Living it Up

I know it's 8:00 and I know it's my Spring Break, but I'm already showered and ready for bed.

National Poetry Month

Since tomorrow is April, I went ahead and set up the poetry display in the library.  Also, I have a student helping me put poems up in all the bathroom stalls!

Medicated

I've taken a Claratin and a Chlor-tab, used Flo-Nase, and finally took a Benadryl.  Feeling none of the relief, but all of the drowsiness.

Allergies

My lips itch.  The roof of my mouth itches.  My throat is raw.  My nose is runny.  I hate, hate, hate allergy season.

The Best Thing About Today...

It's almost tomorrow.  Spring Break!

Birthday Present

Want to know the best present Nate got me? He's not making fun of me for watching (and quoting) Baby Mama for the 100th time.

Birthday

I know it's my birthday, but it doesn't feel like it.  Nate and I are jointly celebrating our birthdays on both Friday and Saturday so today kind of just feels like any other day.

Polling Station

Today I've turned the media center into a polling station, complete with "No Campaigning Beyond This Point" signs.  We're voting for the Georgia Picture Book Award and 3rd grade is pretty excited.

Go Away

I wish this rain would go away.  I'm ready to get back outside and garden!

Haircut Decisions

I made an appointment to get my hair cut on Friday. Now I just need to figure out whether I want it more like this

Or like this

Opinions needed.

It's cold outside

Tonight is our school's big fine arts festival.  It's supposed to be outside on the downtown square.  It would have been much more fun if the weather wasn't so dreary and cold.

Thin Mint Ice Cream

Bruster's Thin Mint ice cream makes this day all better.

Crazy-horribe-sucky

I cannot begin to tell you how crazy-horrible-sucky this day has been.

Would You Rather

One of my behaviorally challenged students just told me she's rather be in ISS every morning than come to the media center.  At this moment, I think I'd prefer that too.

Faith Discussion

We had an amazing meal and discussion with some friends tonight. We talked about suffering in the world and it was absolutely enlightening.

Brick House

We were able to have an early birthday lunch with my parents at the Brick House. Food was good and the company was even better.

Mom & Dad!

My parents are here!

Gardening!

We've spent the last 4 and a half hours in the empty lot behind our house. We tilled, raked, pulled out hundreds of rocks and weeds and we now (thanks to some AMAZING neighbors- some of whom are not even sharing this garden with us) have 3 raised beds- one of which is already planted. It was hard work and we still have plenty to do, but this has been a really productive and educational afternoon!

Pollen Cat

Nobby just came into the house with a huge yellow streak down the side of his black body.

Body Snatchers

I'm pretty sure Nate was abducted and replaced with an alien look-alike. For the past few weeks, my husband has been getting up at 7 AM and running. Nate. Voluntarily getting up at sunrise. Running. Even on Saturday. Who is this man?

Paul

We went to see the movie Paul tonight and it was really enjoyable. Not my favorite Simon Peg/Nick Frost movie, but Nate says that's probably because there were a bunch of sci-fi references I didn't get.

Garden Update

Check out how much my zucchini and cucumbers have grown! Good thing we're starting on the garden tomorrow!

Eggsplosion!

I know it's only 3:00, but I'm already thinking about dinner.  I'm making Grilled Cheese Eggsplosions!

The Numbers

I have lots of things to look forward to in the next few months.  Let's do the numbers.  1 day until I see my Mom and Dad, 4 more school days until Spring Break, 9 days until we fly to Colorado, 26 days until we go camping at Jekyll Island, and just 30 more days of school!  Plus I think Nate and I have birthdays in there somewhere...

Haircut

I am in desperate need of a haircut, but I think it'll still be another week before I have time to get one. Hopefully I can go that long without buzzing it off myself.

Drill Sergeant

I've spent a good part of my day with some of our "behaviorally challenged" students who were in "time out" in the media center. I think the experience has allowed me to tap into some dormant inner drill sergeant. Now if only we could run middle schools more like boot camps...

Serious Eats

I can't get enough of this website.  I want to go home and try out some of these recipes now!

Not Breathing

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and was convinced that Nate was not breathing.  I put my hand on his chest.  I couldn't feel it's rise and fall, so I shook him to make sure he wasn't dead.  He woke up and was really pissed.  I'm glad he's not dead, but I feel really bad for waking him up.

Salisbury Steak

Dinner tonight will be Salisbury steak (new recipe), mashed potatoes, corn, and apple crisp for dessert!

So Last Year

This morning on the news we had a new feature- 2 of our 8th graders played fashion police.  Their tag line after every fashion don't(which were mostly dress code violations) was "So last year."  Apparently it was a hit because I've hear the line repeated about 30 times today.

Windows Open

We slept with the windows open last night and it was wonderful.

Riding a Bear

Today, I've given far too many, "Do that one more time and you have detention... forever!" speeches.  So when I caught an 8th grader pretending to ride my big stuffed bear around the library, I finally lost it.  Everyone in the library feared my wrath because they knew that all of my patience for the day had been used up.  I am looking forward to a walk home in the sunshine and some yoga tonight so I can come back and do it all over tomorrow.

Drain on Society

Sometimes, when I see our middle school students, I think, "Here are our future welfare recipients and prison inmates."  It makes me sad for them and sad for our society.

You Know You're a Librarian When...

a box of new books makes your day even when you know it'll means hours of work to process them.

Thanks, Kei$ha

I just heard several 3rd grade girls singing about brushing their teeth with a bottle of Jack.

I Knew This Day Would Come

My principal is challenging a library book.  Good thing we have procedures in place for this.

Golf

This weekend, we played a lot of the card game Golf and I learned 2 things: I do very well at games of chance and Nate does not.

Cut

I was chopping onions for salsa.  The knife slipped.  Now I have a gash in my left index finger.  Ouch.  At least I know the homemade salsa and carnitas we're having for dinner will help ease my pain.

Library Theme

Today I've started thinking about next year's library theme.  What do you think about the slogan "Reading is Super" with a superhero theme?  Check out these bookmarks/posters.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Thoughts

We're heading to Livingston, AL this afternoon to spend the weekend with Dan and G!

My Afternoon & Evening

This is my plan:

• Walk home and enjoy the sunshine.
• Talk with a neighbor about gardening.
• Make Thai Broccoli and Noodles for dinner.
• Go to GED tutoring.
• Stay for part of Bible Study.
• Stay up late enough to watch 30 Rock and Parks and Rec with Nate.

Farmer Boy

Today I have the opportunity to model for some 6th grade students sustained silent reading (if I sit by the students and read, they are more likely to actually read instead of staring into space).  I'm reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder and really enjoying it.  I think I might just re-read the entire Little House series this summer.

Social

Last night Nate convinced me to go to trivia instead of putting my pajamas on at 7:00 and watching Glee.  I had fun.  I'm glad he makes me be social sometimes.

So Tired

I am completely exhausted for no apparent reason.  I need a NAP ASAP.

Funeral

A teacher friend of mine recently went to a funeral.  Today she said to me, "You know how at a funeral..." and I had to stop her.  I've only been to one funeral in my whole life.  It was for my great-grandmother and I was 9.  I don't know anything about death or loss or funerals.  And while I am thankful for this, I worry.  Will the death of a loved one be all the more painful since I have never experienced it before?

2 Week Notice

Thanks to the date due cards I stamp every morning, I now know that my birthday is 2 weeks from today.

NPR Dad

My dad just emailed to say he enjoys listening to NPR.  It made my day.

New Baby!

My friend Laura had her baby today! He's the first baby of my college girls (aka "the nine") and we are all so excited!

Value

How do you give something value?  How can you make something more valuable?  How can we make education something that is valued by more students and parents in the public school system?

New Snack

My new morning snack: grapefruit juice and Quaker Oat Squares cereal.

Sweet Smelling Flowers

On our walk I picked some of the AMAZING smelling little daffodils that grow in the empty lot behind our house.

The Upside

The upside to daylight savings time: it's 7:00 and there's still plenty of sunshine for a post-dinner walk with Nate.

Website

I've spent most of the morning adding information to our new school website.  I am not particularly good at this.

Kids Are Weird

A 3rd grader just tried to crawl out of the library (so as not to be seen as he crawled past my office) because he said he couldn't find a good book.

Remedial Morning Class

This morning I got my new remedial class.  These 4 6th graders are supposed to be working on a music-related research project.  In reality, it will be a daily battle of wills.  Who can be more stubborn?  Who can make the other more miserable?  It's probably bad how much I want to win.

Time Change

Daylight Savings Time didn't bother me until today when I got into work and all the clocks said 6:05 AM.

Chicken Tamale Casserole

We had this a few weeks ago with our friends Roger and Rachel and it was so good, I could hardly wait to make it again! Here's the recipe for my new dish of the week:

Chicken Tamale Casserole

Ingredients
* 1 cup shredded cheese, divided
* 1/3 cup fat-free milk
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
* 1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
* 1 (8.5-ounce) box corn muffin mix
* 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
* 1 (10-ounce) can red enchilada sauce
* 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Combine 1/4 cup cheese and next 7 ingredients (through chiles) in a large bowl, stirring just until moist. Pour mixture into a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
3. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until set. Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork; pour enchilada sauce over top. Top with chicken; sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes.
   

Soccer, Sun, and Crocheting

Off to watch some neighbors play soccer while I crochet in the sun.

Sunday Afternoon

I made pizza for lunch, washed the cars, baked some cinnamon bread, and got the guest bedroom for Andrew and Amber who will be here tonight!

PJ Day

We just got FREE ice cream from Bruster's just for wearing our PJs! Ice cream and pajamas- 2 of my favorite things!

Grow!

The vegetable seeds have started to grow! I'm ready for spring!

Oh, Internet

How is it possible that I get porn when I Google images for the phrase "crochet bunny pattern"?

Cookie Time

My crazy school day is over. Time to relax a bit and then bake some cookies for a get-together this evening.

AR Celebrations

Today the 4th grade is having a pancake party, the 3rd grade is having a snake show, the 5th graders are playing kickball, and the 7th and 8th graders are getting sugared up on the playground.  I am going to be very tired tonight.

Decisions, Decisions

What should I do after GED tutoring? Go to trivia and hang out with friends or watch Glee at home and go to bed early? I'm pretty sure this decision should not be as difficult as I am finding it.

Stress Reliever

A cute little 3rd grade girl asked me if I would crochet with her during her recess.  Quietly crocheting in the library with an sweet child is a great stress reliever.

PO Saga: The Conclusion

I get to school early and get the correct account number.  I race to Wal-Mart since I need to be back at school by 7:45.  And just as I check out I get a phone call.  It's the teacher who's AR celebration is today... she wants to reschedule it for next week.  So I didn't need this stuff today after all.

Seoul Garden

Nate saves the evening by suggesting we go out to Seoul Garden for dinner with some friends. Thank goodness, because I was just going to eat cookie dough for dinner.

PO Saga: Part 2

I was leaving the school, despondent about not having the signature I needed, and there in the distance- my principal! She signed it and I skipped off to Wal-Mart. Imagine me now, checking out 14 cases of Coke, 6 bags of candy, and 4 giant boxes of pancake mix. I hand over the PO and... I have the wrong account number. There's nothing I can do but leave my cart and try to come back first thing in the morning.

Oh No

It's 5:50.  I'm finally ready to leave school.  I grab my purchase order (to buy all the party supplies) and I realize... I forgot to get the PO signed.  Crap.  Crap.  Crap.

Extra Long

Today is going to be extra long.  Not only has it been really busy all day (end of the grading period) but after school I have beginner's Crochet Club followed by a trip to Wal-Mart to purchase all the supplies for Thursday and Friday's AR Celebrations.

Weather

The rain is pelting the roof.  The wind is whipping around.  It makes me wish I was at home, curled up in a blanket, with a cup of coffee.

Pizza

It's time for detention.  At least I have trivia and pizza to look forward to this evening.

Busted

I took up a student's cell phone.  She was calling her mom.  She cried, but I didn't cave.  I sent it to the office for her mom to pick it up.  Then, not an hour later, my mom calls.  I rush to answer- something might be wrong.  And who walks in but that same student.  And she sees me- on the phone with my mom.  I'm so busted.  I'm so giving that cell back.

5:00

If I call you and tell you your child has detention and it's over at 5:00 and then your child asks me what time detention is over and I tell them 5:00, WHY do you need to call me and ask what time detention is over?

10 PM

What? It's already 10:00? Why am I not in bed?

Cookie Dough

About to sit down on my couch, watch some tv, and eat some cookie dough. Gotta enjoy it while I can- the rest of this week is going to be busy!

Couch Potato

Nate and I spent most of the weekend on the couch.  By Sunday night I was thinking, "I am so tired of watching tv."  But here I am, at work, wishing I was back on that couch watching tv with Nate.

Ugly Betty

I'm officially crazy about this show. Just finished the first season. It's my guilty pleasure.

Give a Little

I love this song. I love this music video. Apparently, I love Hanson.

New Favorite Movie

I'm watching Baby Mama for probably the sixth time. It's still funny.

Bust

The Oyster Roast was a total bust. We couldn't find the place, the event was outdoors, it was rainy and muddy, we didn't know anyone, and the tents were crowded. We're just thankful it was free and that we had leftovers in the fridge!

Oyster Roast

Thanks to some friends, Nate and I find ourselves with tickets to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Oyster Roast at the country club tonight.

Brunch Date

My sister and brother-in-law are here for a few hours! I'm making waffles!

Census Maps

This website is cool and can tell you a lot about your city and neighborhood.

Restless

I woke up at 5:30 AM. Laid in bed until 6 and then just got up. I know I'm going to be exhausted this afternoon, why can't I sleep?

Date Night

I made beef stroganoff for dinner and then we're going to watch Eclipse.

Walk Home

I decided I need to wash this face paint off before I go home- especially since I'm walking home today.  There is no need to subject myself to finger-pointing and laughing outside the school building.

Best Compliment

The best compliment I received today:  I like your face.

Does it matter that she meant she liked my facepaint?  No, she likes me face.

The Hide-and-Seek Effect

You know how when you're playing Hide-and-Seek, you suddenly have to pee?  Well, it's the same when you have your face painted except instead of needing to pee, your nose and eyes start to itch.  You only have to because you can't.

Budget Highlights

We just got the school system's new budget proposal.  Highlights:  move back to 180 calendar and no furlough days!

Picture as Promised

This is not an attractive look for me.

KISS

This morning I had the art teacher paint my face.  It's like the KISS member with the star make-up, not sure which one that is.  I think I should earn some extra "awesome teacher" points with this.  I'll try to take a picture later.

Surprise Sub

Our friends Chris and Jonathan must have telepathically known what a rough day I've been having. They brought me a Jersey Mike's sub for dinner which I was able to wolf down before running to tutoring. It was delicious and made me feel better.

This sucks

I still have 5 parents to call and then a meeting.  I can't wait for this sucky day to be over.

End of the Quarter

It's almost the end of the marking period, so you know what that means... AR CHEATING!  Guess who just got to spend the last hour interviewing students and making them cry?

Easter Candy!

I had to make a quick run to the Dollar Store before lunch to pick up suckers (one class really impressed me yesterday with their library behavior).  Anyway, while I was there I saw these.  Sour Patch Jelly Beans.  I'm in love.

Prospective Parents

We have our meetings today for prospective parents today. Thankfully, I don't have to lead it alone this year. One down, one more to go at 5:00 tonight!

Another New Dinner

Cheesy Tortilla Skillet
Verdict: Took forever (over an hour!) to make. Since I made it, I didn't like it (not worth the effort). Since Nate just got to eat it, he thought it was good. Tasted pretty much like a quesadilla.

Bedroom Greenhouse

I've spent the last hour turning my bedroom into a greenhouse. I've potted a bunch of the vegetable seeds and then put them in our room because it's sunny and free of cats. In a few weeks, we should have little seedlings to put in the garden!

COLORADO!

Thanks to my amazing friends Bisa and Ryan, Nate and I are offically going to Colorado for Spring Break!

Scholastic

The Scholastic book company is freaking amazing.  They make book fairs so easy.  Pack-up?  Just throw it in ANY box.  The drawer is off?  That's fine, we know a volunteer probably just scanned something wrong.  Financial report?  Print it out and answer 4 questions.  And the profit... taken in "Scholastic Dollars" I earned 60% of our sales- $1,800 to spend on books for the library!

Birth-Month

It's March and I got this sweet (literally) package in my box today!  Apple turnovers from a local shop!

Yoga Fart

I farted (audibly) during yoga. And of course, the only way to combat the embarrassment is to blog about it.

Cashew Chicken

New recipe of the week: Cashew Chicken.
Verdict: I liked it, Nate thought it was just ok. At least it was easy.

Defiant

My afternoon detention was horrible. First I had to get her off the bus, then she refused to write her essay or lines, and finally I got to end the hour with a conference with her mom and the principal. Exactly how I wanted to spend my afternoon.

Fear of Flashing

Whenever I come out of the bathroom, I have a sudden pang of panic- Is my skirt is somehow tucked into my underwear?  It just happened that once- and I only made it out of the stall into the empty restroom- but now I check it complusively.  Maybe I should just wear pants.

Enthusiasm

I am having trouble mustering up the same enthusiasm for Tuesdays as I found for Mondays. I guess the best I can say is I'm looking forward to trying a new recipe tonight (Cashew Chicken) and yoga. But first I have to get through school and an hour of detention.