Day 36!

I am really done with winter.

Yesterday's snow became evil solid ice mountains of doom! The fallen snow-ice could be broken but the deposit of the Evil Snow Movers (plows) were SOLID and twice as deep. My driveway's plow guy also plowed crooked; I believe to shift Snow Everest further into the backyard. His ventures, though of noble intent, made it impossible to get to my front wheel or make a u-turn escape route. It'd been nearly half an hour and I had barely made progress.

I called in back-up.

Aka. The math teacher drove down the road to give me a ride to work.

I was hoping the sun would show or that we'd get the promised rain and warm temps. Nope. Stayed cold and the snow stayed mostly solid ice.

Whilst settling back into my apt, someone shifted the mini ice range behind my car to not behind my car. Many thanks to Mysterious Helpful Plow. Perhaps he has relations to Mysterious Helpful Snowblower? In any case, I still had mountains to conquer. My giant ice pick and I took out some aggressions - I still have all my toes, I'm shocked, too - and the shovel survived the second venture after nearly succumbing in the morning.

My driveway's new addition: Snow K2! Snow Everest's got about 4 feet on Snow K2. Regardless, I'm proud of the creation! Haha

Now for some needed rest. Gosh that was exhausting!

Day 35!

Today was a strange, strange day. Not only was it a Sunday that felt like Saturday thanks to working yesterday, but I woke up to 5 inches of heavy, wet snow and icy disaster after a day of 40 degree weather.

Needless to say, I was cozy at my apartment all day venturing out only to uncover my porch.

A benefit to a house bound day?

Nicola Tesla got his new light installed and the tank got the five star scrub down.

I am still certainly working towards being more productive and less stressed out in my life. There are days, like today, when I frustrate the hell out of myself and there are good days where I get tons done. The idea is to find a way to destress that takes a small enough amount of time that I can still be really productive afterwards.

This is a thought to continue.

Day 34!

This is for yesterday, since it was in my head and then I got REALLY tired and fell asleep.

I had Satutday school yesterday and it went surprisingly well. I had most of my students and while they were talkative, they got stuff done. It allowed for some relationship building as well as helping and getting to check in. It was followed by a long meeting about budget and the school. It was a productive meeting, I think, but then, I got a lot of questions answered. That's one thing about a new school, you are always learning new things. I often wish I knew them before, but it is good to keep growing and planning for the future.

I spent my evening wandering around the bookstore and mall in the city because my brain was having trouble deciding if it was Friday or Saturday.

The best part of the day?

My dad waking up early (but after I had left for work) and panicking about whether or not I had remembered to wake up.

My phone was silent in my desk and at lunch I discovered the texts, six phone calls, and a voicemail. It was really sweet, but mostly hilarious. 

Day 33!

Today was a good, busy, and productive day. I was running my head off during parts of it, but my students appeared to be learning so I'm a happy lady.

Less happy about having work tomorrow. Boo 7 snow days. Thanks, tundra.

Despite that, my glass of wine and Frank Turner music session are making the night a chill one. Even better if?

Yep! Even better!

I just ordered by ticket to attend the Tau Beta Sigma - Eta Gamma and Kappa Kappa Psi - Theta Beta 30th anniversary! I am so excited to be down in Boston seeing everyone next week.

Now to find something to wear...time for a first Mod Cloth purchase? Perhaps...

Day 32!

Throwback Thursday time!

I'm cold and it seems like Spring has decided to not exist. I decided to browse some old photos and envision being warm.

Brad and I on my graduation cruise in 2012!

It also reminds me that I need to get my hair cut and dyed like that again and find out what happened to that belt.

Tha was such a stress-free and enjoyable vacation. I wish I was back on the cruise, enjoying cocktails, family, and sunshine! Maybe this is a sign? Haha

I had a pleasant enough day aside from the artic wind and am now convinced my dad is Castle. Let's hope tomorrow and Saturday school(!) go as smoothly!

Day 31!

Today marks snow day #7 of the year, only this time, the storm forgot to show up. It looked like it was turning further inland to give us up to 8" and instead we got some flurries.

While I'm not looking forward to making it up, it did give me time to fully recover and get a mix of work, errands, and relaxing done.

The moment of the day that made me happiest? Seeing this post on Facebook:

I haven't been on Pottermore in an age, but my Hufflepuff Pride was thrilled.

Despite its usuall rap, I always found that Hufflepuff valued the best qualities: loyalty, honesty, and accetance of all.

Helga Hufflepuff said, according to the Sorting hat, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same." All students can learn if we have a little faith; all people can grow if we support and trust them.

So I smile because I am a Hufflepuff and was reminded today of just how awesome that can be!

Day 30!

I went to bed last night with a bit of nausea that I thought was stress...woke up this morning and Hello, Stomach Flu! It's been going around and I knew, new school, it'd get me sooner or later.

I hate calling out sick. I want to help my students and while some subs are really good, others are...not so much. At least we've been working, at various stages, on projects for everything, so hopefully they were still productive. *prays I had a good sub* It was mid-point, so it wasn't too much new material; they could work with what they knew. Here's hoping.

I spent most of the day wrapped in blankets in bed or on my lounge, incapable of much. The bright point of a gods-strike-me-down-my-body-is-rebelling sick day?

Ginger Ale and a guilt free binge of Castle (from the beginning, finally caved).

I got a little work done tonight, but it was a whole lot of rest and drink fluids.

It also provided time to think. While the worst thing, I believe, a student can tell his or her teacher is "you don't care," how can we as teachers make it clear we do? I have plans to check in one-on-one with all my borderline and failing students tomorrow and Thursday. I want them to see that I want to help and I do want them to pass. Then, ball's back in their court. Any teachers have ideas for ways they show students they care about the student's grades?

Day 29!

To be honest, today was really rather awful. I just want my students to listen and realize they need to start writing advanced literary essays which means formal language and quotes. There was just a lot of disrespect and trying to push responsibility away.

Don't get me wrong, I had some students working really hard, even ones that normally don't, but it was the group in one class and the student after school that threw my day. I've been upset, I've felt like I wasn't any good, and I have been anxious. I have almost never been mad until today. You want to know how to write essays for the SATs? LISTEN. They want junior level, formal essays like we are doing. Also, the website practice is bought by the state for you. You want to argue that practice is summative? Please try to define a core of my degree. Just do your work on time and you won't fail. It's not complicated. If you put the effort into work that you put into complaining you would have an A.

And you know what? I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET AN A.

That just kind of sucked the wind out of my sails and tonight's hockey game is also stressful. So, what made me happy? This article titled "30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself," that my brother's roommate posted. Like 90% of it is my life.

 "Stop acting like everything is fine, when it isn't" and "Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others" were my favorite.

I always feel like I have to constantly justify myself, especially at work. And you know what? I don't. My room, my rules, now sit down and listen. If you listen and are nice, I will bend over backwards to do anything to help you at any time. I will stay after, I will read a hundred drafts, I'll read paragraphs on Sunday night for an essay due Monday in another class. I will do anything if you are simply nice. I also need to not say things are good if they aren't. Change isn't going to happen if I act like it's peachy. So I am going to keep calm and carry on. It's helping some get better, now everyone else can catch on.

'Cause let me tell you, ain't nothing I love more than getting to tell a student who has always struggled, "That's perfect, a really good idea!" Their look and "really?!" makes even my bad days a little bit better. [That story happened today, too, it was adorable.]

Day 28!

I have a weird relationship with Sundays. On one hand, I get to sleep in and have time to do errands and finish laundry. On the other hand, I have to work tomorrow and that means worrying about what I have done vs what I have left to do, etc.

Today's Sunday is an especially valuable commodity because next week we begin Saturday school.

Yep, you read it correctly: Saturday school. We have 3 snow days that are a "must" make up for senior graduation. Thankfully they're spread out and only half days, but a six day week is still going to be long.

To enjoy my Sunday I decided on some Zumba and managed to find my TV's hiding second HDMI port!

#sweatyselfie

Me, post 45 minute Zumba class on the Wii. I have the Zumba core game and am excited to buy more soon. I am always surprised by how many of the songs I know and how many of the moves are familiar. The disc is put out by Zumba and Zumba instructors get CDs of music and trained on routines through workshops, so it's actually really accurate. The waistband for the wiimote is a bit odd to get used to, but once you do, it's easy to forget.

I am now energized and hopefully ready to conquer whatever I find I have left to do!

Day 27!

Today has been a decently productive one in terms of my apartment. Kitchen and bathroom have both been thoroughly scrubbed. The laundry, complete with 100 year dryer, is in the works. I took a nap, haha.

Now I am happily pursuing cookbooks with wine while dinner cooks.

Carla Hall's Cooking with Love and Diana Rodger's Paleo Lunches and Breakfasts On the Go.

Hoping to choose some recipes to shop for next week and try more culinary experiments. :) This week is leftover crock pot meals and cutie salads.

I am happy to be sitting down to watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones once dinner is ready. I've heard mixed reviews but I'm almost done the last book that's out (except the Magnus Bane short stories), so I'm going to check it out.

My only negatives: it's bloody snowing and the lady bug, my constant companion, appears to be having friends over. They're harmless, just visually distracting. I can't kill them; they're very cute.

Day 26!

I love theatre and most especially, I love musicals. They're fun, overthetop, and often adorable when performed by young troupes.

Tonight I was treated to a musical I often enjoy.

Program & Concessions sign!

The quirky, music filled retelling of "The Princess and the Pea," Once Upon a Mattress.

Several of the cast members, including Winnefred and Lady Larkin, had stunning voices. The jester, Prince Dauntless, and the Queen all reflected their characters' personality extremely well. It was definitely an opening night show, but I still very much enjoyed it and had a lot of good laughs. I wish I had the opportunity to see shows more often.

Day 25!

Happy first day of Spring?

Today, we had what began as a two hour delay and morphed into a snow day. Six inches of heavy, wet snow fell and was followed by several inches of rain that thankfully cleaned most of that up, though it's now freezing to the roads like mad.

I actually had a rather productive day of cleaning a bit and getting loads of paperwork done. That being done, I decided to treat myself to a win-win: opening showing at a theater minus the Friday crowd that would doubtless contain students.

I drove to the city to see Veronica Roth's Divergent!

I blew through the books in what felt like an obsessive haze. They were well written and the society was philosophically fascinating.

Without being spoiler-y, I can say that I highly recommend the film. There was a little too much Jennine Mathews where she wasn't supposed to be, but much of this was caused by them incorporating almost every key conversation or trigger for Tris whilst having to condense scenes so it fit a movie time frame. I could see why they made the changes so I could respect the way it was done and it still preserved the message of the novel and the characterization. 

I was really pleased and found the acting and casting well matched. Still can't over the fact that Ansel Egbert was in it as her brother though! It's going to make TFioS a bit more awkward to watch! Kate Winslett definitely blew my mind though. She's spectacularly creepy as Jennine; she gets that nice words, cold arrogance, and creepiness in your gut just right. 

So now go see it and agree or disagree with me!

"Fear doesn't shut you down, it wakes you up."

Day 24!

Today was fairly average, overall. I did manage to be rather productive and got a lot of marking done at work. I am very close to completely done and plan to be by tomorrow!

I am, however, very sick of the cold and snow. I enjoy winter and find snow beautiful, but at this rate we won't have a Spring at all. We are set to get around 6" of snow and slush and ice this evening through tomorrow and I am not pleased at all. I merely hope we are delayed and not cancelled as we are already dealing with 5 snow days to make up! I wonder if I'll see grass again?

A highlight of my evening has been expanding my cake baking skills. The school musical begins tomorrow and they are having an intermission bake sale each night as a fundraiser. I have volunteered to bake cupcakes...when I obscenely over bought cake mix. Perhaps the best part of tonight's baking session was the fact that I turned it into a Les Miserables sing-a-long spectacular! Sorry not sorry.

My latest creations!

Behold: red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries!

I had rave reviews on the standard red velvets and hope the strawberries end up being good sellers. 

Got any good baking recipes or ideas for things I could figure out how to bring to life? Hit me up! I have 80 test subjects who will merrily munch away at experiments.

Can I call my students test subjects?

Day 23!

It's a bit ironic that sometimes I get so busy with work and trying not to stress out about work that I forget how much I love books. It has been my experience recently that I need, more than ever, to preserve that love.

I don't just mean fancy books of literary merit, but best selling YA novels and long books that may or may not have merit but had good commercials and I always try to read the book before the movie. I look at my hodgepodge of books here in Maine (though, let's be honest, there are a few piles elsewhere in the apartment), and it made me happy.

Everything from textbooks to classic 20th century American to tawdry Great War mystery to YA poetry novels...

My novel taste is as broad as my music taste. My poetry taste doesn't often edge past the Romantics, but that's perfectly all right.

Two things have really firmly reminded me that I come alive because of books are my Adult Ed English class and The Infernal Devices series. 

My Adult Ed boys mostly make me laugh. They cling to odd details, come up with raucus theories, and appreciate the weird humor and time period that makes Catch-22 so popular. Class always gets interesting when you have to talk about prostitution, faking illness, and bombing Mussolini all in the same class period!

The Infernal Devices series by Cassadra Clare does one thing that endeared me to it instantly: begins each chapter with a piece of poetry (a clip) that was popular in Victorian London. My heart and soul is that poetry and to see how it links to the plot makes my inner English nerd twitch. What really made me realize - hey, stupid, you wicked love books! - was when I encountered a character that did something I didn't expect: continuously flipped out about Sydney Carton as much as me. Teaching and reading A Tale of Two Cities was the most difficult and most rewarding book I have ever taught and my adoration of Sydney Carton is practically unfounded. His presence in the series makes me constantly think of my students as they finished the novel and how our reaction let us accept the seemingly endless and boring (shhhh!) beginning because it is what made the end MATTER and endure. And also cry. A lot. No shame.

I am greatful today for books for reminding me I love them and why I do what I do.

Day 22!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I am enjoying celebrating with the successfully fixed up dinner.

Corned beef, potatoes, and a Guinness!

Especially being so far away, it is nice to preserve parts of tradition. My family and heritage is very important to me. Though I am solidly Scottish, my granny had Irish family and we always celebrate today. Plus, who doesn't enjoy corned beef?

Perhaps it makes one a bit homesick, but  that is okay because it makes me remember who I am and the wonderful people who raised me.

Day 21!

I attempted to cook up a St. Paddy's Day  roast and ran into a new problem. It failed. Miserably.

Evidently, I either chose a bad brand that doesn't like being cooked in the crock pot (not that I had options, mind you, the sticks have what the sticks have), or it simply wasn't satisfied with 4 1/2 hours on high in the crock pot.

I mostly bake well and don't cook too fancy for the most part. I have been doing a lot of experimenting and things have always gone well. It was a disappointment to actually not cook something right, especially a traditional food I will be expected to cook annually.

I will be cooking it further and see if it was merely the timing and the longer it's been since the disaster the more I'm giggling over it. They always say the first years on your own this stuff happens and now I'm going through it.

I had to suck it up and deal with it like a mature adult. Which is to say:

I went out and bough How to Train Your Dragon Mac and Cheese with the rest of my groceries.

I don't eat much dairy and the last time I had pasta was over a month ago, but the box made me laugh and I had nothing else really defrosted to cook.

It reminds me of what I say when I cook for friends/family: if I screw it up, the pizza's on me. I'd just never screwed it up before!

Day 20!

It's my goal to have some time to relax and be myself each weekend and today was my day for that.

It was filled with cooking, chatting with friends and family for a long time about a lot of things, getting lost in The Infernal Devices, and some classic Harry Potter.

No, they're not as good as the books, but calm your jets, tumblr, they're still amazing.

Harry Potter makes me think of being the same age as them when the books came out and believing my Hogwarts letter was to come and how I would love to grow up and be Minerva McGonnagal, etc. It's just such a marvelous story of hope that it always makes me happy.

Hufflepuff forever!

Day 19!

Despite the day beginning with snow shoveling and fighting to get my car out of the driveway, it ended in the best possible way.

Paradise:

Hanging out at the bookstore in the city!

There's not much better than a comfy chair and being surrounded by books. :)

Today's work was all workshop but it was actually useful and insightful. I have found asking questions, commenting, and taking notes allow me to focus and learn - it's the way I am. Maybe the nooblet should sit and listen but then Id get nada out of it, so I talk and I wonder and I think. That is, as far as I know, what one is actually supposed to do at these things.

The other main thing on my mind? Spring. What is this mystical season?

Day 18!

Today was a snow day!

We easily got over a foot of snow and while I'll dread making it up in June, snow days are like mini-breaks for me. I hate when people say teaching is easy because it STRESSES ME OUT like crazy. I have these lives to help and they need to learn things and I hope they learn the things and what if they don't or I mess up or...etc

Or then people say don't care so much or you're fine or you worry too much...why is it bad that I am invested in what I do? It can be super fun and rewarding and I'll get better and less twitchy. Eh I don't know where I'm going with this.

Anywho, snow days are like rewards or days to not worry, like presents you pay for later. I get to sleep in and relax and get work done like answer emails, apply for jobs, grade, work out, SHOVEL, give my neighbors extra cupcakes, talk about books and writing, play with emojis, watch way too many YouTube blogs, and be amused by random things.

The most amusing part of my day?

My dad and I have some grade A conversations.

And yes, I'm literally paying him for fighting with the stupid tax program in wings and beer. It's how we roll.

My family is spectacular sometimes. :)/

Day 17!

While I am tired and would rather have Spring than two feet of oncoming snow, I would mark today as successful. 

A twisted version of scattergories turned into a great game at work. I frosted all those cupcakes (there were 60) in 20 minutes and apparently they were delicious (I don't like cake so I didn't know but they seemed fluffy). I finished my fab book but would like the end to not have been the end - seriously, in media res much? The Bruins are currently eating the Canadiens for breakfast.

A less than bright spot? BU's poor men's basketball team. They were better than that game showed them this season and I rather sad they won't go back to the dance - they deserved it.

My moment of happy today came rather early and it's one thing I will never stop loving about where I live:

Sunrise over the lake.

My phone didn't do that vibrant, flamingo pink justice, it's really, really beautiful. It may be hard to wake up and leave for work by 6:45, but driving past that every morning? Better than coffee, man.

Day 16!

I am bone tired so this one's going to be rather quick. Today was overall a good day - I continue to enjoy my quirky night class and our random side bars. We managed a 20 minute q&a on space science. Hell yeah black holes and dark matter! Took us a bit to remember how we got there from WWII bombardier raids, but we had time and I'm just happy they're enjoying the class.

There are actually two great reasons I am happy today. One is that my book arrived today! :) The other is my domestic productivity:

Happy (almost) Anniversary of the Assassination of Julius Caesar!

Not kidding. Legit reason for the thousand to be frosted cupcakes.

Explanation: my AP students studied Julius Caesar and did a recitation project. A girl studied Roman funerals so she could do extra credit for the final speeches and discovered they did rememberance/funeral feasts and baked what became known as "death cake."

When I told my students it was the Ides of March on Saturday they looked at me and went "Death cake?" So death cake I have spent the past several hours making.

Now I'm going to pass out because I am done with being awake and thinking about the weather.

Day 15!

Where did today go?

Despite being very fast, I was super tired. I really, really am not a fan of springing forward. I should remember to wake up early Sunday to prepare myself but Sunday mornings in bed are cozy. Oh well, that's why there's coffee.

Day one of mason jar salad was a success! It was fabulous - I highly recommend the technique.

Classes went well though my motivation after school resulted in a nap. I'm all for Spring because I get so much energy, plus I can start seeing all the pretty places Maine has to offer like Acadia. Alas, it seems I'm due for 10+ inches of snow Wed/Thurs...the weather alert is already posted. I like snow and all, but I'm a human Popsicle at this point.

In brighter news, I am excited about possible visits to Boston and also about owning a Crock Pot!

All ready for some very Spring inspired Hawaiian beef with mangoes and apples among various veggies and a black imperial ale. We will see how it goes!

If anyone has any fun crock pot recipes, feel free to shoot them my way or share a pin!

Day 14!

So today I was rather domestic and just took the time to do things like cook a lot and grocery shop. It's nice to know that literally I have breakfast and lunch made up for EVERY DAY this week and I don't have to worry about it. It's the little things.

Also, aren't my salads adorable? They make me happy.

Mason jar chicken Caesar salads! :)

I also spent the morning finishing City of Fallen Angels and can I just say, is it May already? How am I going to wait THREE MONTHS for the final book? I read the first five in TWO WEEKS. I'm having book feels and one of my ships has sunk and I just need it to be okay and I just need the book, okay?

In brighter book news, I have used my free trial of Amazon Prime to ensure that my lovely new Mercy Thompson book arrives on my doorstep on publication day Tuesday. Not like I had to wait two years or anything. I'm just glad I could order it online, especially after I'd driven to the city to find publication was a week later than the girl had told me so I drove home book less.

So, other than reading and cooking, my day was rather pleasant and I'm good with that. :)

Day 13!

Today was definitely a total break day. Sometimes you just need to relax and do nothing. I will not be mad at myself for being unproductive, but instead acknowledge that sometimes we just need to relax.

My day, for that reason, was mostly happy for this reason:

Enjoying my love of books, curled up on my comfy lounge.

With all that's out there, it is so easy to forget I love reading and getting lost in the stories and characters. Even if it's just fun, light hearted books, there is much to revel in. The chance to escape from life for a little while is precious.

I have also used my elliptical, done Zumba, watched the Bruins, showered, and am currently watching one of my favorite movies, Howl's Moving Castle.

Tomorrow will be busy with work and figuring out of future, but today was for resting.

Day 12!

It's hard to believe as I write this that it is still Friday. While the school day went by extraordinarily quickly the last two days, the overall day and the week have been long and exhausting.

It was crazy to have two half days in a row (carnival and then meetings), but my lessons were short, cut to meaning, and seemed perfectly timed to keep attention. Students are always a bit nuts on half days and with it being carnival this week, it was especially so. I knew even with 45 minute classes, there was too much energy to focus. I did some free writing and narrative competition then one strong learning activity and one short, pointed discussion. Fast moving class, gets as much as possible from them for 20 focused minutes and 25 more relaxed ones. I'm pretty proud of what I designed, tbh.

What made me most happy today was seeing this:

My class' (I say class because I only teach one grade) snow sculpture. This was made to fit the theme and rules in only a few days of sessions using pretty primitive tools. I was blown away. They may be surly at times, but I am so impressed by their drive and what they can accomplish when they are motivated.

This week has really given me lots of chances to connect to students and I'm greatful for that. I was actually feeling rather despondent this evening and not productively lost in unhelpful imaginings, but writing this post has made me smile again. Makes it worth it.

Day 11!

I meant to post this last night but I ended up going to sleep and forgetting until I woke up this morning. I was very tired at the end of yesterday, but that was not a bad thing.

Yesterday was the big carnival day. Classes absolutely flew by and the excitement was palpable in the school. The school spirit and passion for events like this is one of the best things about rural schools. A school of a few hundred takes things over the top whereas all the 1000+ schools I have been in just didn't get into it.

I obviously love sports and such, so I find these carnival days a lot of fun. Teachers judged a myriad of events and students have it their all to win points for their team.

One thing I have had fun doing is all the themed dress up days. 80's neon and high, high ponytail for the win!

It was a busy day, but you need days like that where kids can just have fun as well as learn. School and community pride are undervalued sometimes and I think events like this are both beneficial and an absolute blast.

Day 10!

One of the best things about teaching high school is getting to work with high school students. Despite the drama and penchant to believe the earth revolves around them...teenagers can be some of the funniest kids on the planet.

Today was one of those days I was reminded of that.

Yes, there were a few issues with a few kids who can really cross the line, but overall the day was full of quite a bit of energy. As carnival rushes to it's height tomorrow, the students are abuzz with stories and passion. Part of what makes my grade level touchy and nuts is their undauntable competitive drive. Breathe the word competition or debate around them. I dare you. Yet, this very same craze is what has allowed me to talk to so many students from encouraging them to demolish the freshmen in volleyball (sorry, it's just life that freshmen lose these things and it's their fault for saying they'd beat the juniors...they were dismally wiped across the gym floor) to popping in to observe the poster making. These non academic moments let you see kids as they are and it's usually very, very fun.

Another thing that really brightened my day was my credit recovery, adult ed class. It's a three hour, weekly night class with a group of students who failed the first semester. While all the students are in the same academic class during the school day, our night class dynamic is SO different. We're relaxed, tossing back stories, taking time to dig in the text, and just kind of work our way through a topic they seem to like. Even though I'm tired, I really like teaching this class, just like I liked summer school.

My favorite moment?

Commemorated by this photo.

"Miss, how do you keep all the books straight?! I read ours for class and then this one and I just keep forgetting the other one! And you've got another book!"

The answer is two part. I'm actually teaching 5 books at once (two are at school and not pictured) and I'm human so I DO mix them up! Mostly the flipping character names, but within the same novel. Seriously, who names a character Lenina and then introduces a Linda?! Seriously, WHO?!

I then held my book up sideways and actually responded with, well I'm lucky to have read a few of them many times and, "Why do you think my books look like this?"

Nothing makes me happier than stealing a successful chuckle out of a classroom that's not from nearly taking myself out with the projector cables!

I am in a mood to agree that laughter has healing properties, though it did nothing to make me not exhausted!

Day 9!

Today was a much, much better day. There was a lot of energy in the school because of carnival week and in general people were in mostly good moods.

One thing that made me happy today is represented by this photo:

This was a gift from Christmas that just proved my today point.

Today I was most happy for the support I have been receiving from people from all aspects of my life. I learn and grow from all of you.

More literally, I went to a meeting today for teachers new to the district or profession. It's part of the district course I've been in all year - this semester has a few check-in meetings. The other teachers were like angels to me because they showed that we are all struggling to keep afloat and we share both our stress and our constantly reforming optimism.

We teach because we want to make a difference. Kids need teachers that will fight for them, even if sometimes they don't want it. Seeing a similar stubborn pride in district colleagues made me smile because a district can succeed if people are willing to fight for it. I hope so, in any case.

Day 8!

My goal is not only to complete this blog challenge but to be honest about it. Thus, to be honest, today was not a very good day.

I think students forget that teachers are human beings with very real human feelings.

My second period class has a very rough core group. In general, we don't much get along, but they usually get the material and do the work because they want the grade and if they do the task and participate as requested I do not have any need to ride their tail feathers. On good days, several members of the class can border on insightful. Today was not one of those days. When one boy is very vocally off, he can usually drag one of his other buddies in directly and today it was 4 of them. The rampant district really wore on me and not because what they said was hurtful (even though it was). I know they want to hurt me and blame me for challenging them to succeed - this is not a new thing, though they have not been so directly rude as a group before. What bothered me was the 5 (and even 6, the at times touchy girl working hard today), students trying to learn about figuritive language an really putting in effort to analysis on a high level. I was so proud of them and yet it was so hard for them to share answers and ask questions because of these other boys. I refused to kick them out (it was what they wanted), but I went round and round to the hard workers, telling them good job and checking in often and saying I knew they were working hard. It's just so much harder for them than it should be and I'm so not okay with that.

That made it hard to really enjoy things or be productive after school. I might have watched like 4 episodes in a row of Ultimate Survival Alaska. And by might have, I mean I totally did.

I wanted my day to end on as high a note as possible so I used my awesome closet elliptical (best free find EVER - my dad rocks!), showered, and am now readying to do some school reading before bed.

One thing that made me smile today, though?

My mum gave me this sleep lotion and I've begun to use it nightly.

The Bath and Body Works aromatherapy line has such calming scents. I want to take care of all parts of me, so I'm trying to use more lotion. This helps relieve stress and I'm hoping it'll let me have a good night's sleep because god I can't believe it's only Monday!

Day 7!

It's pretty surreal that I have been doing this challenge for a full week already. I expected it to be extraordinarily difficult especially since I've always been a fail with blogs. Yet this time around it's been different. I have no pressure to make long posts and I'm not stressing myself about it.

In fact, I find myself looking for a happy moment or deciding if this moment is "right" since I could pick from more than one. It's actually pretty cool to realize.

This one might seem silly to many of you, but it's super important to me and this challenge is for me.

For the second week in a row, I have seen the number go down and that makes me happy.

It might not be much yet, but it lets me know I can do it again and go even further than I did last time. Last night, my friend and I drank wine and scrolled through tons of fitspo stuff on Pinterest and I felt inspired, not stressed.

I find myself happy, not pissed that I weighed myself this morning instead of yesterday because I had forgotten. And that's a pretty big deal.

Day 6!

Today was a really lovely day with my good friend who came to visit. Being alone up here can be really tough and having her visit has meant a ton.

We went to explore the mall and such a little further south and it was good just to wander around and catch up. This was followed by COLDSTONE, boardgames, and drinking wine and talking.

Us and our Coldstone.

The fact that it is March is completely irrelevant. Ice cream is marvelous always when nommed with friends.

Being super silly with our wine and kitchen adventures.

Many shenanigans have been had and I am happy about each and every one of them.