6.29.2010

Tenure, babaaaaay!

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Today is the last day of my FOURTH year of teaching. You must think I'm excited because of the big "guaranteed" raise I should be getting. Well, no- the state isn't giving me for the 2nd year in a row. I am however excited about gaining tenure! What does that mean? Well, nothing really; except I'll be very hard to fire.

While looking through an old photo book yesterday, I came across my ID badge from my first year of teaching. Gosh, time really flies. I was single (well, not married anyways), living in a great townhouse in downtown Wilmington, and rarely cooked an actual meal. My underprivileged kids were my whole being and I stayed at school until at least 6 nightly.

I still have passion for what I do, but I envy the girl who could dedicate every part of her to her class. My goal is to remain an open-minded, caring, and optimistic teacher. To increase my level of patience, and decrease the distractions I allow the outside world to have in my classroom. I have a whopping 8 days to prepare for next school year, so here's hoping...




Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Look at my gift card plant! Teachers are often under appreciated, but today was not one of those days. Parents in my class pulled together money and purchased an assortment of gift cards to thank me for a great school year. Like, really nice gift cards y'all! Target, Belk, Chili's, Lowe's Grocery and Shoe Dept. Thank God cause due to our recent financial woes, I haven't gone shopping in ages. Now I can spent a day guilt free thanks to some amazing parents:)







6.28.2010

"Friends Foreeeever"

Monday, June 28th, 2010

I can't even say that line without picturing Kelly, Jessie, Slater, and the rest of Zack Attack (I KNOW you remember this!) but despite the straight cheese that was Saved By the Bell, I am happy to have a couple friends I really feel will be there forever.
Why am I thinking about this now? Because I never get to see my two best friends, EVER and I get to see them BOTH this weekend!! I met Kim and Sarah back in 1998, which is the furthest back any of my friendships go. They don't take shit from anybody, which is one of the hundreds of reasons why I loved them instantly and still do. Kim lives in DC, Sarah's in Winston and life keeps us apart most of the time. Whenever we are together though, it's always a blast; especially now that we can drink:)

<-- Powderpuff football with my "twin" Kim

Literally hanging out with Sarah -->

Below: Sarah (left) and Kim at my 15th birthday party. God we thought we were grown...

Sunday, lazy Sunday...

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

I LOVE Sundays, don't you? Slow wake up and cuddle time with my two boys, coffee, skillet breakfast, Sunday paper...and that's just before changing out of pj's. When you are broke like we currently are (granite countertops + unexpected 2K in dental work) you learn to make anything entertaining, including doing absolutely nothing. But when you do nothing with the ones you love, it's pretty damn perfect.




6.26.2010

Vuvu what-a?

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

My favorite part of the world cup is this:
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge sports fan. I have tried every one and was decent at most...except soccer. Despite my respect for the game, I was the kid that ran the ball down the field to score in the other teams goal, and then sat down and picked grass when everyone yelled at me. My favorite part of games was half time when I could make orange peel smiles and drink Hi-C.

I love the excitement that the World Cup brings though, and although the droning swarm of bees makes some peoples skin crawl, I think it's pretty freakin sweet. Go USA! Beat some Ghana tail and blow the hell outta those vuvzelas!

A positive Domino effect

Friday, June 25th, 2010

I went at least 4 years without touching a slice of Dominoes pizza, and probably 8 since I had last paid for one. It was crappily crafted and overpriced. It was even sub-par for 2 am feasts after bar-hopping in college- and that is truly saying something.

But then Dominoes changed, well everything. The pizza had better crust, sauce, and ingredients. The new ad campaign focused on acknowledging that their pizza sucked and how they made it better. My favorite improvement came through their online ordering process, including virtual COUPONS!

What's that you say, I don't have a Dominoes coupon? No problem, you can search for one you like online and use it immediately. And yes, you are seeing the picture correctly, I can watch my pizza come together on my computer screen! I choose my size, my crust, my sauce Want half pepperoni and half mushroom? Extra cheese or light sauce? Don't need the pizzas until next week but want to go ahead and put in the order? All of this is possible without ever having to talked to the stoned high school kid taking orders over the phone! You can even see what time they put your friggin pizzas in the oven through the tracking system accessible through your email confirmation.

For someone who appreciates good and cheap pizza, and hates dealing with anything over the phone, this is a DREAM COME TRUE. Thank you Dominoes for recognizing that you used to sell crappy pizza and then allowing me to order this significantly better pizza without having to even talk to another human:) I give the new Dominoes an A-

Meetin and Greetin

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Meet & Greet for next year happened tonight, so I get to enjoy a week of juggling issues of two classes. I spent 90 minutes smiling, giving overexcited and mobile children death glares to get off my furniture, and assuring parents I will be sure to differentiate for their "AG" child.

Basically, I am already overwhelmed. I haven't even closed out the year with my current class and I already have multiple issues with a new group! My patience is already down to 10% due to how children behave the last couple weeks of school and the thought of going until August before a break gives me heart palpitations.

July 4th weekend needs to rejuvenate this gal in a serious way.

6.23.2010

I Propose you hit up The Teet

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Harris Teeter super doubles began today, which is somewhat of a celebration in my house. I haven't been as coupon saavy lately, but I still wanted to save some serious cash.

Here are some savings for the items pictures here:
Before VIC savings and coupons:$38
After savings: $15

Pretty good, right? Thanks Teet:)


Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
There are a LOT of bad romantic comedies out there. Within the last year I have seen maybe 6 or 7 and they have all failed me miserably. They are cheesy, predictable, unrealistic, and have terrible acting.

I had NO interest in seeing "The Proposal" when it first came out because I had never been a huge Bullock fan and didn't want to waste another 90 minutes of my life. Then I remembered I love Ryan Reynolds, and realized I could see it for free through Directv.

I loved it! Yes, it was cheesy, unrealistic, but the acting was pretty good, and you can't go wrong with Betty White. If you are looking for a RomCom both you and your manfriend can tolerate, this is worth watching. I give it a: B (Just add "critic" to my resume).

6.21.2010

Get yourself directly to DirecTV

Monday, June 21st, 2010

I'm not a fan of people raising my bill without permission, especially when companies aren't giving me anything for bending me over.

Time Warner Cable has played this card for years. They raise our bill, we call and threaten to leave, they lower our bill and throw in free HBO for a year. WTF?

Well, parasitic relationship ended today as we will enjoy having DirecTV from here on out. Sure, there is a large satellite dish on my house, but at least it's on the very back corner of my backyard where only my pain in the ass neighbors will notice it. We have twice the HD channels, twice as much
room on the DVR, and my favorite part...we are paying HALF of what we were at TWC! Our $122 bill (which we negotiated down from the 140's, is now $49 a month! We even got a
promotional deal where a friend recommended us so we both got $10 a month of our
bill for 10 months! After that our bill will be $59 for internet, HD cable, DVR, movie channels, etc.
That's 60 bucks a month!

Yes, this picture is a little intense, but in a quick Google images search it got the message across.

I am in no way working for DirecTV, but I felt it
was my duty as a working class citizen to make you aware of this. Plus, I wouldn't mind you using me as a referral and only paying $39/mo :)

6.20.2010

(Grand) Father's day

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

This is my Poppop. Here we are dancing at my uncle's wedding in 2005. Yes, that is him dancing. Despite his limited (no) training, he knows how to swing his partner around the floor and make them laugh hysterically. We started this tradition many years before, dancing the jitterbug when I was just a kid in front of a packed room of Wilmington's elite. I was the youngest date there, and we were the life of the party.

Here we are dancing at my own wedding in 2008 to Glenn Miller's "In the Mood", the same song we started our tradition with so many years ago.

Things have not changed much over the years. If I had a dollar for every time that man has "embarrassed" me since he and my grandma became my legal guardians in 1986, I would be a millionaire. He's loud, he's curt, he walks to the beat of his own drummer. He is a man of routine who eats 3 meals at the same time every day. He loves Carolina, military history, his hometown, Miller Lite, and family. Really, he's perfect. Most importantly, he loves me and has been a wonderful father to a girl who may have never had one.
I know this day wasn't easy on him. Losing his youngest, his "princess", his "hot shot", his "chicken shoes" (and those are the more normal nicknames). I'll never forget the look in his eyes as he prepared to walk me down the aisle. He was letting me go; trusting that Matt would be there for me the way he had always been.

Happy Father's Day Poppop, and to all the dads who have gone above and beyond to care for, protect, and love their little girls.

Hot as Hades

Saturday, June 18th, 2010

Being of Irish and Welsh descent, I don't exactly tan easily. It takes about a month for me to get a "base", then I lose about 20% of my tan every day I am not in the sun.

For this reason, I have to force myself to sit poolside at least 1 day a weekend to keep a summer glow of some sort. Matt tries to accompany me, but he can be outside for 30 minutes and stay darker than me for a month afterwards; he also doesn't have the stamina to ignore to 90+ degree temps and read/people watch for 2 hours. Wuss...

6.18.2010

Don't get paid enough for this shizz


Friday, June 18th, 2010

Just a sampling of the end of the year paperwork I am working through this week.
Good thing about year round schools: 3
weeks off every 9 weeks.
Bad thing: Closing out one school year while simultaneously preparing for another.
The kids are CRAZY, ready to go on to 4th grade. My coworkers are swamped and miscommunication has become an expectation. Good lord I hate the last 10 days of school!



Thursday, June 17th, 2010

I have a fantastic view if I am working at my desk, where I can see everyone who enters and exits our school. When I saw this beauty, I frantically reached for my phone to snap this parent on her way to pick up her child from after school care today. Unfortunately, you cannot see the severity of this situation. Miss. Thang has NO shoes, cut off jean shorts, a baby doll shirt that her beer gut happily spilled out of, and was smoking the s**t out of her cigarette.

Of course, she left 10 minutes later with not one, but 3 children. Super.

6.16.2010

A big F-U to our healthcare system

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

I got my new insurance card in the mail today. I work the same job I did 2 years ago, haven't gotten knocked up, or seriously ill, yet my copays continue to increase every year.

Regular doctor- Risen from $20 to $30
Specialist- From $40-$70
Urgent Care- From $50 to $75

Explain to me how this system is allowed to bend me over annually yet I don't pay any less.

I don't even want to know what our ER bill from Sunday will come to...


Taking care of my husband, and my dining table

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Time for some summer table decor. The closest holiday is Independence Day, so I got festive. Sorry, but what do you expect from an Elementary school teacher? I've gotten better, I used to decorate for St. Patty's too!







Went to the grocery with a specific purpose this week: baby food type food for my poor tooth-ached husband. A diet of smoothies, applesauce, pitas and ice cream is underway

Back to the Roots...

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Although I wish I could write about the Celtics amazing win over the Lakers Sunday, more pressing issues arose in our household...

Matt started having tooth pain on the boat Saturday afternoon and it got increasingly worse as we had to leave Chili's in the middle of dinner, cancel plans for the comedy show we were planning on attending that night, and eventually wind up in the ER at 3am Sunday morning. The doctor was no dentist, but prescribed us Motrin 600, Vicodin, and a week of antibiotics to hold us over until we could get to the dentist. We get to bed at 3:30. Matt wakes up at 7:30, in extreme pain and I go to the closest 24hr pharmacy to get more meds. He finally falls asleep at 8am.

Needless to say we missed the baby shower we were supposed to attend, and spent a good deal of the day worrying what this would all end up costing. We now know the meds, a root canal and crown will set us back about $1800, and we haven't even gotten the bill from the ER yet...

6.13.2010

So long summer vacation...

Saturday, June 12, 2010

A day on Jordan lake with friends was much needed. Thanks Captain Dane-O and first mate Snarls Barkley for a fun day in the sun.







Friday, June 11, 2010

Great show at Koka Booth in Cary. Love Language rocked the opening, and Phoenix was incredible.If you don't know about these 2 bands, shame on you! Get on ITunes immediately and improve your life.





Thursday, June 10, 2010

Although I'm jealous of teachers who are now starting their vacay, walking by this today made me smile and realize how much I am going to miss my kids and their amazing little personalities.






While most teachers are finishing up with school and enjoying a 2 month hiatus, I just finished one of my breaks and was back in the classroom for the next 10 weeks. 3 more with this crew, a week of workdays, then new 3rd graders until my next break in mid August

6.08.2010

It's nice to laugh without clutching in pain immediately after



Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Week 2 of P90X. I spent 2 days last week unable to laugh, lift my arms more than halfway, or get out of bed without Matt's help. I predict this week will go more smoothly:)





Monday, June 7, 2010

Started this book at the pool today, and 2 hours later had to force myself to put it down. It's lewd, crude, and the author is a total douchebag; however it's a fantastic read and I've learned more than I ever wanted to know about male thinking.






Sunday, June 6, 2010

While shopping at the local Kroger, I couldn't help but to ask, WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR COUNTRY!? We are too lazy to put bacon, then mayo on our sandwiches? Here's an idea, save an artery and don't add either one!

6.03.2010

I cracked under the pressure of what to write for the first post and took the easy way out...
Everyone loves polls! Just kidding, everyone hates polls, but it's my blog and therefore the most appropriate place for self-absorbent information that others could give 2 sh*ts about:)

I copied this from my friend Alethea over at http://ramblingalethea.blogspot.com/, who copied it from someone else.
Here's a list of 99 Things, the bold ones are the ones I've done. What about you?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visted Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegatables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone Rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Effel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone Whale Watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Save a favorite childhood toy
70. Vistied the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person- (from the airplane!)
80. Publish a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stanger at midnight on NYE
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Gotten a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swan in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee