I am thankful for...

...my husband
five days off :)
Cool Ranch Doritos
Apples
French fries
Food in general :)
A beautiful home
sweet puppies that run to me when I get home
a job that pays me (and that I kinda like:)
kisses
hugs
and a wonderful and healthy family and beautiful friends.

Have a Great Thanksgiving and eat a lot!!!!!!!

mmmmmmmmm!

A good day...but

Today was a good day. My students were attentative and some even made me laugh. The day was productive and I didn't even have to yell. It was much better than some other days I have had latley. My sixth period can be pretty challenging and a day after school last week I just broke down. I am so emotional and I really care about what I do, but I sometimes wonder why I am doing it when I can be abused by students. I know some of them have problems and don't know how to deal with me. Everyone is entitled to a bad day. But I have a couple of students that are just outright rude. I don't deserve to work a million hours a week, try so hard, and then half to deal with rude jerks.

My AVID class has been talking about their lifes path latley. Where we are headed, and if there is a path that we have to follow. We have been watching video interviews from people that have taken these amazing paths is life. They had no fear and did what made them happy. So far, I have done that, but what will I do when this path does not make me happy anymore. Truthfully, I am not sure that I would do anything. Changing a carreer seems like such a scary thing. I mean we have a mortgage, we need steady income, what else would I do. I am not saying that teaching doesn't make me happy anymore, but on those really demanding days I feel like at some point it won't be what I want to do anymore. What then? I mean, ideally, my next job would be Mom but I can't wait forever for that to happen. What then?

We talked about having a life plan, and I think that it is a good idea, but does having that plan keep you from veering off course when you should. Now I am just rambling. The point is, I guess, that when it is time for me to do something else, I hope I have the courage to do it.

Dear Blog...

...I am still alive...barely. I am not sure if anyone really even reads this, but if you do, I am alive. I have been so busy lately with work and school and life that I pretty much do nothing else. Latley I got a little break to celebrate three years of Wedded bliss with my hubby. We went to Monterey for the weekend, ate, saw sea lions and jellies, and went sailing. It was a great time, but now back to reality. I would like to chat longer but back to grading.

Linds

Home Sweet Home

Almost exactly a year ago we were moving what little we had into our very first home. I remember when we got the keys and our family and friends met us here. We sat on the floor, because not a piece of furniture existed yet and toasted with champagne! I love our home and in just a year we have already had so much happen to us here. Birthday parties, dinners, happy times and sad, it is warm and loving and I am so glad we are where we are. If I wasn't going crazy from all of my school work I would put up some pretty before and after pictures but alas, I have some free moments so I need to hit the books.

MY SISTER'S GETTING MARRIED!!!!! (The other one)

I have two beautiful sister's and my youngest sister has been engaged for almost a year. We had a wonderful day this past Saturday shopping for her wedding dress. It was so much fun, and pretty painless. Everything looked good on her and she found the most beautiful dress, and she got it at the same place I bought mine. While we shopped and went to lunch and oooed and ahhhed over the pretty dresses my other sister fantasized about the day she would shop for her dress. Well she won't have to wait very long!!!!! Her wonderful boyfriend proposed on Monday!!! The ring is gorgeous, they are gorgeous, and I could not be more excited for them! I guess I get to help plan two weddings :)
Whit, me, and Keely

Why did I do that?

8 people were late in my 6th period class today and rather than handleing it in a professional manner I flipped out. I don't know why I did that. Probably because it has only been a week and they have continued to test me, and be disrespecful. Whatever the reason, there were so many better ways to handle myself, and I chose the worst. I feel embarrased.

Living in the Nard, Oxnard that is

I love living here and even though i live in a place unknown by some and looked down upon by others, I will always love my beaches, my local hole in the wall restaurants and being only (at the most) 15 minutes from so many friends and family. Since we are only an hour from LA we get the occasional celebrity sighting as well. I have sat by Gavin and Gwen at Mrs. Olsen's eating breakfast, and last night Jack Black walked by after a long day filming.

(He's the plump guy in the red shirt :)

They are filming Gulliver's Travels at the harbor, and while Chris, my parent's and I were trying to get to a restaurant for dinner through the crew and trailers, there he was. I have to admit I am not the biggest of fans ( I liked The Holiday) but it was pretty eventful for a Wednesday night.

First day: Surprisingly Sweet

Yesterday was a long day!!! I can not stress that enough. I woke up at 5 a.m. was out the door at 6. I spent a whirlwind day with all of my new darlings, 173 to be exact, and then rushed from school (work) to school (masters program). That fun ended at 9:15 pm. As I pulled into the driveway after being gone for over 15 hours, I slinked out of the car and barely made it to the front door. When I didn't think I could make it any further before passing out, I was greeted with a sweet surprise. Chris was waiting with flowers and homemade brownies. Since we didn't get to eat dinner together he wanted us to at least have dessert. It was so sweet, and might I say, super delicious. We talked about our days, and laughed at his new uniform (I wish I took a picture of him in this silly hat), and the tired feeling just went away. It was such a great end to the day.

In 12 hours...

... I will be leaving my house. Yes the plan is to leave at 6:15 tomorrow morning so I am awake and ready for the first day of school. This means that my lovely alarm will start its buzzing at 5 am. I will undoubtedly beat it up a few times before surrendering.

I must say, that for the day before school starts, I am surprisingly zen. There is just no point in worrying. In 13 hours those darlings will enter my classroom whether I stress tonight or not. I have to say, that this is probably the most excited I have been to start school in awhile. I like my schedule, I can't wait to see my students, and I feel like I know what I am doing.

Now this is most surprising, because this year will be such a year of firsts. The first huge and not exciting first is that for the first time I will be welcoming 38 students into my first period class tomorrow morning. 38!!!! That is a lot of 15 and 16 year old bodies.

But I am ready, and I am excited to do what I love and what I am good at. Let the games begin :)

Last summer projects

In four days I will be part of the work force again, so besides enjoying the morning walks with my puppies, sleeping in, and getting to lay on the beach on a Wednesday afternoon, I have been trying to finish up some projects around the house. Last Tuesday Kate and Zach came to visit, and she helped me work on my tufted upholstered headboard for the guest bedroom. I wanted to make it in dark brown and I found some really nice brown corduroy on sale. I had seen some tutorials online and thought that it looked fun and pretty easy. It proved to be both. I really liked the way it turned out and it was cheaper than any headboard I had found previously.

The wood and fabric

just fold it over and staple (staple guns are such a fun tool!)

The beautiful buttons Kate made

Done!

The hardest part was getting the buttons on and mounting the entire board to the wall.
Chris helped and we got it mounted in no time.

We have an old dresser that is next on the list of projects. I am going to try to spruce it up with some paint and new hardware. Hopefully I can get it done before the stress and craziness of work begins!