One down, thirty five to go

The first week of school has come and gone, and what a blessing it was. It's amazing what a difference a year makes. My kiddos are super sweet this year and I am more sure of myself and what I'm teaching. Not one student turned in a paper with an obscene drawing. I'd say that's a step up. 

Life is hectic as I move in a week.  It looks like the cabinets threw up all over my living room. What is not already in boxes is strewn about.  The goal is to be fully packed by the end of the weekend. We shall see.

I made a big decision this week.  I was thinking about how much I missed school and thought about taking the GRE for fun.  That's when I realized it's time that I go back to school. I was accepted to start this fall but the timing just wasn't right.  Thankfully I still had everything together to reapply.  The application is in and now I wait.  

The plight of a young teacher

In service. Two words simply cannot express the inner turmoil that ensues during the week prior to school starting. Thank goodness for new district laptops and wireless Internet access. My friend Sara (Pronounced Sahrah) put it best by saying, "I think they make us endure this to make us look forward to school starting." Seriously, five days is a bit excessive.

My favorite quote from in service: "We feed the teachers so they don't eat the children."  Enough said. 

Slowly trucking through Poisonwood Bible. I am loving it but don't have as much time to read as summer is winding down. I heard of a Language Arts teacher at a low ses school in the district who said he hated to read. I was appalled. How can you get at risk kids to love reading if you don't read yourself. Ugh.

On a happier note, Happy Birthday Erin and Kim!

Love to all,

Mere

A good pair of shoes can change your life...

 ...just ask Cinderella.  

I sit here, writing to you, in my gym clothes and a new pair of heels. I don't have anything to wear them with (yet) but they spoke to me yesterday at Target.  This morning, I cleaned my apartment adorned in said heels.  They look so pretty on my smallish feet.  I thought I'd share.

I also wanted to express concern at the negative reviews of Breaking Dawn.  I agree with Matt Selman that we have had enough flirting between Edward and Bella and it's time to move on.  This installation in the series was much darker and more serious as the characters are "older."  I found it much more appealing that the previous three.  I conquered the 750 page volume in no less than three days.  I quite enjoyed it. 

Brooke Fraser was amazing in concert.  Her look reminds me of the 90s Alanis but her sound is just so pure.  My new favorite. 

I go back to school in less than one week.  I am not looking forward to the days of inservice. Bleh. I am looking forward to starting fresh with a new bunch of kiddos.  I'm praying this year goes more smoothly. (It can't get much worse than last year.)  I will miss the extra time for good books and coffee.  le sigh. With that I say,

Thanks and gig them. 

"I watched Waitress for the first time and loved it" Pie

So cute! Here are a few pies I'd make up, if I had the bakery skills good enough to invent pies. (I'm not a bad cook....I just need a recipe.)

"Your parents should have thought twice before procreating," Pie

"I'm late for church so I have to sit in the front row," Pie

"I'm going to read while I vaccuum," Pie

"My cat ate an SOS pad," Pie

"The humidity feels like a sweater," Pie

"I wish I could eat everything Paula Deen cooks and still loose weight," Pie

If you can think of any pie names, leave them for me. : )

Thanks and Gig 'em

Random Musings

Howdy Friends,

It's been a while but life has not been overly eventful the past week or so. Summer will do that for you. (Not that I'm complaining.) Some things worthy of mentioning....

Thanks to my friends and fam who have been keeping mom in your prayers. She is recovering well from surgery. The meds are managing the pain.

A question: Does anyone else ever get words stuck in your head? Like a song that would get stuck in your head, but it's a word? Maybe that's a testament to the fact that I'm a book nerd. I've had the word ubiquitious in my head for three days. Go figure.

Design Star: Yea Jennifer! I can't wait to see her new show. (I have watched copious amounts of HGTV lately, again, attributed to summer.)

Best new summer show: The Secret Life of the American Teenager

Breaking Dawn***SPOILER***

BELLA IS PREGNANT WITH A VAMP BABY!?!? Can we say Darla and Angel? I just hope it's not a repeat of Connor...boy did he get on my nerves.

The Tabernacle book is uber interesting. Especially if you love symbolism. Everything in the temple points to Christ. God left no detail out in his planning of it. So cool.

Flavor-Ice Light...the best summer popscicle ever.

That's about all friends. Hopefully the new school year will bring more philosophical musings, but for now, please be content with my random mind.

Gig 'em and God Bless

Recreational Revelations

You may have been wondering about my posting recently, or lack there of.  I have spent the last week on vacation away from phone, e-mail, and my computer.  I did much reading and reflecting. Although I love my friends very much, it was nice to have uninterrupted family time.  Some noteworthy things about the week.

* I finished The Pillars of the Earth. Good job Ken Follett.  So wonderfully written. It's well worth the time commitment.

* Stardust....I'm sorry Neil Gaiman, I read half of it and can't get into it. 

* Buffy the Vampire: Portal through Time Yes, this is glorified fan fiction, but it's just fun and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. 

* Family reunion t-shirts are awesome.

* Backing your car into a pole isn't fun.

* The pain of a miscarriage is largely overlooked by society.  I love you Beth Ann and Matt. 

* Brooke Fraiser is amazing.  Check her out on I-tunes

* Two Goals for the Near Future:

1) Loose Weight

2) Learn all the lyrics to Ice Ice Baby (I am half way there)

I love to serve others. 

In spite of all of our idiosyncrasies, I love my family more than anything. They're awesome.

Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog

Mr. Whedon has done it again.    Only Joss could conceive the idea of a musical blog.  It's worth sitting through the first few minutes of monologue to get to the humorous, melodic stylings of Dr. Horrible and his nemesis Captain Hammer. Enjoy!

Dr.Horrible's Singalong Blog