Hallelujah!

School's out until January 5th!
Two kids asked if I was coming back after Christmas.
I guess they took that empty threat pretty seriously.

Blue Christmas

Well, blue and silver. This year I focused on a color scheme for my Christmas decor. I still have my Santa theme, but I wanted to add a little sophistication to my new place. Here are a few of my old and new treasures for the season.

Plays Well With Others

It's report card time at school, and I always have the hardest time coming up with an individualized comment for each student. It's just so easy to say, "Keep up the good work!" or "Your child is a great student!" But it's tedious and boring, and the parents in this area expect more than a canned comment.
For a laugh, one of the teachers at school put a note in all of our boxes called "Report Card Comments Teachers Would Love To Use." They were pretty funny, so I decided to list some of my favorites here:

• Since the last report card, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.
• This student is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
• The student has a full six pack but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.
• When the student's IQ reaches 50, he should sell.
• Gates are down, lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.
• If this student were any more stupid he'd have to be watered twice a week.
• It's hard to believe that the sperm that created this student beat out a million others.
• The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead.

So there it is. I'm sure some of you are appalled that teachers find humor in stuff like this. You'll also be horrified then to know that we could find at least one student in our classrooms to attach each of these statements to. I apologize, but if I didn't laugh at stuff like this, I'd be crying my eyes out everyday!

I Won't Even Mind If You Call Me Crazy!

Holiday decor, and the like, all have their time and place. According to me, that time and place is 12:01 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving through 11:59 p.m. on December 25. You wouldn't believe the lights and such that have been gracing peoples houses and yards already. I drove by a house last night that looked like Christmas had thrown up all over the front yard! It's still November...mid-November...nowhere near decoratin' time! Having said that, you may have noticed the change of background on my blog. You'll notice the date of this post and you'll say, "Huh, she's breaking her own rules." Here comes the part where I don't care if you think I am a nutcase! I just spent the last hour and a half trying to figure out how to change the damn background on this thing, and when it finally worked and I had copied and pasted this holiday themed template on to my blog, there was no way I was going to mess with it again! So here it is, the holiday background, put up way too early. And just to make things worse...it will probably stay up through Easter.

Frustrated!

I am trying to change my blog background for the holidays using a background from http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com, and I am following the instructions to a tee, but still can't make it work. The background I have now is from the same site, and I obvioulsy got those instructions correct, so what am I doing wrong this time? Anyone willing to help?

Civic Duty

In the state I live in, mine may not. But...

I did my civic duty by voting (and I voted early, suckers!). Now go do yours!

36 Today...

...I don't want to talk about it.

Birthday Lunch

This is my sister Julie. She took me out to lunch yesterday to celebrate my upcoming birthday. She said that she wanted to take me out because she knew how important my birthday is to me (in that I have always believed that my birthday should be a national holiday), and that since I am in a different situation than the rest of my siblings (unmarried, no kids, pathetic <----she didn't say that last part) she wanted to do this for me. I thought that was so sweet and started to get teary. She said if I cry I would have to turn the car around and take her home. Ah, this is why we get along so well. We are equal parts funny and equal parts crabby! Thank you, Julie! I had a fabulous time!

Before Winter is Upon Us

Alright, so it's nearly half way through October, and I am just getting around to doing a fallish post. I wish I was better at keeping up on posting and finding time to do so. Wait, I wish I had a more interesting life to blog about. I took some pictures around my house of my Autumn/Halloween decor and made a mosaic of them. I hope this satisfies my seven readers until I can come up with something more to blog about.

A Common Goal

Here are my cats, LuLu and Ruby. I am documenting this for the sole purpose of showing that this is the closest in proximity that these two cats have been to each other since LuLu came to live with Ruby and me almost 4 years ago. I opened my bedroom window this morning to let the fresh air and sun in, and apparently, the draw to the outside was strong enough for both of them that they didn't care that the other one was there. Don't let that fool you though...30 seconds later they were in there respective areas of the room hissing it up. But it was cute while it lasted.

Welcome...

It's been a while since I've blogged, I know. At least nobody's been hounding me for a new post...wait is that because you all stopped reading? Anyway, for those of you that are left, there isn't much to update you on at this point. I moved into my new place almost a month ago and school started almost 2 weeks ago. Those two things alone have been keeping me super busy. I have a great class this year (with great parents I might add). They might be the chattiest bunch I have ever taught, in which regard, I am realizing is my punishment for being kicked out of classes my whole life for talking too much! But they are adorable and we'll make it through! Also, I love my new house, albeit, the huge payment I made at the beginning of this month. WOW! Yeah, I am hoping I don't starve to death come October. No, really, this is one of the best things I have ever done. Here is a picture of my entry way...Welcome! I bought the table, mirror and pumpkins yesterday. I still have a few things to secure to make my house complete, but that is all part of the fun! I'm sure there will be more posts and pictures to come as I embark on the adventure of owning my own home! Until then, thanks for stopping by! Please come again!

No Cruise for You

Sorry to disappoint, dear readers, but I'm afraid I don't have a whole lot to report about the cruise, for a couple of reasons: 1) Currently, I don't have the time. As most of you know I am moving to a new house, and unfortunately that is taking precedence at the moment...the moment being today and tomorrow, and 2) Honestly, I was pretty disappointed in the whole experience. Don't get me wrong...I had so much fun with my friends and we all got along famously (this is why I am including a bonus picture of us). It was the actual cruise that was not what I expected, and, to make matters worse, I was seasick most of the time! So there it is. Maybe six months from now when I stop feeling queasy and dizzy (yes, I am still seasick), I will be able to look back and laugh about the whole thing. But for now...no cruise for you!

Mine

I was hoping to post this great "mine, all mine" post with pictures of my new place, but it just didn't happen. I closed yesterday and everything went smoothly! I am finally excited about my house. Now it's just the cruise that I have to get on board with!

Not Excited

Maybe I haven't been posting because I never liked the style of my blog. I took some time to remedy that this morning...more time than I could afford actually. Lots of stuff going on right now. The next few weeks (especially this coming week) are going to be busy. A short list of the things that will be transpiring: Closing on my townhouse, packing for my cruise, leaving for the cruise, packing up my house, moving, settling in, and school starting. I am so overwhelmed. I don't know where to start, so I don't. I just sit around and let the time slip away. Like right now. I should be packing for something, but instead I am here writing about it. I don't have the motivation to do anything. I am not excited about any of these things. Is that normal?

Red, White and Blah!

I love my mom and dad, the 4th of July was alright and the rest of the weekend sucked!

Vacay!

We're actually doing this! Two of my friends and I finally came to an agreement on a date and location and today we booked our vacation! We are headed to the Bahamas, via a cruise ship, in early August. I am so excited! I haven't been on a summer vacation in 2 years. For quite awhile, I have been begging my friends to let me head up the planning on a vacation for the summer. These friends aren't teachers like me, so it's harder for them to schedule their time off, especially in the summer when everyone wants time off. So this is the summer that it all came together. We made the final decision last night...two of us were in for sure, and our other friend needed a push. We were delighted when she gave in! Then we all stood there and put vacation conditions on each other. Yes, conditions. I mean we are 3 independent women in our 30s. We are pretty set in our ways and we know each other all too well. So, S needs to work on her attentiveness and time management before the cruise. "Lisa" needs to work on her rigidity (is that a word?), and according to the other two I need to work on my moodiness. Hmph! What moodiness? I think I need to work on my tan! So the countdown begins, and I couldn't be happier!

Last Day

Anyone who knows me, knows that I say the same thing at the end of every school year: I love this class, and I am going to miss them the most. This statement has never been more true than it is this year. I mean, look at them (nevermind the fact that it's probably all kinds of illegal to have their pictures up here without permission). They are probably my favorite class in all the ten years that I have been teaching. I've been tearing up all week. And the other day I warned them that I would cry on the last day of school. I told them if they didn't cry on the last day of school then I'd be mad (hee hee). I told them to go home and practice. They asked all week what we were going to do on the last day of school. I told them we would go to an assembly from 9:00 to 10:30, have recess, get ready for lunch, go to lunch and finally, cry our eyes out after lunch until the bell rang to go home. So you'll appreciate that one of my students asked early this morning, "Miss Martin, are we crying after first recess, or after lunch recess...I can't remember." So sometime after lunch I sat down to say my goodbyes and I lost it. And by "lost it" I mean sobbing so hard that I had to put my face in my hands to control myself. They couldn't make out a word that I was saying. Finally, I raised my head up I saw the looks on their faces. A few of them were crying as hard as I was. I told them I loved them, that I would miss them terribly and that I was afraid that the second the bell rang they were going to walk out the door and forget all about me. Twenty-five little voices, in protest, said, "We could never forget you!" Ten years later, I KNOW that I am in the right profession. Nothing else, no presents, no treats, no nothing makes this job more worth it than to hear kids say they love you and that they will always remember you. Here's to Miss Martin's class of 2007-2008! May we always remember each other!

Other Option

I guess I never had it in my head that the Jazz losing could be an option. How very disappointing. You know who the real winners are? The refs. They can pretty much choose any team they want and help them win. You know they're biased. Anyway...Go Celtics!

If Downhill Equals Nosebleed, Then That's Where I'm Headed

Alright, many of you will think I have the capacity to write about only two subjects: School kids and The Jazz. Well, with only 17 days of school left, and being smack in the middle of NBA Playoffs, what else is there to write about? I don't have any new school stories. You guessed it. This one is about The Jazz. I have a ticket to Friday's game. YEEHAW! Yep, I'm going. And it's either the game to hold on, or the game that wins it all. You know I'm hoping for the latter. Because, COME ON! Who wouldn't want to be a part of THAT?

Heaven Help the Space Program

We did a project at school the other day that involved the kids making paper dolls of themselves depicting who or what they will be in 20 years. I asked them the write their names and occupations on the back of the dolls before turing them in, so that I could write that information on a tag that I would tape next to the dolls when I hung them out in the hall. As always, some kids don't listen or follow directions very well, and inevitably E was one of those kids.

Me: (holding up the doll for E to see) E, I can't tell what your doll is, and you didn't write it on the back. What are you planning on being in 20 years?
E: Well, I don't know what they call it, but when I grow up I want to be the first person to walk on Saturn's rings. But, if that's too much for you to write, Miss Martin, you can just go with astronaut.
Me: Umm, yeah. I'm just going with astronaut.

The things this kid comes up with astounds me. You may remember his theory on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. being assassinated with a light saber. This kid is either going to be the next Einstein or the next Unabomber.

It's All Downhill From Here

Friday night. The game was incredible. The Jazz killed it! We were so lucky (and so spoiled) to get those tickets. Free parking pass, dinner in the sponsor room, 18th row seats and snacks at halftime. I'm not sure I could go to another Jazz game without all of those perks! (Who am I kidding...I'd watch them from the nosebleed with not so much as a piece of gum for a snack!)
Above is the anatomy of our evening told through pictures.

#1 -- Who's that guy with the long, white socks? HOT.
#2 -- Connie and I are just happy to be out on a Friday night (even if our companionship was that of two 13 year old boys).
#3 -- Halftime at the sponsor room...Jake and K.J. think they are GANGSTA! Oh, boy...
#4 -- Ok, so Connie and I think we are, too!
#5 -- The ride home. Period.

It's Game Day!

That's right, folks! It's game day...Jazz game day! My brother-in-law was gracious enough to give me tickets to tonight's game. All I have to do to repay him is haul two thirteen year old boys with me. Done. Did I mention the seats are on the 18th row? Eighteenth. Row. Potentially close enough for me to throw myself directly at Kyle Korver.

Still Missed

Quite possibly the love of my life...

Grant

(December 3, 1973 - April 2, 2005)

Perhaps a Bit Too Far

I mentioned a few weeks ago how I have become rather obsessed with watching basketball. Specifically Jazz basketball. Specifically Kyle Korver. Wait, I digress. Anyway, I love watching their games. I have only been watching since mid-January, and I have only not been able to watch 3 of the games since then. I look forward to watching the games on tv. I feel sad when there is not a game on. I have learned the basketball lingo, the rules, the calls just from watching. Well, I am out on recess duty today, and I wander over to watch some of the third grade boys playing a pick-up game. They're running. They're passing. They're shooting. Great game. Until C reaches over A to try and get the ball. Before I realized what I was doing, I blew my whistle and called a reach-in foul on C. It was one of those slow motion moments. The boys turn around. The ball dribbles away unattended. Jaws are hitting the pavement and there I am with a whistle hanging out of my mouth. Next thing I know, the bell rings and the game is over. Walking back to where the classes line up, I overheard a boy, who is not in my class, say to a boy from my class, "Hey, you think you could get your teacher to ref our game at last recess?" Ahh...I have just earned my place (among 9 year old boys everywhere) as the coolest third grade teacher ever!

R.A.N.D.O.M.

I know, I know! I haven't been here in a while, but I did warn you up front, dear internet, that I didn't have much to discuss. It's been a sick month. And by sick I do not mean "good"--you know, like the kids are using it these days. I mean I have been sick with something for 3 weeks out of the last month.

Week 1: Monday, Feb. 18 -- Flu
Week 2: Monday, Feb. 25 -- Cough, Cold & Sinus
Week 3: Monday, Mar. 3 -- Cough, Cold, Sinus & Allergies

It's winding down. I can feel it. Just in time for Spring!

So, I was tagged by my sister to come up with 7 random facts about myself. What a good way to jump start my blogging!

1. I hate driving. I hate being in the car. I think I was never meant to be in a car, and I think I get temporary Tourettes Syndrom when I drive because I never swear as much as when I am in the car. Why do I hate driving? Ask Holly.

2. I am addicted to cheesey, arcade-like games on the internet. I can waste hours playing those games and not even realize it.

3. I love Starbucks and have a specific drink for each season. Fall is a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Winter is a Peppermint White Mocha. Spring is a Honey Latte. Summer is Vanilla Frappachinos.

4. I have subscribed to a scrapbook kit club for nearly a year, and have made exactly 4 layouts. I love collecting the paper and supplies, but rarely want to use them.

5. When I was in high school I wanted to be an accountant. I took several classes in accounting, but became quite bored with it. My accounting teacher asked it I would be his T.A. for a semester. That's when I knew I wanted to be in front of the class, not sitting in it. I LOVE BEING A TEACHER! I can't imagine myself doing anything else!

6. I am obsessed with the Farmers Market. I look forward to it each summer. I buy the exact same things everytime I go: peaches, apples, and fresh mozzarella balls.

7. I am a fast reader and reading is a favorite hobby of mine. However, I only read at night right before I go to sleep. I never pick up a book in the middle of the day. Along with this, I love to read murder mysteries. Those are my interim books while I wait for my bookclub to finish our book selection.

Well there you have it. I think I am supposed to tag other people, but I'm thinking that anyone who reads my blog has already been tagged by someone else. So, if you haven't been tagged and you are at a loss for a blog post, this one works just great!

The Second Most Hated Day in the Life of a Teacher

Can you see the chaos? Can you feel it? Does it make you as tired as it makes me? I am so glad that day is over. I loved Valentine's day as a kid, but as a teacher, it's a whole different story!

Students: What do you mean we have to do Reading and Math today? Do you know what today is?
Me: Yeah. It's Thursday.

But don't let the bitterness fool you, because after all is said and done, I know it's for the kids. And there is a lot of love in my classroom. I adore my students, and evidenced by the loot below, they adore me, too!

Paying Homage to Benjamin Franklin

I know it's been awhile since I have posted...just know that have stayed true to my bitter-single-girl-in-Utah persona while I have been away. Sometimes being lonely and depressed is too lonely and depressing to write about. So onward and upward to....well, not much. Went shopping today with my mom and had a grand time. Anytime I can spend money (which, incidentally, I don't really have to be spending) is great. When I came home I started some laundry, only to have the power go out shortly afterwards. Luckily it was between the wash and dry, and not mid-cycle. It was getting colder and darker and the only thing I could think to do that didn't require power was a hot bath. I was ready to call it a night after that, mind you it was only 5:50 p.m. The power finally came back on at 6:15 p.m. I was without power for nearly 3 hours. And as I sat in the cold and dark I couldn't believe how much I (we) rely on power! I couldn't heat up anything, or watch TV, or play on the computer, or even turn on a light to read a book. Needless to say, thank heavens for electricity!

Choose or Lose

It's getting closer to the Western Primary Election, and I am suddenly panicked! I know what party I am registered with, and I am planning to vote within that party. (Here in Utah you have to be registered with a party to be able to vote in the primaries.) However, I was pretty clear about who I planned to vote for until TODAY. I don't know why I feel anxious about this, but to ease that anxiety, I have been frantically looking online for those match-yourself-to-a-candidate websites to see if I can find an answer that I feel comfortable with. Trouble is...I am being matched with different candidates depending on the website (well, at least the sites are matching me with the two candidate choices I am grappling with and not somebody I haven't even heard of). I think it might be because the questions about the issues are worded differently on each site, too. I would love some insight from anyone willing to share! My dear interenet, do you know who you are voting for?

P.S.--Here are some of those websites so you can see for yourself!

Candidate match game - USAToday.com

Vote Match USA

Pick Your Candidate

P.S.S.--Oh yeah and to make matters worse, there will be 6 more weeks of winter! Boooooo!

Obsession of the Week

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a girly-girl...as girly as they come. My philosophy on attending sporting events: I can sleep at home for free. However, when you are home on a Friday night (yes, a Friday night) during a writers' strike, your choices are limited. I stumbled upon the Utah Jazz game. I had been a Jazz fan in the past, like 10 years ago, when they were strong playoff contenders, and when Stockton, Malone and Hornacek ruled the hardwood. But as it turns out, I am still a Jazz fan. Who knew? Not only did I watch the entire game on Friday night, I sought out the game on Sunday and rushed home from the gym to catch the game last night! They beat all three teams (the Kings, the Rockets and the Spurs, respectively). They are playing the Knicks tomorrow. Guess who'll be watching that? Plus, Williams and Boozer could give the old players a run for their money. And Kyle Korver? He's just plain hot.

Snow Day

When I woke up this morning and looked out the window at the winter wonderland, I declared today a snow day. And by snow day, I mean sitting in your pajamas all day, with absolutely no intention to leave the house, and showering just to get clean. And I also live by the rule that if you have a day off and you plan on doing anything, you should get it done before the official work day ends (in my case 3:35 p.m.) or it's just not worth doing. So the two things I wanted to do were most definitely done before that time.

#1 -- Make cupcakes.

I made cupcakes using the aforementioned cupcake book. I used their basic cupcake recipe, and they are yummy! The batter was so creamy. I even ate one pre-icing (and everyone knows the best part of a cupcake is the icing).

#2 -- Scrapbook.

I have recently caught the scrapbookin' bug again. My sister, Holly, inspired me. So I have done 3 layouts in the last 2 days. The one I did today was a winter one (in keeping with the 'snow day' theme), and I am really proud of it. The picture of the layout isn't the greatest, but I think you'll get the gist. This layout was done using the January kit from Personal Scrapper. The layout that inspired this one is a layout ironically called Snow Day.

Cleanliness is Next to Neicey Nash

Who wants a clean house? Ahhhh...don't you just love the feeling of a clean house? I just spent the last 2 hours cleaning mine. Now my weekend is free. The sign of a clean house around here is lit candles. So I will leave you with a shot of the top of my entertainment center, and the peace of mind that I'm not wallowing in the filth that was.

Finally

The one with the most "bunkos" wins the cash. For almost two years I have been playing Bunko with this group, and I have never won the money. Until tonight.

Star Wars vs. The Civil Rights Movement

Student 1: Miss Martin, what is the name of the guy who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr.?
Student 2: I heard it was James Earl something.
Student 1: Oh, yeah! I know! James Earl Jones!
Me: James Earl Jones DID NOT kill Dr. King! The assassin's name was James Earl Ray. James Earl Jones is an actor who did the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars.
Student 3: Miss Martin, I bet if James Earl Jones killed Dr. King he would have used a lightsaber.

Current Events

Overheard on the playground today during recess. A bunch of little girls were standing around on the blacktop.

Girl 1: It's freezing out here today.
Girl 2: I know. We should all stand close together to get warm.
(They bunch themselves together as tightly as they can.)
Girl 3: Hey! This is what they call global warming!

And you guys thought kids didn't know what was going on in the world!

Three Little Things That Made Me Happy Today

1. Cupcakes--I got this book for Christmas and I love it. I have yet to make any cupcakes from this book. But I did make some last night from a box, and they are yummy. My friend came over today and we were eating some of them when I heard her say, "I'm cupcaking all over the place!" Huh? Who knew "cupcake" could become a verb. They were kind of messy.

2. Conversation hearts--I know it's too early for Valentines candy, but I can't help myself! If they are going to start putting those things out the day after Christmas, then I'm going to start buying them up! They know exactly what they are doing.

3. A good breakfast--Bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, french toast...basically the House Breakfast at the Other Place Restaurant. Mmmmm boy!

Okay. I just realized that all the little things that made me happy today are food related. Heaven help me! I'm going to the gym tomorrow.

Lookie Here, Lookie Here...

Turns out I can customize a blog! I would be remiss if I didn't thank all of you who chimed in with the help! And like Andrea, I'm not sure I'll be changing my layout anytime soon! But it was fun, and I printed the instructions just in case. Thanks again, everyone, for your support of the new blog! I'm still wrestling with what to fill my posts with. I'm sure it will get easier! Since I spent most of my morning, and apparently now into my afternoon, doing this so I'm off to eat lunch, correct papers, and watch some TV.

Answers and Questions

Here's the thing...I don't want to mention any names, not because I don't trust you, my dear readers, but because it's just foolishness, and I would hate to have someone think I am splashing their name all over the internet in vain! It's just a guy. A dumb guy. Someone I really like(d). Someone who doesn't know what he's missing out on!
Now don't think just because I won't mention his name that I'll be writing cryptically in all of my posts. Oh no. There will be names, dates, times, places, etc.
However, one of my friends, when she found out I was planning to start a blog, said, "Crap. That means I'm going to be making it into some of your posts. Can I have an alias?" So, hello "Lisa"! This one's for you!

Question: Is there anyone out there in bloggerland that can help me through the steps of customizing my blog, you know, with the cute digital scrapbooking kits?

Ghost from the Not-So-Distant-Past

What do you do when someone you have all but written off contacts you? Someone you have worked days, weeks, months to get over? It's unsettling, unnerving, uncalled for and unappreciated! I can't wait to hear from someone again.

High Hopes

I really had such high hopes of getting this thing off the ground today...you know, snazzing it up with some pictures, maybe a customized blog banner, etc. But it's 9:15 p.m. and I want to go to bed. I just wasted 2 hours watching Dance Wars (not sure how I am feeling about this new show as of yet) and I have a faculty meeting in the morning. I'll see what comes of this tomorrow afternoon! As for now goodnight!

Happy New Blog!

Yes, I am doing it. I am starting a blog. I have several friends that blog who are constantly telling me to start one, and I keep telling them that no one wants to hear from a bitter, single girl in Utah. So here you go friends who blog, and friends who are otherwise affliated. This is for you. And maybe down the road this will be more for me.