Quiet

I tried to be all cool and stay out late on New Year's Eve.  Okay, maybe later than 8:30, but the rain turned ice turned snow forced the sensible part of my brain to make the rest of me go home early.   So, here I am, safe, sound, and sleepy in my cozy home.  Time to curl up with a book and fall asleep early.  Why not? 

So long, 2011!

New New New

I decided to try Facebook Timeline today and it's actually kind of cool.  I also decided to try a new blogspot format, but I don't know if you'll even be able to tell a difference (it might just be for the writer).  Any way, for some reason, I'm in the mood for new things.  I guess that's a good thing, right? 

What will you do that's new in 2012?

John Adams

I watched the first two parts of the John Adams miniseries last night.  What struck me, aside from my lack of remembering much from 8th grade American History class, sorry Miss Hoff, was how much John relied on his wife Abigail.  It was so cool to see how well they got along and how much they loved and respected each other.  That's not very common in movies these days.  The only other movie I can think of like that is Date Night. 

I'm hoping to get the next installment in the mail this weekend!

Wrong Season, Right Idea

Up

Well, I woke up WAY early this morning, like before 4 AM.  Boo!   So, by 5, I decided to get out of bed and clean.  As long as I'm awake, I might as well be productive.  I'm in a clean and sort kind of mood again today and it's nice to get some stuff done that I've been "overlooking" for a long time.  If I were brilliant, I would bring in a few empty boxes to fill for rummage. 

I'm pretty sure other people are in this mode or the stores wouldn't be selling lots of "storage" and "organizing" stuff right now.  Stow this.  Hide that.  Etc.  It's all very alluring.  The Container Store is way too much fun.  Good thing the closest one is 2 hours away.

On to the Relaxing!!!

Christmas is not relaxing.  Christmas is hard work.  Either, there is a lot of food to help cook or lots of things that need cleaning up or whatever.  Either way, I came home last night and slept for 12 hours.  Yes, 12.  I would have slept more, but my mom called and woke me up.  After chatting for 20 minutes, she said she should let me go back to sleep.  I just laughed, because of course I couldn't go back to sleep after talking.  Plus, I was dreaming of diet Cherry Coke, which I should not have (and don't have in the house).   So.... once I get moving in full swing, there might be a trip to the grocery store in my future.  Big plans!

My Arm

My arm is on the front page of the local news section of the Duluth News Tribune today.  If you look to the far left, you will see a black coat sleeve with a pink mitten.  That's me!!!!  My mom and I went to a vigil on the steps of City Hall yesterday.  The vigil was for the homeless in Duluth and it happens every Christmas Eve at noon.  CHUM collects blankets, mittens, hats, and monetary donations for the poor.   There is carol singing, prayers, soloists, poetry, and then a reading of all of the homeless who died in Duluth over the past year.  Signs with names of the people are passed to members of the crowd and they go up front when their person's name is read.  I held the sign for Nicole W, 37.  I don't know anything else about her. 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Coupons

I have a huge pile of coupons and deals for stores that expire tomorrow.  The thrift in me wants to go use them up, but the part of me that knows I have everything I need tells me to stay away from stores today.   Seriously.  Who in their right mind is going shopping today? 

Well, actually, do you think there will be single men shopping?  I could offer my assistance...

It's Here!

The last day of school before break is here!!!  We're all really excited!  We have an assembly this morning (band, orchestra, and choir concert) and then regular classes after school.  Then....relax!  Well, that's at least what I'M going to do.

A few kids were talking about not coming to school today.  Then, I mentioned that some people will be handing out treats (not me) and they changed their tune. hmmmm....

Hustle and Bustle

So, we prepare and prepare and by December 26th things are a little more chill.   But then what?  Are you saving enough energy for AFTER Christmas?  Will you relax?  Will you relax so much that you get sick from being so stressed and then crash too quickly?  Maybe you aren't stressed right now? 

May you be chill right now and enjoy the moment.

Good Question

I've been asking people if they're going anywhere for Christmas, just to liven up an antsy kind of week.  Everyone needs a vacation in a bad way and thinking about traveling, even if it's someone else's trip, makes me happy.  So, I ask.  So far, not many trips, except to Wisconsin, which can be pretty wild and crazy!

Where are you going over break?

Well, Weird

So, the stupid plumbing is still not working in my house.  At least not working well.  What a drag.  Time to call in the professionals, AGAIN.  Then, switch back the low-flow toilet.  It's ridiculous.  The plumbing company said HALF of their jobs are from low-flow toilets.  That's just plain crazy!!!

My House Hates Me

Plumbing issues again.  For the second time in one month.  BOOOOO!!!!!!  Not time to blog.  Must clean up.  Uff.

Rachel's Challenge

Both high schools in Duluth had a presentation yesterday called Rachel's Challenge.  Rachel Scott was the first person to be killed at the Columbine High School shooting in 1999.  Since then, millions of people have heard her story and some of her ideas about ways to make a difference in the world.  She had 5 main ideas in her code of ethics.  It's all right here at Rachel's Challenge. 

I spent a good part of the school day crying yesterday, which is not my favorite thing, but I'm hoping that it will change the culture of our school and make a positive impact. 

Homework

I hate feeling swamped with homework.  I can't just let things sit without feeling tons of pressure (from mainly myself) to get it done.  So, I spent hours last night and an hour this morning (from 5 to 6) correcting.  It's not even done, but I feel better.  Oy! 

Maybe I can even goof off this weekend!

Sewing

It's about this time of year that I feel like plunking in a movie and sewing some fleece blankets.  This year, I have some fabric that I'd like to make into a skirt.  I just need to investigate patterns and con my mom into re-teaching me what I learned in 7th grade sewing class.  That was only 25 years ago, so it shouldn't be to hard to remember (ha ha)!

Dear Wednesday,

Dear Wednesday,
Thanks for being here today.  I'm wondering if your morning and afternoon could fly by quickly so I can get on with my goofing off tonight and get one step closer to the weekend.  I know it's a lot to ask on such short notice, but I have faith in you.  You can do it!!!

Thank you so much,
  Becca

Grown-Up Advent Calendar

I bought myself some yummy Belgian chocolates the other day and I know how compulsive I am with sweets, so I decided to call it my Advent calendar.  One chocolate a day and it'll take me past Christmas.  So far, they have all been amazing and I've only had one per day.  Whew. 

When I was growing up, Santa brought candy cane tubes of fake M&M's for our stockings.  I wonder if those still exist.  I don't recommend them, just wonder.  Okay, enough random chocolate talk.

Enough, Please

I'm getting tired of multiple emails from the same 6 stores who convinced me to give them my email so I could get an initial deal of some sort.   I like getting some of the coupons, once a week, throughout the year, but one or more emails PER DAY from the same store is getting annoying.   No one needs to go to Michael's every day unless they are extremely unorganized.  Uff.  So, delete, delete, delete!

I'm hoping January will be more peaceful.

9 Days

We have 9 days of school left before break.  One of my students is gone this week for a vacation.  He actually asked if he had to make up the work he's going to miss.  "Come on, it's called a vacation."   Um, yes.  IN TWO WEEKS you get a vacation.  If you go when there is school, you have homework.  Argh! 

Oh well.

I'm Tense.

Okay, you know you're a tense person when you're getting a massage and mention that maybe you could buy a heating pad to help with your tense back and she says "Or a jackhammer."  Uff.  hmmmm... what would be a blunt way to create a jackhammer effect besides getting daily massages?  hmmmm...  something to ponder.  Or, I could try to learn how to not hold my stress in my back.  

Good Movie

Sometimes my Netflix queue gets neglected and I end up with some random movie that I put in the queue on a  whim a long time ago and then forgot to move anything more urgent into the first spot on the list.  So, I end up with a movie in my house that I might not be hyper to see at the time.

Last week it was a 3-hour foreign film that I just didn't have time for and sent back immediately.  Last night, I opened the movie, another foreign film, and decided to at least try it.  It was 2 hours and 45 minutes long and awesome!  It's called Like Stars on Earth and it's about a kid with a learning disability in India.  It was a vibrant movie with music and art and lots of sweet moments.  I would definitely recommend it.

Birthdays

My friend Nate should  have turned 38 today.  He died a year and a half ago, suddenly.  The loss still has the ability to make me sob on a dime.  He was friends with everyone.  He was super smart.  He was silly and adventurous and rational.  He REFUSED to help me meet Zach Braff, whom he had ONE degree of separation from (oh so close!).  He and his wife showed me around Paris.  He was always about gathering people together.  And I miss him.

Where ever you are Nate, I hope they have amazing French pastry!

Vocabulary

Our ninth graders are going to a Respect Retreat this week.  Half of the class will go Thursday and the other half will go on Friday.  They will walk across to the parking lot and have the retreat in the basement of the neighboring church.  It's a non-religious thing, just held off-campus, in what happens to be a church. 

I had a kid ask me why it was at a church and then said "I'm not even a polyhedrian."  I replied with, "Do you mean a Presbyterian?"  "Yeah."   TOO FUNNY.   If you don't know, a "polyhedron" is a many sided three-dimensional object.  Ah, ninth graders!

Uproar

It's the third grading period and the Algebra Lab teachers are switching things up for it!  We're adding practice questions from the beginning of the year and I'm being more intentional about the hour.   Well, this didn't go over so well with the ol' students.  In fact, they signed a petition (all but two of them) to get rid of the worksheets.  HA!  What they don't think about is that this is not a democratic classroom.  It's a dictatorship!  HA!  So, we will do the worksheets and they will learn and it'll be good for all of us.  (One side benefit is that when they hate the worksheets they come together to hate me instead of hating each other all hour!)

Blue Christmas

My church has a Blue Christmas service for people who don't find Christmas to be entirely happiness and light.  Maybe it reminds us of a loved one who is gone or that we are alone or whatever.  For me, I feel a slight urge to go, but almost feel like I don't deserve to be blue.  I should be grateful for what I have and happy that even though I've lost people in my life, at least they were there for a time.  Maybe I need a Light Blue Christmas? 

For those of you gone, know that I'm thinking of you and for those of you yet to arrive, know that I'm thinking of you too (and hop to it, already!  There is fun to be had!).

Good Music

I went to St. Olaf College, known for it's music, it's math (in math circles) and it's connection to Rose Nyland on Golden Girls.  Any way, this weekend is the Christmas Festival.  It's sold out.  It always is.  However, every few years, they broadcast (via satellite) to movie theaters around the country!   Today, it's at Duluth 10 in Canal Park.  2:30 PM.  $20.  AMAZING music.  Every year they sing Beautiful Savior and it's so lovely. 

Dream Trips

Pretend you won an all-expenses paid trip.  Where would you go?  My list of options is huge!

• Italy
• Greece
• Norway
• Peru
• Australia
• Switzerland
• Finland
• Sweden
• Banff
• Boston
• Atlanta
• Cleveland, TX
• Pittsburgh
• Portland, ME
• California 
• Washington
• Vail, CO
• Denver, CO
• Madison, WI
• Iowa City, IA
• Memphis, TN
• Grand Marais, MN
• Washington, D.C.

Variety is the spice of life, right?  
What's on your list?

Early Panic

It's December 2nd and I feel like I need to finish all of my Christmas stuff this weekend.  That doesn't make ANY sense.  I know I have days and days, but there is something that tells me "HURRY!"  Maybe that something is the media.   The ONSLAUGHT of Christmas advertising is way more than I recall from past years.  I suppose I should unsubscribe to some email updates and that would help.  I'll put that on my To Do list this weekend!
 
Ha ha.

5AM

Dear Neighbors,

I apologize for the 5:15 AM shoveling you heard this morning.  I was trying to avoid too many boot prints in the snow along the sidewalk that we are required to clear within 24 hours of the snow stopping.  I didn't "win," but surely I avoided a lot.  Unfortunately, that means you heard me shoveling.  Unless, of course, you are a heavy sleeper or out of town.  If that's the case, then, ignore this letter.

I'm not a fan of shoveling, but I guess I'd rather get it done BEFORE school and it's inevitable exhaustion than have to dread it all day.  This won't be the case on days that I'm super lazy in the morning, but today, it worked.  Sorry again.

Sincerely,
Becca

Day 30

So, they say it takes 21 days to form a habit.  This is Day 30 that I've blogged and I've kind of gotten into the swing of things again.   Yes, there are still days that I stare at the screen for a while wondering what to write.  Yes, there are days that I don't get a chance to write at the "usual" time.  However, it's way more consistent than it used to be and my "page views" are showing it.  If I really wanted to up my "views," I would mention things like iPhone apps, Kim Kardashian, Dancing With the Stars, or Bradley Cooper.  Any of those would get lots of "hits."  We'll see if it works.

How about this: Stars I'd Like to Meet

Nathan Fillion
Oprah
Jennifer Garner
The Bloggess
Ryan Reynolds 

That seems like a good list. 

Happy Almost December!  Make this last day of November count!

Little Things That Get on My Nerves

Bugs
Closing the garage door and then needing something from the garage.
Wet newspapers
The increase of commercials as the TV show progresses in the hour
Gum under chairs or desks
Cars that turn without signaling
Zits
The fact that most kids don't know about Calvin & Hobbes (that actually just makes me sad)
The half-done craft projects littering my house
When food has meat products in it when it could have been a fine vegetarian dish

Argh

I can't think of anything to blog. I can't think of anything to blog.  I can't think of anything to blog.  Suggestions?  I'll write again tonight if you supply a topic!

Decorating

I haven't decorated my house for Christmas yet, but I did buy a nifty wreath and hung it right away when I got home this afternoon.   (Mainly, I didn't want it to shed in my house AS WELL as my backseat). 

I always struggle with when to put up my tree, etc.   My house is not huge, so a big tree in the living room changes the whole dynamic of things.   So, I like to wait for at least a week into December.  Since this week is looking jam-packed, it shouldn't be a problem to wait. 

However, I did help a friend start decorating at her house and she had lots of fun supplies and the end result (of phase one of decorating) was beautiful.  It helped that her other helper was an art major!  So, that has gotten me to get more decorating magazines, which is always fun. 

If I don't get around to putting up my tree, I can always wrap lights around my rocking chair "O" Christmas Chair, O' Christmas Chair!  How lovely are your armrests...."

Norwegian

I'm half Norwegian and have cousins in Norway.  One of them doesn't speak English much, so when I write to him, I Google Translate it into and out of Norwegian.  It's actually a fun challenge that isn't SO much of a challenge if I just copy paste. 

I have a ton of books on learning different languages.  I should really crack into them again.

Can I Do It?

So, I'm toying with the idea of not spending a cent today.  Just as my plan is solidified, my dad calls and says "I got you a 20% off coupon".  I was joking yesterday about having one of us going and geting the coupon early that works for the rest of the day.  I told him to offer it to my mom or sister as I really DON'T want to go near the mall today.  We'll see what happens.

My biggest temptation would be to buy caffeine.  Isn't that weird/sad/funny?  We'll see.

Tomorrow: Muppet Movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed

I am thankful for:

• family and friends
• a job that gives me the rest of the week off (and summer's off too!)
• elliptical machines
• my cozy little house with indoor plumbing
• Lake Superior (views, hydration, rocks!  What more can you ask for?)
• prisms because rainbows are pretty
•  the ability to travel
• my health
• almond M & M's

What's on your list?

Brain Block

I have been sitting here a couple minutes, trying to think of something witty or at least mildly interesting (in my opinion) to write and it's just not coming.  I thought, a list of things I'm thankful for, but that would be better tomorrow.  I thought about how I keep calling each day this week "Fake Wednesday", and so on.   Today is Fake Friday and TGIFF to that!!!  Then, I was going to ask people what they do for lunch if their Thanksgiving dinner is in the evening. Do you skip it?  Have some salad or something?  I'm planning to rent some movies and hijack the TV from my dad.  He's not THAT much of a football fan and I think with the right movies, it'll work.  I'm also plotting Christmas lights for outside.  Plotting in my head.  Like, "I wonder if I should measure my deck rails to see how many feet of lights I'll need.  I should test them and see how many work, etc.  These are the things that bounce around in my head.  ALL THE TIME.   Yes, it's exhausting.  

Oh!   Two nights ago I had a Hunger Games like dream.  Scary!  If you haven't read them, I would recommend it.   You have until March 23, 2012 before the movie comes out and it looks awesome!

Target Ads for Black Friday

Maybe you've seen the ads on TV for Black Friday.  There is a hyper, crazy shopper lady with a track suit, prepping to shop at midnight on Thursday.  Well, that actress, Maria Bamford, is from Duluth!  How cool is that? 

I showed the commercial to one of my classes, not to promote Target, but to show that people from Duluth can do lots of amazing things, i.e.  dream big, kids! 

In unrelated news, Thanksgiving is coming.  What's your favorite dish?

Malfunctions Galore

Yesterday, various parts of my house decided to fight back.  My computer reverted to it's old hard drive, AGAIN, so I had to open it up and do brain surgery, with the help of a friend. 

Then, my basement started flooding.  Turns out the sewer pipe is clogged somewhere between my house and the street.  Oh joy!  That's not something my dad can fix, so I spent the night at their house (I'm fond of using water), and we'll get the Roto Rooter person here today. 

AND, I'm getting new front tires today.  That's not my house rebelling, but my bank account will feel it.  At least I'll be safer driving around that hills in the snow.  Uff!

Be

I just sorted through and read some of the Sunday paper.  Yes, I still get the paper.  It's very Old School of me, right?   Any way, I was sorting through the ads, the Classifieds, and the sports sections.  Usually, I read the News and some of the ads, but right now, I'm kind of disgusted with the whole "let's start Black Friday shopping the weekend/week before" stuff.  Really?  Can't you just wait?  It's a couple days. 

What would the world be like if we all STOPPED THINKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS for one week and just thought about what we are thankful for?  Spend a week thinking about what you have instead of what you want or what you think you need!  Imagine it!  Daydream about yummy food on Thursday and getting to spend time with loved ones. 

The toys, sweaters, gadgets that will break after two uses, and plethora of sweets will be there on Friday.  And if they aren't, maybe you didn't NEED them any way.

Great Day

I read in a Whole Living magazine the other day that if you tell yourself you are going to have a good day, you will or something like that.   I tried it yesterday and it worked!  I was cheerful, got good news at work, and had a good workout at the gym.  Then, I came home and watched a documentary about Annie Leibovitz, a famous photographer, and it was great!  Went to bed early and now I'm up and hyper!  Woo hoo!!!

I put it on Facebook and I'll put it on here.   Let me know if you want me to take your Christmas Card picture.  I'm totally game. 

Christmas City of the North Parade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKi0-Lzrm4c

I'm not a parade person, but I love the song!  It will get stuck in your head.   The parade is today.  I was only in it once, in 6th grade, as a crossing guard.  Brrrr...

Drag

Why is it that when one is looking forward to something time just drags?  I am so excited for the Festival of Trees on Saturday that I can hardly stand it!  You might be asking yourself, "What the heck is Festival of Trees?  Some hippie thing?   Some let's plant trees thing?"   Nope.  Festival of Trees is the Junior League's Christmas craft/art sale and it's HUGE!!!!!!   It's at the DECC and there are so many good things to buy that I usually have to either come with a lot of cash or pace myself.  Sometimes, we have to make trips to the car to drop off all of our loot before going to the second level!  It's great fun. 

I shouldn't be talking it up so much because it does get quite crowded and is very popular.  However, if you read this and we're friends, then I'd like to run into you there.  Sooooo..... feel free to go!

Okay, Fine.

Since it's mid-November and I do live in Northern Minnesota, I guess it's time to take out my shovels and put the grit back in my car.  I'm not doing this with a smile on my face, Mother Nature, but I'll do it. 

Stuff for car:
grit
shovel
boots
spare hat,mittens, scarf, blanket
emergency kit (that is always in there)

Did I forget anything?

Witty Responses Welcomed

Monday.  4:15 PM.  Local post office.   I'm 8th in line and the woman ahead of me is talking loudly on her cellphone.  There is no way NOT to listen.  I heard all about her weekend, the bicycle reflectors needed for the other person's bike, the fact that she takes a flashlight on her walks in the morning, though now it's easier with Daylight Savings Time, etc.  All of this, full voice, no holds barred.  She did get off the phone when it was her turn, which shows some decency.

My question for you is, what would have been a good (read "funny") response to this lady holding our airwaves hostage?   Singing?  Humming?  Reciting the Declaration of Independence?  Thoughts? 

Warped and Hilarious

A friend showed me a hilarious blog that I would recommend to anyone who likes warped humor and can handle swear words.  The writer's name is Jenny Lawson and her blog is     thebloggess.com 

Once you start reading her blog, you might not come back to mine, OR, you might want to see what other trick, links, or random weirdness I've got up my sleeve (usually, it's just my arm up my sleeve, but you never know).

Baby Sister

My folks have a picture of my mom rocking my sister Sara and me next to the rocking chair in MY kid rocking chair with one of my dolls, rocking her.  I guess this was very soon after I became a big sister.   Today is that kid's birthday.  So far, I think we've raised her pretty well.  

In other news, I spent THE WHOLE DAY trying to make my house look like there weren't squatters taking over.   It's sort of weird to wake up to a clean house this morning.  I will make it last.  I will make it last.  I will make it last.

Corners of My House

Menu

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and people have started planning their menus.  People have started dreaming about eating.  Maybe they've even started thinking about hanging out with relatives.

My questions for you:

1) What are your family traditions around food for Thanksgiving?
2) Are you one of the cooks?
3) Do you watch football that day?
4) Do you watch the parade?
5) What's your favorite menu item?

Conversation with Student (Grade 9)

A conversation with a student yesterday:

Kid: Give these to your kids.  Do you have kids?
Me: No.
Kid: Why not?  You should have kids!
Me: I don't want to be a single mom.
Kid:  Well, don't!  Have them with your husband.
Me: What husband?
Kid:  You don't have a husband?  You need to get one!!! 
Another kid: You better be hurryin'.  

I can't do the conversation justice without accents and word emphasis, but you get the idea.  Too funny!

Peace and Quiet

Duluth's elections for the year are over and while some of the results were wonderful (think parks and libraries), some of them were not (think school referendum).   However, the best news is that my mailbox will not be filled with "Please vote for me" fliers, my door won't be crammed with glossy paper, and my phone won't be ringing off the hook!  Yikes!   Peace and quiet, I welcome thee.

In unrelated news, I spent about 5 hours correcting tests yesterday and I'm still not done!   My hands are numb.  I'm down to 16 left, though, so I can see the light.  No, not that light.

Random Things I Like

agates
wandering libraries
goofy bumper stickers
penguins, owls (cartoon only), turtles
sparkly nail polish
candles
Crypto Quips
quotes
solar powered yard decorations
blue glass
songs about peace
photographing my friends' kids
learning phrases of new languages
traveling

Cars

My sister is selling her car, or more specifically, my dad is selling my sister's car.   When my dad sells a car, I am in charge of taking the pictures and creating the Craigslist post.  As soon as that 20 minute process is done, it's out of my hands. 

My dad is the guru of car numbers and stats and LOVES cars.  I think I get my memorizing of numbers from him.  Seriously, WOW.

So, essentially, if you need help selling a car, I got your back.

Plan Ahead

Friday is 11/11/11.   Could you think of something you could do 11 times on Friday?  Just for fun!    I just came up with this idea, so I have no plan yet, but I like the possibilities.  It's going to be a Friday, so maybe "yawn."  It would be more fun to have a silly plan.

Who's with me?

Cathy Lamb

Last July, my sister and I stumbled upon a local bookstore in Spooner, WI.  We both like to wander and while Sara was debating which book to get, I kept going back to this book:

Over and over, I went back to it.  So, finally, I decided to get it.  I like buying for local shops.  I like novels.  Makes sense.  The store clerk said that lots of people were happy to see that Cathy Lamb had a new book. 

I was engrossed in it!   I have since read The Last Time I was Me, Henry's Sisters, and I have 30 pages left of Such a Pretty Face.   There is only one book left: Julia's Chocolates and it's sitting on my shelf.  I have to ration out my Cathy Lamb books!  I hope she's got a new one in the works!

Each book deals with love, trauma, finding yourself, and family.   They are approximately 400 pages, but they are SOOOOO engrossing that you don't notice the length and weight except when you carry the book with you everywhere IN CASE you have time to read.

Maybe You Knew

So, tomorrow is opening deer hunting weekend and a bunch of my students are either going to be heading out early or have already left to go shoot Bambi.   Well, I was thinking of wearing a T-shirt for Invisible Children, an organization that helps kids who are struggling in Africa.   Then, I thought, "I could wear my new Blaze Orange sweatshirt with it!"   Well, not only does it highlight a good cause, but it's ironic.  I'm a dork.  Maybe you knew that.

No, I didn't order these glasses.  I ALMOST got them as sunglasses, just for a laugh.

Weird

Two days ago, I titled my blog entry "One a Day Plus Iron."  Then, one of my "whole living" tips online was to add Vitamin B to my diet to help with stress.  Well, who doesn't need help with stress, right?  So, I checked with the pharmacist and he said it would be fine to add it.  

I took it at lunch and by choir practice, I was zinging one-liners.   WHAT?   I'm cheerful at night AND goofy?  Amazing!  We'll see if this trend continues.  Too bad I can't pass them out to my students.

Adapt

A few friends and I had a conversation about adapting to living with another person.  One friend was married and two of us are in our mid-thirties and never married.  We discussed what little things would drive us crazy if we had to change them and ended up talking about how glasses should be put in cupboards: right side up or upside down?  

I guess my parents fought over how to fold laundry.  Do you think people just copy what their parents did?  And if so, then really they are copying the parent-who-won's style!

So, survey: 
1) Do you put glasses in the cupboard right side up or upside down?
2) Do you fold towels length-wise first or width-wise first?

Blog a Day Plus Iron

A friend told me about a National Novel writing challenge and asked if I wanted to be his writing buddy.  You write a novel (50,000 words) during the month of November.  Um, no thanks.  I don't have the patience to create character development or a plot arc.   Let me tell silly little stories and be on with my day. 

I did, however, think that this could be a chance for me to challenge myself to write a blog entry EVERY day this month.  Yes, folks, EVERY DAY!   So, the challenge is on.  If you have a topic that you're itchin' to read about and you think I might have something to say about it, let me know.  I can't guarantee it won't be a list of Things that are Green or whatever.

Actually, I did a post of "Things that are Blue" and SERIOUSLY, that is the most popular "hit" off Google for my blog.  I guess people search for Things that are Blue.  hmmmm....

Let the challenge begin!!!

Fries

As of late, I haven't been able to eat French fries without them getting stuck in my throat.  Isn't that weird?   The sad thing is that fries were my favorite mustard conduit.  I'm weird, I know.

What's funny is that I can handle having students call me weird, but not stupid.  I don't get called stupid very often, ever, so when it happens, I get mad.  Mainly, it has to do with the Smart Board in my room that I'm learning to use.  I'm not a complete idiot with it, but these kids, who are more technologically inclined than I am, have been watching people use the boards for 5 years.  You pick up a lot that way.  Uff.  Oh well.

I'm tossing around the idea of going to a Halloween party.  Any costume suggestions?

Feel Better

I had a headache after school and I was trying to think of somewhere I could go that was totally relaxing.  I eventually came up with the library.   I grabbed a coffee at Dunn Bros. first, hoping it was caffeine related, and then headed to the book shelves.   It's so nice to wander around, looking at all the options, knowing I don't have to think about budgets or if I could find the book on Amazon for cheaper.  I just grabbed what I wanted (fiction, How-To, DVDs).   Ah.  It's just so calming for me. 

I think some of it has to do with growing up next to the neighborhood library (a different one that is now closed).  If I close my eyes, I can still smell it, still hear the creaks in the floors and picture the librarians.  I think I read every teen book there that even remotely interested me.  I still remember where the poetry section was and where the encyclopedias were that I used each Monday of 8th grade art to fill in my "artist" biographies.  I still have those worksheets. 

MEA

It's MEA weekend coming up, which means schools in the Twin Cities have Thursday and Friday off and schools in Duluth only have Friday off.   I think they assume that we don't go to the teacher convention any way.  I've never been there, in 16 years of teaching, so I guess they're kind of correct.   Either way, it means I get Friday off (we make up for it by staying late for parent/teacher conferences).    Soooo... by Friday, we will be 50% done with conferences for the Fall and will get a day off.   I'm hoping to sleep and do something goofy.

Movies I Watched This Weekend: The Ides of March and Hanna.  The first one made me mad and the second one made me sad.  Watch at your own risk.

Duluth Foliage

School Lunch

I got up early yesterday and hauled myself to 6:30 AM yoga class.   I haven't been there in weeks, for various reasons.   When I got to school, I realized I hadn't grabbed my lunch (which I'd made the previous night, which was not my usual routine).   Drat!  So, I ended up going to the cafeteria and standing in line with the kiddos.   Now, this would be fine, but I have only had school lunch ONE other time in my 15 years of teaching.   Yes, once.

I asked a couple kids about what I should do and didn't get a clear response until I found one of the girls from my class.  She said I was in the burger and fries line.  Oops.  So, wandered to the sandwich line and paid close attention to what the kids ahead of me were doing.   Then, went to check out and was told I could grab a beverage or "whatever I want because I'm a teacher" but that was a bit unclear.   It was easier to grab a milk and escape back to my colleagues.

Here's to trying something new!

Movie of the Day: Jane Eyre.  It's a recent adaptation and it was really good!

Tail End

I'm on the tail end of a cold and the hacking cough combined with the teaching of classes (talking too much) is not going so well.  To top it off, our new school has a sound system in each room and I keep coughing into the mike that is around my neck.  Uff.  Oh well.

Movie

What's your favorite movie? 


Talk amongst yourselves!

Same Time, Same Place

Last weekend, I ordered something online and the tracking dealy-bop said it would be here by Wednesday.   I was so excited to get home two days ago, only to find a post-it note saying I needed to sign for my package.  It said they would stop back the next day at the same time. 

Well, I signed the back saying "I won't sue you if you leave it here and something happens to it."

Thursday: I rush home between work and errands to secure said box only to find TWO post-it notes.  The second one added to the "Must sign" "in person".   WHAT?!?!?!!?!   It then said that they would return the same time on Friday.

Now, where is the logic in this???  If I'm not home two days in a row at that time, what makes them think Friday is going to be the magic day that I'm there????   So, I went online and changed it to "I'll just pick up the stupid thing myself tomorrow after work."  Okay, it doesn't say that, but SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!!  

Movie of the Day: You've Got Mail (somewhere)

Blah, Blah, Blah

So, here's my lame excuse for not blogging lately: I can't think of anything to say.  Seriously, it's not like I can't expound on some random topic for a couple paragraphs.  It's more an issue of complete exhaustion and hardly being able to drag my cereal bowl from the table to the counter.  I'm really high energy if I rinse it and put it in the dishwasher.  

WOW!  That sounds so pathetic.  Okay, here's my excuse for being THAT pathetic: first full week of school.   Now, you're probably wondering, what's the NEXT excuse going to be and the great thing is that I already have it planned out: It's Homecoming Week this week!  Yes, that's right, weird stuff happens every day.  Uff.  It'll be fine, though and I'm hoping that I can adjust to this "working every day" gig and have a little more energy.  Otherwise, I'm the dork going to bed at 8 PM every night! 

Tomorrow, if you want to pretend that you go to Denfeld High School, the theme is Wizard of Oz and kids (and staff) are wearing grade-level appropriate colors:

9th graders: Blue
10th graders: Red
11th graders: Yellow
12th graders: Black (not a part of the rainbow, but it's tradition that they get to dress up like mimes/thieves)
Staff: Green
Should be a blast and one of the less-disruptive days.   Friday's Maroon and Gold Day is the MOST disruptive.  Only mean teachers like me try to teach anything that day.  :)

Movie of the Day:  You guessed it: The Wizard of Oz!

A few flowers

Not So Organized

I would love to report that everything is going to be spiffy and ready for the amazing year that is to come at school.  Unfortunately, I don't really know how to do lots of whiz-bang stuff on my Smartboard and I'm still trying to get enough desks and a pencil sharpener.  However, I will do my utmost to make things happen and get some learnin' to occur tomorrow.  Yes, yes I will.

Decorate

When you were in high school, how did you decorate your locker?  And, was it a stacked locker or a tall one that you maybe shared? 

I shared a locker with a friend who hung a poster of Alan Rickman, as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood.  Um, okay.... You might know him as the man who played Snape in Harry Potter.   Yep, not exactly Tom Cruise or Keanu Reeves (it's his birthday today, Happy Day, Sir!).   Soooo.... yeah.  I have no idea what I put up.  Weird.

Maybe you'd set up a little altar to the homework gods or hang battery operated Christmas lights?  I had a student hang up shag carpet on the inside of the door and keep a camping chair in the locker.  Wanted it to feel homey, I guess.

Now, I'd probably hang up travel pictures.  Paris, London, Macchu Picchu, Rome, a fjord.  You get the picture.  Ha ha. 

Movie of the Day:  Saved.  She had stuff hiding in her locker.

The Books

I'm kind of old-school and still have paper books around my house.  I don't have a Kindle or Nook or whatever the next cool thing is.  I have paper.  Sometimes, my house feels like Becca's Reference Room.  I have two large dictionaries, 20 yearbooks (or more) spanning from when I was in junior high to last year (I like to buy them each year so I can look up kids that I hear about later.), and books on "What does that symptom mean?"  I have self-help books (they're working, can't you tell?), fiction, travel books, and multiple Bibles (Good News, The Message, Student Bible NIV, a couple mini Gideon Bibles, and an English/Finnish/Swedish hotel Bible from a friend).  I have quote books, art books, decorating books, how to fix your toilet books, poetry books, textbooks, and books on teaching/parenting. 

I better get back to reading. 

Movie of the Day: Inkheart.  They love books, too.

Good Point

I spent the morning staining my deck with my dad.   This type of activity always leads to chatting about random stuff that is going on in the world or church.  Sunday, my family attended a wedding for two friends: Cynthia and Jonie, yes two women! 

In the parking lot of the beach house on Park Point, a car had the bumper sticker: Marriage is SO Gay!  How great!!!!   Yes.  Seriously!  Two people love each other.  They want to commit to each other for the rest of their lives.  We should all be encouraging this, not condemning them! 

Well, this morning, my dad mentioned that the GOP wants the government to get out of people's lives, and YET, they want to control all sorts of things about people's lives.  So hypocritical!  

Congratulations on your wonderful marriage, Cynthia and Jonie!

Are you excited?

This is such a loaded question and one that was asked of me this morning.  Are you excited for school to start up again? 

September 6th will be my 15th "Start of the School Year" from the Teacher's Side of the Desk.   Every year has many blessings and many different things thrown at us.  Maybe it's a record football season and the kids hop fan buses to the State Tournament (thus messing with my lesson plans, oh well).  Maybe a famous person visits the school for an assembly or a teacher wins an award.  Maybe there are times when we all have to pull together to get through an issue or an event.  There are SO many different things that come up, and that's just "events."

The first day of class goes like this: I have an approximately accurate list of students who should be in my room, within about 5 minutes of the bell.  I introduce myself, mention what class this is (Algebra 2 or whatever) and then tell the kids to let me know of any nicknames they would like me to use in class, within reason.  Then, I read the list, trying not to botch the names too badly and ask for corrections.  Then, I try to give myself a mnemonic so I can remember the kid or write down "glasses" "front" "blue shirt" or something else descriptive. 

While I have the kids filling out a survey, I try to memorize the names.  This works for the first three classes of the day and then my brain is full.  The last two will just have to wait.  For the first three classes, though, once I'm feeling confident, I announce "I know all of your names."   Then, I go up and down the aisles. The kids are shocked. 

By the end of the day, I have no voice and I just want to go home and have another week of summer.  So, am I excited?  Sure.  Will I cherish this last week of vacation?  YES!

Sculpture Garden

Here are a few photos from the Sculpture Garden next to the Walker Center in Minneapolis, MN.

August

August is the "Sunday" of the calendar.   The I-Better-Get-Things-Done part of the year before reality hits with a bang in September.   It's not like I don't do things once school starts, but it always FEELS like I won't be able to do things once it starts.  Sure, I can't use the washroom whenever I'd like and I can't take a week-long vacation to somewhere warm in the  middle of any old month, but I should be able to see friends and read books.  Seeing friends are reading books has been pretty much all I've done this Summer too!  Okay, I have been working on remodeling my basement bathroom and for any of you who have been to my house, you know it's been about 9 years of bathroom destruction.  Soooo... it's high time, right?

Movie of the Day: August Rush. So true.

Drip, Drip, Drip

It's a wee bit humid around here lately and I think most of us are sick of it.  I have one friend who LOVES warm weather and I should be talking to her so I can talk to someone cheerful.   The rest of us are suffering. 

What are your favorite ways to escape the heat?

73, Please

I like the sun.  I do, honest.   I just don't do well in 90 degree weather.  I'm not productive.  I let my dishes sit for days.  Now, some are thinking "You do this in the winter, too, Becca" but in the winter I notice that I haven't done them.  In the heat of summer, I don't even care that I haven't done them.   Is that pathetic or what? 

Today, I'm going for a walk outside and I'm sweating just sitting at my computer.  This might be a silly thing to do. 

Saw Midnight in Paris yesterday.  Good movie!

Coffee

I gave up pop a while back and then accidentally started drinking it again.   Today I read an article online about how diet pop is horrible for you and makes one obese (oh joy!).   So, now I'm going to work on cutting out artificial sweeteners.   For a diabetic, this is kind of the kiss of death or at least flavor.  Maybe I'm being dramatic, as I am prone to do, but seriously!?!  It's a big step. 

My sister suggested starting to drink coffee (not just the chocolate frou frou stuff, but like normal coffee).  Well, this might be my only source of caffeine and we don't want to see me without caffeine.  At least not yet.  There are only so many changes one person should have to make at once, right, if they have any choice in the matter.

So, how do you take your coffee (caffeine, water)?  I need suggestions!

30%

I'm a math gal.  I get it.  So when I read the weather forecast and it says 30% chance of a thunderstorm tonight, part of me says "Oh, it won't happen."  However, I don't trust the percentages they give.   Even the MENTION of a storm means it is more likely to happen than 30%.  If they say 60%, I plan for rain.  If they say 80%, it's probably already raining! 

What's with the misuse of percentages?  Is their formula wonky?  Are they trying to be optimistic?  Are they in cahoots with the emergency umbrella and poncho sellers of the world?   What's the deal?

Movie of the Day: Singin' in the Rain.

Remember Me?

I went to an engagement party yesterday for friends I haven't seen in 15 years!   There were other people from college there and I recognized a few of them and none of them recognized me.  Now, I don't blame them; it's been a long time!   I just think it's funny that I could remember them!   So, I went home and scoured my old yearbooks and a few things clicked into place.  Of guy was a math major like me.  Ah ha!  Another lady lived in my dorm.   It's all becoming clear. 

Choosing a Book

I have quite a few books on my shelf waiting to be read.  Whenever I finish a book, I stare at the shelf of new choices and end up trying about 5 before I actually settle on which one I'll read.  The last book I read took about 4 tries before I was ready to read it.  I was aiming for hardcover books because they take up more space and I figured they'd feel better "out of my hands" when I finished.  I also, sometimes, think a book needs to "do time" on the shelf before I can read it.  No sense in letting a new book "take cuts."  Of course, I know this is silly.  Who cares? 

Maybe I think that if I don't read some of the old books, I'll just keep buying new ones and never read them.  I don't know. 

Do you have unread books cluttering your shelves?  I wonder what I would do if I had a Nook or Kindle?  It would be kind of freaky not having my house littered with books!

Movie of the Day is actually going to be a comedy special:  Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious.  NOT for the faint of heart.  Hilarious and so so so wrong.  I streamed it on Netflix.

Art Fair

This weekend is the Park Point Art Fair.  I think I MAY have missed one of them in the last 25 years.  Maybe.  I'm hoping the sun today will dry up the mud so the artists can set up camp nicely and we can walk without slogging.  It's all pretty exciting.

There are booths that I like to look at but would never buy anything from: the infinity table (look in and see to infinity), the leather booth, the earrings that I could make myself.  But then there is the pottery!!!!!   Oh my.  I spend a lot on pottery, stained glass, and maybe jewelry.  So, we'll see.....

I also usually run into old friends, neighbors, coworkers, former pastors, and the like down there.   I guess my friends love art too.

Hope to see you there!

Sheesh

I forgot that I changed my comments to "moderate" and then stepped away for MONTHS! Sheesh. Sorry about that kids!

Okay, so the sights in Duluth look like mud, or puddles, or tracks through the mud and puddles. I am taking a yoga class and the window looks out to Lake Superior. You would think this would be wonderful, but it's down-right grey out there! Lovely waves, though.

I'll work at getting some pics.

Movies: Bridesmaids was hilarious. Not for the faint of heart.
TV Shows for Kim: Castle. LOVE Castle. I watched House for a couple years. I'm behind on Glee, but I like it. Veronica Mars rocked.

Books: All three Hunger Games. One Day. Brightest Star in the Sky (which I'm reading right now). Then, I think I'll read the two books my aunt loaned me 4 years ago.

What books do YOU suggest?

Chatter

I've been chatting with a friend about blogging and found that I haven't written in about two months. Why do you think people blog less? Is it Facebook? A phase of life? The format? A lack of topic?

Personally, I think it's Facebook because I can write a sentence, hope it's witty, and move on with my day. Blogging could be that short, but it hasn't been for me, in the past. So, dear, faithful reader, what topics would you like me to ramble on?

Movie of the Day: Gnomeo and Juliet. Kinda cute.

Goo

I've been sick for a week now. It's probably a cold, but it's hanging on for dear life and making me annoyed!!! My eyes are so swollen and gooey today that I don't think I can wear make-up. So, not only is it state testing today, but they're going to be scared by my facial pallor. I better amp up the lipstick.

Movie of the Day: The Tourist.

Oh, Deer!

Yesterday, four deer decided to hang out (lay down, even) in my back yard for over an hour! It was strange. They were big and just sat there. One of them stared at me when I took pictures of them and the rest just ignored me. I stayed a safe distance (i.e. in my house) to take the pictures. I guess they really liked the pile of grass clippings that never made it to the recycling center or whatever. Cushy. That, and the sun combined with a space without snow must have made for an ideal late afternoon nap.

Movies to check out: The Switch, It's Kind of a Funny Story. Both are GREAT!!!!!

I'm Slow.

You know you need to blog when friends start requesting posts. Yep, this one's for you RMT!

Next Wednesday is a Photo Exhibit at Hope UMC in Duluth and I had a tough time picking out which two pictures to submit. I ended up just raiding my livingroom.

The exhibit starts at 7:00 PM and should be a good "show."

I other news: It's March. Whoa. How'd that happen?

Movies for ya:

Just Go With It
Unknown
Post Grad
No Strings Attached

Hibernation Movies

Welcome to January! Or, more appropriately, welcome to the END of January! It could not have arrived any sooner (yes, I know there is still one week left, but I'm doing some wishful thinking, okay?).

I've been watching HEAPS of movies lately, so I shall recommend some:

1000 Journals
Despicable Me
Vicki Cristina Barcelona
Inception
Salt
Just Wright
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World
Easy A
The Kids are Alright


I'm pretty sure I've watched all of these in January. And there are more.

Do you have recommendations?