Kitty Snuggle Time

I've got Nobby curled up against my side and Mrs. laying across my legs. I was going to get ready for bed but... I guess I could sit here a bit longer...

La-zy

I took 2 naps today. I went back to sleep after dropping AL off at the SAT (9-10:30AM) and then took another nap in the afternoon (3:30-4:30). Sleeping, shopping with a friend, baking, going on a walk, and playing Lego Harry Potter with Nate. Another fantastic Saturday.

Coffee Cake Muffins

I'm baking coffee cake muffins. They are making the house smell amazing!

SAT- Take 2

I'm up before 7 AM on a Saturday to take AL to the SAT. At least we know we have a calculator and pencils this time.

Some Days

I can't think of anything interesting or witty to say.

Weird Dreams

I've been having EXTRA weird dreams lately.  Last night I dreamed that I took a job working at our school system's central office.  If that wasn't weird enough (and believe me, it is), I also dreamed that the building was made out of mattresses.

Too Far?

There are a few 8th grade boys who walk down the hall acting as if they have no bodily control- they jump, spin, dance, jerk, twitch, push, fall down, etc.  Today I said to one of them, "Why do you act like a puppet controlled by an epileptic child?"  Thankfully, he just laughed.

Book Recommendation Email

I received an email this morning from a former student asking for a list of good books to read. She said I always knew just which ones she would like. What a fantastic compliment for a librarian.

Tree-Hugger

I've never felt like such a (literal) tree-hugger. As they cut down the last two nearly 100 year old oak trees on our street, I nearly teared up. They're so beautiful and full of history...

Winter Tricks

It is SO pretty outside (73* and sunny!).  I keep telling myself, "It's a trick.  It's still winter.  It's going to get cold again" but part of me just wants to run outside and scream, "It's spring!"

Hot and Cold

When they kids as me to help them find a book, I usually remind them how the library filing system works (alphabetical order by author's last name for fiction, for example) and then we end up playing an elaborate game of Hot and Cold.  "You're getting warmer, warmer... colder, no, P comes after M, you're too far..."

Cassette Tapes

Thinking about my karaoke machine has gotten me reminiscing about my cassette tapes. Before the age of 10, I had exactly 3 of them: Ace of Base, the Footloose soundtrack, and the Beach Boy's greatest hits. The Beach Boys cassette was my first and favorite until I realized they were not, in fact, boy-band competition for the New Kids on the Block. I felt betrayed by their deceptive album cover in which they looked MUCH younger than they were when I saw them on an episode Full House. Soon after, I acquired a Boyz II Men tape which, now that I've heard it as an adult, was completely inappropriate for an 11 year old...

8th Grade Math

I've spent most of my day covering for 8th grade math as they can't find a sub.  Finding it hard to complain since 1) it's a quiet day in the library and 2) they're learning graphing linear equations which I love teaching.

Famous (sort of)

My daydream of becoming a semi-famous blogger is not the only time I've been smitten with the idea of quasi-stardom.  It all started with my karaoke machine... a Christmas present when I was about 9 years old.  Singing along with my Ace of Base cassette tape, I had big dreams.  Not of being a famous singer, but just of wowing all my classmates at a talent show.  A talent show that never came.  Oh well.  The nice thing about very reasonable aspirations is that 1) you often attain them and 2) when you don't it's not such a huge let-down.

Tornado vs Bathroom Floor

We have a lot of windows in our school.  Because of this, there are very few "safe" places in the hall during a tornado.  Today we're having severe weather warnings and the principal suggested that if we need to, we take the kids in the bathrooms.  As in, get down on your knees in a middle school bathroom with your face just inches from the floor.  I don't know about the kids, but I think I might take my chances with a tornado.

Panda Poet

Nate has me addicted to playing Panda Poet. If you like word games and want to have a few hours of your life sucked away, check it out.

"Boring" Weekend

This has been just another average weekend. What may seem boring (laundry, grocery shopping, walks, naps, movies, reading, crocheting) is actually exactly what I need to get me ready to face another week.

Good-bye Trees

The city has been, for the last year, slowly cutting down each and every one of the huge oak trees that line our street. It's so they don't fall on the houses, which I totally get, but it makes me really sad because I love the trees. They make the neighborhood feel established, distinguished. Maybe I'll go behind them and plant some new ones...

Pizza Tracker

Nate and I are both pretty fascinated by the Pizza Tracker on Domino's website. Somehow knowing "Darian" is putting our pizza in the oven right now makes ordering pizza so much more exciting.

Pavlovian Response

Every day at 11:30, the library assistant washes his hands (there's a sink in my office) and then goes to eat his lunch.  Over the past 4 years, I've developed a Pavlovian response.  When he washes his hands, I start to get hungry (I eat my lunch at noon when he's done).  Today he washed his hands at 11:00, but I'm salivating anyway.

Difficult Start

It's difficult to start off my day with the knowledge that after a full day of school, I'll be helping with play practice until 5:30. It makes me want to take a nap already- and I've only been up for 45 minutes.

Dinner with Todd

My youngest brother Todd was able to join us for dinner tonight. I'm so thankful to have him in LaGrange.

Candy Canes

Found a box of unopened candy canes in my office.  After confirming they are indeed from Christmas 2011, I've been eating one a day.

She Doesn't Like My Cooking But...

AL just told me, "I put blue cheese dressing on that Chinese food and it was really good!"

Winter Bug Bites?

How am I getting bug bites on my legs during the winter?  When I'm wearing pants?