Ringing in a New Year with a House Full of Middle School Girls

Al's birthday is nine days before Christmas, which her dad and I have always celebrated seperately from Christmas, so I don't think she's ever felt "shorted" in the gift department. However, parties were long a challenge, because, let's face it, the week before Christmas is often filled with enough holiday festivities that a little girls birthday party is an easy one to skip. I believe it was four years ago that we came up with a brilliant idea - Al (with some help from her momma) hosts a New Year's Eve sleepover. It's perfect - the girls have a great chance to ring in the new year together, the parents don't have to look for a babysitter (or leave their MS girls home alone), and Al actually has people show to her birthday party. The only drawback? I have a house full of middle school girls. I believe I'm some sort of masochist.

Snow Shovels = Good Karma

This is the beginning of my second winter here on Whitney Street, and I have been continuing my habit of digging out not only my driveway, but that of my elderly neighbor, plus helping other neighbors who might be shoveling while I'm out. Just the neighborly thing to do.

Well, today I got home from work, and I was deciding whether I should park in the street rather than further mash down the boogers that the snow-plow leaves at the botom of the driveway when - dun-duh-duh - someone had already moved all that chunky, heavy snow for me!!!

Don't know for sure who it was, so this is be best I can do for a THANK YOU!

Vampires and Werewolves

Well, I should be:
1) Working on my culminating project for my MSU class
2) Grading papers
3) Planning for next week

but all this has taken a backseat to Bella, Edward, and Jacob. If you don't know who these beautiful people are, then you clearly don't have many teenagers in you life.

Twilight is all the rage among the adolescent set. I read the first book several years ago, and though I couldn't put it down, I thought it was a bit lame. Fast forward a few years - ALL the 13 year-olds in my life (which are many) think these are the greatest books written and can't wait to see the movie. I took Al on opening day, and she then convinced me to read the rest of the books.

So, one week later they have consumed my free time. I have read more in the last week than I probably have the rest of the school year (no small feat). But I hate it. The books aren't well written, they're predictable, Bella infuriates me with her devotion to her "Man", there is a total fairy-tale love-at-first-sight thing that is disturbing, and the characters are not super-bright - lots of plot "twists" that surprise them were so predictable that I didn't even know I figured them out - I just though they were obvious to everyone. Kind of like if tomorrow's headline was Scientists Discover - the Sky is Blue!

So what is so compelling about these books? Pure escapism? Avoidance (I do have a ton I'm avoiding - see list at the top)? I can't figure it out.

Let me know if you do.

It's a Scary World Out There

Yesterday, I learned that one of our student's here in dinky little FMS was abducted from her bedroom, at knife-point, and sexually assaulted. 6th grader. I don't have her in any of my classes, don't have any older brothers or sisters, don't even know her, but still. This is the type of thing that happens somewhere else. Somewhere that doesn't really touch me or people I know and care about.

Actually, this isn't supposed to happen at all. Despite what popular media may have you believe, people don't just break into your house and steal your baby. They don't.

Except they did.

Until yesterday, I lived in a world where I mostly slept with the doors unlocked. I knew I was safe. I knew my kids were safe.

Now I wonder. This was pretty close to home. All the details aren't out yet, so I can still cling to the belief that the guy somehow knew her and her family - was maybe even a family friend - someone who had some sort of sanctioned access to the home, some sort of connection. Not just a guy who randomly broke into this house and randomly chose this girl, because that still doesn't happen, right?

Right?

All May Be Well

Janet Swenson, I do so love you!! Thanks for believing in me. I think I can do this now.

Smart

I am amazed by people and their talents.

I like to believe that I am a fairly intelligent woman. I'm well educated, well read, and successful, so that seems to support my thinking. But sometimes I simply get blocked.

I have previously spoken of the Red Cedar Writing Project, the phenomenal, life-changing writing community I had the privilege of being a part of this summer. Well, one of the many fab things about this experience was that I earned 3 graduate-credits for the work that I did this summer - that translates to more that $1000, and gets me three credits closer to a raise. No small deal.

We also had the option of either receiving some technology (digital camera and voice recorder) or taking another 3-credit hour class for free this fall. In June this was a no-brainer - I learned so much this summer, that of course I would take the class (not to mention the financial benefits).

Now I'm absolutely sure this was the wrong choice. I feel way over my head, though a certain amount of that feeling is simply that I want instead to focus on different things. It's not that this class is a waste of time, because it's not. I have already learned a ton about writing, but the point of this class is to develop Professional Development in regards to Writing Across the Curriculum - and I, at least at this point in my life, have no intention of facilitating PD. In fact, as you may remember, in October really my future is full of work as a massage therapist.

So this is where my amazement comes in. I am in awe of people who get this kind of stuff. Who can organize something like this. Who have the confidence to do something like this.

AAARRRGGG

November - hurry up.

October Blues

Oh Sweet blog - how I miss thee!

Before I begin this entry, please let me assure you all that I LOVE my job. I mean, sure, I'd dig being independently wealthy and spending my days sipping margaritas pool-side while some ripped pool boy fans me, but, if I have to work, this is the greatest job around.

Except during October.

So much about it is so wonderful. An ever-so-slight crispness to the air that allows me to dig out my favorite jeans and tye-dyed hoodie. The astounding colors filling the branches (and my mulching mower that keeps me from having to rake them up). Fresh apple cider. Fresh apples. The greatest holiday - Halloween. The vibrant orange pumpkins everywhere I look. What's not to love?

School.

Inevitably, I get off to a great school-year start with all my new ideas collecting their flavor, with the kids excited and loving being in my new and different classroom, knowing exactly what I want to do and when, and just savoring the joy that is teaching 8th grade ELA.

Then October sneaks in.

And suddenly my ideas fall flat, the kids are used to being in my now boring room and have decided to test me, I feel disorganized, and I start to plot how I could change to a different, easier profession.

I know it's October.

I know it will pass.

But sometimes, 31 days seems like too many flavors.