Sooooo Tiiirrrreeeeddddd

I'm too tired to post. I'd put a picture but that seems like a lot of effort right now. Maybe later.

Sooo

...sleepy...

...must grade papers...

....zzzzzzz

Late is Better Than Never

So Stephen and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, September 2. A school day. A LONG school day as Nikki had volleyball until almost 10. I'm beginning to think there is no other kind of day BUT a long one.

Anyway, after a long weekend of debate tournaments at Naaman Forest and then softball tournaments at Hurst along with Nik's first date to the movies with her new beau (yep, the other one didn't last...something about his being too clingy), Stephen and I decided to get all spiffed up and have our anniversary dinner.

Oh, please. The best we could do is a wonderful dinner at Mi Cocina followed by a tanning session because our money was almost used up in that account (yep, bad for you but a burn in Mexico would have been worse) and finally, dessert at Sonic...love those .99 jr. banana splits.

These pictures should have been taken before, but no. He was in the car with the motor running so they are after when I'm on my sugar high. My body just doesn't know what to do with the real thing anymore.

The First Day of School

OK, I guess it's the "first" first day of school. Teachers in our district go back tomorrow.

What to wear? What to wear? Colleen, on this one, you and I are two of a kind!

Do I venture out and wear those cute, new dressy shorts I just got? Or stick with the standard dark jeans and sparkly wedge sandals that are really flip flops but who cares? Maybe some capris to split the difference.

The jeans win. It's not every day that I get to wear jeans to work so when I can, I DO! No school spirit shirt for me. I just got a cute sleeveless babydoll sweater that gradually changes from hot pink to rust. Gold wedge "sandals" and I'm all set.

I'd take a picture of my clothes all laid out...but it's past my bedtime.

Nighty Night!

Darn Those Olympics

The Olympics are killing me.

You see, I have a sickness. Once I start something, whether it's a book, a movie or a dinner, I MUST finish it.

So, I drag myself home from teaching teachers all day when school doesn't even start until next week with more meetings that I can't wait to attend AND waiting for Nik's practice or games to be over so it's really late, I flip on the tube and immerse myself in USA pride, gold medal glitter and talented individuals that make me feel inadequate on so many levels. Good times.

And by the time I realize what I've done, what trap I've not only allowed myself to get into but actually created myself, it's too late.

Do you know what time the Olympics go off? Nope. Not midnight. NEVER! They are ALWAYS on some channel and I've got 'em all.

Softball at midnight. Boxing in the afternoon. Recaps of everything all the time.

I'm sleepy, but I can't sleep. Michael Phelps might win another gold and frankly, I want to be a part of that history. It's vicarious living that's getting me through the days right now.

Where have I been?

1. The Good News: Nik's team competed in the 16U B Southern Nationals Softball tournament held in Garland. They were the host team, something of a courtesy invitation. Hmmm. Someone forgot to tell them that. This spunky little team, mostly girls who are 93s, went out there and placed THIRD! Can you believe it? So, that means I spent most of last week sitting in 100+ degree heat while she played in it. But, boy did she play. She had multiple doubles and RBIs, her base running was flawless and her fielding was good. The best part was her Uncle Kerry got to watch every single game. The other parents started calling him the good luck charm. Oh, and the BF got to watch some, too. She played best when he was there...he should definitely show up more often.

First Day of School Excitement

So, in the true spirit of the nerd that I am, I have had one whole day away from summer school and I've found myself googling new activities for the first day of school. They have no cure for this illness of mine so I thought I'd just go with it. I actually found some really cool ones. Here are my favorites.

1. From Kim's Korner, make it all about you. Make a bulletin board about yourself. Include pictures.
2. Also from Kim's Korner, especially if some of the kids will already know you, have them fill out a KWL chart on you as you introduce yourself. (For those who have lived under a rock, this is a 3-column chart with the K column for things they KNOW about you W is for WHAT they want to know and L is for what they LEARNED.
3. KK continues with having the students "illustrate" free-form maps about her and a quiz the next day. It helps them learn how to map!
4. From Education World, use a variation of telling the students about your expectations about them to have them tell you their expectations for their teacher.
5. Also from EW, have the students fill out a questionnaire that becomes a time capsule that they compare at the end of the year.
6. How about laminating a large piece of paper and having each student sign in with one fact about them. During free time, the students can read the chart. Another EW jewel.
7. My TTF got a good one from her teacher...as each student enters the classroom, have them take as much "toilet paper" as they need...no other explanations. Now, they must write one fact about themselves to share on EACH square. Can be done with candy, too, but be careful of allergues. And TP is pretty cheap!
8. More HERE
9. And HERE for the new teachers on your staff
10. And finally HERE but skip past the ones you have to pay for to the links below

So, for all you teachers out there, enjoy.

I Was Almost Killed Yesterday

I'm still shaking. Seriously. Here's how it all went down.

I was turning into a local mall. It has a divider and then splits into a circle around the mall. I look up and in the distance police lights caught my attention. And then, I saw it. A black car was driving right at me and the police were in hot pursuit.

Here are my thoughts in order.

1. Am I on the wrong side?
2. Maybe I should turn hard and block him for the police followed by jumping out of my car, aiming my cell phone at him and screaming, "Freeze. Citizen's Arrest!"
3. MOVE OVER!

I chose #3. Wise choice. I moved over and safely made it to the mall. My heart was pounding so hard I could hardly breathe.

Shoot. I could have been on the 6 o'clock news.