So,
I am in fifth grade, and I am talking with the class about drums. Someone asked me what the drum head was made out of. I said that traditionally they are made out of animal skin like goat skin or raw hide, but our drums are made out of fiberskyn. (pronounced Fibra-skin) I said it is a synthetic skin that is made to sound like animal skin.
I had a student raise his hand and ask, "what's a fibra?" I said it means fibrous that means made of fibers. He said, "Oh I thought it was an animal, kind of like a zebra."
I thanked him for brightening my morning.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 15th will I ever be well?
Hi,
I am writing a brief note. A short update if you will.
I am over my strep, and now I have a cold. I am wondering if my immune system took a vacation and decided to never come back. I am jealouse of husband's immune system. He is never sick, no thanks to me. Oh how I wish for that kind of stamina.
Stores are full of Halloween decorations, costumes, and pumpkins. Yet, Lowes has their huge Christmas Tree display up already. It makes me want to decorate my classroom and home for Christmas. I love strings of lights. I would live with them all year if it was socially acceptable. I should figure out a way to make it socially acceptable.
I haven't done anything to support my creative outlet lately, and I am beginning to notice. It gets harder to concentrate when I haven't done something with the left half of my brain for a while.
That's all for now. Told you it would be a short note. It isn't very well written either, but I post with no appologies. I'm off to sing about the water cycle.
I am writing a brief note. A short update if you will.
I am over my strep, and now I have a cold. I am wondering if my immune system took a vacation and decided to never come back. I am jealouse of husband's immune system. He is never sick, no thanks to me. Oh how I wish for that kind of stamina.
Stores are full of Halloween decorations, costumes, and pumpkins. Yet, Lowes has their huge Christmas Tree display up already. It makes me want to decorate my classroom and home for Christmas. I love strings of lights. I would live with them all year if it was socially acceptable. I should figure out a way to make it socially acceptable.
I haven't done anything to support my creative outlet lately, and I am beginning to notice. It gets harder to concentrate when I haven't done something with the left half of my brain for a while.
That's all for now. Told you it would be a short note. It isn't very well written either, but I post with no appologies. I'm off to sing about the water cycle.
Monday, October 05, 2009
My blogging hiatus. Holy Crap, (sorry mom) I can’t believe I spelled Hiatus right on the first try!
First of all, I would like to make no excuses for this long of a blogging hiatus. My only reason for not posting was, “I don’t feel like it.” Isn’t it amazing how that statement can interfere with a person’s internet recording time and activities… isn’t it amazing how that statement can interfere with a person’s…
entire life.
You see, for the past four days I have been rendered completely useless by one of the worst cases of strep throat in my recorded history. I believe there is only one other recording of strep in this log. You can find it somewhere circa an insecure sophomore year of college when this work of whatever it is began. Sophomore year was not the best for self confidence… it wasn’t the worst either. It was in fact a year.
Back to where I began the prior paragraph. I have been sick and have been in bed for the past four days with the exception of today. Today I graduated from sleeping all day, to sleeping only till noon and then moved my sorry carcass to the couch. I ponder, why the last three letters in carcass are _ _ _? Fitting isn’t it? Fitting, because that is a term that I may use to describe a sampling of my disposition since the smashing of the pointer finger on my left hand. Carcassful to coin the new adjective. Yes I know that was not a complete sentence. No I will not edit it.
You see, that Smash happened after a critical trip to Chicago, which led to the pondering of my existence in a town that I could reasonably compare to social exile until the recent past of the end of last school year, but not significantly so until this summer. What could cause the end of the social existence? In truth, I made two friends, two girls my own age, or close to my own age, with whom I can relate. In addition, each of these girls have significant others who do not socially clash with my significant other. After two complete years of traveling 1 to 3 hours for comfortable social interaction, I finally have something to quench my thirst. Stunning.
So, the pondering of my existence, gave way to a muddling of possibilities, that gave way to jumping to a myriad of conclusions, which gave way to driving my husband nuts with the left half of my brain, which gave way to a month of glum/depression/mood, which has broken into a FIT of searching for a creative outlet, which again gives way to driving my husband nuts with the left half of my brain.
I have taken up painting, I have begun a study of the advantages of the architecture of the compact modern home, I have continued my quest for an original jewelry attitude, I have began studying the art of mobile making in search of a design that will inspire something UNIQUE, I have began work on two clay vases with the art teacher at school, I have shaped my eyebrows, and am sitting on the couch with a mud mask on my face while my husband asks, “Are you writing a book?” My brain responds with… maybe I should.
I am again going through a growth period in my life. I am learning to trust God more for my future. (A lesson that will never end.) I am learning what I want from my life. I am learning I am more than just a good musician, and a great teacher.
Am I normally this personal? I feel like my usual anecdote/boring recount/filler stuff might be interrupted by this LENGTHY post.
But I have no excuses, so I will not apologize. I need to learn to not apologize as much as I do now anyway.
entire life.
You see, for the past four days I have been rendered completely useless by one of the worst cases of strep throat in my recorded history. I believe there is only one other recording of strep in this log. You can find it somewhere circa an insecure sophomore year of college when this work of whatever it is began. Sophomore year was not the best for self confidence… it wasn’t the worst either. It was in fact a year.
Back to where I began the prior paragraph. I have been sick and have been in bed for the past four days with the exception of today. Today I graduated from sleeping all day, to sleeping only till noon and then moved my sorry carcass to the couch. I ponder, why the last three letters in carcass are _ _ _? Fitting isn’t it? Fitting, because that is a term that I may use to describe a sampling of my disposition since the smashing of the pointer finger on my left hand. Carcassful to coin the new adjective. Yes I know that was not a complete sentence. No I will not edit it.
You see, that Smash happened after a critical trip to Chicago, which led to the pondering of my existence in a town that I could reasonably compare to social exile until the recent past of the end of last school year, but not significantly so until this summer. What could cause the end of the social existence? In truth, I made two friends, two girls my own age, or close to my own age, with whom I can relate. In addition, each of these girls have significant others who do not socially clash with my significant other. After two complete years of traveling 1 to 3 hours for comfortable social interaction, I finally have something to quench my thirst. Stunning.
So, the pondering of my existence, gave way to a muddling of possibilities, that gave way to jumping to a myriad of conclusions, which gave way to driving my husband nuts with the left half of my brain, which gave way to a month of glum/depression/mood, which has broken into a FIT of searching for a creative outlet, which again gives way to driving my husband nuts with the left half of my brain.
I have taken up painting, I have begun a study of the advantages of the architecture of the compact modern home, I have continued my quest for an original jewelry attitude, I have began studying the art of mobile making in search of a design that will inspire something UNIQUE, I have began work on two clay vases with the art teacher at school, I have shaped my eyebrows, and am sitting on the couch with a mud mask on my face while my husband asks, “Are you writing a book?” My brain responds with… maybe I should.
I am again going through a growth period in my life. I am learning to trust God more for my future. (A lesson that will never end.) I am learning what I want from my life. I am learning I am more than just a good musician, and a great teacher.
Am I normally this personal? I feel like my usual anecdote/boring recount/filler stuff might be interrupted by this LENGTHY post.
But I have no excuses, so I will not apologize. I need to learn to not apologize as much as I do now anyway.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
the typo tale of one swollen index finger
I sit here typing with all of the fingers of all of my hands except for my left index finger. I will now stop correcting my typos while I tell you the story of the finger:
it all staeted at 3 am on a monday morningf in chicafo illinios. We fot up to get ready foe a 12 hour deive back ro KS. we fot into the car and started off. Husbvand missed rhe firsr exirt and rhen we were vack in routr. I did gfet to sleep gor a little bit nad rhen aeround 6am we stopped foe fass and ro switvh dribers. I got out of thpassenger seet where I had veen for the past three hours. I shut my door and then realized trhat my finger was stuck in it. I didn't know whar to do vecause I was so tied. So when I came ro my senses, I opened my door and ran to the bathroom in the gass station and just about passed out from ther throbbing in my finger.
To makr a long (12 hour) story short I spent the nexrt hours with my finger in a fglass of ivce wTER. not a greatr day foe me.
So this is rhe un edited eddition of the story with my bad left index finger.
The end.
it all staeted at 3 am on a monday morningf in chicafo illinios. We fot up to get ready foe a 12 hour deive back ro KS. we fot into the car and started off. Husbvand missed rhe firsr exirt and rhen we were vack in routr. I did gfet to sleep gor a little bit nad rhen aeround 6am we stopped foe fass and ro switvh dribers. I got out of thpassenger seet where I had veen for the past three hours. I shut my door and then realized trhat my finger was stuck in it. I didn't know whar to do vecause I was so tied. So when I came ro my senses, I opened my door and ran to the bathroom in the gass station and just about passed out from ther throbbing in my finger.
To makr a long (12 hour) story short I spent the nexrt hours with my finger in a fglass of ivce wTER. not a greatr day foe me.
So this is rhe un edited eddition of the story with my bad left index finger.
The end.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Indiana
So...
Today instead of my regular posting site I am posting from a little town near Lake Michigan in Indiana. I am visiting family with my family. This is also the longest that I have been away from Husband since we got married. Our one year anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks. It does not seem like we have been married for a year. Sometimes it feels like it has always been this way. (in the good way, not in the depressing way)
So far on the trip I have spent a lot of time outside. The weather up here has taken a turn for the worse as far as raining on us but yesterday I spent a few hours on my grand parents back patio just sitting, visiting, and reading. No bugs and about 70 degrees is my kind of relaxation.
Not many bazaar things have happened yet, but after a short interaction with "the fam" I am sure there will be more to come. Every time I visit I am reminded of how much growing up in Kansas away from my extended family has made me the person I am today. Husband and I decided that if we had grown up where our families grew up that I would probably ....
be working at some sort of sales job where I could work with a lot of people. Probably at a restaurant or clothing store. I would not have gone to college. I would probably be heaver than I am right now. I would possibly have children with more than one man. I might just smoke like a chimney, and I know I would drink like a fish.
Husband would most likely be in the same job that he is right now at a bank or the sort. He would have been a jock in High School hanging out with some of the coolest of the cool in his small town high school. He would have been a beer drinking soccer star and most likely some sort of out fielder of a base ball team. He would probably be married to some girl from the state school that he attended. She would probably look like me.
It is interesting how the choices of our parents shape us in ways that don't really have to do with us at all for that time being.
Today instead of my regular posting site I am posting from a little town near Lake Michigan in Indiana. I am visiting family with my family. This is also the longest that I have been away from Husband since we got married. Our one year anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks. It does not seem like we have been married for a year. Sometimes it feels like it has always been this way. (in the good way, not in the depressing way)
So far on the trip I have spent a lot of time outside. The weather up here has taken a turn for the worse as far as raining on us but yesterday I spent a few hours on my grand parents back patio just sitting, visiting, and reading. No bugs and about 70 degrees is my kind of relaxation.
Not many bazaar things have happened yet, but after a short interaction with "the fam" I am sure there will be more to come. Every time I visit I am reminded of how much growing up in Kansas away from my extended family has made me the person I am today. Husband and I decided that if we had grown up where our families grew up that I would probably ....
be working at some sort of sales job where I could work with a lot of people. Probably at a restaurant or clothing store. I would not have gone to college. I would probably be heaver than I am right now. I would possibly have children with more than one man. I might just smoke like a chimney, and I know I would drink like a fish.
Husband would most likely be in the same job that he is right now at a bank or the sort. He would have been a jock in High School hanging out with some of the coolest of the cool in his small town high school. He would have been a beer drinking soccer star and most likely some sort of out fielder of a base ball team. He would probably be married to some girl from the state school that he attended. She would probably look like me.
It is interesting how the choices of our parents shape us in ways that don't really have to do with us at all for that time being.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
two and a half weeks in
Hi,
So I haven't posted in a long time. Summer has begun and I am not on the Internet as much as I am during the school year. This summer has not been very eventful. Nothing really life changing has happened so far.
I have been working out a lot. I enjoy working out but don't have time during the school year. I do have a couple of exercise buddies that make things a lot more fun and a little easier. It is great to get to know people when they are talking just to distract themselves from their screaming leg cramps.
Other than that I have made a lot of jewelry this summer and hung out with my sister a little. This hanging out led to a late night run for Starbucks. Good stuff. My new favorite is an iced coffee with milk and a shot of caramel. Ahhhh...
This next weekend I will see friends and then on Sunday I will leave with my family to see grandparents. Long times in a van with a lot of people and a neurotic dog. Good times. I will have to try to jot down the rediculous things that are said so that I can include a post of quotes and the such.
Well that's what's going on in my life. How about you?
So I haven't posted in a long time. Summer has begun and I am not on the Internet as much as I am during the school year. This summer has not been very eventful. Nothing really life changing has happened so far.
I have been working out a lot. I enjoy working out but don't have time during the school year. I do have a couple of exercise buddies that make things a lot more fun and a little easier. It is great to get to know people when they are talking just to distract themselves from their screaming leg cramps.
Other than that I have made a lot of jewelry this summer and hung out with my sister a little. This hanging out led to a late night run for Starbucks. Good stuff. My new favorite is an iced coffee with milk and a shot of caramel. Ahhhh...
This next weekend I will see friends and then on Sunday I will leave with my family to see grandparents. Long times in a van with a lot of people and a neurotic dog. Good times. I will have to try to jot down the rediculous things that are said so that I can include a post of quotes and the such.
Well that's what's going on in my life. How about you?
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Morning of Day Three
Ok,
So this is the morning of Day 3 for me. Yesterday was day one for the other teachers. After the shred we went out to the track to power walk. I kept telling them... "The best thing to do is to keep moving so that your blood can carry away all of the lactic acid that you just built up." There were only two of us that did more than one lap.
Four laps is a mile.
Now I know that some of them had commitments, and I am going to have other commitments on other days. I just hope that they didn't come yesterday, get really sore today, and then quit on me today.
Upside so far: I don't know if it is my imagination or if it is real but I can see a muscle in my arms. Even when I am not flexing. Then when I flex, I can see my bicep. That's a good sign, right?
Downside so far: It HURTS to get up and down. Espeically off of the tiolet. I am afraid I am going to get stuck half way down and miss teaching my classes. That's a bad sign, right? Maybe I can get my College Track legs back. Man, those were the best of legs. Maybe they won't be so muscly that they won't be huge.
Gotta go, a shreder is here to complain about how sore she is.
So this is the morning of Day 3 for me. Yesterday was day one for the other teachers. After the shred we went out to the track to power walk. I kept telling them... "The best thing to do is to keep moving so that your blood can carry away all of the lactic acid that you just built up." There were only two of us that did more than one lap.
Four laps is a mile.
Now I know that some of them had commitments, and I am going to have other commitments on other days. I just hope that they didn't come yesterday, get really sore today, and then quit on me today.
Upside so far: I don't know if it is my imagination or if it is real but I can see a muscle in my arms. Even when I am not flexing. Then when I flex, I can see my bicep. That's a good sign, right?
Downside so far: It HURTS to get up and down. Espeically off of the tiolet. I am afraid I am going to get stuck half way down and miss teaching my classes. That's a bad sign, right? Maybe I can get my College Track legs back. Man, those were the best of legs. Maybe they won't be so muscly that they won't be huge.
Gotta go, a shreder is here to complain about how sore she is.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Shred Head (yah I know... real creative)
So,
As most of you know, I love to read this blog. Well, as I was perusing it last week Big Mama wrote about a work out video that she had just bought to try. It is Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.
Now I know what you are thinking... "I know Billy Blanks. I know Denise Austin, but who is this Jillian Michaels chick? Well... She happens to be the girl trainer on the show The Biggest Looser. Yah, the annoying one with brown hair.
Normally this personality would not motivate me.
At all.
But the girl has the most amazing abs, that I can't ignore. I do not have abs. Well I know that they are there, but they are hiding behind all of the pregnancy fat.
Oh wait...
I do have abs, but they are hiding behind all of the Dove Chocolate and ice cream fat. Yah... that's more accurate.
Anyway, I have decided that I can give up twenty minutes to an hour each day to bettering my non abs and floppy arms body. I will do it all in the name of, "Because It's Good For Me."
I did the first day yesterday. I think that it had to be the most intense 20 minutes of my life, or at least right up there. Right along with volleyball two-a-days and my wedding day.
I'll try to keep you updated on my progress... somewhat for my own accountability, and somewhat because it might be enough to inspire you to at least check out the video.
Even if you watch it sitting on the couch eating Dove Chocolate and Ice Cream.
As most of you know, I love to read this blog. Well, as I was perusing it last week Big Mama wrote about a work out video that she had just bought to try. It is Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.
Now I know what you are thinking... "I know Billy Blanks. I know Denise Austin, but who is this Jillian Michaels chick? Well... She happens to be the girl trainer on the show The Biggest Looser. Yah, the annoying one with brown hair.
Normally this personality would not motivate me.
At all.
But the girl has the most amazing abs, that I can't ignore. I do not have abs. Well I know that they are there, but they are hiding behind all of the pregnancy fat.
Oh wait...
I do have abs, but they are hiding behind all of the Dove Chocolate and ice cream fat. Yah... that's more accurate.
Anyway, I have decided that I can give up twenty minutes to an hour each day to bettering my non abs and floppy arms body. I will do it all in the name of, "Because It's Good For Me."
I did the first day yesterday. I think that it had to be the most intense 20 minutes of my life, or at least right up there. Right along with volleyball two-a-days and my wedding day.
I'll try to keep you updated on my progress... somewhat for my own accountability, and somewhat because it might be enough to inspire you to at least check out the video.
Even if you watch it sitting on the couch eating Dove Chocolate and Ice Cream.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday marathon
5:45 - Husband gets up to go to the Y
6:10 - Wake up and get ready for work
6:55 - Leave for work
7:00 - Arrive at work
4:15 - Leave work
4:20 - Arrive at church to prepare for evening
5:00 - Leave church to eat
6:20 - Arrive at church for evening
10:30 - Leave church after choir and praise band practice
10:45 - Fall into bed after yet another marathon Wednesday
6:10 - Wake up and get ready for work
6:55 - Leave for work
7:00 - Arrive at work
4:15 - Leave work
4:20 - Arrive at church to prepare for evening
5:00 - Leave church to eat
6:20 - Arrive at church for evening
10:30 - Leave church after choir and praise band practice
10:45 - Fall into bed after yet another marathon Wednesday
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Kaiani made today special
It is such a joyous special thing when a baby is born. It is even more special when that baby is going to have wonderful loving parents who will support it and train it up in the way it should go.
Kaiani was born this morning at 6:59 this morning. Her parents, friends and family have anxiously been awaiting her birth. Now she is finally here and we can see her, hold her, and love her in a more real way than we could before.
Today is special.
Kaiani was born this morning at 6:59 this morning. Her parents, friends and family have anxiously been awaiting her birth. Now she is finally here and we can see her, hold her, and love her in a more real way than we could before.
Today is special.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Forget it Friday
That is what the teachers call Friday in the spring. Forget it Friday. It's pretty bad when the students and the teachers are both counting down the days to summer. The good news is that the summer weather is giving me a wonderful peace about life right now. It is sad that I am so influenced by the seasons, but summer is just where I thrive. Bring on the heat!!!
On a darker note, I have been sort of sick all week and now my body has taken to wanting to hack up both of my lungs. So, here's to hoping that Mucus will not be my demise today.
Have a FABULOUS FORGET IT FRIDAY!
On a darker note, I have been sort of sick all week and now my body has taken to wanting to hack up both of my lungs. So, here's to hoping that Mucus will not be my demise today.
Have a FABULOUS FORGET IT FRIDAY!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
waiting
I am waiting for someone to call me. I don't know when or if they will call. It is kind of like waiting for someone to call and let you know if you got the job or not. It may be a good thing for me to call. It may be pointless for me to call. Calling back may make me seem over interested.
Perhaps I should send an e-mail. Those are short and can be businesslike and formal. I don't know how to write a formal e-mail. Should I google it?
Waiting...
Perhaps I should send an e-mail. Those are short and can be businesslike and formal. I don't know how to write a formal e-mail. Should I google it?
Waiting...
Thursday, April 09, 2009
What do you do?
What do you do when you are a fifth grade boy whose second grade sister died last year of cancer, and a well meaning girl in your class asks if you know if your sister is in heaven or "down there?"
What do you do if the girl was well meaning, but said that your sister wasn't in heaven because she wasn't a Christian?
What do you tell your daughter if she was trying to talk with a classmate about God, but instead she said something that may have turned him off from Jesus for a long time?
Why do seven year old girls die of cancer?
Why do mothers of seven year old girls rely on fifth grade boys to cairry them through their grief?
Why do seven year old boys who need Jesus Love encounter well meaning fifth grade girls who say things that they don't understand.
What do you do? And Why
What do you do if the girl was well meaning, but said that your sister wasn't in heaven because she wasn't a Christian?
What do you tell your daughter if she was trying to talk with a classmate about God, but instead she said something that may have turned him off from Jesus for a long time?
Why do seven year old girls die of cancer?
Why do mothers of seven year old girls rely on fifth grade boys to cairry them through their grief?
Why do seven year old boys who need Jesus Love encounter well meaning fifth grade girls who say things that they don't understand.
What do you do? And Why
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Hai YA!
Today was the first annual RECORDER KARATI CLOSING CERIMONIES! I had all of the fourth grades in my classroom and I red off their names and their last belts recieved. Then we took pictures of the groupings of belts. Black had it's own picture.
Then the brown and red belts:
Finally the blue and purple belts:
It was a good time for the students to see who had done as well as they had, and also a good time to praise those students who went the extra mile to get their black belts. Students who recieved their black belts can play:
Hot Crossed Buns, Gently Sleep, Merrily We Roll Along, It's Raining, Old McDonald, O' when the Saints, Twinkle Twinkle, Amazing Grace, and Ode to Joy
Oh fourth graders, you have done me proud.
Then the brown and red belts:
Finally the blue and purple belts:
It was a good time for the students to see who had done as well as they had, and also a good time to praise those students who went the extra mile to get their black belts. Students who recieved their black belts can play:
Hot Crossed Buns, Gently Sleep, Merrily We Roll Along, It's Raining, Old McDonald, O' when the Saints, Twinkle Twinkle, Amazing Grace, and Ode to Joy
Oh fourth graders, you have done me proud.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Let up
I haven't posted in FOREVER sorry about that. The final countdown ended with an amazing trip to CA to visit friends. I got to spend lots of time with J and E and lots of time with the belly that is little baby H to come.
If I could sum up the trip in two words they would be Comfort and Yum. We had lots of comfortable fun just hanging out, walking, playing games, and watching movies with comfortable friends. We also ate A LOT of good food. I think I consumed my entire food ration for March in that one week. We ate everything from Japanese stake house, to the best sushi that I have ever had, to brazillian bar-b-cue, to Mexican market food. WOW... and we topped it off with a seven pound chocolate cake. Yah... the cake actually weighed seven pounds.
Then spring break was over and last week came and went with a whoosh. No kidding it was a wierd week both with the weather and with life. We started the week on Monday with a disasterous wind storm resulting in the loss of power for two and a half hours. Had a couple nice days and then ended the week with a 10 inch snow storm with 3-4 foot drifts. Two days after the snow storm it was 60 degrees and the snow has all melted.
The children responded to mother natures tricks with all of the following:
Dispondancy
Gregariousness
Disrespect
Slugishness
Hyper social tendencies
Some of those traits all happened at the same time in the same classes. It was not a bad week, it was a wierd week with lots of energy spent.
So I am hoping that this week will go a little steadier. Although Mother Nature is already sending us spinning on a hot/cold dance in which I would rather not partake.
If I could sum up the trip in two words they would be Comfort and Yum. We had lots of comfortable fun just hanging out, walking, playing games, and watching movies with comfortable friends. We also ate A LOT of good food. I think I consumed my entire food ration for March in that one week. We ate everything from Japanese stake house, to the best sushi that I have ever had, to brazillian bar-b-cue, to Mexican market food. WOW... and we topped it off with a seven pound chocolate cake. Yah... the cake actually weighed seven pounds.
Then spring break was over and last week came and went with a whoosh. No kidding it was a wierd week both with the weather and with life. We started the week on Monday with a disasterous wind storm resulting in the loss of power for two and a half hours. Had a couple nice days and then ended the week with a 10 inch snow storm with 3-4 foot drifts. Two days after the snow storm it was 60 degrees and the snow has all melted.
The children responded to mother natures tricks with all of the following:
Dispondancy
Gregariousness
Disrespect
Slugishness
Hyper social tendencies
Some of those traits all happened at the same time in the same classes. It was not a bad week, it was a wierd week with lots of energy spent.
So I am hoping that this week will go a little steadier. Although Mother Nature is already sending us spinning on a hot/cold dance in which I would rather not partake.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Final Countdown
Disclaimer: You should not read this if you have something better to do. Um... you don't even have to read this one if you have something worse to do. It isn't that good.
WOW,
So I have been in this "final countdown" for officially 25 days. That is the number that I actually started with when I wrote down the dates on the calendar. That is the day when I felt it appropriate to actually number the days. The actual time span has been more like 60 days... but I didn't want to put myself under that kind of suspense.
This is the final countdown to spring break 2009. Most people associate spring break with relaxation, cleaning, partying, road trips, and many other things. For me this year means spring break with J. and E. out in California. E. will be 8 months pregnant when we see them, so I expect I will be spending a significant time watching "the belly" move by itself.
Anyway I wanted to say that I haven't counted down to anything since the wedding, but that would be a lie. I tend to count down to a lot of things in my life. I counted down to KMEA when I got to go to W and spend time refreshing my personal and social life.
I counted down to the work day that I had last Friday so that I could actually get my fifth grade program choreographed and finished.
After spring break I will be counting down to May 22, which is the work day at the end of the year. Lord knows that will be a difficult countdown. I may just have to number that one on the good old planner so that I don't have to re-count it every week.
Sometimes I try to get myself to stop counting down. I don't think it is good for me to be looking ahead all of the time. I have goals that I am going to live in the present. I actually have done a pretty good job of living in the present at school this year. I lived in the present so much that the first 9 weeks of second semester flew by. I just need to figure out how to do that again.
Well... this post is pretty much boring for anyone who read it... there were no anecdotes or interesting stories... just little things about my thought processing for life.
I think I will go back to the beginning and put a disclaimer.
WOW,
So I have been in this "final countdown" for officially 25 days. That is the number that I actually started with when I wrote down the dates on the calendar. That is the day when I felt it appropriate to actually number the days. The actual time span has been more like 60 days... but I didn't want to put myself under that kind of suspense.
This is the final countdown to spring break 2009. Most people associate spring break with relaxation, cleaning, partying, road trips, and many other things. For me this year means spring break with J. and E. out in California. E. will be 8 months pregnant when we see them, so I expect I will be spending a significant time watching "the belly" move by itself.
Anyway I wanted to say that I haven't counted down to anything since the wedding, but that would be a lie. I tend to count down to a lot of things in my life. I counted down to KMEA when I got to go to W and spend time refreshing my personal and social life.
I counted down to the work day that I had last Friday so that I could actually get my fifth grade program choreographed and finished.
After spring break I will be counting down to May 22, which is the work day at the end of the year. Lord knows that will be a difficult countdown. I may just have to number that one on the good old planner so that I don't have to re-count it every week.
Sometimes I try to get myself to stop counting down. I don't think it is good for me to be looking ahead all of the time. I have goals that I am going to live in the present. I actually have done a pretty good job of living in the present at school this year. I lived in the present so much that the first 9 weeks of second semester flew by. I just need to figure out how to do that again.
Well... this post is pretty much boring for anyone who read it... there were no anecdotes or interesting stories... just little things about my thought processing for life.
I think I will go back to the beginning and put a disclaimer.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Oh the storm before the calm
Wow,
I really am feeling the need to post right now. So I will even though I have a ton of other stuff to do.
First of all... updates on the week. Last night I had a meeting at church. These meetings are only supposed to last 2 hours, but we are lucky if we get by with 3. Last night was no exception. Husband started texting me at 8:30 and continued to demand that I come home till I walked in the door at 9:30. I ate and went to bed. Not so much an exciting evening.
Tonight are my first and second grade programs. As usual the children are pulling out all of the stops at the last moment. I really hope that I didn't overshoot the peak of their performance by one practice. That would be a REAL SHAME since this is kind of like my state assessment.
Speaking of state assessments... we started them today. The quiet signs will be up in the hall ways for the next month or so. My schedule will be overturned. The children will be rambunctious. Time for all of the movement lessons I can come up with.
So tonight is full. Tomorrow I have Choir which should go alright....
(time laps of two days)
So... I don't normally start posts and finish them two days later, but today I did... or rather two days I did. Anyway...
Choir did not go as alright as I had hoped. Some of the songs are just about ready, and some are, well, in need of some shock therapy. I need to say some shocking things to get these people moving. There was something else that happened after Choir that dampened my spirits. Just some "advice" about choosing music that I don't really know how to take. It seems that the music that I have been choosing is too difficult and artful. It makes them sound "classical."
Well, excuse me for raising the bar on musicianship.
Ahem... That's all.
Today is my first night off from everything. I think I am going to try to get my hair did. It is in need of a trim and some root attention.
Two more days and then we fly. The calm can finally come. This week is almost through. WAHOO!
I really am feeling the need to post right now. So I will even though I have a ton of other stuff to do.
First of all... updates on the week. Last night I had a meeting at church. These meetings are only supposed to last 2 hours, but we are lucky if we get by with 3. Last night was no exception. Husband started texting me at 8:30 and continued to demand that I come home till I walked in the door at 9:30. I ate and went to bed. Not so much an exciting evening.
Tonight are my first and second grade programs. As usual the children are pulling out all of the stops at the last moment. I really hope that I didn't overshoot the peak of their performance by one practice. That would be a REAL SHAME since this is kind of like my state assessment.
Speaking of state assessments... we started them today. The quiet signs will be up in the hall ways for the next month or so. My schedule will be overturned. The children will be rambunctious. Time for all of the movement lessons I can come up with.
So tonight is full. Tomorrow I have Choir which should go alright....
(time laps of two days)
So... I don't normally start posts and finish them two days later, but today I did... or rather two days I did. Anyway...
Choir did not go as alright as I had hoped. Some of the songs are just about ready, and some are, well, in need of some shock therapy. I need to say some shocking things to get these people moving. There was something else that happened after Choir that dampened my spirits. Just some "advice" about choosing music that I don't really know how to take. It seems that the music that I have been choosing is too difficult and artful. It makes them sound "classical."
Well, excuse me for raising the bar on musicianship.
Ahem... That's all.
Today is my first night off from everything. I think I am going to try to get my hair did. It is in need of a trim and some root attention.
Two more days and then we fly. The calm can finally come. This week is almost through. WAHOO!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
KMEA and the madness that is life
So.... I was at KMEA last weekend. It made my week short, but short weeks are always so fast, and I never get to write when I want to.
Then KMEA happened, and it was a wonderful time to gather new materials and re-charge my batteries. I danced. I sang. I watched teachers use smart boards like professionals. I even talked with a first year teacher who looked like she was about to pass out right there on scene. I remember that feeling. The feeling that if you are pushed one more inch that you will crumble like a dried up Gumby. I assured her that it will get better. SO much better.
Then this week came, and it is the last week of third quarter so I am grading like a mad fiend.
So much for posting more often.
Then KMEA happened, and it was a wonderful time to gather new materials and re-charge my batteries. I danced. I sang. I watched teachers use smart boards like professionals. I even talked with a first year teacher who looked like she was about to pass out right there on scene. I remember that feeling. The feeling that if you are pushed one more inch that you will crumble like a dried up Gumby. I assured her that it will get better. SO much better.
Then this week came, and it is the last week of third quarter so I am grading like a mad fiend.
So much for posting more often.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
My Dreams
Well...
For the past few nights I have been having very vivid dreams... Dreams that are somewhat disturbing in different ways. Don't be alarmed by the darkness or the brightness of these dreams... I think it is just my mind reacting to the hustle and bustle that is my life as of now.
Last week, I had the dream that I was in one of my childhood friend's homes for a reunion of some sort. I had to use the bathroom... So I was directed down to the basement. That wasn't a big surprise since I spent most of my time with this friend in her room in the basement. But then I was told, "not that basement, the second basement." Yes I did climb down stars that led me to a basement under the basement which was a HUGE workshop of some sort. There were car jacks and wood working tools and the such. I looked and looked for the toilet... Couldn't find one. Finally I spotted a Urinal under the work bench. Are you serious??? You ask. Oh yes. I am going to end the dream there because it did not end well. Lets just say that the getting under the bench to actually try to use the urinal didn't go so well and that coupled with my friend's dad walking in on me getting ready to use the urinal...
I am so glad that it was a dream.
Ok ready for the next one?
So I am back in the burrow at schfirn's and I am studying or something on the futon in my living room. Suddenly I hear this creepy noise. I went back into my bedroom, and there on the windowsill that didn't exist in real life was a spider the size of ... well the body of the spider was about the size of a tennis ball and then add the legs. So I ran to the kitchen to get "the spray." now this spray actually exists in real life because I can't stand smashing spiders, but I will not live with them around so I have attack spider can o' spray. (aka bug be gone or something of that sort) So I go back and completely attack the huge creature. He then crawled behind the couch which was under the window. I heard him inching across the floor and when he emerged from underneath the couch, he had grown to the size of a human skull. He even had skull like markings. There was no choice for me. I stepped on him and he popped like a balloon full of goo. It must have been traumatic because the popping of grossness woke me up.
I am so glad it was a dream.
Ok... Last one....
I am in my old church in childhood town and I am aware that I have indeed been teaching for a year. Something has happened with my college requirements and I have to do another recital. This one is called a "Life Recital." My faithful piano player is there to help me. I am getting ready thinking... "Well, how hard can it be. I have already done it once. If they are going to make me do another recital, I will just use all of the music from the first one." I am getting ready to go into the sanctuary to perform and I see CA friends J and E there with new baby. (who isn't born yet in real life) I also see many other people from my lifetime. They are beckoning for me to come in. I don't even know what the program says is my first song. I found a program and the titles are something as follows.
"The old black pig."
"There's a hole in the bucket."
"Rooster Rooster Where Are You?"
These are not songs that I know (with the exception of hole in the bucket) but they are expecting me to teach the audience like I teach my little kids. Then in the next section there are all language songs by famous composers, but I don't know the words to the songs. The last section is English songs, but again they are songs the I may have heard once but have never done.
I peak into the sanctuary and the Guitar player accompanist sees me and starts to play the intro music. (Yah I had intro music from a beachy bumming looking guitar player accompanist) I freaked out and took off. The only thing that I could keep thinking was, "Now I won't be able to see my friends because I could never face them after that."
I am so glad it was a dream.
For the past few nights I have been having very vivid dreams... Dreams that are somewhat disturbing in different ways. Don't be alarmed by the darkness or the brightness of these dreams... I think it is just my mind reacting to the hustle and bustle that is my life as of now.
Last week, I had the dream that I was in one of my childhood friend's homes for a reunion of some sort. I had to use the bathroom... So I was directed down to the basement. That wasn't a big surprise since I spent most of my time with this friend in her room in the basement. But then I was told, "not that basement, the second basement." Yes I did climb down stars that led me to a basement under the basement which was a HUGE workshop of some sort. There were car jacks and wood working tools and the such. I looked and looked for the toilet... Couldn't find one. Finally I spotted a Urinal under the work bench. Are you serious??? You ask. Oh yes. I am going to end the dream there because it did not end well. Lets just say that the getting under the bench to actually try to use the urinal didn't go so well and that coupled with my friend's dad walking in on me getting ready to use the urinal...
I am so glad that it was a dream.
Ok ready for the next one?
So I am back in the burrow at schfirn's and I am studying or something on the futon in my living room. Suddenly I hear this creepy noise. I went back into my bedroom, and there on the windowsill that didn't exist in real life was a spider the size of ... well the body of the spider was about the size of a tennis ball and then add the legs. So I ran to the kitchen to get "the spray." now this spray actually exists in real life because I can't stand smashing spiders, but I will not live with them around so I have attack spider can o' spray. (aka bug be gone or something of that sort) So I go back and completely attack the huge creature. He then crawled behind the couch which was under the window. I heard him inching across the floor and when he emerged from underneath the couch, he had grown to the size of a human skull. He even had skull like markings. There was no choice for me. I stepped on him and he popped like a balloon full of goo. It must have been traumatic because the popping of grossness woke me up.
I am so glad it was a dream.
Ok... Last one....
I am in my old church in childhood town and I am aware that I have indeed been teaching for a year. Something has happened with my college requirements and I have to do another recital. This one is called a "Life Recital." My faithful piano player is there to help me. I am getting ready thinking... "Well, how hard can it be. I have already done it once. If they are going to make me do another recital, I will just use all of the music from the first one." I am getting ready to go into the sanctuary to perform and I see CA friends J and E there with new baby. (who isn't born yet in real life) I also see many other people from my lifetime. They are beckoning for me to come in. I don't even know what the program says is my first song. I found a program and the titles are something as follows.
"The old black pig."
"There's a hole in the bucket."
"Rooster Rooster Where Are You?"
These are not songs that I know (with the exception of hole in the bucket) but they are expecting me to teach the audience like I teach my little kids. Then in the next section there are all language songs by famous composers, but I don't know the words to the songs. The last section is English songs, but again they are songs the I may have heard once but have never done.
I peak into the sanctuary and the Guitar player accompanist sees me and starts to play the intro music. (Yah I had intro music from a beachy bumming looking guitar player accompanist) I freaked out and took off. The only thing that I could keep thinking was, "Now I won't be able to see my friends because I could never face them after that."
I am so glad it was a dream.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Dill
Isn’t it wonderful what a morning that feels like spring can do for you? This morning truly felt like spring. It was fresh… there was dew… there were birds singing… the sun was shooting beautiful rays over the horizon behind the school building. Ahhhh….
It may also feel like spring because I have all of the fans in my classroom on full blast. I have clean linen air freshener swirling around, and my door is propped open. This may seem like a freshness blast, but let me assure you that it is necessary. You see I am getting ready to do a stomp/blue man group HUGE ordeal with my fifth graders, and I have had the lunch ladies at all of the schools collecting buckets for me. Well… the good news is that the buckets are great big pretty green buckets, and I am getting them for free. Bad news is that they are the buckets that the pickles come in. So… my classroom smells like pickles. A LOT. Thirteen five-gallon buckets of pickles a lot.
I keep telling myself that it is worth it. I don’t mind the smell… The kids aren’t so hot on it though. They keep asking me, “Mrs. Music, why does your room smell like salad?”
It may also feel like spring because I have all of the fans in my classroom on full blast. I have clean linen air freshener swirling around, and my door is propped open. This may seem like a freshness blast, but let me assure you that it is necessary. You see I am getting ready to do a stomp/blue man group HUGE ordeal with my fifth graders, and I have had the lunch ladies at all of the schools collecting buckets for me. Well… the good news is that the buckets are great big pretty green buckets, and I am getting them for free. Bad news is that they are the buckets that the pickles come in. So… my classroom smells like pickles. A LOT. Thirteen five-gallon buckets of pickles a lot.
I keep telling myself that it is worth it. I don’t mind the smell… The kids aren’t so hot on it though. They keep asking me, “Mrs. Music, why does your room smell like salad?”
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