Zion

We just had a week off of school and I escaped Duluth! The coolest place I went was Zion National Park. I saw Bryce Canyon also, but the fog made "seeing it" a little tough.

Here are some pictures. The stone structures jutting up are called Hoodoos (who do-s).

Pretty, eh?

Movie of the Day: The House of Sand and Fog.

Dump the Junk

A friend of mine told me about a website that allows you to take your name off of catalog mailing lists. It was very liberating! If you have catalogs littering your house and you don't order from them (or you like to order online now), please consider following the steps below:

1. Go to www.catalogchoice.org
2. Create an account (your name, a password, an email address, and then the address you get the catalogs at).
3. Search for the catalogs you want to quit receiving.
4. Tell them why you are removing your name (or you can say "No comment.").
5. Hit "Decline".
6. Log off.

It's super duper easy.

Movie of the Day: You've Got Mail. Lots of it. Most of it junk. :)

Very Classy

I tried to have a classy Valentine's dinner last night. With my parents and my sister. Yes, I know that sounds very Valentine-y/romantic, but if you really think about it, if Valentine's is about love, then who better to share it with than family? Any way, we tried to go to Scenic Cafe, a lovely establishment with interesting/funky food for a 4:45 reservation.

Well, it turns out Valentine's Day is a day for VERY interesting and VERY funky food. Also, steep prices. As we looked at the special menu for the day, everyone kind of cringed. I'm sure the food was lovely, but just not our style. My mom didn't want quail, duck, or whatever else. I had a hard time finding something vegetarian that sounded like food.

So, before the waters arrived, we decided to bail, and head up the road to Two Harbors. Yes, we ended up at Culvers. I know. I know. Classy, eh? Well, the whole thing came to 1.5 meals at Scenic and we still spent time together (and had dessert too)!

Movie of the Day: Scenes from a Mall.

Mush and Guts

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone! I look at today as a day to avoid a sugar coma, a day to watch for signs of teenage depression in my students, a day to wish I had a sugar antidote, and a day to figure out how to discreetly hand out the val-o-grams in class when only certain kids will get them (sent by friends as a fundraiser). All of these things are resistant, huh?

On a happier note, we have all of next week off of school and I am PSYCHED!!!!

Some favorite mushy movies in case you are so inclined: The Notebook. When Harry Met Sally. Ever After. Meet Joe Black. Harry and the Hendersons (j/k).

Morning Blogging

You may have noticed a drop off in my blogging. I would like to blame my treadmill. Mr. Treadmill has been taking up 31.5 minutes of my usual morning routine and that pretty much deletes all blogging time before school. Sadly, that is when I'm the most inclined to write (like now). I didn't walk today because my newly-acquired cold is making me a wimp. I know it's a lame excuse, but it's my excuse.

Any way, sorry.

Movie of the day: Walk the Line. I will, again. Eventually.

Not So Deep

I wanted to write something deep and meaningful, but decided to show you my penguins instead:

Could Be a Miracle

I was a little hyper on Thursday at school. I don't know why. I was just in a goofy mood, I guess. So, I told my 3rd hour math class that I thought we should all wear the same color Friday. We decided on blue. One kid kept saying "I pity the fool who don't wear blue."

As the kids walked into class yesterday, they congratulated everyone who wore blue. We allowed blue jeans to count, which seems fair. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WORE BLUE!!!! Yes, this is shocking. The emo kids, the jocks, the nerds, the preps, the teacher, the special ed assistant. Everyone wore blue. We don't even get this much participation for Homecoming! One girl had to hide blue under her dance uniform!

It was awesome!

Movie of the Day: The Hunt For Red October. Or Blue February.

Somber

Yesterday was Fat Tuesday. I celebrated. Yep. I had a chocolate chip cookie. From a gas station. I am wild!!!!

Today, is Ash Wednesday, which means I have a big decision. Ashes on the forehead and get a zit or ashes on my hand and look like a wimp. Anyone have a strong opinion?

Movie of the Day: Come Early Morning. Ashley Judd is in it. Tee hee.

That's Just Scary

Okay, I've been in a church group for over two years now and each week we talk about Spiritual Promptings that we've had. Ideas or nudges from God. This is my favorite part of our list of things to focus on and this week, I had a doosy.

Duluth had two days off of school due to weather and by the evening of the second day, I was pretty bored with my own company. So, I decided to light a candle, turn off all of the lights in my house and pray/meditate.

While praying, I had the idea of gathering my coworkers to go out after work to socialize. We like to go to a restaurant a little distance from school so that we don't run into too many parents/kids/alums. It's easier to talk freely.

It was Wednesday and I thought I could maybe pull things together for Friday, but once I got back to school, it slipped my mind until Friday. I figured maybe NEXT Friday would be good.

Any way, my 4th hour routine is to check my mailbox and buy a bottle of pop (I know, it's bad.) I went to the machine and our phy. ed. teacher walked out of the gym and said, "Becca, were you thinking of getting people together to go to Blackwoods some time after school?"

Freaky!!!! "Yes, that is so weird. I thought of doing that for today. How about next Friday?"

I'm still a little freaked out just thinking about it now. I did not tell a SOUL about my idea. Not one person! However, when I got back to my room, I sent out a quick email to a couple friends to see if that seemed like a good idea and they all said "Yes." Crazy!!!!

Guess where I'll be after school on Friday?

Movie of the Day: Whale Rider. If you haven't seen this, go. Rent. Enjoy.

Movie Soundtracks

I have a thing for movie soundtracks. I love how eclectic they are, how I can discover new artists, and relive a movie's plot. Some soundtracks are better than the movies themselves, which is funny. Here are a few of my favorite soundtracks:

Garden State: Zach Braff has amazing taste in music and he picked every song on this album. It's mellow and great when you want to chill.

Never Been Kissed: This is a spunky album that always takes me back to each scene of the movie. The ballpark scene is spectacular.

Little Women: A great Christmas album or just something sweet and mellow. Safe for all ages.

Walk the Line: The only Johnny Cash that I have and he isn't even doing the singing. Lots of good rhythms. Go Joaquin and Reese!

Love Actually: Another good Christmas album, silly, mushy.

You've Got Mail: Cheery. Great "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Ten Things I Hate About You: Rebellious music. Gotta love it.

Next Stop Wonderland: Lots of amazing Brazilian music.

Empire Records: A movie about people you just want to be friends with. Sort of. Punk music.

Strictly Ballroom: Ballroom dancing music. Super fun.

Music And Lyrics: Great faux 80's music, mushy. Just plain good.

Singin' In the Rain: "Make `Em Laugh" does me in every time!!!

Catch & Release: Mushy goodness. Love and loss.

Juno: Indy fun, awesome lyrics. Not for your grandma.

Honorable mention:
Mary Poppins
Mansfield Park
Ever After
City of Angels
Reality Bites
Fiddler on the Roof
Spamalot
Chicago

Rain?

I'm sitting at my desk and I hear pings on the window. Yes, rain. In January. Soon, it will be freezing rain. This is fine, except for the fact that it gets my hopes up for a snow day. We haven't had one this year and my brain is already thinking about how to adjust my lesson plans to accommodate Mother Nature. I think I'm up to the task.

Movie of the Day: Singin' In the Rain. Tee hee.

Walking By

Two students in my second hour class decided to draw a book of pictures of the people who walk by the school during their class. They named the people, gave them personalities, and drama. They fabricated scandals.

The kids weren't the "type" of kids you would picture being friends: preppy girl, punk boy. It was fun to watch, until the semester ended and schedules changed. The book is still there, though.

I miss being friends with kids who would do kooky things like that in high school. People who found ways to let out their creativity when it wasn't used enough in our strict classes. How many of us have creativity that isn't being used in our jobs now? Do you let it out?

Movie of the Day: Election. She was a preppy girl. And really annoying.

Wonder

I sit at my computer and wonder and wonder what to write. Do I write about the amazing movie I saw yesterday and how sad it made me afterwards? Do I write about the marathon runner who received one of my gift baskets last June and was killed yesterday by an arrow in the Kenyan unrest? Do I write about my students who are silly, my friends who are goofy, or my toes that are cold? Do I write about the trip I'm planning or the memories of my trips gone by? Do I write something deep and meaningful, or silly and meaningful? Do I write about the people and things that make me beam with joy or the people and things that drain the life out of me? Do I write about how I haven't finished my Christmas card sending and how I'm going to have to draw hearts all over them pretty soon? Do I write about the piles of books in my office, my livingroom, my kitchen and how I just can't decide where to start?

This is what I wonder.

Movie of the Day: Atonement. So beautiful.

Makes Me ThinK

I like movies that make me want to learn more about a culture, an event, or a historical figure. Last night, I saw Charlie Wilson's War. It was an excellent movie and piqued my interest in Afghanistan. I want to learn more. I'm nervous, though, because I don't have a source that I trust completely.

What sources do you trust?

Movie of the Day: Charlie Wilson's War.

Done. Done. Done.

Woo Hoo!!!! Semester I is done!!! The kids are out the door for a four-day weekend and I am done correcting finals. Now, just some loose ends to tidy up and I'll be good for my three-day weekend, homework free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm a wee bit happy???

Oh, and we're half-way to Summer- a thought to cling to when it's uber cold out like tonight.

Movie of the Day: Cool Runnings. Brrr...

All That For This

I am cautious. I went to a leadership retreat and learned all about how this cautious, accuracy-focused, perfectionism affects my life. There was validation in this, some new-found work soul-mates and a little insight.

The retreat was at the McCabe Renewal Center, a house run by the Benedictine Sisters from the College of St. Scholastica. It was a fabulous space, very welcoming, and the Sisters were very kind and hospitable (one of their core values).

We sat in a large "circle" in the living room and at one point I noticed a beautiful statue on the mantel. It struck me and it isn't something that I would normally take a second look at, so I decided to take a picture of it (see below).

I wanted to know what it was called and figured a title and artist would be on the bottom of the statue (it was about 8 inches tall). Any way, I lift the statue and suddenly the garland on the mantel slides forward and knocks two candle holders onto the floor with a great SHATTERING sound. Glass, salt, candles, go everywhere. I am mortified!!!!!! I go into panic mode, trying to clean it up. I say "I need a nun!" I need to know how to fix this. How to clean it up, buy new candle holders, and erase the minds of 20 coworkers. I hear people saying "For once it isn't me". I'm trying to keep it together.

A nun arrives with a dust pan and brush. I help her clean it up and try to find out where the candles are from. She says that they are inexpensive. I ask if she has more and she says yes. She will not let me replace them. I feel sooooo bad.

Then, I remembered what it's like when something of mine breaks and how I try to calm down the other person. I really don't care that the item is broken. So, that helped a bit.

Once everything is cleaned up, the break is over and everyone is back in their seats. The pressure releases and I start crying as quietly as I can, mainly because I don't usually break things, especially nuns' things, in front of all of my coworkers.

Now, you would think that this would keep me away from the statue (which didn't break, whew). However, I still want to know what the heck it's called. So, I say "I need help" to a couple friends. They hold back the garland on either side and I take a quick peek at the bottom.

The statue is called "A Quiet Moment" by Timothy Schmalz. I think it's beautiful and worth the chaos it took to figure it out. Sorry, Sister H.

The glass on the left gave it's life for this blogger.

Adventure

I have a hankering for an adventure. I'm not sure what kind of adventure, exactly. I just have a sort of antsy feeling.

Movie of the Day: The Namesake.

Silly Things I Like

Silly Putty
Slinkies
Origami
Paddle balls
Finger Paints
Stickers
Pinwheels
Tops


What silly things do you like?

Movie of the Day: Juno. An amazing movie. Not for kids. FUNNY!!!

To New Beginnings...

Happy New Year, my friends!!!

Zap

Do you ever find things that just zap right to your soul? Maybe it's a song that you instantly love. Maybe it's a movie that hits you just the right way at just the moment you needed to hear it's message. Maybe it's a character in a book who you just know is a kindred spirit.

One in a Million Saras has a talent for finding new music and then keeping me in the loop. She gives me tours on her ikpod. I had a tour on Friday and fell in love with a couple songs.

OMS also rented the movie Once, which I knew I needed to own within about 10 minutes of starting it. It's one of those movies that makes you believe in real people again.

The book character that is a kindred spirit is from Inkheart. I haven't even read the book yet, though I've been meaning to do so, and I know that the main character is a like soul. She and her father live in a house full of books. She has books as friends. Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls) was like that, too. She would take a book with her in case she got bored. I have a friend like that, too. I've started hauling a book around and felt lonely when I was waiting for my family today at a restaurant and had left my book in the car. If my house were smaller, the walls would be lined with books.

Movie of the Day: Once.