Boy, Oh, Boy!!

Well, tonight I met me new group of students and I just have to say that I am going to have a fun year! I wish that I could include on here pictures of them, but alas, I can't. Just know that I again have adorable kids. I have one little boy who is just a riot. He is going to be so much fun. He is so verbal and excited about school and was so ready to go. Then there was an equally excited little girl. AND THEN, there was the little boy with his grandma that didn't want to leave. He actually left with his head hung down. Cute, huh? And I have a little girl with the cutest eyelashes ever! You know I am a sucker for long eyelashes. I had three kids that didn't come, but I guess I'll meet them on Tuesday. Fun times!

Mike

Okay, I need to do a post about this picture! I didn't know that Mike Cook played the guitar. My mom came to visit in May and we went to the Farmer's Market at the Capitol and I about fell over. Check this guy out. You know everyone has their twin. This guy was Mike. I don't think he is nearly as fun or interesting, but it made me a little CA homesick!

My Neglect

Okay friends. I am feeling bad for neglecting my lovely little blog. And super sad that I have left that particular picture of Gina up for this long. As we all know there are many more lovely pictures of Gina out there. So, sorry Gina!

1st item of business: Koodos go to Rachel for the institution of the blog letter. It seems that there is a craze for the letter writing. Should I join in? Yes? OK

Dear Stupidest Teacher on the Planet Who Didn't Really Want to Live Past Today,

Remember this afternoon, when I was leaving the staff room after turning on the laminator to warm up? I saw you and informed you that I had done so and that there was VERY little lamination film left. Remember that pile in your hand and my mentioning that I was going back to my room to get my stuff that I needed to laminate? Do you remember any of this? I really need to assume that you honestly don't remember any of these things because as I was sitting in my room moments later (getting my papers together) you walked past my room on the way to yours with your arms full of your laminated work. Hmmm... did I not mention the note that was attached to the laminator saying 'Don't be greedy and jump ahead of someone in the laminating line when there is almost no film left.'? Okay, so the note didn't say that, but as a fellow teacher, you know the lamination etiquette. It is one of the top teacher laws around. Next to 'Don't eat my food out of the fridge.'

Did you also forget that unlike you, I would not be back at the school again before parents and kids arrive on Thursday night? Do you remember me mentioning that to you, explaining that it was important that I get mine done today instead of waiting for the new film to be loaded tomorrow?

Well, lucky for you, I have been reading my scriptures lately and really focusing on being a nice person. Not so nice that I won't blog about this incident, but nice enough that I didn't take down one or two of your student's names from your door, making you feel silly and forgetful on Thursday night. See how well this nice thing is working for me? Maybe you should give it a try.

Your friend,

The other teacher

Item of business #2: I HATE MOSQUITOS!!!!!

Since our flooding we have been overwhelmed with mosquitos. Last night John and I were out in the garage working on something and I sprayed thouroughly with OFF! I think it contains 800% DEET, so it should work right? Wrong! A mosquito crawled in my shoe!!!!!....and bit my heel!!!!!!!! HELLO? Isn't that a lot of work for a little bug just to ruin my life? Does anyone know how annoying it is to have a never ending itch on your heel? And that one is to match my other 37 mosquito bites that I already have! I HATE MOSQUITOS!!!!

Item of business #3: If you have not heard about Landon's amazing progress, you need to stop right now before leaving a witty comment and immediately go to Sara's blog and read about Landon coming off the ventilator! Miracle of miracles.

Item of business #4: I love you guys and miss you terribly!

Thursday Night

Okay, John and I cancelled our cable during one of these post season moments when I realized I never really watched tv. Mostly because our basement is freezing. On really hot days it is heaven, but most days it is not really freezing, so I don't make my way down to the basement where resides the only tv in the house. So, we canceled the cable. Now that The Office is going to start back up, I am having a serious desire to reinstate the cable box. Plus, I miss Paula Deen! Well, the other day I picked up some magazine and saw something almost too good to be true. There is a new show...of course on Thursday nights...with, get ready.....Michael Vartan AND Dylan McDermott! HELLO!!! I was pretty excited and almost ready to give up The Office if the time conflicted. Not really, but almost! Then I went to ABC.com and checked out a trailer for it. I am so sad. It seems to be a show about obviously hot men who are tramps! Sad, huh? Extra-marital affairs seems to be the main feature. I think we should all write letters! Waste of talent and eye candy!

Sadness

Oh, where, oh where is my little book 'The Giver'? Oh, where, oh where could it be? I have been getting so over-anxious about school starting and it is taking it's toll on me. So the other day, I decided that since it has been raining almost non-stop, I should just get a good book, curl up on the couch and read while listening to the rain and forgetting about school. So, I went to my bookcase and searched and searched for The Giver. I think it is probably my favorite book. And, guess what? It is nowhere to be found.

So, I gave up the search and went to nap. It was a good alternative, but today I have determined to just relax and try to forget about school. I didn't bring home any little projects to work on and every time John catches me on a teacher website he is now kicking me off. So, I am needing to start a book. I am feeling like a re-read, so I need some help deciding.

Choice #1: To Kill a Mockingbird

Choice #2 Ender's Game

Choice #3 My Side of the Mountain

Choice #4 Bras & Broomsticks

Now you have probably already heard of the first three, but may need a little help with the fourth one. So here's a little link. Bras and Broomsticks

Another moment from my perfect day

Well, I have already blogged today about my peeing pup. I was so hopeful that that would be the low point of my day and considering that it was SO bad, it would be hard to imagine that the day wouldn't turn better at that point. Wishful thinking.
After my Visiting Teachers came over, my new Relief Society President stopped by with her daughter. Her daughter is applying to be part of a gifted and talented class at school and she had to write an essay. She approached me last week and asked if I would help her with it. I said yes, because we habitually do that at church even without realizing what we are thinking.
Let me mention that I don't actually like writing. So, helping her was a bit out of my comfort zone to begin with. Why would she ask me for help? Well, because I am a teacher so I should feel good about that. Hmm...should. So she brought the essay to church yesterday and I told her I would take it home and review it and then she could come over today and I would give her my suggestions. Sound good? Yeah, it was. The essay she wrote was good and I only had a couple of ideas for her. So she and her mom are sitting on the couch across from me as I have my legs crossed in front of me. We are chatting about quilts and other things when to my complete embarassment I realize that my second pair of pants of the day are my slippery zipper pants. That is right.
You know how you go and buy a lovely pair of pants that are new and beautiful and perfect in every way except that for some unknown reason the zipper just falls down all the time? You know those pants. We have all had a pair. If you haven't, I don't want to be friends anymore.
Now, of course you realize that the really bad part isn't necessarily that the zipper is down, but it is the wondering how long your pride has been wounded without even knowing it. I'm just wondering if the lovely pefectly white haired Visiting Teacher was embarassed for me earlier in the morning and didn't have the heart to say anything because I had already shared my embarassment of being peed on?

The Amanda Conspiracy

When I was living at the McMillan's house, I realized what was named by Dave, 'The Amanda Conspiracy." This consisted of a pitcher with water and ice. It doesn't sound so intriguing or dangerous, but for some unexplainable reason, these elements combined to create a very upsetting phenomenon. EVERY time that I would pour a glass of water, the ice that had been trapped in the pitcher behind that little spout, would somehow break lose at the very moment that my glass was just about full. This would create a sudden and rushing waterfall into an already full glass. Water would go everywhere and I would then be searching for a change of clothes. As cautious as I got, I could not avoid it. This went on for years until now, I refuse to use pitchers like that, or ice goes in the glass first!
Well, I have rid myself of that conspiracy, but I feel that Max is working on a new one to keep me alert and on my toes. I know that I have previously mentioned that my dog is wonderful and I adore him, etc. These loving feelings frequently flee as I am faced with a VERY naughty puppy.
The other night I came home with just enough time to fix dinner before the Sister Missionaries were to arrive at 6pm. So, I open the door, with arms full of groceries only to smell the most unmistakable odor in the universe! DOG POOP! Yep, you guessed it, Max had once again pooped in his kennel. He has been housetrained for a long time now, but as you all know, he has been a little 'runny' lately. Sorry about that, but that kind of poop is so much more difficult and disgusting to clean up than just regular ole' poop. So, I am racing around the house, kicking the dog (just kidding, even though I wanted to), trying to clean and get dinner on!
Now, come with me to my lovely bathroom where I am this morning washing my hands as I prepare to go down and meet my Visiting Teachers who are coming over for a little chat. Max was upstairs and wandering in and out of the bedroom. I didn't realize he was standing by my side until.....I felt something on my pant leg. I looked down and to my HORROR I see my dog lifting his leg and PEEING on MY LEG!!!!!
I don't even know what to say here, because I know that you are all just laughing in your seats at this very moment. So, I'll give you a second to compose yourselves and gain a little compassion and empathy. ....... another second?.......Okay. Back with me now? Yes, that is right, my dog that I love very much and feed daily, pet and take out, buy cute toys for at Petsmart, PEED ON MY LEG! 5 seconds after changing my pants, my brand new VTers come to the door with smiles, wanting to know how I am doing!!
So, I am realizing that I no longer can have visitors from church over at the house. Somehow Max senses that they are coming and decides to ruin my life. Is there really any other way to view this?
John thinks that because I am nice to him that he is marking his territory. Maybe I shouldn't be so nice. He also said that the internet article he read said that when that happens you shouldn't get mad because it is hardwired into their brains to mark! I am going to hardwire him in a very different way if he continues to pee on me! And how exactly are you supposed to not get mad? It was also suggested to me that perhaps, since he has never peed by lifting his leg before (he always just squats) that he was trying to do one of those 'Look Mom what I can do now' things.
Either way, he is not on the list of my favorite things today!
Anyone looking for a new dog?