Life, Love, and Adventures

2011-07-22T05:11:00.000-07:00

New obsession. Some of you may have heard some of your friends talk about it, heard it mentioned on tv, or have read about it on other discussion boards (i.e. ProTeacher Community...those women are obsessive!). A couple months back, my friend Catelyn sent me an invite to Pinterest. At the time, I was busy with wrapping up school and moving to NC for the summer so I didn't have a chance to dive into it at the time. However, the other day I saw all these teachers on ProTeacher Community writing about it and wanting "an invite." So I figured now is the time to really see what this website is about--there's no way it can be better than Google Image Search.

Oh my macrole, it is. I am addicted. Well, I wouldn't say addicted but this is WAY better than Google Image Search. On Pinterest you can set up different board interest (like collages) and search through other people's boards to pin their image to your inspiration board. For example, one of my boards is Home Collections (or something of that nature) and I have started collecting images of things I would like for our home. I find this way intriguing and a better use of my time. I have stumbled across some neat ideas and designs for not only the home but for the classroom. There are other areas I want to explore on Pinterest, such as the food section and fashion but that will come later. I just love that it organizes my images on boards instead of me having to create a file folder on my computer and filing them that way. Maybe I'm just lazy. But I am definitely hooked on Pinterest. Dern you, ProTeacher Community members and Catelyn.

You Are What You Read

2011-07-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

So this morning I was watching "Nemo." I love the quote Dori says towards the end when she is begging Nemo's dad to not leave her because she remembers things better when he is with her. That made me think about some my favorite quotes from children books I have read in the past. Often times I will be reading aloud to my class and find a good quote in a book. So, here are a list of my favorite quotes in children books. What are some of yours?

Every action, reader, no matter how small, has a consequence. -A Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo

I assure you that you can pick up more information when you are listening than when you are talking. -Trumpet of the Swan, E.B. White

Honey is sweet, and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book. -Thank You, Mr. Falker; Patricia Polacco

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh the things you can think up if you only try! -Dr. Seuss

Tbere are no small parts-only small actors. -The Best/Worst Christmas Pageant Ever; Barbara Robinson

It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. -Charlotte's Web, E.B. White

I am sure there are so many more quotes that I treasure but these are the ones that I thought of off the top of my head. What are yours? I would love to know!

School Countdown

2011-07-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

It's that time where my teacher friends and myself have started the (DA DA DUMMMM) "How many more days do I have to sleep in and stay in my pajamas" countdown.

Lately, the title of my countdown has been "Crapola-I-have-too-much-to-do-for-school-before-I-go-back-to-school" countdown.

I hung out with my sweet friend Lindsey last night and we started making my "list." At first my list consisted of basic school stuff I want to accomplish for my classroom. Then, the more we researched stuff online I was adding new ideas and concepts and drawing pictures all over my list.

Lindsey then made me review my list, throw it away, and start over. I had too much going on on my paper that I knew I would never get to. She is forcing me, thank goodness, to be realistic about what I want to really accomplish or need in my classroom. I found some new reading strategies I want to implement; a new math game for my center I need to prepare; some seats I want to construct; rearrange my classroom and my enormous retro plaid couch...Will I get these things done? Probably. Will it be before the first day of school? Um, probably not.

As teachers, we learn to simplify and come to terms with what we really can accomplishn for the school year, especially elementary school teachers. As for myself, the last few days I have been reflecting on last year (what worked and didn't work) and if I am going to do it again. I find great ideas and classroom management strategies that I want to create, use, and decorate immediately. But it's not always that easy or simple minded. I do overwhelemed and sometimes have to close my pretty notebook, shut down the computer, and just forget about school, which is pretty darn hard when I am this close to starting back to work.

But like an excited school kid that is getting the new bookbag, tennis shoes, and freshly waxed crayons, I do get excited when I see a penny ad in the newspaper and can smell freshly laminated paper. Even as I look down at my list and make mental notes of what I should do first to get ready for school, I am brought back to the current date and realize that I still have a little bit of summer vacay to enjoy.

"I Wish I Were a House Wife"

2011-06-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

I know I may come off sounding ungrateful at the start of this post but just stay with me.

I love having my summer free. My schedule is as follows.

Wake at 6:30, roll back over til 10 AM. Fix coffee, eat a huge bowl of cereal on the couch, lay around til 12 on the couch watching Dr. Phil (for therapy) and a random movie (today it was The Freedrom Writers). Run the dishwasher, start some laundry, munch, munch, munch. Debate on running errands. Do some more laundry. Take a nap. Josh comes home, then do whatever our energy provides us to do (typically Lowe's).

With that being said, I like being lazy. But I do get lonely. :::sigh::: The life of the lonely "I wish I were a house wife." I use that term loosely. I have tried to throw myself into projects, such as decorating around the house but I only have so much money. I did clean Josh's office--that took all day and I felt reproductive. My future projects include finishing painting the kitchen, paint master bedroom, paint master bath... But who wants to paint by themselves? Not mention the task of Josh and I agreeing on paint colors. (Fingers crossed paint will be bought this weekend).

But anyway, am I considered a house wife? As mom would say, "I'm playing house." Which, I guess I am in a way. And I enjoy being up here with Josh during the summer because during the school year our schedules do not lend us too much time. I guess I need to stop complaining be more productive around the house. I mean it's not like I don't have anything to do. I have plenty to do. It's just getting my motivation in check.

What do you do that motivates you to get stuff done during the summer around the house? What makes you a house wife? Or a house husband? Or a house man/woman?

Summer Reading List...Thus Far

2011-06-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

One thing that I look forward to do in the summer is to dive into my summer reading. Usually a couple weeks up to the start of summer break I make a list of books I want to read. This summer, I decided to wing it based off the website http://www.chicklitclub.com/. Amazing book finds and authors that I never heard of. I previewed their website several times. What I like about this website is that they have several editors/readers that read "chick lit" books and give their own personal reviews. I was able to compare my taste of my favorite previous reads to their previous favorite reads. They are continuously adding books to their list and updating their website. So, with that being said, I will start with my summer reads thus far

Book Number 1: Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
This is the sequel to "Good in Bed" which was hilarious but also heart-wrenching. "Certain Girls" focuses on Cannie and her daughter turning 13. Cannie must find the balance between her writing career, marriage to her doctor, and her daughter's biological father. Joy, the daughter, tries to reconnect with her biological father and grandfather to find out more from her past parent's relationship. The plot stays busy and is a constant story line. In the previous book, Cannie's voice was strong and the main narrator/point of view. In "Certain Girls," Joy expresses her feelings and takes the weight off of Cannie. You feel torn between Joy and Cannie and often times I found myself wanting to shake Cannie and talk to her myself, even though I am not a mother. Jennifer Weiner did a great job at this read--still funny, and sharp wit but focuses on some serious topics.

Book Number 2: Accidental It Girl by Libby Street.
Definitely a different read. This focuses on the life of a young woman who is a top selling paparazzi photographer. We see the pictures in the magazine and if you watch TMZ you get to see some of their photographers. However, this story focuses on the life of Sadie who takes pictures of hunk movie star Ethan that results in an accident with Ethan then giving Sadie a taste of her own medicine. I don't want to say too much about what happens in the book because I don't want to give too much of the events away. An easy read that is funny and really offers a point of view of celebrities verses the paparazzi.

Book Number 3: Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Cane

Ok. You have to admit the title has caught your attention. Any book that says "Stupid and Contagious" makes you wonder what the story is about because oftentimes I think stupidity is contagious. I debated on if I should have downloaded this book to read and if it would be worth my time reading. The dialogue bounces back and forth between Heaven and Brady who have two different life aspirations but end up somehow taking a road trip together, against Brady's desire. Some parts of the book were a little off but the laugh out loud moments and mouth dropping events overcame the awkwardness of the book. A short read that makes you want a cup of coffee after reading.

Book Number 4: Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton
So the title is a little off. When Camille asked what I was reading, her first response was, "Seriously? How wasps mate?" A New Yorker and a man who is from the old "English" get drunk one night and get married--uh oh! This leads to an insane plan and plot about the two staying married to please his great aunt and family will. This read was slow at some points and sometimes hard to get through. I felt like I kept being thrown between time changes because her New Yorker life is completely different from his old English style life. I finished it because of course I wanted to see what happens with the marriage in the end. Not really a beach read. It was a read that offered a different lifestyle view. Just goes to show be careful what you do in Vegas!

Book Number 5: Twenty Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak

If you know me well, you know I'm an avid fan of read the book then watch the movie. While searching on Chick Lit Club, I found that they have a section for books that are becoming movies. This book is in production to become a movie with Anna Feris (I think). What I thought would be trashy ended up being really funny. I tried not to picture Anna Feris as the main character (the last time I did that, I was royally upset with The Last Song and Miley Cyrus). And I must say I was successful. Delilah Darling is on a conquest to reunite with her past 20 lovers and see if any "romance or connection" is still between them. What is hilarious is her past conquests that left Delilah and myself thinking, "What in the world...." It made me think what if I went back to my past loves and tried to reconnect with them to see what would happen between us. At the end, Delilah and myself realize that what we have in front of us is just perfect for us. A must read that I am crossing my fingers that the movie does not disappoint!

That's it so far. I'm currently in the middle of another read but I don't know want to report on it just yet....

Ta-Da!

2011-06-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

Don't you love my new layout?

Since returning to the blogger world, Blogger finally decided to give some templates to use instead of me searching and hunting all over the world wide web to find something uber cute. And ta-da! I found one that I love!

Chances are, however, that it will change in the next week.

I know this isn't much of a Welcome Back Kotter Special, but tomorrow, I am kicking off the weekend with the five summer books I have read thus-far. I know you are anxious.

Is It True?

2010-08-09T14:21:00.001-07:00

Yes, it is.

It's hard to believe.

When I think about it, my heart starts to beat really fast.

I have broken into a sweat a few times today.

My feet have grown cold because I'm nervous.

My stomach has been knots. I don't know how I kept lunch down.

Oh yeah, I went to the bathroom so it didn't stay too long.

No, this can't be true.

I guess I need to put my big girl panties and deal with it.

School starts back tomorrow.

Hurt and Love

2010-08-05T21:47:00.000-07:00

Hurt.

It's a word that is used in several different meanings. I most often hear, "He hurt my feelings." Or I'll say, "Don't say such hurtful things to one another." But to me, those are only surfuce hurts.

Hurt can be much deeper than that. It can be a personal struggle. It could be domestic abuse. It could emotional abuse. It could be losing someone you loved deeply for. It could mean betrayal. It could physical pain. It could heart hurting.

A deep physical hurt can be rare and raw. I can only think of a small handful of experiences when I felt raw. My heart physically hurt. I felt like my heart had just shattered in pieces and felt like I would never move on. I hurt and ached so deeply that I thought no one would ever understand my pain.

Certain events cause such deep hurting that few, random people truly understand the pain and emotions one experiences. Its hard for a friend to grasp the words or actions to do to ease the pain for a loved one. Do you sit there and hold their hand? Or do you stumble around on phrases to say to make it better? Do you make a joke of the situation or do you cry with the person?

Today, I was reminded that people are placed in our lives to help us handle certain hurt. Tragic events occur in our lives that makes us question why God would put us through them. But today, God reminded me that He places certain people in our life to minister to, or for them to minister to us. Today a friend told me, "I just can't right now. I hurt too much and I'm too weak for her." She sympathized so much for our friend and could identify with the situation that she physically felt weak for her. This is a true friendship. When a friend is truly hurt, the other friend should be able to physically feel the pain because the love is so deep. Often like a mother's love for her child. My mom once told me, "I cannot identify with what you are going through, but I hurt for you because you are my child."

God reminded me of that today when I was hurting for a close, sweet friend. God reminded me that He knows of our pain. He knows of our weakness. When we are brought to this point, then God truly works.

COMPASSION

God shows compasion for the weary and weak. God never said that we will always know why we endure the hardships we do. He just promised that He would never leave us, never fail us. But experiencing the hurt I felt today for a friend is not even a quarter of what she feels. But God does know her pain. Only He can restore her and ease the hurt.

Hurt.

It's deep. It's true. Just as God's love for us.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Learning to cherish

2010-07-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever known of a time that you knew that time or even was eventually coming but you kind of refused to acknowledge that event?

Well I definitely faced that time tonight. One of my dearest, kindest, best friends Heather is moving to Florida this week. We went and had dinner for one last time at our favorite resturant in Greenville. I know she's only moving to FL and I'll see her again. Granted, we did not see each other every week or talk every day. BUT, I knew if I ever needed anything, she was just 10 minutes down the road. Now, it's 10 hours away. None the less, I am excited for her and this new part of her life.

Tonight at dinner, we were reflecting on some past events from our high school, college, and present days. What has always been so great about our relationship is that one of us always remember something that the other forgot. For example, we were walking up to Soby's and she said, "Hey, I wonder if creepy kitchen guy from Ellis' still works here?" And it instantly reminded me of creepy kitchen guy (this guy was always creating awkward and weird situations for HP when we worked at Ellis'). I then reminded her of the time when she called and blessed me out for not talking to her because I was so busy (I suck at priorities). At that time I was furious, then had a break down later on that night which resulted in a phone call from her, apologizing for her meanie attitude towards me. Ohh the fights between girls and best friends...

Of course, the conversation turned towards past relationships with old guys (this is because I was talking about my weird dreams I've been having lately about guys in my past...that's a whole other issue). We both agreed that if you cannot walk away from a relationship feeling like you learned something from that relationship, then you can't grow to be who you need to be. I felt like honestly tonight I could look back and recount each relationship with each guy and say I learned something from that relationship. But is it ok to go back and regret some parts of your past? Or can you not necessarily regret the past, but if you could go back you would kind of do some things over? I know you can't always play the what if game when it comes to what you would do in the past or for the future. But come on, it is fun to play. Of course, on our recounting of our relationships, it had me shuttering at the thought of some of them (what was I thinking of dating someone 10 years older than me when I was 18??). But at some point you have to cherish those times that you had because at one time that person meant something to you (small or big). I'm not saying that I would have taken back a relationship, but I do wonder what if I had put more work into a certain relationship or should I have just walked aways completely at the beginning? Now, don't get me wrong, I am more than thrilled and happy in my relationship with Josh. I could not be with someone more compatible. But walking down memory lane with Heather was a nice closing to our dinner.

I reminded Heather that with all our past, one that that she has along with some of my other closest friends, is that she was there through all of it. She has watched me have emotional breakdowns in her car at 11:30 at night to laughing with me (or at me, I could never tell) when I've done really dumb stuff. She always had a special talent of wedging me open with my secrets and closed up thoughts. That's one thing that I would not take back for the world--a friend that saw the good and ugly. So, after tonight, I finally learned that I have to cherish the moments we had in the past and cherish the moments that God continues to bless us with in the future. After all, that's what Skype is for.

For My Catelyn

2010-06-28T06:08:00.001-07:00

I got the chance to spend a LATE Friday night with my friend Catelyn Briggs Franklin. While the boys were out doing the "boy" thing for Andy's last night before the wedding, I went over to see Catelyn. We had the opportunity to catch up and talk about life. The more I get to know this girl, the more I love her. Not only is she easy to talk but the girl loves to read! A woman after my own heart. I look forward to building our friendship!

(I thought I had a better pic...but Saturday night was a lil bit crazy.)

End of an Era

2010-05-19T16:43:00.001-07:00

This past weekend Josh graduated from UNCC with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. So not only did he graduate but he also accepted a job from Piedmont Natural Gas. It's amazing how we longed for this for the last three years and it all came true within one week. God has definitely had his hand on us for the last three years. There were several times I did not think we would survive but there were also some great times. Now, pay up honey, it's your turn to pay for everything.

I am super excited about the next part. We have decided to start looking for our first home!! We have been crunching some numbers to see what we could afford and what we would like. We probably will not buy until this winter but I am obsessed with real estate now. I am constantly looking and researching. I think Josh is getting tired of my emails. But how fun is this going to be now??? I am more excited about decorating and designing!! So if you see any fun, classic southern design rooms, send 'em my way!

My Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Alli B!

2010-04-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Totally Rad 80s

2010-04-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Scott's 40th birthday with a surprise 80's birthday party last weekend. Below are some pictures from the night. (Of course there were more, but we dare not mention those...)

40 days

2010-04-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

Jesus endured 40 days of trial and tribulation in the wilderness.

I must endure 40 days of stress, Spring fever, testing, and last minute curriculum craming.

Spring Break was such a tease.

If Jesus did it, so can I.

Annoyed

2010-02-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

I just became a "fan" of my cousin on Facebook. She deleted me and I can't add her as a friend, much less search for her. So I had to become a fan on her fan page to keep up with her. Before you know it, I'm going to see her on ESPN reporting a game. Then I'll say, "Oh yeah. Glad to see she's let her hair grow out. Looks good." Not to mention the rando texts I get from her. When I respond back, I get nothing in return. Facebook...blog...Skype...text...phone...All these ample opportunities to communicate and I'm limited to my responses from her. Kind of ironic.

Truly Tuesday

2010-02-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

Setting: My classroom, 1:00 PM, Social Studies/Reading

Audience: My 21 students plus me

What: P.H. reading from the newspaper (mind you, he's a child that has difficulty making certain letter sounds)

P.H.: "In order to get back at the British, the colonists dumped shiploads of tea into the harbor."
S.D.: "OMG! Perry, do you realize what you just said?"
P.H.: "No.."

Catch: P.H. didn't say shipload. He said another word.

My thoughts: "Yes, you could have phrased it that way. So true."

Made me laugh. Happy Tuesday!

P.H. melts my heart

2010-01-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

If you've spoken with me at all this past year, you've probably heard of my P.H. (I can't say his name) PH has really pressed some walls with me this year. He's so loud some days that Lisa has to come from her room to quiet him down. He constantly blurts out, yells my name more than any child I've ever met, and makes working in groups difficult.

However, lately he has been a completely different child since Christmas break. Well, not completely different but he is working harder than he used to.

The other day, we were working on a problem in our Math Morning Workbook. The question was What 1/4 of the birds came to the feeder? I asked PH What kind of bird came to the feeder? His response: A hungry bird. They were looking for some food! (but he has trouble pronouncing his "r"s). I just smiled.

And his new years resolutions? Goodbye 2009. It was a great year except I did not do well in math and spelling at all. Hello 2010, I am going to do great in math and spelling this year!

How can you not just melt?

Oh, He eventually got the answer...and yelled it out during review time.

Belly Flop In the Snow

2010-01-11T18:23:00.001-08:00

Turn the sound up. It'll make you laugh.

I'm such a retard.

Insomnia leads to new ideas

2010-01-03T21:06:00.001-08:00

I currently cannot sleep at all. I do not know if it is from being with Josh with last two weeks and now I'm laying here without him or just anxious for the school day tomorrow. With tomorrow being my 25 birthday (technically it's today, but who's counting?) and celebrating a new decade, I thought about what all I have experienced in the last decade. Man, if you really think about it, it was alot. I'm talking getting my driver's license, a car, graduating high school and college, seeing friends get married and have babies, meeting my love, getting a grown up job and seeing my life drastically change from what I used to know...it's amazing. I truly do wonder what's going to happen in the next decade. While there are several things that I hope to happen (i.e. get married, have a baby or two, finish my masters and receive an additional degree) I cannot imagine WHAT can happen.

In the last decade I've seen myself transform from a high school kid to a collage graduate to a working woman with a car payment and student loans knocking at my door. It's almost bittersweet. Tonight I was talking with Mom about some pretty serious deep stuff. It was almost like our roles were reversed--I was playing mom and she was playing child. With her having to "start over" I was encouraging her to have confidence, put herself out there, and be the independent woman that I know. I told her, "Where do you think I learned my great qualities from?" Her response: "Not from your father." I will admit, I laughed. I never thought I would see my relationship with my mom change from what it used to be (menopausal time) to now (post menopausal). We've been thrown into a loop where what used to be a family of 3 (four when Jason would grace us with his presence) to a family of 2 (plus 2 dogs and Jason when he's up for causing drama). How do you continue on when you're not quite sure how? I put on a front like I'm ok--I have a goal to work and have a life. Then on days like this where I'm celebrating a birthday that used to be filled with a father that I once knew that would call me on my birthday at the exact same time I was born to "officially" congratulate me on being a year older. Do I expect him to call me on my birthday this year? No. Do I expect a text message? Probably. But to be honest, if he were to call I am not sure I would answer the phone. Lord knows I am grateful for the man that raised me to be who I am today, but I also so much grateful for my mom who raised me to the woman I am. I take for granted how hard my mother works, and yes she does drive me crazy at several times throughout my weeks. But she is just grabbing hold of the most stable family member she knows. At times though I wonder if I am stable enough for her.

I want things to be better. They told me "It's going to get ugly before it gets better." I've been plenty of ugly and I'm ready to see some beauty. I know I've grown stronger in the last 10 years, especially the last 3 years. I've seen myself grow up and move ahead of my life. I know the next 10 years are going to be dramatic, life changing, exciting, and encouraging. I'm unsure right now but I know at the end of the day I will be one more day closer to understanding it all.

Here's a toast to my family that has survived the drama, loved through the hardest times, found laughter when it was hard, cried for me, pushed me when I was tired, and stood behind every decision I made.

Here's a toast to my friends that listened to my rambling phone calls, sat with me through the tears, bought me cups of coffee and chocolate, made me buy fun underwear to make me feel better, kidnap me for random road trips, and continued to love me despite my errors and drama that follows me.

Here's a toast to my love who broke down my walls, showed me what true love is in a relationship, pulled me when I pushed away, took care of me at my lowest and soared with me at my highest, and stood beside the last couple of years to make sure I knew you weren't going any where.

Here, here! Cheers to a new decade of bigger and better things to come!

When life before me is only a memory.

I'll wonder why God lets me walk through this place.

And though I can't understand why this happened

I know that I will when I look back someday

And see how you brought beauty from ashes

And made me as gold purified through these flames.

-Superchick

Wrapping Paper

2009-12-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

I am really annoyed this year with wrapping paper.

Why might you ask? What has wrapping paper done to you?

Well, I hate trying to cut the tape that comes on the wrapping paper without ripping the wrapping paper.

So far I have been unsuccessful at this.

Why not just slide the wrapping paper in a plastic wrap to hold it together WITHOUT tape??

Maybe I should go green and not wrap presents this year and just hand gifts in the bag it came in.

On the 10th Day of December...

2009-12-09T18:13:00.001-08:00

On the 10th day of December my true love gave me to me...10 new calluses on my feet (from running).
Nine broken pencils I picked up on the floor.
Eight Peanut M&Ms I keep eating out of the front office.
Seven pairs of underwear found under the bed from Josie.
Six towels I have to fold.
Five chapters I've read in The Time Traveler's Wife
Four students who had silent lunch.
Three buses full of kids heading to the State Museum (but turned into 2 crammed buses).
Two hours of Private Practice.
And a kiss goodbye.

On the second and third day of December...

2009-12-03T18:07:00.001-08:00

My true love gave to me...

Three buses full of kids heading to the State Museum
Two hours of Private Practice
And a kiss goodbye.

We're heading to the state museum tomorrow. Lord help me. It's gonna be fun.

On the first day of December...

2009-11-29T18:09:00.000-08:00

My true love gave to me... A kiss goodbye! (I know it's not December quite yet but it's close)

I hate saying goodbye to people in general. I especially hate it when I'm having to tell Josh "adios" every weekend. I REALLY hate it when we spend a long weekend together, like this past weekend and we have to part ways for another week. Distance does make the heart grow fonder.

I also got the chance to see my Pila. She's crazy. I promised her a trip to FL in December. Maybe she'll cook her "delicious" Ranchero Huevos. Actually, I've never had them...never been brave enough to try them. Now, my Papi's eggs--I can eat those up like there is no tomorrow. But none the less, she'll cook up something amazing.

Thanksgiving was fun but busy. Only 3 more weeks till Christmas break...

He pulled a quick one

2009-11-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday my roommate Christina got engaged to her best friend Will. Words cannot express how excited and happy I am for them. I thought something was up because Will had been making comments and giving me strange looks all Saturday morning. When I asked him why he didn't tell me he said because he knew I wouldn't be able to lie to Christina. (Note: She can get ANYTHING out of me. I can't lie to her) So. Saturday afternoon they called me from the lake tell me the big news. They said my voice went up 3 octaves (and I'm sure the neighbors heard me). Will did good keeping it a secret from both us.

So here's to Will and Christina. Congrats guys! I can't wait till we decide where to go for the honeymoon!

(Totally kidding...)

Hello November!

2009-11-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

Can I tell you how excited I am fall is here?

I am not your typical summer gal. Call me crazy. I mean, I love laying out by the pool and wearing my skirts and flip flops. However, I never feel my best during the summer because I am off for 3 months doing nothing. Some people lose weight because they have more time to exercise. Nope, not me. I gain it because I sleep till 11.

I do love fall and winter. I love that it's cooler! I'm a sucker for gloves, scarves, and hats. And do I need to mention my collection of peacoats? (FYI, I have , cream, red, black, brown, pink/white...and I'm working on a fun orange peacoat) Then just my ordinary jackets. I love wearing my cowboy boots and shuffling around in my Danskos. I don't have to worry about being tanned. And girls, let's be honest, we don't have to shave every day.

The only down fall of fall and winter is recess. It can get quite chilly outside for 30 minutes. Thus, I have decided to break recess in sections--15 minutes at a time. I enjoy the cold but not sitting on the cold hard tables at recess for 30 minutes. Plus, the kids start complaining about how cold it is.

Fall means Gatlinburg trips, mountain trips, and Turkey Day! Winter, is well, special because of Christmas of course, my 2 weeks off, and drum roll please...my birthday!! Except this year, we go back to school on my birthday. I just realized however that that day is a Teacher Workday so at least we will be able to go out to eat that day at school.

I know I'm getting way ahead of myself about fall and winter. But I am just super stoked about the cool weather.

I am NOT excited about me getting sick because the sun can't decide if we wants to stay out and bring warm weather or hide and bring cool weather. Make up your mind sun because one more bottle of cough syrup and I'll be in Rehab.

Laundry is Ridiculous

2009-10-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

I decided to stay in tonight and catch up on some laundry.

oh my word.

My hamper was a bottomless pit of clothes. I found several pants that I've been looking for. I found some of my fav long sleeved t-shirts. All my workout clothes were stuck at the bottom. My floor is piled high with clothes. I would take pictures but then you would see my underwears. And that's for private eyes only. (wink wink)

However, I did pack up my "summery" clothes. That's a plus and accomplishment right? The sad thing is because I waited so late to do laundry I don't really have any clean clothes for tomorrow. Don't stand too close to me.

Also, that Lamas show on E! is retarded.

Time Flies

2009-10-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

When you're not ALWAYS having fun. I have been swamped the last few weeks. Well, since I started school. My schedule includes waking up with the roosters to hit the gym, school, tutoring, then maybe gym again. Throw in grad school somewhere in the midst of that and trying to have a social life.

I think one of the biggest struggles I've had thus far this year is connecting with my students. This is just an interesting group of students. I have enjoyed them but I really took for granted my students from last year. I just hope that I can connect with them on some level, at some point. It's difficult going from class to class and adjusting to new students. We'll get there at some point.

On another note, I have been boot campin' it up hard core lately. So far I've lost 14 pounds. I'm back down to my old size. I would really be happy if I lost 6 more pounds. But Josh and I had a discussion tonight. Ladies, I want know what you think about this. We went to Concord Mills to shop for some new jeans for me since all my old pairs are insanely too big. We went to Gap, where I normally buy my jeans and I found a pair that I liked. Plus, it was just good to try on my old jean size. Then, Josh suggested we try Levi jeans since I've never worn that brand before. I tried on 4 different styles of Levi jeans and I walked out frustrated. Here's the problem: when you put on their jeans, it says "loose on the hips, perfect for the waist." It lies. It's not perfect for the waist. Their mid-rise jeans sit right above my crotch. When you're buttoning the jeans, it squeezes the belly and pushes it up, which lends to a major muffin top (I had to explain and show this to Josh). I'm sorry but the last time I checked, that's what we DON'T want it to happen. So not only did it cause me to have a muffin top, but my Colombian butt would not fit into the butt part of the patns. The pants had to push it down and make it even more uncomfortable. Josh suggested I go up a size. O HECK NO. I told him that defeats the purpose of buying new jeans. He didn't understand-according to Josh if they don't fit go up a size. Technically that makes sense. But to me, it's all about the number (well for right now at least). I told him I worked hard at losing my weight and keeping it off. I did not want to buy my old jean size. He said that different companies are going to have different sizes and make their pants different. I agree but I refuse to buy jeans at this point that are going to have my old jean size on them. I told him it was a psychological thing- I wanted to wear jeans that said my new size. Does this make sense? We then went to Old Navy and I was able to wear my new jean size there too. So, as far as I am concerned, I am not going to wear Levi jeans any time soon. Not when I'll have to result to my old "size" just because they chose to make their jeans smaller.

I'm off my soap box now. I'll try to update more often. May not be elaborate posting but it'll be something right?

Skoolin' It Up

2009-09-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

School has been in full swing the last couple of weeks. Fortunatelly we had a break this week with a four day break due to Labor Day--yes! It's been a crazy but good start of the year. I think this year is going to be "different." And each year is different along with each day, which is what I love about my job. But you know it's going to be "different" from the first week of school. I really miss my kids from last year but I'm determined to have a great year. As I thought about last year, I thought about what made me "love" the beginning of the year and school.

I love the eager faces of students. Even the biggest trouble makers are ready for a new start.

I love new school clothes, squeaky new tennis shoes, and cute little bows. I love watching to see what the students wear, coordinate their outfits, and proudly show off their new outfits. I've seen bright yellow Nikes that could serve as a night road flare it's so bright to curled ribbons in a little girl's hair.

I love how it's a new start for everyone. If a child had a rough year last year, it's a new beginning. If a child had a bad summer, it's a new beginning and start. It's a new start for teachers. Wipe away last year's trouble and exhaustions. Start over!

I love setting up the classroom. I enjoy redecorating it and moving things around. The possibilities are endless...

I love throwing myself back into my job at the end of the summer. I get so bored after a month of summer vacation that I look forward to starting back. Mrs. Means finds me up at the school around mid-July preparing and getting ready with her telling me, "Don't burnout on me!!" But alas, I am only getting warmed up.

Lastly, I love getting to know the personalities and mixes of my students. Each one is different with crazy ideas, thoughts, sayings, beliefs, and soooo innocent. It took me about a week or so to warm up to them but now they are slowly molding themselves into our classroom. I love how they get so excited when we make "metamorphic rocks" and how they get me excited about making them too! I love playing kickball with them and racing down the slides. These are the memories I wish I could video tape daily.

What did you always love about school??

S.L.U.T.S.

2009-07-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

No I don't mean the trash that walks around Howard St in Spartanburg. Or those girls in high school that bend over with their thong hanging out, which are notoriously known for giving it up at the drop of a hat.

I mean Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress.

I found this saying at The Lady & Sons in Savannah, GA. I bought the koozie at Paula Deen's place. I love it! Because it describes me to a tee. Especially for the next couple of weeks.

With me facing two more weeks till school starts, I have things I have to check off in my head that I need to get done. I like to make lists but rarely do I actually "check things off."

I still want a vacation with just me and Josh. We have yet to venture off by ourselves for the weekend to just relax. Any suggestions?

There are still some things I want get for the classroom but that can high be taken care of in one afternoon with be running all over Spartanburg.

A NEW TIRE. Freakin' a. Every time I turn around I gotta get a new tire. Which reminds me I got to call Discount Tire to find out if they have my tire I need. I mean, my rims or "shoes" are just so big that they have to special order a tire for me. Humorous right? I think so.

Re organize my closet so it's set and ready for the school year. My shoes have just piled up and my clothes are a jumbled mess hanging or stacked on my t-shirt drawer.

Take care of some minor bills. Boo.

Seems like there is more to do. But I know in the next couple of weeks I don't need to be a S.L.U.T.S. I need to be a Southern Lady With No Worries. What acronym is that? S.L.W.N.W.? Um that's not as catchy. Anyways, I just know when school starts one of my classes for grad school will be ending so it's going to be a train wreck.

But it's all in how you manage it too I guess. I start Boot Camp this week or as Scott likes to say, "Booty Camp." I'm excited but really nervous because I know it is going to take a toll on my body. So that's one stress reliever. When I worked at Carowinds, Amanda and I had a punching clown bag in our office. When you punched it, it would pop back up. We always gave it a good punch when we were called down to HR to an interview that would be pointless or into the park to lead the mexicans around to their respectful working positions. I might have to invest in another one of those.

Lord help me.

I got shagged

2009-07-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

I went off on a hunt today for another rug for my classroom. I went to Old Time Pottery and found the perfect rug.

An orange shag rug.

Normally I hate shag rugs because the thought of vaccuming them, but Josh loves them. He wants a whole room covered in shag.

But today, I caved in and bought the shag rug. It'll be super nice under neath my feet this year in the classroom. I'm sooo excited!!

What Comes Next?

2009-07-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

Warning: This is a rambling deep post that may not make any sense to you what-so-ever.

Do you ever think about life after you die? I don't mean as in an "after life." But what will happen when I am dead and gone? I know the stories of Heaven and Hell and what it will take for me to have a place in Heaven. I'm not talking about just dying. I'm talking after everything is gone--Jesus has come back and taken us who belongs, and then there's those that were left.

What happens to them? What happens to the world?

I read the Rapture books when I was in middle school and those were pretty real to me. But will God just wipe out the Earth and have a new one? It's hard for my head to wrap around the concept of us not being HERE on Earth. Will God create a new one, or will we just go to Heaven? After we leave this earth, this is it. No more. Its eternity.

I almost feel like my life is a movie. That it's just playing. No pausing, no rewinding, no fast forward. And I feel like I'm just watching it happen. And that it's going to end, and I'm going to wake up and continue on with whatever I was doing. Does God think like that sometimes? That He's watching our lives like a movie, with the ticker count down on the side of how much more we have left on this earth?

It scares me. It really does. I've been thinking about this for a while now. Of life ending and what's to come. Sometimes I think I'm not going to live long enough to have kids...or see grandkids...or just grow old. I feel like Jesus is going to return. Then it's almsot like, "Ok here's my life. I need to make the most of it because I'm not coming back." I'm not saying I dread Heaven or anything like that, but this is what God has given me. Am I making the most with it as I should be?

No.

Does this make me drop to my knees, and pray for redemption?

No.

What's wrong with me? I've just had some serious thoughts going through my mind lately. With all these "little signs" that things are coming to an end that the Bible has predicted is freaking me out. I won't even watch the show on Discovery Channel or whatever it is about what will happen to the Earth after there are no more people. That scares the crapola out of me. It's almost like if I face these things, I have to come with grips that it is coming to end.

But I don't want it to. There's so much more I want, and need to do. God, I am not ready.

Back to School Shopping

2009-07-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

You know you're a nerd teacher when you get SUPER EXCITED about shopping for school supplies.

Especially when you see the $1 and .25 cent bin at Wal-Mart.

Throw 2 Third Grade teachers in there (on a budget), and it is ON.

Needless to say, Valen and I tackled Wal-Mart today. They were putting out their "school supplies" on "sale" today, and what do you know? We just happened to be there as they were doing it!

I mean come on, 2 Elmer Glue sticks for .25 cents? Love it.

Crayola Markers for $1? AMAZING.

Crayola 24 pack of Crayons for .25 cents? FaBuLoUs!

Bold Markers for .70 cents? Even better.

And.....GERM-X for .88 cents? Wow. I'm in Heaven.

Tomorrow I'm hitting Office Depot because according to Valen, they had some goooood stuff. This makes me excited about preparing for the school year.

Maveric

2009-07-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

One of the big things I love about summer (and not having another part time job) is that I can spend time with Maveric. Maveric is like my nephew because I have a feeling Jason will not be fathering any kids, any time soon. When I moved to Duncan I cried and cired because I realized how less I would see of him.

Well, every Wednesday this summer I told India I would take care of him because she works on Wednesdays. I'm super excited.

Today is our first day together. So far we have played with toy cars and ate Nutty Butty Bars for breakfast (the Chocolate Peanut Butter Breakfast for Champions). Which the toy cars means "Let's see how many toy cars we can balance on Jessa's head!!" This could be dangerous.

Running on No Sleep

2009-06-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

Image by pillowhead designs via Flickr

If you know anything about me you know I'm an avid sleeper. I take naps and when I my head hits the pillow I am out like a light.

For some reason, I have not been sleeping at night. It's not because I've been taking naps because I haven't been. And I know I've slept later than usual the last few weeks because of not having to get up at 5:30 AM but I still fight sleep, or the lack of it when I go to bed. There have been several mornings when I look at the clock and it's 2 AM. I just toss and turn all night. I can't figure out what my deal is and I hate it. Even at Josh's it takes me forever to fall asleep and I don't sleep at all during the night.

I ready to make best friends with my pillow soon.

Random Quote

2009-06-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

"In their own lives teachers must bridge the gap between school and society and play some part in the fashioning of those great common purposes which should bind the two together. "

George Counts

Posting and Papers

2009-06-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Image by shindohd via Flickr

I normally love writing. I have always been a big writer and journaler (is that a word?) Hence my blog even though sometimes it's not that entertaining.

But that is considered "creative writing." But give me a topic and telpl me to reference it and explain or discuss something and it stinks. I don't have that formal writing in me. I absolutely hate it. I hate being formal because that's just too much thought to put into one paper.

For my master's class we have to do "formal" posting with references on a certain topic Dr. T gives us a week. Then every other week we have papers to write. I dread it. I've done decent in the class on my papers and posting making mostly As and some Bs but ughhhhh I dread it.

Hence why I am procrastinating by doing a post here on my blog instead of my class...that's due today...and a paper due Sunday. I'm out.

Finish the Sentence

2009-06-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

My ex...: is married
Maybe I should...: exercise tomorrow
I love...: sleeping
People would say that I'm...: sarcastic
I don't understand...: rude people
When I wake up in the morning...: I roll over
Life is full of...: adventures
My past is...: crazy dramatic
Parties are...: either extremely funny or extremely horrid
I wish...: I could pay off my debt
Tomorrow...: another lazy day
I have low tolerance...: for rudeness
I am totally terrified of...: snakes

Porch Sit

2009-06-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

Image by ni dieu ni maître! via Flickr

Can I tell you that I love to porch sit?

I think this interest in "porch sitting" came when I was a senior at WU and we would sit on the porch at night on good ole North Wilson Street--the house that was one side ghetto and the other side campus. Alli and I would sit and talk (half the time me in a t-shirt and underwear which completely embarassed Alli) or the stupid games we would play ($10 inflatable kid games at Target are the best). Not to mention Alli's obsession one night trying to jump the steps by taking a running head start. Or the night some of Emily's sorority sisters broke into the house at the back and was throwing shoes at us on the porch which caused Emily and I to jump the porch and land in those stupid bushes which caused many bruises and scrapes. And of course I would sit out there and read in the hammock chair.

When I moved back home I missed the porch. Mom has a screened in porch but what fun is it to sit on the porch by yourself? Plus it's normally cluttered with pool stuff throughout the year.

The other day I went over to Lisa's and porch sat with her while it was raining. I had so much fun. Then last Saturday I did porch sit with Jenny, Natalie, and Josh while it was storming. It was so nice, cooling, and relaxing. Made me miss the porch. (I've noticed the last few times it's been raining while I porch sat. Dunno what that means)

Well now I have a porch back! I went off to Ingles and found me 2 lounge chairs (pink and orange) to sit in. We also have put our small little plants and our large Jesus of Nazarene tree on the porch which are barely surviving in this heat. But I have just loved sitting out here. As soon as I got up this morning I fixed my coffee, came out here, sat, and made some phone calls.

I'm loving the porch as I sit here and make this post.

Firefly Lane

2009-06-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

Holy Cow. I read that book in 2 days. When I finished the last chapter I was on my living room floor, crying my eyes out (sounds more pathetic than it really was. Christina said she would have made fun of me if she saw me like that). Here is Barnes & Noble's Synopsis of the book.

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness.

Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wantsis to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship---jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you---and knows what has the power to hurt you . . . and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget . . . one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.

So not only am I suggesting you read this book, I am COMMANDING you read it. Go. Now. Order it. Read it. Pass it on.

I did it again

2009-06-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

I did it again. I went and added to my list of books that I have yet to read but really want to read in the near future. I can't help it. Here is the list below. Nothing like a good book to read by the pool or at the beach...

A MUST READ. I got this book Sunday and I will finish it by Tuesday morning. Jen Lancaster is HILARIOUS. You should google her other books (Bitter is the New Black; Bright Lights, Big A**; Such a Pretty Fat). I highly recommend her.

It's a movie now with Cameron Diaz. However, I am a firm believer that you should read the book then see the movie. I like to compare.

Heard some good things about this book and author so I thought I would give it a try. I'll let you know.

Summa-Summa-Summatime

2009-06-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Wow. Another year or teaching under my belt. I really cannot believe that this year is done. I know many people say that but geez it feels like just yesterday they were comnig in to register for school.

I made a photostory for my students and their parents. When I was showing it on honor's day I started crying. If anyone knows my class, that person is probably thinking "You cried over those students?" Many times I heard teachers say, "There is a reason that child is in your class because our personalities would NOT click." And it's true--they wouldn't have clicked with that student. But I came to really love these students. I don't know what it was about them. Maybe it's because they got my humor and quick wit. Maybe it was because I saw so many of them really grow up over the year. Maybe it's because they taught me how to be a better teacher in some ways and that it's ok to laugh at the small or big things. I know I can really say with honesty that it has been a great year.

Ok, now that school is done, what am I going to do? For the last 180 days my time has been consumed and revolved around 22 eight year olds. It's almost like empty nest syndrome. Well for starters, I slept in today. Whoo-hoo! And then I fixed me a cup of coffee and enjoyed my waffles. I have some things planned for this summer (working at Sylvan Learning Center and tutoring 2 of my students from this past year). But I have decided to make a LIST.

-Clean CLEAN my room and make my bed daily.
-Give Josie a bath weekly. (Steena is going to love this)
-Garage Yard Sale Hoppin (Mine and Steena's new obsession.)
-POOL IT!
-Make it to the beach at least 2 times a month.
-Get back to some work out kind of plan
-Save my money.
-Work and reorganize my classroom
-Make a trip to see Heather
-Finish decorating my apartment

I will add things to this list. Any suggestions for what I should do over the summer? What are you doing??

SPRING CLEANING!

2009-06-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

My name is Jessica and I teach third grade in Spartanburg, South Carolina. My elementary school is a rural school that brings in a lot of country kids with some city kids. Our school is currently undergoing a major overhaul. We added on 2 wings to our school. With over 800 students from K to 5th grade we are busting at the seams. We have added at least 4 more classrooms, another computer lab and a science lab (which I am the most excited about). We have extended our cafeteria by adding a stage, added an extra music room, and another gym storage unit. This will increase student learning but there are more opportunities to move about the school and more hands on activities for our students. Our students will take pride in our school because it's a new and exciting thing happening in our school. Not only are all these additions happening but some grade levels are switching halls. This means that all teachers are having to clean and pack up their belongings before the last day of school (which is Thursday). I have heard many teachers complaining about moving and cleaning out(especially those that have been teaching for 30+ years). I agree that it does stink that this is one more task you have to take care of before summer break but I do believe that half the teachers DO need to clean out their closet and their junk they no longer need. When I moved into my classroom I found items from the 70's stuck at the back of the closet (visit old Facebook photo albums from last summer-you'll see what I'm talking about). I believe mid-year and end of the year teachers need to clean out. Clean out the closets, clean out the cabinets, and clean out the desks. Weekly my students clean out their desks (it's amazing the things they find). When a classroom is clean and organized, the students are more organized and take more pride in the classroom. When a classroom is less cluttered, students are more able to focus and operate. Switch up the seating and movement in the classroom. I have noticed that this makes students more flexible and adjust better to last minute changes because we all know that almost always happens in a classroom. Bottom line-a cleaner organized classroom means a better way of learning.

A Good Note

2009-04-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

No erasers and paper napkins were consumed today by an unmedicated child. That's a positive thing right?

ARE Children Well-Behaved?

2009-04-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

I currently read a post on NC teacher's of the year blog post. She blogged about US children misbehaving and where this behavior might come from. Of course, she mentioned media...DUH. Obviously the media has a HUGE influence on how our children act.

The girls in my classroom idolize Miley Cirus and any other Disney teenage girl. They sing their songs a recess, repeat their statements, snap and sass their fingers just like they do. This comes from the drive to be like these girls on the Disney Channel. As for my boys, I'm not sure I would say they idolize Miley or any other boys on the Disney channel. They may...but they won't admit it. Theirs is more of a "cool" image in front of others, and well, just not being able to control themselves.

The past couple of weeks have been horrid at school. My students have been bouncing off the walls and backsliding. I'm thinking to myself, "Am I backsliding? Is it me? Am I slacking on my discipline?" I follow throw with my consequences. Part of me wants to say, "Ok that's it. Let's call the office to come get you." But another part of me wants to say, "No. Work with this child. What is the office going to do?" I'm not saying I don't trust the office following through with the discipline because they do but sometimes I think there are somethings I should handle in the classroom before I send them away with the pink slip.

A question I have always had was, "Are the parents following through with their discipline at home?" I have a parent that says, "let me know and I'll handle the situation at home. You tell me if anything happens and I'll take care of it." I call the parent, let them be aware of the discipline and action that happened expecting the child to be somewhat regretful from the previous days actions. But sometimes they come in the next morning like nothing happened. This really frustrates me. I build my classroom with parent communication and always put this point across during Registration Day: "I need to know we're a team. We need to work TOGETHER to make this year SUCCESSFUL. If I don't have you BEHIND ME, we cannot be BEHIND your child. I'll do my part from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Then I need you to take over." I get many nods and "Oh yes, Ms. Castro. I agree." BAH. Whatever. This year I had to be pretty blunt with my parents. I hate calling parents. I rather e-mail because I can think of my words. But I've had to come out in teacher conferences and say, "I'm sorry ma'am, but he is lying to you. That did not happen" or "Do you realize that she yelled and spit in my face? Is this going on at home?"

I'm just seriously getting close to the end of my string because it's the end of the year. I pray everyday for patience...or I do at least when I'm having to close my eyes and count to 10 before I explode.

I question a lot of parents...not only in my classroom but in general. There are some amazing parents out there. I have seen students come from these parents and I would say my parents did a pretty decent job with me. But then there are some parents where I sit and think, "What do you do with your child during the week? Could you tell me at least 5 of his spelling words? What mutliplication fact is your child struggling with? What unit are we studying in Social Studies? Did she tell you your 6 vocabulary words today in a sentence? When was the last time you read with your child for 20 minutes? Do you what upsets your child or what is making him so angry lately?"

Some parents could spit these answers off in less than 30 seconds. Then I know there are some that would have to scratch their head and say, "You know, I'm not quite sure..." I realize that some of my parents are single parents working 1 or 2 jobs, going back to school and working and I know it is crazy. But this is your child's education. This is your child's behavior. Follow through with actions. Follow through with discipline. Ask questions. Spend 15 minutes with your child before they go to bed. Such simple steps can make the BIGGEST difference in the classroom.

If I were a parent I would...
-awake my child an 45 minutes to an hour before we have to go to school.
-feed my child breakfast.
-give medicine if needed.
-make sure my child has their bookbag and they are prepared.
-say one positive thing to my child before they get out of the car.
-let their teacher beware of anything stressful going on at home (it's ok to share! we don't judge! well, we try not to but we'll be understanding)
-pick them up from school at a reasonable hour
-ask about their day and not just accept "It was good" statement.
-not only ASK but CHECK their folder and bookbag for homework and important notes
-help with homework.
-read for 20 minutes with my child
-eat dinner at the table
-make them go outside to play. limit video games
-BATHE.
-tuck into bed by 9 PM. no tv in the room.
-kiss goodnight.

The "Ology" of Jess

2009-03-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

Stole from Jed...of course.

FOOD-OLOGY

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Itailian. And Jed was right-Kan Pai

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
PF Changs or Maggianos.

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of?
Evidently Pizza. I've been devouring pizza lately.

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Depends on my mood: Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Onions OR Sun dried tomatoes, feta, and spinach.

What do you like to put on your toast?
grape jelly or lots of butter

TECHNOLOGY

How many televisions are in your house?
3

What color cell phone do you have?
silver gray

What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it?
"Ok Sounds good" -Josh

Who was the last person to call you?
Heather

BIOLOGY

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
nope

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
my cello case. man alive i'm glad i live on the 2nd floor

BOLOGNA-OLOGY

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
No

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Elana.

DUMB-OLOGY

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
Not sure. Maybe 5 or so?

Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Last Saturday 2:30 AM. Well, we didn't have a run in but I called them so they could have a run in with the people below us

Last person you talked to in person:
Steena

Favorite Month?
January!

CURRENT-OLOGY

Missing someone?
My Josie Bella

Mood?
exhausted. that mood between tired but too restless to sleep

What are you listening to?
Private Practice

Watching?
Private Practice

Worrying about?
This weekend.

RANDOM-OLOGY

What’s the last movie you watched?
Random ones but the latest has been "He's Just Not That Into You"

Do you smile often?
I try

Do you always answer your phone?
No

It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Steena.

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
BLUE!! Geez I always thought a girl with brown hair and blue eyes is gorgeous

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Cherry.

Do you own a digital camera?
Yes....that's dumb

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yes still alive. Josh "won" it at the state fair in 2007. Still kicking.

Favorite Christmas song?
Oh Holy Night and Mary Did You Know

What’s on your wish list for your birthday?
GPS or Sat. Radio

Can you do push ups?
heck no. that's the one thing at the gym that i could NOT do no matter how hard i tired

Can you do a chin up?
heck no

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Both

Do you have any saved texts?
yep. 110. just deletes and erases automatically.

Ever been in a car wreck?
No

Do you have an accent?
I sure do. It's the reason why I can't speak Spanish properly.

What is the last song to make you cry?
God of this City. And the Revelation Song

Plans tonight?
I've gone and accomplished a 2 hr Orchestra Practice. I'm pooped.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Oooo yeah.

Name 3 things you bought today?
Smoothie, Coffee, Biscuit.

Have you ever been given roses?
Yessss

Met someone who changed your life?
I Love Jebus and he makes me smile. And the ones I love change my life daily.

What song represents you?
Swan Dive by Sister Hazel

Name three people who might copy this.
Laura, Whito, and...that's it.

What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Sleeeeeping

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
Ok it's 6:30. I need to leave 7 AM. What does NOT need ironing? COFFEE!

Mission: In Progress

2009-03-16T20:09:00.001-07:00

Misson: "Evict 10 person family of Mexicans living below us that play Flamingco music Thursday at 7 PM til 3 AM Sunday while shooting fireworks inside the apartment while dealing pot on the porch" is in effect.

Will update as more events unfold this week.

First Monday Morning

2009-03-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

Last night before I went to bed I was worried that I wasn't going to get up in time in the morning to make it to school. When I lived with mom, I was literally only a mile away from work. But now I'm 15 minutes away from work.

I set my alarm at 5:30 to wake up but I didn't get up till 5:50. One thing I don't like about the apartment is that I have to put Josie on a leash and walk her around the apartments till she does her business. And considering the pot-smoking mexicans living below us, I have to be on guard at all times...especially in the dark.

Well, I'm half a sleep, in my robe, with my phone in hand, ready to dial 911 if anyone attacks me. We're walking around the courtyard, shuffling along, when I hear...

"OOOOOOHHHHH MYYYYYY"

And I jump about 10 feet in the air. One of our downstairs neighbor was on her balcony (why at 5:50 AM I have no clue) and saw Josie. She then preceded to tell me how small and cute Josie was and just had to get a better look at her.

Goooood gracious. Do you think next time you could NOT scare me out of my skin like that???

Oh, and I made it in PLENTY of time to work. I got to work in 15 minutes, and had plenty of time to get my stuff done before the kids came in. GO ME.

Moving

2009-03-08T11:11:00.001-07:00

Moving = Exhaustion.

We moved Friday to our new apartment in Duncan. I was so excited that morning. I kept jumping on the bed until Josh woke up. Then I screamed/sang "Rise and Shine..Give God the GLORY GLORY" to Christina and Will at 8 AM. Needless to say, I was PUMPED.

Well that died at like 12. We got Christina's stuff moved (mind you, she was not packed when we arrived) and stopped to eat at "The Crack" (Cracker Barrell. Apparently that's what Duncan people call it). We decided to call to tell the apartment people we were on our way...well I'm glad we did. We got to the apartments, signed our lease and OH! The office people can't find the apartment keys. Hmmm...I wonder where they would be? Oh that's right...the maintenance people have them because our apartment was still being FREAKIN CLEANED. The walls were wet from fresh paint, they were about to steam clean the carpet so we couldn't move in for 3 more hours.

We were NOT happy. So we talked to the people, and they gave us another apartment. By the time all that got situated out, it was after 3. (And they gave us our first month free)

Grrrr...

Came back here, to grab my stuff (Thank the Lord for Blake and Mandy) and we dumped my stuff finally at the apartment.

In the midst of all of this, I had to call Duke to get the power switched (and you know that cannot be just a 2 minute phone call) and call Charter to get our address switched. They were scheduled to come Friday on move in day to hook the cable up. But because we switched apartments, they had to place a whole new order which means no cable and internet until Tuesday.

Grrrr....

3 more trips to Wal-Mart, a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond (which I'll have to return that stuff now), Target and Dollar Tree I was dun-zo Saturday.

But I couldn't help but feel a little homesick. Holly said that was normal since my apartment isn't quite "home" yet.

We still have so much to do. We need more stuff for the living room but I'm out of money right now. I didn't want Josh to leave this afternoon because it's lonely at the apartment with no tv, internet...nothing to entertain me. (So, sorry darlin for being a jerk today.) I guess I could go to the fitness center and work out and run to watch my shows...

The good thing is that Lo is literally a mile away from me now and Mandy/Blake are maybe 10 minutes from me. So I do have friends in Duncan.

On another note, I'm here at Mom's drying towels and doing laundry because our dryer doesn't work. That's something else we gotta figure out.

Just think...I gotta do all of this a year from now...oooho joy.

The Final Deal

2009-03-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow the divorce is final.

This battle has been going on for over a year now.

It's surreal.

I'm not sure what to think. Or what to say. I love my dad. I always will. I love him regardless of his actions. Josh's mom once told me, "Jess. There's a difference between accepting what your dad has done and approving of what he's done. You have to accept that what your dad has done is wrong. There's nothing you can change it. And you can't forgive your dad until you can accept it. Now, you don't have to approve of what your dad has done. And you probably never will. But until you learn the difference between accepting and approving, you won't be able to move on."

And she was so right. She probably told me that this past summer. And it has taken me about 6 months to finally understand what she meant. I haven't spoken to my dad since last February because I was so angry with him and hut. And I have finally gotten to the point where I think I can stomach a conversation with him. Now, it's not our old normal regular convos where it's full blown "Hey, this is what's happening, this is what's going on." It's more of, "Hey, how are you? Good. Talk to you later" kind of deal. I've learned to accept what dad has done. I can't change it. My mom can't change it, no matter how much she wishes she could change it. No one can change it. But we can't move on until we accept and acknowledge dad's actions. I've come to terms with reality. I've realized how deep love can hurt and how strong love can be. Dad hurt us deeply. But I realized after a year that I still love my dad, no matter what. Nothing can take away the things he has done for me and he still does for me. Nothing can take him away. I still believe that there are 2 different men living inside my dad. The man that I knew growing up and loving. Then there's a man that is being controlled by worldy things.

My mom, bless her heart, is a strong good woman. I don't think she realizes this enough. I hate and hurt to see her go through this tomorrow. But I know she's going to get through. I tell her this, but she doesn't see it. I want to tell her, "Mom. Look at your other friends. Look at your divorced or widowed friends. Are they living in a ditch? Are they a mad house mess? No. They are doing fine!" She has come such a long away and I'm so proud of her. She tells me, "You don't understand. You never will." And I don't understand what she's going through. I was without Josh for 2 weeks and that was the hardest 2 weeks of MY LIFE. So no, I could imagine what she's going through. But what I can imagine is a better life for her. A life that is built on trust, strength, honesty, integrity, love, good morals, and a God that showers love and blessings on her that will be never ending. I guess that's just me being my opptimistic self. I want the best for my mom, and this is the best. God would not and has not forsaken her during this time. If anything, God is even more present now in her life and relationship. Why would a God of love and strength leave a woman who has served Him all her life? He wouldn't. Why would God put a woman through what my mom has gone through and going through? Because we are humans. We live in a world of sin. And our sin and consequences affects and hurts everyone, even Christians. In the Bible, it quotes that we are put through times of trials and tribulation to produce character and endurance and strength. Wow. What a better way to go through a trial and hardships than this?

I firmly believe that there is a better reason and purpose for my mom's life. And my life too for that matter. My mom has a lot of fears of being alone. My greatest prayer for her is that she realizes that she isn't alone. I have no more words or actions to say or prove to her that she isn't alone. She may be alone physcially but she has more love and friends and family than any other 55 year old woman I know. I pray that I have that when I'm her age! What a blessing that is for her!

This blog has turned into a letter to her pretty much. I don't even know if she reads my blog. I just want her to know that even though I'm moving, she still can't get rid of me. I will always be there for her.

Just remember my family the rest of the week as we jump this one more hurdle. Pray for strength and love for my mom. Pray for my sanity and that I have the right words to say for my mom tomorrow. Pray for my mom's friends as they comfort her. She has a great group of friends and I'm so glad that they are there to encourage her.

“Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen.”

"Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.”

Straight Up Annoyed

2009-02-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have been in one mood lately. And I haven't been able to put my finger on what kind of mood I've been in.

Stressed? Yes...but that's not all it.

Depressed? Somewhat...but I have my reasons to. Like, Mom and Dad's divorce final trial being Wednesday.

Exhausted? Of course. That's every week.

Overworked? Duh.

Then, while I was taking a shower it hit me: I am straight up annoyed.

And I mean, I am annoyed at the smallest things.

I am annoyed that my legs are super dry and itchy.
I am annoyed that Josh got to go out and have fun last night.
I am annoyed that I am working and cleaning today by myself.
I am annoyed that my mom is drepressed and negative about everything.
I am annoyed that I haven't had a full weekend with Josh since...Geez, I don't know since when.
I GET annoyed when mom says, "You just don't understand. You never will." Whatev.
I am annoyed that my hair is too long.
I am annoyed that I have a zit that REFUSES to go away.
I am annoyed at every little sarcasim joke that is thrown my way. Normally I can diss it out but lately I have not been in the mood.
I am annoyed that the IRS is on my case.
I am annoyed that Josie still craps on the guest bedroom bed.

And I could go on. But I'll stop. For right now, those are just things I've encountered today. Those things have started out little, turned into frustration, then to annoyance.

The plus is that this annoyance to everything has led to accomplish many tasks in 1 day! Like, donating 20 books to the library (Dead Serious), donating 4 boxes of clothes to the thrift store, hauling out 3 bags of trash (I have 3 more bags in the basement), Cleaning and Packing my dresser and chest drawers, cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry and right now that's it. In about an hour I'm going to tackle my closet--my big final project.

So I guess there is an upside to every downside.

Twosies to relieve my Woozies.

2009-02-26T18:14:00.001-08:00

Hahah gay but funny.

two things you love
1. reading
2. napping

two things you hate
1. interruptions
2. hot sleepness nights

two best friends
1. Josh
2. Steena/Mer/Heat. It's a toss up.

two best memories
1. Seeing Josh for the first time after being in South American for 3 weeks
2. Winthrop

two regrets
1. making rash decisions
2. procrastinating

two favorite music artists
1. sister hazel
2. brad paisley

two good songs
1. this kind of live (acoustic)
2. amazing grace

two good movies
1. Madea movies
2. Can't Buy Me Love

two good actor/actresses
1. Reese Witherspoon
2. Brad Pitt (typical I know)

two things you watch on tv
1. Scrubs
2. Greys/Private Practice

two good books
1. Any book by Jen Lancaster
2. Any book by Emily Giffen

two things in your room
1. 10 pairs of Danskos
2. jewelry

two questions you want answered
1. Am I really going to pay the government that much?
2. Will my parents ever agree?

two things that could be better
1. The Weather
2. the economy

two things you wish you could do
1. Better my cello skills
2. Travel freely

two good things about summer
1. no school
2. lazy days

two bad things about summer
1. hottness
2. bordem

two things other people should know about you
1. I stress too easily
2. I'm a Google Addict

two things you are constantly told
1. You stress too much.
2. You're burps are disgusting.

two things you look forward to
1. Moving
2. Paying off student loans

two current thoughts
1. Can I pack all of this in 1 weekend?
2. Did I screw up?

Will I Ever Ben Caught Up?

2009-02-25T16:56:00.000-08:00

My feet have hit the ground this week and I have not stopped running. It has been nonstop.

First of all, I'm moving out in less than 2 weeks. This is way sooner than what I had originally planned. So it's been a whirlwind around here. Cleaning and packing. More cleaning. This weekend will entail more packing. While I'm super excited, it has been really overwhelming.

Secondly, I just coughed up $400 at the eye doctor for new contacts, glasses, and an eye exam. Joy right? The plus is that I got some neato new classes and because of my insurance I saved over $300. So I keep telling myself that's a positive.

Next, my loans for school will not be here till May because we had to move back our start date for the classes which totally bites because I was ready to start ASAP. So this is just more dwindling. It's probably a good thing the start date got pushed back because this will give me more time to settle into the apartment.

Also, I am being audited by the IRS. My fault and I'm paying for it. WONDERFUL.

I just keep telling myself, "Calm down. It will be ok. You will pull through this." I am trying to put some money aside in savings up front so I'm not freaking out in a few weeks about moving. I've been trying to live by my "10-10-80." 10% is tithing, 10% savings, 80% live off of. Man that is hard. I know money shouldn't consume my life but it can be challenging when that's what you depend on.

I had this stressed look on my face today. Robin (my mentor) said, "What's wrong hunny? You look stressed." And I said, "I am not ready financially for all of this." She replied, "Girl, you never will be."

And I'm starting to believe she's right. There is always something that's going to come up. More student loans, debt, payments, this, that, the IRS. Geez. But I look back at when I was in college. I was living off $300-400 a month. That was ROUGH. My one pay check now would equal my money for 4 months in college. I know I should be grateful that I have a job and I can pay my bills. It just gets really overwhelming sometimes for me. But does it ever stop being overwhelming?

Then I start thinking about the future. Josh hates it when I do this. But I start to think-Ok. If I already have this "x" amount of money in student loans and he has this "x" amount this would be put at "xxxx" amount of debt when we get married. Then I just want to fall over and die.

On another note, there's a $200 comforter set I want from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Geezzz I want it so badly. Can I budget it?? It's a really good deal. Especially with a coupon.

do you ever feel really overwhelmed with money? do you have any advice????

Couples Survey

2009-02-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

Ok I know I should do a real blog. But I have been exhausted and just cleaned out my "corner" of the basement. I will post and blog about that later. But for now, here's this. (I'm doing it without Josh because he would think this is totally dumb)

What are your middle names?
Steven and Pilar

How long have you been together?
2 yrs May 25!

How old are each of you?
Both 24. I'm 2 weeks older.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
None. Our first date was the first night we met and we've been together since. Well, I take that back. We talked on the phone for about a month or so before our first date.

Who asked who out?
Josh asked Jess out. Kinda.

How long did it take to get serious?
It took me longer to get more serious than Josh. Josh was ready for a bigger commitment than I was. But after moving back home and leaving Josh, I was ready.

Are you from the same home town?
No

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Probably Joshs since we never know when my brother is going to grace us with his presence. But I consider Holly and India sisters so we see them a lot on the weekends too.

Do you have any children together?
Big negative.

What about pets?
Josie Bella, our Chorkie!

Did you go to the same school?
Nope

Who is the most sensitive?
Me of course. Josh won't admit it, but I've seen that sensitive side before. Such a turn-on (dead serious).

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Firehouse, Outback, Bojangles. Our new obession is PF Changs and Jason's Deli. Lately we've been at Gators, but against our will.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Jacksonville, FL

Who has the worst temper?
Josh. Lord help us. When he gets caught up in something and stressed it takes it to the way extreme, which turns in to pouty moods.

Who does the cooking?
We both do.

Who is more social?
Used to be me but we're pretty even now. Josh has came out more.

Who is the neat freak?
Josh

Who is the most stubborn?
we are both extremely stubborn.

Who hogs the bed?
Josh. and Josie. There's no hope with both of them in the bed together.

Who wakes up earlier?
Me. Those 5:30 AM wake up calls during the week stick with me on the weekends most of the time.

Where was your first date?
T-Bonz on the River in Gastonia. Then Sammy's Pub till 2 AM. Then back to the parking lot for convo til 3 AM.

Who has the bigger family?
Josh has a bigger immediate family, I have a larger extended family.

How do you spend the holidays?
traveling and I hate it. We have 2 Thanksgivings, and 3 Christmases.

Do you get flowers often?
No but when he does give flowers he gives big time (i.e. my BEAUTIFUL orchids for Valentine's Day delivered to school)

Who eats more?
Josh

Who sings better?
I sing all the time, don't know if Josh cares for it. But I know Josh has a voice inside of him that he is just WAITING to let out.

Who does the laundry?
We do our own since we live in seperate places. But Josh does better at keeping up wih his.

Who’s better with the computer?
Josh

Who drives when you are together?
Depends. If we're in SPTBG, I drive. If we're in Gastonia, Josh drives.

Who picks where you go to dinner?
It's a collective decision. We decide together...it's an hour process sometimes.

Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
Probably me just to end the fight and be done with it. And just to drop whatever the problem is.

Who eats more sweets?
Me...definitely. That has not been a big quality Josh admires in me.

Who cries more?
Me

2009-02-16T11:34:00.000-08:00

1. Where is your cell phone? jacket
2. Your significant other? Joshie
3. Your hair? dry
4. Your mother? crazy
5. Your father? douche
6. Your favorite thing? reading
7. Your dream last night? nothing
8. Your favorite drink? diet coke
9. Your dream/goal? live
10. What room you are in? classroom
11. Your hobby? reading
12. Your fear? failure
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? moved
14. Where were you last night? Candice's
15. Muffins? love
17. Wish list item? ring
18. Where you grew up? SC
19. Last thing you did? teach
20. What are you wearing? skirt
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? hyper
23. Friends? different
24. Your life? good
25. Your mood? tired
26. Missing someone? yes
27. Car? Honda
28. Something you're not wearing? glasses
29. Your favorite store? Gap Outlet (there's a difference)
30. Your favorite color? black
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? Tuesday
35. Who will resend this? none
36. One place that I go to over and over? bed :)
37. One person who emails me regularly? Facebook
38. My favorite place to eat? Pizza Inn
39. Why you participated in this survey? bored
40. What are you doing tonight? planning

It's official

2009-02-11T17:52:00.001-08:00

I'm going to my grave early.

Between my job and the stress it brings...

to my insane family that makes me twitch...

to my boyfriend who is so stubborn it's almost impossible to NOT love him (if you know what I mean)...

I'm going to lose it.

I swear I have found 2 new gray hairs on my head. And Lisa just keeps on pulling them out. Maybe that's why they're multiplying and I keep finding more.

It it wasn't for

the laughs we have at work after school and faculty meetings...

to the "wholesome" love and talks from my family...

to the same understanding and love from my boyfriend...

I would be up at the Mental Health Department filling out an application.

Can You Hear Me??

2009-02-10T14:56:00.000-08:00

What the mess. I've lost my voice. I thought I was coming down with strep because 4 of my students have had strep in the last 2 weeks. BOOO. But I was a good little girl and had our school nurse check me out. (Nurse Beth rocks by the way because she keeps a stash of meds her cabinet for us) She said it didn't look like strep but to rest my voice. Ha. Yeah right. All I've done today was talk, and then try to talk even louder so my students could hear me. Awful. Insane.

On another note, I'm hoping to move out with Steena soon. Hopefully by the spring. Don't get me wrong. I love my mom and we've had some good times but it's time for me to scoot along. Steena and I are looking at apartments to see what we can find. Keep your fingers crossed!

I am excited about this weekend and it's not because it's Valentine's Day but because we're going to the beach!!! YEAH!! I'm praying that I will have overcome whatever I'm fighting by then.

Oh and I got this e-mail from Allie B in India. It totally made me laugh the other morning when I got it. :)

Subject: PYKA IS IN INDIA.
Body: So the other day, I thought I heard a cat screaming...HELLOOOO!!! like Pyka used to do when you didn't feed her in the mornings. Well, I just saw the devil of a cat and heard it screaming. Cats are really rare here, so it's odd that the one talking cat is in our neighborhood. Anyways, if you could send a gun over that would be great. Have a great day at school.

Allie, just know that God has sent you that Pyka sound a like cat for you to remember our great times together and all the memories you and Pyka shared. P.S. The gun is on the way.

I'm just totally rambling. I think I'm going to go find something to eat. If I can't talk, the least I can do is eat, right?

Junk in my trunk: A deep thought

2009-01-29T14:38:00.000-08:00

Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm not talking about my big butt. I'm talking about "junk" from the past.

Every Christmas and some random Valentine's day holidays Mom will buy me a dating/marital book. In high school it was "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" and then "Boy Meets Girl." In college, it was "Captivating" and "Do You Think I'm Beautiful?" I loved all those books. And now I guess since Josh and I are getting serious and the "M" word is coming up more lately, she has been buying me marriage books such as "How Do I Know You're the One?" and "Happily Ever After." Granted, the latter of the books are a little bit more intense than I like so I'm having to read them a little bit at a time considering Josh and I are not engaged or married yet.

The other night I did read the first chapter of "Happily Ever After." It was entitled, "Where You Come From: Family History." My first thought was, "Oh great. We both have WONDERFUL family histories" (in my most sarcastic tone).

Now I type the next little bit with a disclaimer: If you are part of mine or Josh's family-this is nothing against you. I love both families equally. Josh's family has done everything to make me feel like part of theirs. From Bev to dotting on me giving me manicures, to Mark being the "father figure" when mine stepped out a year ago, to his brothers embracing me in big hugs, to Victoria making me feel like a sister...and the list could go on.

It talked about how when you marry you are marrying the parents, the aunts and uncles, grandparents, and everyone else that comes along with the tote. When Josh marries me, he is marrying into 70 close family and friends--no lie. And I with him. And we both love each other's families, well I at least hope he loves mine. But our families are different and it's obvious. We're so similar at the same time. It's a blessing in disguise.

Bound to Repeat it: If you know me and my family, you know I am spitting image of my father and grandfather--inside and out. From the thick black hair, to the love to read and explore new land, to our silence and smart mouths when we're upset. I've always laughed about how similar I was to my dad and grandfather but Josh has pointed out to me in the last 2 years of our relationship that those qualities can be harmful to our relationship. I used to not open up about feelings. I would journal. Think about it. Pray about it. THEN I would come to you when I was ready to talk. Josh has taught me to be more open about things. Talk to him--COMMUNICATE, which is hard when I'm upset with him. Even Bev, Josh's mom, will ask questions point blank that just seems to open up a whole conversation flow. I hope I have qualities that he finds HELPFUl to our relationship. I wonder what those are?

And Josh has qualities that I struggle with that remind me so much of my dad, too (as much as I hate to say it). My dad was always tight with money. He didn't spend it unless it was something he wanted or if it was a Christmas gift. If I borrowed money and said I would have it back by some "x" date, on that date, he would be expecting his money back (which was good because it taught me money management and repsonsibility at a young age). Josh is like that. When he wants to spend, he'll spend. But when he doesn't, he puts the reigns on, and breaks down every penny in his checking account and make it sound like he's going to be homeless in the next 2 weeks. This drives me crazy. Do you know anyone like that? I'm not a big spender (I do have my weaknesses) but it is a reflection. but then Josh reminds me of his mom too. He has that tender side like Bev does. When he wants to be sweet and considerate (which he is most of the time), he is just like Bev.

Those qualities have so much with your past. And I don't think realize those things until you are married and living together. Toben Heim (the author) said,
One way or another, you'll discover all kinds of things about each other that stern from your past, your story. That is so true. I LOATHE vaccuming. Actually, I hate the vaccum cleaner that goes with it and the "response" from my mom when cleaning. Josh has soooo picked up on this. He'll make the comment, "Go ahead and vaccum but don't put it up because you'll have to redo it again. Then that will turn into a yelling match between you and your mom." Am I going to resent Josh when he tries to help me clean? Am I going to automatically burst when Josh points out something that I need to do because that's how I reacted to my mom?

At the end of the chapter it has questions that you can discuss with your significant other. Alot of those are the basics, "How many children do you plan to have?...How are you going to split up the chores in the house?...What are boundaries you need to set as a couple with your family?" The first question stood out to me: How has your family influenced your view of marriage? Bull's eye. Bingo. That one question I struggle with daily.

Josh's parents divorced when he was young. Both of them have remarried. While both families are very different, they show love to Josh is different ways. Bev and Mark choose to show it in verbal "discussions" about random weird things, cooked dinners, car parts, and other things. Josh's dad, Bruce, and stepmom, Karen, show it through a game of poker and lending us poker chips when our stack is getting low. Both very different set of parents but have shaped Josh so much. It has shaped his view of marriage too. We haven't talked a whole lot about marriage and how we view it. But comments have been made from him that make me go, "Hmmmm..." or "ahaa..."

Then I look at my parent's relationship. It's still a tender cut and it probably will be for a long time. I watched for almost 23 years my parents love and raise a family in a good home. I watched them make sacrifices and battle through some pretty nasty things, including my mom the most. When dad left last January, it was hard. I knew when he left, he was leaving for good and never coming back. He was done with this lifestyle that they had worked so hard on building. I watched my mom fight with every ounce in her body to have him back, then learn she needed to let him go and deal with the pain. This put up a big wall in my relationship with Josh. I often thought the first months of my parent's seperation, "If my own FATHER can leave me, betray my mom and family, and lie for God knows how long--the first man I ever loved--how do I know that Josh isn't going to the same to me?" I mean I was paranoid. I lost all trust in Josh, a guy that I had no reason to lose trust in because he has done nothing but be faithful to me. I would check Josh's facebook and myspace, look at the smallest details, and be shaking with nerves by the end of the night, on the phone with Lauren, Candice, or Meredith in tears. What had happened to me? Josh had done nothing. What is wrong with me? Thoughts kept going back to my dad and what he did. Gone was that relationship for a while--what about mine and Josh's?

Then Josh replied with, "I would never do that to you because I am not my father nor your father. I always said I would never grow up to be that kind of man."

And he's right. All in all, he is not like my father. Yes in some ways I do see some resemblance but I love him. I love my dad still...alot. And I yern for that relationship which has made me cling to Josh even more and his stepdad, which he has stepped up to that roll. The loves of my life...geez.

I think sometimes, "Ha. If Josh saw this coming, would he still be around?" Yeah he would be. I'm glad that we were together when things went haywire. Could you imagine me explaing all of this to someone who wasn't here from the beginning? "Hey, nice to meet you. By the way, before we get into this relationship, I have a love/hate relationship with my mom...my dad and I don't speak because he tarnished the image of marriage and trust and I can't forgive him. Are you willing to date me?"

Josh has seen all the good and bad. And I've seen some of his good and bad. Wow. If the first chapter of this book made me think and write this much, I can't imagine what the next chapter is going to be.

I told you my next blog was going to be a killer.

I will update...

2009-01-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

Soon. The new year has been insane.

And I've had a lot of thoughts going through my head...just things reminding me of the previous year...

It's gonna be a killer when I do blog.

But for right now, here is what I'm currently doing INSTEAD of blogging...
-Applying to Grad School
-Finishing my "2 week unit" to give to Mr. B BY FRIDAY
-Being OBSERVED by ADEPT evaluators
-Starting my new financial plan "20-20-80." Ask if you're curious.
-Getting rid of fleas on Josie. Yeck.
-Filling out FAFSA. Who knew I would be doing THAT again?
-Planning my new few weekend trips.
-Gym every other day with a 5:30 AM walk 4 days a week
-Trying to figure out where my next flipchart is going to come from or be rather.

And oh yeah, trying to catch some sleep.

Is anyone else overwhelmed like me???

Christmas Break Schedule

2008-12-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

Every day I have a schedule for my students. It is pretty routine but is flexible. I was looking forward to a schedule free Christmas break but alast, that is not happening.

Josh and I have gotten these questions alot: "So, what house will you be at on Christmas Eve? Where are you spending New Years at? When will you be back?"

So I have sat down (without Josh because he could really careless) and made out our schedule. Here it is...sad we have to split holidays up.

Be in Spartanburg until Tuesday, December 23. Then we're heading to Gastonia.
Spending Christmas Eve DAY with Josh's Dad and Stepmom. Spending Christmas Eve NIGHT with Josh's mom and Stepdad.
Spending Christmas MORNING at the Kiser's with Josh's brother, sister-in-law.
Driving to SPTBG for Christmas NIGHT here at the house.
Leave for Gatlinburg Friday, December 26 until Monday, December 29 with my family.
Come home. No plans as of yet for New Years.

and o yeah, do last minute things for Shawn and Reo's wedding.

So much for a "break" right?

It was a "Dicken" of a day

2008-12-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

I had a horrible day at school last Tuesday. I was so looking forward to Tuesday night's "Dickens of a Christmas" but my kids got to the best of me that day. I don't know what it is about Tuesday but it is like heck on wheels with my kids on Tuesday. Every week it's like a time bomb has gone off. But they weren't going to get me down...ok they did somewhat. I was looking forward to Josh coming down to join us for Dickens of a Christmas. But by the time he got here I was tired and just wanted to crawl into bed with the sheets over my head. But I'm glad I didn't let it get me down. We had a funtabulous time.

They didn't teach me at the WU

2008-12-04T16:48:00.001-08:00

The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without his teacher. ~Elbert Hubbard

When you go into teaching and get into your own classroom, you KNOW there are things that are going to happen that your college did not teach you.

For example: How to unclog a glue bottle in under 30 seconds....how to rush a child out of the room quickly and quietly when they peed in their pants...how to handle decide who gets what snack.

But they especially do not teach you how to handle bratty mean eight year old girls.

This week I have heard from several students "There's some mean words on the bathroom wall....It's about (blank)...You need to check this out..." And their mean words are like, "Shut up" Or "Elephant Head." So I finally take a gander today after school what is written on our bathroom wall. Yes, students write on the walls but it's normally like, "Hey!" or "Joe wuz here."

Oh no. My bathroom walls said POOP and (BLANK) IS A #$!&* and LET GOD BE ARAISE (whatever that means). I mean have you ever heard of such???

My mouth droopped. First of all, POOP. Seriously?? Yes we all take a poop but there's no need to advertise that unless it helped you focus on completing the task of pooping.

Secondly, CUSS WORDS?? I didn't even know how to spell that when I was 8. And someone signed another child's name along with it which mean they were trying to frame that child. This is not the first time that phrase has been brought up in my class. I've found notes and other writings in the class. At least my lower kids can barely read so they dont know what the words mean.

Thirdly, GOD BE ARAISE?? What the heck does that mean? Someone wrote that on my cute recyling posters!! I guess they felt like God needed to take presence in the bathroom since that nasty writing has consumed my bathroom walls. Yeah, God, please consume that nasty wall and that nasty pee infected smell.

I am at lost how to handle this. I know girls are nasty and mean because hello, I am one. But I have tried to talk to individual girls about their attitude, behavior, actions...I have talked to the whole class about it. And I have it narrowed down to like 4 or 5 people....but I can never catch them in the act. Some do a lot behind my back that I can't prove or catch. Last year my girls were not this bad. I guess because they were all new kids to the school so they didn't know anyone. We all became "friends" somewhat. But I guess since I got the "true" Roebuck kids they know about one another and what they can get away with.

I want my kids to get along. It is killing me that they are vandalizing my walls, being nasty to one another, and forming cliques. How do you handle this situation? I know "Be positive...encourage good decisions and choices" and I do all that. But does it ever stop? Will it ever end?

No it won't because of the world we live in, the families we have, and the society we're raising our students in. And I know "I can make a difference because I'm a teacher" blah blah blah. But tell me--how do you get your kids to stop writing on the walls? Calling each other these names?

Please I'm up for suggestions.

And if I have to scrub one more wall, I am going to have a throw down. Hard core.

3 Posts in one night

2008-11-30T18:58:00.001-08:00

So this is my 3 post for the night. I just keep blogging. Random things to blog about. And I'm currently gathering pictures and stories to recap my Week with the Castros.

Ok I got this from Jed. One last thing...

A: Attached or Single.... Attached> I have his mojo.
B: Best Friend...Alot. Seriously.
C: Cake or Pie... CAKE!!
D. Day of Choice... Friday, of course.
E. Essential Item... Hair tie. I keep one on my wrist all the time.
F: Favorite Color... Green. Or Black. or Both.
G: Gummy bears or worms... Gummi Bears. Delish. But not cheap brand ones.
H: Home town... Roebuck
I: Favorite Indulgence... Peanut M&Ms with Coffee.
J: Jan. or July... January. It's an exciting month of birthdays
K: Kids...I have 21 one of them. But one day I'll have my own...but not now.
L: Lemon in your tea... NO! Have you SEEN the research on them??
M: Marriage Date... Who knows
N: Number or siblings: 1 but I got 2 gals that are like my sistas
O: Oranges or Apples... Apples. Yuck on oranges.
P: Phobias... snakes or any reptile
Q: Quotes... "I try to get to know my students' parents so I can understand and forgive their child."
R: Reasons to smile... 3 weeks till christmas break!
S: Season of choice... Winter
T: Think of 5 people who may do this... Not a dern soul
U: Unusual Fact... I hate my feet.
V: Vegetable... Squash, Onions, and Zuchinnii
W: Worst Habit... biting my nails
X: Excited about.... Gatlinburg after Christmas!!
Y: Your Favorite Food....Mom's Mac and Cheese. And Kyle Fletchers BBQ.
Z: Zoo or ZZZZZ's..... ZZZZZZs of course which is where I'm headed.

Goodnight.

2008-11-30T16:09:00.000-08:00

"TV. If kids are entertained by 2 letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open you're child's imagination. Open a book." -Unknown

I have been an avid book reader since I was wee little. My fourth grade teacher came to a retiree luncheon we had at Roebuck last year. Amazingly, she recognized me. The first thing she said to me was, "Jessica Castro. You always had a book in your hand. I have always rememebered you as 'The Girl with a Book." That was a big compliment to me. I even took books into to church to read during the service and my parents would have to pry the book out of my hand during dinner. I didn't watch a whole lot of tv growing up. While most kids played outside, or they stayed inside to watch TV, I stayed inside to read a book. My mom once told me I needed to be outside more. And what you do you know, Dad found me in the tree, doing what else? Reading a book.

I constantly encourage my students to read (and bribe with M&Ms). They have come a long way and do love to read. I am usually telling students to put books away, which isn't really a bad complaint. But when I started teaching, I told myself that I needed to read more. I got out of the habit of reading while at Winthrop because we were constantly having to read for class so I had no down time to read except during breaks.

This summer I read a lot. Josh often complains that I read too much while I'm with him. I especially do this when I'm frustrated with him or upset about something. I can escape. I tell him it's better that I read instead of getting into a fight with him. When I'm finished reading a chapter or two in my book, I'm calmer and more reasonable. But this summer I got addicted to ordering books off Amazon or going to Barnes and Nobles. I had books coming in that I forgot I ordered. This week Christina, Jenn, and I went to Barnes and Nobles. I picked up 3 books I wanted but put them back. I kept reminding myself that I had at least 4 books at home to read. But I still might slip onto Amazon later and place a couple orders....

Here is a list of "noteable" books in my opinion I think you should check out. Some of them are just fun fiction stories that I enjoyed, and some are thought provoking and non-fiction books. Let me know what you think

Note Worthy Books I Read Over the Summer

"3 Weeks with My Brother" by Nicholas Sparks. This book is about Nicholas Sparks traveling with his brother to exotic lands and famous landmarks. I enjoyed reading about the different places he visited (he did an excellent job of making sure you felt like you were there experiencing it) . He also writes about how this brought him and his brother together and gives you a lot of insight into his childhood. Some parts were "laugh out loud" and others brought tears to my eyes. He also talks about his Christinaity and struggle as an author. All and all--very good book.
"Tall Tales and Wedding Veils" by Janet Graves A book that is similar to the movie "What Happens in Vegas." An average girl goes to vegas for a bachelorette party and gets drunk and marries (surprise surprise) a man from her local town that she knows, randomly. It was rather funny story about how they were forced to live together under a certain law and how they did not get along at all. Some what trashy but still a good read.
"Something Borrowed", "Something Blue", and "Baby Proof" by Emily Giffin. This past summer I started reading "Something Borrowed" and quickly got swept up in her series of books. I lent the book to Valen who lent it to Lauren (who never reads but couldn't put these books down) and we were quickly swapping books left and right. We had our own Summer Book Club!! But "Something Borrowed" and "Something Blue" has the same characters. It's about 2 best friends and growing up and apart. I cannot even begin to get into the plots of the books because it gets way complicated. But you cannot put these books down. I even had Lauren texting me at times saying, "Oh my gosh...I cannot believe she did that!!....Please tell me this isn't going to happen here..." In "Baby Proof" it's about a husband and wife who at first agree to not have children. Their views change and end up getting a divorce. But a sweet story about how they get back together. I haven't read her new one, Love the One You're With but Lo said it's a must read too.
"Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. Honestly, who hasn't read this book? Donald Miller discribes Christianity as like jazz music: few boundaries, few restrictions, free to the soul...I was some what confused by it because he questions Christianity and what it really means to some people. His experiences are questionable. And his approach to Christianity is "free style like." I honestly need to read this story again to grasp it some more...
"Sweet Home Carolina" by T. Lynn Ocean An advertising/agency wealthy city girl is relocated to a small island off of SC to rejuvinate the town before it closes down. Some what difficult to get into (some language) but once it got going it was pretty funny and intriguing. I loved the racoon in the book. Must read to understand.
"Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" by James Patterson James Patterson normally writes mystery/murder novels. This book however is totally different from his others. Its about a young girl who gets pregnant and falls in love with a man. He quickly ends the relationship and moves back to Cape Cod. He leaves a diary that was written by his wife, Suzanne, to read to understand why he left. He switches back and forth between the past and present but does an excellent job at it. Very similar to Nicholas Sparks but an excellent read. Gut wrentchling love story for romantic types.
"How I Stole Her Husband" by Liz Ireland A young lady takes a job as a nanny and the family she ends up working for is her high school rival girl friend and her exboyfriend. Feeling reignite between the old lovers and discovers what she really needs and wants. Some what predictable but an entertaining book that shows it's ok to "not be" where you want "to be." (If that makes sense)
"Shopaholic" series by Sohpie Kinsella I read these books in the last year or two but hilarious stories about a woman who has no clue how to manage her life. Seriously, if you want a good laugh and want to make you feel better about yourself, please, this is your book to read
"The Shack" by William P. Young My aunt brought me this book to read. I'm sure a lot of people have heard mixed reviews about this book. I wouldn't say I "enjoyed it" but it did open my eyes to the trinity of Christ. It broke "stereotypes" of what and who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are. Very deep book. I had to read a lot of the pages a few times to understand. Definitely a book to read again to gain better understanding.

Ok looking back I realized I've read some pretty random interesting books. Now, here is a list of books that I plan on finishing by the summer. I hope I can do it.

Books I Plan on Reading (or finishing)

"One Fifth Avenue" by Candice Bushnell The same author of Sex and the City. About 4 or 5 ladies (soo many characters to keep up with) and all of them living in the same apt building. I'm currently working on this book.
"Have a New Kid by Friday" by Dr. Kevin Leman My aunt gave me this book to read also. Dr. Leman plants out 5 simple days to help change your child's attitude, behavior, and character in 5 days. I'm very interested to read this book and test it out on my students...buahahaha
"Educating Esme" by Esme Raji Cotell Rhonda gave me this book to read. She read it her first year teaching and said it was insanely funny. It's an account of a first year teacher in an inner city school and her challenges. I can't wait to read this book.
"Notes from the Classroom" by Kay McSpadden A teacher from York, SC writes about her teaching experiences in a poor country school. She journals about her 30 years as an educator. I'm bound to learn something from her.
"Case for Christ and Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel 2 books about apologetics. To some people that is way over their head but I love books and listening to speakers about this. We went to a college conference with my friend Amanda Nick's church and they had a session dedicated to this. I think I went to that session 2 or 3 times. I am definitely hitting those books soon. Been on my list for a while.
"In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson Pastor Steven pushed this book while I was at Elevation and even Alli read it. It's about how to thrive when opportunity knocks at your door and how every opportunity is not for you.
"The Pact" by Jodi Picoult Two families teenage children start dating. The daughter is shot by her boyfriend and the son commits suicide (like Romeo and Juliet). It's gotten great reviews and I've heard nothing but great this about this author so I'm psyched about getting a jump ont his book.
"Through Painted Deserts" by Donald Miller Donald and his friend take off to discover deeper meaning of life. Reminds me of me, Alli, Grover, and Jenn at WU. We always planned this big trips (not to search for meaning) but just to go and experience it. We hardly ever made it but we can dream right? Since I had mixed feelings about "Blue Like Jazz" I am curious how Don approaches God, existence, and life. I've started it but haven't gotten to the meat of it.

Ok that's my list for now. Let me know what you think. Any suggestions?? Reviews?????

An Ode to an Old Friend

2008-11-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

So my old good friend Brooke Ard's birthday was yesterday and I forgot to call her (because I stink) soo I'm doing an "ode" to Pam Brooke of past pictures.

Brooke and I became good friends while enduring the pure madness of studying education at Winthrop. We instantly bonded with our random, sarcastic, dry humor in classes. We quickly created a group of friends that frequented trips to McDonalds, Wal-Mart, Dance Revolution Game Nights, "booking it" to classes, carpooling to Chester during our student teaching and surviving living in University Place. Brooke came and helped me paint my awful room at North Wilson Street (Actually, she watched because she was injured but she did help some...haha), took care of Sadie Mae for a short while, and was a constant encourager. She gave hugs when needed and a good laugh, even when it wasn't appropriate times. She never took a serious picture because she hated (and probably still does) her smile. I miss good ole Pam Brooke. She stayed in the Thrill while I moved back to Sparkle. I haven't seen her or sadly talked with her a whole lot which I regret. When we do talk we share insanely funny stories about our classrooms. I miss this chick. I miss you PAM. I hope you enjoy the following pictures...just some old ones...

On this particular day, we were FINISHED with stupid science learning cycles with the athiest professor. We did not benefit at all from that class.

After a typical day in the EDU Building...Brings tears to my eyes.

My FAVORITE picture of Brooke, Myself, and Mer.

Ahh...the classic "kissy face" picture of our Dean. We laughed that whole session.

Of course, an elevator picture with Brooke making a face.

The Girls on our last day together at WU. Peek a boo, I see you!

Mine and Mer's Rap to Brooke. Do you still have that awesome song??

A look into...

2008-11-24T12:12:00.001-08:00

Shaundre has a hunter...or something.

Kayla as Betsy Ross

Colonial Day...Lord help me I hope I never have to go back to that day.

Me in my hamburger hat

Zammion with his "hamburger" when we learned about paragraph writing.

Hallie and Hannah with Gwinnie

Our Crayfish that I left on my assistant principal's desk. I found out a week later that he was going to be my evaluator for the year. Whops...

Check out Amaya's face. She did not like that smell.

Crime Scene Detectives

This is why you shouldn't drink

2008-11-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

Wow. That's all I can say.

http://www.acetj.com/features/HangoverPictures.php

(I can't get the link to insert right so just copy and paste the link in your browser)

We're half way there but we're not prepared

2008-11-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

It hit me the other day in our faculty meeting that we were half way through the year. Actually, Annie said it and it was like, "Bam." Wow. We are. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is around the corner then 3 weeks till Christmas. Seriously? This year has gone by so fast so far.

But this fast movement is freaking me out. We have the writing part of PASS (the "new" PACT) in March and my students' writing is awful. I hate teaching writing. Can I say that? Yes I can because every teacher is entitled to having a subject they hate teaching. I have found that the subjects that I excelled in while I was in school I hate teaching. I hate it because I don't know how to teach it--it just clicks with me. The subjects that I sucked horribly at in school I love teaching. I love teaching those subjects because I know what it's like not to understand and I know how to explain it because I too once didn't explain it.

Anyways, on to PASS. Some of my students' writing isn't half that bad--just need a few tweaks. Then others--I have to ask them to read their writing responses to me on an assignment. Their spelling isn't there and neither is their phonemic recognition (that means they can't recognize letter sounds). I am so worried we're going to get that test in March, my kids are going to freak out. Then I'll lock myself in my closet.

So this week we have been hitting writing pretty hard. We've been reading paragraphs, correcting them, re-writing them, etc. It's gotten so bad that today when we started language/writing I heard someone say, "Oh gosh, here we go again."

Another thing that freaks me out is that we can't read the test to them this year. Now in the past we always complained about reading the test because those tests take FOREVER to read. But it helped our students comprehend the questions (this came especially handy in Social Studies and Science). But nope. Not this year. WE can't read it. Now this does make me mad. Over the last 3 or 4 years, 3rd grade scores have steadily been improving, especially in the last year. But after this year, we're going to see a decrease. It's not that I don't believe in my students and that they can't do it (because they very well can). It's just that they are not going to realize how serious this is, read each little part and break it down as if I was reading it to them.

So here is my final question: How do we prepare to pass PASS? How do I, a 2nd year teacher with ADEPT hanging over my head determining if I should teach or not in the future, prepare to prepare my kids? Does that make any sense?

I hate telling my students "I cannot help you on that" but I always follow up with "I am preparing you for the end of the year test. Read it, try it, I'll check it." What else can I do? Am I doing enough? Am I missing something?

This is a big reason why beginning teachers burn out. We have pressure on us to MAKE our student succeed when we're still learning our best practice strategies to teach. The content is constantly changing, our students are constantly changing along with society, the requirements are always raise a little bit higher and I'm about to fall over because I'm tired of standing on the tip of my toes to reach that bar of requirements.

Am I crazy? Does any other teacher feel this way?

And people wonder why I go to wine tastings in the middle of the week or completely crash at 7:30 at night.

It's too early to do this

2008-11-04T05:15:00.000-08:00

Mom, India, and myself got up early to go vote. Yep. 6:30 AM we went to Gable and stood in line. Actually the line wasn't THAT bad. We had to wait about an hour and a half. And thank goodness it wasn't too cold either. I did however see 3 parents of my students while in line (they didn't see me...are you crazy?? do you THINK i would talk to them on my day off! HA). Mom said she was glad she made me change out of my duckie fleece pajama bottoms. I guess I am too.

Today India and I are off to G-vegas to buy my bridesmaid dress for Shawn and Reo's wedding. Whoo-hoo.

Oh I have found my new lunch buddy-Zammion. He is so funny and really smart too. His scores always surprise me. Yesterday at lunch he was telling me about his weekend. He had to go see his grandma in NC. But he was telling me that they have had to move her from several nursing homes because she gets kicked out. Upon asking why, he explains to me that she tries to ESCAPE from them...her in wheelchair. I about spit out my soup when he told me that. I'm sure his dad would DIE if he know some of the stories that Zammion tells me about his family. And supposidly his grandma had (or has) 15 cats. Geez. I would be out of my mind too if I have 15 cats at one time.

I'm going to fix me a nice cup of coffee and some waffles and actually watch the morning show for once. Holla back now--whop whop!

And I'm not telling who I voted for...

So seriously...Guess who else is having a baby.

2008-10-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

My brother and his girlfriend.

Yep. That's right. Pick your jaw up off the floor and close your mouth. I'm going to be an AUNTIE (as my students said today). Mom is going to be a GRANDMA.

Wow. Awesome. I love it.

I'm going to be a for real aunt.

This child is going to be rottenly spoiled to the T.

Who's having a baby?

2008-10-28T15:23:00.001-07:00

Not me....

It's baby season....again!! A lot of people are birthing chill'ens lately.

Victoria and Bryan (Josh's bro and sis-in-law) are having a baby boy in November. Camden Bryce. Yay for another "nephew!"

Susan Spencer from my student teaching is having a lil boy...yay!!!

Someone at school is having a baby....but my lips are sealed!!

Beth Foster, former co-worker/new "circle" friend is having a baby.

And I'm sure I'm leaving someone out. That's 4 that I've found out in the last month.

Who's next??

Once again, not me!

I love fall weather...

2008-10-27T16:57:00.001-07:00

But I hate fall recess. Geezie pete it was freezing today. And it wouldn't be that bad except the wind was kicking like crazy. It reminded me that I need to break out the gloves, scarves, hats...yahoo!! I know there will be some indoor recess days when it gets super cold. And we know those are always fun.

I had 6 parent teacher conferences today. Talk about a busy day. It was meeting after meeting...I hate conferences though. But we have to do them. At least I'll be done with these until after January. But I still have 2 more to come in, these are going to be so much fun. Do you detect my sarcasim?

I am so tired of subtraction with regrouping. We're just having trouble moving from "group work" to "independent work." Maybe another day or too doing it will help them get it together. Because please, let's move on.

I am so sleepy. It just hit me. Bed please!

I really don't have much else to say. Just killing time and putting off work....of course.

A few random pics that I want to post

2008-10-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

Maveric and Ja-Ja

These girls mean the world to me. After all these years...

My baby Josie Bella

The boy and I after a delish lunch at Wades

Me and Moms. We've become great roommates.

Proud to be an American

2008-10-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Daily I listen to "Ace and TJ" on KISS 95.1. I love these guys. They're conservative, they lay it out, and they don't care who they piss off. Plus they are hilarious.

I try to listen to their section "Stupid News" before I head to my job. Well I missed part of it today so I logged online to see what's so "stupid" in today's world. Well, I got a few laughs out of these news stories. Seriously, it makes me proud to live in America.

A MAN IS SUING A STRIP CLUB BECAUSE A STRIPPER'S SHOE FLEW OFF HER FOOT AND HIT HIM IN THE HEAD

If there are two things that Americans love, it's strippers . . . and suing each other.

Since that's the case, you could really call this guy . . . 35-year-old Charles Privette of Margate, Florida. . . a TRUE AMERICAN. Here's why . . .

On January 14th, Charles was enjoying himself at a local strip club called the Booby Trap.

But at some point in the night, a dancer's shoe flew off her foot while she was performing a pole dance, shattering a ceiling mirror . . . and hitting Charles in the face.

As a result, Charles suffered a small cut to his eyebrow . . . and he claims to have recurring headaches and nose bleeds, as well.

Now, Charles is suing the Booby Trap for at least $15,000 . . . because he says the stripper didn't perform her pole dance in a reasonably safe manner. (Tampa Bay's 10)

HERE ARE TODAY'S "MOTHER AND FATHER OF THE DAY"

Now it's time to hand out our "Mother and Father of the Day" awards. Let's start with the ladies . . . shall we?

#1.) On Wednesday, 31-year-old Shawnah Foster of Victorville, California, was arrested and charged with committing "corporal injury to a child".

Now, I know what you're thinking . . . Shawnah probably abused her kid, right?

Nope . . . she abused SOMEONE ELSE'S kid.

See, two Sundays ago, Shawnah . . . this moron . . . drove her 12-year-old daughter to a local park . . . so she could FIGHT another 12-year-old girl.

But when it started to look like Shawnah's daughter was going to lose the fight . . . Shawnah jumped in, grabbed the other girl by the hair . . . and SLAPPED her face.

Depending on how Shawnah is charged. . . she could get up to SIX years in prison. (Victorville Daily Press)

#2.) On Wednesday, police in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, were called to a strip club called Derriere's Gentleman's Club . . . after someone noticed a baby had been left in the back seat of a car in the parking lot.

Apparently, the little girl was buckled into her car seat, with the car doors unlocked . . . and the keys still in the ignition.

Anyway, the cops went into the club to find the owner of the car, and that's where they found the little girl's dad . . . 27-year-old Geoffrey Hale . . . smoking a cigarette and getting a lap dance.

So what was Geoffrey's excuse for leaving his baby in the car?

Basically, Geoffrey's 28-year-old baby-mama is a stripper at the club . . . and Geoffrey said he needed to get a cell phone number from her.

Since he didn't want to wake up the baby, or to bring her into the club, he decided the BEST thing to do . . . would be to leave her in the car alone. (Sun News)

Random vents

2008-10-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

So I need to vent. Here I go.

--School is way overwhelming. I'm seriously considering doing something else. I probably won't because , ha, what else can I do with an elementary education degree? The adminstration has this thought that teachers are God or angels from God (which in some cases we are) but Lord help me, we cannot work miracles. I can't do all of this junk. Have I reflected? HA. No. Have I done my Promethean Charts to my best ability? No. (Sorry Jed but I've already admitted that to you earlier). Hot toe-amighty, I'm going to have a nervous breakdown. And they want me to pursue my masters?? Are they crazy??

Sad part is that I'll actually do all that and more. I am more than ADEPT ready...I'm ADEPT strong with some Protein Lessons mixed in with sleep shaken in there somewhere.

--We're way under paid. Ha. What a joke.

--I think I have a chubby face.

--I hate being a woman. Because sometimes you just don't feel good about yourself.

--I need patience in relationships. and understanding.

--Sometimes I feel like telling people to kiss my mexican butt. But I don't. I smile and say, "ok! Sure! no problem!"

--I do like my new Honda.

--I want COOL weather.

--My air is broke in my classroom. GEEEEEZZZ we're dying in there.

--My LAPTOP SUCKS.

--I want to be more organized. I look at my room and at my classroom and I realize how unorganized I am. I feel like I get it together and then my classroom ends up in chaos because of those stupid scarecrows. (Don't ask if you don't know).

--People above the age of 35 should not take technology training classes because let's face it--they will never get it.

I've just had a typical day. And I needed to vent. Goodnight.

The little things I love

2008-09-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

1. New soap
2. New razors
3. A liter of shampoo
4. Cuddling with Josie at night in the curve of my legs
5. Receiving e-cards. Crack me up.
6. A good cold can of Diet Coke during faculty meetings
7. Those really soft baby blankets.
8. Crisp weather!
9. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
10. Candles. I light them every morning when I get ready.
11. Jumping in rain puddles.
12. Outback cheesy fries!
13. Cool air while I sleep.
14. Dressing up Josie in clothes.
15. Funky Danskos.
16. "To-Do List" updates from the WU girls.
17. Cooking with my lover
18. Flipcharts...when they are created and working properly.
19. America's Funniest Home Videos
20. New ringtones.

I will add radomly!

"Heaven has it, Ms. Castro!"

2008-08-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

I love innocence in 3rd graders. Earlier this week we were doing a pre-assessment so I could see what my students knew about South Carolina. I asked the following question: "Where can you find rows of beautiful homes?" And my sweet (annoying too) but oh so sweet Mitchell said, "HEAVEN!" Bless him. This made my heart sigh and smile.

Where is our innocence? Don't you miss the days as a child where you were carefree and you just DO things without thinking? My childhood best friend Katie had that carefree innocence. She just did what she wanted to do, didn't think about the consequences. Her dad was a contractor so we were always exploring new homes and doing things we weren't supposed to do. One day I jumped in a mud puddle and got my new tennis shoes allllll muddy. They went from blue to orange. Katie's mom said,"Did you think about what would happen to your new tennis shoes?" We replied, "No. We just thought it would be fun." Of course, we didn't get in trouble because we were always too sweet. :)

Now it brings me to present times. A group of us went to Turtle Back Mountain to hike the waterfalls. Of course, being with Steena, I HAD to jump the cliff. Part of me was like, "Just do it. If you were little with Katie, she would have pushed you off this cliff." Then another part of me was thinking, "Ok, what if I don't jump far enough out? What if I get pushed by the under current? What if I hit bottom and get hurt?" But you know, after much debating I thought, "What do I have to lose? Jump." And I jumped (after 10 minutes of swinging back and forth). And what a thrill. I loved it. But I can only do that about twice a year. Too mcuh anxiety.

Faith like a child. I doubt a lot of things, especially when I'm not sure if it something that I should embark on or not to embark on. I question a lot of things. I worry too. Not tooo much but I do stress over things that others think is too small. But what's small to them is big to me. Does anyone else ever want to scream, "You just don't understand!!!" And sometimes they never will. That's when you need to go by yourself, take a deep breath, and just work through. Look at me giving advice when I sometimes have trouble doing that.

But on the contrary, it's also good to have someone say "I completely understand." I have never met a teacher that relates to me more than Robin does, my mentor teacher. Last year I had a few cries (what first year teacher doesn't??) and she would just come in and say, "I completely understand. I did the exact same thing my first year." And I know she would understand because she's a teacher. It's just those that aren't teachers that offer their advice that honestly, I really don't care for it sometimes.

"inch by inch is a cinch. yard by yard is hard." words for my dad (ha.) actually, this was when my dad was wise and didn't flip off the deep end. and it's true. I tend to look WAY ahead instead of what is now. Am I the only one that does that? Hope not... For example, this whole ADEPT thing is stressing me. Because not knowing what is going on and when they are going to "pop" in drives me crazy. But one day at a time...

Ok I went from the topic of innocence to just plain rambling. So I'm going to shush now. I'm going to go make a flipchart, my new hobby. I might add that on facebook!

Castro Cafe--Ole!

2008-08-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

It's a new year. A new school year and some new beginnings. A lot has happened since my last blog. Let's recap, shall we?

I have passed my kids onto 4th grade. The last day was kind of bittersweet. I do miss them. Alot. And of course, I get overwhelmed with hugs in the lunchroom. Bless their soul. I hope I prepared them enough...

Josh moved in for the summer. It was an....experience I guess I could say. We learned a lot about one another. We definitely had our highs and our valley lows. But in the end, we're working on it. We love each other. Period. Ok, enough. Don't need to get too personal.

Mom is looking like a hot chica. Bom-chica-wow-wow.

I have a guinea pig!!! Gwinnie the Guinea. He is precious! A little skiddish, but I know this animal will bring lots of memories and laughs.

I GOT A BIGGER CLASSROOM!!!

New kids, new class. And I'm loving it. I have sooo much space. God bless my little workroom from last year. But it is not meant for a classroom. I have 20 kids this year. 10 boys and 10 girls. I have a sweet class. Very dynamic. They definitely won't compare to my kids last year. These kids are different but I like it because I have them from the beginning! I can train 'em my way at the beginning of the year. So far we haven't had any major encounters. Well except a couple...

2 kids flipped out of their chairs today in the lunchroom-in front of the principal. I guess I just need to plaster on my forehead KEEP ALL FOURS ON THE FLOOR.

Some can't follow directions so that resulted in tickets being pulled which equaled tears and tantrums on the floor. Geez. Grow up. You're in 3rd grade. That's not flying in my window.

Oh surprise! I joined a softball league. Let's do it together...GASP. yeah I know. s Elaine, my mom's friend said, "Um have they seen you run??" Candice got me to join it with her work which I recruited Valen. We played our first game Monday and I looked like a hardcore wet rat when we were done. But we won! Whoo-hoo! That called for celebration at where else? A MEXICAN RESTAURANT. Which led to Jake telling us his tales of his past pets--a rabbit that lived on his balcony for God knows how long; 2 beta fishes that he tried to get to fight but never did; and some random spider story. Still don't know what that story was about. But I had fun. We're hitting the batting cages this weekend. I like finding new hobbies!

Well, it's crazy storming here. And you know what that means--sleeeeeep. I met Josh in Gaffany tonight for dinner and wow--we were g-ross when we finally met up. But we had a good time. I'm glad he still thinks I'm beautiful with stringy wet hair and makeup running down my face.

Ok and I promise to blog more about my classroom experiences. And life experiences. Reading on my past ones last year has really made me smile and laugh.

goodnight world.

"But it's not wet Ms. Castro!"

2008-02-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

Today felt like Monday to me. Yesterday felt like Tuesday to me. And I sit here and I can barely type I'm so tired.

Today was "one of those days."

It all started with L.W. came in pouting (I'll put initals to protect identity) because her shirt was "way too tight" and her hair was all in her face. Trama time! So I had to console her. A few minutes later, Z.R. walks in pouting about something too. Who knows with these kids? And then within 5 minutes, P.F. has a scratch on his arm from where C.B. has "accidently" scratched him. Then I have my lil J.V. saying, "Do I do this?" in her broken accent. Bless them all. And my soul.

With in 15 minutes I have gotten Z.R. to drop whatever attitude he has and get started on his work, L.W. talking to the guidance counselor, and J.V. started on something more of her level. And I have 5 minutes to myself to check e-mails.

At the last minute before getting started, we rearrange desks. Boy, this took 30 minutes. My kids were at each other's throats because they had been in the same seats for so long so they needed a change, and so did I. So we move about and getting situated. I came up with an arragement, but it's no the best--it'll do.

Next, SCIENCE! I am not really liking this whole Soil unit. As Gail said, we should write a letter to the idiot who came up with the idea to do all these "soil tests" with our kids (wetting soil, clay, and humus; smearing soil, clay, humus on paper; making balls with soil, clay, and humus). Well today, we put them in TEST TUBES. That's right. Test tubes. With water to see how they "settle." Well, before I know it, a test tube had exploded on J.C. which ended with clay all of her pants. Z.R. and Q.L. had added water to the cups instead of the test tubes so they had cups of wet clay all over their desk and hands. H.S. is hitting B.W. because he's not doing the experiment correctly. And then H.L. and K.G. have an overload of water in their test tubes which has drowned out their desks. And I had no paper towels. CRISIS. A classroom without paper towels is like not having toilet paper to wipe your butt--it's difficult to function without it!

After a few crazy moments, we get our test tubes in the cups, our desks cleaned up, and we're writing in our journals. For now at least.

Math was fine. Nothing too difficult about making a picture of a garden with different plane figures. But this whole concept of "parallelograms" blew their mind. We'll do more practice tomorrow.

YAY FOR MUSIC TIME! I had a 40 minute break to rest my body.

Then, we head to lunch which always holds the most excitement.

It was pretty calm (after breaking up a few disputes over who sits where) until I was finishing my lunch and talking to sweet J.V. who was telling me about her brother "betraying" her father. Then, poor C.J. comes up to me with a spit ball in her hair. I only needed one guess: Z.R. This is not the first time he has done spit balls. I call him over and he instantly has this, "Crap, I'm in trouble face." I ask him what he has been doing with this straw. This is our conversation.

Me: "Z. What were you doing with your straw?"
Z: "Shooting spit balls across the table."
Me: "why?"
Z: "Because I was bored because you wouldn't let me use the bathroom."
Me: "Well, do we spit spit balls at lunch?"
Z: "No, but it's not wet Ms. Castro! They were dry!"
Me: "Who cares if it was wet or dry!! The point is you don't do that!"
Z: "Yes ma'am."

I walk over there and there are at least 15 spit balls on the floor and one in K.G. hair. Sick. He lost his whole recess for that.

Honestly, my kids are a bunch of crazies. But I love them most days.

We're just the crazies in the small classroom at the end of the 3rd grade hall. Chances are you can hear us all the way from first grade (Which I've been told has been done before).

Goodnight.

Aggrivation to the extreme

2008-02-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Goodness. Talk about aggrivation to the extreme. And frustration. And anger. And hope at the same time.

It has been DRAMA central here at the Castro household. But you know, what's new with that? I have just been so frustrated with dad. It's ridiculous. He's REDONKULOUS (I only use that word when it's horrific). He's taking things where it hurts. I know they are only materialistic things but it's not right.

I honestly have a good piece of mind to show up at his office and just punch the snot of out of him? Can I do that?

I could but I'm not.

I hurt so bad for my mom. I hurt to see her like this. And I hurt for my dad because he's a looney bin!

But I have hope because I know that each day is one day closer to God's peace and grace.

But come Wednesday, it's going to a face to face interaction. Just wait and see.

It's just a moment...

2008-01-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

...and time will pass.

I have to keep telling myself that. It has been a moment for the last 3 weeks I guess. It has just plain sucked. It's been almost surreal with everyting going on. Somedays I don't really think that much about Dad, but then there are other days where I am driven to tears that I can't hold back.

I put on a front that "I'm doing ok." But you know what, I'm not ok. I'm ok with the fact that he's left us for someone else. I'm not ok that he thinks that this is an okay lifestyle to lead. I'm not ok with the fact that he didn't call to wish me Happy Birthday. I'm not ok with the fact that he has lied to us. Im not ok with the fact that this is happening period.

But you know what I'm ok with? I'm ok with the fact that I know I'm going to survive. I'm ok with the fact that my mom will become a better woman because of this. I'm ok with the fact that I have absolute amazing friends and family who surround me with love and support. I'm ok with the fact that God is working through this relationship and family. I'm ok.

I stood in my dad's closet and I thought to myself, "This isn't happening. This is NOT happening again." But it is. As I touched my dad's sweaters and took in the smell of "him" I kept telling myself that the dad that raised me is dead. He's gone.

The dad that drove me to piano every week is gone.
The dad that taught me how to fly a kite at Milliken is no longer here.
The dad that would take me to Wendy's and to the library every week is gone.
The dad that dressed me and fixed me breakfast every morning in elementary school won't be doing that anymore.
The dad that taught me how to drive (and navigate me around SPTBG) is no longer available to call upon when I get lost in Greenville at 11:30 at night now.
The dad that left me roses on Valentine's Day and birthdays by my bedside won't deliver those now.
The dad that teased me about not knowing how to clean the swimming pool won't offer his sarcasim anymore.
The dad that always treated me to Pizza Inn for a "good dinner" won't be my dinner date anymore.
The dad that raised is gone. Not here. Not present.

I know this may sound so "pitty" but let me wallow. I haven't wallowed that much, well except for the occasional cry every week.

But I will say this--I will miss his dern good pancakes.

Welcome to Ms. C's Mini Classroom!

2007-09-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

As I type this reflection, the past week and a half swirls through my head. It’s Thursday evening and I have not even had my 18 third grade students for a week so far. The past week has been nonstop. My feet hit the ground and I have not stopped running, planning, decorating, or smiling.
I think about all the emotions I have experienced in the past week and many of those emotions are still fresh. The excitement, nerves and butterflies, frustration, tiredness of working 12 hours a day, and being anxious to get started still overwhelm to this day. Part of me hopes it never goes away because it shows that I am continuing to grow and learn as an educator.
I think about the adjustments I have had to make from going unemployed, not even sure if I wanted to teach this year to being put in a third grade workroom with less than a week to prepare for my classroom full of kids with very little material. I also think about the adjustments my students have made and how well they have done the past week. They went from getting attached to one third grade teacher to being moved into a new class with new classmates and a first year teacher who deep down was just as nervous and scared as they were this time last week. Now we have built relationships with each other and continuing to learn from one another. Our classroom is finally beginning to form into “Ms. C’s Mini-Class.”
I think about how amazing the staff and employees at Roebuck Elementary has been. Since the first time I stepped foot into my old stomping grounds, constant smiles, hugs, help, and encouragement has been offered. From the principals and assistant principals stepping in to make sure my needs are met to the teachers giving me supplies and helping me decorate my mini classroom to the custodians who are there until 7:00 with me reminding me that a door will be unlocked for me to leave when I’m ready. Who could forget my amazing team of third grade teachers? Instant bonds have been formed with them over lunch and after school conversations that included chocolate that I have stored in my classroom. I always felt welcomed to Roebuck Elementary when I was a student there, but this is a different welcome. This is a “Welcome! You’re part of the Roebuck Staff now!” A week later and I’m still having staff and teachers stop by to offer help and welcome me to the school. They have made the transition so much smoother than I ever expected.
I think about all the things I have learned at Winthrop and how I am going to put them into effect. I think about the teaching techniques I should use and strategies I need to implement into my classroom. Performing my best as a teacher has been instilled in me for the last four years of my education career. My desire to achieve that yearns daily as I prepare lessons and materials. I think about my wonderful professors I miss so much and think, “If Dr. Norton was in here watching me read to my students, would he approve? If Dr. Evers saw me teaching this lesson, would she give me an A for my variations of teaching so that I’m accommodating all learners? If Dr. Ingram were in here, would he tell me I should be sterner with my students? And if Dr. McNulty were here, would she tell me I need to make more time and activities for my South Carolina social studies lessons?” I am no longer writing out plans and turning them into to be graded. I now have actual students that I have to actually teach so that they can learn information so that they will perform well on MAP and PACT testing to prove that I covered all standards (not that I do not have enough to do already).
I also think about the future. I constantly think about what the end of next week is going to look like (and what I’m going to look like), the end of the first 6 weeks of grades, the end of the semester, and the end of the year. Are my students going to love me or are they going to hate me? Are they going to walk away more knowledgeable or are they going to walk away confused? Will all the copy machines ever work consistently? I wonder if I’ll ever cover all six subjects in one day with enough time to go to two specials and have a 30-minute recess? I wonder if I’ll still be at Roebuck Elementary next year with the desire to continue to teach? But I constantly have to remind myself, “Inch by inch is a cinch. Yard by yard is hard.” I have to live in the moment and make each day the most of it for me and for my students. I have to remind myself that lessons aren’t going to be perfect and something just might go wrong—and that’s ok. There’s always another day.
At the end of a crazy day like today I sit down at my desk of craziness that includes newsletters, homework, notes, and two cups of sweet tea and I laugh. I look around my mini classroom to see the snacks left on the counter, pencils on the floor, scribbles on the board, and I enjoy the quietness. I tell myself, “Welcome to third grade Ms. C. You have arrived!” And I cannot wait till the next day to see what new adventures hold for us in Workroom 3 at Roebuck Elementary.

!Fiesta! all weekend long...

2007-08-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Let's see, where to begin?

With it being the flower festival, it's been a pretty busy weekend! The flower festival is a huge there in Medellin and they celebrate it all weekend. The only downside of it is that instead of people leaving the city to go to "las fincas" or the farms on the weekend, everyone stayed in town so traffic was pretty crazy this weekend.

Friday we just pretty much hung around the city. I don't recall us doing anything major. We went and ate at the club with Beatrice that night but I recall that being the only thing we really did...

Oh! I did get a mani and pedi! Papi has a professional come to his apartment and give him one, so after some coaxing, I got one! I'm not a big "pedi" person because I'm really ticklish on my feet and not held responsible for my reflexes when you touch my feet. But I did good! I refrained and got through it successfully.

Saturday I went to the "horse parade" with Elena and some of her friends. It's a parade of horses needless to say and half of the people drink and ride the horses so their drunk throughout the whole parade. Picture Carolina Cup Colombia style. Except, no one really dressed up in dresses--the girls wore tight jeans, boots, halter tops, and cowboy hats. And of course, there were so many people there and they were drunk and you couldn't really walk through the crowds...I probably saw 10 horses in the parade because I didn't have a good view. I saw more horses on the street than I did at the parade! Needless to say, Elena got very mad at the crowd and the crappiness of it in some way soo we left to get a late lunch.

Papi and Dad just informed me that at the horse parade there were a couple fights. A guy and his girlfriend were riding on a horse and someone said something to them, got in a fight, and a gun was pulled which resulted in a death or two. Yikes.

That night we went and ate at Camilo (Elena and all of them---their dad's) house for dinner. Of course, Camilo, Papi, Dad and my other cousin Carlos love spicy things sooo of course, we had "spicy shrimp and sauce" for dinner. But luckly for the rest of us, they had "milder" shrimip and sauce for us babies, which was still pretty spicy. It was good non the less though.

Afterwards, Elena, Ana, and myself met up with some of their friends at a discoteca (latin dance club). It was like a mexican dance club in a barn but fairly nice. It was quite an experience I must say so myself. Apparently, I don't have the latin rythm like the rest of them. My hips and feet don't really sway together. Ana had a friend there...we'll call him Juan--I can't remember what his name was that tried to teach me how to dance. But the tricky thing is that he didn't speak english so communicating was pretty funny. He kept telling me in spanish that I had pretty teeth and mouth and squeezing my cheeks to make me smile. Did I mention he was pretty drunk? But quite hilarious. We danced for a long time but then a fight broke out about 12 feets away from us that included broken bottles and tables so we decided it was time to hit the road and leave. I got home around 2 AM, which isn't bad. But I was exhausted...party! party! party! sleep. That's all they do.

Sunday, or yesterday, we went to the Flower Festival Parade which was the whole point of this trip. It started at 1:00...well supposidly. But when we got there, come to find out that we were at the wrong entrance. They are certain entrances for certain numbers on your ticket. So we had to go alllll the way around the street to the other side. On the way, we bought me a hat I had been wanting but it was too small. Hah. So I have a small Colombian hat now! We finally got to our gate and we had a seat at the bleachers. On one side of the street you could just come, and stand or sit and watch the parade. On the other side, you could have bought tickets in advance and sat at the bleachers. Well, we got there, and waited, and waited, and waited...for 3 hours or so until we saw the parade. The parade is over a mile long so it took them a long time to get to us. I was about to fall asleep waiting for them! But the parade was beautiful and interesting.

We didn't do anything else the rest of the day. We just came back here to the apartment about 6 or so and stayed the rest of the night. Dad's been sick soo he needed to rest. Poor baby.

Then today, we went shopping. Finally! I couldn't really find anything I was looking for specifically. All the clothes here are smaller and the girls like to wear them tighter than I like too. But I found a few shirts. AND--(I was really excited about this) a Coach purse for $45 and a Lousi Vitton for $60. Amazing! I was really excited!! Well, they're not the REAL thing, but you can't tell. Those are my favorite purchases by far....

And now, I'm not doing a whole lot. Anticipating returning home that's for sure.

"You'll be Alright."

2007-08-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, tonight, I was searching on Facebook at 1:45 AM Colombia time because I have nothing else to do while chatting with Josh and I saw that my friends Ben and Jessica are engaged (congrats to both of them) and a week or so ago one of my bestest friends from high school Kelly got engaged, which I am estatic for her.

Meredith is getting married Sunday.

Hayley is getting married in May.

And I'm sure I could name some more.

Out of my group of girls from North Spartanburg, only Shawn and I are left that aren't married or with a baby. And I'm talking out of 9 girls.

But honestly, this is crazy.

I am happy for my friends that are getting married and engaged but it still blows my mind that we're moving on to that stage of our life. It doesn't seem real. I mean, are we really ready to move to that part of lives? Are we too young? Or are we at the right age? Or should we just wait till we're older?

My friend Taryn is pretty much begging for a ring at this point. Everyday she asks Chase when she is getting her ring and he finally told her by the end of the year (we're all hoping it's soon so she'll shut up). She is ready for that point! She is making wedding plans, setting dates, and doing the whole thing before getting the ring. She's already moved on to that part of our lives.

Me, on the other hand, I've always been "fly by the seat of your pants" type of girl. Never got serious with anyone because I never really wanted to. My longest relationship has been 3 months (crazy right) But I always enjoyed the single life. I liked having different guy friends to hang out with and date here and there. Pretty much most of high school and college, all my friends had signficiant others while I was just the girl that tagged along, made friends with the "boyfriend" so I could "approve" and not feel left out (which happened a few times) but I dealt with it.

I think I always wanted to prove you could have fun being single and I did. I wanted to be independent and not become the girl that relied on her boyfriend to make her happy or make her whole world about a guy and forget about her friends. I wanted to prove that I was not like that because I didn't like it when girls did it--I thought it was stupid. I've been told it's because I didn't know what it felt like to be "in love" (which I didn't) and I couldn't make judgments until I was there myself. Fair enough. I still think it's stupid.

But one day, my mom and I were talking about relationships and she said that she could tell deep down I wanted someone to be with. And I did. I longed for that companion. Too many times have I heard, "Aw.Why doesn't Jess have someone?" or "We would have invited you but we didn't want you to feel left out since you don't have a date..." (which is a slap in the fact---never say that to someone). And I know someone is going to say, "Jesus should be your companion! He is the lover of your soul!!" Yeah. Ok. I know He is everything I need, but Jesus can't treat me to a Peanut Butter malt at the Beacon or be my date on date night with the girls. Can you see me walking up to them and saying, "Hey everyone. I brought Jesus tonight. He's got dibs on the blessing though."

Yeah I don't think so (but at least I could tell Mom He's a christian and goes to church). Haha.

All this rambling goes back to someone else I know getting engaged. I kind of went a round about way there. This has just made me re-evaluate me and where I've been in comparison to my friends in the past years. I don't normally compare myself to them and try to be better than them because thats what makes us such great friends--because we're all different! But I've always been lagging in the love department and now I'm lagging in the job department (but that's going to be a whole other blog with lots of thoughts on it).

I feel like life and everyone is moving ahead and I'm just trailing behind, yelling, "Y'all go ahead! I'll catch up with y'all in a couple years. You know me...Don't worry. I got this!"

But part of me thinks that I don't have this. That I'm going to screw up and not be what I want to be---someone with no motivation living with 10 dogs (because I won't do cats). But I know God isn't going to let that happen. I know He didn't waste a perfectly good body that has brains, a college degree and functions normally on nothing. But it's just that deep...worry. That I'm like, "ok. Now what? Where to?" Because honestly, I have no idea. I don't know where I'm going. That's what scares me. The last 8 years of my life have been planned.

You go to high school--check.
You graduate from high school--check.
You know what you want to do in college--check.
You go to college--check.
You graduate from college--check.
You...get a job? (nada)
You...get engaged? (nada)

Now, don't freak out on me quite yet. I know some of y'all are thinking, "Sooo...you want to get engaged?" Yes and no. Yes, one day, I would love to be engaged to my best friend and know this is who I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. But ONE DAY. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not 6 months from now. I'm no where ready for that.

And Lord knows Josh isn't. We're not. Only 2 and half months into a relationship hardly calls for marriage talk. Duh.

But knowing someone else is engaged--wow. Marriage. That's a big step. They're ready. I'm obviously not. And I think I'm coming to terms that I'll be ok.

When I told Josh about Ben and Jessica, his response: "You'll be alright."

And he is right. I'll be fine.

Because I'm a big girl. And I'm in a relationship that I see lasting longer than 3 months.

Three

2007-08-09T21:23:00.001-07:00

I'm going to do a quick survey. It's late and I'm sending a song to Josh over IM (since that's what 50% of our conversations normally revolve around and what we talked about 70% of the time on our first date) and I need something to do. So I copied this from Brookie.

Three things that scare me:
1 - Weird people
2 - Gas stations at night
3 - Snakes! Or any amphibians for that matter
Three people who make me laugh:
1 - Taryn
2 - Josh
3 - My lil Maveric
Three Things I love:
1 - Jesus
2 - A good comfortable summer dress
3 - Sweet Tea
Three Things I hate:
1 - Heavy Metal Music
2 - My "P" food
3 - Seeing someone I love hurting
Three things I don't understand:
1 - Why things change
2 - The need for brussell sprouts
3 - Why you lose and gain weight in your boobs first
Three things on my desk:
1 - Wallet
2 - Remote
3 - Camera
Three things I'm doing right now:
1 - Typing
2 - Searching Myspace Music
3 - Trying to ignore my new bug bites
Three things I want to do before I die:
1 - Go to Greece
2 - Offspring a lil Strosie
3 - Get Married
Three things I can do: (doesn't say how well I do it :) )
1 - Play the cello
2 - Drink a Peanut Butter Malt in less than 5 minutes
3 - Collage pictures
Three ways to describe my personality:
1 - Creative
2 - Sesnitive with a tough side
3 - Goofy
Three things I can't do:
1 - Guitar
2 - Cook
3 - Speak Spanish

We have arrived. Finally.

2007-08-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Whew!

After looking back on this past week, it's amazing to see and think back to where all and what all we have done since Friday...Saturday...whatever day it was that we left Medellin.

It's been a long trip. And drive. But a good experience. At some points, I admit, I was thinking, "I'm ready to go." But I always instantly realized that I was really lucky to have this opportunity to travel parts of Colombia and see parts of Colombia that a lot of people will never see--heck there were parts of the country that my grandfather had never seen until this week! And it was beautiful.

San Agustin was amazing. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was more up to par health wise and we weren't so pushed for time. We only spent a day there but my grandfather says that there is so much more to see. He wanted to travel farther south of Colombia but....we didn't do that. Maybe another trip.

Bogota was ok. Nothing too impressive. The traffic is horrible! We left Bogota at 6 AM this morning and it took us an hour to get out of Bogota. An hour to get out of the city. Is that not crazy? So needless to say we didn't get on the road until 7 AM really. All the fumes and stuff from trucks is crazy. I thought Charlotte was bad. But that is nothing. I can't wait to take in a long deep breath of fresh country air.

My stomach has been cramping if you know what I mean. Josh said that he doesn't like to think that about me because girls don't do number 2. I told him I'm on a schedule and it's been disruptive from me not eating enough veggies. I know you're thinking, "Ha what? Jessica eat veggies?" But I'm telling you, I would give my right arm (almost. Ok maybe my pinky toe because it's pretty ugly anyways) to eat some squash, okra, or a good salad. You have to be careful with the veggies down here because alot of times they're not cleaned well enough and still have "junk" of them. I don't know what to call it but they're just not clean enough to eat. Papi told me to take a double laxative. I said I would just try to wait it out.

The drive back from Bogota to Medellin wasn't that bad. Papi and Dad tease me because I slept most of the way down and they joked saying I would sleep most of the way back. I only slept the first 2 hours or so. Then I just kind of dozed in and out because the roads wind back and forth like a dragon tail. Think Highway 5 times 10 worse of curves. And the roads were horrible in some part. Dad did most of the driving (thank the Lord because Papi--he's getting old incase you didn't notice). But we trucked on through. We were all exhausted. At about the last hour or so I put my jacket over my head and fell asleep because I couldn't stand to watch my dad pass truckers on curves anymore because I know one hit and we would be over that side of the mountain and I would be meeting Jesus tonight.

But God decided to keep me here a little bit longer so we made it back ok.

Tonight we went and ate at Club Union, which is beside the apartment. We dressed up (somewhat) and went and had a good meal. I had a Ceaser Salad (yummmmmmmm) and Almond Trout. It was delish!

But I can say that I cannot wait to have...
--Sweet TEA!!
--Chicken Salad
--Grilled Chicken (In case I haven't mentioned it, Chicken is very expensive down here so it's hard to find and eat. But I don't know why. They have chickens running all over the place everywhere you go)
--THE BEACON. Mom was talking about it tonight and I envied her.
--Outback Cheesie Fries as Scott and India call them.
--My BIG BED. And I know Dad feels the same way. Poor thing has been sleeping in a little twin bed the last 2 weeks.

I cannot wait to carry on normal conversations in English (I mean I do with my dad and some of my cousins but it's different...)...Hear people's voices....watch a movie in English (I've done that some but I really want to see a few movies when I get back)...see my friends and family...

Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed my trip! I don't want to seem like I'm complaining. It's just a lot going on and me being sick on and off hasn't helped (because I'm a baby when I get sick. Blame it on Mom, Dad, and Jason always taking care of me when I got sick). But I can say I'm looking forward to getting on that plane and landing in the United States. Because a lot has happened while I've been gone and all the good stuff happens when I'm away! I'm ready to be back and making my 'rounds!

I have so many more thoughts to add but I think I'm just going to end it here and put some pictures up. I'll udpate tomorrow because here, the internet connection is way better than Bogota.

Once again, thanks for the prayers! I think an angel sat in the backseat and in the driver seat the whole trip to keep us safe. I love and miss everyone!

Me playing pretty at the park in San Agustin.

Luce, Myself, Dad and Papi at the River Magdalena. It is the river that runs from the top of Colombia to the bottom pretty much. The Spanish settlers used this river to settle up and down Colombia. Where the narrowest point of the river is at is in San Agustin so we we got to climb down there and take a few pictures.

The narrow point of the river.

Can you see the face in the carved in the rock?

What else do you see?? This was a river area in San Agustin that the Indians had created and carved images and faces in the rocks. The water still flows there but they only run the water half the day now because the water is weathering away the carvings and what not. But you can see still a good bit.

THESE are the students we met in San Agustin. I know yesterday I mentioned them in my blog and stuck a picture of an orchid there and I didn't realize it until it was too late. Whops! So here they are!

It's Speedy Gonzalez! I'm going to own one of these dogs one day.

Here's a chicken! Eat THAT!

And is she just not precious? I always said I was going to adopt a Colombian little girl single (heaven forbid) or married (praying to God).

A few pictures...

2007-08-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

So I've been around the world it feels like the last 72 hours. I am exhausted from traveling so what I'm going to do right now is just upload some pictures with some captions. And then I'll add detail later. We went to SAN AGUSTIN (like St. Augustine) where Indians lived a long long long time ago. So we saw ancient ruins and other neat little things. So I'll just some pictures up of our adventures of this past week so far.

P.S. Mom, we are alive!! We'll call Thursday when we get back to Medellin :)

This is from the elementary school we visited. I found this picture that Papi took and I liked it.

Me chillin' at Papi's

These were students that were also touring San Agustin. They were in awe that I could speak fluent English but very little Spanish. 3 of the girls followed me on the trail, "trying" to ask questions in English. They were so funny! And one of the girls wanted my address so I have a new pen pal! Later on that day, we went to another historical monument (pictured here) and they were there! Great group of kids!

These are some of the "tombs" that were discovered in San Agustin. Each tomb stood for something by looking at the mask. It was pretty neat. Supposidly there are more tombs and statues to be uncovered but there isn't enough money to uncover them and they're worried that if they dig them up, they're going to be damaged some more and ruin them so right now it's a battle.

This was another sight of ancient Indian ruins. It was discovered in 1985 when a truck got stuck. As they were pulling out the truck and spinning the tires, the tires began to dig a hole and they discovered these tombs, where Indians were buried. They say though, on the surrounding mountains, there are more tombs and places like this except drug lords and kidnappers are using them to hide out, keep hostages, and hide valuables such as gold. Such a shame.

Well, I would add more pictures but the internet is being extremely slow! We leave tomorrow (Thursday morning) for Medellin--thank the Lord!

Hey Papi, how do I eat this?

2007-08-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

We went to Carlos' orchid farm on Thursday. It was beautiful. As we were walking through, Papi pulled a fruit off the tree. I'm not even sure what it's called. He pops one in his mouth and tells me to try it. I'm hesistant because I never know how it's going to taste. I ask, "Hey, Papi, how do I eat this?" and he said without a beat, "With that thing below your nose!" It was pretty funny. I tried it. It was good. It was sweet and sour. But that one little piece of fruit had 6 seeds in them! My other one only had 3. So it varies. Pretty good!

Earlier that same day we went to one of the bakeries. I haven't seen the bakeries in "full production" so we went and I took another tour of one of them to see stuff being made. Quite interesting. And we're coming out with some new stuff like sandwiches and stuff so we did some "tasting" and figuring out what we liked and what we didn't like. It took us a while to come to a head on the sandwich because it had too much cheese, and then we didn't like how it was presented but in the end, we all came to an agreement!

The orchids were beautiful! I was in HEAVEN when I saw them all. It's a beautiful farm Carlos has out there and wow so many to see!! You definitely can't find these in South Carolina or anywhere in the States for that matter.

Later on Thursday night I went out with my cousins. First Leo picked me up and we went and met 2 of his friends for pizza downtown. Very good! Then his sister, Elana and her boyfriend came and got me and we walked down a few bars to another place. Except this one was an Irish pub. A few of her friends that were there went to college in the US so I was able to talk to a few of them. And Elana's cousin from the other side of the family was there and she lives in Ohio so I talked to her most of the time. It was a fun night! They kept saying that they want to take me out one last time before I leave for the states..they've planned a few things...we'll see. Next time I'll have to take pictures!

We left Friday morning for Bogota. Ooooo what a trip. It was a beautiful ride but I was still getting over my cold or whatever I had. It should have been an 8 hour trip. Instead it took us almost 12 hours to get here. Needless to say, I'm not a big fan of Bogota. It's a city of 7 million people and it's Colombia's capital (it's like our Washington, D.C.). It's very...dirty. The other morning Papi and my dad were walking down the street to go to the Harley Davidson shop (yes, a Harley shop. You would know my Dad would find one here) and they said people were just throwing trash out their windows from the building. "A very dangerous place to walk!" Papi said. Anyways, back to my story, Luce, my grandmother's sister (whom we are staying with while here) gave us bad directions so we got lost on our way in. It was a Castro heated temper for about 3 hours. It was horrible. We couldn't find her street or anything.

Well then... there's this thing called "Pico y Placa." What it is that there are so many people here in Colombia and in their cities that depending on your numbers on your license plate are the times that you can't drive. For example, when we arrived we found out that if the last digit of your license plate was 6, 7, 8, 9, or 0, you couldn't drive between 5 and 7. So if you're on the road, you have to pull over and wait for your time to drive, literally. And if the police catch you driving, it's like a $100 or $200 fine. They have "Pico y Placa" to reduce the traffic on the road--but it's kinda of stupid. So we had to pull over and wait for 45 minutes for it to be 7 so we could start driving again. Then we started off again in search of Luce's apartment. Still couldn't find it. So we go this brilliant idea for my dad to get in the taxi, give him the address, and Papi and I follow them. Well the taxi driver didn't know where it was either so we kept going in circles. The driver was going to fast, Papi couldn't keep up....it was insane. Needless to say, we FINALLY go to Luce's apartment and I was in tears I felt so bad and so sick. I was tired, and achey, my throat hurt, and I was coughing. It was horrible.

Luce fixed me some of her "magical" tea to warm me up because it is cold here. And then she fixed me kiche and chicken broth. I ate as much as I could but I was so weak. So Dad ushered me to bed and I slept for 12 hours that night.

The next day, Saturday, I felt much better. Still kinda "blah" but better. I had a big breakfast because Friday I felt so bad I barely ate anything. Luce fixed me some croissants and cheese sticks from the bakeries, and some hot chocolate. Yum. I finally got the energy to get a shower and get dressed for the day.

We (Dad, Papi, Luce, and myself) ventured off to "Catherdral del Sal" which is a mountain of salt. I don't really know how to explain it. They mine salt here. For example, when you get there you see just see beautiful green mountain and hills. But underneath those hills and mountains are salt mines. And they have carved out crosses and such to be like an actual church cathedral from a l o n g time ago where the spanish actually went in these salt mines for church and weddings. It was beautiful. Each cross told a story of Jesus. They still mine salt from here too.

After we left there, we stopped and ate dinner at a old Spanish style house restaurant. I had pork and it was delish! But I'm telling ya, I can't wait to have a good ole hamburger, salad, and chicken (but not all in one meal).

Last night, my cousin, Andrea (I know you're probably thinking, good Lord Jess! HOw many cousins do you have?? I just keep meeting more and more) took me out with her boyfriend (of course) and some of her friends. We were supposed to go to a relaxing, chill, mexican restaurant. It was the opposite of that. You had to scream over one another to talk to each other. I enjoyed it was first but as the night wore on and as they drank some more, I got a little bored. I wasn't feeling good (again) and I was ready to be back at Luce's apartment. I finally got home around 1:30 and so grateful to be back in a cozy quiet element. I had fun, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if i wasn't so sick and I could actually speak a little bit of spanish.

And if one more person asks why I don't speak spanish or hear ,"English por favor! Habla no espanol!" I'm going to scream or hurt someone.

Today, Sunday, we went to the gold museum where a lot of gold has been recovered and restored from years and years and years ago from the Indians. It was pretty neat. But, Bogota and Colombia's Independence is this weekend and tomorrow so it was slammed pack where we were. It was kind of hard to get through the museum, but it was neat to learn about the Colombian history and their artifacts. I don't have those pictures uploaded quite yet so I'll do it later.

Cuy anyone??? It looks like rat doesn't it? Actually it's a type of guniea pig (did I even spell that right?) Yum Mom!

Tomorrow we're off to more of the southern part of Colombia for a few more days. I'll update later on. Keep us in your prayers. We have at least an 8 hour drive ahead of us tomorrow. And then we're heading back to Medellin (which I've come to appreciate) hopefully Wednesday or Thursday.

I miss everyone so much!! I can't wait to see everyone and eat some good ole southern food....

Let's try this again.

2007-08-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Medellin's own St. John's River. And let me tell you--it stinks. You could smell it on the metro. Sick.

Some of Medellin.

The Children's Library

"I can see God in my brothers and sisters."

"Audios"a los ninos!

Papi, the "Principal" of the school, and myself

Today I conquered the top of the mountain.

2007-08-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

Today we rode the metro car (like the subway but above ground) across Medellin's own "St. John's River" as Papi called it. Then we jumped onto a cable car to take to the top of the mountain. They just recently in the last 2 or 3 years made the cable cars to where they can carry people from the top of the mountain to the city part of Medellin. It's so hard to get from the top to the bottom and vice versa so ta-da the cable car!

We also visited a school that Papi's aunt started there. They have 500 children, and only 10 teachers. They have 2 classes each day--a group of students come in the morning, and another group in the afternoon. These children are extremely poor. The children in the morning get fed breakfast and lunch. The children in the afternoon is fed lunch and dinner. These children absolutely warmed my hearts. That little teaching instinct kicked in as soon as we walked into a classroom. "Buenas Tardes!" they would say and stand up at their desk. Very polite. Papi and I talked to a class of 2nd graders--well he did most of the talking obviously. Precious children they are. We visited every grade level and Papi gave mini lessons. He would ask what they were studying. If it was Social Studies, he asked about Colombia's government. If it was English, he reviewed vocabulary with them. We got to a 5 or 6 grade classroom and they were studying body parts and joints--Papi's speciality. We were there a while.

We also visited the Children's Library at the top of the mountain. It's kind of wierd looking because it's a big black building or two on the side of the mountain outside the town. But here, the children and adults can get on the computers, research information, read different books--they're still working on it some on the inside. And they are planning on building more of these buildings throughout the city. Very neat looking. And a good concept.

I'm feeling better today than I have been for the last few days. I definitely had more energy and I slept better last night. I woke up with a coughing fit in the middle of the night which woke Dad up too. So now it's just resulted to coughing a little bit here and there. Thanks for the prayers! We've had 5 people call Papi today checking in on me. I feel loved!

Oh and some things I've noticed around here...
-It's silicone valley down here. WHOA. Watch out. You'll get knocked out.
-Mullets and Rattails are coming back in style. I'll try to snab a picture to post. Quite amusing.
-I'm definitely the most conservitive dressed girl down here. Today I wore Madrix capris and a brown shirt--girls were staring at me. I don't know if it's because I just look that good (kidding) or 80% of my body is covered in clothes. I don't know.

And some random events that have happened
-Dad had a run in with the police. Ha. Not really. Well, literally he did. We were getting over the bus and he was stepping away from the bus and backed into one of the cops on the "crotch rockets." They were in a hurry. It was pretty funny.
-Papi talks to EVERYONE.
-We met a Priest today.
-I found a fun jewelry store that I love. Catalina bought me 2 necklaces with mathing earrings, another pair of earrings, and a bracelet. I'm going back though--it's pretty reasonable. And cute and unique.
-Papi is convinced that I'm going to live here and teach at Colombus, the private elementary school here in Medellin.

And the pictures I've posted on here may be random. I click on a pic from my file to upload, and it ends up uploading some other random picture. But I figured some picture is better than none right? If I can figure out how to fix it, I'll do more later.

Yo soy enferma!

2007-07-31T07:49:00.000-07:00

The kitchen.

The view of the living room and dinning room.

The living room of the apartmento.

I've been sick the last couple of days. I was fine Sunday evening when I got back from my little adventure in the mountains. But Monday morning I woke up with a stuffy nose, extremely sore and dry throat, and a headache. I stayed in all day, which was a bummer. I just felt like poo! I haven't been getting a whole lot of sleep at night because I've been sleeping in the last couple of days since I didn't feel well. I think I finally fell asleep about 2:30 or 3 AM Colombia time.

But Dad woke me up early, I got a shower, and I'm feeling a little bit better. I'm still really sore from Sunday (I feel abs forming!) and I'm coughing a lot. So please pray for me that God will restore my energy and health.

I'm trying to practice my spanish--somewhat. It hasn't been very successful. I'm just scared to talk because of my southern accent and I've forgotten a lot of verbs and tenses. Needless to say I try to listen in on the conversation and follow along. Sometimes I can, other times I have no clue what is going on. I'm just really struggling--I'm such an outcast. But an outcast can be good. I guess...

I've currently been reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. It's about nonreligious thoughts on Christianity. He's talked about how we use Christianity and sometimes we just go through the "verbateum" of speaking about Christ. Before we judge and look at others for doing wrong, we need to look at ourselves. I was just recently reading about Change in our lives. At the end of the chapter, he talks about Paul. Paul had no questions about what God wanted from him. Because of this, he was beaten one day, imprisioned the next, and released to be only beaten again. But yet, he never asked God why. He understood the earth was fallen. He understood that mankind could not save itself--we need to be rescued. We need to trust God. And follow Him. It's a huge responsibility though. It's not easy to trust, especially when you've been hurt and trusted someone, only to find out you've been betrayed. But God wants to preserve us and rescue us--I am wanted by God. Kinda of cool uh?

Today we have quite a busy day. We're going to eat breakfast with some family. Then we're going to eat lunch at the University with Cata. And then we're invited to dinner somewhere else. I'm gonna get fat! "Welcome to the entertaining life of Medellin!" as my father said.

They call me Jane and that place was so good to eat at it's not worth going back there again.

2007-07-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't had time to upload or blog because we've been so busy so here a few pictures to describe the last 3 days!

This was the view from the airplane. It really wasn't that bad of a flight. And customs going out and in were fine too.

This is Medellin at night from my grandfather's apartment. It's amazing. What a view to wake up to in the morning.

My orchids that some distant family brought as a welcome gift (they heard it was my favorite flower--can you see why??) And they smelled beautiful!

href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t7EVGpnj3Ak/Rq1kLEJE_UI/AAAAAAAAAA8/3i-RmkbWRBc/s1600-h/DSCN3243.JPG">
The view from the "country club." You can see the club, golf course, tennis courts, the city, and the mountains. Incredible.

One of the bakeries. Delish!

One of the pasteries I "sampled."

All the cousins about to go zipping through a canopy through the "jungles of Medellin."

Me coming in from my first cable ride. I crashed into the tree. Pretty funny.

If you look closely, you can see me coming in. That was our last cable line and it was a mile long. Amazing view of the top of the trees.

What can I say? I repelled down a tree like a big girl! I can do anything! I am Jane!

Departure: T minus 7 hours

2007-07-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

What an exhausting day. Where to begin?

Mom, Dad,and myself headed into Jacksonville for the day and evening. We ran some random errands around town (that of course included Stein-Mart and a really cute pair of flip flops) and Firehouse Subs. Then we ran errands with Pila. That was an adventure but we had fun!

I thought I was already "packed." Turns out, Dad and I had to take out HALF our clothes because 1)our suitcases were over the 50 lb weight limit and 2)Pila said so. Dad and I were limited to 8 pairs of underwear each. I snuck in an extra 3 pairs because you know sometimes you go through 2 pairs of underwear a day! Or I do atleast. But no worries, we do have a washer and dryer at the apartment. Thank the Lord. So I'll be washing underwear every 5 days pretty much!

Our packing turned into 3 hours. I was so frustrated. Dad was frustrated (some of his shirts were "too loud" and "not allowed in the apartment" according to Pila). We got everything situated (hopefully). Then tomorrow morning, we're off to Miami!

We're leaving Jax at 5 AM to drive to Miami, which will put us there at about 12:30. Our flight leaves out of Miami at 4:00 (our time) and we'll land in Colombia at 7:00 (our time). They are an hour behind us so it'll really be 8:00. Not too bad, I don't guess. Just a long day.

Papi asked if I cooked. HA! He said he had 2 cans of sardines from a year ago at the apartment. You know what that means? We're going to LA TIENDA! (the store) I'm not sure how I'm going to survive the next 3 1/2 weeks. I'll find something or if anything else, I might just lose a little bit of weight. Wouldn't that be nice? But then again, we thought I would lose weight in Venzuala when I went in 9th grade but I think I gained weight...

It's surreal that I'm going to Colombia. I was talking to Dad about it last night after our excursion to Barnes & Noble and this is a pretty big important trip. There's a lot of pressure to meet family, getting to know them and the bakeries. And p.s. My spanish Sucks. So that's going to be interesting. But mom bought me "Spanish on C.D." so I'm going to load them onto my iPod and maybe pick up a little bit here and there...

I'm just ready to be there! Thre are things in life that I wish I could bypass (such as the dating game--or the beginning at least) and one thing I wish I could bypass would be packing and traveling. I mean, I love traveling--don't get me wrong! Being on the plane and everything. But the stress and the headache. Our family makes such a simple task the most complicated thing! (i.e. Choosing where to eat for dinner: We started discussing it at 5. What time did we go? 8:30. Where did we go? Some random crap hispanic food where I ate steak with a fried egg. Yum). Anyways, not to complain...just venting!

I'm going to end it here. I'm super tired. And I want to get in the shower and finish reading my book. (The Nanny Diaries...great book. This is my 2nd book I'm on since Monday).

I'll try to update tomorrow on our travels. Papi says he has internet at the apartment but he said that he had it here at the house and Dad and I ended up hacking into the system so that he could use it. Crazy.

Pray for us. That's all I can say.

Hello Florida!

2007-07-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

Look who I found! Amanda Nick!

Josh and I at the Brad Paisley Concert

Well, I'm in Florida! And just trying to enjoy the beach and sand before I venture off to Colombia on Thursday! Turns out we leave Thursday, not Wednesday like we orginally thought. Go figure.

This past weekend I spend sometime with Josh. I went up to Gastonia Saturday afternoon. We then went up to Charlotte and Concord for Brad Paisley's concert later on that night. Let me tell you, it was pretty amazing. I mean, right up there with Sister Hazel if I do say so myself. We were in a good section--good view, no drunks, no spilling beer--I was pretty content. Sunday, we just layed around at his mom's house. We grilled out and had some pretty amazing steaks. Probably the best meal I'll have for a long time.

And now I'm in Florida. At our beach house. Finding an internet connection down here is insane. My dad and I even went to Barnes and Nobles thinking we could pick up something there, but we couldn't. But we found out if you sit out on the edge of the deck you can get a little bit of a signal. I think dad and I are going to go into Jax tomorrow to Papi and Pila's house. Dad has to get work done and I gotta go through some things.

Anyways, I have to make this short. So sad. More later. I have some more thoughts to add but my battery is about to die, of course.

Here we go

2007-07-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest. I'm not a big blogger fan. I mean, I admire those that do blog but I can never keep up with blogs. I don't even keep up with my checking account.

But with me taking off in less than 5 days to Colombia, South America I decided (and there has been requests) for me to blog so I can keep in touch with others and so that people at home can see what we do everyday because you know it's gonna be an adventure. And Mandy and Blake gave me a hand journal to write in also so I'm hoping that will motivate me even more to keep up on things.

It's Friday evening and Mom and Dad have already gone to bed. They're leaving for Charleston and Jax in the morning. I'm hitching a ride with Uncle Dave and Aunt Diane Monday to go down to the beach for a couple of days. And then Wednesday, the 25th, Dad, Papi and I myself leave for Colombia. Dad estimates if the weather is "good and decent with no smog" we should arrive in Colombia at the apartment around 11 pm. It's gonna be a long day.

But I'm excited. I don't show it, but I'm excited. Lord knows what Papi has planned for us. I know it involves some horseback riding, fancy dinners, THE FLOWER FESTIVAL/PARADE (that's what I'm REALLY excited about), hiking, touring, pictures, bakeries, and what not. Try packing for 3 weeks for all of that.

It's going to be a fun trip. Too bad I can't pack Allison B in my suitcase. We came close but maybe another fun trip!

Please keep me in your prayers! If you know anything about my grandfather and my dad, we're going to need guardian angels thats for sure. I'm not that nervous about flying--it's going through customs and something random happen to me because random is my middle name. And Dad sucks at going through customs. But alas, it'll be ok!

With me being the biggest quote fanatic, I'm going to leave on this quote.

We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries everyday with new experience and character. Henry David Thoreau