This is why I'm awesome...

According to iTunes I watched 14 episodes of The Office in the last 29 hours.

I deserve an award.

Or a life.


I'm gonna go with award.

Or maybe a life.

Quickie...

Have I mentioned recently that I LOVE The Office?

Because I absolutely do.

Risk it all and I'll be right here

[How it Feels, Foreign Oren]

I wish I had something awesome to say. Like that I did many wonderful and world altering things today. I didn't. I watched The Office and now am watching the Red Sox on ESPN. I love the BoSox :)

In happy news, Ammo (Adam Morrison) was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats- yay! Sean May also plays there (I'm also a Tar Heel fan) so that's happy! I will actually try to catch some games next year on TV, and maybe even go watch a game or two in Charlotte since it's only about 3 hours away.

And, since I'm on sports, how about them Mariners? They're totally picking up steam and are only 2.5 games out of first in the AL West. Yay for them!

Ok, so there's this amazing song I discovered last night. If you want to hear it, go to my MySpace here. It's the one I referred to at the start of this post, called How it Feels by Foreign Oren.

Here's my favorite part of the lyrics (it's actually the chorus):

if you feel like falling head over heels
then risk it all and i'll be right here
i can't say what tomorrow holds
but i know this is how it feels to let go

And I know You will always have my heart

[You Are Good, Jeff Deyo]

Today I am reminded of the greatness of God. That His love is unfailing, and that He's not safe, but He's good.

God is calling Dusty and I to a place where we absolutely seek His face, yearn for His will, and it's been amazing. I have never felt so covered by God's Word, or filled with faith that He will do exactly as He wills.

I have a deep fear of being wrong. I'm so afraid that I might take the wrong step that I stand there, frozen, unable to move. Yet God has gently said to me that He is telling me to take that step and trust wherever He takes me. He's not promising that I'll marry Dusty yet. He's just telling me to step out in faith.

I am reminded of the lyrics to a Jeremy Camp song, Walk By Faith:

Will I believe You when You say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to rid my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

And I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Well I'm broken
But I still see Your face
You've spoken
Pouring Your words of grace

I will walk by faith...

Love Blog

http://lookafteryou.blogspot.com/

You can check out my new "love blog" at that link.

:)

What's mine is yours to make your own

[Look After You, The Fray]

I know my faithful readers think I'm dead. I'm not, I was just out of town for the weekend.

I was down near Charlotte with my boyfriend. It was amazing. I am completely and totally in love. He's amazing. I'd gush about him, but I'm actually going to start a separate blog about him because I know people puh-robably don't want to be tuned into the TamiLovesDusty channel all the time, even if I can't seem to get my antenna to find any other stations ;)

Um... sadly, I have nothing amazing to say at the moment, other than I think I got a freaking sunburn through the windows of my car despite the fact that it rained for 75% of my drive home. Because that's awesome.

More to come :)

Quote of the day from The Office

Michael: Yeah, well you know what? Nobody cares about your stupid beet farm. Beets are the worst.

Dwight: People love beets.

Michael: Nobody likes beets.

Dwight: Everyone loves beets.

Michael: NOBODY likes beets, Dwight. Why don't you grow something that everybody does like? You should grow CANDY.

This is my mixed tape for you

[The Mixed Tape, Jacks Mannequin]

The Hardware Cafe is probably the best thing about Warrenton. Great food, cute atmosphere, decent prices... and they have cute "hardware-y" names for all of their sandwiches and such, like "Nuts and Bolts" and... well, that's all I can remember. But you know, it's cute.

Allow me to share a little interlude I had this afternoon with you all:

Me: I'd like The Ladder [a sandwich] and a 16 oz non-fat iced mocha.
Cashier: (with snooty undertones) We don't have any non-fat milk.
Me: Ok, well with regular milk then.
Cashier: (even more snootily) Well I'm not going to make that because we're busy.

Ok, are you freaking kidding me? I mean, first off, why didn't she just say she wouldn't make it in the first place? Who the frick cares what kind of milk you do or don't have if you're not going to make the drink, anyway? Honestly. Second of all, who the heck has something on their menu but then says they aren't going to sell it? I mean, whatever, but that was four bucks of business for them that they lost out on.

Grrr. I was really craving an iced mocha, too. I drink coffees like 3 times a year and today would have been perfect.

In other news, I downloaded and am watching the entire second season of The Office. I think I like it every bit as much as Arrested Development. In fact, I'm going to buy the DVD's when they come out- it's just that good. Plus I'm in love with Jim (sorry if you read that, baby... but I am in love with him ;) ). So... back to that now!

A Year in the Life...

If you hover over any of the pics below there will be a caption. Sorry that the formatting is messed up, but such is life.

Sometimes it's hard to breathe, just knowing you found me

[With You, Jessica Simpson]

I had a wonderful quiet time today. Let me just share a snippet of what God said. This is from Colossians 3 in the Amplified Bible.

11[In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There ^[c]is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians [^[d]who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all [^[e]everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].

12Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

13Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].

14And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].

15And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

16Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

It was really hard to pick out which part to put here, but God's Word is SO GOOD! I love the Amplified Bible. I recommend it if you want to really dig into the intended Greek and Hebrew meanings.

It's so freeing to know that God's desire is to use me. But not just that- He's crazy about me. I've recently met someone, and it's amazing to have someone that's just in awe of me like that. Imagine how much more so God is in awe of me- I mean, He has created and fashioned me. I also read Song of Solomon (aka Song of Songs) today and my breath was stolen away yet again by verse 4:9--

You have ravished my heart, my treasure, my bride. I am overcome by one glance of your eyes, by a single bead of your necklace.

Isn't that absolutely... well, sorry for the redundancy, but breathtaking? That the Lord of all creation feels that way about me, that one glance of my eyes ravishes His heart. Imagine when I stop and behold His face in full.

I love God's Word. I pray I will spend increasingly more and more time in it this summer, as I have a lot of free time.

And they say that a hero can save us

[Hero, Chad Kroeger]

I received some sad news today. A fellow Whitworth alum, Forrest Ewens, was killed in Afghanistan last week. I wasn't close to him, but I had certainly talked to him and had classes with him.

It's a sad reminder of how truly fragile we are. Also, whether you agree with the war on terror in Afghanistan or not, it's tragic to lose someone so young. He was only 25 and leaves behind a twin brother and a wife. Please think of them in your prayers.

I honor his bravery and courage in serving his country. I pray we'd be a nation worth his sacrifice.

For more information about him, please go here.

You found me when no one else was looking- how did you know just where I would be?

[You Found Me, Kelly Clarkson]

Congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes!! For anyone that doesn't know, I live about an hour and a half from Raleigh (and end up down there about once a month). I've never been a hockey fan, and piously harrumphed at my roommates when they invited me to games earlier this year. But the 'Canes fervor was contagious, not to mention Becca's consistency in assuring me that hockey rocks, and I've been following them for the last month or so.

I was able to watch the last few games on TV and I have to say that last night's game converted me. I am officially a hockey fan. That was an AMAZING game- so intense the entire time, bursting with skill and hustle and intensity. Plus- THEY WON!! It's been so fun to watch the local stations- everyone's pumped. It's just exciting and fun. So yay for hockey- I'll DEFINITELY go catch a few games down in Raleighwood next year.

Another thought about sports: I read this on ESPN.com earlier:

The other Pittsburgh player in the news recently for an off-field incident, first-round draft choice Santonio Holmes, was also at the Steelers' headquarters Tuesday to meet with team officials and assistant coaches.

The former Ohio State wide receiver, expected to contribute to the Steelers' passing game as a rookie, was arrested early Monday morning on charges of domestic violence and simple assault against the mother of his youngest child. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday afternoon and arrived in Pittsburgh early Tuesday morning for a meeting that had been arranged before the incident.

All I have to say to that is... sounds like a Pittsburgh Steeler to me.

As most know, I can't stand the Steelers. I don't like them and never have.

I have other thoughts on things non-sports related, but being as my inspiration is oft-thinly spread these days I shall save it for later :)

PS...

Go 'Canes!!

More than a feeling

[More Than A Feeling, Boston]

I have an awesome story... only I can't tell you the punchline. Sad day. Suffice it to say that-- Becca, you rock my face off. Yeah, that's right.

Yesterday church was awesome. I've been away for some time due to a plethora of reasons, and it felt SO good to be back. There are really awesome people and it was a blessing to sit under God's Word being taught. So... yay!

Earlier today I went to lunch with some friends in the great bustlin' city of Norlina. Yes, that's right- Norlina... like Nor- from North and -lina from Carolina. They claim it's where North Carolina begins... I think it may very well be the edges of the earth, but what do I know?

Other than that... Uh, I got a little misty-eyed at Herbie: Fully Loaded. Uh, yeah. Does that make me a bad person? Because I'm pretty sure it does. I know, right? Oh, but Lindsay Lohan officially has the most annoying voice ever. So scratchy and whiny. Blech.

Yeah... that's my exciting life. Puh-retty low key. Feel free to reply and inspire me :)

Thinking over the things that you said... Am I ready for forever?

[Thinking Over, Dana Glover]

Sorry I've been out of it for a few days. I moved on Wednesday, and then I was having internet problems. But Mac OS X Tiger came today and I installed it and I love it!

I'm loving living alone. I walk around half dressed (and panic when someone knocks on the door, lol) and leave the door open when I go to the bathroom. It's great. I am such a bachelor- and yes, I said bachelor instead of bachelorette on purpose.

What else... hmmm... my last two days have pretty much consisted of reading and watching Harry Potter (I'm on book three and watched the first two movies), the Discovery Health channel, running errands, and talking on the phone :) That's my life in a nutshell. Hopefully I'll be inspired to write something more exciting later, but for now... happy weekend!

It's you I was thinking of

[The Mixed Tape, Jacks Mannequin]

I am writing you from my beloved new iBook. Well, it's not new because they don't even make iBooks anymore :) They make MacBooks now. Anyway, I am starting to get the hang of how the whole different interface (do you call it that? I dunno) works and seriously... I think I am being converted. If I actually work next summer I think I'll try to get a MacBook.

Other than that... today I cleaned and packed and packed and cleaned. I'm probably... 75% done. I think I'll try to get my room finished up tonight. load up boxes into storage in the basement garage tomorrow morning (we have two garages... one upstairs and one in the basement... half our house is built into a hill... anyway.). Then I'll clean the basement and hopefully get to my summer home by early afternoon-ish.

It's a little frustrating because two roommates left with a TON of work left to do. But... I expected it to happen and it did, so it's not as frustrating as it could be. The other thing, though, is that next year the two that got the skimpy end of things can do the extra work. On the upside, my bathroom is sparkling! Were it my own I'd keep it that way but when you share a bathroom it's harder. It's one thing to clean up after myself, but something else entirely to clean up after someone else, too.

All righty, kids... I need to pack stuff up or else I can't go to bed (my bed's covered in stuff). Have a lovely evening / day / morning / whatever.

Eight seconds left in overtime

[Over My Head (Cable Car), The Fray]

What a day. I realized today that if I weren't in TF*A then I'd almost certainly be looking for a different job so I wouldn't have to come back here next year. Here's the thing- I love my kids. Aboslutely love them. If it weren't for them then I know I wouldn't be coming back next year. But these kids are absolutely amazing and I know they need me to have their back. Here's reason #1 why I am so frustrated (amongst a sick and twisted myriad of other things):

So I had this student we'll call DJ. He was in two history classes this semester- mine and then with a man we'll call Mr. Jack... short for a colorful word you can guess at. He's normally a pretty low student. But he worked SO hard this semester and a lot of stuff overlaps between U*S and Wo*rld history, so he got his first taste of success and realized that he was rockin' it in both classes. He came to tutoring for four hours every week for the last month plus. He was so inspired that he said he wants to take A*P U*S History next year and even go on to become a history teacher.

Is that not AMAZING? That's the reason why people teach in T*FA! To have those kinds of inspirational stories is what gives us our drive.

So, today Mr. Jack told me that JD scored a really high 3 on his EOC (it's on a scale of 1-4, and schools have to get 3's and 4's to be successful in the terms of NCLB- No Child Left Behind) and actually almost scored a 4. So I told him about JD's high ambitions, and Mr. Jack had a fast- and harsh- physical reaction. Here are his nearly exact words-

"Oh, no no no no no. Nuh-uh. There's no way he'll take AP. His writing is just atrocious. Him, a teacher? It would be horrifying. I won't allow a kid like him into AP"

I LITERALLY had to bite my tongue to hold back a long string of expletives. Well, not really on the expletives part but I was so ridiculously angry. This is one of my kids he was talking about. You just don't talk about my kids that way. I wanted to just tell him exactly what I thought, but I held back, knowing he'll still likely be my superior next year and I can't afford to burn bridges. Teaching is so stinking political and I hate politics.

So that- in addition to a school filled with people that can't do their freaking jobs, or at least stay long enough to get them done- was my day at school. I came home, watched a movie, did a little packing, went skinny dipping with my roommates (oh the joy of female roomies and basically having our own lake!), and now I'm installing some stuff on my roomie's computer for her.

Oh, and they said my name's not on the list of recommended teachers for summer school. Basically, they only need one social studies teacher and the other guy that applied has seniority. Nice of them to let me know now so that I'm stuck in the Middle of Nowhere, North Freaking-Cackalacky with nothing to do for two and a half months. Ode to freaking joy.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be closer to my normally happy self. For now, I am going to go to bed and hope that I wake up less frustrated... and less tired... leave some love, huh?

It goes round and round

[Sick Cycle Carousel, Lifehouse]

Hmmm.... what a weekend :) Yesterday was productive, and the game was fun (even though they lost). Then I hung out with some other second year corps members (I still can't believe I am talking about my corps when I say that...) at a place called Tyler's where we watched the 'Canes lose to Edmonton.

I had a weird experience last night... I introduced myself to someone's husband as a second year corps member. It was SO weird. I was like, "I'm a... ok, you're the first person I am saying this to and it's really awkward for me... but my name's Tami and I'm a second year." SO FLIPPING WEIRD. Everything right now feels so surreal.

Today was fun because after lying out in the sun and reading (Harry Potter... SO not evil the way I was taught to think) I went to "Blue Thursday"... aka Ruby Tuesday for dinner with Jenny and Shenay. For you west coastians (I know it's "coaster" but coastian just sounds so hot) it's basically like Red Robin... decent place, but nothing will ever replace Red Robin in my heart. I plan to eat there like 5 times when I'm home for Christmas!!

After dinner we went to a Tony's party at the home of two fellow high school teachers. It was fun because of the company, but I know essentially nothing about theater, and am totally content that way. But the majorly cool thing is that I think I am going to buy Bailey's iBook for a hundred bucks! Whoo-hoo!! I need a laptop because my *awesome* school district is "repairing" our laptops they gave us so that you can't do ANYTHING on it. I mean, you can use Open Office (a freeware of Microsoft Office, essentially) and that's about it. You can't install anything- including to repair your wireless configuration, or put on printers or the software that comes with my curriculum... nothing. It's so lame.

I am really annoyed so I am going to make sure this iBook will suffice and then tell them that the one they spent two-freaking-thousand dollars on is worthless to me and I had to go buy my own laptop. Grrr. But it looks like I'll be making the switch to Apple. If I really like it I think I'll probably get a new one either around Christmas or next summer, and actually if the one Bailey sells me works well I am going to see if one of my students is interested in buying my Dell desktop fairly cheap. Just to help them out, you know?

Ok... I have some stuff to get done before my end of year one-on-one with my T*FA supervisor tomorrow at one, so I need to actually get to school by like 8:30 which means I need to gets me some sleep! Have a lovely week, friends!

So many things that I want to say

[Your Love, The Outfield]

Whew. What a day. I (mostly inadvertantly) slept through graduation. I kept going back and forth yesterday, but then I thought my alarm was set for 7:30 on weekends. It went off at 9:07, so.... it wasn't. Then I considered rushing to get there in time for the ceremony, but I know like 4 seniors and by the time I would have gotten there parking would have been insane. Plus, my duty was to seat and usher people and since I would have gotten there *barely* in time for the actual commencement it really all seemed pointless.

Jenny knocked on my door around... ok, exactly at... 9:37 to see wake me up, but I was staring at the ceiling already. She told me that Bec said my mom called. At first I was like, "Oh, ok." But then it occurred to me that it was 6:37 a.m. at home, so... yeah. I called and my mom just happened to be up early and wanted to talk since it had been a few weeks. We talked for nearly two hours. Well, she mostly talked and I mostly said, "Mmm-hmm.... Sad day... yeah... wow... oh... mmm-hmm... cool... right...". That's how talking to mi madre goes ;) Two of my roommates actually didn't realize I was on the phone because I was so quiet- that's just funny to me.

Anyway... then I organized and packed... I'm about half packed, which is happy. Now I just showered so I'm gonna finish getting ready to go down to a Bulls game in Durham to meet the Sixers (the '06 ENC - Ea*stern North Car*olina T*FA corps... I'm '05, and thus am a second year. Which is SO weird.)

Hasta luego!

School's out for the summer!

[School's Out, Alice Cooper]

Yay! As you can see, I am officially done with teaching. Well, I have two work days on Monday and Tuesday, but I most likely will go all day Monday to clean up my room- which is already about 60% done- and have my end of year one-on-0ne with Erin, and then take care of the checklist they FINALLY put in our boxes this afternoon... it's aggravatingly long. I have to get all sorts of signatures for a plethora of things. Kill me now.

Tuesday I pretty much plan to just go in and get my bonus. I'll hopefully have my room clean Monday, so... yeah. I'll start packing my house stuff up tomorrow, theoretically, so I can move out Wednesday. Knowing me... I won't really get much done until Tuesday. I packed up an entire apartment in a day before I moved out here, so... meh.

Today was an awesome day with my kids. I kind of had to go hard on my first set (third period tested first, fourth period second) to get them into testing mode, but then after that it settled down. Fourth period was so sweet- they signed my yearbook (which is SO FUNNY. I've been out of high school for six years, for goodness sake) and my board, and then about 3/4 of them hugged me on the way out when the bell rang. It feels so good to be done that it hasn't really set in yet that they're not going to be in my class anymore. I secretly hope Mr. M will retire so I can go back to US History and have them again.

I am one blessed woman. Happy day :)

Un-freaking-believable

My school unblocked Gmail.

I'm pinching myself to see if it's really real.

My jaw literally dropped as far as my tiny little mouth would let it.

Back to work for now... we'll see if Gmail's still unblocked later, but I am ridiculously happy at the moment.

She loves to laugh, she loves to sing

[Any Way You Want It, Journey]

Today I had to make a phone call (suspending our internet for two months so that we don't have to pay $100 a month while we're gone this summer) so I went outside where my phone actually works. There's a little place next to the school at my end of the building called "T*ots'n'Tee*ns"... I am not sure how many actual teenagers take their kids there, but I know that multiple teachers do.

So I was just sitting there, on hold for 92 years, and watching the children run around the playground. They were absolutely adorable, just a bunch of kids playing some game that required constant running back and forth between the opposite sides of the fence. I love how easily amused kids are... how many adults would just run in a line back and forth for twenty minutes and think of it as fun? Like I said: adorable.

Today I came home from school and slept for three hours. It was AMAZING. Absolutely amazing. It's so hard because I have a ridiculous amount to do between now and Wednesday but I am so tired... I'm just not ready to start packing. I have until Wednesday, and I don't have a whole lot to do at school so I plan to leave early on Monday, only go in for as long as I have to on Tuesday (I at least need my bonus!), and pack as much as I can those nights. Hopefully Wednesday will pretty much entail getting up and moving.

I'm bored writing this (so sorry if you're reading it). So bored that I'd actually rather go get my work done... ouch, I know! I need to write an end of year survey. Ode to joy. But to stick with my new tradition tomorrow shall be list day. I loves me some bullet points!

Only 10 hours and 20 minutes of official student time until I'm no longer a first year teacher!

If you don't expect too much from me you might not be let down

[Hey Jealousy, Gin Blossoms]

I learned a few things about myself today.

#1) If you ride my rear-end while driving and continue to do so no matter how much I speed up- even up to 20 miles an our over the speed limit- to get you off then eventually I will do an impromptu "brake check" and make you back off. Even if you give me the finger. And, to be fair, I got to learn this one twice today from two different *lovely* vehicles within the span of about 4 minutes.

#2) I can be overly sensitive sometimes.

#3) I am really, really going to miss my kids. And I'm pretty sure they're going to miss me. Story later.

#4) I'm a huge tool for not calling about credit card debt a few months ago when my bank referred me to a program to get the rates down. It's not normal to pay 30% interest, and I don't have to. Also, it feels really good to have so much in savings and to be financially sound.

#5) I love e-mail. Rather, Gmail. I already knew that, but coming home to 9 new "conversations" was rather nice.

#6) Ok, I already knew this one, too, but... I LOVE ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT!!

I don't know where I'm going... but I sure know where I've been

[Here I Go Again, Whitesnake]

So the general theme of what Tami can't get off of her mind this week is what, oh what, do I do with my future? Or, rather, what is the Lord's will? Excellent question, sensei (I don't know if that's spelled correctly and I am FAR too lazy to go find out).

The overarching issue is that my school is insane. Just insane. And no, not just because they blocked Gmail (but I am still majorly annoyed about that). It's just unorganized and chaotic and lent to ridiculousosity... ugh. So I am about 85% certain that unless things get MUCH better next year then I'll move... of course, I just typed a 12-year-long e-mail to Clintonius Maximus (not his real name. And if you thought for a moment that it is then you're a tool.) about my dilemma. Do I go to New England or western Washington? Oh, the possibilities.

Anyway, here's a fun story from one of my roomies. And trust me- my school's pretty much on the same plane.

***

Thursday and Friday were final exams, and on Wednesday at 2:00 the central office decided that instead of having lunch in the cafeteria with everyone together for a whole hour between morning and afternoon exams, they'd deliver bagged lunches to the classrooms and keep the kids in there in hopes of preventing another riot. (Of course, we weren't supposed to tell the kids until they finished their tests, because they were going to be pissed.) Lunch was supposed to be 11:10-12:10. So, on Thursday at 12:30, when the kids had been in my room since 8:00 taking a test and then just waiting and STILL hadn't gotten their lunches, I sent a messenger to the office to make sure they hadn't forgotten my building, since we're the "Siberia" of the school. She came back and said they were still working on getting lunches passed out, and they were going in alphabetical order by teacher's last name.

So there are the first 3 incompetencies: 1. changing the schedule the day before testing, 2. going in an order completely unrelated to the geography of the campus, and 3. (which I found out later), not making the lunches until it was time to deliver them.

Lunch was finally delivered to my room around 12:45, but it took so long to get around to everyone that we were in the same class until 1:45. I had the same students in my room for nearly 6 hours. Then we moved on to different classes for afternoon exams. This is where the really great part comes in.

School is supposed to be dismissed at 3. But the state tests (similar to Regent's exams, if you ever had to take those) are timed, so we can't control how long they take. So, around 2:00, one of my TFA friends was in the office talking to the assistant principal in charge of testing and principal about when we'd be able to dismiss the kids. The conversation went as follows:
Assistant principal: Well, it's 2:00 now, and EOC's [the state tests] take 130 minutes, so we'll get out around 3:30.
Jason: No, we'll get out around 4:10.
Assistant principal: No, Mr. D., look at your watch. We'll get out at 3:30.
Jason: OK, I'm looking, and I don't see it. We're going to get out after 4.
Assitant principal: No, look. (Points to twelve on her watch, then points all the way around the circle back to 12) 100 minutes....(continues around the circle down to the 6)...30 minutes.
Jason: Actually, from here all the way around back to the same place is 60 minutes.
Principal: (gasps) Mr. D.'s right! We WON'T get out until after 4!

Of course, Mr. D. was not quite right. We actually didn't get out until almost 4:30. Yup. Between the hours of 8 and 4:30, there were only 5 minutes during which I did not have students in my room. Way to go, skillz.

***

And Bec didn't explain that the principal's tone (or Asst. or whatever) totally said it like they were explaining it to a small child... slowly, with precise enunciation. "100 minutes... 30 minutes..."

*sigh*

So like I said, New England or western Washington?

PS I wrote the last 90 questions of my final exam today- it's totally done! I am such a freaking rock star! Bam!

Shadows searching in the night

[Don't Stop Believin', Journey]

Ah, another lovely weekend (mostly) at the lake.

Bec's fam was here, so yesterday after I went to school to tutor in the wee hours of the day [read: 8:30. I am a big sissy.] I came back and swam for a few hours. It was mostly cloudy and overcast, but still warm, but the dreariness caused us to forego renting a boat. Then Bec's fam made us a delicious dinner and we sat around asking each other Trivial Pursuit questions. They're all so smart and I love smart people! I feel so snobby when I think that, but it's true so why deny it? I don't dislike people that aren't necessarily stimulated by the realm of academia, I just do enjoy those who are. Anyway, yesterday was pretty much the perfect afternoon/evening, if you ask me.

Today Bec and I made a little trip to RoRap and on the way we stopped and got *AWESOME* shirts that say, "What happens at La*ke Gasto*n stays at L*ake Gas*ton". Awesome, right? I know. We're rock stars.

After that we went to Wal-Mart, where I spent *cough sixty bucks cough* on my kids. I got all sorts of stuff to raffle off at our end of the year party that we'll have in each class on Wednesday. Just random 99 cent stuff, but I needed enough so that hopefully every kid will get something.

Now I am sitting at Starbucks and writing my final exam and talking to a good friend on IM. Josh and Riley just so happened to be here, so that's fun. Per the writing of the exam... I am only on question 6 of 100 so I suppose I should get back to that.

Happy Sunday!

It's got to be something better than in the middle

[One Headlight, The Wallflowers]

My party today was so fun! I love and adore my kids. Only 8 came but it was perfect. And it totally rained outside but that, too, was perfect. I enjoyed spending time with them and their parents and everyone said what a huge blessing it was- including the parents. One mom was so sincere and said, "You know, this really means a lot to them. Thank you." So that was lovely!

My window at school is now made of cardboard that blows in and out. But they took the frame to fit it for glass so that's happy. 'Nuff said there.

So today when I gave out directions to my house (only to the select few) the boy who I am pretty sure is in love with me *blush* noticed that it had my phone number (for those who might get lost... and since I am a huge tool and said to turn left onto Eat*on Ferry road instead of right, well... you get it.). So he said to a kid, "Look B.J.- I got Ms. T*K's number." He then proceeded to do the Kip-at-the-bowling-alley-move from Napoleon Dynamite and reverse pumped his fist and went, "Yessss." This makes me laugh and want to blush all at once. He's so funny. But it's also embarassing :) But as I have said before, Dave's a really good kid and I think he's mainly just impressed that I am smart and funny (he has high appreciation for sarcasm). Plus, my kids tell me I give off a lot of natural energy. Wow... this feels like the Boasting Show and so I'm just going to move on.

Tonight after my beloveds left, I cleaned the kitchen for over an hour and made milkshakes for the roomies and Shenay. Then Bec's family and her returned from dinner so I got to spend a little time with them. I love them! They are so adopted.

Another highlight from my life as of late- most of my cousins are on MySpace. This brings great joy to my heart, especially since they're all old enough now to interact with them on some level of normalcy. I am the oldest cousin (I'm talking on my mom's side, here, PS) though only by 7 hours and 22 minutes head of my cousin Tonya. Still- I win :) I am actually in a long line of "oldest" children- my mom was firstborn, then her dad was, then his mom was, etc. I think it goes back like 8-9 generations to the first Cant*erburys to come to America. I had relatives living in California in the late 1700's- how cool is that? They were true pioneers! And my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother was Black- I am a rock star. Clearly.

I enjoy talking about me entirely too much. The point I was making was that I've been able to reconnect with cousins and it's been great. One is graduating and heading off to college this year- NUTS! Another's in high school, and I remember when she was born. It was the day the Gulf War started- January 16, 1991. I am not sure if I remember her birthday because it's the day the war started or if I remember the day the war started because it's her birthday, but I remember both regardless. Anyway, it's cool to connect with my cousins because they're my family and I want to know them better!!

And on that note... it's time for bed :) Happy weekend!

I've just gotta get out of this prison cell; one day I'm gonna be free

[Somebody to Love, Queen]

Perhaps I shall make it Thursday tradition to have bullet points. I don't know if I've ever done bullet points on a Thursday before... but it just feels right.

• Today my wonderful school district blocked Gmail at school. I am SO upset. I understand blocking students from all of the random web-based e-mails, but as a teacher why can't I check my e-mail on my lunch break? This was the WORST part of my entire day... and what's coming next was puh-retty not awesome...
  
• So the same kid that steals from me all the time in fourth period broke my window. He won't ever sit down, and today he went to open the window- which they know they're not allowed to do- and it's this old crapper that came off it's tracks so then I thought it was just not perfectly in... but NOOOOOOO. During tutoring it came crashing down and shattered all over the corner of my room. Had maintenance come when I called and said it was broken (but not yet shattered) this wouldn't have happened, but what can you do?
• If I have time this weekend I'll put up a picture of the window. Because my life is awesome. I wish sarcasm had a color... I'd make that middle sentence in it.
  
• Something else obnoxious happened today but I can't even remember what it was.
• On an up note, I talked to the person who, over the last year, has become my best friend. It was nice to know that I have someone to call on these kinds of days. It was really a blessing though because I also kind of made his day because he's back home in Spokangeles and he's as lonely there as I often feel here. It was just a good feeling to know that we both bless each other. It's been a hard year because all of my best friends have found love and don't really have time for me anymore. And that's ok, because I am happy for them, but I can't lie and say it's easy to feel left behind. But the good news is that somehow a fun pal has become my best friend and it's a really good, healthy relationship. And something tells me that when we meet "the one" (we know we're not meant for one another in a romantic sense!) he won't quit having time for me. Or maybe he will, but he'll MAKE time for me. I know I will for him. But I will for all of my friends. I refuse to be one of those that falls off the face of the earth. Simply refuse.
  
• Tuesday will be one year since I moved across the country. Goodness gracious.
• I just remembered the other crappy part of my day- I was really looking forward to seeing some good friends from home who will be at Wake Forest this weekend... but no other teachers in my super-dedicated department are willing to tutor at the "E*OC - big end of cou*rse test- Jam Session" this Saturday morning, ergo, I got the heavy pressure and *get* to do it. So... that just sucks.
• On the happy side... season 1 of LOST came in the mail today.
  
• Tomorrow from 4-7 is a party for my beloved kids... only about ten or so, here at my house, to honor those who have an A and have an average of 80% (80 percent for you, Darla) on their weekly quizzes. That should be really fun. Just pray no one drowns or breaks the pool table :)
  
• I really need to spend some quality time in the Word.
  
• It's 87 degrees at 9:30 at night. What the heck?
• I'm going to bed.