Monday, April 25, 2005

Spring time in KY and Monday Mornings.

What the heck...I mean come on. This weekend? What was that all about? Snow? In April? I was so excited to see a high in the 60s today!

So, I think I think (?) in short sentences. I'm finding when I am excited, tired, or on a coffee overdose (such as most mornings) I type in really short sentences. Actually they aren't even sentences just groups of words put together that I decide to put a period or question mark or exclamation point after. I'm thinking that this morning it must be because it is Monday.

What is it about Mondays anyway? I mean, why do we dislike them? Seriously, they are the start of something new. Every Monday morning we get to start over. A new work week to accomplish things. Another weekend to look forward to (the number five is only a long time when it refers to the week). Maybe we dislike Mondays because it is a new week with new responsibilities and new things to do. Or maybe it's cause we are still recovering from a weekend filled with way too many things to do and not enough sleep.

I personally like this Monday because Mondays are a pretty slow day at school because the students are still tired from their weekend. :) And after this Monday...I only have four more. :)

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

So, in case you were wondering, being sick sucks. You're tired, grouchy, your voice sounds funny, and people don't want to stand anywhere near you. You have coughing fits and your students turn around and have to ask if you are okay. Overall you just feel like crap. It's a wonderful feeling for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of the sick feeling yet this season.
Seriously though, being sick is pretty miserable and doesn't give for the best blogs, but I just thought I would share with you all how I was feeling in hopes that by the time you read this I will be completely cough-free.

Monday, January 31, 2005

Other days I remember why I am looking into careers outside of teaching. Guess which one today was? ;)

Friday, January 28, 2005

Some days I remember why I became a teacher. Today was one of them.

Thursday, January 27, 2005

Well, I had jury duty orientation today. Yep, I have been called up to serve my country. According to the judge who presided over orientation today, serving as a juror is one of the greatest ways we can serve our country. He noted that we have a unique and special system in America that allows us to be judged by a panel of our peers. I know all this of course (History teacher that I am), but it was a really good reminder that though jury duty is somewhat of an inconvience, it is something that, as Americans, we should want to do. In fact, since I have resigned myself to the inconvience of it all, I am now excited about the experience it will give me to be a better teacher. Conviently, we are getting ready to begin our chapter on how government works in my history class. So, this experience of jury duty will only enhance my ability to discuss the judicial process with my students. I think I should therefore get professional development for it. :)
I will definately keep you posted on the merits and demerits of jury duty. Today I am pleased to say that I feel I am doing a duty to my country, and therefore there is nothing to complain about. Hopefully...I will keep that in mind (it's in print now so I will have to!)
Hello all you blog readers! I don't really have anything to say, but I feel as if I have neglected my blog a great deal. I get so concerned about saying something interesting and witty that I find I kind of run from the blog screen. I often think of GREAT things to say when I am as far away from the computer as posible, and then by the time I have the time and energy to blog, those great thoughts have disappeared never to return. It's a shame really cause I bet that I am a fantastic writer. It's just that the words never make it from my mind to paper, so the great ideas are stuck where only I get to enjoy them. I know, I'm so sorry that you all are missing out! :)
Oh! I just thought of something to say! (I knew it would come eventually). This weekend my roommate and I rented the movie Saved! Have you heard of it? It's set in a Christian Highschool and is mainly a satire on fundamentalist Christians who are a little over the top. As extreme as it may seem at points, this movie is reminder that our actions are being watched and that we need to daily evaluate our Christian relationship to discover who we are serving, God or ourselves. In the movie multiple characters think they are doing what God wants them to do, only to realize that they didn't go about it the right way. It's interesting, something to think about. I do recommend it, cause I think we all need something to think about, and this movie will make you think.
Okay, I better post this before I get kicked off aol and lost this entire thing. Cause that would be a shame, because I know you all wouldn't want to miss reading this blog...and there is no way I am typing it again. :) Hope you enjoy! And comment away..cause maybe that will inspire me to post more often!

Thursday, January 13, 2005

It’s not every day that you get to meet someone you admire. On Tuesday evening I met Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries series, All-American Girl, The Boy Next Door, and other books that I have read and enjoyed. She came to Joseph-Beth and spoke and signed books. Just listening to her, I can understand why I, and so many others, enjoy her books. She is absolutely hilarious. Her word choice, her tone, and her facial expressions kept the audience laughing. After listening to her, I can tell that she puts all of who she is into her novels. That is what makes them so great. She’s real in person and that enables her to create real characters.
It seemed like a normal night really, with just an extra stop at the bookstore. But in reality it is one of those times that you just know you will always remember. That every time I pick up her book, I’ll think of how I spoke with her and now have her signature in Every Boy’s Got One, her latest novel. This novel refers to the fact that every boy has a heart…though I sometimes wonder about this, I am willing to read and discover how her character comes to this conclusion. Who knows, maybe it will help me better understand guys!! (Unlikely, but you never know!)

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Merry Christmas!

What a holiday season it has been! It's been full of parties and get togethers, time with friends, Christmas lights, and yummy food. Since it is only December 21, there is still more celebrating to be done. Since the hustle and bustle of my everyday work day is gone, I can finally relax and maybe really think about what Christmas is. Cause the parties and lights and food are fun and exciting--that isn't why we celebrate. It's easy to forget why we are celebrating this time of year. But in fact without Christ's birth, there wouldn't be a Christmas season to celebrate.

I often wonder what Christmas means to those who are not Christians. How do they justify taking time off work, eating lots of food, and buying lots of presents? Christmas just doesn't make sense to me without Jesus' birth in the center. So, if you are working hard to justify eating lots of food, taking time off work, or buying lots of presents--take a few minutes to remember that in the middle of all those things we need to thank God for giving his son to us, as a baby boy so long ago.

Merry Christmas everyone!!
Merry Christmas to me! Today it was announced that book 6 of the Harry Potter series will be released on July 16, 2005. Hurray!!! I cannot wait! It's exciting to at least have a date to look forwards too. So, there will be months of speculation before the book comes out...and I better start rereading the series! It is a tradition after all to reread the entire series before the new book comes out. :) Merry Christmas!

Friday, October 01, 2004

Some Things Never Change

The band plays the same songs. The cheerleaders do the same dances. The student section never sits down. The parents sit in the same spots. The junior highers never watch the game. The announcer still doesn't know what's going on. And everyone is still cheering for the home team.
This is Clinton Mississippi on a Friday night during football season. Tonight I enjoyed my first CHS game as an alumnus---5 years after I graduated. I had the chance to come home this fall and I took it (forgetting how long the drive actually is). Luckily is was a weekend when Clinton played at home. I am not sure what it is about football, or what it is about being a part of the home team, but the excitement doesn't seem to fade. I still wanted to cheer until the end and make sure we one. It was a close game 13-7, but ended excitingly when the Arrows kept the Gators from scoring by intercepting the last play of the game. Got to love those last minute turnovers.
I don't know what it is that makes me sensitive to things like the "alma mater." Though I only spent 3 full years in Clinton, it will always be a part of life. It has to be...it's where my first diploma comes from.
Despite living in Kentucky today I am glad that I was given the ability to feel that many places are home. It's great to be home now; and it will be great to go home on Sunday.

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

It's been a long time since I have published, but I do have an excuse. Summer has ended and the work year has begun! It didn't catch me off guard, but it did become a whole lot of work extremely fast. I don't often use this site to complain, but the subject I am going to approach warrents being discussed.
I work in a school district that is so large and sometimes unpredictable that you never know what's going to happen. Instead there is this magic thing called "Day Four." These words are spoken with reverence, fear, and anger most of the time. These words mean that things could change in what feels like a moment.
Day Four in Fayette County refers to the fourth day of each new school year. This is the day when schools turn in their numbers--how many students they have attending their school. Depending on the numbers you can gain or lose staff to your school. Because of the new middle school in Fayette County this year, it was somewhat of a turbulent start to the new year. And now day four has come and changes have been called. At my school we are gaining a teacher and a half; but we are losing a special education teacher. It doesn't seem to make sense, I know. As it turns out one grade's special education will have to totally be redone, and one team's schedules (likely my 8th grade team) will have to be redone. It's all about the kids, I know...but it doesn't stop the frustration.
I am thankful that I still have my job...once again I escaped the horrors of Day Four. Others, were not so lucky and I can only hope that it works out for them.
Even as I sit here waiting for students to enter my room, I know that it is all about them. But I just keep wondering...what is wrong with a system that keeps hurting/frustrating its workers. The horrible cycle never seems to end in a job where security should be at its highest, you often don't feel secure.

Saturday, July 31, 2004

My Favorite Parts of Summer

As my personal summer is nearing to an end (I'm down to the last 48 hours), I thought I would take a trip down memory lane with a list of all my favorite parts of the summer. These are in no particular order, just what I remember!

Dutch Blitz
Mamma Mia! Cleveland
Mamma Mia! Charlotte
Sebring Camp
July 4th fireworks/cookout
Kings Island
Washington DC--The American History museum
Colonial Williamsburg teacher resource center
Melanie's Wedding
Spending time with Kathy and Heather
Renting a new townhome!
Seeing teens come to Christ/grow closer in their relationship with God
Jen's graduation
Taking pictures
Swimming
Shopping
Gulf Shores
Time with family

And that covers it briefly of course. At least I have plenty to remember while I am sitting in a workshop every day next week!! :)

Monday, July 12, 2004

My Sister, the Star

Last night I had the priviledge of going to see my sister star in the number one Broadway musical, Mamma Mia! Bekah played Sophie, a soon-to-be-married twenty-year-old who longs to discover the identity of her father only to find that she has "three possible Dads." All this is to the toon of many ABBA songs. It's one of the funnest shows out there and it was exciting to see her! It was especially cool to be able to say "that's my sister" and hear people say how amazing she is.

Whenever I am not sure exactly if life will take me the way I want to go, I know that I can always think about my sister who is truly living her dream.

Thursday, July 08, 2004

The Last Few Weeks of Life

Well, it has been a busy last couple of weeks. I drove to Ohio, Mississippi, and back again to Kentucky. It was a really fun couple weeks in Kentucky enjoying all the best things of summer including cookouts, races, parties, trampolines, swimming, fireworks, and roller coasters. It was definately one of the most event filled and fun July 4th holidays I have ever experienced.
Another big event of the past couple weeks is the finding of a new place to live! Those of you who have ever been to my place know exactly why moving out of my apartment will be a highlight of this summer. And of course it will be too much to have roommates...I sure hope the job doesn't suffer!

Speaking of the job, I think I enjoyed July 4th all the more this year because being a history teacher now, I was reminded of all the things this country has gone through to be able to celebrate on the fourth of July. So often we seem to forget what independence really is. If we could only understand what it was like before democracy--before we had the rights that so many people fought and died for. It's easy to forget...which makes me grateful for holidays such as the fourth of July and friends who will put up with my "history lessons." =)

Another summer is half way over and the school year looms ahead but there are so many things to do before that time including more time in the car, weddings, camping, visiting, musicals, DC, Williamsburg, and North Carolina. And these are the reasons I really do love my job. =)

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

You Know You are In Mississippi When...

We often joke about things that remind us of home. We associate certain things or certain songs or certain people with certain places or times. Well, since I moved to Mississsippi in 1996 there is one thing that I always associate with home...and today I was reminded of them once again.

In Ohio we have bugs. There are bugs everywhere. But Ohio bugs are nothing compared to Mississippi bugs. MS has three bugs that you don't find in the North including the red wasp (ouch), the red ant (double ouch), and finally--the one I saw today-- the GIGANTIC Flying Roach. I'm not kidding. They fly and they are huge.

So here is the story of how I was reminded during this visit home of the roach...
The day started off normal. Got up, went for a walk with my mom and our dog. Came in, had some water, decided to take a shower. So, I'm washing my hair wondering what I will do today and I look over. Sitting in the corner of the shower is none other than a 2 1/2 inch roach. I screamed--not because I was scared--but because they are so disgusting. Uck. Gross. So, of course I got out of there as soon as possible and then killed the roach and sent him to his (or her) grave down the toilet. If you have never experienced a giant roach, especially one who flies, you are truly missing out. If you ever visit MS beware, because they always turn up in the strangest places.

So now that I have had my official Mississippi welcome, I feel right at home. And definately encouraged to return to Kentucky soon--the roach-free land of the North.

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

A Quote

"He (General Longstreet of the Confederacy) did not think much of the Cause. He was a professional: the Cause was Victory....The war had come as a nightmare in which you chose your nightmare side. Once chosen, you put your head down and went on to win."

From The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

I thought it was interesting.

Monday, June 14, 2004

New Blog

Okay everyone...I've branched out! I now have two blogs that you can visit. You can find my other blog at rachelsreviews.blogspot.com
It's a totally different blog, so there will be updates on both. I hope you enjoy! I'm excited about this new blog and I look forward to filling it up! And as soon as I learn how to do links I will add them!

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

Footloose

Well, I am home again. Mississippi home. Home is just where I happen to be at the time lately. =)

So, I am back in Clinton and tonight I went to see my "little" brother (who's 8 inches taller than me) in his summer musical, Footloose. Do you know what that is about? Here is a short summary. It is set in a small town in Texas where a local preacher has had dancing outlawed. A city-kid moves down there and disrupts the whole town. In the end there is a town council where the main character quotes scripture in an effort to convince the adults to allow dancing in the town. And all I could think about was...they need to do this musical at Asbury. I mean, could you imagine? I know that perhaps I am a little behind and some of you already knew this storyline, but I was wishing tonight that I had known it while attending Asbury...just because I think I could have had some fun with it.

Well, it's good to be home and highly amusing to be so distinctly reminded of Asbury tonight. I wish everyone could see my little brother though, he is fantastic!

Saturday, June 05, 2004

Second Time

It's just as good the second time. =)
And the Critic Says...

It was fantastic. It was darker, it was deeper, it was funner. That's my summary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Tonight I saw the third installment of the Harry Potter series. I must say Alfonso Curan does a completely different Harry Potter than Chris Columbus. However, it was an extremely intriguing Harry Potter.

As movies go, specifically movies geared towards kids, this is an excellent movie. It seems more to fit in the "teenager" category than the kids...but that makes sense since the main characters are now in their teenage years. As a story it was fantastic. The writing...blows me away. I laughed out loud; I was frightened; and I was relieved. And I already knew the story line!

A lot of liberties are taken with this movie in regards to the novel itself. But it is pleasing none the less. I have to say that my initial reaction is a bit subdued because this movie was so different than the previous two. It will take at least one or two more viewings for me to fully process the different Harry Potter world that Prisoner takes you into. So, my bet is this is not the last Harry Potter moment on the Blog. =)