Funny Students!!!!

So my students are so funny. This week before school started so like 7:30 in the morning I was sitting at my desk working. And then all the sudden at TWIX dropped on my keyboard. I was shocked and jumped and then saw one of my students and I started laughing. Then another is dropped by a different student. Now I was laughing even harder at my students and all the sudden a third TWIX is dropped. My old seventh graders (now eighth graders) just wanted to show there love for me and thought it would be funny to drop TWIXs one by one. And it made me laugh to hear and watch them and also it made me happy to know they still loved me and I love that.

Heat Wave finally comes- My poor students

So far this summer has been very mild. As of the middle of August Utah never had hit 100 degrees yet. For some this might be good news but for me this was not. I knew Utah would have to have a major heat wave before summer could end and I personally would rather that heat wave be in July. Why does it matter you might ask? Because my school does not have Air Conditioning and have you ever tried to teach 40 middle schoolers (yes about two of my classes have 40 students in them) in 105 degree temperature all crowded in a room? You have probably not had that experience but trust me when I say I would not wish it on my enemies. But that is what I have been doing for the past two weeks.

In fact, we were having so many heat related issues, such as kids getting light headed or have a heat related emergency that they had to announce that you could keep your kid at home no questions asked if you didn't want them in the heat. Unfortunately, that rule did not apply to teachers, in fact we were told we couldn't stay home because there are not enough subs as it is. So I was stuck in a very hot room all day with kids who could not keep their eyes open because they were so hot and they were MISERABLE!!!! My poor students...POOR ME!!!!

As bad as the heat is I do have to say there is a benefit: I don't turn on my A/C as much at home. Yep after four years of no air conditioning at school my body has adjusted and so know any temperature below about 78 is really cold to me. I am the girl who wears sweatshirts in May because I am cold. I also take blankets into restaurant (do you notice how cold they make those places I think the thermostat is like at 72 and that is REALLY COLD). Most days I go home and turn on a fan and that keeps me plenty cool. So I my electric bill is smaller than most people's in the summer. Though there is one place I keep the temperature down at like 62- my car. After being in my hot school and room all day I love to get my car frigid on the way home.

The last thing I want to share when it comes to heat is an exchange I had with a student (well I was talking to the whole class.

Me: Notice I have a lot of fans going in my room to try and keep things cool be respectfully. We are all in this heat together since the school doesn't have air conditioning.
Student shouts out: The school doesn't have air conditioning!!!! No wonder it is so blasted hot!
Me: You didn't know that?
Student: No, I thought you guys were just not turning it on to torture us.
Me: Trust me, if we had it we would be using it
Student: Not if you were trying to save money.
Me: (silence....) Well we don't have air conditioning to worry about so be nice to the fans because they help it to be a cool as possible. ( I really didn't know what else to say to the kid)

I have to say though that exchange makes me laugh and of course I shared it with all my fellow teachers who laughed as well. Gotta Love the innocent and slightly naive seventh graders. At least this kid is sufficiently scared of teachers if he believed we would make sit in 105 degree weather just to torture him.

School is in Session!!!

So I was actually watching Julie and Julia. It made me think of my own blog and how I haven't been able to blog in forever. School has started again and my life is becoming a runaway train yet again. This year I have to worry about all 400 students at once. That is right folks I have double the papers to grade and the quizzes to plan. As I get used to this new schedule I have often been overwhelmed. Normally by the end of the first week I know all of my students' names and this year I am not even close to knowing them. It is a lot of students and it is a lot to worry about all at once and sometimes I feel like the task is daunting and that my best is never going to be close to good enough. Thank heavens for good friends who pick me up and remind that all things are possible and they have my back.

I will shortly be yet again be sharing with the world, or whoever reads my blog, the stories of a School Marm and you to will laugh at what I have to share. But I would like to note a few things, firstly signs of my old self came back today. I thought it was possible that girl was lost forever but alas I have found her and it was fun to find small pieces of myself. Lastly, I was also thinking about how my favorite entries on my blog are when I share my poetry with the world. But I haven't written anything in awhile. That is one thing I can change for sure. Heaven knows my mind is constantly cluttered with thoughts and feelings, in fact sometimes I feel like I cannot contain everything I am feeling and so I know more than ever I need to get back to poetry.

Well, I am signing off for now with all these scattered thoughts in my head hopefully this entry made sense. Now, that I am back to my regularly scheduled life though and no longer on summer break I will be better about blogging.

FOURTH OF JULY TRIBUTE

So as a Historian Teacher I couldn't not pass up the opportunity of saying something to honor America today. So my tribute on Independence Day is to a Founding Father that DEFINITELY does not get enough credit: JOHN ADAMS! Seriously, for those of you who has studied his life you know exactly what I am talking about. We constantly honor George Washington but who is the person who got him appointed as Commander of the Continental Army? John Adams. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence based on the legal arguments created by a lawyer named....John Adams. Who told the French the only way we would win the war was if they increased their Naval support of the US? John Adams. And in case you didn't know it that is how America won the war is with France navy. When America needed money who got Amsterdam to give us money to fight the war? John Adams. He was an amazing man and he knew that he was sacrificing everything for something he would never be alive to see. He knew America would be an amazing country with lots of opportunities. He had integrity and always tried to make decisions based on what was best for the country and not what would make him problem. He was a true man of honor and while Jefferson became a political party man and did some horrible things as our first politician. John Adams hated political parties and tried to stay our of the game and out of the any party and this lead to him losing the election. He doesn't get the credit for everything he did for America and he is remembered as often as other Founding Fathers but in my humble opinion I believe he was one of the greatest and best Founding Fathers.

The True Reason to Love food

I have been at school activities till 8 or 9 almost every night this week which led me to needing to buy fast food and eat on the run yet again. So as I pulled through the Wendy's drive-thru to hurry to my next competition/meeting it made me pause and reflect on how lonely picking up fast food really is. Then I began to smile as I remember my favorite times and most of them involve food but that isn't what made them my favorite times.

For those of you who don't know me well let me tell you. I LOVE entertaining. I love cooking a big meal and inviting people around. I love baking and cooking for a ton of people. I love the compliments for the food. But the biggest reason I love to cook for people is it brings us together and allows for the friendships to blossom and to get to know people really differently.

Most of the time I would cook all by myself and clean up after everyone would leave. Part of this was quite honestly I didn't trust people to prepare the food properly. I knew I could make the dishes well. But there was always one person I would let help me in the kitchen and he was one of the most fun people to cook with. I remember singing in the kitchen and just laughing the whole time we were cooking. It some of my fondest memories. I cannot tell you one incident that something hilarious was said because it wasn't like that. Instead it was the quiet comfort and security that I was with one of my best friends and I was happy. I wasn't stressed out but I was content that no matter what we were doing we were there for each other and we could make ANYTHING fun. And he always helped me clean up and would push me away if I tried to help, but I always got my way and we did it together.

I also remember that it was Brian's birthday and we had his apartment over and we just had so many laughs that day. The highlight was that we made Brian wear a princess crown. Then there was the day that Adam and a bunch of people came over for dinner. We just had so much fun that they stayed and talked for about 3-4 hours.

I would throw conference parties. After General Conference if people wanted a good meal they knew where to go and it was great because we would go over the topics and talk about as young people and then again we had a TON OF FUN!!!

If it wasn't a Conference dinner or a Breakfast dinner it could be a breakfast just because. I love to make crepes and just sit in our pajamas and have so much fun starting a day with really good friends.

Those dinners were the highlight of my social life. Parties are great but sometimes you don't get to know people any better you just have a lot of fun. Church activities are so many people that you move around to make sure you spend time with all the people. Whereas those dinners might have 12-20 people but that was still an intimate group compared to other activities and it led to conversations for hours. It was those dinners that friendships went deeper and I truly got to know people and they were ALWAYS a blast. We would laugh so much my stomach would hurt.

I miss eating with people and being surrounded by friends. I cannot wait till I get a place I feel comfortable inviting people over and once again doing my favorite hobby of cooking. I miss that interaction, the good food, but most of all the wonderful friendships that were built.

March Madness

March Madness has a WHOLE different meaning to me. I wish that it was all about basketball but that is not the case for me. In fact, I did not have enough time to catch even ONE basketball game. Which is especially upsetting because of the things Jimmer was doing this year. But that is not the case for me. March Madness all revolves around the fact that I have both Mock Trial and Debate. I have been to a total of 11 trials. I have had a practice till 5 after school about twice a week. Then I have been putting a Debate competition together for March 30 at my school and having all these people come to compete. It has been crazy. So crazy in fact that I am having a hard time being coherent about it right now. On top of planning a competition and everything else I had to put on a breakfast for the entire faculty on Monday March 28; for which I had two people completely bail on me and refuse to help in my toughest time of the year and leave it all on my shoulders. While stressing out about that my Mock Trial team went to the semi-finals and won. After the competition the head person in charge told me the finals were on March 30 (if you didn't connect the dots that is the same day as the Debate competition I was hosting at my school and in charge of). I told the lady that wouldn't work because of the problem and could we reschedule she said we had to make it work or we would not compete. So that is what I did. I ran around the entire school....literally I have the blisters to prove it. I got a couple teachers to supervise after I started the Debate comp. Debate comp started at 3pm and at 4:45 I left on the bus to Mock Trial. I got back at 9:30 and then it took me forever to unwind so I didn't go to bed till 1am. So yesterday I was wiped I was exhausted and SORE!!! I did not even realize how much tension I have been holding in my back and shoulders for this entire month until everything was said and down and everything just ached and ached.

My Pledge to my Friends

For all of those who know me when I am in your corner I am relentless. I would drop everything and anything for a friend in need. Especially for the ones I love unconditionally. I heard these words the other day and I realized this is my pledge to the people in my life.

And I won't let you fall
Don’t be afraid to fall
I’m right here to catch you
I wont let you down
It wont get you down
Your gonna make it
Yea I know you can make it

Cause I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
And I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I won't let go
Oh I’m gonna hold you
And I won't let go
Wont let you go
No I won't

Ch..Ch...Changes

There are a lot of things I am very concerned right now and occupy nearly my every waking thoughts. The first one being my students, in particular my Mock Trial kids and having them come together and work as a team. The new students that I just have seem great but I miss some of my old favorites from last semester. The second concern is living conditions. To live on my own or not is the question. My roommate is buying a house. She is great and is so excited. She also found a GREAT DEAL!!! This house needs some improvements but for the neighborhood and the price she is getting it for it is a STEAL!!! I mean it. But her buying this house has made me face what I am doing sooner than when I wanted to and it has actually made me really concerned what is the best for me. So I am going to write Pros and Cons as follow

Pro of the house with my roommate:
Nice Location
Cheaper than current room
Trust the roommates
We are respectful of each others' space
Free to do my own thing
Close to School
Save Money

Cons of the house with my roommate:
TEENY TINY ROOMS, seriously my bed will take up one room and I would have to put a lot of my stuff in other places around the house. (Suggestion by the roommate if you wondered)

GROSS, OLD BATHROOM!!!!! Seriously nasty, and the showers are so so short!

Then my roommate said to me, "We get along so well living together because we all just do our separate things and stay in our rooms. I don't even need to buy a coach for the house." Where she is saying this is a pro, I put it firmly in the cons. If I am going to be sharing space with people, at this point of my life, I want to be friends with my roommates and do stuff with them and throw parties with them and have fun with them. Otherwise what is the point of living with people.

Don't know who gets what, such as parking and rooms in the house

So where does this leave me...RENTING MY OWN PLACE!!!! It is so exciting to me. I just get so happy thinking of being on my own and not dealing with roommate crap.

Pros:
MY OWN SPACE!!!!!
No drama!!!!

Cons:
Have to buy more furniture
MORE EXPENSIVE!! That is scary to me. Really scary I like saving money and having plenty to do whatever I like because I am careful with my money. This would make it nearly impossible.

Reflecting on 2010

I, like everyone else, have taken sometime at the beginning of this new year to look over the past year. I have to say that all in all 2010 was not too shabby especially when compare to 2009. For those of you who were not paying attention or didn't know 2009 sucked. There is nothing different I can say about it other than it SUCKED A LOT. I was so glad to see 2009 end. 2010 was a little different there was still a lot of residual problems and issues left over from 2009 but all in all it was so much better and not only that but this time as the new year came I felt hopefully with the prospects of what 2011 will bring into my life which again I didn't feel last year, last year my only feelings were please please make it better than 2009, but I wasn't excited. This year I am excited. A lot of things began going in a positive direction in my life. Now not to say it was a great year but it started to turn around and head in better directions. That being stated I hope that 2011 will actually have exciting things in it.
Only a month in and there are some things I am planning and looking forward to, namely right now I am trying to get it together to finally visit Washington D.C. I feel like a fraud for not having been and being a History teacher but I plan on going this summer and stopping other places in the East. This makes me so excited to have something fun to do this summer so now I have something to look forward to and to plan on. I am also going to try and go to a summer seminar that sounds way good, also in the east.
Other things is that I am determined, call it a New Years resolution is you please, to find myself again. Recently I have been so caught up in stress, pain, drama, and healing to really be me. I am determined to be the girl who would knew everyone in the ward and who could always find people to be friends. I used to love huge crowds because it was more people to socialize with. I used to go out of my way to find the people who didn't have a group and give them one. The past two years that girl got lost, and in fact that girl was the one without a group or friends and I remember praying and praying that someone would find me and help me. Unfortunately no one really did but now more than ever I know how important it is to reach out, I don't feel as weak or lonely anymore so I am going to use this momentum to push forward and find myself and then find them.

Otherwise, I am going to keep moving forward in my progression. I am excited for 2011 and that feels good, in fact that feels like step one in getting back to my old self. It is exciting and wonderful to feel excitement again and to feel like their are possibilities out there for me.

Higher Window

I love Josh Groban, as so many of you out there probably do. He is amazing. But the thing that effects me more than anything is when any artist speaks to me and to my life. This song by Josh Groban speaks to me and my life right now.

For all the times I tried for this
And every chance at you I missed
I’ve been known to go my way
But I confess it made me miss you more

I drew my line across the sand
And set my flag in no-man’s-land
But here I am here I am, the one man band
With a song that’s meant for two

And there is a light from a higher window
Shining down on you tonight

And the music floats on the breeze
Bringing an easier time
And all of our cards are on the table
Tell me what you want to do
Just don’t tell me that it’s too late
For me to love you

How perfect we were meant to be
Our warm and silent symmetry
It’s times like these when all
All we need is to be reminded

Oh, and I’ve flown a thousand miles
To empty room and crowded aisles
And we went from cathedral bells
To show-and-tell and wish-you-wells
And I still look at you and I am blinded I am blinded

Because there is a light from a higher window
Shining down on us tonight
And the music floats on the breeze
From an easier time

And all of our cards are on the table
Tell me what you want to do
Just don’t tell me that it’s too late
Don’t tell me that it’s too late now
Just don’t tell me that it’s too late
For me to love you