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I've decided to eliminate the vowels and create a new word so as to make this word a 'four letter word.'

This four letter word makes me want to quit my job before the school year has even begun.
This four letter word is the cause of more discussion, stress and tears than anything else related to my job.
This four letter word is one of the most frustrating things I have dealt with in my entire life. No lie.

This four letter word had better become a 6 letter word again, and soon, or I just might lose my mind.

I turn 28 in 85 days. Time to drag myself back up on the proverbial horse.

Perhaps it is a good thing that I go back to school soon...in the past week I have almost put soap on my toothbrush twice, and this morning when I was in the shower I noticed that I had left my wedding rings on...and right before I turned off the water I realized that my glasses were still on.

I just made 2 amazing purchases on bn.com and I am way too excited about it.

I <3 gardens.

my extremely random yet oddly specific thoughts.

• 
  
• We bought a laser pointer [remember those?] in the 'cat toy' department at Target over the weekend. I never knew my husband would be so entertained by it. He is enjoying it more than the cats!
• 
  
• I remember being in 9th grade...watching 'channel one' at school [a news thing] and there was a commercial with a little girl who was talking about 'the information superhighway.' It sounded crazy, unreal, even silly. And my friends and I laughed about it and said 'that will never happen...' and not 2 months later I had an email address.
• 
  
• This coming weekend [which for me, starts Wednesday!] I am traveling to Virginia by train. I get to see my sister! And some dear friends. I'm very excited. Like jumping up and down excited. Super squinty eyes and huge cheesy grin excited. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it.
• 
  
• I purchased a belt today. I have never purchased a belt in my life. My sister would be so proud.
• 
  
• I had to purchase a belt because I keep buying pants and they keep ending up being too large after a few weeks.
  
• 
  
• Speaking of shopping, I tried to buy a swimsuit today. I wish I would have gotten the memo that swimsuits are no longer functional whatsoever! I need one that I can wear for water aerobics that will actually stay on, go figure. I tried on Nike and Speedo ones, and they were cute and fit and whatever, but there was no way I could wear any of them for swimming or aerobics. And don't even get me started on 'support.' Or really the lack thereof.
  
• 
  
• I got a phone call from a camper yesterday. It was the cutest thing ever. [besides which this girl was my 'favorite' - shh!]
• 
  
• Yesterday at church my pastor asked if I was in for fantasy football again this year. I got really excited. I came in 2nd last year...out of 40 teams! And only 3 of them were run by women.
  

Someone at accuweather is feeling feisty!

retail heaven

I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday for over two hours. [C'mon...shiny new books...comfy chairs...and starbucks coffee! What more do I need?]
I also made two sales when I was there and was basically offered a job! Ha, too funny. I spent most of my time in the 'teen' section [I still swear that 'teens' don't want to be called 'teens.'] - reading many a book jacket and writing down too many titles on my 'to read' list. And giving a few recommendations here and there...I just can't help myself.
Also I find it comical that I *ahem* 'seemed' to know more about *cough* young adult/children's books and authors than the employees. [Probably why they tried to recruit me.]
Anywho, if you click on my 'goodreads' link over there on the left, and then from there find my 'to read' list, you will see the gems I discovered in the teen section that I hope will live up to the previews! Actually, over half of the books I chose are by authors I have previously enjoyed...so they should be rather good!
Now the question is...back to B&N for a midnight purchase tonight? Hmm, we will see.

I've been gone for a long time. You might want to grab a snack before reading. Here goes:

1. I did successfully reach my "I am going to exercise for 90 days in a row no days missed" goal thingy. Then I went to camp for a week and took some days off after that. I think tomorrow I need to get back on the horse. Or treadmill/bike, as it may be. The good news is that I have gone down some inches here and there and taking that time off for camp was not a setback!

2. My grandparents 60th / parents 30th anniversary party was so nice! It was pretty laid back, as family parties go. And great to see some family that I see about 2x per year.

3. I went to camp again. I could write a novel! For now I will say it was great, but also a lot different from previous years, and I had to deal with some heavy issues concerning one of my campers. Hopefully I helped her some...only being there for a week is not so long when it comes to situations like these.

4. On a happier note, this was the best year of camp in many ways!

5. It was good to be with my immediate family for so many days! I miss them. I hate living so far away. My 92-year-old grandfather [Papa] always reminds me of this fact when I leave. So sad.

6. I just loved the weather when I was home. I wore jeans/sweatshirts/etc so many days! I love when it's like 70-75 in the day and then cool enough at night for a sweatshirt. Although the 1st two days of camp were HOT, after it stormed on Wed am, the rest of the week was gorgeous. I'm so thankful for that!

7. I felt like crap after camp...well the sunburn [only a little!] and shin splint didn't help. And the lack of sleep. It took me a LONG time to recover! In fact, today is really the 1st day I feel pretty much normal. So, only 4 days? :)

8. I wish I lived in Pittsburgh. And could see camp people all year.

9. Hopefully I will be seeing some of them over Labor Day. And New Years. And other random times!

10. I am really glad to be home...I was away so long!

11. I finally became a member at Barnes and Noble today, after many years of shopping there and sighing when they asked me if I was a member and having to say 'no.' Immediately after getting my membership card, I went to the B&N starbucks and got lunch...and did a victory dance when I got to use my member discount for it.

12. I have my hair in braids and I feel like Pippi Longstocking.

13. I will stop for now. Need to finish reading HP6, and make dinner, and see my hubby, etc.

PICTURES TO COME!!!

It's a really good thing that I am leaving in a couple days for Erie...otherwise I am afraid I would spend too much time sitting here perfecting my ability to waste a LOT of time! Granted, I did do the following today: worked out at the gym...random housekeeping...started packing/laundering things to pack...but yeah, that's about it for my entire day. Oops. Well at least I always claim to work well under pressure...so tomorrow when I have to do about 73, 921 things to get ready for 2 1/2 weeks away, it should be no sweat. Except it is going to be in the 90s again, so there will definitely be some sweat. Ah well. A few days from now, I will be in my lovely little hometown enjoying my family and the 68 degree high! Break out the jeans and sweatshirts, my friends, we are going to pretend that it's autumn, and nothing could make me happier.

You need to go here.

Click on the picture and it will come up all big and happy-like.

Just a quick brag.

I have [somehow] successfully managed to exercise for 75 days in a row.

I am only 15 away from my goal of 90 days. It's been either cardio or weight training or a combo each day,
BUT
I think in mid-July, when I return home after 2 1/2 weeks of adventures, I will step up the exercise even more...and try to do 90 days of cardio in a row. [Is that even legal?]

That should take me to Saturday, October 13. I think.
19 days after that, Andrew and I will have our 4 year anniversary. [speechless]
13 days later, I will turn [gasp] 28.

Maybe my high school trig teacher was right, I should have majored in math! [kidding]

Water aerobics dilemma.

This morning I got up and went to a water aerobics class at the YMCA...so as I walk into the building, I see about 17 of my students who are there for summer camp. Nice. After putting my stuff in the locker room, I walk out to the pool [in my suit and a tshirt] and see a parent [of a couple of my students...oh and the wife of a school board member] sitting there. And the pool is full of kids. Awesome. Apparently the kids are supposed to be outside, but lucky me, the paint in the pool is peeling, and so the kids had to come inside today. [Really I don't think a couple of paint chips is going to harm anyone. That much.] So after a long time of standing there, talking to the aforementioned parent, slowly recognizing more and more students in the pool, and resisting the strong urge to run away screaming...the kids get bumped over so there is room for our class. Sweet.

So the class goes well, [though I am 40 years younger than everyone else in it], and I notice that some of the students I recognized may be recognizing me now, so I head back into the locker room.

Now for the biggest dilemma.

How can I possibly shower [and undress] and dress myself in a locker room swarming with precious little kiddies that I teach??? [And God forbid a boy comes through that locker room, at that point I would have to run away screaming, and probably quit my job as well.]

I decided to rinse of quickly in the showers, wrap myself in my [thankfully] huge beach towel, and then get dressed in the toilet stall. Except the toilet stall is SO tiny, that I barely manage to get my 'intimates' in place, and there is just no way I can manage my pants and shirt. So I have to walk through the locker room with my towel around me again but now with bra straps showing...and I manage to throw on my clothes at warp speed [and I am still praying that my little 1st grader didn't see anything of me she wouldn't normally see at school]...and I run out of the locker room and through the lobby and to my car...where I have a loud, hysterical dialogue about the experience...with myself.

All this for some quality physical fitness. Now the question is...do I dare go back again Tuesday morning?

I'm lame. And I have too much free time.

[And ew, I didn't put on makeup today.]

A great start to summer

I've made some really exciting plans in the last few days:

1. Modest Mouse concert on August 19! I actually got a ticket this time! Thanks to Jess for the presale password.

2. Tonight, on my way to a fabulous weekend with my sister and a dear friend's wedding, I get to stop and have dinner with a wonderful friend that I have not seen since October at her wedding! I am pumped.

3. I'm going to make a powerpoint show for my grandparents and parents for their joint 60th / 30th anniversary party...then I can burn it on DVD and they can watch it whenever. And I am going to take my parents basket [yes, basket] or photos and get them framed, or put into albums, and help them preserve their memories.

4. This is more of Andrew's plan, but I love it. He's made a nice chunk of change lately designing websites in his spare time...and we are going to take this 'extra' money and pay off some debts a whole year early...which makes the dream of owning a home that much closer.

Now I need to return library books, and clothes/etc at THREE stores...then go to the gym...PACK...and get on my way for my summer kick-off weekend!

drowning in donuts. what a way to die.

No lie...33 students over the last week have come to see me and give me a birthday treat...all the students whose birthdays actually occured during the last week [only 7] and the other 26 kids who have bdays in the summer but brought in fat, I mean treats, for the last week of school.

i've gathered quite the collection of school-made cupcakes [ick], MUNCHKINS [never want to see another one as long as i live], and assorted homemade goodies.

i've also taken WAY too many 'bites' of these sugary things.

today a kid came in with another box of munchkins [i swear dunkin' donuts makes so much frickin' money off my students' parents!] and i gave him a little present [an eraser, i think]. and then he left, and i did a victory dance for managing to avoid the sugar. then 2 minutes later, he comes back in, and says 'you forgot your donut!' and i said 'that's because i have eaten too many of them today!' But then when he gave me the puppy dog eyes i said 'oh, ok' and took a chocolate one, and took a bite of it. dammit.

thank goodness tomorrow is the last day, or this would be coming next:

MALE WORKER: You were out sick yesterday, so we got you a get-well cake.

FEMALE WORKER: It's carrot. It's good for you.

WORKERS (singing): Get well get well soon, we wish you to get--

ELAINE: Stop it! That's not even a song! I mean, now we're celebrating a sick day?

MALE WORKER: I think it's nice.

ELAINE: What? What is nice? Trying to fill the void in your life with flour and sugar and egg and vanilla? I mean, we are all unhappy. Do we have to be fat, too? Not you Becky, I know you have a slow metabolism. I don't want one more piece of cake in my office!

June?

I just simply cannot believe that it is June 8. I only have 3 more days of school left, and then I have completed 3 years at my school. Amazing. I am fairly sure I will continue to work there next year - the new principal alone brings so much promise. And the relationships I have built with students, parents, and other teachers just keeps getting stronger. I hate to leave it behind, though I know I will someday. Just maybe not as soon as I thought...and I think I feel OK about that.

I'm thrilled for summer. I have plans through the middle of July, and then a glorious month of freedom, which I hope will include some traveling, and perhaps whitewater rafting? I long for those spontaneous days of fun and freedom. They are almost here.

The Clash said it best.

Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go there will be trouble

And if I stay it will be double

So you gotta let me know

Should I stay or should I go?

#s

7/7/07...my grandparents will have been married for 60 years. Wow.

It's day 45 of my 90 day madness. I haven't missed a single day!

45 days from now, I'll be at camp.

Meg and John are getting married in 23 days! It will be the perfect summer kick-off. I can't wait.

Summer vacation officially starts in 21 days...at exactly 3:05 pm.

14 days of school are left. But I only have 6 more days of teaching. What more can I say.

12 #s down.

more fun from last weekend