Friday Truth

from ruminations.com



If I would have spent half of the time studying medicine that I have spent on reading useless crap on the internet, I would probably have cured death by now.

This is truth.

 So is this.

And this.

*****

Friday Facts

Fact:  I have 2 glorious days before I have to go back to work.

Fact:  Once I go back - there are only 19 more school days left.

Fact:  There are only 21 more days I have to work until I'm off for the summer (even if I am a glutton for punishment and signed up for an advanced smartboard summer class and another summer class to learn how to the run the grade level website on the new server).

Fact:  I can survive 21 days.  I can.

  

Fact:  For the next 19 school days - I will remember why I do what I do...for the wonderful kids in my class.  

Random Jason LOL

(well not really an LOL - but it was at the time...Kind of sad actually)

During a phone conversation before school this morning:

Me:  *yawns* I'm surprised you're up this early

Jason: *mumbles, still half sleeping* Yeah I have a lot of work to do today so I need an early start.

Me:  Bummer - as late as you've been working, I thought you'd at least be sleeping in.

Jason:  Not today.  

Me:  Well I think I'd still definitely rather be sitting next to you in the truck right now on the way to a job site to be Assistant Weed-Eater.

Jason:  Well come on then - I still have to take a shower.  You could probably get here by the time I'm heading to my 2nd job...if you hurry.  

Me:  LOL So what are you saying - just get in the car and leave it all behind?

Jason:  Yeah dude - hop in the car, leave it all behind and come. on. home.  

Me:  Some days - I wish I could.  I'd sure miss my kids though...

Sad b/c it's true.  Some days (but not all days) I feel like it'd be worth giving up the 4 years for a bachelors degree and 2 years for a masters degree...to have some sanity and someone that appreciates and respects me and what I do.  

But I repeat:  I can survive the next 21 school days.  Then I'll take the next two months to heal.  

Little Things

You know how they say "take it a day at a time"?  Well lately even a day at a time has sometimes been too much to try to deal with.  So instead I'm taking it 'one thing at a time'.  I am lucky that I can do this with my day.  I take it pretty much one hour at a time - 7-8 is arrival and morning activities, 8-9 is reading, 9-10 is planning, 10-11 is math, 11-12 is lunch and recess, 12-1 is science and word study and 1-2 is writing.

When I break my day down like this - I find that I can manage.  I focus on one thing (subject) for an hour and then move on and focus on the next.  I only focus on what needs to be done during the hour.  This has been quite effective lately.  I also makes it so my mind can't wander and remind me of all the external BS going on.

So in breaking my day down into hours and taking one thing at a time - I've been able to focus on little moments during the day.  I focus on little things that make me smile, laugh or make my heart happy.

Little Things

1.  A and H bringing me flowers from their gardens at home because we are studying plants (I'll try to remember to take a picture tomorrow).  It's quite nice to walk by my desk and smell flowers...as opposed to little kids.

2.  M telling me a 15 minute story (no lie) about going to the zoo last weekend and then giving me the two pictures of giraffes her mom took for me  -  b/c she  "knows my favorite animal is a giraffe and there was a baby giraffe there, so she knew I'd want to see the baby, and since we're going on our field trip to the aquarium next week instead of to the zoo, I won't be able to see the baby giraffe next week, and even if I go to the zoo later, it won't be a baby anymore..." (see how it was a 15 minute story??) 

3.  R reading his part in the Reader's Theater Play totally in character today.  FYI - his character is a gruff old man - to which R gave a nice slow southern drawl/twang.  This kid's going to make millions as an actor one day.  I couldn't wipe the smirk/smile off my face for at least 30 minutes after the play ended.  Srsly - not growing up in the south and growing up listening to 'New Englander' parents & extended family has made me have an extremely odd appreciation for the "Southern Drawl" - and R nailed it today.  

4.  Doing a science experiment to find out what happens to grass when you cut it - does it grow back or does it die or does it stay the same length or ??? ... - They made their hypotheses (most saying they thought the grass would die - clearly not thinking about grass in the ground and lawn mowers and such), and then we cut/trimmed the grass that we planted two weeks ago.  Many of them were so upset to cut it b/c they thought we were killing it. 

When we were touching/smelling the grass that we'd cut and were about to throw away - R asked if she could keep it. 

To which I replied "no, b/c this will dry up and die before you get it home".

Them:   "GASP!!  You just gave the results/answer/experiment away!!!"  [note:  I love it when they use the vocabulary we're learning...too cute.] 

Me:  "No, I told you what would happen to the grass that we cut from the plant.  That *points to the potted grass* is still planted in soil and attached to the roots."

Them:  Ohhhhhh....

You'd think THAT would be a dead giveaway to the results... but alas, no.  They still all left today with one last longing glance to the plants - mourning the freshly cut potted grass we have growing in all its green glory- thinking they'd come back to brown, dead grass tomorrow.  *sighs*  woe is them.  

5.  In using the internet to gather information about bears this afternoon to go along with our "Bear Study" this week - we read on a site that said that on average bears live 20-25 years.  (yeah can you see where this is going??)  

25 kids for the most part all at once: "GASP!!!  *silent pause*  HAHAHAHA  Mrs. ----  If you were a bear...you'd be dead already.  LOLOLOLOLOLOL..."

Me:  *crickets* ... yeah you guys are Hilaaaaarious...  

This makes my job worth it...

With all the drama at work lately it is a nice to have reminders of why I do what I do.  Kids are priceless.  Their simple, innocent minds are even better. The following randomness took place last week:

I was working at the table with a guided reading group while the rest of the class completed literacy activities at their own pace.  Everyone is working on their own or with a partner to read/discuss stories, the classroom is buzzing with 'active quiet' and things are getting accomplished (no easy feat in a first grade classroom thank you).  All the sudden, "R" comes over sniffling and wiping at his eyes, completely distraught.

Me:  What's wrong??  What happened??!?!

R:  I *sniffle* keep *sniffle* hpwejkpsjfkdh *exasperated sigh*

Me:  Whaaa?  I don't understand.  What happened?

R:  Nothing.  *walks away*

Me:  R! Come here!  I can't understand you baby.  You have to talk to me so I know what's going on.

R:  I just keep *sniffle* thinking about my dskjoshlsk ... *shudders*

Me: *looks around for someone to translate*

G:  I think he said he is thinking about his DS.

Me:  ?!?  Okay?  What about your DS?  Did you bring it here and lose it?

R:  *whimpers* noooooo

Me:  Okay?  Where is it?

R:  At hoooome.  *pouts*

Me: Okay?  Did you break it?

R:  Nooooooo. *sigh*

Me:  Did you get it taken away?

R: Nooooo.  *sniffle*

Me:  I don't understand.  What's the problem?

R: I. Was. Just. Thinking. About. It.  and I remembered *sobs the rest of this* I forgot to turn it offfffffff!!!!  *big crocodile tears emerge at this point*

Me:  Okay?  But can't you plug it in and charge it?

R:  Yeeeaaahhh but kjoisdhfsodfjds *still sobbing on my shoulder*

Me:  I. Don't. Understand.  If you can plug it in and charge it, why are you upset?  You can play while it charges right?

R:  Yeeaaaahh.  *hiccup*

Me:  So it will be okay...

R:  lkjoahoijoijadf (something that sounds vaguely like he won't be able to move around if it's plugged in.)

Me:  It'll be alright.  I promise.  *pats him on his back and begins cleaning the tears/snot off my shirt - soooo glad I recently cut my hair*

R: Okay.  *steadies himself* Okay.   *shakes it off and goes back to work*

Me:  ?!?

Okay.  What I wanted to explain to this spoiled rotten whippersnapper (said with love) - is that when I was his age - we had Nintendo.

Straight up OLD SCHOOL Nintendo.  

Wires and all.  With game cartridges that were bigger than his entire DS.  Game cartridges that you had to blow into so they would work.  We had games where Mario runs to the right, breaks bricks and jumps over stuff.  The concept of a 3D Mario world did not exist.   The concept of any kind of 3D game world did not exist.   We had games where you used a plastic gun (with a wire), stood one foot in front of the TV and shot ducks that flew up out of the bushes and when you missed them a dog came up out of the bushes and laughed at you (trust.  I was a terrible shot).  

There he is.  Hey old friend.  Good Times.  Good Times.

There was no such thing as a handheld touch screen for children's video games.  There was no concept of wireless.  There was also no concept of walking around and/or playing in the car, outside or anywhere but 2 feet in front of the TV.  We had to sit on the floor to play b/c the cords didn't reach the couch.  And. It. Was. Heaven.  

When did I get so old??!??!?  *sad face*

But srsly thanks to "R" for reminding me why it is that I do what I do.  I can deal with the BS and politics if in return I can surround myself with these sweet babies everyday (well...most days...they're not always so sweet and innocent...).   ;)



*images found via google images

Battling on...

We do survive every moment, after all, except the last one.  

~John Updike

When life takes the wind out of your sails, it is to test you at the oars. 

 ~Robert Brault

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.  ~African Proverb



That was rough.... Thing to do now is try and forget it.... I guess I don't quite mean that.  It's not a thing you can forget.  Maybe not even a thing you want to forget.... Life's like that sometimes... Now and then for no good reason a man can figure out, life will just haul off and knock him flat, slam him against the ground so hard it seems like all his insides are busted.  


But it's not all like that.  A lot of it's mighty fine, and you can't afford to waste the good part frettin' about the bad.  That makes it all bad.... 


Sure, I know - sayin' it's one thing and feelin' it's another.  But I'll tell you a trick that's sometimes a big help.  When you start lookin' around for something good to take the place of the bad, as a general rule you can find it.  


~ Old Yeller

We must try not to sink beneath our anguish... but battle on. 

 ~J.K. Rowling

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.  

~William Shakespeare

Some quotes, some thoughts and maybe even a smile...

A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water log stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if your rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?

-Marley and Me

* * * * *

Don´t wonder why people go crazy. Wonder why they don´t. In the face of what we can lose in a day, in an instant, wonder what the hell it is that makes us hold it together.

-Grey's Anatomy

I know mine is my support system.  I feel sorry for people who don't have one.  

* * * * *

But as hard as it is, I know I can't sit and stew over it.  That will only bring me down even more.  

A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.

- John Steinbeck

I don't want a sad soul.  

* * * * * 

All through history, there have been tyrants, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall, always.

-Gandhi  

One can hope this still holds true.  I'm just not sure how long I can wait.  

* * * * * 

Ok - srs bsns (serious business for those who don't speak text) over.  Random funnies and smiles from this week:

Meeting Nick at a restaurant for dinner one night this week:  He walks up to the car and when he got close to my door starts laughing.  


Nick:  We're twins.


Me:  ?  WTF are you talking about... *mumbles* weirdo

Nick:  We're TWINS.  *gesturing at himself while talking like speaking to a two year old*

Me:  ?  *gives him a 'you're retarded' look* (yeah I realize I'm the retarded one)

Nick:  Green and blue?

Me:  *Looks down at what I'm wearing* (navy slacks, green cardigan)

Nick:  (navy slacks, exactly the same shade of green polo)

Me:  Oh crap.  This is so not cute.

* * * * * 

Jason sending me random texts during the day telling me that he still has my spot saved for me as assistant weed-eater.  (We're still working on the salary negotiations.)

* * * * * 

Jason sending me random picture messages about beer and heartburn.  

"Heartburn in 0-6 beers LOL"


Love it.  


* * * * *

Coming home to find this:

Gerber Daisies (my most favy favoritest flower?!? yes I just made up a new word), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups AND Whoppers (not pictured).  Squeeeee!!!  I have the sweetest husband ever.  Even if he was forewarned by my Bestie that I was having the worst day of my life.  Even if he is totally ghetto and put the floral arrangement in a makeshift vase (half gallon milk carton with the top cut off) b/c he couldn't find the vase that would fit the arrangement.  What can you do when you only have an hour long lunch break?  Makes it even sweeter in my book.  :) 

* * * * * 

Thomas - the laziest cat in existence.

He's been in that spot since noon.  It's now 10:00.  I also love the position.  Thomas - the epitome of modesty.   ( and no - that's not a bug on the wall - it's a nail...)

* * * * * 

I found this book the other day at Target

Did you see what's written at the top?

Yeah. I'm pathetic.  

And yeah.  It's another teen fiction.  So I'm really, really pathetic. 

But it's totally good.  And sad.

A depressing book about death.  
I should probably be reading something happy right about now.  

* * * * *

 The following was confiscated from one of my sweet darlings on the playground this week: 

Dear ----

I know that we was (*teacher me cringes*) not being nice to you.  So we are try *cringes again* to say that I am sorry.  But today I will be sure that I know that you don't like me.  But I like you. I know that is *proud mama - he used the correct proofreading mark!!!*  a lot of people like you.  But I need you to like me.  I'm the best drawer in my class. But what do you want.  I will give ... *left in suspense*  (to be honest I don't think I want to know what the rest of that was going to say...)

Call:  ----  (yes the full phone number is there - area code and all)

I'm also not sure who the 'we' is in the beginning.  But wow.  That definitely brought out a srs LOL yesterday afternoon.  

* * * * * 

We were at the grocery store looking at dried beans.   Nick was trying to decide which beans to get to make his 'Bean Soup' with the rest of the ham that was frozen after Easter:

Nick: Navy Beans or these beans?

Me:  *shrugs having no idea or opinion since I. Don't. Cook.*  I don't know.  I say go with the Navy beans.  Since I'm a Navy girl and all.  

Nick:  Well I guess you could say we're both Navy girls.  

Me:  *crickets*... you're a Navy GIRL?  *snicker*

Nick:  Yeah...*realization dawns*  I mean BRATS.... we're both Navy Brats. 

Me:  LOLOLOLOLOLOL... this is soooooooo going on the blog.  (even though I did have to explain that the term navy "brat" actually means moving around from base to base as a child... regardless...we're now both Navy girls.)

  

No words

I have no words for today.  Nope.  None.  So here are some words from other people.

Language ahead.

from ruminations.com...

Let's stop with the "It was too short" response when talking about your weekend or vacation. We get it - working sucks and not working is awesome. Move on.

What the hell is the permanent press option on the dryer? Sounds serious, I'll tell you that.

Red nail polish makes you look chic for the 27 seconds until it chips, and then you instantly look like a street whore.

You know you're in a slump when you go on facebook and can't think of anyone to stalk.

I judge friendship based on how far I can go to insult a friend. Say, I am only able to call you a douchebag, then you're likely to be just an acquaintance, but if I call your mom a whore and you find it hilarious, then you're like a brother to me.  [LOL - I love you mom]

Why does the Easter Bunny give out Easter eggs? Bunnies are mammals and they definitely do not lay eggs.

I don't know why the hell people even bother coming in to the office on Fridays, because all we do is spend the day plotting how early we can get out of here.

Hey guy at toilet paper factory who puts glue on the flap to hold it down, less is more.

There's nothing worse than being the last person to sign the birthday card for a random employee in the office. There are only so many ways to pretend that I care about your birthday and they have all been taken.

"I really love my Blackberry, but I have a lot of trouble with the trackball." Hm, perhaps if you stop pressing it in like you're trying to crush the phone's larynx, that wouldn't happen. No wonder you suck at Brickbreaker.  [DUDE -  Maybe that's my problem!  I'm coming for you Jason and I will beat you...eventually]

I now know what it must be like as a fly repeatedly flying into a window. It's the same as when I enter my password over and over to no avail and not notice the caps lock is on.

Moving is the best excuse ever to devour everything in my kitchen. Remaining items: 8 beers, 2 frozen pizzas, half a pack of string cheese, pickles, cashews, box of thin mints. Nights left: 1. I got this.

I'm pretty sure I have never answered honestly when someone asks "So, what are you thinking?" Nobody needs to know that shit. 

For the sake of people's jobs, there should be an "are you sure" prompt when you hit "reply all"!

When food products refer to homemade recipes they"ll depict a perfect grandmother. Just once I wanna see a crabby old lady smacking her grandkids with a wooden spoon, yelling, and the slogan would be, "That bitch was crazy, but her soup kicked ass."

Even if I know exactly where I screwed up when typing in a password, I always erase the entire thing and start over. 

As soon as I realize the absolute latest minute I can get up for work and still make it on time - I'll never get up a second earlier.

Dear brain, let's please understand the distinction between angry and sad. Tears go with sad, please stop making my angry tangents completely pointless. Thanks.

I hate when a store asks if I want to donate $1 to some obscure, unnecessary charity as I'm standing at the register. No, I don't care to donate to the "Blankets for Polar Bears" organization, but now I have to so I don't look like a cheap ass. 

What are you? Dumb? Everybody knows the word dude is gender neutral. 

LOLcats/dogs

Alright to the serious business now...

Rly though...do you believe me NOW?!?!  If only the 'higher-ups' believed me/us now.

*sighs*  'playing the game' at work...  not fun.  Nothing like swallowing your pride and dignity all at once.

srsly.

If you need me...I'll be trying to find my inner peace.  

Letter to...

Dear USC Alumni Association,

Thank you for your fundraising call last night.  But to answer your question/request...ummmmm NO, I will not be donating to the fundraising 'cause' at this time.  Perhaps you might consider this when you think about calling people at 9:00 on a Monday night.  I mean really.  WTF!??!   Now don't get me wrong - I'm no old biddy who considers 9:00 late.  But you see, last night was the first time in I don't know when that I actually was falling asleep at 9:00.  And if I'm falling asleep (as opposed to being wide awake with no chance of falling asleep at a decent hour) at 9 after a ridiculously long and tiresome Monday - then dang it - I'm going to go to sleep! And since I haven't had a solid eight hours of sleep in since oh .... I don't know when nor can I fall asleep on command (unless it's 3 in the afternoon)- I'm really, really irritated with you for taking that  extra sleep from me.  Because not only did you wake me up from my "I was almost sleeping" zone - but you also made it so that I couldn't fall asleep until after midnight ... again... So I spent my entire Tuesday dragging and in search of caffeine.  I blame you for this.

So just to reiterate - No, I won't be donating any money or time to you right now.  Because I'm mad at you.   And if you call me when I'm trying to sleep again...you won't see anything from me ever again.  (And to be quite honest- didn't you already get enough money from me?!?)

Considering giving some money to Clemson just to spite you,

Jen

I have nothing intelligent to say today...

So...

Mom??

Nothing better...

There is nothing better than running into a student at a store.   Nothing better especially when you don't want to be seen.  Which is pretty much any time I am out.  Nothing better than running into them once and then being stalked through the store - looking over my shoulder - and very consciously considering everything I put in my cart.  Not that I'm not a human who buys everyday things but Idk - I guess just knowing that the parent is scanning everything I have in my cart and judging me (don't say they aren't...they are. Trust.) ... makes me super paranoid.

Even better - is the kid the next day.

I ran into one of my kids last night around 7:00 and talked to her and her family for a minute and then walked away to hide get what we needed and GET. THE. HECK. OUT.  Well after being stalked through the store - with her waving at me furiously every time I spied her lurking nearby -and then once again as we neared the checkout line - we left.  Although I was unconsciously looking in the rear view mirror thinking she was probably following us home.

After all that - she comes in this morning all excited exclaiming - "I saw you at the store last night!!!"  To which I have to proclaim "I KNOW!! How about that!"  When what I really want to say is 'NO WAY?!? SMALL. FREAKING. WORLD!!!!! I totally forgot! [sarcasm] ...  I mean it has barely been 12 hours.  I know my memory sucks and all - but I will never for the rest of my life forget you stalking me all over the store.'



Gotta love it.

Kid Funny

Today we read The Tale of Peter Rabbit in class to kick off our Author Study of Beatrix Potter.  

While reading, the kids became quite engrossed in the story and concerned for the welfare of dear Peter Rabbit who disobeys his mother and goes into Mr. McGregor's garden after she tells him to stay out of there because - get this - Mr. McGregor made a pie out of Peter's father for doing the same thing.  ...  *(I know right?!!?  WTF kind of children's story is this?!?)  Moral:  Don't disobey your mother or else you'll die and get made into a pie.  Sweet Jesus.  What a tragic story.  ;)




Anyways...

You could hear a pin drop when Peter was eating all the vegetables and wandering around the garden.  


Well lo and behold who does he run into but Mr. McGregor.


When I read:  


Mr. McGregor was planting young cabbages but jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, "Stop thief!"


From the far back corner of the carpet I hear - "oohhhhhhh snaaaaaap"  from "J" with eyes as big as saucers, serious as can be.  So into the story that he didn't even notice me seek him out and shake violently as I tried to hold in my LOL and continue on with the drama of the story.  


Who knew Peter Rabbit was such a suspenseful, edge of your seat story?  


Not me.  


But it is my new favorite.  


*All in jest - I really do love this classic piece of children's literature!  Even if it is tragic.