I saw this picture on Flickr and absolutely fell in love with it. What a beautiful statue.

Time to get moving...

I know that I claim to work on losing some (a lot of) weight every year about this time. This time that isn't going to be my focus. I am going to start running again. If I lose weight, that's great. If I don't, at least I'll be doing something that I enjoy. I really liked running when I was doing it, and in my brain I always wanted to be one of those girls who said "I'm going for a run." I'm going to start slowly and try to commit to a schedule. If I look at this as something I enjoy that's really fun instead of something that I have to do I think I'll be more successful than I've been in the past. Here's to a new year and returning to something that I enjoyed doing!

Sausage Balls

One of my very favorite holiday treats is sausage balls. Here is the recipe. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do!

1 12 oz package of sausage (any intensity)
1 12 oz package of shredded cheese (this year we found out that finely shredded does not work quite as well)
3 cups of Bisquick

Let cheese and sausage warm to room temperature (the sausage is easier to work with that way). Mix cheese and sausage well. Slowly add Bisquick. When all ingredients are thoroughly mixed roll small amounts of mixture into balls. Bake balls at 400 for about 7 minutes.
And voila! Yummy sausage balls for everyone to enjoy!

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 has been one of the best of my life. I've been able to spend time with my family, continued traditions started with friends and family, and overall been very happy. I'm hoping to spend some more time with friends next week and return to school refreshed. It could have only been better if I'd been able to spend it with Steve. Here are a few of the photos from my wonderful holiday. I hope everyone has a happy Christmas!

My Christmas List

So Christmas is almost here and children everywhere are mailing their wish lists off to Santa. I've decided to write one of my own. Here's what I want for Christmas.
1. Peace and quiet in my classroom. I love teaching and I like my students and they're not bad kids. I just wish they would be quiet. I really believe that they don't know what to do with silence. They are constantly making noise. If they aren't talking, they're rustling paper, clicking pens, tapping their feet...the noise just never ends. I'd like just a few minutes a day of absolute silence in my classroom.
2. SYTYCD to never end. I am so in love with this show. It makes me smile. I am always so sad when the season is over. Please don't go away, So You Think You Can Dance!
3. The laundry fairy to come and do my laundry. My least favorite chore in the world is washing clothes. I know it's not labor intensive, I just hate it. I wish it would just wash itself. A girl can dream, right?
4. UNC to win the national chapionship. I LOVE Carolina basketball. I always want the Heels to win.
Please Santa, I've been a good girl. Please bring me these things for Christmas!

For what am I thankful?

I've been meaning to post a list of things for which I am thankful for a while now, but I've been pretty busy. This year, more than any other, I truly realize how much I have to be thankful for. So here's my list, but by no means does this cover it all.

1. Family. I have a wonderful family that I love so much. My mom and dad are so supportive and my brother helps me whenever I need it. I realize how lucky I am to have such a great relationship with them. I am also lucky to have an extended family with which I am close and get to see often.

2. My boyfriend. I don't post a lot about him here, but I am such a lucky girl to have found such a wonderful man. I am thankful for him and all that he brings to my life.

3. Dog. Gracie is easily the cutest dog in the whole world. She is sweet and cuddly and is great to come home to and cuddle with after a long day at school.

4. My job. Even though it sometimes makes me absolutely crazy I love my job. I feel that teaching is my purpose in life. How many people can say that they get to do what they feel they were meant do to?

5. Those are the biggies. Here's a list of some other things that brighten up my life: Sunday mornings, internet friends, UNC basketball, quiet classrooms, workdays, chapstick, fuzzy socks, books, sappy love songs, the list goes on and on.

What are you thankful for this year?

Cake Decorating

My mom and I took a cake decorating class. These are some of our creations.

Howdy Stranger

I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd give you the highlights of what has been going on lately. School is back in full force. This semester I'm teaching 3 composition classes. I enjoy teaching composition. Some of the classes are better than others, but all in all, they're not bad kids. The flu and a ton of other sicknesses are making their ways through the school and so far I've not been too successful at keeping away from them. So far I've had 2 colds and strep throat. All in under 10 weeks. I am currently reading Julia Childs' My Life in France and really enjoying it. I loved Julie and Julia and wanted to know more about her life. I'm hoping to get Mastering the Art of French Cooking for Christmas. (If I do, I'll keep you all updated on the progress, or lack of.) I am currently taking a cake decorating class with my mom. I'm having a lot of fun. I'm not terribly talented, but I'm enjoying eating the cake and spending time with my mom. Overall, life is good.

I was saddened when I woke up this morning and learned that Patrick Swayze had died. If you're like me, you spent a significant part of your childhood watching Dirty Dancing. I watched it so many times it drove my parents absolutely insane. I had the movie memorized. Later there was Ghost, which I also loved. They are two of the most memorable movies from my childhood.
Dear Patrick,
Thank you for making movies that meant so much to me when I was younger, and even now. You will always be a part of my childhood memories.

Trying some new things and retrying some old...

One of the goals of this blog was to chronicle all the new things I was going to try this year. Well, I've tried some new stuff and I've tried some stuff that I used to do all over again. Some things have been successful, others have not. I've enjoyed going to baseball games and bowling (although I'm really bad at it). I played putt putt for the first time in over a decade and had a great time. I went roller skating and that didn't go so well. It was a much better idea in my mind than in reality. It seems I forgot that I actually needed some sort of physical coordination to roller skate. Funny how much more worried you are about breaking an arm or a leg or your skull at 30 than you were at 13. This weekend I'm going to try to play tennis. I've only played tennis once in my life, at camp when I was 11 years old. I don't know if I'll be any good, but I'm going to give it a shot. Either way, I know I'll have a good time.

Absolute joy

As usual, I am spending my Friday night lounging on my couch and watching a movie. Today I decided I wanted to watch one that would make me laugh and cry so I chose Love Actually which is one of my favorite movies of all time. There are so many great scenes in this movie. One of my favorites is when Laura Linney's character is brought home by the cute guy she's been in love with forever. She is so excited that she has to excuse herself to jump up and down. I absolutely love that. It reminds me of the scene in Sense & Sensibility when Emma Thompson finds out that Hugh Grant isn't married. She is so overcome with joy that she breaks into a crying jag. And so do I. Both of these scenes make me so happy that I cry and smile at the same time. They are moments of absolute, pure joy and it can't be contained. How often do moments like that come along in our lives? Not nearly often enough. I've come as close as I ever have to experiencing pure joy this year, a year that I hadn't expected to be so amazing. Here's to hoping we all get to experience these moments, and that we get to do it soon.

Trying again...

I'm doing it. I'm trying again. I'm starting over on Weight Watchers. I started on the first day of school. I know, I'm crazy. Going back to school and starting a diet all on the same day? I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment. So I'm almost one week in and doing well so far. I've lost almost 3 pounds so far. I haven't starved myself. I have eaten some of the foods that I have tended to gorge myself on, but I've eaten them in moderation and eaten lighter foods for the rest of the day. I have learned that the spray ranch dressing tastes like, well, I won't say what it tastes like, but needless to say it isn't good. The peach Fiber One yogurt, however, is fabulous. It may be the best yogurt I've ever eaten. I know that I can do this. I've done it before. I just need to stick to it and stay focused. I may never be thin but I can be healthier.

My new obsession with orange and my old obsession with fall...

Fall is almost here and I'm feeling very autumny lately. I can't wait for cool crisp days, jeans, sweaters, and jackets. Because of this (I think) I've been drawn to things that are orange lately. It all started with with the Brita water pitcher that Curt gave me for my birthday. Today at Target I bought a bowl with on orange border. You may have also noticed that I changed the template of my blog. I'm feeling very orange lately! I can't wait for fall and my new orange items are helping me feel like it's getting here faster!

Ocracoke

I just wanted to share some pictures from my Ocracoke trip. The island is beautiful and I can't wait to go back. (NCCATs anyone?)

I just wanted to share some pictures from my Ocracoke trip. The island is beautiful and I can't wait to go back. (NCCATs anyone?)

Update: Julia Child

Before leaving for Ocracoke, I made dinner for Steve and me. While the dinner itself wasn't that impressive (bbq chicken & corn on the cob), my dessert was. I made from scratch a chocolate meringue pie. I mixed the chocolate pie filling and even whipped the meringue myself. It turned out wonderfully and was soooooo delicious! I was also quite proud of myself. I like cooking, I really do, I just have to stop being so lazy, get off my ass, into the kitchen, and do it! Look out kitchen, here I come!

Amazed

I'm amazed by how quickly life can change. It seems to happen just when you expect it least, when you're sure that the things you wanted were too much to ask for, that you would never find the things that you were looking for.
Dear God,
Please help me to remember everyday what a lucky girl I am and not to take anything for granted.
A.

Ode to School Supplies

I have to go back to school in one week. My favorite part of going back to work after a 10 week vacation? School supplies!
My school supply shopping list:
colored ink pens
board markers
3 ring binders
paper clips
mechanical pencils
clorox hard surface cleaner
kleenex
colored paper
post-it notes in all shapes, colors, & sizes
hilighters
Is there anything better than going back to school shopping?

I'm Jealous...

Today I went to see Julie & Julia. It was absolutely adorable. I smiled through the entire movie. I left quite jealous, however. I'm jealous that I'm not a good cook. There are several reasons for this. I lack the patience required to cook. I want dinner done now. Also, I'm lazy. This is a fact that I've come to accept about myself. Cooking makes a big mess in the kitchen. There are lots of dishes to clean when the cooking is all done. And buying lots of fresh ingredients is expensive and I'm on a fixed income. I'm also a space cadet. I always come home from the grocery store missing at least one ingredient. These are all reasons I tell myself I can't cook. But the fact is, that I enjoy cooking. The last time I really cooked was when I made chicken marsala and homemade mashed potatoes when Steve came over for dinner for the first time. I had a good time cooking and I felt such a sense of accomplishment. I was so proud of myself for producing this great meal. I will make an effort to cook more, and to experiment with different types of food. I can (and will) become a better cook!

Confession

Those of you who know me probably know that I don't like conflict. I like things to be peaceful and harmonious. I like things this way so much that I am willing to be miserable myself in order to avoid confrontational situations or situations in which others are unhappy. I feel terrible if I choose a movie or restaurant that someone else doesn't like so I usually let the other person choose. I don't usually ask for much help even when it's painfully obvious that I need it because I don't want to inconvenience people. I like to make everyone happy. Well, almost everyone. I'm not so great at making me happy. This is something that I need to work on. Standing up for what I want and need and what will make me happy. There are ways to do this without making me or anyone else unhappy and I just have to look for ways to accomplish that goal. Compromise is my new favorite word.

My summer vacation

If I were to have to write an essay about my summer vacation, I'm afraid it wouldn't be very exciting to anyone other than me, and that's the way I like it. My adventures have been limited but the good times have not. Does that make me sad? No. I prefer quiet good times to loud ones. I prefer a small group of close friends to a large group of acquaintances. I prefer staying in to going out. Does that make me a boring person? I'm sure to some it does, but it's just fine with me. I've gotten to do a lot of great things this summer.
I visited my friend Nancy in Asheville. It was my first real trip to Asheville. I got to see the drum circle (oh my!) and hike (almost) all the way to the top of a mountain. I also hitchhiked for the first time and watched Cats. All in all, it was a fantastic weekend!
I've read lots of books. I didn't enjoy them all, but I do always enjoy the act of reading. I know everyone else really enjoyed Wicked but I just couldn't get into it. I love to read and love that summer vacation gives me time to do that.
I've watched lots of crappy tv (my favorite kind) and lots of movies I've never seen before. I became addicted to The Real Housewives of New Jersey and am very sad that The Fashion Show ended last night (although Project Runway starts in just a few weeks!). I've also been making my way through classic movies according to Steve. So far I've seen Bull Durham, Caddyshack and Fletch.
I've spent quite a bit of time lounging and sunning myself at the pool. I am working on a decent tan and it's coming along nicely so far. I even played Marco Polo with a 5 year old.
I've had breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with my friends. I love getting to spend time with them. During the school year we are all so busy and it's nice to get to see them and share a good meal.
I'm sure to a lot of people, this sounds like a horrendous waste of time. I have however, recharged my batteries and spent a lot of time doing things that I like to do. Once the school year starts I won't have nearly as much time to do all of these things so it's nice to take a few weeks and do them now.

30 Reasons I'm Happy to be Turning 30...

So 30 is now only 9 days away and I'm handling this transition really well. As I mentioned before, I think it's because I'm so happy with my life right now. So I've decided to list 30 reasons I'm happy to be turning 30. I'm not going to finish the list today. I'll be 30 for 365 days. Surely over the course of the year there will be more reasons to be happy about being 30. And, let's face it, 30 is a lot of reasons. I'll revisit this list as my 30th year progresses. Today I'll start with 3.
1. I know who I am. In the past I've tried to be other people. The person some guy wanted me to be. The girl that my best friend was. Now, I'm just me. And I'm comfortable with that. There are things that I really like about me and those would disappear if I tried to be someone else. It's taken me 30 years to figure this out.
2. I know that my happiness comes from me, not things outside of me. Yesterday I had lunch with Steve and he ordered hash brown casserole, which he proceeded to cover in ketchup. I said "It already has cheese in it!" He told me that the ketchup was just a continuation of the goodness started with the cheese. That's how I think happiness should work. I'm the hash brown casserole. I already have good stuff going on. The outside stuff is the ketchup. The casserole is good without it, but it's a continuation of the goodness.
3. I've learned to accept my body. Is my body perfect? Far from it. I know that I need to lose weight. I know that I can do it, I've done it before. Am I going to waste time hating myself because of it? No. Life it too short for that. I can try to improve myself without self-loathing. There are things that I like about myself. I like my eyes. I like my smile. I've learned to appreciate what I have without being complacent.
So here are the first 3. Stay tuned, there are 27 more to come!
August 24, 2009: Reason #4
4. I have overcome the need to have any sort of drama in my life. As a high school teacher I know that young girls (and some boys) live for drama. And so do some of their mamas. I am at a place in my life where I believe that the less drama I have in my life the better. I talk to adults all the time who are always in the midst of a crisis. Well, I don't want that in my life at all. I like it when life is simple. I don't like chaos and fuss and disorder. (Why do I teach high school?) I went to a friend for advice about a difficult decision and he told me not to pray for an answer but for peace and it turned out to be great advice. I now ask God for peace in whatever situation I am faced with and it has made the biggest change in my attitude and mindset. Is it God answering my prayer? I think so, but I also think it's me reminding myself that I don't have control over everything so I have to find peace with it. It's me and God working together to figure stuff out. So, in short, if you want to talk about drama go talk to someone else!

Up....

Last weekend I went to visit Nancy and we saw the movie "Up." This movie really spoke to me. As most of you know, I will be turning 30 in just 10 short days. I'm handling this upcoming milestone much better than I thought I would. There's been no crying, wailing, or gnashing of teeth. I'm not dressing all in black. I haven't retreated from the world and holed myself up in my apartment, eating Ben & Jerry's and never getting out of my pajamas. I'm okay with turning 30. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm so happy right now. My life isn't what I thought it would be at this point, but it's pretty damn good. "Up" really made me realize that my life may not be the adventure that I had planned, but it's still an adventure and I'd better get with the program and enjoy it.
When I was 18 (was that really so long ago?), I filled out one of those senior memory books that asks you where you want to be in 10 years. I had a plan. I was a girl who knew what she wanted. I would meet the love of my life during college, marry him shortly after graduating, immediately begin having kids, and live somewhere (anywhere) other than Franklin County.
That's not what has happened. I didn't meet Mr. Right in college. I didn't even date all that much. I did, however, make some life-long friends, travel, do lots of fun stuff, and even managed to learn a few things, too. I loved college and had a great time and I wouldn't change anything about it.
I didn't get married right after college, or even yet. I've dated some great guys (and some not so great ones) and I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I have to be myself: that changing to fit what you think someone else wants just doesn't work. I learned that I am more independent and self-reliant than I thought I could be. I still want to get married, but I'm glad that I didn't do it when I was younger. I would have been a terrible wife. I think my chances of having a successful marriage are greater now than they would have been eight years ago.
I don't have kids. That is such a good thing. There are days when it's all I can do to take care of myself and my dog. When I was younger I wanted lots of kids. I also went through a phase when I didn't want any kids. Now I want to have one child (maybe two, but probably just one). I was much too selfish to have kids before this point in my life.
While I don't live in Franklin County, I do work there. I wanted to get out of Franklin County. I thought that was the one thing in my life that I could accomplish, but here I am, making the drive to Louisburg every day. I love teaching at Louisburg High School. My students are challenging but I love them and I think they need me. I love my job and wouldn't change it for anything. I want to make a career there.
Now 30 is here and I've been thinking about how things have turned out. I have friends that are amazing and that I've known since childhood. I have friends that are new that I love so much. I have an amazing job that I know I was meant for. I have a family that is wonderful and loves me. I have an apartment that I've finally finished decorating. I have a dog that is the cutest and sweetest dog in the whole world. I am dating a wonderful man that makes me very happy.
My life isn't what I'd hoped it'd be when I was 18 years old. It's so much better.

The Shelf of Constant Reproach

I read a story on the NPR website this week that talked about the best books that you'll never read: you know, those books that we own copies of, know we should read, maybe pretend we have read, but just never read. Here's my shelf of constant reproach.
1. Heart of Darkness I've tried and tried to read this. I just can't do it. Last time I got three pages in before I had to put it down.
2. Catcher in the Rye I've tried to read this book over and over again. I always get to the exact same spot when I have to put it down, I just cannot read one more word. I just don't understand.
3. Catch-22 I've heard it's wonderful. Several of my friends have read it and loved it. It's supposed to be funny. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to get it. I've tried it a couple of times but I just can't get into it.
4. Anything by Hemingway. I've read many of his short stories and tried to read several of his novels. I just can't read it. I can appreciate the fact that his writing is innovative, but I just don't enjoy it. I confess, I am an English major/teacher who has never gotten through an entire Hemingway novel. (BTW, I have a theory that you can like either Faulkner or Hemingway. I'm a Faulkner girl. So far, I haven't found anyone who enjoys both. If you do, please let me know. I'd be interested to find out how the heck you can enjoy both.)
5. The Satanic Verses I want to read this book. I want to find out what is so controversial and outrageous that Ayatollah Khomeini decided to put out a fatwa on Rushdie. Surely a book that is so divisive has something important to say, right? I can't get past the first few pages.
I'm not giving up on these books. I will, on occasion, pick them up and try them again, as I have many times in the past. There certainly have been books in my life that I just didn't pick up at the right time. I avoided Tess of the d'Urbervilles for years before finally reading it and absolutely loving it. The same thing happened with The Poisonwood Bible. I'm a firm believer in giving a book a second chance. Or third, or fourth. However many chances they need.
(Sorry for the unfinished post before, I had to leave to go to the salon to get my hair cut. Yeah for new haircuts!)

Is anyone better than Emily?

To see the Summer Sky by Emily Dickinson

To see the Summer Sky
Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie --
True Poems flee --

Summer vacation is finally here!

There were moments when I truly doubted that this day would ever come, but here I am, out of school for summer vacation! This year has been trying at best, and at times down right excruciating. But, as all things do, this, too, passed, and now it's time for some relaxing. I have nearly 10 weeks in which to recharge my batteries and regain my sanity. Is that enough time? I don't know, but I'm going to give it my best shot. There are a few things I'm planning to do to make the summer as enjoyable (and long) as possible. I thought I'd outline a few of them here. In no particular order, they are:
1. READ! I plan to read as many books as I can get my hands on. Reading during the school year is difficult so there are lots of books that I can't wait to get into. I also plan to attend as many book club meetings as possible while I actually have time to read the books.
2. Go to the pool. The pool here at my apartment complex is great, and usually during the week there aren't that many kids there. I plan on staking my claim on a chair, spaying on some sunscreen, and delving into a book. Hopefully, I can go back to school with a nice tan.
3. Spend time with my friends. Most of my friends are teachers so they don't have too much to do during the summer, either. I'm planning to go visit Nancy in a couple weeks, and want to spend a lot of time with my other friends, too.
4. Crochet. I learned to crochet last summer and plan to do more of it this summer. Maybe I can finally finish that blanket I started.
5. Watch crap TV. Let's face it, crap TV gets me through the summer. I have to admit that I'm addicted to The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I'm sure I'll find lots more shows that are truly worthless but endlessly entertaining.
6. Blog. Blogging for me is a cathartic experience. I like to write about my thoughts and feelings. I plan to do a lot of writing this summer.
I'm so exited that summer is here. Summer, please pass slowly!

Because ee knows just what to say...

   i like my body when it is with your
body. It is so quite a new thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body. i like what it does,
i like its hows. i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,
i like,, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh . . . . And eyes big Love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you quite so new

Oldies but Goodies

Before I discovered the beauty of Facebook, there was Myspace. I wrote a few blogs while I used MySpace and I thought I'd revive them here. So here's the greatest hits:

Adventures in Dating (Nov. 2007)

ships

If you're 28, single, smart, funny, and pretty cute but hate bars, clubs, and work with mainly women and older, married men, where do you go to find perspective husbands? How about a singles book club at Quail Ridge Books? (For those of you not familiar with Quail Ridge, it's the filthy hippy book store over on Wade Avenue.) I had been thinking about joining this book club for a while and I finally decided it was time to go for it. Surely there would be a cournicopia of single, educated, well read men who had been looking for their entire lives for a slightly geeky, chunky brunette with a great sense of humor and a love of designer handbags, right? Well, I woke up at the butt-crack (a big deal, as you know, since I like to spend my Saturday mornings in bed with the dog reading a good book) and got ready- and I mean date ready. I actually did my hair the way my stylist wants me to every day (who has time for that every morning?), did my make-up and coordinated my jewelry, shoes, and handbag. I was ready. (Man, I sure sound desperate!) I said good-bye to the dog and left my humble apartment to find myself a date, and to talk about a book that I hadn't read. (I didn't have time, but I'm sure I'll get around to it one day. It was The March, by E.L. Doctorow, if you're interested). I drove all the way across town (which I really hate doing) and arrived at Quail Ridge with a few minutes to spare. I stuck the book in the purse that perfectly matched my outfit and shoes, and headed in, sure I was about to meet the man of my dreams. I began to browse around the store, to see who else was there for this meeting. For the life of me I could not find a single person in the entire store under the age of 50. I meandered over to the part of the store where the meetings are held and what, to my wondering eyes should appear, but two men and two women, all over the age of 60, holding copies of The March in their hands. OH NOOOO!! Where was the slightly geeky, cute guy who loved Faulkner and Steinbeck, worked literary allusions into casual conversation and liked chunky brunettes? Where was the quy who was going to find me fascinating, invite me to have lunch at the Bruggers next door, fall in love with me, marry me, and possibly father my child? What the crap was this? THIS was the SINGLES book club? Well, needless to say I didn't hang around. I browsed for a few more minutes, so as to not draw any attention to myself, and then casually left the store. Don't men my age read books? And if they don't, why don't they? Aren't there any guys out there that like chunky brunettes with a good sense of humor? Who knows the answers to these questions. Here's what I have learned from this experience: first, if a book club is meeting at 10 am on a Saturday morning it is probably not a club for people under 30, we are all still asleep, or just rolling groggily out of bed because they dog just won't wait for one more minute. Also, it doesn't hurt to try something new. This book club didn't work out for me but the next thing I try may (not to mention I got a story that Curt has been telling anyone who will listen, so if you've already heard this story from him I apologize and hope mine is more entertaining- if it is, be sure to tell him).

Everything I need to know I learned from watching Poseidon... (June 2006)

Well, I did it. I went to see Poseidon. My fascination with Josh Lucas's bulging biceps and receding hairline got the best of me. There was a preview for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift or Tokyo Crap or something like that, I can't remember. Who really thought we needed another of those movies? Can I get a job coming up with ideas for bad sequels? I'm sure it pays better than teaching. What doesn't pay better than teaching? But, I digress...I learned so much from Poseidon that I felt the need to share it with you all, in case you ever find yourselves in one of these situations.
1. You will need to be able to support not only your own body weight with your upper body but also the body weight of at least two other average size adults. Who knows when you'll find yourself dangling in an elevator shaft with a waiter hanging on your pants? I know if that ever happens to me I want to be prepared. Also, you'll need to be prepared to shake the waiter off your pants to save your own ass. And it wouldn't hurt to spring for some nice pants. You know, the ones that won't rip if a waiter hangs off of them- don't settle for anything less.
2. Whatever you do, don't take a kid on vacation with you. They are nothing but trouble. If you do have to take one on vacation lock it in its room. Or hire a nanny to take care of it. Did I mention that they are nothing but trouble?
3. If you are going on a sea voyage, be sure that either Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, or Richard Dreyfus is booked on your ship. (Heady, you should check on this soon.) I know Richard Dreyfus seems like an odd choice but it turns out that he's pretty handy to have around in a crisis- I mean most guys' heads would have fallen off after being hit in the face with a steel hatch but he just shook it off and kept going. I wouldn't choose him for mouth to mouth but he's not bad to have around. And who knows, maybe he can loan you a Mr. Holland sweater vest if you get cold on deck one night.
4. Never thrown the necklace over the...oh, wait, wrong ocean disaster movie...never mind.
Well, alright, I only learned three things from Titanic, oh I mean Poseidon, but I think these are three lessons will prove to be invaluable. Please take heed and be safe this vacation season. You never know when a rogue wave will strike.

Baby Birds!

I have baby birds nesting in the petunias on my porch.

GLEE!

Dear Glee,
I believe that you are my new favorite show. Teen drama, singing, dancing, one liners, what more could a girl ask for in a show? Please come back soon. I will be waiting (not so) patiently for you. At least I have the pilot saved in my DVR to help me miss you less. Hurry, Glee, hurry!
A.

Where have I been?

Dear Reader,
Maybe you've noticed I haven't posted in a while. Maybe you haven't. Maybe you've missed my posts, or maybe you thought "Thank goodness she's finally given it a rest." Whatever the case may be, here I am, making my return to posting. Where have I been? Well, I've been out living my life. I've met a great guy that I am enjoying spending as much time with as possible. We've been doing lots of fun things. In the last two months I've gone bowling (I'm getting better each time), been to a baseball game, been to the prom, and in general, been very happy. I choose not to be more specific here, not because I don't want to talk about him (believe me, I do.), I just choose to keep some things to myself. I will say that he is fabulous and that I'm a very lucky girl. (There's also the fact that I'm afraid of jinxing it by saying these things out loud. Silly, I know, but it concerns me.)
Summer is almost here (14 days, including workdays!) and I plan to do more posting over the summer, so those of you who have missed me, keep checking back, there's more to come. For those of you who are groaning aloud in disgust right now, sorry, but I'll be bored and need something to do.
A.

Goodbye Bea

When I navigated to Yahoo just now to check my email a very sad headline greeted me. "Golden Girl passes away." Next to it was a picture of Bea Arthur. Now I'm not normally a girl who gets overly emotional over the lives or deaths of celebrities. Of course it's sad when another human being dies, and I pray for peace and comfort for their families, but I don't normally feel a sense of personal loss. That wasn't the case when I saw this headline. I don't know why, I but I feel very saddened over her passing. Maybe it's because I'm such a fan of The Golden Girls (who isn't? If you're not, I don't think we can be friends.), or maybe it's because I relate so much to the character she plays on that show (see my facebook page, I took the quiz, I'm a Dorothy). Whatever the reason, the passing of Bea Arthur has made me sad.
Dear Bea,
Thank you for providing me with countless hours of wonderful entertainment and for sharing your talent with us. Thank you for being my TV friend. You will be greatly missed.
A.

i thank You God for most this amazing

- e.e. cummings i thank You God for most this amazing

day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth

day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any-lifted from the no

of all nothing-human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

April is the cruelest month...

This year I have found that T.S. Eliot knew what he was talking about when he said "April is the cruelest month." (It's the first line from "The Waste Land" if anyone is interested.) Now, nothing truly terrible has happened to me this month, just a series of annoying incidents, that combined, make for a month that is, at best, a comedy of errors.
On Sunday the 5th, while driving home from date #2 (which was really fun!) I was rear-ended by a guy who was tailgating and not paying attention. Luckily, Gracie and I were uninjured, but Betsy (by cute little Corolla) didn't fare quite as well. She's been in the shop for over two weeks now getting a new rear. The rental car that I have been driving (a Grand Prix) has been problematic. Today I had to return it to the rental agency because a warning light came on for the second time. And the driver's door locked when I got out to put gas in it. The other doors were unlocked, but I didn't find this out until there was already a patrolman there trying to unlock the door. Talk about feeling like an idiot! The rental agency gave me a new car, which I'm totally in love with (a Toyota 4Runner) and of course, my car is scheduled to be done tomorrow. Just my luck.
On the Sunday after the car accident I awoke in the middle of the night with the most painful acid reflux of my life. The next morning my throat was swollen nearly shut from the irritation and I was in pain every time I swallowed. Luckily, I am fine, but that was an annoying way to start my spring break. Not to mention I spent $50 dollars at the Urgent Care getting a diagnosis: there's nothing we can do for you.
On Monday I was in the middle of teaching my English II class (sophomores) when I sat down on my stool and crack...bam. The stool broke and I came crashing to the floor, hitting my head on the radiator behind me. I opened my eyes to see 20 15 year olds, mouths agape, eyes bulging, waiting to see if I was alive. Luckily, having been clumsy for my entire life, I'm used to these things, so I said "I'm okay, you can laugh." Luckily (again), my sophomores, while a chatty bunch, are great kids. They asked me if I was okay and didn't laugh (too much). Now, two days later, I still have a sore knot on the back of my head, which makes styling my hair every morning a painful experience.
Again, none of these things are horrible, they are just annoying. I guess it's better to have a series slightly annoying incidents than one really huge terrible accident, so I'm trying to be thankful for that. I just want this month (or at least my streak of bad luck) to be over!

Things to celebrate

I've come to realize that my blog has taken a somewhat whiny tone and I don't like it. I make a concerted effort, every day, not to whine. I know what a lucky girl I am and try to remember to say a prayer of thanks each day. There are days that I forget, but I think I do it more than I don't. My life certainly isn't perfect, but there are more good things than bad, and that's more than a lot of people can say, especially right now. So, in an effort not to forget all of the things in my life I have to celebrate, here's a short list of things that make my imperfect, wonderful life a little more enjoyable.
1. Great friends. I have wonderful friends whom I love very much. Most of them, I've known since I was a little girl. How lucky I am to have such loyal people in my life!
2. Wonderful family. I love my parents very much. My mom is my best friend. My dad is very supportive. My brother, who still irks me beyond belief, loves me. When I need something he's always there.
3. A job I love. Do my students drive me absolutely insane on a daily basis? Yes. Do I love getting to know them and watch them grow up? Absolutely.
4. A wonderful dog. My Gracie is the best dog on the planet. She is sweet and gentle and I love cuddling up to her warm fur on cold nights.
5. Books. I love reading. I love to pick up a book and travel to another place and time. It's a free vacation I can take without leaving my apartment.
6. Spring. It's finally here! The sun is out, the flowers are blooming, and (in spite of the pollen) it's a great time of year!
7. Summer vacation. I'm looking forward to spending the summer lounging by the pool, devouring books, and exercising more. Teachers are the luckiest people in the world!
It's easy for us all to focus on the bad things in our lives. They seem to take up so much more time and energy. It's important, though, for us to remember all the things we have in our lives that make them worth living!