Thanks.

Blogger FAIL.  I'd like to work my way back into blogging again, so here it is... my list* of things for which I am thankful:

- My job and the paycheck attached to it

- Harriet, my Versa

- Tea

- Pint nights at the Libertine (with the exception of a couple of nights)
- New boots
- Adele's 21 album
- Amazon.com and the 100 albums for $5 each

- DVR

- Rent-free living

- New muffin pan
- Skype calls
- Treadmills
- Laptop table
- Musical note socks
- Air conditioning
- Inside jokes
- Classroom technology

- Commissioned paintings

- Taking risks
- Health
- Pedicures
- Chapstick
- Fuzzy slippers
- iPhone (when it works)
- John Frieda hair products (helping tame beastly hair, one wash at a time)
- Holding hands and high fives!
- Baylor University
- Lengthy emails with friends
- Snail mail with friends
- Broken French skills
- Cameras and pictures


and of course: family, friends, food, laughter, and a growing spiritual relationship/understanding with God. 

Thanks for LOVE.

*This list is subject to change as I remember more and more things for which I am thankful.  Let's be honest, there are many reasons to be thankful. ;-)

Spring Things

I’d like to start by requesting that we all pray. Pockets of turmoil and strife are occurring worldwide. So, specifically pray from Japan, Libya, and the Texas education system.

Here’s hoping that next year I’ll still have my job. I rather not say much more about it because it makes me a bit angry. Get it together, Texas legislature.

Luckily, it’s spring break. It seems to come just in the nick of time. And Luckily again, my sister was able to help me get a ticket to the Florida Keys with her this week. Big score.

The week before break was… painful. And not just for me but also for the kids, too. I had a surprise observation (because I had completely forgotten the date) on Monday. That went… OK. Let’s just say that I didn’t have a super stellar lesson plan prepared for Monday. Tuesday-Friday the kiddos were going to be benchmark TAKS testing. It would have been pointless to start a new lesson and expect them to retain it in those 4 days plus over break. We went over some past tests, made corrections, and did some coloring with “Word Walls.” My observer watched me go over test problems and instruct my 13 year olds on coloring. It’s wasn’t bad… just wasn’t great either.

Tuesday was the first day of benchmarking and the kick-off test was the Math test. They improved, but apparently not enough because all us math teachers were called to an afterschool meeting to discuss the scores and a potential game-plan. Ugh. Why can’t they get it?!?! We practice and practice and practice...

Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) was a great day. Our church had a great service.

By Thursday, the kiddos are getting tired. Students don’t realize how much we teachers actually sympathize with them. We remember what it was like to be in school. We remember getting bored on test days. Wanting to be out for break. We still feel the same way. I took my afternoon classes outside that day. Those kiddos, despite their laziness, really have been working hard. I haven’t really let up on them, and I can’t. They’ve just got to work hard to pass, but I hope I don’t stress them out too much. By Thursday, even my good classes are cracking. They’re tired. We’re tired. And then I get a call to the principal’s office…

She discussed with me a meeting that I would be attending the next day. It was about the budget cuts and rumors of teacher cuts. All I thought of was doom, but my principal was very reassuring.

Friday was messy. I was half-tempted to start calling parents myself to tell them to sign their kids out of school. They zoomed through the last test, Social Studies; I had the first student done in 13 minutes and my slowpoke done in 45. I should mention that the test was 50 questions. I’m a fast reader and there is no way that I would be able to read and answer 50 questions in 13 minutes. Whatever. At least they didn’t do that on the math test. The last half of the day was taken up with cheerleader tryouts for which the school suspended the bell and the announcements. That’s right. We changed classes via hollering down the hallway. Thankfully, my students were fully engaged in The Princess in the Frog all afternoon. Their school dance was also that night, the kick-off to their spring break. They were so excited! They begged me to come, but… no! Ha-ha. I had a few students jokingly ask me to the dance, and one said he’d just come back and ask once he’d turn 18. A little creepy. I’d rather not witness all their dance-floor shenanigans, and I had already made plans to meet up with Claire and John.

So, while my students started their break with dancing, mine began with dinner and conversation… well, after the hour-long meeting with the superintendent about the budget and our job security. Again, like Bob Marley sung, “Every little t’ing gonna be alright.” Dinner was mellow and wonderful and with best friends. Loved it.

Saturday: I did absolutely nothing. But really,…NOTHING. Nothing compares to the gloriousness of nothing once you’ve been going non-stop on multiple somethings.

Sunday: Spent with Richard and Jason and a little bit of Christopher.

Monday! Florida time. I left that afternoon. Arrived at DFW airport at 12:15 PM. Departed on the first plane at about 1 PM. Arrived at Atlanta airport by 4 PM. Departed on the second plane at 4:40 PM. Arrived at Miami airport at 6:30 PM. There I waited. I bid my time by exploring the airport. It felt like being inside of a giant fishbowl… and no one was American. It’s a nautical themed airport with gold sea creatures on the tile floor and wavy glass windows, some tinted sea blues. I had some egg rolls and a couple of mojitos. Departed on the third and final plane at 8:45 PM. Finally, landed in Key West at 9:25 PM. Jumped in car to drive to Big Pine Key. Arrived at beach house at 10:10 PM.

Arrived at bliss at 10:11 PM.

Too Many Bleak Winter Days

I’m ready for spring. I’m ready for the bitter arctic air to blow its last winds. I’m ready to end the shivering. I’m ready to feel warm again… inside and out. There’s ice on the roads.  There’s ice in me.



It’s cold.

Pray for Egypt

Before we all became pre-occupied with this weather, the news was covering the protests, demonstrations, and violence in Egypt. Not to say that I'm not into the weather right now like everyone else, heck, I'm enjoying my second consecutive snow day at home (Praise da Lord!), but hopefully no one has forgotten about what happening in the streets of Cairo.


I read a great blog yesterday- (Click here to read it) (thanks, Kim for posting it)- about what's going on and how it started. Funny enough the revolution basically began online via Facebook and Twitter. Facebook has become pretty annoying lately and I've never seen anything worthy or redeemable about Twitter, but in Egypt, the youth have used these social networks to begin a revolution that has about 2/3 of the nation involved. I once stood firmly against getting a Twitter, but this makes me reconsider. In a country were the government controls and restricts just about everything, Facebook and Twitter have prevailed. On CNN and CBS news, they were reporting that the government shut down internet access all across the nation, but protesters still kept in contact, let their voices ring, and shouted via mobile Tweets. Updates were pouring in by the seconds.


It's amazing to see just how much we've changed as a global society. Think back with me, please. The Civil Rights Movement right here in America. It took years of networking and strong leaders to coordinate and organize protests and demonstrations. It took lots of planning in advance and the rise of national organizations with strong leadership to get the movement off the ground. In Egypt, all it took were a few tweets and posts. It's amazing to think how revolutions have revolutionized.


The protesters don't have a strong political leader. They don't have an alternative president waiting to step in. They're not all coming from one united political voice. They are just downright miserable and desperate to get Mubarak O-U-T! The government there, from what I remember for Dr. Ngong's class and doing current events on Egypt, is severely corrupted. They control the nation with a tight grip. If you spoke out against them that morning, chances of you making it home that evening were slim. Citizens that voiced their opinions against the regime would just vanish. I once read about a group of homeless citizens trying to find shelter in Cairo, the capitol- a city that must be kept “clean.” Mysteriously, there was a random rock slide that crushed the destitute homeless folks’ shabby boxes made into shelters, killing most and driving out the rest. "Accidents" happen. Mubarak has been known to shut down power to cities for days at a time as punishment. Force people out their homes and into the streets. Have "unfit" citizens disappear.

Just pray for Egypt. As the violence increases, keep these people in your prayers. Whatever the outcome of all of this, there is bound to be even more suffering. When the government fails, pray the people will remain strong and can get through a transition without a leader. Pray for less violence. Pray for the safety of those Egyptian youths trying to repair and better their nation. Pray that they find a solid, strong, and just leader. Pray that America does what's right to help.


The revolution in Egypt is happening... and the world can see. We are all watching. We are reading your tweets and posts. We are being updated by the minute. Mubarak, you can't keep this quiet.   

New Year's Resolutions...

Firstly, New Year's Eve this year was really fantastic.  It was spent with Brian and my Scotland/Baylor friends (including the wonderful Sarah of VA!!) down in Waco.  I took Brian to the suspension bridge, followed by a group dinner at Ninfa's, spades, coffee, drinks, fireworks, cigars, toasts, laughs, Denny's, and just overall merriment.  I was really excited that I got to wear my short black sequined and dazzling dress once more.  It had been years since its first appearance at Welcome Week.  I hope to wear it more.  I loved being sparkly.

On New Year's Eve we toasted to resolutions that we don't intend to keep.  I know these were supposed to be posted earlier, but better late than never.  The year is still spankin' new even 10 days into January, so here's my soon-to-be-abandoned list of resolutions.

Resolution #1:  Wear the sparkly dress again.  I DO want to keep this one.  It's just slightly ho-ish, so I have to be cautious about the occasion.

Resolution #2:  Tone up.  I still jiggle.  I DON'T want to jiggle.

Resolution #3:  Travel this summer to Australia or France or both... both would be perfect.

Resolution #4:  Study for LSAT.

Resolution #5:  Take LSAT and not punk out.

Resolution #6:  Research and apply to law schools...eek!

Resolution #7:  Procrastinate less.  I add this to the list every year.  I usually break it first.  I mean, I am blogging my resolutions on the 10th... oops.

Resolution #8:  Have more conversations with friends.  I will keep this one.

Resolution #9:  Become a more organized teacher.

Resolution #10:  Find time for art again.

Resolution #11:  Move out.

There's my list; 11 resolutions for 2011.  Last year I challenged 2010 to bring it... and it did.  2010 was incredible.  I hope 2011 will be... spectacular.  Come on, 2011, it is the year of the rabbit. :-) 

To Get The Gecko

Many months have passed since my last post, and as such, many events have transpired. I knew that teaching 7th grade would come with many stories and, boy, have I got ‘em. I wish I could find the time to write daily about all the ridiculousness of junior high. Unfortunately, I barely have time to do anything other than lesson plan, grade, and work on certification stuff. I have some priceless stories to tell, but sadly, some have already been lost just to a jammed brained that has forgotten many details.



So how am I writing this post? This post is brought to you from above…about 2,500 miles up. I left my kiddos for the afternoon and Friday to catch a 5 PM flight to Wisconsin to be with my sister and celebrate her birthday. It’s funny how it takes an airplane to seat me long enough to write these days…


A fresh 7th grade magic moment that must be shared because of its complete immature absurdity, is a boy’s bathroom story. Of course. 13 year-olds just think differently from adults and children. They’re almost a complete synthesis of both- childlike thoughts with a budding adult sense of logic trying to develop. And then at other times, they just don’t think at all. We had a lovely 7th grade boy decide that while he was relieving himself in the bathroom at lunch, aiming for the urinal just wasn’t inspiring nor fun enough. Instead, he thought it would be better to take aim at something new… like an electrical socket. I don’t know how many other young fellows were in the bathroom with him at the time, but by 5th period, there was a buzz about so-and-so peeing on the outlet. I later heard that the outlet sparked and started a small fire. The walls in that bathroom are black now because some child prodigy decided he was too good for just a urinal. And as expected from most middle-schoolers, a burning wall in a bathroom will go unreported. No one wants to be a snitch. By 6th period, a cash reward was offered to the person that gave the name of the little pisser. One of my students begged to go to the office, bolted, and sprinted down the hallway. Then I saw a number of boys, as if they were being chased by a pee-induced socket fire, sprint towards the office. I guess being a snitch is OK if you get a hundred bucks out of it. Needless to say, the culprit was suspended. No end of the year Christmas party for him. In my opinion, the little guy was lucky. He could have been electrocuted from the nether-region. Who would want to go throughout junior high and high school as the guy that almost died because his junk was shocked from peeing on an outlet? And I don’t know if telling a kid that he’s suspended from school (especially for it being so close to Christmas break, anyway) is a harsh enough punishment for starting a small fire on campus with bodily fluids.


Another story: I just had a moment in class where I came to reality. Even though I teach 7th graders, they’re still just kids. I often get wrapped up with these high expectations about how they should know this and that and act this way and that way. But realistically, they’re so much like my former 3rd graders in behavior and thought than I realized, and some aren’t even much taller than the 3rd graders. I had one of my students come in from lunch, skipping to my desk, clearly clutching something precious in his hands. He said grinning, “Look!! Look what I found! What do I do with it?!” He held in his hand near my face a baby gecko. That was unexpected. That little pink and brown reptile had to go. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Some days I have to regroup to find reality. These kids are smart and capable and becoming young adults, but at the bottom of everything, still and always just kids. They’re curious little humans, figuring out the world and themselves, wanting to know "why" incessantly, and unafraid to get the gecko. They’re someone’s baby and someone loves them. And for those who don’t have that someone… it has to be me.


There will be more to come for sure. This flight isn’t nearly long enough to cover the happenings of junior high, room 150, 7th grade Math TAKS.

Finally, an update!

Remember me?

*This may be a little long but we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.  I promise it’s worth it, and hopefully it’ll make you laugh.*

So, I’ve been away from the blogging world for awhile!!!!  Once upon a time, I only had a part-time job at CVC in the Biology department as a lab instructor.  I had free time to blog, sulk and worry about the unknown future, and cook purple chicken.  Worry, leisure, and playtime was the month of May.  Then June came along…Whoa.

I don’t know if I mentioned in past posts that I had been accepted to Texas Teaching Fellows (which I will refer to as TTF for now on), an alternative certification program to become a teacher.  I’m going to be honest here and say that teaching was never my first choice for a career.  I always pictured myself as some employee (preferably, the boss) of a company/organization (preferably my own or government-run) that travelled to different countries on business trips to work abroad for months at a time, doing good deeds and spreading good cheer.  I basically wanted the job of a well-paid international social worker/team-leader.  You could say that I want to be a rich, year-round Santa Claus.  As life would have it, I’m convinced that such a position doesn’t exist for me… yet.  Then, after years of jet-setting, making a name for myself, acquiring lots of international friends and properties, and changing the world for the better, I would settle down and become a teacher.  Tell my students about travelling and the world and people and living…

God thinks differently.  Ha-ha-ha

Before my six weeks of summer institute, literary the Saturday before my first Monday, I met a boy.  After about the third date, I quickly decided that I really liked him.  So, during the six weeks of institute, I not only working my butt off student-teaching and submitting work products for TTF, but I kept my job with CVC on the side and spent time with a boy on the weekends.  I didn’t sleep much.  But it was good.  Life was busy but good.

I also forgot to mention that in June, the very first day of TTF institute, I got a text from my mom to call the principal of Kaufman Jr. High.  I called, was offered a teaching position (7^th grade Math), and accepted the offer.  So, I quickly became an employee of the very Jr. High that I attended.  My current principal was once my 3^rd grade teacher when I first moved Texas. The Math Department Chair - she taught me Algebra in 8^th grade, was best friends with my mom, and took me to six flags every year until I was about 16.  About 6 of former teachers have become my colleagues.  Some of the younger (excuse me, newer) staff members graduated with me or not too much before me.  The new tennis coach - we graduated from Kaufman together; in fact, we were friends.  She was Kaufman’s 2005 Homecoming Queen… I was Valedictorian.  Was it weird at first? YES.

Post-institute/Pre-first-day-of-school was all catch-up on sleep, enjoy that last bit of vacation time, spend time friends, and enjoy time with (can you believe this…) my FIRST-ever boyfriend (turns out, he liked me backJ.)  It was a good 3 weeks.

Then school started.  If anyone tries to peddle some story about teachers and how lazy they are, please slap them across the face… as hard as possible.  Jesus would agree that it would be well-deserved.  There is nothing like waking up super early in the morning; standing in front of a classroom full of awkward, smelly, low-retention, hormone-enraged, inattentive pre-teens trying to teach them math; creating engaging math lessons for a generation of calculator-dependent, academically-apathetic, and lazy children; grading failing assignments and not trying to feel like a failure yourself; and sleeping 4.5 hours at night only to wake up and do it all over again.

I’m still debating whether or not I’m completely cut out to be a teacher.  I do enjoy it.  I love the kids; they are ridiculous (I’ll go into details in a bit).  And I’m desperately trying to get them to be better people.  This stage of life is hard for them, I know, and Kaufman, as a small rural town, can only provide so much for them.  It’s stressful.  I refuse to be a bad teacher, so I work myself until I pass out.  I like working, but the more I teach, the more I keep thinking of my former goals of jet-setting and travelling.  I want to leave.  I want to stay.  I want to be a student again.  I would want to teach again.  So I’m trying to decide on going to grad school.  Oh, life.

Here are some snipits from my classroom:

First week of school- Got a note from a student that said, “You’re cute.”  Next day, the same student gave me another note that said, “You’re very cute.  PS.  I’m good at rubbing sore feet <3.”  …That note went to the principal’s office.

Second week of school- Found a note in the hallway from one jr. high girl to another.  Girl 1 was telling Girl 2 about losing one’s virginity, betrayal, sex with someone’s brother… they’re 11,12, and 13 years old!!  I cried in the teacher’s lounge bathroom.  But just one tear.  I was so disgusted!

Third week of school-  I’m convinced some of my students have etch-a-sketches for brains.  I spend 53 minutes a day trying to artfully craft a math masterpiece into their brains.  Then the bell rings, they shake their heads, and it’s lost forever.  Everyday's a new day.  Is it possible for tweens to have Alzheimer’s?? but really…

Fourth week of school-  My students' initial fear of me began to wear off and they've now started to like me.  Crap.  Every class gets the “I’m NOT your friend; I’m your teacher” talk.  Some still aren’t convinced.

Fifth week- called some parents about teasing.  Called some parents about inappropriate farting in my classroom.  Called some parents about excessive talking.  Had a seating arrangement change and a "come-to-Jesus moment" with my 5^th period class.  (Update: they’re doing better behavior-wise although they may need another moment later.)

Sixth week-  Freaked out when I had to write my first two office referrals.  Had a student tell another one, “Ain’t no muthaf**ker gonna tell me to shut up.”  Uh, really?!?!

It’s a new six weeks.  Only 5 more six weeks left.  There is never a dull moment in teaching. Never.