Sally and Jack
This time of year always puts me in a Tim Burton spirit. Yes, this is halloween!
I feel out of character this year, but hopefully I"ll get back into the spitit next year. I might sneak out to the garage for a wig for tonight. It seems the least I can do!
Tonight the plan is to put on some scary movies, ooh and ahh at the kiddies, order take out, and eat lots of candy. Yes, folks, life is good.

I was listening to the radio this morning, and the Lemmonheads came on. I had a flashback to 1993, and I missed my Meepy friend very badly. I love you!

May all your candy be chocolate and may all your costumes stay in place.

A Lesson In Procrastination
Here's a hint: Do not wait until the day before Halloween to try to buy a pumpkin. I felt like the Charlie Brown trying to find the perfect Christmas Tree. I ended up with two disfigured pumpkins covered in gross dirt and some sort of mold. That being said, they were the nicest two left. I'm a little bummed about not being on top of Halloween this year, but I figure this is our year of adjustment. Next year I will surely be up to my tacky ways.
Yesterday I tried to post some pics of Eric and I at the fancy pants auction, but they are not posting. You'll have to use your imagination. In fact, picture me more fabulous than I really was. I like that better anyway.
Be proud: my momma is now the editor of a national TESOL publication, bringing pride to all of North Texas. She rocks.

Glamour
I put the "U" in to account for the extra-snooty fabulousness of the night. We had a nice time hobnobbing and letting the free wine flow. A few pics:
Eric and I in the hotel
A full body shot

And because I finally got Eric to get around to it, a few State Fair pics too.

David and Dana
Top of the Ferris Wheel with my baby
Plotting mischief

Enjoy--I'm off to grab some pancakes with Evangeline.

Tasty Black
There is something about an outfit that fits just right. The kind of outfit that looks made for you. The material that clings and flows in the right places.
Thank you Ann Taylor.
I probably paid way too much, but there are some feelings that trump a price tag. Every girl needs to sparkle.

Bananna
When I asked a student why he was stuffing an entire bananna into his mouth, he responded, "Because I did not have a Twinkie." For once in my life I was completely speachless. I had gone over to yell and ended up laughing my head off.
Tomorrow I have to go to the super fancy Auction/Fundraiser, and I'm turning it into a mini retreat. First of all I have to get a cocktail dress. Secondly I am surprising Eric with a little vacation. I reserved a nice hotel room by the fundraiser. We need a break from the ordinary.
Then again I often think I'm living a far from normal life.

4:30 Missive
What I'm doing up at this hour is a little beyond me, but here I am. I've started grinding my teeth again, and that pain keeps waking me up. Once I'm awake, I begin to brood.
Yesterday was frustrating. (understatement) I worked for 11 hours, and battled traffic to get home to pick up Eric for a dinner party. By the time I got home we were already going to be late, then we got horribly lost. We drove around for another hour. By the time we found the restaurant, we were over an hour late, adn I was too embarrassed to go in. I felt pretty lame. Hopefully they won't hold it against us, and we'll be invited out again.
I'm feeling unnaturally irritated, and I want to find a way not to bring that into work with me today. Teaching is hard enough without coming in upset.
I do know, however, that rarely do two horrible days follow each other. Plus it's Friday (albeit before the crack of dawn), and the Leslie's guys are coming to fix my hot tub. I believe a nice soak might cure all that ails me.

Some Random Song Lyric
Teaching is am emotional roller coaster. At different points today I felt that I could never get through to students, that I should give up, and also that I really was making a difference. There is no middle ground, I guess, when you are dealing with the adolescent mind. In any case, it's never boring.
My principal took us all out for happy hour after work today. It's silly how such a small gesture can mean so much. For the price of two glasses of wine and an appetizer, she won my service and affection. Smart lady.
Sometimes I feel like Charles Dickens, unable to decide whether it's the best or worst of times. I guess it is what is is and defies classification.

I Gave At the Office
Disclaimer: I love my job. I love my students. I love my house. I am typically somewhere near annoyingly happy. I know all this. What follows is the product of a very tired, frustrated, and, at the moment, partially tipsy mind.
I worked 14 hours today at a job that pays very little and rewards even less. I yelled over kids that were not interested in listening to me. I did carpool duty and helped clean crumbs off tabless. I ahve my observation tomorrow, and I am profoundly worried about it. Furthermore my curse continues and I took another picture where my intimate parts are showing. The next picture I take will be with a turtle neck on.
In any case I am very tired, very frustraated andd in general tired of all that is happening around me.
I recognize this as a mood that probably will not last until tomorrow, and that is somewhat helpful. At least I know I am being unreasonable.
What is not unreasonable, however, is purely unfortunate. For some reason today I really miss my granfather. I have no reason to feel this loss tonight, but I do. He is really missed, every day.

Those Infernal Hats!
I spent hours this morning battling my nemesises(?) the myriad acorns that have bombarded the yard and driveway, making it all but impossible to make a stealthy entrance. I have no idea what normal people do to get rid of such pesky things, but Eric and I , being odd, decided to use a blower and a dust pan to gather them up. We then placed the acorns in two huge boxes that now sit on the edge of the driveway. I had hoped that a squirrel would take the acorns for a winter treat, but apparently either all of the squirrels in the hood are retarded, or perhaps Toby's loud barking scares all wildlife away. In any case, after several hours on my hands and knees collecting the tree spawn, I drove up this evening to blissful silence. . . until more fall.
Those of you waiting with baited breath will be relieved to note that the unbeatable Crusaders clobbered the Spartans in a thrilling 28 to 6 victory at homecoming today. I had the distinction of surviving the subsequent spaghetti supper without being mauled to death by maurading students and clumsy parents. There were several close calls.
I must rest up. One never knows where the next call of battle will sound from. Perhaps I will be challenged by a particularly pesky shrub or some ornery berries. One must be ever vigilant.

Life is Fair
Just got back from the State Fair with Dana and David.
My life is complete: I have now eaten fried macaroni and cheese. Yes, you read that correctly. Wow.
Anyway, I'm exhausted and am going to collapse, but the dish was so spectacular that I felt I must share.

Mountain's Majesty
Coming back to Dallas from New Mexico, everything just looks so shabby and ugly. Dallas will never be voted the prettiest city (or even in the top 100), but next to the beauty of Taos and Santa Fe it looks pathetic. The trip was amazing. I am sure I have been in more beautiful places, but I honeslty cannot remember when.
My students were also perfectly behaved, and it was a real bonding experience, especially with my cabin chicas. I even got my butt kicked at dodge ball several times. We were incredibly busy. We flew into Albequerque (?) on Friday morning and immediately went to Bandelier Park which is one of the cooler places I've ever been. As a bonus, the balloon festival was going on, so we saw about 100 hot air balloons in the sky. Anyway, then we drove out to our fort and saw the remains of Pot Creek Pueblo where we got to scavenge for pottery shards from 1300 A.D. Too cool. We also saw Native dancers, did an astronomy activity and had smores.
On Saturday we went on a nature hike, did crafts, toured the incredible Taos Pueblo, shopped at Taos plaza, saw more dancers, and played some killer dodge ball.
Sunday we went to mass with a rockin' Scottish priest. Then we toured the Martinez Hacienda and overlooked the Taos Gorge which is over 800 feet deep. We also did sketches of Taos and Ranchos. We finihsed th evening with a folk dance--I got to dance with all of my students.
Monday we drove to Santa Fe and did a whirl wind guided tour of the city. We spent time in the incredible Georgia O'Keefe Museum, Lorreto Chapel, and the Cathedral as well as the Plaza in the center of town. Afterwards we drove back to Albequerque where we hung out in Old Town before returning home after midnight. I have never been so tired in my life, but everything was eye-opening and breath-taking.
I want to go back when I am not responsible for 50 eighth graders, though.

Rise and Shine
Tomorrow I have to arise at the ungodly hour of 4a.m. in order to get my bootie to the airport and then off to the wilds of New Mexico. I"m running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to pack and also think of all the things my girls will forget and need.
I should have packed earlier, but I went out with Amy and a bunch of her really rad friends. It was the most fun I've had in a long time and proved to me that I"m not a total social loser. Plus the evening involved mojitos which can make any conversation scintillating.
I"m off to Walgreens which exists for lame procrastinators like me.

Wrapped in Plastic
What can I say? Worked hard. Worked out harder. Relaxed like I'm hard core. Just another day in paradise.
I've learned several new things, though.
1. Jimmy Buffet has just released a new cd of covers--he covers his own songs. That's when you know your well of creativity has dried up.
2. No one thinks you're attractive when your sweat drips down to the floor in rivets.
3. I can be prouder of a stuggling student who made an 81 on a test than I am of one who made a 103.
4. Peanut soup is both healthy and delicious yet not Lorraine friendly.

Professional 10
Someone should stop the presses, but I actually found our inservice day helpful and enjoyable (except for lunch where they offered mayonaisey pasta salad and mayonaisey chicken sald which I dont' eat plus crackers--that was all). It was also cool because I not only ran into this guy I knew from St. Mary's, but I also saw my old high school computer teacher who is now at one of the other school's in the Diocese.
I went to a session I am particularly excited about on digital story telling--the computer teacher and I went together and are planning to have the students do some movies and storytelling. I'm excited about the prospect.
Eric and I hit the gym tonight, and after a few days of staying stationary, I've shed another few pounds putting my grand total up to 11 pounds lost. I am now thinner than I have been since my sophomore year of high school and down a grand total of 67 pounds from my very heaviest point. I'm often very hard on myself, but at the moment I feel pretty proud that I have pulled myself up by my butt and gotten something accomplished. Tomorrow I'll go back to critical, but tonight I feel empowered. It gives me the incentive to hit the gym tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after and the strength to eat the salad when the macaroni and cheese looks really good.
Anyway, enough of the self-congratulatory nonsense.
I also learned something new today:
The best way to get a bandaid to stick on your finger is to snip the ends on both sides, and then wrap the four individual strands around each other. It will stay on all day through many hand washings.

Who said this wasn't an educational website?

Hobby
I really need a hobby. I have become either completely wrapped up in work or in being with Eric, and when I am left alone without anything to work on, I simply do not know what to do with myself. Now, how sad is that?
Today instead of teaching, I have to drive up to Plano for some sort of conference for the Diocese of Dallas. I would so much rather teach than listen to people tell me how to teach, but perhaps I will be pleasantly suprised. Stranger things have happened. I think it's supposed to make us feel good about being Catholic school teachers. I personally think a check would make me feel sufficiently good!
I learned a few things this weekend:
1) Tennessee Williams died by choking on a bottle cap.
2) There are enough Indians in Dallas to fill Texas Stadium.
3) There are over 500,000 metric tons of tea in China
4) Never buy an angelfood cake from Tom Thumb
5) British people really love their cream on stuff.

A very educational weekend, indeed.

Slim Fit
Just bought a new pair of jeans which is always a ridiculous process. After trying several stores where the legs all came down three inches past my feet, I found a store that still had a petite section. It's amazing how the right pair of jeans can make you feel cuter by a factor of 10. And how the wrong fit can make you feel like the tubbiest person in the universe. Why my self-esteem should be tied up in denim and stiching I probably should investigate. Anyway I'm feeling cute and spunky and ready for a day on the town.
I shall start by making the tabouli I just bought. Yum

A Matter of Time
As I was dirving home from a lovely morning trip to the gym and grocery store, sipping my fat free latte and loving life, I was composing a blog entry about the joy of a perfect Saturday morning in my head. All of that was shattered when I arrived at my house to find several notes taped on our front gate.
I knew that eventaully Toby would earn us enemies, and the day has finally come. Two different neighbors apparently came by to complain that Toby had been yapping non-stop for hours, waking entire households. I don't know what to do about this frickin' dog. I am completely out of ideas. From now on every time I leave the house, he is going in his crate. I am going to talk seriously to Eric about sending him away. This is ridiculous. I will not be the destroyer of a peaceful neighborhood, nor will I be the scapegoat for Eric's damn pooch. I might put my gym clothes back on, take his collar off and go on a long walk without a leash.

I really had been in a tremendous mood despite all sorts of work and personal craziness. I was at work until after 6 last night. ick. Eric is actually at work this morning--Critical Design Review is coming up, and the tank needs more work. I'm still unclear on what he does besides go to meetings all day. It makes me grateful not to be in the corporate world. At least I can see that I'm doing something even when it's frustrating. I actually got a compliment from a student who told me he was actually learning something this year for the first time in a few years.

I am gearing up for the big Taos field trip at the end of the week--we leave Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. and return MOnday evening at midnight or something ridiculous. I'd better enjoy this weekend since I will be working for 12 days straight starting Monday. I'm looking forward to the trip, though. We're going to see Albequerque (?), Santa Fe, Taos, Bandera National Park, and countless historical sights. It will be fun to share this experience with my kiddos. Cabin Two, Represent! Anyway I know I'm going somewhere when I have my cute little Aveda minis packed up. (Under 3 ounces, I swear!)

Today we're seeing a play with mom and dad, then I having girl's night with Jen and Vange after stopping by the Indian festival at Texas Stadium. No rest for the over worked.

Exit Light
Are you ever too old to blast some old school Metallica across the backyard, vibrating the house? I think not.
We've been acting like a bunch of idiots, humming and singing 90s metal music all night. Yeah. . . we're that lame. Sad but true.
Today I lost my patience with one of my classes, and we had one of those "come to Jesus" meetings which is that much more effective because I could really lay in the good old Catholic guilt. I laid it on pretty thick. I feel bad about losing my cool, but I can only be pushed for so long before I snap pretty horrifically. Teaching is often a battle. Perahps a cross country race would be a more apt analogy. In any case, my patience desrted me today. I'll have to make it up to them tomorrow. I often find I never have two bad teaching days in a row. To do the job properly oneis often called to be super human, and I left my teflon coated cape at home today. No super suit for me.
Two things await me: "Enter Sandman" and the Sandman himself.

Saloon
It's so much more fun to say I've been to the hair saloon, but in truth, I just came back from the lovely Bobby at Aveda. I love when a good hair cut can make you feel classy and sophisticated. I'm making my man take me out to dinner because this hair is too faboo to waste sitting around on the couch.
I have papers to grade tonight, but I'm feeling too much like a prima dona to begin now. My endless stack has dwindled to a mere 33 left to go. Somehow when I say it that way, it's far less comforting.
There are a bunch of students out with strep which is making me paranoid every time I feel the slightest tickle in my throat. I don't have time for misery. Nor do I have time for this.

Loco y Largo
It's been a long crazy day, ordinarily I would collapse and devote the evening to CSI repeats (and the awesome Studio 60), but I have papers to grade and the day isn't over yet. Grading has definately lost its charm.
Despite my exhaustion, the day was productive. Any day that you get to do what you love, work out until you gain clarity, and then return home to the man you love really isn't that crazy.
I can watch CSI and grade papers, right?

Irony
I just chastised my sister for spending too much time at work while I was correcting papers at home. That's not right!
Now I'm sitting down to write lesson plans.
How much of a hypocrite am I?

Reunited
Well. . . I'm officially old and have been to my 10 year reunion. It was interesting. I liked seeing some of the people, but the whole thing had an air of insincerity. There were only so many times that I could smile, ask what someone is doing, then tell them the same story about my life that I have been telling everyone else. I felt a little worn out by the end. Still, there were a few people there that I am so glad I saw. I gave a bunch of contact info out; I hope that a few of them actually get in touch. Overall this was a pretty positive experience, but I am glad it is over. Honestly it's easier for me to meet new people than to try to hang out with people I already wasn't friends with.
The one really positive thing about this experience was that two different people thanked me for times I helped them with their writing or studying back in high school. It made me feel even more positive about the career path I have chosen.

Yesterday Eric and I finally went bike riding. I wish I could bottle the feeling of coasting down a hill with the wind cooling the sweat on my face. Beautiful.

I'm ready to move beyond remembering and into living again.