Big News!

J got a job in the area we want to live!!!! It's perfect. It's in the same county as I grew up in, but not the county I went to high school in. I know the entire area, I used to play soccer at the school he's going to be working at (when I was little), and there are plenty of coffee houses! :) Now all we have to do is find me a job, figure out what we can afford, then find a place to live. Wow.

It's a huge blessing because we never expected to have a job opportunity this early. Usually with teaching, you may not find out until the summer. He interviewed on Tuesday, and on his way home, they called him to offer him the job! It's one of the best counties in the state to work in, and it is one of the higher-paying teaching positions within the state. It's just such good news. There are so many options for where we could live, it's a little overwhelming. However, at least we know we only have to find one more job before we can afford somewhere of our own.

So exciting, and such a relief!!

Enjoy your Friday! I'm off to grade papers....

xo

Coffee House

I am at the coffee house once again.

This is what I have to do to prepare for tomorrow:

Create 12th grade midterm
Grade papers
Powerpoint for 11th and study guide material
Powerpoint for 12th and study guide material

I had a great day today at school--mainly because it was pretty relaxed. The kids had some studying to do, and they took a test. I let them take it open book (a lot of it was interpretive reading), and they were surprisingly quiet through the whole thing. I'd say it went pretty well.

I was laughing a lot for a Monday, which is always nice. What's so amazing about teaching is that the kids are the people that help me get into a good mood. Unfortunately, some classes are able to get me in a bad mood also, but this semester is filled with fairly well-behaved students. I did have to send one into the hall today, but he just can't keep his mouth shut!

I feel kind of guilty because my seniors have caught on to my procrastination. They joke they when I say I'll get them their papers graded in a couple of days, they're "lucky to get it by the end of the semester." They're always joking, but really... they're not. Luckily, they have a good attitude about it and don't hold it against me. I really want to impress them, so I'm trying to get my planning done early so that I can grade all day tomorrow and have them done by Wednesday! Wish me luck.

Mondays aren't so bad sometimes--it just depends on how you handle them.

Caffeine Accomplished!

I'm at the local coffee house trying to power out some lesson plans, and I feel pretty good about it. I was sitting at home focused on other things, and what I really needed to do was get school work done! This is really one of my favorite places to be, and one of the cheapest dates I can ever go on or take myself on (if you think about it like that). Good atmosphere, good coffee, good food, and good work ethic! Heck yeah.

I needed more caffeine

It's got to be the weather. We went from having sunny, 70 degree days to cold, 30 degree days. We're supposed to get ice tomorrow. Don't get  me wrong -- I'm very excited for the possibility of a snow day, but the cold air is really getting to my energy levels (so has this headache I've had all day).

What I've accomplished today:

Dishes
Vacuumed
Organized school papers
Slept with cat on couch
Showered
Cappuccino

I have done no school work (even though I always plan to do some on Saturdays--it just doesn't happen). I was very tired for most of the day until I got out for a bit. The cat was influencing me with her sleepiness. Turns out, the dog was left out with the cat last night in the living room, so neither one of them probably slept very well.

As far as the end of the week, I had a great time on Friday with all of my classes. I had stories to tell each of them, and they all seemed interested. It's so funny to see kids perk right up when you have a real story (instead of literature) to talk to them about. They actually shush their classmates and get mad if they talk over me! Wow. lol.

I had my 11th graders bring a song that had aspects of transcendentalism. All but two brought in the song, the lyrics, and a written explanation! Again, amazing. I'm so glad they were excited about the work and their songs. We played at least 1 minute of each song after they explained to the classmates what they meant. They loved it!! And honestly, so did I. We all got a new list of songs to add to our playlists. I found out later that the class next door heard everything (the walls are horrifically thin in this school), and they were taking a test. However, they didn't mind at all because they all got to jam to some music while they took the test. :) Overall, it was a great day!

Hope you had a great Saturday.

PS: I signed up for a 3.2 mile run coming up in locally. Let's see how much training I can fit in until then. I'm kind of scared. I haven't run a race since high school. I'll let you know how things progress.

Thursday

It was one of those mornings where everything goes wrong.

I couldn't find my keys (luckily Justin was still here and he gave me my car key).
I couldn't find a lid for my spaghetti lunch (later to be spilled in my lunch bag).
I forgot my coffee (ran to Starbucks and was almost late for work).
I turned around violently to get my coffee, only to realize I didn't have my house key (I proceeded to violently turn around again--this is when I rushed to Starbucks).
I didn't have my school keys or classroom keys (luckily someone let me in).
I didn't have time to make sure I really knew what I was talking about before teaching (I know how to improvise).

After all of these bad things happened -- and they always seem to happen all at once -- I was able to pull myself together and greet my class. And guess what? They healed me and made my day. It's amazing how the kids can sense how I'm feeling, and they eagerly (yet subtly) try to make me feel better. Even the little things mean a lot to me -- like when a student walks in before anyone else and says, "Hi, Ms. ______" because they are in a good mood and are happy to see me. Or when another student comes up to show me their acceptance letter into a college with excitement. Or when another student says that my class is their favorite of the day (an 11th grader, people! They never say that!). OR (yes more fragments) when a student says, "Ms. ______, I like your shirt today. It's very vibrant" (a male student! and it was a new shirt!). It's these little things that fulfilled my day. I had one of the best days in my 11th grade class, and I think it's because I loosened up a little. I also walked around a lot more -- just to keep on their case. The last thing I've been doing is calling kids out for sleeping or "sleeping" in class. Good stuff!

Overall, the day was great, and now I've spent a relaxing evening with my babies. It's 9 pm, and I have done nothing to prepare for tomorrow, except watch a horrid movie version of Macbeth. Oh joy! However, I plan to have fun again tomorrow (FRIDAY!) and allow myself to see the good in things.

PS: My 11th graders asked me if I used to be a hippie today because they "could totally see it." My job is done. :)

"I Sit and Look Out"

Walt Whitman

I sit and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and

upon all oppression and shame,

I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men at angruish

with themselves, remorseful after deeds done,

I see in low life the mother misused by her children, dying, 

neglected, gaunt, desperate,

I see the wife misused by her husband, I see the

treacherous seducer of young women,

I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love

attempted to be hid, I see these sights on the earth,

I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny, I see

martyrs and prisoners,

I observe a famine at sea, I observe the sailors casting lots

who shall be kill'd to preserve the lives of the rest,

I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant persons

upon laborers, the poor, and upon negroes, and the like;

All these--all the meanness and agony without end I

sitting look out upon,
See, hear, and am silent.

Warmth!

It has been a lovely day today. Not only is the weather amazing, but I also had a pretty good day with my students. The past few days have not been very good, so it was a nice refresher. I'm headed out of town tomorrow to do invitations and hang out with the family for my mom and brother's birthdays.

My mom is so important to me, and she deserves the best. However, she got a stomach virus yesterday, so she's been sleeping and fighting sickness for two days. I'm hoping she gets better very soon, and I hope I can help her to have a great birthday weekend!

 

(Photo found on google)

Happy Birthday, Mom, you beautiful, smart, woman of Irish decent! :) Happy St. Patty's Day, too. Love you very much.

Happy Sunday

Happiness occurs when the wind sweeps across the hair and the sun touches the face.

And when he person you love smiles back at you.

Is there such thing as TOO MUCH chocolate?

Yes, and I'm feeling the effect of it now. I made brownies tonight for a little sweet dessert, and I added a boat-load of chocolate chips we had in the cabinet. Bad idea! I never thought I'd say it, but the brownies were disgustingly sweet. I had one, and I feel like I have just been to a restaurant and stuffed myself with mashed potatoes and steak. Phew.

In other news, tomorrow is Friday! Nice. I have no idea what I'm going to do this weekend, but I know it's going to feel amazing to sleep in. Laurie has been gone all week (which is totally lame), but she'll be back on Monday. I will say that I've been taking it easy this week because of fewer hang-outs (still lame) and all the rain, so it's been alright.

In yet other news, my classroom smells like kitty litter. No joke. Supposedly there are two classrooms in the school that smell that way, and mine is one of them. The kids know it's not me, but they ask what "perfume" I've been wearing lately. Ha ha guys, very funny. They also happened to ask me what I had for lunch today. I wish I could say I didn't answer "tuna packet," but I did. I guess I'm just digging myself into a deeper whole of cat-land. I'm okay with being a crazy cat lady, but not yet!

Togetherness

Christmas (I was musically inclined even then!)

Plato and I (and my big bunny)

My talented Grandpa when he was still alive.

My cousin Beto and I.

My goofy uncles.

My beautiful mother and grandmother.

My lovely aunt dd who will sing for our wedding.

The sweetest woman alive.

Uncle J

It is official: at least half of my family from up north (crossing the fingers for the other half) will be at my wedding in June. Not only that, but they will be in town by Thursday night or Friday!! When I read this in my message from my aunt tonight, I almost started crying. It seems to silly to get emotional over things like that, but really, it will be the first time all of my loving, amazing, artsy, goofy family will be in my town. We always visit them--not sure why--it's just easier on my grandma, I guess. They will be here! I know that I might get emotional on my wedding day from being happy or dancing with my dad (Lord help me), but just seeing my grandma in the audience could really start the tears. I'm going to try so very hard not to cry. I don't want to the bride that loses all her make-up before the ceremony is even over--but it's going to be hard. Not only that, but like I've said before, my aunt is singing while I walk down the aisle. It's going to be a very beautiful day.

Monday

Time to find the couch. I'm typing this with closed eyes as I ponder what I will be doing for tomorrow's lesson. What did I do today, you ask? Well, each class had a (long) lesson on grammar, and my 11th graders had an SOL practice test. I was talking all day long (rather loudly, I might add), and I didn't even sit to eat my lunch (I was making copies).

I should add that I did not sleep last night. I was awake every few minutes either too hot or too cold, and I was having really odd dreams. I also felt nauseous. I think it's because I took some medicine way too late at night without any food--doesn't do the body good! (or well)

Something fun about my day: I found out that one of my student's parents knew me when I was less than ten years old. The dad worked with my dad, and I may have played with one of the son's older sisters. We went to the same church, and we lived in the same town. Her son (that I have in class) was probably two or three when I knew them. Wild!

HOME

If I could, I would be a follower of this band.

This is such a great video.

I want to be at their concert again.

Eyes: a picture from the weekend.

Calm Sunday

I used to be the type of person that wanted to be running around non-stop, always something to do and always someone to talk to. I've definitely grown as a person since this time. Maybe my foot surgeries did more good for me than I thought they would; they made me stop and think and I wasn't able to move around much. I had to find things to do to entertain me, and I learned to appreciate those around me.

Today is a very rainy, cloudy day, as was yesterday, and I have found them both to be very enjoyable. Yesterday J and I shopped for a floor lamp (found a modern paper one at Target--it looks like a space ship or something--we really like it), went to Lowes to dream shop, and had subs for lunch. We almost bought a living room table from a decorating store, but they were out.

We finished off the evening watching a show we have on Netflix and cuddling up on three quilts we put on the floor as kind of a big family bed for the four of us (puppy and kitty).

My favorite part of the evening, however, was when we took a late-night walk with the dog in the rain. It was so beautiful and refreshing. I ran back and forth with the dog as we chased each other, and we were both drenched by the end. It was absolutely beautiful. I love being outdoors at night, especially in the spring and summer. It's one of the best feelings.


Today we got up around 9:30. I felt well-rested, and I took the dog for a quick walk. It was quite beautiful, even though the rain was coming down harder than yesterday. I had blueberries and waffles for breakfast (a favorite), and I started grading on my pile of quilts. We watched some more of the show season we have, and I graded more.

I still have more grading now, but I'm okay with it. I'm planning on spending the evening grading and planning, but I look forward to seeing my students tomorrow and starting the week. We have about 13-14 weeks of school left, and I have a feeling it's going to fly by.

We're going to spend the evening at a local warm, inviting restaurant/coffee house to do our grading. J has to grade for his college students, and I have to grade for ... all my classes. It's going to feel so good when it's done!

Too bad the work of an English teacher never ends... Oh well!

Have a relaxing Sunday.

Happy Birthday, Me

Not really. My students started spreading around that it was my birthday today, and it began in first block. I cried out, "Oh my gosh, guys! It's March 4th! My birthday is in less than two months!" One of the jokers proceeded to take his chance: "Oh, it's your birthday today!? Happy Birthday!" "No guys, in two months." (Not caring at all to what I said) -- (class in unison) -- "Happy Birthday! Let's sing!" They proceeded to sing me "happy birthday." Well, you know how rumors spread in high school. Somehow, at least one person from each class knew that it was my birthday, and each class sang to me. Each class also asked how old I was and guessed anywhere from 18 (haha very funny guys) to 35 (wtf!?). I also received a mozzarella bread stick for a birthday gift. Needless to say, it was a very entertaining day because of this. Oh, and another student said, unrelated, "Can I give you a compliment as long as you don't take it weird?" "Sure thing," I said. "You're really pretty." Thanks guys :)

It might be because it's almost Friday, but...

I am very positive about my day. Not only did my 11th grade class go very well (we read Franklin's autobiography and discussed it), but I also got some compliments from my block one 12th grade class. They told me that my class is their favorite English class in high school so far. They said that I make it fun. :)

I need to start by saying that I have not watched American Idol for about 5 years (shocking, I know). BUT, I was tempted to check out some of the top singers (AOL told me to), and I'm telling you what--there are some talented singers.

Here's the one that gave me chills. This is one confident man ready to make America swoon. Heck yes.