That's a wrap.

Here we are again: the end of another year. It is the best time to look back and reflect on what has happened in the year. The best moments (along with the worst). I am going to do my best to recall what all has happened in 2o09. It has been a busy year...and maybe one of the best so far! These are a few of my favorite things that have happened this year.

Steamboat Springs, CO ski trip!

Best trip of my life by far. Hands down.

Hot tub in the snow anyone? Yes please!

New Friends

I guess this ones really more about becoming closer to some friends I already had but also making a couple of new friends that are going to be around for a long time!

New Apartment

Moved into a one bedroom apartment in October.

New Apartment (The Remix)

Got a roommate. Moved into a two bedroom apartment in December.

Chicago road trip

All kinds of good stuff. Andy's Live Jazz Club. Gino's pizza.

Dave Matthews Band concert

Delicious!

Becoming a real life teacher

17 little first graders that always need my attention. Whether its tying a shoe or telling Suzie to stop calling Jane a drama queen, they are the neediest human beings I know. But they are my needy human beings, and I love each and every one of them. They have made me laugh and yell, but, at the end of the day, I have learned more from them than they have from me.

Trying real hard to be skiier (both the snow and water variety)

I fail at both.

Graduating from college

After 4 expensive years, I got to wear a hideous hat and dress to collect my piece of paper.

Charred Mallows and Float Trip/Camping

The one and only camping trip of the year. So much fun.

Kemps and Poker

Game night. Tuesday nights became my favorite night of the week.

Blowing up fireworks under a bridge

Self explanatory. What could be MORE awesome??

KC Music

(Also Plaza, PF Changs, and tripping over sidewalks)

Erin McCarley and Mat Kearney. Good stuff.

I would give 2009 a 9 out of 10. It has been a good year and I feel like I have grown into a new (and better) person. But, I am ready for 2010 and the favorite things it will bring!

Life

Life has been happening. I have finally found somewhat of a balance. I'm not sure I've been that healthy recently...BUT that will be my next goal. I had a good time out with the ol' BFF and friends. Good times were had by all. Plus some tequila. The biggest news in the life of Whitey is...dun, dun, DUUUUUN...moving day is October 17! Yes, thats right. I am finally flying out of the nest. Thank the good Lord. I was beginning to think I may never move out of my parent's house. Oh no...it's happening. And I could not be more excited. I have already made several big girl purchases including a super cute couch and some super cute dishes. I'm going for a whole super cute theme here. I am thoroughly enjoying the amount of shopping that this adventure requires. I am not thoroughly enjoying the number of Benjamins I am dropping. I suppose it comes with the territory. Being an adult=being poor. I am excited, yet a little nervous. It will be a little weird going home and having no one to spill my guts too. Therefore, I expect many visitors. I am looking forward to the future and this new chapter in my life. Little Whitey is a-growin' up!

Here are some super cute spaces. I'm looking for inspiration:

Who wouldn't want a porch swing in their bedroom?

I love kitchens.

Neglect

My first few weeks of teaching have gone really well. I am getting into the routine, learning a LOT of new things, and bonding with my 16 first graders (and 16 very different personalities might I add). I have spent nearly 10-12 hours a day at school teaching, preparing, and conversing with my fellow compadres in first grade land. It feels as though my life has become school, school, school, and sleep. I fit meals in there approximately three times a day. I fit social time in there about once a week. The balance of life has become incredibly hard to achieve. If I leave school before 6 p.m. I feel like I am neglecting my kids and not being the best teacher that I can be. If I don't leave school before 6 p.m., friends, family, and ME time seems to suffer. Where's the balance?!?!

I have realized that I have severely neglected myself in the past few weeks and months. It's not workin' for me. I have to find a balance. I can either do ONE thing really well, or many things in an average way. Which is better? I don't have the answer. Wish I did. For now, all I can do is find a balance that works for me.

I will take care of myself. I will take care of my students. I will spend much needed "let go and live" time with my friends. I will spend time with my family. For my own good.

Dear Time Gods,

Can't we just add about five more hours to each day?? That would really solve most of my issues. Oh yeah, and I need an everlasting supply of energy. Thanks.

An exhausted and needy First Grade teacher

**Super Sidebar**

If you have not seen 500 Days of Summer, run don't walk your nearest theater. Great movie.

Joseph Gordon Levitt=yummy! :)

Zooey Deschanel=adorable (and I hate her for it.)

Funny.

Funny first grade moment of the day:

Child: "What's your name?"

Me: "Miss Rand."

Child: "That sounds like Ranch Dressing."

Just call me Miss Ranch Dressing. :)

One week down and Cravings.

I survived my first week of teaching. This is cause for MUCH celebration...generally in the form of eating things I shouldn't eat and drinking things I shouldn't drink. I think I love my class...I have some really sweet kids. I have some challenging kids. They will all balance each other out I think.

Even though I have only been teaching for a week, I am already in dire need of a vacation. Planning a MEGA trip next summer with some of my FAVE people. We are going here (among other northwestern places):

My soul is craving a trip back to this magical place:

My tan is craving a trip here:

My heart is craving a face like this:

Lie on your back and look at the stars.

My family and I had a lovely weekend at the lake. The lake is probably in my top three favorite places of all time. Mostly because I grew up with it and it represents simpler and more carefree times in my life. I went to the lake for the first time when I was three months old. And every summer weekend thereafter until I was about 14.

I also love the lake because it allows me to feel more free and alive. It's a break from the daily grind of life and routines and Type A personalities. I love not knowing what time it is when I'm there. There is no time...except lake time. Life just stops for a while. And I love it.

The best thing about the lake this weekend: lying on my back and looking at the stars. There seem to be 10 times as many and they are ten times brighter. I laid on our boat this weekend, staring up at the sky, just watching the stars. The sounds of crickets and passing boats were all I could hear. Sheer perfection for a summer night. It makes one realize how gigantic our universe is. Really gigantic. It's crazy. Shooting Stars and the Milky Way can seem really tangible when you allow them to.

The only thing that could have made this moment better was someone to cuddle with. Guess I will have to relive it when that someone comes along.

7 days.

School starts in 7 days.

Meet the Teacher night is in 2 days.

Deep breathing and lots of chocolate.

That is all I need.

August.

Today is August 1. That's crazy. Why you ask? Because August is the month in which I become a real teacher. The next few weeks are going to be mega-stressful, and exciting, and nervewracking. But I think I can handle it. Mostly due to the fact that I have awesome family and friends who are willing to help me anytime I need it. I am working in my classroom today (on a Saturday...BOO!). I will post some pictures soon.

In other news, I finished the fifth Harry Potter book this week. I have read 5 books this summer. That's the most I've read in a long time. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't see the new movie until I read the sixth book. It's kinda killing me...but I can't turnback now.

Now for the uplifting video of the day: Dalton Sherman. I first saw this video about a year ago in one of my classes. It's amazing. This kid is like ten (?) years old and can speak better than 99.9% of adults. Everytime I watch this, it gives me chills. Enjoy!

Dream, Dream, Dream

First Day of School. August 18. Oh my. I had my first First Day of School nightmare last night. It went something like this:

I arrived at my classroom approximately 45 minutes before the students were supposed to arrive. I had never seen my classroom before. My classroom was in my old Junior high building, Home Ec Room. Why? No stinking clue. Anyways, I walked into my room and there was already a class in there so I had to work quietly to move boxes and organize books. I also hadn't taken a shower so I did THAT at school (who knew schools had showers...not me). Somehow my dream-self thought I could save time if I didn't rinse the shampoo out of my hair...so I didn't. HA! I continued working in my room (shampoo still in hair) until I decided I needed to leave to get an important something or other. So I drove a bajillion miles an hour and got back to school. I finished washing the shampoo out of my hair and then...I woke up. Womp womp waaaaa.

The most awful part of this dream was that I didn't have ANY lessons planned. I certainly hope this nightmare does NOT become reality.

T-minus 4 weeks until the first day of school. Ahhhh!

I have my moments.

When my perfect little pug Bubba passed away, I never thought that I would still be struggling with it three months later. Well, I have my moments. Anyways, I was looking for pug rescue organizations online because I think my next pug will come from a rescue/foster situation. It is truly amazing and sickening what some people will do to their dogs...the stories are heartwrenching. I would love to be able to give all my money to these organizations because they do all this with only donated funds. The dogs come to them with no vet experience and many of them need special care which means money, money, money. Some of the dogs they get are very old, which means they are harder to adopt because everyone wants a puppy. I just hope that in a few months I will be ready (emotionally and financially) to adopt one of these precious little pug gems. There is no better breed of dog! Here are some links to pug rescue organizations in the Missouri and Midwest region:

http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/ (Make sure to look at the adoptable pugs page. But stay away from the Memorial page...unless you wanna "have a moment" like I did, which usually involves tears.)

http://www.ilmorescue.org/ (Again, look at the available animals section)

http://www.rescuepug.com/ (I'm not sure if this organization is actually in the Missouri area, but it's a great website!)

I only hope everyone can get half as much love and laughter out of their pug as I did out of mine. Love you Bubs!

Eat More Food.

Raw Foodie. This is a name that I have not been called. However...I would not mind being called it. This whole "Raw Food Movement" is very intriguing to me. I stumbled across a book review online the other night. I'm sure everyone has seen this book on shelves in their local Borders bookstore. In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. I have not read the book...yet. The whole premise of the book is that Americans eat too much crap and not enough food, meaning the overprocessed "food" we eat is not really food at all.

Along the same lines as Michael Pollan's book is Alice Waters, so-called Mother of the Slow Food Movement. I watches a piece about her on 60 minutes several months back that sparked my interest on this topic. To learn more about the slow food movement and what it's all about visit their website at www.slowfood.com, or watch this video.

Basically, I am interested in this topic because I am interested in my health. Yes, I have a weight/body image/self esteem issue. Who doesn't? I may always have this issue. This sort of thing moves past that. It just seems so...DUH! Get rid of the diets. Get rid of the stupid shakes and drinks and bars and pills. Get rid of the processed "food" that we are sold at supermarkets all across the country. Go back to the way people ate 30 years ago. Fresh produce. Grass fed meats and poultry. Un-screwed around with dairy. I looked at my yogurt container this morning to find ingredients that I could not pronounce and lots of them. Its kind of disturbing to me to not know what is in the food I am eating. Who knows what kind of chemicals and other crap they throw in this stuff to make it last longer on shelves, to make it taste better, to make it look prettier. I'm not buying it. Literally.

Step 1: Purchase and read Michael Pollan's book.

Step 2: Stop eating CRAP.

Step 3: Be healthy!

Now, I am a realistic person. Do I think that I can completely stop eating food of convenience? No. A: it is much cheaper than the alternative. B: It is...CONVENIENT. However, I think by just making a conscious effort to eat less processed and packaged stuff I will feel better. If it comes in a bag, box, or shrinkwrapped...I don't want it in my body. I will keep you informed on this new endeavor. It will not happen overnight. Promise.

I'm going to New York JUST for this.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a serious love of peanut butter. It is by far my favorite food. Well when I was channel surfing the other night, I stumbled across a show about sandwiches on the Travel Channel. Low and behold, they were at a restaurant in NYC called Peanut Butter and Company where they serve nothing but...wait for it...PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES!!! Holy peanut butter heaven Batman.

They also sell their specialty peanut butter all over the country. Here are a few of the choices: Cinnamon Raisin Swirl (peanut butter with cinnamon and raisins...not sure about this one), The Heat is On (who likes a little fiery spice added to their peanut butter?), The Bee's Knees (peanut butter with the honey mixed right in...GENIUS I say), Mighty Maple (maple syrupy peanut butter...after watching my dad mix these two together in a bowl for breakfast, I know how delicious this mixture is. I probably sound like a peanut butter maniac...well, maybe I am. I will go to New York...just for this. In the meantime, I will buy my gourmet peanut butter at Wal-Mart.

Love and Marriage and a Baby Carriage.

Jon and Kate plus 8. We all know em (or think we do). Some of us love em...some of us don't. I pretend to dislike them but find myself getting sucked in to their daily lives and the drama that ensues with 8 children. The drama sh** hit the fan on tonight's show. Dun-DUN-DUUUNNN. Yes. TV producers love it. The BIG announcement...a life changing decision...bringing peace to our family...blah blah blah. D-I-V-O-R-C-E. After watching the show in which they made this BIG announcement, I found myself feeling sad. Sad for the kids. Sad for the two of them. Sad for the whole situation. It made me think.

I told my best friend that I was feeling inexplicably sad about this show. To which she replied..."Get a grip. It happens everyday to people who aren't millionaires." Good point. It does happen ALL the time. Does that make it OK? Does that make it any easier for the parties involved? I feel as though our culture and society has become so callous to divorce because it IS SO common. I am a strong believer in marriage. I take it quite seriously. It upsets me when people don't take it seriously. I have had some great examples of marriage in my life. My parents are the first: 32 years of marriage and going strong. My grandparents: 59 years of marriage (my grandpa died 4 months before their 60th wedding anniversary). I have a lot of friends who still have married parents. When they committed to their partner, when they said those cliche vows, they understood the promise they were making. Forever. The promise of forever loving...forever supporting...forever being there...forever laughing through the tears.

I am not married. Nor have I ever had a serious relationship. I am not speaking from experience. I am speaking from my heart and what I believe. Bill Cosby has this view on marriage, "For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked."

Maybe it is a miracle for two people to stay married for a lifetime. I wish it was a miracle that happened more often. Maybe for some people marriage is not the right path to take. That is fine. Better to realize the truth from the beginning than to try and fail. No one ever claimed marriage would be easy...did they?

D-Day.

Well, today is Father's Day. My dad is one of a kind. I know everyone says that about THEIR dad...but honestly, who can argue against my dad? He's the best. To prove this point, I have created a Top Ten list of my favorite things about my dad. Enjoy:

Top Ten Favorite Dad Things:

10. His uncanny ability to drive like a Nascar driver on any highway, interstate, or freeway.

9. The way he types on a keyboard (like a chicken pecking its food).

8. His musical talent. Guitar, harmonica, trumpet, AND he can sing. Who knew?

7. The way he inserts swear words into daily conversation. Example: I was driving down the damn interstate...etc.

6. His love affair with the dog. He will never admit how much he loves that mutt.

5. The amount of time he can spend talking about one subject, especially politics and current events.

4. His woodworking ability. Dude can build ANYthing.

3. His handyman ability. Dude can fix ANYthing.

2. The fact that he has been married to my mom for 32 years.

1. His eyes. He is a rough guy on the outside, but he has the softest eyes of any construction worker I have ever seen.

This list is very limited. There are about a bajillion things that I love about my dad. I couldnt possibly list them ALL. I love you Daddy!

Movie Madness

I have been really good about watching the movies on my list. So far I have checked off 4. Here are my humble reviews. :)

• Fireproof: Awful acting. Awesome story. Made me excited to be married someday.
• What's Eating Gilbert Grape: Two words-Leonardo. Dicaprio. He is my favorite actor by far. I also enjoyed seeing Johnny Depp in his younger days. Good movie. A little depressing.
• Anchorman: After watching this for a few minutes, I realized I had seen parts of it before. Still, Will Ferrell definitely delivered on this one. I am not a huge fan of other Will Ferrell movies (Blades of Glory=BOO!), but I LOLed at this one several times.
• Sleepless in Seattle: L-O-V-E!!! The ultimate chick flick. Could Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks be any cuter together? For serious.

4 down. How many to go?!?!

My other summer goal: read all 7 (holy crap!) Harry Potter books. I read the first 3.5 books when they first came out, but I gave up when the length surpassed my attention span. I am giving it another go. I am starting book numero tres this evening...and actually really excited about it. Ahh...lovely summer!

Obsession of the Day: House Hunters

I am not the HGTV watching type. However...I LOVE House Hunters. I cannot explain it. Well maybe I can. I have this very dreamy dream (far far far from reality) of moving somewhere foreign and immersing myself in the culture and the language and the food and the people. So I guess I live vicariously through the people on the show...especially House Hunters International, where people find houses in far away lands (usually costing them an arm, a leg, and their first born). It is just fascinating. My favorite episode thus far was about a young-ish couple ( mid 30s) who were relocating to (insert tropical island here) from (insert United State here). Obviously I cant remember the details. Anywho...they just decided to pick up their lives and move. So they did it. Clearly they had the career flexibility and lack of financial woe to make this happen. Right after they moved...they found out they were having a baby. How perfect?!?!

Isn't it interesting how life makes itself happen???

Movie Ketch-up.

There a lot of movies that I have not seen. Obviously. But for some reason people seem shocked that I have not seen certain films. My goal for the summer is to ketch-up on movies that I seem to have missed. Here is a list of movies that I will be trying to watch this summer (in no particular order):

1. Fireproof

2. Anchorman

3. What's Eating Gilbert Grape

4. Schindler's List

5. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (this one is a BIG maybe)

6. Fight Club

7. Rocky (only the first one...not the other 52)

8. Sleepless in Seattle

9. Rainman

10. The Godfather

11. White Oleander

12. Stranger than Fiction

13. Office Space

14. Gangs of New York

15. Suggestions?? 

 

Looks like I have a busy summer of watching movies ahead of me. :)

Music of the Heart.

Dave Matthews Band is one of my favorites.  They just released a new studio album called Big Whiskey andthe Groo Grux King. It is amazing...if you haven't bought it yet, what are you waiting for?!?! This band is sort of myserious and elusive to me.  Usually when I love a band or artist, I immerse myself in their bidness...personal and musical (example: John Mayer).  Dave Matthews Band has not been this way.  I found this awesome behind the scenes special on Hulu that sort of satifies that "obsession" need for me. 

I love that Dave Matthews himself drew the artwork for the album cover. That makes them even more amazing.

Lyrics from one of my favorite songs on the new album: Dive In

I saw a man on the side of the road with a sign that read will work for food
Try to look busy until the light turns green

I saw a bear on T.V.
And his friends were all drowning
Because their homes were turning to water
Strange kinda sad big old bear
I'm sure he'd happily eat me
He'd tear me to pieces out there

Wake up sleepy head I think the sun's a little brighter today
Smile and watch the icicles melt away and see the water rising
Summer's here to stay, and all those summer
games will last forever
Go down to the shore kick off your shoes
Dive in the empty ocean

Tell me everything will be ok
If I just stay on my knees and keep praying
Believing there's something
Tell me everything is all taken care of
By those qualified to take care of it all

Wake up sleepy head I think the sun's a little brighter today
Smile and watch the icicles melt away and see the water rising
Summer's here to stay, and all those summer
games will last forever
Go down to the shore kick off your shoes
Dive in the empty ocean

One day you think we'll wake up in a world on
its way to getting better and if so can you tell me how?

I have been thinking that lately the blood is increasing
The tourniquet's not keeping hold in spite of our twisting
Though we would like to beleive we are not in control
Though we would love to believe

Wake up sleepy head I think the sun's a little brighter today
Smile and watch the icicles melt away and see the water rising
Summer's here to stay, and all those summer
games will last forever
Go down to the shore kick off your shoes
Dive in the empty ocean.

Another year goes by.

My birthday was yesterday. Ho-Hum. I remember getting so super excited about birthdays when I was a kid. It was ridiculously fun to get presents and eat lots of cake and ice cream.  These days I don't find birthdays to be as exciting as they once were.  I suppose this just comes with the whole growing up shenanigan of which I am currently experiencing. Blech. Being a kid is so much simpler...maybe that's why I decided to be a teacher? 

On a positive birthday note, I had a great celebration with lots of great friends last night. I am a LUCKY girl to have such a FABULOUS group of friends.  I also got to spend the weekend at the lake (FAVE!) with my family and BFF. Good times were had by all. 

All in all, 21 was a good year.  A year of major growth and realization and thoughts.  I can honestly say I am not the same person I was on June 1, 2008.  While I still have the same basic traits, I feel like I have experienced a large amount of LIFE this year. Finally I feel as though I am living. Yes. It took some minor modifications in aspects of my life but I am happy with where I am IN THIS MOMENT. :)

I hope to make 22 a year equally full of growth and realization and thoughts. I hope I am a new person on June 1, 2010. This year I will: start my first day of school (as a teacher!), move out of my parents house for the first time (finally!), fall in love (maybe?), fall out of love (possibly?), find a new cuddly pug faced friend (in honor of the late great Bubbinator), and live. All in the best way I know how: the Whitney way. Here's to another great year...23 here I come!

In This City

You came in to my life 

You cannot separate yourself 

You came in to my life 

You cannot separate yourself 

And I found that round here 

In this city 

That I wont disappear 

In this city 

I got nothing to fear 

In this city, 

In this city 

Close those doors 

Close those doors now 

Now, now, just keep em open 

Keep em open 

Yea, keep em open 

Ill keep on, keep keep on going 

Taking it in so, so heavy 

Take it easy son, this aint so deadly 

Got keep on, gotta go on, gotta go on 

Take it all with what weve done 

Gotta push it push it push it 

To the top of the building 

Even when no one is feeling 

It might bother you 

Dont let it 

If these people just dont get it 

They cant express it 

They wont accept it 

She said its okay that they may never give you that credit. 

And I found that round here 

In this city 

That I wont disappear 

In this city 

I got nothing to fear 

In this city, 

In this city 

Ive been down here 

Down these roads 

People pass through 

Some stay some go 

Standing here broke 

Not a penny to my name 

But she says she loves me all the same 

I try my best 

And you do to 

And all you want is something you can move to 

Everybodys gotta get their kicks somewhere 

Everybody gotta fit in somewhere 

Theres, an open road 

And Im traveling down 

Dont know where to go 

But I lock and load 

Shoot that sky till the moon explode 

Moon explode 

Now were laying in a field 

White flowers on our backs 

Talking bout home 

But we cant go back 

I guess thats why we left 

So we could take a step 

Keep moving and forget the rest. 

You came in to my life 

You cannot separate yourself 

You came in to my life 

You cannot separate yourself 

And I found that round here 

In this city 

That I wont disappear 

In this city 

I got nothing to fear 

In this city, 

In this city

(Iglu and Hartley)

Just returned from a fantastic trip to Chicago. Love to visit the city. Would not want to live there. Anyways...it was a great little (short) vacation.

The Gay Debate

I try not to use this blog as a platform for my personal views on political issues.  However, this is one that makes my blood boil so I need to vent.  I haven't heard much of this debate in a while (since the Prop 8 debate in California).  One show has managed to bring it back: American Idol.  My dad and I duked it out last night while watching Adam, the supposedly homosexual dramatic performer, and Kris, the Christian church boy, duked it out on the show.  My dad was saying that he saw a piece on Fox News about the two Idol finalists.  He said they were talking about the gay vs. Christian vote.  Apparently, according to the right wing Christian news network (SHOCKER!), people are voting for Kris because they want to vote against the "GAY guy." I say...Bullshit.

I totally didn't believe him at first...but now? I can honestly say that maybe people in this country are really that moronic. Hold on a second while I jump on my soapbox. OK...as someone who grew up in church and considers themself a CHRISTIAN who will go to heaven someday, I firmly believe that people who are gay are PEOPLE just like me and you and Bill O' effing Reilly. Do they deserve to NOT have their dreams come true simply because they are attracted to someone of the same sex?!?! NONONONONONO. The answer is no. It's ridiculous really that people would even consider this notion.  On a show which is about singing and performing and TALENT, shouldn't those things be the deciding factor? It's sad and frustrating and demoralizing to me to even have to think about this. It gives me knots in my stomach to think that someone would be denied their dream because of their lifestyle. 

Wake up people. I pray for a day where equality really means equality. Where Christians and homosexuals can get along. Where people are people no matter what their sexual orientation. I am stepping down now. Thank You.

When we had white presidents...

Ellen DeGeneres is awesome.  I wish she would have spoken at my common-cement ceremony. Watch this...you won't be sorry. 

Oh, the Places You'll Go

Dr. Seuss was a brilliant man. He penned one of my all time favorite books...Oh, the Places You'll Go.  It is a very appropriate book for this new chapter in my life.  This is an adorable video of a 4 year old who memorized the entire book. Love it.

So on this graduation eve, I am thinking of the future and what it might hold.  The future is unknown.  The future scares the crap out of me.  But it also excites me. I am a person who has to have a plan for today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. I like to have all my ducks in a row so I can avoid unexpected things.  I have a plan for my future but there are still so many questions.  I can't predict what will happen in five years.  Where will I be? Colorado? Chicago? Married? Teaching? These unanswered questions are what scare me the most. I want to live my life though. There is too much world to see and experience for me to stay in one place my whole life.  One of my favorite parts of the Dr. Seuss classic is about waiting.

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

There is way too much to see in the world to waste my time waiting on life to happen.  I know one thing for sure. I control my destiny.  I have to make life happen. Fearlessly. I want to find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. 

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

To the class of 2009: Here's to not waiting for life to happen. Here's to making life happen.

Sick.

How does one go through the entire semester without getting sick when working with children...only to get sick two days later?!?! This is a mystery I will never understand. This latest bout with snot, coughing, and sneezing has only been eased by one thing. These little gems.

Puffs Plus lotion with Vicks.  They have the delicious menthol scent baked right in. I have found myself simply sniffing them more than anything. What a great invention. One million points to the person who thought these up. I should get paid for this free advertising. Somebody hook me up with the number for Puffs. 

I Love You Mom.

Today is Mother's Day. I am convinced that I have the BEST mom ever. I know everyone says this...but I really do. She could kick any other mom's ass. I am so lucky and blessed to have her in my life. Happy Mother's Day Mama!

Top Ten Favorite Things about my Mom:

10. Her eyes. I got them.

9. The pies she makes. I blame them for my relentless gut.

8. Her patience with my father.

7. She always tells me I'm beautiful. Even in the morning.

6. Her fake teeth. She would kill me if she knew I exposed that little secret. Shhh.

5. She saved every piece of school work, artwork, and grade card from preschool through about sixth grade.

4. She always says she doesn't want a gift for mother's day, then says, "But I really do need a new watch."

3. She cries when I cry.

2. Pictures of her when she was in high school. Could've been a model I say.

1. Her heart. See Number 3. 

Microwave Camping.

I have had the urge to go camping recently.  Probably because the weather is getting nicer and giving me the itch.  Since I can't fit a camping trip into my schedule (or my budget), I decided that I could bring the BEST part of camping to my microwave. SMORES!!!   Surprisingly enough...they are almost as delicious in the microwave as they are over the campfire.  I took some photos. Enjoy...and don't salivate on your keyboard. :)

Happy Camping!

Cinco de May-o.

Cinco de Mayo.  Or as I like to say Cinco de May-O. Today the kiddos got to have a celebration with a pinata and all. It was really cute because we were paired up with a class of first graders.  There are about 4 Mexican children in the first grade class.  They all had their little sombreros and Mexican outfits on.  They were singing and dancing to the mariachi music.  It was really nice to let loose and have fun with the kids instead of being their teacher.  I hope I can create more moments like this one in my future classroom.

iPod Schizophrenia.

I have an equal number of Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Dave Matthews Band, and John Mayer songs on my iPod. What does this say about me?

Crap for Sale.

Garage sales are a lot of work. Who knew? We are having one this weekend. I hope to make a little dough off all the crap that is collecting dust in my closet.  Our garage is stuffed full of junk...pictures to come. 

"Junk is the ideal product...the ultimate merchandise. No sales talk necessary.  The client will crawl through a sewer and beg to buy. "  William S. Burroughs.

So true.

A self-esteem booster.

This is Oprah. Without makeup. Enjoy...

This is my school.

The school I am teaching at next year is in the news for a wonderful reason!

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/43489257.html

I am so excited to be teaching at such an environmentally conscious school. Yes. I am a tree hugger.

Happy Earth Day! Do something good for your planet. 

Bubba

Sad news: my pug passed away this morning.  He contracted a very rare disease called Dysautonomia.  There was really nothing the vet could do for him.  I feel very silly getting so upset about a dog...but he was more than a dog.  He was my best friend. Cheesy? Absolutely. He listened when no one else would...he understood me when no one else did...he made me laugh when no one else could. I will miss him more than anything in the world. 

I have a lot of good memories with Bubba. I will cherish those forever. I am at peace.

Endorphins...and a fresh start

First things first...that whole undefined thing was driving me BONKERS!!! I didn't know how to fix it so I just started a new blog (after I deleted my other one).

I just went on the most amazing walk ever. My blood was pumping...my heart was pounding...and MIA was blasting through my iPod.  It was just what I needed after a day of MAP testing. Blahbitty Blah.

Right now I'm wishing life could be a little bit simpler...