Sometimes I really wish I did, though!
Wednesday
There I am, driving along, minding my own business and keeping a safe following distance from the car in front of me. Said car slams on the brakes. So do I. I had just enough time to look in the rear-view mirror and think, "Oh, shit."
No panic, no wild dramatics, just a simple, calmly stated, "Oh, shit."
Then the impact, which was, fortunately, very, very, very minor. It was actually just two small bumps. No airbag deployment, no seatbelt digging into my chest, nothing. Withing seconds I realized I was okay, and that Rosie was still running, so I turned her off and set the emergency flashers on. The two guys in the van behind me were okay, and the two kids in the car behind the van were okay. A very nice lady who witnessed the accident stopped and did her best to help out. I moved Rosie out of the road to a nearby parking lot and waited for the police to come.
The good news: Rosie the Protege sustained only the most minor of scratches on what proved to be a very sturdy back bumper.
The better news: No one was hurt.
But still, it shook me up.
Thursday
It started as the tiniest of tickles. "Well, damn, I'm getting a small cold." No problem, I'll just drink lots of water and hopefully it will blow over.
By the end of the day I wasn't feeling too bad, even though I had an anonymous parent call me to complain about how I'm not doing enough fundraising for her kid to go on a field trip (I wanted to scream at her but teachers must be diplomatic). Oh, and an irate email from a student (to my campus account, they don't know my personal email) about how "not everyone is rich." I'm sure it was her mother who called, but since Mama didn't have the cajones to tell me her name...
Anyway. Annoying, but not insurmountable.
I helped out at the Talent Show that evening, and was just starting to feel a little bit worse. I got home a little bit after 9:00, took some NyQuil, and went to bed. I had grand plans for Friday and the three-day weekend beyond.
Grand Plans
The plan was to work all day Friday and head up to Lincoln as soon as possible after school to avoid driving in the rain at dark. Today is Mom and Dad's 39th wedding anniversary, so Dad was going to take us all to a nice dinner and then to a John Stewart concert. Mom and Dad have been fans of John for years (he's a folk singer) and I've seen him once in concert, with them. He wrote some good stuff--including "Daydream Believer," which was made a huge hit by the Monkees later.
Anyhow, plans changed.
Friday
I woke up Friday morning feeling quite wretched. Then, in the shower, I coughed so hard I threw up (yeah, I know, too much information). As I sat there hunched over the drain, I briefly thought about calling in sick, but we have a policy at my school. You absolutely cannot take a personal necessity day at either end of a vacation or holiday weekend. If you take a sick day, they can ask you for a doctor's note to prove you were really sick.
So I thought, "Hell, it was only my gag reflex, so I'll just tough it out at school."
I got to school and had 4 different people (three of them mothers) tell me, "Go home!!"
*cough* *sniffle* "Okay." *cough* Didn't have to tell me twice.
My house secretary (a dear woman) found a sub to cover my classes and I met up with him in my classroom to throw together a last-minute plan for the day. I left school at about 8:45. Yesterday was an "even" day, meaning only periods 2,4 and 6 met (we have block scheduling).
By the end of 2nd period, as my advanced group was getting out of class, I was pulling into Mom and Dad's driveway. To say the least, Mom was surprised to see her bedraggled daughter on the doorstep (Dad was at work for a few hours) with cat carrier in hand--they weren't expecting me for hours and hours!
By the end of 4th period (start of lunchtime), I was curled up on the sofa under two very warm blankets, shivering like mad (never a good sign).
By the end of 6th period, I was feeling seriously rotten. Fever, headache, sore through, sneezes that would leave me coughing...Pure misery.
Today
I woke up at 3:30 this morning to use the loo and take some more meds. I woke up again at 6:30 to Millie howling incessantly and crawling all over the bed. I dozed on and off from then on, noticing that first Dad, and later Mom, came in to check on me (once a parent, always a parent!). Mom later told me that Millie came to her and wouldn't stop howling until Mom came to check on me. It's quite sweet that she was worried about me, even if all that racket kept me awake.
(And people think cats are dumb.)
I'm still pretty sick, but a combination of DayQuil, aspirin and plenty of liquids have me at least feeling somewhat human. Unfortunately, I don't feel well enough to go to the John Stewart concert with Mom and Dad, which is disappointing. I've been looking forward to going for a couple weeks now.
The upside is that now I'll be home to watch the Budweiser Shootout--a non-points race that is the traditional prelude to next weekend's season-opening Daytona 500. NASCAR's back after it's long winter's nap. Go Junior!!!
So now, after all this whining, I'll just leave off with...
Mom and Dad
Could a gal have better parents? Nope. First off, I show up sick and whiny on their doorstep. Then I'm not allowed to do anything but rest. Mom made me tea, heated up some soup, and made her famous chicken and dumplings for dinner at my request--even when, at one point, I wasn't sure I'd be able to eat them (I managed!).
Dad went out to get more NyQuil and DayQuil for me, and seriously, how cute is it that both of them peeked in my room this morning to check on me?
To top it all off, it's their anniversary and they've got their adult daughter loafing on the sofa coughing, sniffling and, in general, looking miserable. To top it all off, I brought my laundry with me because I didn't get around to doing it last weekend at my own place, so my sweaters and trousers are hanging all over one part of the house (I don't put them in the dryer). They don't complain. Dad even set up his special TV tray next to the sofa so I could set my tea and a box of tissue on it.
I am very blessed.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Monday, February 05, 2007
Don't Stop Me Now
It probably doesn't say much for my musical tastes, but you know...I just have to say that "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen has to be one of my favorite songs ever.
I'm sorry, but any song with the line "I'm a sex machine ready to reload/like an atom bomb about to whoa, oh, oh explode" is an instant classic in my book. Add the killer guitar and a fast pace, and you've got one fun song. I have fabulous memories of this song--like dancing like a maniac to it in England with a bunch of people who were very important to me.
So forgive me, music snobs, but I'm just going to throw it out there: I love this song.
That is all.
I'm sorry, but any song with the line "I'm a sex machine ready to reload/like an atom bomb about to whoa, oh, oh explode" is an instant classic in my book. Add the killer guitar and a fast pace, and you've got one fun song. I have fabulous memories of this song--like dancing like a maniac to it in England with a bunch of people who were very important to me.
So forgive me, music snobs, but I'm just going to throw it out there: I love this song.
That is all.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Quite Possibly...
...one of the handsomest men ever. And the voice! The voice!
That is all I have to say.
That is all I have to say.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Potty For Potter
Well, I'm sure this is old news by now, but I'm still excited. The last book of the Harry Potter series will be released on July 21, 2007. I'm both thrilled (Yay! We finally get to see how it ends!) and sad (*sigh*...it's ending?). Mostly thrilled. I know I'll continue to re-read these wonderful books for many years. And maybe J.K. Rowling will write more books--not Harry Potter-related, of course, but she's got such a talent.
Besides, once the books are done, we'll still have three more movies to see.
Besides, once the books are done, we'll still have three more movies to see.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Rest In Peace, Magnificent Horse
Barbaro was euthanized today, after an eight-month battle that left his fans (like Mom and I) with high hopes. Even after a setback this weekend, I didn't really think it would come to this. He was such a fighter.
Already, writers all over the country are asking if it was worth it to spend so much money on one horse with such a devestating injury. I have to wonder where their hearts are. Would they give up on a child diagnosed with serious lukemia? Would they give up on an otherwise-healthy adult with a serious illness? Barbaro's owners and veterinarians always knew that if the pain got to be too much for Barbaro, they would make the most difficult decision. It came to that today, sadly. But until today there has always been hope for him...and hope is worth every penny.
Now Barbaro is gone, but he won't be forgotten. His legacy will not live on in colts because he did not live to sire any. His full brothers may never touch the magic he had--but they give us something to be excited about, as does his incredible Kentucky Derby run.
Rest in peace, Barbaro. We'll miss you.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Someone Has To Bring Home The Tuna...
That's what I tell Millie most mornings as I hurry out the door to work.
(And yes, I talk to my cat. Who doesn't?)
I have some wierd sort of guilt at leaving her home by herself all day. It's just that she gives me those sad eyes and meows piteously when she sees me going for my coat and purse. Or she hides under the bed. I like to imagine the conversation we would have if she spoke English or I spoke Meow:
"Mah-ommmmm!!! You always leave!!"
"Millie, sweetie, I have to work."
"Every day?"
"Almost. Look, Saturday, I'm all yours."
"No you're not. You'll be cleaning and grocery shopping."
"Well, at least I won't be gone all day."
"I don't want you to go!! I wanna cuddle!!"
"I want to stay and cuddle with you, Millikins. And drink tea and read my book. But someone has to bring home the tuna, and you don't have a social security number."
We have this conversation pretty much every morning, and more and more, I'm feeling the guilt of leaving my very social little girl alone while I am gone. More and more it is making me consider getting her a kitten. Yikes.
Of course, every day, I get home and she's all over me. While I hang up my coat and change from work clothes to my "comfies," she follows me around the apartment, making chirping noises and head-butting me at every possible opportunity. Then we have to have our little "toot," which finds Millie tearing around the apartment, getting into things, digging her claws into the comforter on my bed...you get the picture. It's like, "Mom's home! Par-tay!!!"
Anyway, I bring all of this up in my blog because yesterday I got home and found a nice little mess, courtesy of one Millennium Joy. Imagine coming home from work and a Target run in dire need of the loo...to find that unravelling the toilet paper is going to be a chore:
Yep, someone has to bring home the tuna, and the Feline Greenies...and more toilet paper.
(And yes, I talk to my cat. Who doesn't?)
I have some wierd sort of guilt at leaving her home by herself all day. It's just that she gives me those sad eyes and meows piteously when she sees me going for my coat and purse. Or she hides under the bed. I like to imagine the conversation we would have if she spoke English or I spoke Meow:
"Mah-ommmmm!!! You always leave!!"
"Millie, sweetie, I have to work."
"Every day?"
"Almost. Look, Saturday, I'm all yours."
"No you're not. You'll be cleaning and grocery shopping."
"Well, at least I won't be gone all day."
"I don't want you to go!! I wanna cuddle!!"
"I want to stay and cuddle with you, Millikins. And drink tea and read my book. But someone has to bring home the tuna, and you don't have a social security number."
We have this conversation pretty much every morning, and more and more, I'm feeling the guilt of leaving my very social little girl alone while I am gone. More and more it is making me consider getting her a kitten. Yikes.
Of course, every day, I get home and she's all over me. While I hang up my coat and change from work clothes to my "comfies," she follows me around the apartment, making chirping noises and head-butting me at every possible opportunity. Then we have to have our little "toot," which finds Millie tearing around the apartment, getting into things, digging her claws into the comforter on my bed...you get the picture. It's like, "Mom's home! Par-tay!!!"
Anyway, I bring all of this up in my blog because yesterday I got home and found a nice little mess, courtesy of one Millennium Joy. Imagine coming home from work and a Target run in dire need of the loo...to find that unravelling the toilet paper is going to be a chore:
Yep, someone has to bring home the tuna, and the Feline Greenies...and more toilet paper.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Oh, Poo
I have not broken my resolution! I haven't, I haven't! I did intend to update the LPB more often, and...I will. Just not in January, apparently. : P
There have been a few "Oh, Poo!" moments this week, most of them bordering on the hysterically funny rather than being stressful. Sound intriguing? You have no idea. Let's get started, shall we?
The Horoscope
For a while now--a few years, actually--I've been having my horoscope emailed to me from MSN. It's free, and it's "personalized" (they put "Megan" in there once or twice so it sounds like some astrologist looked up my birthdate and time and wrote a personalized horoscope). I don't take a lot of stock in it--how many times has it told me I'm going to find glorious romance only to find myself instead being verbally abused by my students or some such thing?
But it is fun to read each morning, and every once in a while I get some opportunity for introspection from it. Or a good laugh.
Wednesday wasn't a bad day at work by any means, but I did find myself a teensy bit annoyed and irritated by my kids. I just wasn't in the mood for the silliness, and after school, I had a large group of kids in my room hanging out. Normally I don't mind this at all but I had massive amounts of stuff to get done and just wanted five minutes of peace and quiet. I announced to the room as a whole, "'Kay, guys, I have to go next door to help with Talent Show auditions--I have to kick you all out!" I said it at high enough volume to be heard, and with a smile. I was roundly ignored.
Hey, you're no one until you've been ignored by a teenager, but Wednesday was not the day for this.
"HELLO!! I HAVE TO LEAVE!! LET'S GO!!!!!"
They got the message this time and eeeevvvverrrr-so-slowly sauntered out of the room, continuing their conversations and flirting.
As I said, most of the time this wouldn't bother me, but I was feeling mildly irritated to begin with.
Thursday morning I woke up, and as usual, checked my email while eating breakfast and waiting for my hair to dry. My horoscope was there, as usual, so I opened it up. Here's what I found:
Stress, nerve strain, and overwork could have you feeling a bit under the weather today, Megan. You might decide to run away somewhere - and this just might be what you need right now.
Sounds nice, I thought to myself. Except that it's more of a pain in the butt to call in sick than it is to just go in and deal with them. I read on.
If you can't, try to concentrate on solitary activities, as being with others might not be a good idea right now. Your patience could well be rather thin. In the evening: Get out and enjoy yourself. You need it!
My first reaction was to start preparing sub plans for the day and to stay hidden in my apartment until Friday. Then I started to laugh. I nearly fell off my chair laughing. In the three-plus years I've been having my horoscope emailed to me, it has never been this accurate.
As it turns out, my day went well enough. The kids were goosey and a little bit annoying, but nothing I can't handle. I did go out in the evening, to a gathering of teachers at a local restaurant. I told my horoscope story to everyone and the whole table agreed it was a classic story.
Oh, Poo...
So yesterday at lunch, the two drama teachers, the band teacher and I were sitting there chatting in that way that four performing arts teachers will--dramatic, lots of hand gestures and ever-increasing volume. Then one of the drama teachers, T, mentions finding poo (he used a different term for "poo" but this blog is PG). The other drama teacher, P, and L, the band teacher, started to laugh. I wasn't in on the joke. T looks at me and says, "I haven't told you this one?!?"
"Nope...do share."
"I was going through the prop room a few days ago and I found [poo] in a corner."
I think I gasped with horror, then said, "Human?!?"
"Yes. Human."
"Oh my God!!"
"And the worst part is that whoever did it used an old costume to wipe."
By this time my jaw is hanging open and I'm making half-choking, half-laughing sounds (I have an annoying tendency to laugh at inappropriate times--not a good quality for a teacher).
P, who is also new to the school this year, turns to me with a sly smile and very, very dryly wisecracks, "Makes our problems here seem more manageable, doesn't it?"
I couldn't contain it. I was laughing so hard I had tears. It was a good few minutes before I could take another bite of my sandwich, for fear of choking.
I may have students questioning my credentials and ability to teach, but I'm 98% sure that none of them would dream of dropping trou in my classroom and leaving a little poo behind.
Other Ramblings
This afternoon I have an appointment at a local spa for the Pamper Me package. It includes a hot-stone facial, a pedicure, and a full-body massage. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now, and I'm finally getting to it. After that I'm going to dinner with some colleagues and then I will come home and prepare to enjoy a lazy Sunday.
Finals are this week, and I can hardly believe that I'm almost halfway through my first year at this job. Good grief.
Other than that, and a rather hilarious week, things are going pretty well. I'm fortunate to have a sense of humor...however sophomoric it is at times. : )
Cheers,
Meg
There have been a few "Oh, Poo!" moments this week, most of them bordering on the hysterically funny rather than being stressful. Sound intriguing? You have no idea. Let's get started, shall we?
The Horoscope
For a while now--a few years, actually--I've been having my horoscope emailed to me from MSN. It's free, and it's "personalized" (they put "Megan" in there once or twice so it sounds like some astrologist looked up my birthdate and time and wrote a personalized horoscope). I don't take a lot of stock in it--how many times has it told me I'm going to find glorious romance only to find myself instead being verbally abused by my students or some such thing?
But it is fun to read each morning, and every once in a while I get some opportunity for introspection from it. Or a good laugh.
Wednesday wasn't a bad day at work by any means, but I did find myself a teensy bit annoyed and irritated by my kids. I just wasn't in the mood for the silliness, and after school, I had a large group of kids in my room hanging out. Normally I don't mind this at all but I had massive amounts of stuff to get done and just wanted five minutes of peace and quiet. I announced to the room as a whole, "'Kay, guys, I have to go next door to help with Talent Show auditions--I have to kick you all out!" I said it at high enough volume to be heard, and with a smile. I was roundly ignored.
Hey, you're no one until you've been ignored by a teenager, but Wednesday was not the day for this.
"HELLO!! I HAVE TO LEAVE!! LET'S GO!!!!!"
They got the message this time and eeeevvvverrrr-so-slowly sauntered out of the room, continuing their conversations and flirting.
As I said, most of the time this wouldn't bother me, but I was feeling mildly irritated to begin with.
Thursday morning I woke up, and as usual, checked my email while eating breakfast and waiting for my hair to dry. My horoscope was there, as usual, so I opened it up. Here's what I found:
Stress, nerve strain, and overwork could have you feeling a bit under the weather today, Megan. You might decide to run away somewhere - and this just might be what you need right now.
Sounds nice, I thought to myself. Except that it's more of a pain in the butt to call in sick than it is to just go in and deal with them. I read on.
If you can't, try to concentrate on solitary activities, as being with others might not be a good idea right now. Your patience could well be rather thin. In the evening: Get out and enjoy yourself. You need it!
My first reaction was to start preparing sub plans for the day and to stay hidden in my apartment until Friday. Then I started to laugh. I nearly fell off my chair laughing. In the three-plus years I've been having my horoscope emailed to me, it has never been this accurate.
As it turns out, my day went well enough. The kids were goosey and a little bit annoying, but nothing I can't handle. I did go out in the evening, to a gathering of teachers at a local restaurant. I told my horoscope story to everyone and the whole table agreed it was a classic story.
Oh, Poo...
So yesterday at lunch, the two drama teachers, the band teacher and I were sitting there chatting in that way that four performing arts teachers will--dramatic, lots of hand gestures and ever-increasing volume. Then one of the drama teachers, T, mentions finding poo (he used a different term for "poo" but this blog is PG). The other drama teacher, P, and L, the band teacher, started to laugh. I wasn't in on the joke. T looks at me and says, "I haven't told you this one?!?"
"Nope...do share."
"I was going through the prop room a few days ago and I found [poo] in a corner."
I think I gasped with horror, then said, "Human?!?"
"Yes. Human."
"Oh my God!!"
"And the worst part is that whoever did it used an old costume to wipe."
By this time my jaw is hanging open and I'm making half-choking, half-laughing sounds (I have an annoying tendency to laugh at inappropriate times--not a good quality for a teacher).
P, who is also new to the school this year, turns to me with a sly smile and very, very dryly wisecracks, "Makes our problems here seem more manageable, doesn't it?"
I couldn't contain it. I was laughing so hard I had tears. It was a good few minutes before I could take another bite of my sandwich, for fear of choking.
I may have students questioning my credentials and ability to teach, but I'm 98% sure that none of them would dream of dropping trou in my classroom and leaving a little poo behind.
Other Ramblings
This afternoon I have an appointment at a local spa for the Pamper Me package. It includes a hot-stone facial, a pedicure, and a full-body massage. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now, and I'm finally getting to it. After that I'm going to dinner with some colleagues and then I will come home and prepare to enjoy a lazy Sunday.
Finals are this week, and I can hardly believe that I'm almost halfway through my first year at this job. Good grief.
Other than that, and a rather hilarious week, things are going pretty well. I'm fortunate to have a sense of humor...however sophomoric it is at times. : )
Cheers,
Meg
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Ramblings
So, it turns out I'm making nearly $6,000 more a year than I thought I was. Ha! I thought I was at step one on the pay scale, but I'm at step four--a difference of, as I mentioned, nearly $6,000. It only took me 4 paychecks to figure this out.
I don't deserve it, though, because apparently, I'm incompetent. : P
I passed out a new song yesterday to one of my top groups and one of the girls (who has a history of being snotty with me) asked, "Are you sure you can teach this to us?"
I just smiled and said, "Yes, I can teach this," before walking away and laughing to myself. I guess I haven't impressed her yet...
But enough about the kidlets!
To celebrate the fact that I'm making more money than I thought, I've booked an appointment at a local spa, owned by another students' mother. I'm getting the "Pamper Me" package, which includes a hot stone facial, full-body massage and a pedicure. Sounds glorious, doesn't it? I'm going next weekend (the 20th) and will report all about it afterwards. I can't wait. I fully expect to leave the salon a new woman.
A little pampering will go a long way...especially as I've had a cold this week. A really gross one, with lots of flem and snot and such. Yeah, thanks for sharing. All I can say is thank God for DayQuil and NyQuil. While teaching that very hard new song to my kids yesterday, I could barely sing the soprano part, which is normally not difficult for me. I just croaked my way through it like a nasally little frog. Even in speaking, I sound strange.
I'm bad enough that I came close to calling in sick today...but I muddled through. It's almost easier to go in feeling rough than it is to miss a day--substitute lesson plans, etc. I toughed it out. Fortunately I had my prep today, and also Show Choir. They're working choreography, which is mostly student-led, so I could just sit and not have to talk much. We had meetings after school (it was an early release day, we got out at 2:00 instead of 3:00) and the VAPA meeting (that's Visual And Performing Arts) didn't go long because we didn't have much to talk about.
Then--miracle of miracles!!--I left school at 3:00. I actually left school before 4:00. Beautiful! Brilliant! Fabulous!!
And that's my life. We're back in the saddle again. The students were hyper on Monday, the teachers were dragging. We all voted for one more week of break, but no one listened. : P
At least we get Monday off. : )
I don't deserve it, though, because apparently, I'm incompetent. : P
I passed out a new song yesterday to one of my top groups and one of the girls (who has a history of being snotty with me) asked, "Are you sure you can teach this to us?"
I just smiled and said, "Yes, I can teach this," before walking away and laughing to myself. I guess I haven't impressed her yet...
But enough about the kidlets!
To celebrate the fact that I'm making more money than I thought, I've booked an appointment at a local spa, owned by another students' mother. I'm getting the "Pamper Me" package, which includes a hot stone facial, full-body massage and a pedicure. Sounds glorious, doesn't it? I'm going next weekend (the 20th) and will report all about it afterwards. I can't wait. I fully expect to leave the salon a new woman.
A little pampering will go a long way...especially as I've had a cold this week. A really gross one, with lots of flem and snot and such. Yeah, thanks for sharing. All I can say is thank God for DayQuil and NyQuil. While teaching that very hard new song to my kids yesterday, I could barely sing the soprano part, which is normally not difficult for me. I just croaked my way through it like a nasally little frog. Even in speaking, I sound strange.
I'm bad enough that I came close to calling in sick today...but I muddled through. It's almost easier to go in feeling rough than it is to miss a day--substitute lesson plans, etc. I toughed it out. Fortunately I had my prep today, and also Show Choir. They're working choreography, which is mostly student-led, so I could just sit and not have to talk much. We had meetings after school (it was an early release day, we got out at 2:00 instead of 3:00) and the VAPA meeting (that's Visual And Performing Arts) didn't go long because we didn't have much to talk about.
Then--miracle of miracles!!--I left school at 3:00. I actually left school before 4:00. Beautiful! Brilliant! Fabulous!!
And that's my life. We're back in the saddle again. The students were hyper on Monday, the teachers were dragging. We all voted for one more week of break, but no one listened. : P
At least we get Monday off. : )
Saturday, January 06, 2007
I Don't Get It
Why, why, WHY did the manufacturers of the 8-quart stock pot I bought the other day stick a massive label on the side--the kid of label that takes about 3 hours and some major damage to your fingernails to remove?
So maddening!
It's like the CDs and DVDs that come with that horrible sticky crap sealing them shut. Gah! I finally learned a new trick for CDs--open them from the bottom, and the label will peel itself off, but before I learned that, I shredded my nails--a lot.
Of course, now it's moot, because I get most of my music on iTunes, anyway. No sticky labels there! But I still deal with DVDs.
Anyway, even after a few hours of soaking the labelled side of the new stock pot in water, I couldn't get that label off. Ridiculous! I guess I'll just let time do it, because I certainly don't have the patience to scratch it all off myself.
Gah!
So maddening!
It's like the CDs and DVDs that come with that horrible sticky crap sealing them shut. Gah! I finally learned a new trick for CDs--open them from the bottom, and the label will peel itself off, but before I learned that, I shredded my nails--a lot.
Of course, now it's moot, because I get most of my music on iTunes, anyway. No sticky labels there! But I still deal with DVDs.
Anyway, even after a few hours of soaking the labelled side of the new stock pot in water, I couldn't get that label off. Ridiculous! I guess I'll just let time do it, because I certainly don't have the patience to scratch it all off myself.
Gah!
Friday, January 05, 2007
Resolutions
I still make New Year's Resolutions. I try, each year, to make them attainable, so sometimes it takes me a few days after the first of January to finalize the list. Here they are, in no particular order, for 2007:
Healthier Lifestyle!
I have no set goal for weight loss, or any expectation that I'll run a marathon or anything like that. That's not feasable for me. But I do expect that I can get back on the healthy eating wagon and manage to visit the (FREE) gym my apartment complex offers a few times each week.
Pamper Myself More
I'm going to be better about getting my hair done before the ends turn to straw, and before the dark roots are a mile long. I'm going to take better care of my nails and I'm going to indulge in my first-ever whole-body massage by a professional. Sooner rather than later!
Use Snail Mail
I am going to be better about sending little notes and cards to my friends and family. Just because I'm busy at work doesn't mean I can't send off a quick greeting from time to time! It's so much nicer than email, too. I'm also going to sing up at AdoptaPlatoon again, and get a couple of pen pals to send cards and letters to. It's a great cause, and brings me great joy, so why not?
Be A Joiner
Join what? For starters, the local Educator's Band. My colleague is a member, and I'm going to join this semester and play percussion. Good times! I'm also looking around for a place to sing.
And finally...
Update the LPB More Often!
'Nuff said.
Healthier Lifestyle!
I have no set goal for weight loss, or any expectation that I'll run a marathon or anything like that. That's not feasable for me. But I do expect that I can get back on the healthy eating wagon and manage to visit the (FREE) gym my apartment complex offers a few times each week.
Pamper Myself More
I'm going to be better about getting my hair done before the ends turn to straw, and before the dark roots are a mile long. I'm going to take better care of my nails and I'm going to indulge in my first-ever whole-body massage by a professional. Sooner rather than later!
Use Snail Mail
I am going to be better about sending little notes and cards to my friends and family. Just because I'm busy at work doesn't mean I can't send off a quick greeting from time to time! It's so much nicer than email, too. I'm also going to sing up at AdoptaPlatoon again, and get a couple of pen pals to send cards and letters to. It's a great cause, and brings me great joy, so why not?
Be A Joiner
Join what? For starters, the local Educator's Band. My colleague is a member, and I'm going to join this semester and play percussion. Good times! I'm also looking around for a place to sing.
And finally...
Update the LPB More Often!
'Nuff said.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
How Rich Are You?
Imagine my surprise to learn, that making a little over $39,000 a year (before my dear Uncle Sam gets his hands on my check, that is), I'm still in the top 3.46% of world incomes. Fascinating.
I am, apparently, the 207,826,087 richest person on the planet. In other words, only 207,826,087 people are richer than I.
Also, I'm apparently one of the savvier travellers. There are those who should not be allowed to leave their homes.
What Would You Do?
This hit the news headlines today, a story about a family near Seattle who have taken drastic measures to limit the growth and maturation of their severely disabled little girl. The link is to a blog entry by her parents, explaining their reasons for what they did.
My opinion? I think they did what was best--for this particular child. I do think, however, that doctors and ethics committees need to be careful before approving this sort of treatment for just any disabled child. I can't begin to imagine the everyday stresses and heartaches that come with raising a child who will never develop mentally. I hope I never have to walk in those shoes. Therefore, I refuse to judge these parents, except to offer them huge kudos for the love and devotion they are giving to their children.
Everyday Heroes
...They still exsist. Even in New York City.
And that's it for today. Lazy Girl needs to shower.
Cheers,
Meg
I am, apparently, the 207,826,087 richest person on the planet. In other words, only 207,826,087 people are richer than I.
Also, I'm apparently one of the savvier travellers. There are those who should not be allowed to leave their homes.
What Would You Do?
This hit the news headlines today, a story about a family near Seattle who have taken drastic measures to limit the growth and maturation of their severely disabled little girl. The link is to a blog entry by her parents, explaining their reasons for what they did.
My opinion? I think they did what was best--for this particular child. I do think, however, that doctors and ethics committees need to be careful before approving this sort of treatment for just any disabled child. I can't begin to imagine the everyday stresses and heartaches that come with raising a child who will never develop mentally. I hope I never have to walk in those shoes. Therefore, I refuse to judge these parents, except to offer them huge kudos for the love and devotion they are giving to their children.
Everyday Heroes
...They still exsist. Even in New York City.
And that's it for today. Lazy Girl needs to shower.
Cheers,
Meg
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Home Again, Home Again
Well, I'm back in Antioch...I wish I had about one more week to laze around at Mom and Dad's, then another week to come back here and clean, but I don't, so here I am. Today and tomorrow I will busy myself by taking all my Christmas stuff down and cleaning this poor, neglected pigsty. I think I got one good, thorough cleaning done in this place in December.
Then I'll have Thursday and Friday to relax and maybe make a nice day trip somewhere. Monday it's back to the grind.
Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's celebration, and I'll catch up with you all soon.
Cheers,
Meg
Then I'll have Thursday and Friday to relax and maybe make a nice day trip somewhere. Monday it's back to the grind.
Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's celebration, and I'll catch up with you all soon.
Cheers,
Meg
Saturday, December 30, 2006
2006
Wow...another year flies by. Blink and you'll miss it. It seems like just moments ago I was reflecting on the wild, crazy and absolutely true year of 2005, and yet, here I am, watching 2006 close.
To say this year has been like the title of my LPB is an understatement, to say the least. Let's look back, shall we?
January
2006 dawned with me in a bar called Horse and Cow in Bremerton, Washington, surrounded by Navy guys. Not a bad way to start off a new year! It also found me still employed by Mervyn's and teaching one period a day of 6th grade choir.
The Puget Sound region hit 25 straight days with rainy weather, and my family lost a dear friend, our grumpy old tortoiseshell, Maggie. I cheered for the Seattle Seahawks as they earned a spot in the Super Bowl, and also learned--the hard way--that my students are growing up much faster than my own generation did.
February
Ahh, the month of hearts and flowers. Presidental holidays. Love is in the air--and so are the wind storms.
On Saturday, February 4th, a massive wind storm ripped through the Puget Sound, leaving thousands of people without power...some of us for three days. Being powerless for such a long time was a huge upset to all of us--and it was during this adventure that Mom and Dad told me they wanted to return to California.
To say I was shocked doesn't do my reaction any justice whatsoever. I was coming off of a few huge upheavals in my life--going to England, Mom and Dad leaving California, the hugely stressful decision to leave England and set up a life in Washington--and the thought of packing everything up again and heading back to California did not appeal. At all.
But this train was rolling, and it wasn't going to stop for me, so I had a decision to make--and we all know which state won.
March
March was pretty calm, though Mom and Dad started readying the house for selling, and I was busy searching for jobs in both Seattle and California. The whole "move back to California" thing still did not appeal, I have to say. I did manage to have some fun, taking a long day trip to Seattle with my ever-present digital camera, taking lots of pictures.
April
April started off in the most lovely way: A three-day trip to our Northern neighbors in Canada. Victoria, to be exact.
Victoria is lovely--part Miniature London, part Far West Trading Post. The Canadians are a friendly bunch, and Victoria itself is clean, well-tended and blessed with gorgeous weather in a part of the world known for gray skies and rain.
In April I found time to justify some of my many quirks, and I survived a lengthy lock-down with 40-something sixth grade students.
Mom and Dad found a new home in Lincoln, California, and I started to resign myself to the fact that I would probably end up back in CA, myself.
May
The preparations for moving begain in earnest, and a date was set for mid-June. May was a busy month; a time for me to explore as much of the Puget Sound as possible before leaving it, and to desperately seek a new job.
Mom and I cheered like mad for the glorious Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby, only to be reduced to tears as he pulled up, seriously injured, in the Preakness.
We had a brief "power struggle" with Puget Power, leaving us really ready to go back to Pacific Gas and Electric in California, and also (in the same link above), the official announcement: I had been offered a job teaching high school choir in Antioch, CA.
To celebrate, I started catching up to technology, and revelled in how cute my brand-new iPod is.
June
Ahh, a truly adventurous month, June.
There were suitcases in my bathroom, adventures with root beer, and the realization that you can take the girl out of California, but you can't take the California (driver) out of the girl.
Heather showed ultimate friendship and loyalty by volunteering to spend 15 hours, and 700+ miles of Interstate 5 with me in a small Mazda. Of course, she got some shopping time in Seattle out of the deal.
July
In July, I finally realized the full impact of having a full-time job. I get to have my own place again!! Hooray!!
Before I could find an apartment, however, I had to come to terms with Tom Cruise, and I am pleased to report that while these days I still find him pretty much repulsive, he did not win--he did not ruin Top Gun for me!
After celebrating the birthday of my own country, I commemorated a sad first anniversary of my adopted country--the anniversary of the London Tube Bombings. I also found and signed up for a lovely little apartment in Antioch, and excitedly began readying myself for my new home--the key word being "my."
August
In my mind, I sort of divide 2006 into different phases, all of which feel like completely different eras of my life, instead of small chunks of the same calendar year. January through May revolved around life in one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of the country, and maybe the world, the Puget Sound. June and July were a brief adventure complete with long drives, hot days, and utter laziness.
August, then, was a beginning. For the first time since college, I once again had my own place, and I looked forward to a full-time job and the future looked bright.
I started off the month by settling into my new home, and making it my own (even dealing, on my own, with ants).
On the 12th I turned 28, and skipped my 10-year high school reunion.
Then, of course, I started my new job, and the LPB has suffered ever since!
September, October, November, December
In September I met my upstairs neighbor who happens to be a colleague, caught a cricket in my washing machine, and vacuumed a piano. I met the first day of school head-on and lived to tell about it.
October found me finally getting some time with Heather and Summer, and also making a day trip to Santa Cruz to cheer for my drum line kids. I also made it through my first big fund-raising event of the year, much to my ever-lasting relief.
November found me delighting in the arrival of Autumn (finally! It's always so late in California!) and cheering like mad for the high school football team as we made the playoffs...and lost.
December, of course, has been mad--between carol gigs and my concert, I barely had time to do the fun stuff, like my Christmas cards. But somehow I managed to stay on top of everything. My progress report grades were in on time, my cards got mailed with time to spare (even my English recipients got them in time!) and the only thing I ended up neglecting was to mail Christmas gifts to my brother's family in Idaho. Fortunately, they were understanding.
And So...
Here I am, three hours shy of 2007, reflecting on what a Wild and Absolutely True year it has been. One year ago, I thought I would be making my life and career in Washington, and only returning to California to visit friends, and yet, here I am, once again a California Girl. I still miss the wild beauty of the Puget Sound, and yes, even the cold, rainy weather. But mostly, I'm happy with where my life is. I have a great little apartment and a good job...even with the stresses and challenges it presents. My family and friends are near enough that I can see them from time to time without, say, a 14-hour drive along Interstate 5 or a trans-Atlantic flight. I finally have a little bit of savings put away, and I can afford things like servicing for my car without help from Mom and Dad.
Yes, life is good, and I'm optimistic about 2007. I'm sure it will bring all the Wild and Absolutely True Adventures I can ever hope for.
Bring it on...
And a very Happy New Year to all of you, dear friends. May 2007 be your best year yet.
Cheers,
Meg
To say this year has been like the title of my LPB is an understatement, to say the least. Let's look back, shall we?
January
2006 dawned with me in a bar called Horse and Cow in Bremerton, Washington, surrounded by Navy guys. Not a bad way to start off a new year! It also found me still employed by Mervyn's and teaching one period a day of 6th grade choir.
The Puget Sound region hit 25 straight days with rainy weather, and my family lost a dear friend, our grumpy old tortoiseshell, Maggie. I cheered for the Seattle Seahawks as they earned a spot in the Super Bowl, and also learned--the hard way--that my students are growing up much faster than my own generation did.
February
Ahh, the month of hearts and flowers. Presidental holidays. Love is in the air--and so are the wind storms.
On Saturday, February 4th, a massive wind storm ripped through the Puget Sound, leaving thousands of people without power...some of us for three days. Being powerless for such a long time was a huge upset to all of us--and it was during this adventure that Mom and Dad told me they wanted to return to California.
To say I was shocked doesn't do my reaction any justice whatsoever. I was coming off of a few huge upheavals in my life--going to England, Mom and Dad leaving California, the hugely stressful decision to leave England and set up a life in Washington--and the thought of packing everything up again and heading back to California did not appeal. At all.
But this train was rolling, and it wasn't going to stop for me, so I had a decision to make--and we all know which state won.
March
March was pretty calm, though Mom and Dad started readying the house for selling, and I was busy searching for jobs in both Seattle and California. The whole "move back to California" thing still did not appeal, I have to say. I did manage to have some fun, taking a long day trip to Seattle with my ever-present digital camera, taking lots of pictures.
April
April started off in the most lovely way: A three-day trip to our Northern neighbors in Canada. Victoria, to be exact.
Victoria is lovely--part Miniature London, part Far West Trading Post. The Canadians are a friendly bunch, and Victoria itself is clean, well-tended and blessed with gorgeous weather in a part of the world known for gray skies and rain.
In April I found time to justify some of my many quirks, and I survived a lengthy lock-down with 40-something sixth grade students.
Mom and Dad found a new home in Lincoln, California, and I started to resign myself to the fact that I would probably end up back in CA, myself.
May
The preparations for moving begain in earnest, and a date was set for mid-June. May was a busy month; a time for me to explore as much of the Puget Sound as possible before leaving it, and to desperately seek a new job.
Mom and I cheered like mad for the glorious Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby, only to be reduced to tears as he pulled up, seriously injured, in the Preakness.
We had a brief "power struggle" with Puget Power, leaving us really ready to go back to Pacific Gas and Electric in California, and also (in the same link above), the official announcement: I had been offered a job teaching high school choir in Antioch, CA.
To celebrate, I started catching up to technology, and revelled in how cute my brand-new iPod is.
June
Ahh, a truly adventurous month, June.
There were suitcases in my bathroom, adventures with root beer, and the realization that you can take the girl out of California, but you can't take the California (driver) out of the girl.
Heather showed ultimate friendship and loyalty by volunteering to spend 15 hours, and 700+ miles of Interstate 5 with me in a small Mazda. Of course, she got some shopping time in Seattle out of the deal.
July
In July, I finally realized the full impact of having a full-time job. I get to have my own place again!! Hooray!!
Before I could find an apartment, however, I had to come to terms with Tom Cruise, and I am pleased to report that while these days I still find him pretty much repulsive, he did not win--he did not ruin Top Gun for me!
After celebrating the birthday of my own country, I commemorated a sad first anniversary of my adopted country--the anniversary of the London Tube Bombings. I also found and signed up for a lovely little apartment in Antioch, and excitedly began readying myself for my new home--the key word being "my."
August
In my mind, I sort of divide 2006 into different phases, all of which feel like completely different eras of my life, instead of small chunks of the same calendar year. January through May revolved around life in one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of the country, and maybe the world, the Puget Sound. June and July were a brief adventure complete with long drives, hot days, and utter laziness.
August, then, was a beginning. For the first time since college, I once again had my own place, and I looked forward to a full-time job and the future looked bright.
I started off the month by settling into my new home, and making it my own (even dealing, on my own, with ants).
On the 12th I turned 28, and skipped my 10-year high school reunion.
Then, of course, I started my new job, and the LPB has suffered ever since!
September, October, November, December
In September I met my upstairs neighbor who happens to be a colleague, caught a cricket in my washing machine, and vacuumed a piano. I met the first day of school head-on and lived to tell about it.
October found me finally getting some time with Heather and Summer, and also making a day trip to Santa Cruz to cheer for my drum line kids. I also made it through my first big fund-raising event of the year, much to my ever-lasting relief.
November found me delighting in the arrival of Autumn (finally! It's always so late in California!) and cheering like mad for the high school football team as we made the playoffs...and lost.
December, of course, has been mad--between carol gigs and my concert, I barely had time to do the fun stuff, like my Christmas cards. But somehow I managed to stay on top of everything. My progress report grades were in on time, my cards got mailed with time to spare (even my English recipients got them in time!) and the only thing I ended up neglecting was to mail Christmas gifts to my brother's family in Idaho. Fortunately, they were understanding.
And So...
Here I am, three hours shy of 2007, reflecting on what a Wild and Absolutely True year it has been. One year ago, I thought I would be making my life and career in Washington, and only returning to California to visit friends, and yet, here I am, once again a California Girl. I still miss the wild beauty of the Puget Sound, and yes, even the cold, rainy weather. But mostly, I'm happy with where my life is. I have a great little apartment and a good job...even with the stresses and challenges it presents. My family and friends are near enough that I can see them from time to time without, say, a 14-hour drive along Interstate 5 or a trans-Atlantic flight. I finally have a little bit of savings put away, and I can afford things like servicing for my car without help from Mom and Dad.
Yes, life is good, and I'm optimistic about 2007. I'm sure it will bring all the Wild and Absolutely True Adventures I can ever hope for.
Bring it on...
And a very Happy New Year to all of you, dear friends. May 2007 be your best year yet.
Cheers,
Meg
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Gah! Finally!
Okay...so I'm really, really bad about updating. Not that anyone really reads this anymore because really, anything Wild and Absolutely True about my new job can't go in this blog because I worry about who might end up reading it. Not like the good ole days at St. Pete's when I posted any random incident that happened without fear...
Anyway, I do have some good excuses for not updating:
1. I have been extremely, wildly busy running around eastern Contra Costa County with one of my choirs doing carol gigs.
2. I had a concert to plan (and stress over).
3. Christmas shopping.
4. I haven't been able to log on since I've been at Mom and Dad's house (though somehow tonight I managed).
But enough excuses. I'm ready to give the pertinent headlines from my world.
Carol Gigs
One of the big fundraisers for my top choir is December caroling. The kids get gigs going and suddenly I find myself driving all the way to some little out-of-the-way town called Rodeo (that's Roh-daayyy-oh, not Ro-deee-oh, I learned the hard way) to sing at a Breakfast With Santa, or to every Ace Hardware location in the tri-city area. I went to countless private homes and businesses, and spent many an evening listening to carols. I even finished my mid-quarter grading at Safeway, while my kids walked from Floral to Produce to Seafood, through Frozen Foods, back up to the Deli. Ever spent four hours at a Safeway store? I don't recommend it in terms of entertainment value, but at least I got caught up on my grading.
I've put many, many miles on Rosie Protege (but I'm getting some mileage reimbursement!) and spent a lot of time wishing I could be home, curled up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea. It's all for a good cause. Believe me, though, I don't want to hear certain carols for a while yet.
The Concert
Oh, goodness, the stress.
I looked at my Dec. 21 concert as a debut of sorts--a chance to prove to the kids and their parents that I know something about music and choir. Needless to say, I wanted it to go well, and worried endlessly in the few weeks proceding that it would be terrible.
My worries were unfounded. Halfway through the concert, I guess my dad leaned over to my mom and said, "What the hell was she so worried about?" Meanwhile, DD (Darling Daughter) was up on stage suffering from a serious case of dry mouth. I haven't been that nervous in a long time.
The concert went quite well. My beginning choir (key word: MY beginning choir) rocked the house with "Seasons of Love" and they had a pretty good time doing it, too. I was so proud of them. My other groups did a great job, too, and I hope this will boost their confidence in me. They don't hate me, but we're still working on trust and all that. It takes time.
Anyway, I had a lot of compliments, and I managed to keep the program to an hour and fifteen minutes--this is with five choirs and a few solo acts going. By 9:30, I was sitting at home in my pajamas. Perfect!
Christmas
I hope everyone had as lovely a Christmas as I did. Truly, it was one of the most relaxing Christmases I've had in years.
Thursday night was the concert, and Friday (the 22nd) was our last day. We finished at 11:30, and by 12:30, after sharing Corn Dog Friday with two of my colleagues (long story), I was battling the crazy holiday traffic to get home.
Friday night was Dinner With Heather Night. We met at the Outback Steakhouse and spent a couple of hours rehashing all our recent dramas and joys. Work has been...busy...for both of us, to say the least!
Saturday I ran to Target and Safeway (am still having nightmares about the freakin' lines at Safeway--madness!), then came home to begin 60 hours of extreme laziness.
Mom and Dad went out that evening, leaving me to sit on the couch in my pajamas with a book. I went to bed early, still exhausted from the last few weeks, and slept like a baby until about 8:00 the next morning.
As I mentioned, the next 60 or so hours would be Extreme Lazy Time. I only wore pajamas in all that time. I did not step out of the house once--not even the back yard, front doorstep, or garage. I showered every day (can't go without showering) but I did not blow dry my hair or wear make-up.
We watched several movies over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Lady In The Water, Little Miss Sunshine (hysterical!), The Devil Wears Prada, The Usual Suspects, and The Ref. We had a turkey-and-all-the-trimmings dinner on Christmas Eve...at which all three of us wore pajamas or sweats.
Christmas moring was lovely. We opened gifts and then sat around watching TV. I read and did word puzzles.
Finally, on Tuesday (yesterday), I was itching to spend my Target gift cards (my family knows me well), so I actually left the house with Mom and did some major shopping. Glorious!
Today was another lazy day. I've been reading like mad and cuddling with various cats (whoever will tolerate me at the time).
And that's my Christmas. It's been wonnnnnnnderful.
What the Heck is Corn Dog Friday?
Back in October, we had an all-staff meeting that was a teensy bit on the negative side (okay, I'm being nice--it was very negative). Various emails went out the next day, the first reminding all of us "why we went into teaching" and the rest letting the email's author know how pompous and condescending he sounded.
You know, we really need to start thinking about when to hit "Reply" and when to hit "Reply All."
Anyway, when I saw another performing arts teacher had replied to it (one with a fabulous sense of humor) I read it. His suggestion--we should boost morale at our school by instituting some kind of fun tradition, say, Corn Dog Friday.
Of course, it had the desired effect--everyone got a laugh and it eased tensions some.
Not willing to let it go, another performing arts colleague, Larry, decided to surprise the idea's originator a couple weeks later by bringing corn dogs to school one Friday. The microwave is in the music library, between my room and Larry's, so they shared with me, and a tradition was born. We three now take turns bringing corn dogs to school, and this last Friday was no exception. We all agreed that one last corn dog in 2006 was a great idea.
Long live Corn Dog Friday.
Good Grief
I can't believe another year has flown by so quickly. I'll try to get a Year in Review post up soon...until then, I've got books to read and word puzzles to do. In my pajamas.
Life is good.
Cheers,
Meg
Anyway, I do have some good excuses for not updating:
1. I have been extremely, wildly busy running around eastern Contra Costa County with one of my choirs doing carol gigs.
2. I had a concert to plan (and stress over).
3. Christmas shopping.
4. I haven't been able to log on since I've been at Mom and Dad's house (though somehow tonight I managed).
But enough excuses. I'm ready to give the pertinent headlines from my world.
Carol Gigs
One of the big fundraisers for my top choir is December caroling. The kids get gigs going and suddenly I find myself driving all the way to some little out-of-the-way town called Rodeo (that's Roh-daayyy-oh, not Ro-deee-oh, I learned the hard way) to sing at a Breakfast With Santa, or to every Ace Hardware location in the tri-city area. I went to countless private homes and businesses, and spent many an evening listening to carols. I even finished my mid-quarter grading at Safeway, while my kids walked from Floral to Produce to Seafood, through Frozen Foods, back up to the Deli. Ever spent four hours at a Safeway store? I don't recommend it in terms of entertainment value, but at least I got caught up on my grading.
I've put many, many miles on Rosie Protege (but I'm getting some mileage reimbursement!) and spent a lot of time wishing I could be home, curled up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea. It's all for a good cause. Believe me, though, I don't want to hear certain carols for a while yet.
The Concert
Oh, goodness, the stress.
I looked at my Dec. 21 concert as a debut of sorts--a chance to prove to the kids and their parents that I know something about music and choir. Needless to say, I wanted it to go well, and worried endlessly in the few weeks proceding that it would be terrible.
My worries were unfounded. Halfway through the concert, I guess my dad leaned over to my mom and said, "What the hell was she so worried about?" Meanwhile, DD (Darling Daughter) was up on stage suffering from a serious case of dry mouth. I haven't been that nervous in a long time.
The concert went quite well. My beginning choir (key word: MY beginning choir) rocked the house with "Seasons of Love" and they had a pretty good time doing it, too. I was so proud of them. My other groups did a great job, too, and I hope this will boost their confidence in me. They don't hate me, but we're still working on trust and all that. It takes time.
Anyway, I had a lot of compliments, and I managed to keep the program to an hour and fifteen minutes--this is with five choirs and a few solo acts going. By 9:30, I was sitting at home in my pajamas. Perfect!
Christmas
I hope everyone had as lovely a Christmas as I did. Truly, it was one of the most relaxing Christmases I've had in years.
Thursday night was the concert, and Friday (the 22nd) was our last day. We finished at 11:30, and by 12:30, after sharing Corn Dog Friday with two of my colleagues (long story), I was battling the crazy holiday traffic to get home.
Friday night was Dinner With Heather Night. We met at the Outback Steakhouse and spent a couple of hours rehashing all our recent dramas and joys. Work has been...busy...for both of us, to say the least!
Saturday I ran to Target and Safeway (am still having nightmares about the freakin' lines at Safeway--madness!), then came home to begin 60 hours of extreme laziness.
Mom and Dad went out that evening, leaving me to sit on the couch in my pajamas with a book. I went to bed early, still exhausted from the last few weeks, and slept like a baby until about 8:00 the next morning.
As I mentioned, the next 60 or so hours would be Extreme Lazy Time. I only wore pajamas in all that time. I did not step out of the house once--not even the back yard, front doorstep, or garage. I showered every day (can't go without showering) but I did not blow dry my hair or wear make-up.
We watched several movies over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Lady In The Water, Little Miss Sunshine (hysterical!), The Devil Wears Prada, The Usual Suspects, and The Ref. We had a turkey-and-all-the-trimmings dinner on Christmas Eve...at which all three of us wore pajamas or sweats.
Christmas moring was lovely. We opened gifts and then sat around watching TV. I read and did word puzzles.
Finally, on Tuesday (yesterday), I was itching to spend my Target gift cards (my family knows me well), so I actually left the house with Mom and did some major shopping. Glorious!
Today was another lazy day. I've been reading like mad and cuddling with various cats (whoever will tolerate me at the time).
And that's my Christmas. It's been wonnnnnnnderful.
What the Heck is Corn Dog Friday?
Back in October, we had an all-staff meeting that was a teensy bit on the negative side (okay, I'm being nice--it was very negative). Various emails went out the next day, the first reminding all of us "why we went into teaching" and the rest letting the email's author know how pompous and condescending he sounded.
You know, we really need to start thinking about when to hit "Reply" and when to hit "Reply All."
Anyway, when I saw another performing arts teacher had replied to it (one with a fabulous sense of humor) I read it. His suggestion--we should boost morale at our school by instituting some kind of fun tradition, say, Corn Dog Friday.
Of course, it had the desired effect--everyone got a laugh and it eased tensions some.
Not willing to let it go, another performing arts colleague, Larry, decided to surprise the idea's originator a couple weeks later by bringing corn dogs to school one Friday. The microwave is in the music library, between my room and Larry's, so they shared with me, and a tradition was born. We three now take turns bringing corn dogs to school, and this last Friday was no exception. We all agreed that one last corn dog in 2006 was a great idea.
Long live Corn Dog Friday.
Good Grief
I can't believe another year has flown by so quickly. I'll try to get a Year in Review post up soon...until then, I've got books to read and word puzzles to do. In my pajamas.
Life is good.
Cheers,
Meg
Monday, December 11, 2006
Christmas Bells Are Ringing
And ooohhhh, boy, am I ready for Christmas. Well, to be honest, for Winter Break.
I've been horrible and bad about updating The Wild and Absolutely True Adventures of Meg. I've wanted to, but everything I've wanted to write about seems inappropriate. I have to be careful, in case my blog is found (though I've never been able to find it in Google searches--someone would actually have to know I have a blog to find it, and I'm pretty close-mouthed about it at work).
Anyway, things are going well enough. As I mentioned, I'm ready for my break. It's been crazy-busy these days. My top group has carol gigs all the time, and next week is our Winter Concert, which I'm just hoping to survive at this point. The kids are getting more and more excited as break gets closer, and I've got commitments up the wazoo--choirs, drum line, etc.
I'm still in that strange place in which I don't know if I like my job or not. There are something I really like, and some things that drive me crazy. I suppose that would happen anywhere, though.
I'm somehow managing to stay caught up on things. I've got my Christmas tree up, and my cards almost ready to mail (just need stamps). My Christmas shopping is about half done, the apartment is clean, and Millie isn't quite ready to kick me out for never coming home--yet!
Just under two weeks and I'll get that much-needed, well-earned break. Then maybe I'll actually email, phone and/or visit everyone! Until then, as ever,
Cheers!
Meg
I've been horrible and bad about updating The Wild and Absolutely True Adventures of Meg. I've wanted to, but everything I've wanted to write about seems inappropriate. I have to be careful, in case my blog is found (though I've never been able to find it in Google searches--someone would actually have to know I have a blog to find it, and I'm pretty close-mouthed about it at work).
Anyway, things are going well enough. As I mentioned, I'm ready for my break. It's been crazy-busy these days. My top group has carol gigs all the time, and next week is our Winter Concert, which I'm just hoping to survive at this point. The kids are getting more and more excited as break gets closer, and I've got commitments up the wazoo--choirs, drum line, etc.
I'm still in that strange place in which I don't know if I like my job or not. There are something I really like, and some things that drive me crazy. I suppose that would happen anywhere, though.
I'm somehow managing to stay caught up on things. I've got my Christmas tree up, and my cards almost ready to mail (just need stamps). My Christmas shopping is about half done, the apartment is clean, and Millie isn't quite ready to kick me out for never coming home--yet!
Just under two weeks and I'll get that much-needed, well-earned break. Then maybe I'll actually email, phone and/or visit everyone! Until then, as ever,
Cheers!
Meg
Friday, December 01, 2006
Welcome, Welcome...
...to my new(ish) blog! Blogger did some kind of update, and now I can do all kinds of fun things with fonts and font colors without doing all of the crazy little html codes. And I can change font sizes. What fun! : )
Most of the time, however, I'll keep things fairly normal.
And I promise...more updates are coming soon...but for now, it's 9:30 on a Friday night and I've got big plans...bath, book, bed. Ahh, the fabulous life of the exhausted music teacher.
Most of the time, however, I'll keep things fairly normal.
And I promise...more updates are coming soon...but for now, it's 9:30 on a Friday night and I've got big plans...bath, book, bed. Ahh, the fabulous life of the exhausted music teacher.
- Wow, I can even do bullets and stuff!
- Too cool.
Anyway, enough of that...I'm off!
Cheers,
Meg
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Poor Little Neglected Blog...
My adventures have certainly been wild and absolutely true of late...and I've been too exhausted to report them much!
But I'm missing my LPB, so I'll try to update this weekend.
Cheers,
Meg
But I'm missing my LPB, so I'll try to update this weekend.
Cheers,
Meg
Monday, November 20, 2006
Monday, Monday
Can't trust that day...
I woke up drenched in sweat a little after 4:00 this morning. I have a slight sore throat. I've taken some Dayquil.
Oy vey.
I woke up drenched in sweat a little after 4:00 this morning. I have a slight sore throat. I've taken some Dayquil.
Oy vey.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Tribute to a Great Team
Tonight was the BIG GAME--a playoff match between the undefeated Wolverines and the neighboring town of Pittsburgh.
By the end of the first half, the Wolverines were down 20-0. They had a few moments of offensive and defensive brilliance, but not enough to get into the end zone or keep the Pirates out.
After halftime, however, a revitalized team came out on the field. The score in the second half was 20-0, this time in favor of the Wolverines. With 38 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the Pirates had the ball, and they were way too close to their own end zone for our comfort. But our defense stepped it up and kept them from scoring.
And so the game went into overtime. Sudden death overtime.
Each team was given four tries to score. The Wolverines managed to get a field goal, making the score 23-20. The Pirates took over and it looked pretty good for a moment, until, on their very last chance, they got the ball in for a touchdown.
Final score: 26-23, Pirates.
The guest bleachers went wild while the home side got very quiet. I watched as several of our guys sank to their knees on the field before rising up again to congratulate the winning team. The scene on the field was a riot of black and orange pirates players hugging and cheering, while the black and teal Wolverines dejectedly tried to console one another. I am sure a few of them were crying. A nearby police officer said, "This hurts, but at least they didn't lose 41-0. They played a great game."
And so they did.
This is one teacher who is proud as can be of the Wolverines. This group of young men has shown character and incredible cameraderie all season, and it was that "no 'I' in team" mentality, combined with a healthy dose of talent, that made them conference champs and such a source of pride in our community.
Also important to note is the fact that every single kid on the varsity team was eligible to play based on grades. Every kid had at least a 2.0 GPA. That in itself is something to be proud of.
So our community tonight is disappointed that we lost--but I don't think that anyone on the home side at the game tonight is disappointed in our team. How could we be?
By the end of the first half, the Wolverines were down 20-0. They had a few moments of offensive and defensive brilliance, but not enough to get into the end zone or keep the Pirates out.
After halftime, however, a revitalized team came out on the field. The score in the second half was 20-0, this time in favor of the Wolverines. With 38 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the Pirates had the ball, and they were way too close to their own end zone for our comfort. But our defense stepped it up and kept them from scoring.
And so the game went into overtime. Sudden death overtime.
Each team was given four tries to score. The Wolverines managed to get a field goal, making the score 23-20. The Pirates took over and it looked pretty good for a moment, until, on their very last chance, they got the ball in for a touchdown.
Final score: 26-23, Pirates.
The guest bleachers went wild while the home side got very quiet. I watched as several of our guys sank to their knees on the field before rising up again to congratulate the winning team. The scene on the field was a riot of black and orange pirates players hugging and cheering, while the black and teal Wolverines dejectedly tried to console one another. I am sure a few of them were crying. A nearby police officer said, "This hurts, but at least they didn't lose 41-0. They played a great game."
And so they did.
This is one teacher who is proud as can be of the Wolverines. This group of young men has shown character and incredible cameraderie all season, and it was that "no 'I' in team" mentality, combined with a healthy dose of talent, that made them conference champs and such a source of pride in our community.
Also important to note is the fact that every single kid on the varsity team was eligible to play based on grades. Every kid had at least a 2.0 GPA. That in itself is something to be proud of.
So our community tonight is disappointed that we lost--but I don't think that anyone on the home side at the game tonight is disappointed in our team. How could we be?
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