Christmas Letter 2007

Dear Family and Friends,


One, one more year, one more Christmas letter, one more move, more and more changes.

Another year has passed and I sit here now a quarter of a century old recalling the things of the past year that have enriched my life or just created change.

Top ten things that came to mind:
1. Teaching 5th grade in Southwest Missouri (the warm weather I left behind)
2. January ice storm in Missouri that left me stuck at home for a week & the state with devastation
3. Moving back to C the day after summer school ended
4. Redoing the interior of the Lutheran Parsonage (where I live)
5. Teaching Kindergarten in C with teachers that use to teach me in grade school
6. Hours of cheerleading practices, games, parades, choreography for dances, and colorguard
7. Maid of honor in Ciara’s country wedding in C
8. Iowa State beating Iowa in football and Cy being recognized as the most dominate mascot in
college sports
9. Bridesmaid in my cousin Kendra’s wedding in Illinois
10. Bridesmaid in Casey’s fall wedding in C

More changes are still underway as the new year is just around the corner. I reflect on Christmas, Christmas the holiday that sneaks up now around October when the stores start filling the shelves with Santa Clauses. Christmas, the holiday that rushes past us on Black Friday for those early risers and the bargains at the stores. Christmas, the holiday that when it finally arrives we have packaged, wrapped, and placed a bow on it. Christmas is about the giving of gifts and the holiday gatherings with friends and family. Or is it? This past Thanksgiving I found myself at a gathering of high schoolers and fellow Christians. The main topic was Connected, being connected with God and how we connect ourselves with others. There is so much going on in our lives, in our country politically, and our world with wars, destruction, and famine that we often forget about one thing that connects us together. Christ’s love. Some do not know and some choose to put it in the back of their minds. No matter how we choose to package and wrap up Christmas, it will always be connected to Christ and God’s love for us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…….. John 3:16

Take a moment and think about the true Christmas story, remember that there wasn’t CNN, Time Magazine, or even the local Free Press. God sent angels to sing to shepherds about the coming of Christ. Shepherds were out in the fields, disconnected from others. He didn’t lead them with a TomTom or other GPS devices, God put a star in the sky, simple and bright. Christ wasn’t born in a 5-star hotel. Mary wasn’t sitting in the maternity ward, her and Joseph were disconnected from their family taking a long journey across the land. Christmas for them was just another day to struggle in life…another day that they were getting closer and closer to being connected to God in away that none of us could ever imagine. Envision what Mary’s top ten list of changes would have been for a year in her life, the year she heard she was with a child. The year she traveled the land pregnant, the year she bore a child in a stable surrounded by animals. The year she became connected to God unlike any other person. She was with child,
and that child was to be called Jesus, Christ, the Messiah.
What a list that would have been…….What a connection….What a Christmas….


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!






Love,
Kris

Wow...Aug 19th

I haven't written in a while.....Hi OC just in case you check this month!!lol

Well life is going on and on and on....I've moved back to my home town, I'm teaching Kindergarten, coaching 3 varsity cheer squads and working with a dance team and choreograph. a show choir. In between time I'm not spending all of my nights working on school stuff like last year....I'm just taking it easy. Trying hard not to have my body just shut down on me. I currently have a bronchial infection....but am still going strong.

Life in my home town bites...there is nothing really to do, I was in a running kick for a while 3 miles a night around the outside of the town...my town is all hills(so it 2 to 3 miles is a lot)

I haven't dated in a year and then I move back and boom there are 3 guys....couple of dates later...trying hard not to mix up the 3 I decided on just one...then had to break the news to the others that I just wanted to be friends....now to one that meant he stopped calling me, the other that meant call me every night after that....until I finally had to give the same speech about being friends Again.
The one I picked I can't read, he is a challenge....he is super quiet, really laid back, after last weekend with him meeting my sister and a few of my friends....I'm hoping he still likes me...but here I sit in front of my computer when I could have been at dinner with him...but no....shingles.....maybe...need to see a doctor...? ok I'll get over it, but that means I won't get to hang out with him for another week, because I leave wed. for thanksgiving, birthday party with the fam. and the district youth gathering!

Nothing else eventful is going on in my life besides I never touch my computer when I get home.....I would rather take myself away from my work, in a sense creating my own reality....

Nothing inspiring has happened...casey finally got married after almost 7 years! I only have one more wedding to be in....Ciara is moving to CA and I'm scared for her, scared she might not like it or scared she might and she will be forever away.

School...teaching is good, I wish that next year I could find the school that I would want to stay at for the rest of my career...or at least a big chunk of it....but I think it best to stay here one more then move on. Allen doesn't think I'll leave this town...the only reason I moved back is because I wanted out of missouri I needed to grow, I needed my ex to get on with his life, and I needed a job without putting in hours of effort....because I didn't want to put that effort in and take it away from teaching.

The Christmas season is almost around us...and i start on party plans and Christmas letters....

May God Bless you and forgive all.

Long Time No Write

Well School days started on Friday for me, I don't get kids until Wednesday. I have been wanting to sit down and write I just haven't had the time. I moved, through a bachelorette party mid july, I painted almost every room in the house I moved into and then went to a training in MO for a week for Pathways to reading, then Ciara got married...I have had cheerleading, and marching band going on and now I will have school starting. Symms came back to visit, it seems not so long ago I watched 3 little children and now 2 of them are headed off to college....how old do I feel?

I hope all of your summer has gone by well and for those of you in the teaching life, good luck with this years adventure!!

Killing time before the mall opens!

Your Pirate Name Is...

Skull Crusher Flirty Fran

What's Your Pirate Name?

You Are 55% Normal

While some of your behavior is quite normal... Other things you do are downright strange You've got a little of your freak going on But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

Guys Think You're Easy to Be With... But Not Easy

You're definitely a flirt - and a good one. But you also know that you shouldn't make a move on any cute guy who passes by. You save your seductive moves for someone who already knows the real you. That way, your sex appeal is just part of the whole package.

Are You An Easy Girl?

You Are Bold And Brave

But daring? Not usually? You tend to like to make calculated risks. So while you may not be base jumping any time soon... You are up for whatever's new and (a little) exciting!

How Daring Are You?

You Are a Mermaid

You are a total daydreamer, and people tend to think you're flakier than you actually are. While your head is often in the clouds, you'll always come back to earth to help someone in need. Beyond being a caring person, you are also very intelligent and rational. You understand the connections of the universe better than almost anyone else.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Things I hate

I know I might need to take in some extra iron. I bruise easily, but there is no reason why I should come home from clubbing with bruises that weren’t from me falling down drunk, or from someone’s mouth i.e. hicky, but from men trying to get me to dance with them or their friend. NO means, no, not interested…choose someone else to bump and grind on. I’m one of those girls who goes out to dance…not grind…I’m there for the energy of the club, the social experience, the workout, the relaxation of dance. I hate it when guys come up behind me and just expect me to get up on them.

I have had some great experience and met some great people at bars…do you think that it is possible to meet a future husband or wife at a bar? What are your thoughts on exchanging numbers and “real” names?

You know what else I hate, toll roads. Them money for toll roads I thought was to create a great road…think of the amount of money that comes from a toll road everyday. Shouldn’t it be fabulous to drive on…?

I only have the internet for 2more days….until I move again and get new service!

To add to my list of hates today...I would say people who make promises and don't keep them...grrr

Oh and forgetting what I was really going to write about tonight that was going to be more indepth...than this

Wow

It is a little after 2am, I just got out of a shower....I got to OK yesterday to visit Leah. We went out last night. She had heard about this club on the radio and we found it...we walked in and the guy at the counter just looked at us, the rest of the club turned and looked at us. He said we had to be 25 and we couldn't be wearing tennis shoes. Well neither of us are 25, but we didn't have tennis shoes on. He said we could come on it (I was from out of town!!) Then we took a look around and walked right back out....we were the only white girls in the whole place...little uncomfortable. We ended up at a club that was high-end-fashion...I had on short jean shorts and a dark brown tank...the one night I don't dress up to go out, I should have. It was a fun night, a few scary men, almost saw a fist fight, and some guy that looked similar to my brother in law came up and made fake grins with his fingers. Over all my first night here was good.

We got up around 10am got breakfast, went to this historical mansion, down in the old part of the OK, close to the capitol. It was one of the largest historical houses that I have seen restored. What was neat is that the furniture in the house was the original from the house to start with, it wasn't just pieces from the time period brought it. We went to the mall, and I got a ton of penis apparel for Ciara's Bachelorette Party (coming soon) After shopping, Leah made the two of us dinner. I managed to spill fingernail polish on her carpet and on my pants. I spent a good chunk of my evening cleaning my paints ( they don't look that bad) *the cap was broken???I held on the cap and went to shake up the bottle and vooom it flew across the room. We got on the google earth site to kill some time before finally heading to the SkyWalk. It has got to be one of the coolest bars I have ever been to. No cover for ladies before ten and before 11 there is any silver coins any Bud product. I had my two drinks and had a lot of strange men come up and try to dance up on me, behind me, or kiss my hand.

I don't normally like to dance with guys; I like to do my own thing. I go out dancing to be social, and to relax.
My most memorable thing from this evening/ Trip to the OK is the AirForce man I met. It was a great night and I wish him the best of luck in the presidential campaign in the year 2036 ( I don't know if I got that year right?) I haven't "picked up" a guy at a bar since I was just starting out in Ames. I have made some good friends that way...I'm not sure how this time will turn out?

2weeks and counting

Two weeks of summer school has passed with ease and now there is only packing and the final days of school that remain.

Summer School Starts tomorrow

Well, here I am back in Missouri. I have had a whirl wind of a week, cheerleading tryouts and colorguard tryouts are done....kindergarten round up is done.....summer school starts at 7:30am tomorrow. 4 weeks until I'm all moved into a house that needs a whole lot of work. ...I'm all for painting, but not putting latex on oil based paint. I took down all the wall paper borders, including the Iowa border someone put in the bathroom...who would do such a thing. I'm excited to decorate the house, but I have to finish painting 4 or 5 rooms still.

I'm not sure what I'm teaching tomorrow...oh well, I'll figure it out at 7:20am!! ha ha

Most Dominant College Mascot is WHO??? ISU' s Very own CY!!!

Voting results: Iowa State Cyclones - 53%, Arkansas Razorbacks - 47%

Total votes: 1,741,864




"After five weeks, more than 8 million votes and thousands of e-mails and Internet message board threads, only two Division-I mascots remain from the original pool of 64 who vied to be the Most Dominant College Mascot on Earth: the Iowa State Cyclones and Arkansas Razorbacks."

Go CY

Well ISU beat out Michigan!!! Now we are up against the southern Arkansas Razorbacks. We are currently down in votes so get on line http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10197376?spinmascotpollfinals and VOTE CY!!! Voting ends June 1st.

Why vote??"Victory isn't without its rewards. On top of eternal trash-talking rights on Internet message boards of your choice, the winning school also will receive a commemorative plaque honoring their mascot as 2007's Most Dominant College Mascot on Earth. Good luck! "

I'm a survivor

Well I survived...the school year is done! My classroom is packed up except for my books, that may take me a little while. I spent the entire afternoon cleaning, packing...going out of my mind. I'm at home, flipping channels and going to set the goal to pack up my house in one day minus my laundry! I know that is a nonrealistic goal, but I have to keep going or I won't do anything at all. My goal is to be ready to move out by Wednesday, while leaving out stuff for the last month I live down south.

Goals before I move:
build model car
paint two pictures on canvas
go paint balling
go play laser tag
have a group of people play ultimate Frisbee
workout once a day for an hour a day (goal for the month of June)
Take some pictures of my experience and the landscape.
get everything to fit in one car, truck, and one trailer.

I hope I can get everything done, wish me luck!

VOTE CY on
http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10187568?spinpollmascotf41v5

http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10187568?spinpollmascotf41v5

A buddle of Everything, something, many things

My grandpa would be so proud his great grandson would make such a good choice. LoL it is an empty bottle…haha

Sending out props today for dad on getting his blood pressure under control!

Congrats to Keely for graduating from ASU!

Happy Mothers Day…past a little bit

Happy Birthday Mom!

3 days of school left…I’m done teaching though.
I can’t believe I made it through my first year of teaching with little trouble. I feel really successful??? I had a sub. on Thursday and Friday and she said my class was great, well behaved, well organized, they knew what they were to do!!! That makes me feel great, I have trained them well, given them structure and they are then successful.
Also any idea because
I’m creating awards today, if you have any creative funny awards, let me know..soon!!! I have things like most likely to wear a monster mask, pink hair…most likely to sleep through a movie. Most likely to go for the wrong basket and sooooo on.

Being back home for a few days was a little nerve-racking…I have 30 girls trying out for cheerleading, more than one squad mind you, but still…that is a lot. I headed from SW IA to central Ia to visit my sister….then garage sales, book warehouse sale, lunch at Jimmy Johns with Shannon….to my sisters….then to watch Matt C. play soccer in DesMoines, then ice cream with OC and then back to my sisters, then to Victory Secret to purchase a really expensive bar that is beyond wonderful…(I got complemented on my chest…that is when you know it makes a difference ..cause if you know me, you know my chest is anything special ;-) ) Then back to my sisters…Seem busy enough yet, that was just one day! Not to mention only getting 3 hours of sleep the night before because Jon Jon has an ear infection (must have been that beer?) Sunday I headed up to Ames, went to church and said good bye and good luck to pastor O and his wife Anne as they leave Memorial after 21 years there to retire and spend time with their children and grandchildren. I held in tears all morning, until Anne gave me a griping hug when she saw me! They are great people and I pray that they continue on blessing all the lives of people they meet in the rest of their life long journey. Then I went to lunch with Jason and a few of his friends (Jimmy Johns) Then met with Patrick, whom I don’t think I have seen in 2 years…then I made the long drive back to MO so I could teach on Monday…the first hour was the longest…thank goodness for energy drinks. This was my first time having one (a virgin energy drink girl no more) My weekend was busy, what can I say.
I have field day tomorrow, clean up day and 5th grade field day Thursday and then finish up the week with Awards day getting out at 11am. The END

“Men if you loose 35lbs you will most likely gain 1 inch in your penis” I’m currently watching Opera and I thought this was kind of funny. Thought I would throw this out there. If any men wanted to know how to enlarge themselves.

Teacher Appreciation Day

Congrats to Tim for getting the Teacher of the Year award from Walmart...our school got a thousand dollars from the event, Tim got a gift card for one hundred dollars to buy things for his class...he got a t-shirt in which he popped his collar all day. He had no idea...which was the greatest. I thought it was cool that Walmart does such a thing. We also got donuts and little gift packs from them for appreciation.


Tomorrow is the big drive...I have a fun filled weekend in Iowa, beautiful weather to come! I need to check to make sure the roads I need to drive on aren't flooded.

Oh today felt like a Monday...yesterday didn't ....I almost gave every student a detention. I haven't had a single student go to the office for behavior this year...instead I had Mrs. Riley come to me.... somebody decided to write * is dumb on the floor of our room...nobody wanted to fess up....tomorrow is going to be a long morning!

I only have 6 days of school...half of that isn't even teaching ...then two weeks of no fifth graders then one month of summer school!

Another Day

My students where like little angles this morning...I even had people coming in and out and they were like...whoa your class is quiet. I love getting complemented on my student positive behavior....I was just shocked because it was a monday...after a field trip no less...I would have gone with chaos.

This afternoon wasn't the greatest (not bad, but not that morning) inside recess didn't help any.

The weather isn't suppose to be very good this week, I'm hoping the storms stay away, or at least the strong, bad ones. Did you know I hate tornadoes...well if you didn't, I do...really do.


Today I dropped the bomb..I told my kids I won't be returning next year. They asked if it was because I was homesick, if I would come back and visit them, if i was leaving because I didn't like them, didn't like the fourth grade, I got asked if I was retiring....lol They didn't seem really upset...I had to hold back the tears...I don't know why? They are a great group of kids, but I just want to be closer to my family and friends. Tim, Josh, Sarah, and Bret...don't really count for close friends that are life long. They are great and all, but making friends at my age is differnt than when i was in college or even in elementary/high school.

Busy week ahead...it is more work to be gone than it is to be at work, that may be why I haven't taken a sick day or personal day all year.

SuperHero

One of their questions should have been are you male or female...I'm so not a Superman...Wonderwoman...maybe. lol

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 85% Wonder Woman 77% The Flash 75% Supergirl 72% Iron Man 70% Robin 69% Green Lantern 60% Batman 55% Spider-Man 50% Hulk 40% Catwoman 40%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

Da Da Daaaa

School is only in session for two more weeks!!! The bill was signed! ! That means for me only 8 days...cause I'm taking off a few days to come home and get things ready for my arrival to teach in Iowa! It is time for me to tell my students that after summer school I will not be coming back. It is bitter sweet. It was my first class of students, I'll never see any of them again. I won't know if I effected their lives??? The next 2 weeks will be busy...getting ready for a sub. is more work than being there at school. Graduation for Exeter is on Monday night and I leave on Wednesday!!! We have field day, awards day, talent show, 5th grade wacky awards, float party, and 5th grade award field day if they fill thier man. I still intend to throw in some tests and long assignments! I think my studnets have baseball games starting up to that is going to take some time too. Busy Busy
Any ideas on lessons for dinosaurs this summer? Not a lesson I would think to do with 5th grade, but that is the theme for the summer.

how many weeks?

You know what isn't nice....

Sitting waiting for our staff meeting to start this morning and somebody walks in and says "guess what? the bill got passed so we don't have to make up any days" We were all really happy about that! Then the sup had to chime in and say...nope wasn't true, she had a paper sent to her last night saying the bill had sat on the desk once again...waiting to get signed. She said it still may not if they still have what Missouri sups are not wanting to pass on for next year. I think one bill should stand alone, why tack on several different things when the only thing they have connected is school.

I personally just want to know if I have 2 weeks left after this or 3? hmmm

Tuesday Tuesday (monday monday...has already passed)

Sorry...songs are in my head...lame joke?

Another week has started…it is going ok except for the rain…which is going to mess up the field trip…I hope I can reschedule. Talking Caverns on the west side of Branson. Don’t laugh, it could be fun. My grandmother W. took me to the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky when I was a sophomore…they weren’t that bad. I would love to go one time and crawl through them and not just on the tour path. My grandmother had gone the caves with her family when she was little, she wanted to take my cousins and I so we went from Iowa down to Kentucky…(back roads…got a little lost) and then up to Washington DC where we could lobby and come back. *it was a long trip.

I have talked to several people with finals this week at ISU and other schools…I wish you all the best. Don’t stress out just get them done!

First Time Poker Player

I am currently in my bed contemplating if I should get up? Massive hangover---that I have, erg to clean my house---that I don't have. I had had a long week…..I didn’t want to go home a drink alone, but I needed a way to relax and let loose.

My co-workers and I ended up getting for the most part drunk off our asses and playing poker. It was my first time playing poker. We all just put in ten dollars into the pot and then had chips that were just worth coin values…so we played for quiet a few hours. I didn’t do the greatest…but I didn’t suck my first time around. The only thing I messed up on was that I always forgot to burn a card before laying down the flop as dealer just on the first one.

It was a nice way to end the horrible week. Looking at the weather next week, I’m sure it is going to be any better. It is suppose to rain on Friday and that is our field trip day. GRRRR

I ended up sleeping on the love seat at Josh’s, I loved the fact that he left the music on really loud in the living room so that I wouldn’t hear their little baby boy cry. That was nice of him. I end up getting a call from a different co-worker, I think I answered it, I remember saying hello and then nothing…hanging up….it was, what I thought, way after he had left Josh’s…?

I ended up driving home about 5 after I was sobered up….DON’T DRINK THEN DRIVE. Important…I normally can handle 2 in a long long period of time and be fine…any more than that, or drinking it to quickly…driving is a no go.

Yesterday at school they had a “pretend” fatality using students and having the emergency crew practice. I remember when they did it at our school I was lobbying in DC and missed the accident and only mad it back for the funeral portion that was held in the school activity center. I didn’t know what was going on I just saw 2 of my classmates pictures up on the screen as if it were really a funeral. It was really hard to watch, I was so confused. It is hard to watch all of it. I hope that it home for most of them, that it made things more real for them.
Do you think that it is ok to show students such a tragic thing?

Can't Wait TGIF

I can’t wait until Friday!!! Not because I have any plans, but just because it is Friday.
Today was suppose to be a fabulous day…it started out like crap…boys picking on another boy because he picks his nose…then he flipped off kids (well pointed a finger in anger…says he didn’t use the middle) then had a student lie to me about it…boy K always tends to avoid telling me the truth. To top off my morning, I have been DIBELing and I take them in the hall were it is quiet to read passages and when the boy went back to his seat to work, he soon came up and said that while he was testing somebody wrote on his desk…( I didn’t see anybody get up???) On his desk was the word “loser” I had the whole class put their heads down and raise their hand if they did it….no body fessed up. I decided to write up all the things that were to go on that day including a presenter coming to our class, silly string war, 30minutes extra recess….I told them that everything was gone except lunch because I can’t take that from them, but I can make lunch so that it wasn’t fun for them. We put our heads down, they were asked to raise their hands again…yet nothing. I had them share their feelings with each other. peer pressure is a bitch…. isn’t it? Then I had them write down what they were feeling and in the corner write down yes and no and circle one. Finally somebody circled yes. I read aloud all of their feelings so nobody would know who wrote what….I wanted them to know that they really up set their class. The person who circled yes was the one who had told me that somebody had written on his desk…GRRRR I was pissed to say the least. He did it because he thought I would get after the person who was angry with him…he didn’t realize that it would be a big deal…GRRRRR
We got back on track after that. Our presenter was to do “TAR WARS” it was sooo boring. Then we had a silly string war, it was a little chilly and wet, but still fun. Extra recess was inside and the coach would only get out 2 balls for my class to play with. All of a sudden they are locking up the equipment and everything…they haven’t worried about it all year and now it is a big deal?
To top it all off I heard a rumor that the governor of MO hasn’t signed the bill to excuse the 5 ice storm days….it got passed in the house and senate and it has just been setting there. I hope it is just a rumor.

That is my day…do you see why I’m ready for a Friday

Dirty Little Word

How many mirrors do you have to break before the "bad luck" cancels out? I seem to break at least one mirror a year. If I really believed in superstitions then maybe I would really care....honestly I don't believe in it. But man 7 years of bad luck are just piling up ...maybe that is why I'm still single. HEHEHE

How is all the rain, coming down like cats and dogs?

I keep telling my students that I can't go out into the rain because I will melt. I'm like sugar...so so sweet......my students don't seem to believe me??? I don't know why not?

Tomorrow I hope the rain can hold off, my students have been working on filling up thier behavior man since January and they get to have a silly string war tomorrow and extra recess......I really hope it is nice out... we only have 3 weeks left so we are going to fill up a "mini man" next!


NOW for the DIRTY LITTLE WORD

I have a little porn story to share with ya.
We are currently working on adding positive and negative numbers and writing +++=+ is too confusing. I had written on the board p +p = p and n+n=n and p+n= p or n
I guess I had written them too close together and one of my students noticed that I was writing a word that was not ok...my students laughed...I thought it was a little funny too....oops! lol He thought they were laughing at him or something and cried the rest of math .....that is my porn story for you. 5th grade students know what that word means...I didn't even catch it until a couple of double takes. I know where my students' minds are.

3 more weeks of school!!! 2 weeks off from teaching then summer school!!

The weather has returned to beautiful sunshine….

The weather has returned to beautiful sunshine….

I pound the sidewalk for about an hour a night, I watch kids out in the road…riding their bikes, not watching where they are going or what is coming. I normally walk at quick pace, or pick up a jog when the song is just right…..thinking about my day, about my future…about what is next for me in life, what I’m missing. I’m ready to come home, but at the same time I’m not sure how excited I’ll be at the end of the school year. It is coming up quick…my first year is almost over. I’m still going strong…..classroom is in an organized mess (yes, I said organized mess…I’m not the only one at school) I’m still trying to be patient, understanding, fair, and excited about the students learning. I wish I could say I felt the same way in my life outside of school. I’m not patient…dam it I want to go out on a date with a man. (a young, good looking man, with a good personality) understanding….not so much…I don’t understand how me walking on the sidewalk would create people driving by me 2 or 3 times…and oh the honking…adds to my music. Fair…not so much….having cramps in the middle of the week sucks…excited…I’m not that either…what is there to get excited about? No where to go no one to see…nothing to do….no body will play ultimate with me… L

I sound like such a downer right now…well watching the news will do you that these days. Wow is all I have to say….there are so many WOW factors to the massacre that happened at Virgina Tech…sending videos and what not…how can a person think like that, take action at that. I know that we all carry a lot of baggage around with us everyday….but I pray that with all the news coverage…that this doesn’t spill on to campus across the country… People need to learn how to “mind their own life” quote taken from my fifth quote door. “mind your own life” and deal with it on your own life with out involving others…how is killing other people who don’t even know your pissed off going to help anyone? Brain Tracy wrote, “ Decide exactly what you ant in life, write it down in detail, and decide that you will pay the price to achieve it.” Does that mean another person’s life, someone else’s husband, child, or sister?

My prayers go out to all those who are in mourning.

massacre

Well coming home tonight and turning on my TV the news was a little shocking…massacre is what I heard, school violence, university, and 33 dead. I thought to myself how scary it would be to be on that campus, how overwhelming it would be to finish out the semester of school. It makes you think where has the school security gone. Columbine was in ’99 and all the schools really up’ed the security. I feel that schools have slacked off most resent of days.

I guess at ISU I felt safe…I felt safe in class and even walking across campus. I use to walk late at night at least once or twice a week…I may have been a little nervous, but not worried that someone would come out and shoot me.

ISU has had its own riot, Lake Lavern men, hit and runs, and the “ El Nino” flashing man. Still I don’t know if I could even fathom what happened in Virginia. Being a peer minister on campus in the dorms….it isn’t hard to get into somewhere where you don’t live…I did it quite often. I know that they have been working on it….but if people open a door and let you in then how is that keeping others safe?

I wish I could say that I felt my school was ready for something to happen…I have dreams sometimes that something is going to happy and the reaction I take… (I’m weird) I guess I like to know that every precaution has been made…and I don’t know that at my school it has…we don’t have codes, we don’t always have locked doors… I don’t know if any thing will ever happen…it is a small school, you normally hear when people are pissed off. We have had 2 lock downs this year, and I don’t feel like they were done properly.

My prayers really go out to all the family and friends of those lost in the tragic event.

"Calendar Girl"

MAP is done. It is back to teaching to blank faces, rolling eyes, and chatty mouths. As of right now I’m working on getting cheerleading tryouts underway for Missouri, redoing a handbook that is 7 years old for the Corning’s squad.

I am trying to work out my schedule until I move back in July…and then after at least until August…I’m such a planner….but come to the classroom….I’m the biggest BS planner there is…..go with the flow, turn on a dime, switcher woo.

I can’t wait to find out if we don’t have to make up days for the ice storm!!! It has been passed in both houses but is on hold to get signed in. That means I would have 2 week break before starting summer school. Getting out on May 17th would be fabulous. (an extra week isn’t bad…but still)

FoooooD

Wow tonight is the first time I have made myself dinner in a few weeks…or has it been a few months…hmmmm Then I ate…and ate…now my tummy is full..yum yum chicken fried rice.
Cooking for myself is putting something in the microwave for a few minutes and then eating just that. I love to cook don’t get me wrong. I hate the time it takes and the fact that there is only one person eating it after all the work and cleaning it up is a whole other issue, cause Lord knows I hate to do my dishes.


What kinds of things do you avoid?

I avoid dishes, cleaning my house....checking papers......

Bad Call

I have no idea how I could get up at 5 and run on a Monday morning and then run that evening...and not get up this morning to run....I tried...but man is it hard to get motivated when it is raining.

MAP is coming up quickly...I'm nervous and I'm not taking the test...grrr how are my students feeling...I hope no pressure.

QUESTION
do you think it is fair for referees at games to be high schoolers that play for a school team?
I'm normally all for school spirit, sportsmanship and holding my tongue for a lot of bad calls....the other night the games were good, kids did well...played hard....calls sucked...you could tell that the people were getting pissed off in the crowd....and the high school boys refereeing were calling it so that their elementary teams would win.....I couldn't help myself....but to get upset and yell...things like travel....or what...really loud....oops Mr. H. the girls coach went over and told them that he wasn't going to be responsible for the crowd if they didn't get this game under control and call a fair game....it was funny. They were making really bad obvious calls...what was I to do....it was getting to my students.... :-(

Well off to bed...tomorrow is Wednesday!

Top Secret

Well life goes on day by day. MAP tests are just around the corner and I'm nervous that my students may not perform to their abilities.

SECRET:
I may have lots of them, but the secret I'm keeping from my students is that I will not be returning the next year. Instead I'm headed back to my home school to teach kindergarten. It was a tough decision, but I miss being around my family. While living in the same town I grew up in may not be ideal for me....I know that I want to see my friends more and I want to watch my nephew grow up not visit him every 3 months. Don't tell my students (not that any of you know them) I was asked the other day "do you still give it your all or because you have a job lined up you don't care what happens at school?" I replied, " I give it my all, this is my career it doesn't matter where I'm teaching....I'll always give it my all."

I'm moving in July and will be free to run around and visit with people before getting busy in August with school.


The beautiful weather has me out running/jogging again, but I still find myself in the cemetery because people stop to stare, just stop their cars, or the new one is drive and wave continually. My goal is to get up early in the morning and run before school...with the darkness I hope it doesn't discourage me. I would really like to get into shape...or be healthy I should say. I'm not looking at loosing wait, because I'm already sitting ok on a scale, I'm going for muscles and being tone...eating would do me some good. I have been trying to eat healthy food...when I eat.


Well I'm off to bed....I have another 3 nights of basketball this week and a whole tournament on Saturday!!

Take a HINT

Well, the week is over. Grades are done…after spending an entire Saturday at the school. They didn’t even have the system open to import our grades…grrrr.
I went to my students’ game on Friday night, the referee. I want him to leave me alone…he couldn’t take any hint and he kept getting my students involved…I tried to ignore the situation, but nope it wasn’t going away. My body language screamed...I'm not interested. I will admit to being a bitch, but the situation wouldn’t go away. He had the job to do, waving at me in the middle of the game…when I had never even talked to him…wrong. PS he looked older sitting next to me than he did on the court. I called him after blowing him off on Friday night…to apologized for being a bitch…and went on to say how inappropriate it was. I hope that was the end to this whole ordeal, and I dream that it won’t be brought up in class on Monday, Dream was the key word.

Parent Teacher Conferences are in 4 days!

Zebra

As you know, I don't really do the dating thing down in Missouri. However I managed to give out my number the other day just to get a guy kind of off my back.

There was a basketball game, the first one of the season for the 4th-6th grade. I went because they are my students. I was sitting in the front row...cheering them all on game after game. There are 2 referees and they should be watching the game. I don't know how the bald guy found out my name, he has seen me at high school games, but still. any who....
He came over and sat by me during a timeout and asked if I was single...I"m not up to lying about things..I told him yes, but I was a first year teacher....lol He then said that the other ref. thought that I was attractive and he would probably come and sit by me later....I moved up after the 6th grade girls got done to sit by Mr. J's wife. Trying to avoid the situation...and to make a guessing game of the ref's age. We were guessing upper 30's???? Well I thought that moving would do the trick, they couldn't stop mid game to talk to me....man was I wrong. The ref (with hair) sat by the 6th grade girls on the bench...(they were cheering on their classmates) then the bald ref. came over....next thing I know the 4 girls are running up the bleachers to tell me that the "spiky haired ref. thinks your beautiful" Wow was my face red...not at the comment, but the fact that they said it incredibly loud with a gym full of people.

That was all over, I thought I could leave when the game was done with no problem....well I walked out as soon as it was done...walked quickly ;-) and almost made it when the bald ref. came running out of the gym.....yelling my name. I stopped (I don't know why) he kept asking for my number...to give to Dave the shy one....I finally gave in.

Dave ended up calling me 4 times that night...I didn't answer and they didn't leave a message. The next day he called me over lunch...and left a message....

What should I do? I know that he is too old for me and I have no interest, but I don't want to be a bitch...mean you know.

Nothing like a man in uniform...lol...do zebra stripes count as a uniform.

Trout DAY???

Well no interview for me tomorrow...I hear the roads are closed to get into Iowa. My friends and family aren't enjoying the little ice they have, the bunch of snow, or the blustery wind.

Today is Trout Day. I'm sure that with the storm that his us last night and early this morning there weren't a lot of people camping out a waiting the release of the trout. Today the winds are strong....I can't even imagine what fishing is like in wind this strong.

I have been home all day, sleeping (cause I didn't do much of that last night....I don't like tornados) I didn't even go to the school today. I have my lesson plans done for a sub for Friday and Monday just incase....and now I don't even need them. What a waste of 3 hours. I hope that I can still go up and interview, but I guess my childlike voice on the phone will have to do.

I hope all of my friends enjoyed a day off of school today and didn't spend the whole day scooping out their cars in Iowa......

Day in passing

I don't know when it happened, but I received a call from a friend in Ames. Dr. Staley has passed away. All I can think of is driving up there and giving Dylan a big hug and just sit with him. I really had faith that Tim would come out of this and be ok. I didn't really know the whole extent of what was wrong, but I had my prayers. I have an interview on Friday and doubt with this up coming Iowa storm if I'm going to make it up there. I hope to make it up for that and the funeral...but who really knows. I pray that the Lord takes care of Dylan and that he is provided for and comforted. I wish I were in Ames today....

Today was district basketball, I have never been in such a beautiful school. It had a stadium like dome for their basketball court or gym. They had a real theatre with a ticket booth just like the movies....it looked like a hotel from the outside. The team lost by the way...78 or something to 22. Hey at least they did when their last home game...to a really large team.

I'm now in bed I have one day of school...half day really and I'm just hoping it goes well.

Request of Prayer

Well today was the first day of a new 6th grade teacher. All went well. My day was pretty easy (reading, and math test)

Hope to have an interview on Thursday (skipping Trout Day), we don’t have school any way.

Then heading up to Ames, I forgot how much I missed it. I went up this past weekend and went to church and caught up with people. Tonight I realized why I really missed it. I miss the families that I watched grow for years. I had a friend call today and tell me that she received an email on a prof. that I know at ISU that was found in his office unconscious. This man has a grandson that I have watched for over three years. His wife passed away two years ago and it is just the prof., his son, and his grandson. He is at the hospital in critical condition and I just pray that all will be well with him. I wish I could be up there and taking care of Dylan in his time of need. I know he needs a friend, he needs an adult that can take care of him and pray with him. Please help me pray for Dylan and his grandfather.

Shocking News Flash....

“You know those stamps you get on your hand when you go to club that lets you get back in without having to pay. That it is like love you don’t have to pay.” Quote from Dirt

How true is that….Love is just something that is just given sometimes things happen and you have to step back for a while and then because of love you forgive.
Today was a long day tomorrow shouldn’t be as hard. The 6th grade teacher left today…took most of his stuff and left the rest. Kids were a little shocked much of the staff shocked….can’t wait to see what parents have to say later. I talked to the principal this morning and nobody knew for sure what was going to happen, but Mr. H and I didn’t have to move up. I guess things are going to workout. I managed to help the new full time sub that will start tomorrow…did get home until about 9 but I made it and now am heading off to bed.

Home

Did you ever notice how many different homes you have. I always say I'm headed "home" That home could be Ames, it could mean my parents house, it could mean Iowa, or it could mean the place I live in Missouri.

I'm now home from going home??? I had dreams of heading up to Ames Friday night to go out dancing with Ciara and Shannon (planning it for over a month) Left on time after school....got outside of KansasCity and then the snow came...you couldn't see infront of you nor could you see the road or the lanes. I just followed a car in front of me so I knew I was on the road...and held on to my steering wheel for dear life. After making it out of the little blizzard it seemed to slow down after I got out of the city. Snow started up again when I got close to DesMoines. I didn't make it to Ames that night. I made it to my sister's house at 11. Man what a night. I headed DesMoines shopping for dresses and shoes. Then I got to babysit. Sunday I headed up to Ames and went to church, lunch at the Mandrin, and then to the movie Bridge of Terabithia, then sledding...(fun, beautiful snow) I drove and met Shannon for a steamer and then it was home to my sister's were little john was still awake. Awake...yeah 10:30 at night poor little one isn't feeling well today either. Fever and a cough. I met Eberly for an early lunch, and Anderson for a late lunch before heading home to Missouri. I have my resume done so I had to stop and get it printed off (i like mine to be special...so when they pick it up they know I take the time to pull out all the details and that I'm organized)
I got crickets and new Age of the Emires game...so I'm going to try it out and go to bed...I'm not going to think about school until 5:00am tomorrow. It is going to be a long week with the 6th grade teacher quiting..middle of the year, middle of the week....oh the stress...who knows by the end of the week, I could be in a new classroom with 5th grade or I could be in a new classroom teaching 6th grade...

dream sweet

Valentine's Day is Coming

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?…the question that has been asked more than once and it is days away. I respond, “ What I do everyday” Valentine’s Day is a reason to look at my singleness as a blessing because this is a cheap holiday for me. I look at it from another perspective a really sucky one being single and nobody to ever share this freaking lovey dovey holiday with. As I look back upon the years I found a much better thing for celebrating the holiday that is soon approaching:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2005
Love
February 14…otherwise known as Valentines Day. Most of the time people think about candy, flowers, love. (highly over rated) I think about it being another day that passes just like the next. The other day I had written, “what is unconditional love?” Maybe I’m just bitter because the only valentines I received were from 7 year-olds, not really what I expected for my day, but that is ok. I guess lately I keep hearing the same verse over and over. 1 Cor. 13.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
How true is this…where would we be without love, love from God, love from our parents, love from our friends…. love is such an important part of who we are. It is the greatest way to show others that we know and trust in God when we can share love with them and all around us. God first loved us!

Peace, Love, and Groovy,
Kristy


5days and counting until I head to party with my friends!!

Not soon enough

The weekend couldn't have gotten here soon enough. This week felt like the longest one ever. I was more nervous for this week than the first week of school.

I went out last night for the first time ever down here. It was nice to go grab a bite to eat and relax with a beer or two, listen to music, and chat with a friend. I don't have that a lot down here and I appriciate the things that I have. It still cracks me up to see a bunch of lack of clothing wearing >40 year old women grinding on each other to really bad 80's music. *I hope that isn't me some day..... I claim to have skill now, but will I still have the skill then? I hope! (I like to wear all my clothes tho)

I got up this morning...after sleeping in until noon!! I needed sleep. Went and did lesson plans (forgot to do earlier) oops!

I haven't accomplished a lot this weekend so far, guess I will work on stuff tomorrow.
Attempt to work on stuff tomorrow. ;-)

The biggest thing for this week is I just got my MO license to teach. Early Childhood degree was on it...lol who knew that is what I went to school for?
One more thing this week if I haven't said it already. I have a yard...a yard you can see with out all the branches. A company came and fixed my tree, it looks like it will grow back ok.

This week is homecoming week :Theme is under the sea! Another busy week, but 6 more days until I go back to IA!!!!

I made it!

I made it through a 15 hour day at school yesterday...not just being there, but the going going going mode. I felt like I was being put under a magnifine glass...a burning little ant. People came in and out of my classroom, read page by page of student work. Took students out for an hour at a time and interviewed us for over an hour and a half after school.....I'm trying to get caught up on everything...

it is almost eleven....i'm getting up at 5 so I can be at school just to finish up what I haven't had time to do. homecoming is next week. I'm not ready for it.

they took away my break on the 16th and now they are thinking about taking away the 19th day...why can't they take Trout Day away. We don't have school on a thursday because people go fishing for trout? who does that ?

STRESS...Makes me sick! I can't wait until FRIDAY !

dream sweet

The snow is MIA

Well it got up to 42 degrees today. Which hopefully means that everything has melted on the gravel roads and there is no doubt that we have school tomorrow. I just finished my lesson plans…am watching the Super Bowl, but the commercials are very good…or not as good as everyone anticipate them being. In my mind I was thinking over and over again..what are the things I dislike most in life.

1. doing dishes by hand
2. shaving my legs
3. doing other people’s jobs
4. cleaning my house
5. umm I’m sure there is more, but those are the top this list
on the list some where is searching for new jobs, redoing resume, and writing full, really long lesson plans I don't read later.

I was doing my dishes for the first time in a while…I don’t eat a lot and so I don’t do the dishes that often…it uses up too much water.

Random question after seeing the Disney Cinderella III movie preview, coming out soon.

Why can’t they leave well enough alone and classic stories left in the past? I love Disney movies, but making sequels for every single one seems to be ridiculous. They need to be a little more original and come up with another character or two.

Sequels I didn’t like were things like Lion King 2, Lion King 1 ½ for some odd reason that is the only one that comes to my mind that has just went blank.
Aladdin I loved their sequels…but it was a continuing story line anyway.

Praise you in the Storm

I know that I haven't been focused on my faith life. I don't take lightly all the blessings I have in my life. I still look to the Lord for help through all the troubles in my life tho it is torn in many directions.

How often do we find those "storms" in our lives and forget that we are not walking alone..that no matter when there is no human form around us that the Lord God is with us and all we need to do is pray.

Number one form of communication: prayer

"Are you in good hands?"

Once again…flipping through channels (what do you expect on so many days off?) Well I was watching the commercial from (All-state insurance…I think?) The one that says “ You’re in good hands” they have the people driving or sitting in traffic reading a news paper, putting on make-up, even changing their pants….and it got me thinking what kinds of stuff have I done in my car that aren’t the safest things to do while driving? What kinds of things have you done is a better question?

I’ve eaten, talked on the phone, written on a birthday card, read a map, put on make-up, (always singing)…um gone through bags, changed my shoes, ( I don’t recall changing my clothes, but I may have) I have taken off an extra shirt/coat. Oh the best is shaving…yes I said shaving, one of the top ten things I hate doing in my life. I always forgot which days were pool days…for work. You can’t go with unshaved legs. Electric razor is a women’s best friend, you don’t even have to look at your legs and they don’t end up all scratched at the end. (it wasn’t a short drive to work) I think that about covers it.

My normal thing is just singing…I don’t normally eat a whole lot in my car, who really needs maps? J/k I do, but I normally read them while sitting in my car, not driving. Talking on my phone…YES I do that…more than I should, normally with an ear piece in. I haven’t shaved in my car in like 3 years or so.

I know I’m a little random………..but I have no life but school so what do you really expect from me? ;-) 2weeks and counting and I get to see my nephew!

What is too skinny?

I was flipping through channels the other day and saw a really big picture of Tyra. I stopped to listen and the whole topic for the show was about being too skinny...what is healthy, what is our society focusing on.
Well I'll be the first to admit, I have goals of being smaller. I don't have an eating disorder or the erg to be skin and bones. I want to be a healthy tone. I remember my first year in college second semester I made the goal for myself to gain weight. There was a blood drive coming up in school and I wanted to give blood. I was taking a weight training class and we all had to set goals for ourselves. I set that as a goal and lifted weights as much as possible, but in the end managed to loose about 10lbs because I got pneumonia.
I think that there is a healthy size for people. I think that some plus size models are healthy, people are just built differently. Do I think that most of America is obese, you bet to the point where it is leading to more heart conditions. It can be just as unhealthy to be too skinny. I think it is disgusting to see just bones, that isn't beauty. Do I think that how much they weigh is an issue...a little but some times the weight on the scale doesn't mean healthy/not.
Take me for example...I'm not stick thin, meaning I'm not all skin and bones. I have natural curves and weigh under 110lbs and am 5'4" That my appear to be under the BMI for what is normal, but I don't think I'm under weight and I don't think I'm over weight. I think I'm just out of shape (two very different things)
There was this girl on the show that was like the same height as me and she said at that weight she wanted to kill her self....I was like oh my gosh...This girl looked like death, she kept defending that she was healthy and that she was eating and keeping it down...but man was she so tiny and pale.
I feel for those with eating disorder and understand that it is a mental disability.
When I was in high school, my parents thought I had an eating disorder because I never came home to ask for a lunch card and they weren't home for breakfast and I was never home for dinner...they never saw really eat. I did eat, I would go down town because we had open campus, and then went to grandma's for dinner (frozen pizza was always a plus) I never had time for breakfast at home but at 6:30am the bagels were always fresh at the bakery.

I think society puts more of an emphasis on being skinny and not being healthy. Women's curves are natural it is what happens when our bodies mature and tell us that it is prepared to reproduce and have children.

I know that I'm not healthy. I’m not fat...but I could do a better job at watching what I eat. I sometimes just get too lazy to make dinner, or a complete dinner. I eat school lunch almost everyday…..and I normally try to eat a little something for breakfast or my stomach starts to growl during silent reading time in class.

Be Healthy!

Psychotic...Gonna B

I'm going to go nuts...crazy...psychotic.... another day tomorrow at home. Why you may ask, there is about 1/2 inch of snow on the ground still. Oh my. When my principal called tonight to tell me the news, I told her this was insane. I'm going to go in to school in the morning regardless; I need to finish up on work and I don't get anything, but nothing done at home. Lack of motivation, mind set of laziness, day off type thing can you blame me. I do have goals for tomorrow. Finish up redoing my resume and then do my dishes and write out lesson plans for next week. I have to write them out as if I were in college again. I normally write out lesson plans that are just one liners or at least fit into a small box. For Tuesday I have to plan all lessons every subject just incase that is the one they walk in and see...the state is coming to check out our school and I'm getting a little nervous since we have missed 2 1/2 days of school now and need to make up the work in some form...grrrr
I can only stand being by myself for a little while before I find ways to entertain myself like cut my hair or doing more girly things like my nails and shave... who does that stuff...lol

I'm so excited for all my friends and family members that are getting married soon. I have weddings piling up...Andrea in July, Ciara in August, Kendra in September, and Casey in October. Out of the 4 I'm in 3 of them and truly honored. All of it makes me truly happy, but also kind of sad...cause here I am single and no where close any of that...maybe at least being in a wedding is a good sign that there is one of my very own in my future???? It is wishful thinking so please don't make a sad comment in reply. When I was in high school or jr. high I was one of the girls who had a plan...shouldn't have made a plan it only leads to disappointment. What plan you might ask...the plan to get out of school, have my first job, marriage, and first kid...which in my plan should have all happened before I hit 25. High expectations for myself I guess. I guess my plan isn't the same as God's and I just have to wait for his to kick in, cause right now it doesn’t feel like a very good plan in play.

SCHOOL to SCHOOL Where do I go?

I'm so confused, I know that they are going to most likely offer me a contract to work where I'm at next year. The question I keep asking myself is should I? I would love to go back and teach in Iowa...Do I go back to my home town...save some money...go back to teach for a few years in a town super small? I don't know. I think I would be ok?? I enjoy teaching down in MO but there is so much emptiness in me...I don't think that my home town will help fill the void but I'll be closer to my family only an hour and a half from my nephew and my friends compared to six hours. What do I do? I need to update my resume..oh will that take a while.
Does it look super bad if I teach at a school for one year leave and then do it again...if I take the job in my hometown and don't want to stay?

Snow day number 7

GRRR home from school again today! No school another day of being bored. At least there is snow!

Wipe out

Well today I remembered my pants! We always have a late start on Wednesday so kids don't start school until ten. Well today we did DOL, centers, lunch, recess and 15min. of math...then I was told through the grape vine (not announced to everyone....) that we are getting out at 12:30 because of the snow..grrrr. We better have school tomorrow. Nothing has been passed by the state saying that we don't for sure have to make up the days that were missed because of ice. We were told this morning that we are making up one of 6days on Feb. 16....that really pissed me off because I have been planning to go to Ames then for 2months. I'm still going just not as early as I want to! I really don't want to go to school on in to June.

On one hand I don't want the snow because it makes us miss school, but on the other it is really pretty. The snow almost looks fake it is laying on the ground in little round bead like matter.

Well I'm off to be lazy and take a nap...my bum hurts....i took off my tennis shoes because I wore them in the gym (played basketball against freshman boys and mr. J instead of heading home) I stopped at WalMart to get some stuff and walking out to my car...I fell backwards...so my bum hurts.....i don't remember the last time I feel on the snow like that.

OOPs: Forgot my pants

Today is one of those days that I wish I could have started off better. 7:30am I went to go change…and realized I forgot my pants. Wow, what a way to start the day. Then behavior problems all day. 3 o-clock rolls around and school is out, I find myself having to go to the bathroom because during a break I was dealing with those behavior problems and having to observe my mentor (have it done before the state comes to pick our school apart) It doesn’t say how long you have to observe…5 minutes is all I the time I had and that is all she had to watch me. I found out grades are due in the morning…grrrrr talk about a little stress. A good note of the day is my financial advisor is not coming tomorrow so I didn’t do my dishes tonight…what a relief. Well Dirt is on, got to go.

FYI: I had pants on don't get me wrong I leave the house with them on...but I had cheerleading first. I had pj pants on not something I would teach in. I packed clothes....I put in an extra sweater and left my pants on the floor. It took me a while to remember that I had extra clothes on behind my desk.

Body 101

I had to watch the puberty movie with 30 girls today...and help the school nurse answer questions...who knew I was so knowledgeable. lol It was a little awkward, but there weren't a lot of giggles and the movie was new...not a 1970's thing that I was told we would be doing. The girls asked questions for a good 30mins. the male teachers were tired of the boys asking erection questions in the other room so we end our session before all the questions were answered. It didn't go like I thought it would, which was good....it is a little scary. The health talk really throwed off the day for all the men. I had questions from 4th grade girls on and off all day. Do you think 4th grade is too young to do this health talk too?

My weekend will be spent at school, get ready for a review board to visit....and get ready for centers(ideas anybody)

Is it just another school day: Self Mutilation

I’m a little nervous about our MSEP review coming up in just two week….that means a lot of people walking through the school and into my classroom watching me and my students…checking out everything… I have to go back to writing lesson plans full out like in college…(I haven’t done one since student teaching I hope it is like riding a bike!) I am going to be spending the weekend getting ready for it and catching up on everything I can’t get done during the week. They are people from the state…mucho importante and I don’t have my license to teach in Missouri yet…it is in process>>> Oh the nerves<<< The first 2days back weren’t bad my students pulled out some great reports about racism and they managed to get wonderful water cycle projects after their long break. However…the boy girl I’m going out with her I don’t like him…(stuff I hate to hear) has been going on since Monday in full swing.
I have a student who is using self-mutilation because he/she is bored. I saw it today. I didn’t know what to tell him that wouldn’t sound like a sermon. I tried to get across that it can lead to death and why it is important to find other ways to express himself…like instead of writing his name on his/her leg he could draw all over it. It reminded me of high school ( if you haven’t read previous posts…I think I have written about it) I use to cut myself …not deep I don’t have any scars now…I cut myself shaving the other day…and it brought back memories of what I use to do to myself…and now this! I feel like I accomplished something by getting through all of it on my own (my faith helped me out…GOD) I didn’t do it because of boredom…I didn’t it out of anger, pain, selfishness I guess. I did the drawing thing to help me get past it…I wore long selves all the time and I look back and am kind of ashamed of what I did, but I’m getting past the shamefulness and moving on to why I did it and how I’m a stronger person for making it out without too much fuss or trouble. I learned not to judge those who did it, but learn to find out the reasons why. I claim that cutting is like a drug or alcohol.. it is hard to stop it is addicting much like chocolate cake…you know you shouldn’t eat it because it isn’t good for your body…cutting is the same way…but at the time it felt good. Well there is me spilling my guts. I’m off to bed. Dream Sweet

Be kind…I love comments…but don’t look at me with judging eyes and think of me a freak…I was 15, the over achiever, over active, loner, that was feeling a lot of pain and anger. High school was the time that I wasn’t home, wasn’t out going to parties…I was out doing things all the time for school, work, the community..4-H this 4-H that, I missed out on so much because I did too much. I loved being busy most of the time, but felt pressure from everyone that I had to be perfect had to please them and do everything. That isn’t any way to live and I figured it out after I started taking out my pain and the pain I felt I was causing and others. I made that pain into a physical reminder. I am grown, matured, and have been inspired to get through my pain in other ways. I really want to help this student….but I’m not sure what I can say (I don’t think I’m going to tell them my story…not appropriate) I haven’t even told the parent because I couldn’t get a hold of them…grrrr any ideas on how to deal with this…?

Ok now I'm off to bed...a repeat of Dirt is on...no fun watching it twice in a row. Night

Warning: Monthly Woman Vent (males may not want to read)

I don’t think you know pain until you are curled up at your desk and almost to the point of passing out, retaining so much water it feels like you could float like an oil tanker. Today was just one of those days….I wish I was a guy or I wish I could just stay home and not teach in front of 23 students when it was that time of the month…because it is really hard to look like you are enjoying what you are teaching when you want to just fall over on the floor or take a nap(passout) in the book corner.
I needed to vent: Sorry if you read it and you didn’t mean too.


Cramps SUCK and they won't go away no matter what meds. I take grrr

Ice storm the Meltdown

Today is another day at home except it is now over 40degrees outside and sunny. A company came and cut down branches on the tree outside my house. I can now see my driveway!!! I still have a cable line down but I can work around it. Everything is melting more branches are falling. I have had electricity all day except for a little time this morning. (not bad) The trees are dripping as if they are crying tears of joy, but have a heavy heart as more of them break into pieces because of the weight. The town I live in is a mess, much like the surrounding area it truly is a shame to see all the trees broken and not able to be fixed, many will need to be cut down when this is all done and others will look a little naked waiting for years of regrowth to correct it’s unshapely appearance. I know that there is snow in the forecast for the upcoming weekend, but for the sake of my sanity I really hope not. Once again here are some more pictures of the meltdown in Missouri.

Venus Vs. Mars

Last night I was watching Oprah…they were talking about how men don’t understand women and women don’t understand men. Why is that?

One line that stuck out was “women keep crazy in a bottle for 6months while dating a man and then slowly opens it and lets the crazy seep out.” I was thinking…wow that sounds ridiculous at first…and then whoa isn’t that the truth? Isn’t it weird how man and woman are so different? How often do you keep some secrets from a person until you get more comfortable around them? This in my opinion goes for male and female. There are things you don’t want the opposite sex to know until they have known you for a while. That way they can’t just judge you on one incident. (that is why I wait to bring people home to meet the family…when you meet some you meet a lot of my family ‘cause it is a small town) What kinds of things do you keep from the other half of you? Hmmm For me it is being around them when I’m sick (really sick) or not wearing my glasses around them. It is a comfort thing. I’m not sure about the craziness part, I’m sure I get to be more talkative, more out going, more relaxed.

Men claim that women don't say what they mean. Well I’ll be the first to admit sometimes (not often I may go around saying what I mean) I’m not always straightforward and blunt, but 98% of the time I say what I mean like most women. Even if we say what we mean…. men don’t understand or end up reading too deep into what we are saying making it something new and meaningless or better yet they just tune us out.

When I ask for a man to pick something out to do or an opinion on something I’m looking at them participating in decision making, I don’t need them to make the right choices, just pick something or be involved in it. Like should I wear the black dress or the brown dress to dinner…doesn’t really matter to me which one, but I want participation from the man I’m dating. The question they asked to men on Oprah was if your girlfriend or wife was on a diet to loose 25-30lbs and you catch her digging into a chocolate cake what would you say or do? I don’t even know what I would do…my guess is I would give my man a stern look and take the cake into the other room and eat it myself or better yet split it so they weren’t eating as much.

Why is it that when hanging out with friends that are female you talk about guys and when hanging out with guys majority of the time all you hear about is sex related topics? If men were to write about what is important in a relationship…the main chapter would be what? *** Most women may have mentioned sex, but would have talked more about the verbal aspect of a relationship and then break that into smaller complicated parts.

Why is it women feel like they can’t eat in front of men? I know I went through that stage, but it was in high school ( I didn’t eat a lot any way) I don’t do it so much any more…I got pasted the “oh he might think I’m a pig stage” Don’t get me wrong sometimes I flat out can’t eat everything they put on a plate…most restaurants are giving double the serving size of what we should be eating. My stomach isn’t that big. Do men mind a girl who takes home a doggy bag?

Why is it that men don’t like to be challenged by women? If a women is better at something naturally over a man then the man gets a little stuck up and reserved or just all out claims they let you, the female, win at something so it wouldn’t hurt your feelings? I’m not good at a lot of things take pool for example I suck. Foosball I can kick a guys ass on if I’m in a bar and the table isn’t iced over smooth (I need friction and control). Men normally get uptight if they don’t have things their way when in comes to competition. (generalization)

What can I say on this topic…I’m not going to claim that women are more organized and generally cleaner than men…because lord knows I know that isn’t true. There are soooo many generalizations made and imbedded in us as we grow. For instance as a baby you are normally wearing a lot of pink as a girl and blue as a boy…you are playing with dolls and interested in beauty, and cooking as a girl and cars, dirt, and machinery as a boy. Those are things our own society markets as we are children. Every culture has its own ideal identity for the gender roles in their society. Times are changing...I'm not a big fan of pink (i'm trying to change it up a bit) I was the little girl who liked GI Joes, Legos, dirt, and bugs...I stilled liked Barbies, dolls, and dress up. I enjoyed having tea parties with my grandmother and gram'a Jan, but enjoyed playing on mounds of dirt a work sites of my dads.....I still don't fit any type of cookie cutter mold society would like to use on people. What kind of person are you? Are you a star shape cookie, heart, or maybe that holiday bell shape?

Well I’ve bounced around a lot in my typing today…keep in mind most things are just random.

BREAKING NEWS

Another day at home…with not a lot to do and BREAKING NEWS tomorrow is another day at home..... day 5 of missing school and day 7 of spending it alone. I want to go to school; I want to go back to work. I hope that we still get breaks that are scheduled and make up an extra week in May.

Yet another day of no school...

It was a little chilly this morning when I got up and didn't have power. Keith came down and took me to Wal-Mart (the only place that was open, the only place with electricity in the whole town, it has been closed for days) We got some clippers and trimmed the tree so that I can move my car. Today was the first day I had left my house since Friday. I was shocked at the damage all over town. This town was hit hard and I can't imagine how long it will take to clean up or where they are going to put it all.

No School AGAIN....

I'm so bored and still can't get out of my driveway...the school that I work at now has heat and power....but a water line broke so no school again tomorrow until they can get the high school cleaned up. I just got the internet to work about 5minutes ago and have been on the phone with electrical company and the cabel company...grrrr why do they always play such bad music when you are on hold, is it so people don't sing on the phone? I still have heat and water (i'm blessed) I'm just bored...going crazy from not leaving my house since friday night. Here are some more pictures!

No School

No School...I have nothing to do, but at least I have heat. Last night was a little chilly...the whole town was black...really black and I curled up in my bed with lots and lots of blankets. I'm not sure that we will have school tomorrow. If we do more branches have fallen and I can't get my car out to go there because of all the newly fallen branches.
I remember as a child ice storms weren't much fun either, I don't remember the year. I was young and it was October (right before Halloween) My sister and I were playing monopoly on her bed when the electricity went out. I remember going out to the shed to tell my dad, my mom was at work. When the electricity went out that also meant that we didn't have water either, because at that time we had well water (take electricity to pump up the water)
I remember mom bringing home pizza for dinner. When it got dark we lit the kerosene lamps all over the house and played Win Lose or Draw and 20questions. I remember not having school and the town canceling Halloween because of all the ice, snow, and cold temperatures. Well knowing that the town had already bought all that candy I remember walking a few streets with my cousin Josh and his mom. He was a lion just a mask and a tail I was some type of animal I think a peacock mask. We were both as bundled up as we could be. (we got a lot of candy that year) Ice storms...just meant that you couldn't get a glass of water from the sink...and you had a lot of time to spend playing games and playing outside. Now it is sleeping.....checking papers, and sleeping, catching up with friends on the phone.

ICE....ICE...and More ICE

I'm so glad to finally be able to get online. I haven't had cable or the Internet since Friday night and have been bored out of my mind. I can't really go anywhere and there isn't anybody to talk to. If you didn't know an ice storm has hit the lower Midwest. I've been in an ice storm before, but never have I heard or seen the damage being done (and it isn't over). I'm fortunate to have electricity most of the time, which means heat, and my tree out front hasn't gone through any windows or hit my car (so things aren’t all bad) Earlier I said I could hear the damage. Well just lying in bed you could hear the trees break and limbs fall to the ground it is an eerie feeling to hear such a sound and question where it came from. Well I don’t think we will be having school tomorrow, but who knows? I placed some pictures on here. The first one is off a bush from the first ice storm back at the end of November and now look at the bush. This is it melted.....week later!

ICE Pictures

....more pictures of the storm

What is you status?

Oprah, yes I watch it on occasion (because it is on later now) I was watching it tonight and they were talking about class…. It totally got me thinking.
What class are you in now, what class do you hope to be in some day, what class were you in as a child, does class matter? Does the “ American dream” seem real? Does a work ethic change for each class? Does your class have to do with luck, just the way you were brought up, or your parents? Questions on my mind.

3 class indicators: (according to the man on Oprah)…I just happen to agree with this.
weight, teeth, dialect (local means not as educated)

Well I personally feel like I grew up in lower class, we didn’t have a lot as children…bargin hunters were we, playing in the mud, going to work with dad. I didn’t know any different, and I didn’t feel like I stood out in school until like jr. high. In jr. high girls started wearing name brand jeans that cost $100 and I knew that that wasn’t an option…nor did I think that was a smart choice. Still to this day I’m the same way (favorite store is the Dollar Tree everything is $1.) I don’t like to pay more for a swimming suit with less material than a pair of jeans. My parents worked hard, they always worked at owning things…they own their house, they own their land…they aren’t in debt to anyone…they are on their own. They worked to graduate college and I feel that they are in the upper middle class now just looking at the amount of money that they bring it. I am in aw that they have always had a strong work ethic and spend money with the intent of bettering something and not just to be spending it.
I personally feel like I am middle class, because I have more than others material wise, I am educated (meaning I have a college education)….but financially because I’m just out of college it would appear that I’m lower class based on the $ or lack their of.
I hope to own my own house someday…and be out of dept and be rather happy just to be in middle class.
I don’t think I would want to be upper class, I want to make sure that work ethic, pride, and education is all apart of my future child’s being and knowing many people in all sorts of class levels…the upper class loses a lot of the ideals that makes America great. The gap in the U.S. is so great….there are really poor and really rich and not so many in between…I want to just be in the middle.