New
There will, of course, be a massive update complete with photos of our voyage later. For now my eyelids are fighting to stay open (there was massive partying at the hotel last night and I was awakened hours before our 4am wake up call) and we're still waiting for Eric's bag, the one with the camera, to be delivered.
Thus with those obstacles I shall cut right to the point.
The trip was incredible, almost renewing which I suppose is the point of such a New Year voyage. I awakened last New Year's day thinking I really wanted a change in my life. I go to bed on this New Year's Eve knowing I am where I am supposed to be.
And now, without further ado, I will lamely go to bed at 9 p.m. on the biggest party night of the year. I said I was happy, I never said I was cool.

Blame Canada
Come tomorrow we'll be copying Peter, Paul, and Mary and will be leaving on a jet plane bound for the great white north. Hosers beware!
I am so excited about this trip although slightly less excited about our preternaturally early depature time. Small pains.
I've purchased boots, colorful pink hats, a ridiculous scarf and am in general ready for anything.

Be good.

And To All a Good Day. . .
In the spirit of the season, Eric and I have planned the perfect Christmas Eve.
We got up, made coffee with cream liquor and scones and have devoted the day to watching Christmas movies. We've already seen Nightmare Before Christmas and are currently in the middle of Christmas Vacation. We will not rest until we've devoured Elf and A Chirstmas Story. I tripple dog dare you to tear us away.
Tonight is the extravaganza with my family complete with carols, lasagna, tea, champagne, midnight candlelit services and general merriment.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Abandon Ft. Worth
I spent my morning going to Ft. Worth because Eric needed to pick up some high tech maps . The reason he did so is terrifying.
He came home yesterday with a big boyish grin on his face and announced that they are teaching him how to operate the tank.
Be afraid, be very afraid.

In a less frightening bit of news, the hot tub makes the world good.

Bubbly
Whoot!
The hot tub is fixed. Let my life of champagne and plush robes begin.
Also I got my old shell collection, and I've placed the shells in strategic locations in the yard, on the fence and in the plants. It's kind a start on my new grotto-esque project.
Also, I'm not sure that I've mentioned it before, but here is my uber-geeky New Year's resolution:
Eric is buying me a huge 120,000 entry dictionary with word origins,ect, and I pledge to read a learn a page a day. It will take me years, but I"m jazzed. I take my inspiration from A.J. Jacobs. I will be posting on my progress from time to time. Yes, I am that starved for intellectual growth. Actually part of my problem has been assuaged by my new book club: Well Read Women of Dallas. Yay books (and wine)!

Vacation Part One
I think the reason vacations are so good is that by the time they finally come you're so tired and fed up that it seems even better. So far in my first hours of vacation:
1. I slept until just before 8 am which is quasi-miraculous for me.
2. I drank coffee in a real cup, not a travel mug like usual.
3. I had strips of soy bacon with breakfast, yummy!
4. Went to the gym for a nice workout. It's so much better to go when I am not already completely exhausted.
5. Had a leisurely shopping trip at Central Market and bought lots of yummies for dinner with my parents tonight: veggie chili stir fry with garlic pasta, blood orange and goat cheese salad, 10 grain bread, and fresh mozzarella, champagne and blood orange juice. Hurrah!
6. Came home to 8 pool guys working on our hot tub. They are determined to fix it by end of day.
7. I am about to sit down to my freshly made pimento cheese sandwich and dried veggie chips with a crisp and bubbling diet coke.
Yes, folks, life is good. Plus at the gym I weighed myself and I am sitting just 1 pound away from my goal weight!

All of this makes me further realize how blessed I am.

You Know You're On Vacation When. . .
You are lounging in the middle of the day watching World's Best Bathrooms on the Travel Channel. I am also supervising a neighborhood boy who just came over wanting to rake our yard. Who was I to argue? He's a cute kid.
I did have a scare this afternoon, though. I could not figure out where Clem was when I got home because I thought we had left her inside. Anyway I called and called, but no Clementine. I kept hearing pathetic meowing, but despiteopening every cabinet, I coulnd't find her anywhere. After searching for several hours, I was upstairs in my closet, and I heard the meowing evenn more clearly. She had been traped in Eric's closet all day! She is quite traumatized.
Tomorrow will be my day of relaxation. I am looking forward to spending a day alone, sipping coffee, doing a crossword, baking scones, and enjoying a good book. Of course I'd better enjoy it now because within a couple of days I'll be bored out of my mind.
5 days till Christmas!
7 days till Montreal!

Professional
People say that the real reason to be a teacher is June, July and August, but I disagree. The best part is Christmas. In addition to the Italian and Belgian chocolates, $400 cash, $50 gift certificates, I received the best present today. One of my students created business cards for me and wrote me a letter about how hard I work, saying I deserve to look like a real profesional. It was too sweet. I take it back. The best part is not Christmas but the notes that come with the presents. I maynot mkae very uch money, but every day people tell me they love me. What more could you ask for?

Santa Baby
I've had a tremendously yule-filled weekend, the big man himself making numerous appearances.
On Saturday night, we weere hanging at Lee Harvey's when all of a sudden three school buses appeared and out hopped 100 people dressed as Santa. There were pimp santas, classic santas, bah humbug santas, santa ho-s, cowboy santas, and several glitter covered elves. One of the santas even gave me a lump of coal! (Although another made up for it and gave us all peppermints) It was the most outstanding thing I've ever seen. They call it Santa Rampage. I'm so in next year. In fact we liked the idea so much that Jay and Todd came up with the plan of all getting bunny suits and hitting the town. Pictures to follow.
Today we spent the morning at mom and dad's church where the choir performed John Rutter's Magnificat. It was truly impressive. They had 120 voices and a small orchestra. A truly beautiful piece of music.
This afternoon I continued my Santa fixation with tickets to see David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries which was too funny. Next time I get truly frustrated with my students, I will try to remember that it beats being a department store elf. Yes, any day I do not have to clean pee off Santa's lap is a good day.
Ho Ho Ho.

Well-Travelled
I took all 105 exams on an exciting ride from Dallas to Grapevine this evening, and then decided they had all had enough excitement for one evening. I left them in my car.
Life is too short to correct papers all evening.

I am Inspired,and I Insipire

The above is the title of one of my student's papers about her heroes and who makes her what she is today. I like the line because it seems to suit my mood today.

Although there was craziness today and I had to stay until 6 grading papers, I had one of those rare days when I felt I had a true purpose and calling. First of all someone slipped me a secret note saying I was the best teacher she had ever had. Then while I was grading "hero" papers, I had two that said I insipired them. That, however, as nice as it was, was not what made my day. The truly wonderful part was that while I was gradding thier papers, I could see that I had actually made a difference in thier writing. Seeing that I'd taught them how to write made all of the days of banging my head against the desk worth it.

In addition, I was inspired today. Someone sent me a Power Point on Mother Teresa, and I was once again in awe by both her actions and philosophy. "In this life we can not do great things, only small things with great love." Perhaps if I teach one writing skill with great love I'm doing okay after all.

Kozy Shack
After only a day anda half of being on solid food, I am back to the rice pudding and ginger ale diet. Suckiness.
I've also been reduced to watching Lifetime movies. This is not right. I think I gave that up that right when I earned my master's degree.
I can't turn away.

There's other nonsense, but Christmas Wedding is calling me. Sad, no?

Solid Food
I am truly gratful for many things in my life, but today I am particularly thankful to be back on solid, if bland, foods. Hurray. I am especially glad to be able to eat the yummie veggie snacks I bought at the newly opened Central Market by our house.
We're in the holiday spirit, wrapping prezzies and listening to Christmas music--might even do a fire later to complete the effect (and make up for the fact that I don't let Eric keep the house above 65 degrees.) I take the oddest ways to be frugal--I blame my Minnesotan father whose response to my complaints was to put on more clothing. Eric and I have invested in a lot of fleece and polar tek clothing and blankets.

Another Friday Night
Instead of hanging out at a fantastic girlie slumber party, I'm spending the night vomiting and lying on the couch watching a CSI marathon. Hurrah.
I had a conference after school with a student who'd been out since Monday with the stomach flu. Darn you, Caroline!

Lovely Regina
Yes, indeed, things do get better.
I have often found you never have two truly horrid days in a row. You might have two moderately crappy days in a row, but rarely two unspeakably awful ones.
A student bought me a stuffed bee because I call myself the "Queen Bee." It's strange how a $3 gesture can make the rest of the day worthwhile. Which makes me think we should all do a lot more $3 gestures.

Not Ready to Make Nice
I should really never have two days of stuff to write about, because my days are often seasons of mood--never the same for very long. I wouldn't report at all about yesterday exvept that it was so cool. We finally went to see the Dixie Chicks (it was my mom's birthday present that got delayed for several months). The show was amazing. Their musicianship rocked my world. For a few moments as they jammed and the voices blended perfectly I felt lifted away from myself. I remembered why I listen to music in the first place. Parts were transformative. I was almost glad they got in that whole publicity mess because the people who showed up were those who really appreciated them not only as musicians but people. Sometimes courage is refusing to disappear when everyone expects you too.
Today was difficult. I am not even going to go into it because it does not matter. Perhaps courage is sucking it up when necessary, returning to work when you think no one gives a damn, not bitching and moaning when you really want to, and doing your job even when you feel like no one notices. So I'll drink some wine, go to bed early. Shut up and sing.

Not Ready to Make Nice
I should really never have two days of stuff to write about, because my days are often seasons of mood--never the same for very long. I wouldn't report at all about yesterday exvept that it was so cool. We finally went to see the Dixie Chicks (it was my mom's birthday present that got delayed for several months). The show was amazing. Their musicianship rocked my world. For a few moments as they jammed and the voices blended perfectly I felt lifted away from myself. I remembered why I listen to music in the first place. Parts were transformative. I was almost glad they got in that whole publicity mess because the people who showed up were those who really appreciated them not only as musicians but people. Sometimes courage is refusing to disappear when everyone expects you too.
Today was difficult. I am not even going to go into it because it does not matter. Perhaps courage is sucking it up when necessary, returning to work when you think no one gives a damn, not bitching and moaning when you really want to, and doing your job even when you feel like no one notices. So I'll drink some wine, go to bed early. Shut up and sing.

Camel
This is what I put up with today:
A student spit on another boy's backpack
One student tried to convince me that he deserved to be a "magi"
A boy continually yelped "I"m not a real boy" at me
Three binders exploded in my classroom
My scarf was the subject of intense fashion debate
Someone tried to convince me that Van Helsing is the best movie made

On the up side:
A lovely girl gave me fudge
One boy said he learned more in my 5 minute lecture on commas than he did last year
The spitters came after class to apologize

Most importantly:
It is only Monday once per week.

Never boring.

Trip the Light Fantastic
Eric and I have transformed the house this weekend into some sort of tv special Christmas house. We have a giant 9 foot tree that makes the entire house glow, garlands coming down the stairwell, a Christmas table settling, wreathes, and beautiful wall-hangings my mother made for us. Looking around makes me feel happy. This is the first year since we've been together that we've really gone all out to make the house special for the holidays. Perhaps this is because it's our house. I used to not care all that much because we were just going to be at our respective families' houses anyway, but now we have a place to call our own. Anyway, all of it is silly but purely lovely. Come see us! I'll put on the coco if you bring the rum.
I'm in such spirit I'm even contemplating baking just for the smell it gives the house.