It's over

I can't believe Spring break is over. Every year I start the break with so many plans. I have a list of things to get done and then before I know it the weak is over and my list has no check marks. I was a tiny bit productive though. I ...

...hosted a wonderful easter brunch
...visited the expanding Valencia bunch in Orange county
...painted our bedroom (took forever but I love it)
...graded about 20 papers (only 70 to go...eeek)
...trained my puppies to not attack Lucy
...had lunch with Hil
...Gym
...went to a Dodger Game
...stole a fire pit (story for later)
...booked a trip for the summer. Puerto Rico, here we come :)
...took walks, and ate, and drank, and just enjoyed the feeling of freedom from work

But now it is back to the grind, I am surrounded by papers and my intention was to turn on the computer to type up lesson plans, but in one final attempt to procrastinate and put my work off, I blog. Goodbye spring break

I love tax day!!!

Three years ago on Saturday, April 15th Chris proposed to me on the beach. It seems like yesterday, and since then tax day has held a special place in my heart! :)

Introduction to Lucy

My parents just got a puppy so last night was going to be the official introduction of Lucy to Charlie and Dodger. Wow, was that a disaster. Our dogs are so friendly. We take them to the dog park all of the time and they love running around with the other dogs. They have never growled or lunged at, or snapped at another dog. Well not until last night. As soon as Charlie saw Lucy he was in full attack mode. He would not calm down and I had to take him home he was so bad. It was really vicious!!!! My mom said that maybe he was being territorial because he has been at my parents house so much he may feel like it's his. I don't know what it was but it was scary. Are there any dog experts with some advice. How do we get charlie to not want to eat Lucy?


How could such a cute puppy be so mean?

Weekend!!!!

The bell just rang and it is officailly the weekend, and a busy one at that! Tomorrow we are celebrating Keely's birthday with dinner and dancing in Ventura, and Sunday I am hopefully meeting up with some friends after I run a 5K. The 5K is still on hold. It depends on how crazy the birthday celebrating goes. Don't you like my priorities :) But first, coffee with Jo, if I can get these crazy kids out of my room. Have a great weekend!

April Fool's- not as fun as it seem's

I am usually not a prakster, but this year I thought I would play a joke on my AVID class. I had this group of kids last year, I also have them this year, and I will follow with them in the 11th and 12th grade as well. It is really a special class. So Chris and I decided that I would tell them that we were moving and that I would not be their teacher anymore. I thought it was harmless enough. Some would probably jump for joy, while others would be shocked. I had no idea I would get the reaction that I did.
So at the begining of class I made my emotional announcement (I love acting, and I was pretty good when I told them). They were silent. One boy shouted out that it was a joke and in a choked up voice I told him, "I wish it was." He responded with a shocked and sadened face.
I do not know why I thought this would be funny because it was so sad. Four girls in class started crying, while others remained silent and stunned! When I told them April Fool's a few started laughing while the others yelled at me becuase I am so mean. That is the last prank I am pulling. I guess it is nice to know that they love me. I am now preparing for their retaliation :)

Science, USC, and Mr. Chris

Today I took my AVID class on a fieldtrip. We went to the California Science Center to watch a really cool 3D Imax movie about the wild ocean off the coast of Africa and visit the CSI Exhibit, and then we walked across the street to get a tour of USC. Just as a side note, I have never been really into the whole USC/UCLA rivalry, but being a UCLA alumn I felt like a traitor today, and my students made sure to rub it in :)
But anyway, the best part of the day was that my husband or Mr. Chris as the student's like to call him, was able to take a day off of work and come. I really love that he could be a part of the trip and see what I do. A lot of teachers like to keep their personal life away from their students, and I really think that that is counterproductive. For students to trust you and respect you, they need to kow that you are a person, and that you care enough about them to share things with them. Now there is definitly a delicate balance that needs to be kept, and oversharing can lead to them thinking that you are friends, which we are not. But anyway, it was a lot of fun for me and the students to have Chris there. He is so wonderful with the student's as well. If you know Chris, you know that he has an amazing way of mixing sweetness and humor into whatever he says and does, and my students really respond to that. He would be a great teacher, and I know he will be a wonderful father one day. Overall, it was a great day!

Scary

My principal just announced that we are on campus lock down. It is not a drill. Whenever I here those words my heart skips a beat. In order to lock our doors we have to go outside and I automatically think the worst. "Is there someone on campus with a weapon? What is going to happen if I walk outside." The locking of my door was a success and now I am just sitting here in a locked classroom. I am just glad I do not have students this period. Last time they freaked out. It is just scary to not know why we have to be locked in our classrooms. I'll keep you posted. By "you" I mean anyone that actually reads this :)

Oh my goodness it has been a bad day!

I am trying to do something for the kids. I am working my ass off and all I get is shit for it! Now I know why some of the old timers at my school avoid doing anything but teaching for their seven hours and then leaving!

Teacher of the Year

What a joke! Recently my high school sponsored our anual awards banquet. It is actually a really great event. Teachers and administrators nominate students and teachers in a bunch of different categories and then we all vote. One of the categories is teacher of the year. Apparently, to become teacher of the year at my school you have to give out hugs instead of teach. Apparently, to be teacher of the year you have to allow students to put on make-up and straighten their hair in class. Aparently, you have to talk up yourself but actually follow through with nothing. Apparently, this school values slackers and gives hard working teachers pink slips. Everything is so political, and it is really sad that teachers that bust their back, take on extra responsibilities, and pull the weight of others are looked over. I personally do not care about the award, but so many wonderful teachers were nominated and did not get the recognition that they deserve. Robin if you are reading this, take a wild guess who won :)

Things I've never done before #4- Spin-a-holics

So I have been trying to loose a few pounds lately and the excercise is going well. Unfortunately you have to stop eating like a cow when you want to loose weight. I am still working on that part of it. But anyway, I have joined a soccer team and I have been going to the gym. Two wonderful ladies that I work with also go to my gym and they Spin. So, I used to be terrified of spin. I have heard bad things, and I had an akward and degrating experience with a spin instructor back in the day (i'll tell that story another day). But anyway, I decided to give it a try and I love it! I feel so accomplished after a class, and it is really motivating to be in a room of people pushing themselves to the max. I have to admit that one of the reasons I continue to go back is because of the spin-a-holics. These are the people in there tight spandex and fancy spin shoes. They pedal faster than anyone and at moments of extreme exhaustion when everyone is ready to fall off the bike, they yell out a big "Wooooo! Yeah!" as if they are feeding of the pain of those that surround them :) It is so entertaining! There is this one guy that just looks at other people with this condescending smirk as if he is thinking "I am a spin god compared to you" I'm serious. It is so funny! It's like I get excercise and a show all in one!