxes out of my apartment before I can actually see to pack anything else. Why do I have so much stuff? Where did it come from? Where will I put it?

All that I know is that I am not allowed to buy lotion until I use all of the stuff that I have right now.

Nap

I am so sleepy. It is impossible to work this way. It is a good thing that we had tea at ten today, or else I would have died. (tea at ten is a summer tabor tradition.)

I brought cheese, and it is all gone. I am going back to dale's and buying more this afternoon. After I nap.

Nap,nap,nap...

Alma Mater

My Freshmen year in College the Tabor Choir did a concert of songs that they have been known to sing over the years. Each of the songs was popular under a different choir director.
The concert was extremely memorable for me, because Becky and I were almost late to it. We were coming back from KC and missed our turn and wound up about an hour due West of the burro about 1:10 minutes before we were supposed to be there. We made it back to our dorms, splashed water on faces and ran to the chapel. (We had been at Worlds of Fun all day, and had that wonderful sweaty amusement park smell.)
Anyway... the concert that evening ended with the old Tabor Alma Mater song, which is no longer sung at Tabor because it has been replaced with Redeemed of God (the Tabor Hymn). I was going through old alumni files and ran across a song sheet, and decided to show it to you.

As an emblem of our fathers, "To thy trust be true,"
Beams our haloed Alma Mater Rising toward the blue.

(Chorus)
Onward still we'll bear the banner, Gold and Royal Blue.
Hail, all Hail, dear Alma Mater, Tabor tried and true.

To a higher plain of vision And to truth and light
We are led within thy portals, Vigil of the right

(Chorus)

Glorious Mem'ries, Alma Mater, Thrill us at thy view;
We will hail thy name with rapture, Tabor we'll be true.

(Chorus)

This song is sung to the same tune that countless Alma Mater songs are sung.
I just thought that it was a fun, quirky bit of history that I would share with you.

Antsy

If I could be more antsy, I think I would be pacing the floors madly. I would walk up a path about two yards long, and then turn abruptly on my heels and walk back. There would be no nonsense in this action. I would probably whistle as I paced. Not a happy go lucky tune, but something like a fight song, or one of the battle songs of early America.

I think that we finally found an apartment. This may be contributing to my over zealous need to move, sway, pace, bike, and create. I think that if a team of psychologists studied my nervous behavior, I would be immediately put on some sort of calming drug.

It can not be contributed to change in diet or intake of caffeine. It must be Spring fever, compounded by the need for a vacation (out of state, country, or the such), complicated by the uncertain nature of my near future, and finally viewed by myself as somewhat of a quarter life crisis.

This may sound like a desperate state, but surprisingly I am happy, and do not feel the need to adjust my course as of yet.

All that I know that I need is to go swimming. I need a good afternoon at the ocean, on a beach, surrounded by no one who cares what I look like.

?Quien? ?Donde? ?Porque?

So,
The duplex that I haven't written about, but thought that I might move into fell through. This has been a long line of falling through. I am going north again today to look at a couple more places. Hopefully new roommate and I will find something that we like that is available. (Thanks Lenky!)

I am going to look at another car today. I am also going to call about a couple more. Every day I keep going back and forth about fixing little Timmy. Seriously, I wanna quit all of this madness!!! I know that it is crazy, but I keep praying that someone will just drop the perfect car in my lap. (I believe in miracles)

Despite all of the drama, I am remaining mostly worry free. God has given me a super amazing peace about the entire situation. I am still having problems with the whole patience part of things, but at least I am not dwelling on the Poopyness of the situation.

Fact: It is extremely hard to be motivated to pack up ones apartment, when one does not have a moving destination.
Fact: One should not write important phone numbers down on ones hand and then use the restroom which requires the washing of hands. One will loose the phone number.

The passing of time

So,
Last time I posted, I was pretty down about my life situation. Honestly, not much has changed since then. Somehow the passing of time has allowed me to be at peace with everything. I do have a possibility on another place to live next year. I am going to look at it tomorrow. As far as my car goes, I am just about ready to fix it. I have looked at cars on line as well as dealerships around my area, and haven't found anything yet. I have a couple more places that I want to check with, and if those don't work, then I will be shelling out the bucks to get Little Timmy fixed.

Subject change:
Lately I have been fascinated with a show that was released as a series of movies on A&E entitled "Horatio Hornblower" which surrounds the stories of a promising youth in the British Navy during the wars with Napoleon. Some of it is a bit graphic for me, but I close my eyes or use the restroom at these times. The show is not flashy or filled with high-tech frenzy as some movies are; Instead they used real ships and real ocean shots.

When I first started watching, I decided to affect a TV crush on our hero Horatio Hornblower. I didn't feel quite alright about this crush because when the film series begins, Horatio is a stunning 17 years old. Yet, to my surprise and (feigned) delight, the films proceed the and years pass. In the episode that I watched last night, he was the full age of 25. This completely justifies my affected TV crush. (I haven't had a TV crush since I was in love with JTT in the early 90's.)

My favorite character in the series is Matthews. He is a middle aged sailor who understands more about ships than most of his senior officers. He has a great sense of humor, and also seems to always be in the right place at the right time. I have also affected a TV Crush on him.

Who knew that this summer would bring me the delights of A&E Historical Fiction?

Rough Week

Sunday: My car died
Monday: I got the depressing estimate
Tuesday: I have to decide weather to fix old car or get new car
Tuesday: I lost the apartment that I wanted in Salina

Wednesday: Has been a good day. I am praying it holds.

The Yard Sale

So... It happened.
The yard sale that my sister has been trying to get me to do for the past two years happened. I went home last Thursday night to finish getting things ready. We priced organized and were ready on Friday morning to get going. Too bad Friday morning wasn't ready for us. It rained, then drizzled, then stopped. We put things out (after the pre-yard sale lurkers had already given up on us) and stayed open for a little while. Then it rained and we covered with tarps. It stopped raining for a little while longer, and then it started to pour. We had a mad rush getting things onto the porch, and then we were done for Friday.

Saturday the weather was amazing, but people knew that we were already open the day before and assumed that our things had been picked over. They didn't come. The good part of Saturday was that I got to hang out with Leanna, a childhood friend who I haven't talked to in about four years.

So, Out of all of the work that I put into the project. I made about $25. Yep, I started with 6 boxes of things, and I ended with five boxes left. It goes down in my book as a flop.

Sometime in the near future, I will be going to the Good Will with my mom. At least I will completely rid myself of the extra baggage of The Yard Sale.

I will say this. It was fun sitting around on Saturday morning and afternoon with Leanna and my family. We had chilly dogs for lunch, and enjoyed the beautiful day.

Change

I am going Home Home for the weekend. I think that this is the new way that I am going to refer to my parents house. Home Home will be my parents, Home will be my burro apartment, and New Home will be my new apartment. (which will eventually be Home)

Yesterday I met with new roommate to talk about furniture and to look at a coffee table that she has. She didn't know if I would want to use it or not.

When entering college, I did not expect to leave college and get a roommate. I thought that roommates were for college, but after spending a year in my own apartment, I find that I am a roommate person. I spend most of my time out of my at other people's houses, or at the library...

1. because my apartment is in the basement and it doesn't have sufficient windows for my comfort,
and
2. because I like being in the same room with another person.

So, back to the roommate situation. I picture it as a merger of two people. You each tally what you own that would be beneficial to the relationship (such as appliances, dishes, furniture, and the such) and then merge these items to produce the likeness of a household. The problem with this situation is that the frequency of turnover of roommates is much higher than other relationships like family and spouse. So, if you move from roommate to roommate, it becomes evident that you buy and sell and store more of the aforementioned household items.

I have had two other roommates, (amy and panda), and New Roommate has had only one other roommate. These were all college roommates, so this is our first out of college roommate experience. I think that we will bring not only material things to each other's lives, but also support as we both start our first "Career" jobs. It will also be nice to have someone to rant with and to laugh with. I am sure that it will cushion the blow of leaving practically everyone I know and branching out to a completely new town.

Anyway.... This is for change, this is for the unknown.

I Liiii iiii iiii iiiiK My Biiii iiii iiii iiiiK

So,
I recently went on a long bike ride with a few friends round this little town I affectionately call "the burro." It was a great time! We kept reminding ourselves of the Butter Cream gang. Elise and I tried quoting the movie. (It didn't work too well since I haven't seen it in about four years.) The only line that I can remember is
"Is that a threat?"
"No that's a promise"

Anyway.... I realized how much I miss riding. I will need to find a safe place to ride once I move. After using my trusty cycle for about 12 years I am considering getting a new bike. There are some sweet Schwinns out there that are calling my name.

I have only owned Schwinn. My first adult bike was an old Schwinn. It was banana yellow, had three gears, and hand breaks. I hate to say that I was ashamed of it when I first got it, because it wasn't a cool new mountain bike like all of the rest of my friends had. Now looking back, it was a pretty sweet action bike.

I got my current bike right before my 12th birthday. We drove to W to the Schwinn shop, and I purchased half of a beautiful brand new Lipstick Red Schwinn Mountain Bike. I remember loving the fact that it was about 20 pounds lighter than my last bike. I picked it up and carried it around the store. I still remember debating between that color and a hunter green color. I also remember what the shop smelled like and what the floor was like. It was black and had little raised circular grips on it. It is interesting how much of the encounter I remember. I believe it is because of the significance of my first encounter with this particular bike. I was a proud owner.

The first time I wrecked that bike I cried, not because I cut up my legs (I still have scars), but because I scratched the amazing paint job on that fabulous bike.

Even if I do get a new bike I will still ride my old ones. Ahhh the memories...

(Wavy fade to me as a child with each of my Schwinns.)

Long Distance Relationship

So,
I have never used this blog to talk about my romantic relationship. I have used it to rant about almost everything else, but not very often about my personal personal life. Right now I am going to break my rule.

Last summer Chris (Boyfriend, but I hate that term because it sounds extremely high school-esque.) spent the summer in northern Indiana working an internship. It was my first long distance relationship stint. It was difficult, but we each took action to get involved in other friendships. I had an excellent time with my small group at church, family, and other friends. When Chris returned in the fall, I felt like I knew him better because of the experience. When the only tools that a couple have to communicate are the phone and the internet, they don't have the opportunity to just sit and enjoy each other's presence. (Which is a beautiful thing, but it doesn't really increase the amount that you know about another person.) When they are on the phone, they have to talk about life and important stuff, or what they did that day, or anything, or the entire phone conversation sounds like this:

(Note that the (Cricket) inserts are the sound that a cricket makes in the lull of conversation in movies.)

"(Cricket Cricket) So..."
"(Cricket) I don't know what to say...(Cricket)"
"(Cricket) Well..."
" I, (Cricket), I wish I had something to say..., (yawn) I already told you everything that I did today..."
"I should let you go to bed."
"No, (cricket) I want to talk... (Cricket) I just don't have anything to say (yawn)."

Anyway, Since graduation Chris moved back to W. I see him a few times a week, and talk to him about once a day. We have found that this is harder than him being far away. We do have the opportunity to see each other, but we can't afford to make the drive every day because of the simple enemies of time and money.

I am learning things through the experience, things that you wouldn't expect a person to learn from stuff like this. Like:
Take time to hang out outside/join a biker gang.
Do random things that you wouldn't normally do.
Don't set an agenda for everything; be spontaneous.
Don't be surprised by what blessings may come by phone.
Make the time that you have with the people you love a concentrated investment.

P.S. If you have any long distance advice, I would love to hear it.

Life Lessons

Recently I have learned some life lessons that I thought I would share...

1. Communication in all relationships is essential to the health of the relationship.

2. Never assume that you understand a person, even if you have known them all of their life.

3. Always take time to concentrate on the people who you love. (This means that you can not be distracted while you are taking this time. If there are distractions, remove them.)

4. It is better to stop talking about your worries and start praying about them.

5. Only God can truly change a person.


Beyond these things... Here are some life lessons that I am glad to share, but I do not know how applicable they will be to the general public.

1. If you choose to dress like a pirate and go out into public and smile at people you meet, do not expect them to smile back.

2. If you try to kick someone in the butt and actually miss and kick some one else (who you have never spoken to) in the butt, do not apologize immediately. Wait until the person has had time to process the incident and then admit to what you were trying to do and apologize profusely.

3. If you are going to be spending any length of time in Park City, make sure you Learn Spanish.

4. Sometimes you just need to blow off steam. If this means cramming 5 people into a TINY car and screaming "Move Along" while driving down busy city streets, then so be it.

Pirates

This evening I am going to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. I will not hesitate to say that I am excited as well as skeptical.

When I saw the Curse of the Black Pearl, I loved it so much that I think I bought it at full price when it first came out. This action goes against my "six month movie rule" under which I am not allowed to buy a movie until it has been out for six months and/or the price has gone down approximately $5 or $6. I thought that Jonny Depp was wonderful. I loved how many of the scenes were so similar to the actual pirates ride at Disney World. I liked the way that it appealed to so many people, and how the plot made you pity Barbosa as well as want him out of the picture at the end of the film.

Last year when I saw Dead Man's Chest I was much less impressed. I thought that the effects and stunts were alright. The movie was well done, but I thought that it was extremely dark. The opening scene in the jail with the tortured screams of the prisoners was unnecessary, and for me it was unwanted. Also, Davy Jones and his crew contained no comical characters as the last movie's villain's had. I do have to admit that they did try to make Davy Jones character rounded. The only character on that boat who was dynamic was Bootstraps Bill, and he was still as dark even in his transformation.
On the positive side of the film, I liked Jack Sparrow again as always. I thought that it was a great Idea to bring back Barbosa at the end. It is good that they found ways to integrate the cast from the previous movie. Orlando Bloom was not nearly as annoying as Will Turner than he is as Paris in "Troy." I am intrigued to find out more about Tia Dalma. (The witch doctor character).

So after tonight I will have an opinion on the next film. I will not immediately write about it, so that I do not taint any one's opinion of the film. I am hoping that this series will be like most trilogies in that the first film and the last film will be the best films in the series.

Lightening is amazing

Yesterday I went to work and then back to Mac to work on the ever coming Garage Sale. Seriously, if I post about it enough, I just might have one.

Anyway... after pricing all of my pre-sorted items and neatly placing them back in their corresponding boxes, I settled down with my sister to watch a couple of episodes of Reba. These were the first two episodes of the series. I have seen a lot of the episodes, but never had I seen these two. I give that show a lot of credit. It is funny and for the most part incredibly clean for the television of today. Plus it is a show that my sister and I both like. That is saying something.

After my insistence my family got carry out Chinese. I ordered Chicken fried rice, (The Chinese food staple in my life) and we all sat around and enjoyed our meal. Then we started talking about the future, and everyone got all stressed out and dinner did not end well. (At least there was Chinese food.)

Later, I went grocery shopping and headed for home. All around me was incredible lightening. There were cloud to cloud bolts, cloud to ground bolts, and the kind of bolts that you can't see because they are too high in the sky above the clouds. Although the lightening accompanied a flash flood that made it impossible for me to get through the water by my house without taking off my shoes and rolling my pants to mid calf (wasn't high enough), I loved it. I like the spring storms in Kansas.

Graduation weekend

Well,
All of the students (but a few who are working in the 'burro this summer) have left campus. It is a quiet atmosphere. There is not as much urgent work to do at work either.

Graduation week and weekend was great. All of the things that I had helped plan went well. Christopher, and Justin's reception went well. I don't think that Justin's family will ever be able to eat all of the left over food that they took home. Planning on 200 people may have not been the best idea.

At Katie's (Chris' Katie) reception, we did have almost 200 people. We all worked so hard to keep it running smoothly. We ran out of punch, and Mexican layer dip. Chris' dad came up with an alternative to Mexican layer dip that has similar ingredients because we ran out of cheese and tomatoes.

I went to work on Monday and worked on a large mailing. On Tuesday, I went to the Dr.'s for a check up for my job next year, and on Tuesday evening I went to Wichita to see Chris. We went with justin, elise, and doc to shop around then to Apple Bees. Becky met us there for just a short time.

All in all, I am exhausted. I think I am going to sleep the rest of the day. I have no goals, and no aspirations for the day. I want to start packing up things here in the burro for my move soon. I will have to be inspired.

I am thinking about trying to write a short book in a month with Doc, but I am not going to try it if I don't get some good ideas.... We will see.

One Minute post

So I am doing this as an experiment. I am going to post all that I can in one minute.

GO!

Ok, Yesterday was a great day. I went to W with Chris and we went shopping. He was looking for something to wear for Graduation. I found four shirts. He found one tie and borrowed a shirt from his Brother.

Then We listened to Katie have a concert. She did a great job!

All in all

STOP!

This is my one minute post.

yesterday ended with a purple coffee cup

Yesterday was Chris' first day of no college. We had an awesome day!

First we drove to Marion to get my TB test. (Which is red this morning, and I am afraid that they will tell me that I have to get a chest x-ray.)

Then we ran errands and got coffee at Little Pleasures.

After that, we cleaned out my music lockers. (all five years of music and books) The tub that we carried out of there was so heavy we had to drag it down the wolgi hallway.

Then we ran more errands which included going to Dale's and seeing Dawn (Chris' cousin's wife who we always see in the grocery store).

After that I collapsed on the couch and fell asleep while Chris went to church for a while.

For dinner we went to the lake and had a picnic with a group of friends and after we finished eating we skipped rocks.

Finally after all of this we went to Justin and Elise's to celebrate her finishing Music History. We watched American Idol and ate Smores.

The one downer of the evening. Malinda Doolittle got kicked off of American Idol. America let me down with that decision. The fact that people freaked out that she was so good that they voted for their other favorite and completely shut her out was extremely frustrating to her four loyal fans sitting that little living room. Simon was obviously also disappointed.

After we had gotten over our bummed state, we cooked our smores and then sat around and laughed at each other. The evening ended with us tattooing each other's feet.

A normal day, a fun evening, made a great day.

Random Fact: I have a purple coffee cup on my left ankle that says "Black and Strong and A Bit A Suga"

Shaken

I don't feel like I am going to be on solid ground again for a long time.

I am shaken. I have placed my feet on the sand of an enormous desert that changes with the will of the wind.

One small breeze turned into a strong wind and now all of the sand beneath my trepidatious feet is blowing away.

If I move, I will fall.

If I do not move I will sink into the changing sand and loose my way even more.

I moved, and I fell.

God, Please take my feet and place them on the Solid Rock. Do not let me go astray. Let me love those around me with your perfect love. Grant me peace.

The wash your hands post did not work

So, About a week ago I posted on the value of hand washing/sanitizing and trying to contain germs. Well this cry for help did not work. It all started on Sunday. My stomach was upset. It wasn't anything that hurt or anything, I just had an enormous amount of extra air in there. (I am feeling rather uninhibited right now, so you may want to run for cover)
After the gaseous experience passed (ahem) I began to feel fuzzy in the head which was accompanied by a strange sensation in my fingers, elbows, and shoulders. (My immune system is completely ridiculous. It creates war zones in all of the joints in my arms.) After these sensations ended I got the "upper sore throat." This begins behind my nose behind the "pharyngeal tonsil." (see diagram) This is an annoying soreness that is just enough to make me want to pour soothing water into my nose, and the only thing that keeps me from doing so is the knowledge that it would burn and cause me to want to swear.
The next day the soreness in the throat had moved down to settle where these things normally do. (It was much less painful than the previous day, probably because of the two tons of elderberry concentrate that I guzzled.) My nasal passages were not to be outdone by my throat, and they began a steady post nasal drip.
Finally today my body feels alright, my head does not. It is slowly draining every last bit of mucus out of my body. I will hopefully be a snot free person by this weekend, or it will be very difficult completing my tasks.

To all of you out there who are wondering, Yes I still wash my hands regularly and use hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available and after every time I blow my nose!)

May 9th included Murder, Mystery, and Fireball

I am beginning my day in 4th grade. I am expecting it to be an eventful one. This afternoon is a play day for the 4th and 5th grades. I should have worn something different. I will have to go shoe-less because I am not getting these soaking wet.

Yesterday was Christopher's and Justin's birthdays. Last year we kidnapped them and took them out for Pizza in the middle of the night, so we knew we had to top that. Elise and I worked out butts off organizing a mystery dinner based on the game clue. We had it in the little theatre on the stage with stage lights and drippy candles. Everything looked amazing. I was afraid that people wouldn't get into it, but I think that everyone had a good time. After the dinner we unloaded everything at my apartment and did an enormous amount of dishes.

Later we drove over to Hillapalousa to see if anything was going on. It was over already, so we went to Justin and Elise's to play Fireball. I probably shouldn't be telling you this, so Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa, don't worry about my safety. Fireball is a game that Chris learned from the people who he went to church with in Indiana this summer. In the Game Fireball, You take a tennis ball and soak it in gasoline. Then you throw it above a candle so that it ignites. After the ball is on fire you let it bounce a few times without touching it because it is too hot right after ignited. Before the ball goes out somebody goes and catches it, and then you play a game akin to hot potato, only you are playing with a flaming tennis ball. The grass was so wet from the rain, it didn't light at all. The first few bounces leave little flaming patches on the ground, but they go out as soon as the gas burns up. I was surprised at how cool the ball was for being on fire. I have been told that the flames usually singe the hairs on your hands, but from today's inspection, all of my hand and harm hair is in tact. Elise was the only person who was less than thrilled about the activity. We got to play three times, and then decided that the neighbors wouldn't like the activity, so we went to the lake to continue. We only forgot one thing, the matches. So after driving to the lake to play fireball, and trying to light a candle with a car lighter (which doesn't work) we returned home.

Chris came over and opened the gifts from my parents and from me. All in all it was a good birthday. He also did his senior presentation yesterday and I think that he is glad to have it done. He did an excellent job.

Well that was my May 9th. I will tell you about today some other time.

nothing to say

I have started two posts today. I can't finish either one of them. I just don't have anything to say.

Today our office all went out for coffee at the same time. It was good. I got a pican bar to go with my coffee.

Blah...

Hickups strike again

So, I have the guilty pleasure of listening to Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. So, this morning while he was beginning to talk about last night's American Idol performances he got the hick ups. The entire show halted to talk about different ways to get rid of the hick ups. He even had Al hold his earl lobe and tap on his wrist six times. There were also suggestions to stand on his head and drink a glass of water, be frightened by Big Al, lay upside down on the sofa, and any number of other things.
All that I can say, is the only fool proof way that I have found to rid myself of the hick ups is to drink water from the opposite side of the glass. DO NOT try to do this standing upright. I have seen people try this. IT DOES NOT WORK. You will wind up with water all down the front of you.

Education Completion Dinner

Last night I attended the Education Completion dinner for graduates of Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. I must say that the dinner was great. Pioneer did an excellent job with the food. It was the best meal that I have ever eaten that was catered by the college.
The main speaker was a principal. (I know him from my student teaching experiences.) He talked about the differences in students, and how we need to acknowledge those differences in order to truly become teachers. He did an excellent job. The rest of the education department took the time to say a few words. We all took a group picture. And that is it. That is my last official act as a student at Tabor College. I thought that I was done after student teaching, but it never really ended. Soon students on campus will leave and I will be here working for alumni. Then I will leave and go out to do what I have been trained to do. I will teach elementary music kindergarten through fifth grade. I am excited; I am apprehensive; I am ready to know what this will be like.

garage sales

This morning I woke up at 6:40. Why? you may ask, well because it is the season of garage sales! Chris, Em, Justin, Elise, and I got up at the butt crack of dawn to drive all over Hillsboro and seek out plunder from other people's discards. I am now the proud owner of a new jacket (from Old Navy with tags still on, never been worn) and the VHS Newsies. I also got an old antique door from a farmstead. With Christopher and hopefully his grandfather's help, I will be making this door into a fabulous coffee table. (It may be the longest coffee table on record) Chris got a chair straight out of the 70's. It is in Great shape and it has great aesthetic lines. I am proud to say that I spotted it first.

Now all that I need to do is figure out when My garage sale will be. My sister and I are working on getting it all together, but we hit a couple of snags. It may be farther into may than we originally planned. I have heard some people say that this means that I won't have it at all, but I intend to have one, I just don't know when.

All this to sum up the fact that I really want to know where I will be living next year so that I don't feel spread out so much. I am ready to plunge into teaching. I just wish that the rest of life would order itself.

"My shepheard will supply my need Jehova is His name."

The most attractive man with a Butt Chin Ever

I rest my case.

That Touch of Mink

Yesterday I watched the Movie That Touch of Mink. It is a great old flick with Dorris Day and Carie Grant. Day plays a beautiful who has refused men's advances all of her life until she meets Grant a well spoken owner of some sort of credit company. Day falls for Grant who offers her a trip around the world with him but not in holy matrimony. In a backwards mix up, Day takes him up on his offer only to gravely disappoint him on their first "night" together when she breaks out in a rash from nerves of their "progressive" situation. She and Grant have a couple of other rendezvous mix ups, and in the end they wind up getting married. On their wedding night Grant breaks out in a rash because of their "traditional" situation. The audience can only assume that they get over their inhibitions, because the movie ends with a touching shot of Grant, Day, and their bouncing Baby.

All in all it was a clean movie that was based on Sexual Tension. How did film makers of the 50's (even though this film came out in the 60's) do that. They were successful in this film as well as dozens of others that I have seen. (Most of which contain Cary Grant, but only because I have had a Grant fixation for the past couple of months or so.) Why does sexual tension in current films end in a passionate love scene with the camera panning the couple as they undress each other only to pan away to the window or fade to black? Most of the time the love scene is not even vital to the resolution of the plot. Blah...

Change Gears...

Last night at Sonic I ordered three separate orders of almost the exact same thing in the course of 30 min and sent one of the orders to another car in the lot. It was hilarious and so much fun!!! Sorry to all of you Hillsburry sonic people.

I need to get more sleep.

Wash your hands

So,
Within the last month most of the people around me have gotten this bad cold which develops into a sinus infection which for Chris and Ashley has drifted into their ears and caused them much pain. I have observed that this stinks, and that we should all, as good human beings, observe some curtsies for those around us.

First: Wash your hands, a lot!
Second: If water and soap is not available, use hand sanitizer.
Third: Use disinfectant spray and spray all fixtures, handles, and door nobs. (at least 3-5 times a day
Fourth: Take a vitamin or some vitamins. They help boost the immune system and therefore stop the spread of germs.

I know that this post is somewhat pointless, and could be considered mildly annoying, but you know what...
It is what I wanted to contribute to the public today.

Tuesday's Reflections on Monday

On Monday I subbed. I went to Tabor to work till 10am then I subbed for the rest of the day. It was an interesting day. I don't know how to quite explain my entire experience.

It all began with computers class in which I had to constantly spur one kid on until the end of class. It was a TASK!

After Computers came Learning Support which is a fancy name for Study hall. In study hall, two of my students were arguing about whether Ozzy Osbourne still did drugs or not. They finally decided to ask me and make me the deciding factor. I simply said that whether he does drugs nor or not his brain is already fried enough that no one will ever know for sure. I did let the LS class our 1.5 min. early because they are freshmen and they never get to be at the front of the line to eat. They were quite grateful.

I ate lunch, and then went to "Boys Weights." This class consists of mostly upper class men who are larger than me. They ran a couple of laps, and we went to the weight room. They cranked their music, took off most of their clothes, and started lifting. I went to the office to read a book only to poke my head out of the door when I thought that they were killing each other. There was a lot of screaming, yelling, grunting, and indistinguishable cursing, but there was no fighting and that was what I was the most concerned about. After they had finished lifting, we all traveled back to the gym to stretch. I do not know if I was the victim of a random "pants-ing" or if the kid was just stupid to pull down his own drawers, but I definitely got inadvertently mooned on the way back to the Gym. I debated all of the uncomfortable things I could do to this semi-delinquent kid, but all in all I came to the conclusion that he would not become any less of a delinquent if I did sit all of them down and give them a lecture about appropriate behavior and school protocol. I was not offended by the butt. I was not angered by the butt. Mostly I was amused by it, but I did leave a note for the teacher to remind his class to keep their pants on until they reached the locker room.

Compared to that, the freshmen/sophomore PE class was a breeze. We went outside and played softball. I forgot how awkward freshmen PE class can be. I also forgot how funny it is. I had a good time, but towards the end of the class I had to go to the bathroom and so did about half of the other girls out on the field. They kept yelling, "Can we go now? Miss Hope! I have to go to the BATHROOM!!!"

All in all it was one of my more eventful sub days.