Currently Listening Taking The Long Way By Dixie Chicks see related

OMG A NEW POST!!

This week has been busy.  I mean, really, what week isn't pretty busy?  Anyway...

The new TFA corps has arrived!  Cox will be getting 3 newbies so I've had 2 of the 3 in my classroom for observations this week, plus 1 that won't be at my school.  We've also been out at the socials every night, a great thing to look forward to when the children are making me want scream.  There was "The Amazing Race" Las Vegas, where teams had to travel around the strip getting clues.  I was at the Bellagio fountains with friends from 6:30 to 10:00.  It was pretty great to hang out with some amazing people for that long, but there was a temporary glitch when a freak wind storm cancelled the fountain show for an hour AND messed up our hair.  Wednesday I was posted at Gordon Biersch to expose the newbies to the fine beer that LV has to offer. Last night we went to the House of Blues to enjoy the musical stylings of the one and only band The Spazmatics.  The 80s coverband are indeed the very same band that performed at Jessica Simpson's birthday last year. 

In less exciting news the neighborhood where my school is has been rocked with some pretty heinous events this week.  First, last weekend, there was a horrific crime on Eblick Wash, the short street that I park on every morning.  In a gang initiation some guys took a 20 year old girl who was home alone to a secluded area, shot her, and drove her car back to her house to light it on fire.  She walked to find people and is now in the hospital.  THEN, on Thursday 4 teachers left school to find nails in their tires and/or spray paint on their cars.  THEN, that same day a mom went to Wooley elementary school (across the street from my school) to translate for another mom and she forgot her 4 year old in the car for an hour and a half in 100+ degree heat.  The child was unresponsive and they called 911.  Eventually the child recovered, as far as I know.  So anyway, it was a traumatic week in my neighborhood. 

Teaching in the 110 degree heat is not fun.  The kids are sweaty and thirsty and want to be swimming, just like me!  On Friday Mr. Morgan came to help with fun Friday and the kids got to ask him questions.  My favorite: "Mr. Morgan, if you are younger than Ms. Marshall why are you tall and she isn't?"  Mr. Morgan: "Because Ms. Marshall didn't drink enough milk when she was a kid." Annoying McTalksAlot: "Ms. Marshall!  You need to eat your vegetables!"

That's pretty much all the news I have for now.  Gotta go have a Saturday. XOXO

Currently Watching Lost - The Complete Second Season see related

The Week of Insanity...

the title is an homage to one of the greatest films of all time, "The Princess Bride" and the CLIFFS OF INSANITY.  My favorite line(s):

"No more rhyming now, I mean it!" "Does anybody want a peanut?"

"Life is pain, Highness, anyone who says differently is selling something."

two highly poignant quotes. 

so, this week has been...well, trying.

schools have this strange 'policy' of never telling anyone anything, so when i got to school monday only to discover that report cards and awards (like honor roll) were due, er, THAT DAY, I was unable to actually turn them in when due.  In fact, I almost didn't get them in Tuesday due to a convenient computer crash and subsequent refusal to open my gradebook.  Gulp.  Then today, in a strange alternate universe kind of way about half my class started sobbing over losing their "Fun Friday" and were inconsolable for much longer than was appropriate for the occurance.  But then I had dinner with a friend and it really put it all in perspective...

PLUS, now there is the "Lost" season finale!!!  OMG...I'm pretty much more excited for this than for anything yet this year.  Sad?  maybe.  but jack is hot.  true?  yes.

off to watch/drool...MWAH!

Currently Listening Surprise By Paul Simon see related

Back to work tomorrow...

It's been a long, strange break.  Off to NYC, Vermont, lots of Oprah and Saved By The Bell in syndication.  Class, visits from Mom, Penny and Dad.  Wishing I was in Europe, exploring like Claire, procrastinating far too long all the work waiting to be done in my classroom.  The next few weeks are going to be HECTIC.  I have observations (TFA and my principal), state testing, roommate's boyfriend moving in, roommate and boyfriend jetting to Peru for two months, friends moving, perhaps a trip to San Diego.  Oh yeah, and teaching my kids all the rest of the stuff that they simply haven't learned yet so they can go to 2nd grade!

Vegas is officially hot again, please save me!  It's been in the nineties for weeks and I won't be surprised if it hits the 100 mark in the next week or so.  The funny thing is that my kids are so used to the heat, having lived here basically their whole lives, that they will finally be able to come to school without their parkas and beanies.

In other news, my home state of Washington had a recent visit from TomKat...they went all the way to Aberdeen (of Kurt Cobain fame).  Rachel and I would like to ask them not to come back.  At least not Tom, he's creepy.  ALSO, and more importantly, Vegas finally has its FIRST children's book store.  Woot.  Perhaps Ms. Marshall's class will have to have a field trip?  If only there was a PTO to pay for it. 

Quotes that are inspiring me today:

"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."  -Thoreau

"That is happiness; to be dissolved into something completely great." -Willa Cather

Currently Reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Today Show Book Club #8) By Alexander McCall Smith see related

still on vacation...

NYC was a blast.  I got to go to the zoo in Central Park, the Munch exhibit at the MOMA, shopping in SoHo, dinner at Serendipity, a broadway show and fun with Sha and Rach.  On this, my second trip to the big apple, I have once again fallen in love with the city.  It may be that on both visits I have had a lot of time to explore by myself, and get to know the city on a personal level, but whatever it is, I really enjoy NYC.  And my wonderful friends are just so much fun to visit with.  I hope that one day we all live in the same place, or at least not across the country from each other!

After I returned from NYC mom and Pen came to visit and we had so much fun!  We saw two shows, lay out by the pool, had drinks at the dueling piano bar and went to jazz brunch.  I haven't laughed that much in ages!  I'm so lucky to have such an awesome family!

Now I am avoiding the work that is weighing on my shoulders.  It is no fun.  I'm not having fun, because I'm stressed, but I can't make myself do the work that needs to get done.  I'm working in spurts, but hopefully I'll be able to be a little more productive in the next few days before dad comes and we jet off to Vermont. 

Gotta get back to procrastinating...BIG LOVE, abs

Currently Listening Both Sides of the Gun By Ben Harper see related

Off to NYC tomorrow!

I'll be gone from Wednesday to Sunday visiting with the lovely ms. savo and ms. ferm in brooklyn.  who knows what fun we'll get up to, but i'm hoping to spend an afternoon at the Met and see a show or two.  Also, an afternoon in Central Park sounds refreshing!  Perhaps I'll get to help Shadia fight some corrupt cops or help Rachel publish some books.  Adventure awaits!

So far I wouldn't call my vacation "successful" but it has been fairly relaxing.  I spent about 4 hours in my classroom on Sunday and cleaned out all of my students' desks.  Then that night I went with a couple of friends to "Light," a nightclub at the Bellagio, free for locals on Sundays.  Yesterday Joe and I went to see "Ice Age: The Meltdown," which was cute and funny.  Today I've been cleaning and packing.  Oh, and I took my car in because also on Sunday someone decided to take a large rock or a bat to my windshield.  Sheesh, me and cars, it's ridiculous, you'd think I had many enemies.  Perhaps I do, but do not know about them.  If YOU are one, you can leave my car alone and just come a talk to me about your problems with me.  COME ON!  So yeah, $1300 later my car will not only have a new windshield, but also a new catalytic converter and an oil change.  Yay!  Oh, and p.s. I also bought a new computer which will come sometime next week. I can't wait!  I can burn DVDs and CDs, has XP media edition, meaning I can finally start using the ipod I won in September, powerpoint and a few other bells and whistles.  I can't wait until it gets here!!  Poor mom, it will probably arrive the same day as she does, but she has to work anyway, so while she works I will play!! woot!    More from NYC if I get a chance...

LOVE YOU LOVE YOUR HAIR abs

p.s. you should listen to the new ben harper cd, its a sophisticated, graceful indictment of Bush's politics and the current social/political climate- a quiet urge to revolution.  it rocks.  "i believe in a better way..."