Fun times

Just a recap of last night quick...I promise I'll update later!!

• After making a comment about Adam pissing me off and me cutting his member off with a butter knife..."If you can find it"...said by Adam
• Getting screwed by Adam while I was driving his car. And then him screwing Adrienne right after that.
• Screwing Adam before going down to the pool.
• Taking a shower with Adam after the pool.
• Getting to chill with Adrienne...that's always a good time!
• Sharing Erbs and Gerbs with Niki and Adrienne...nothing better than Erbs and Gerbs at midnight!
• Hanging out with some of my most favoritest people in the world!!!

All in all, it was a great time!

Little update

Ok, the internet at home isn't working, but I thought I'd just actually update to let everyone know I'm alive and well.

It's cool hanging out with family and such, and even working at BN again. AND I get to see all of my friends!!! I'm lovin' it!!

I'll update when I have more time!

Putting off packing

Ok, I need to get some sleep tonight seeing as how I'll be sitting in an airport for hours on end (feel free to call the cell...it'll break up the reading I'll be doing). But, I leave in just over 24 hours!!! YAY!!!

Oh, and the kids...let's just say I shamed them into silence for the last 30 minutes of class. We were so bad today that they got a HUGE lecture from me, and they had to write our "class promise" 5 times because of their behavior. Yeah, the math lesson was disrupted by this...not cool, not cool. They're still getting their party. I'm not going to be a Scrooge, plus, I'd rather just sit there and not care about teaching or anything the last hour of the day. Pretty much I'm done teaching at about 1:30 tomorrow.

Alright, off to get my packing done!

Random Fun Posts

Your 2005 Song Is

Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson "But since you've been gone I can breathe for the first time I'm so moving on" In 2005, you moved on.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Your Career Type: Social

You are helpful, friendly, and trustworthy. Your talents lie in teaching, nursing, giving information, and solving social problems. You would make an excellent: Counselor - Dental Hygienist - Librarian Nurse - Parole Officer - Personal Trainer Physical Therapist - Social Worker - Teacher The worst career options for your are realistic careers, like truck driver or farmer.

What's Your Ideal Career?

Guess I should be happy I'm doing what I'm doing if this thing is right...

Exhausted

Still tired, and don't want to write put a whole entry...this job is more exhausting than I ever imagined...damn kids wearing me out!

• We didn't get 40 "balls". Miss Phipps tried real hard to pad the jar, but today just wasn't the day to do that. Anytime I looked at my kids, they were sitting turned around in their seats talking to their friends, or causing a commotion at the recognition assembly. I still gave them the balls I told them I would for the assembly. And...I'm not cold-hearted. I told them that if they promised me they could earn 5 more balls (they had gotten up to 35) by the end of Thursday, that we could have a party. I just want to actually be able to do something fun with them before we go so that I'm not a total bitch with them. I've decided that I'll be bringing in sugar cookies and frosting and candy to decorate (seeing as how all food brought into the class has to be store bought, so I can't make my rice krispie treats...)...Hell, I'm done with them at 3:26, I don't have to deal with them being hyper.
  
• After being sat down with the Assistant Principal about my pop-in observation (It went well, but she was telling me what I all need to change in the classroom...well, duh, I just haven't had much free time to do so unless I want to stay at school until 10pm), I had a nice high on the way home (high on life type situation here). I had a teacher way back when in 7th grade that I absolutely adored. He was by far the best teacher I ever had. I've had great teachers, but for some reason, he was the most fun and awesome teacher. He retired when I went off to high school, so we kept in contact by writing to each other. I've always written to him. I try to write at least 2 times a year. The past few years, I haven't written to him, not because I didn't want to, but that I didn't find myself wanting to write since I didn't have a teaching job. I didn't want to look like a failure to him since he knew I was studying to be a teacher. In the back of my head I kept telling myself that I needed to write to him, but I just couldn't bring myself up to it. I finally sat down on Thanksgiving this year and wrote him a letter. It was a nice long one too. I didn't send it out right away, but I did eventually send it. When I called home tonight, mom said to me, "You'll never guess who called worried sick about you and wondering if everything was alright with you!" Well, I knew she had talked to Eve, but maybe it was Jeane calling to make sure everything was kosher out here. I couldn't think of anyone, and she told me it was this teacher. I guess he hadn't gotten my letter yet. He told her that he thought he would call since he hadn't heard from me in a couple of years, and needed to know if he had done anything to upset me. Mom told him all that was going on, and then he started telling her that he'd been thinking about me for some time since he hadn't heard from me after he sent his last letter. He told her that after teaching hundreds of kids, I was by far his most favorite student, and that he knew I would end up doing a lot in my life. When she told me that, I started tearing up (hell, I'm kinda doing that right now). She kept asking me if I was alright, and everything. It was just touching to hear that. I hope that when I get to be a teaching veteran like he is, I can have a student that I bond with like this. It just made me feel real good inside. Now I get to call him when I come home on Saturday, because he told mom that he would love to see me when I come home. She also told me that he told her that he's always wanted to come to Vegas, but he's not much of a gambler...he now has another reason to come out to visit. Damn...I went off on that one...sorry, it just made me feel good to hear all of this. It was my Christmas miracle. :)
  
• I'm trying to think about what else happened today...OH! I got to get up in front of half of the school today and speak! Yep, the one who can speak to a bunch of kids, but not adults, got to get up and recognize my students with great attendance, honor roll, and then my student of the month (seeing as how I've been there not even a month!). Some teachers made speeches...not me, I got up there and read off the names. The only one that I did anything that wasn't on the list was when I introduced my student of the month (the lesser of all of the thorns in my side)..."This student is always willing to help out in the classroom, and made my transition into the classroom more smooth." Something to that effect. I was talking to a teacher during the assembly (nice role models we were), and he hadn't even picked out his student of the month. He decided that he was going to look around the room to see what parents were there, and give that kid the award. It was great seeing him up there...I could literally see him scanning the room and his list of honor roll students. This was all before he decided that he was going to embarrass one of his kids during the assembly. All of a sudden I hear him whisper loudly (and violently) a student's name. I look over to his class, and there was one student who was sitting with her back to the stage, talking to her friends. He walked right in front of the stage, up the main aisle, and pulled her to the back of the room, where she had to stand with him for the rest of the assembly. It was awesome. He's now going to be sending in his students who are not acting like 4th graders into my classroom. I love it! I'm not the only one shaming my kids into good behavior!!!!

Alright...that was my day. I need to go take some NyQuil and head to bed.

While I wait for my clothes to dry...

I'm about to pass out, yet I spent too much time on the phone tonight so I didn't notice that I could've put my clothes in the dryer sooner than I did. I don't really want to leave my stuff in the dryer here like I would at home...I guess I'll update a little before I completely pass out.

• My "poker" kid, has now become my most favoritest kid in class. He's becoming very well behaved in the classroom, and he keeps coming up with some great lines. Today everyone was talking, and they all know that they have to have 40 "balls" in order to have a party Friday afternoon. Anytime he heard someone talk, he would look at me, and then turn around (I put him in front since he was a trouble maker, and he has glasses) and say "Guys, stop hatin'. I wanna have a party on Friday!" Awesome. It took all I had to not either, A) talk back to him (Yeah, why y'all gotta be hatin' on this party?) or B) laugh my fool head off at him! It was an awesome way to spend the day...just thinking about him saying that!
• Secret Santas started up at school yesterday. I have someone whom I've never met whilst teaching there. It was hard getting her things. We had to fill out questionnaires with our favorites on it, but it wasn't very helpful. I did end up getting some fun things. I guess I didn't put much down on my questionnaire, but thus far my Secret Santa has been good to me. Yesterday they got me some slipper socks, and today I got some scrapbooking stuff. Good times had by all. Presents are good.
• Speaking of presents...I feel like a bitch with my class. (This will all come back to presents...just let me give some background) All I seem to be doing is yelling at them, or telling them to be quiet, or that they need to learn how to walk in the hallway...the list can go on and on...Anyhoos...as the kids were lining up to leave today, one of my kids (he's a sweetie, and one of my favorites) asked if he could bring me a present tomorrow. Damn kid, I never pass up presents. I'm thinking that it's going to be a drawing he did, seeing as how I've gotten a drawing from all of the girls now. That's ok though, I don't mind kid's artwork. Plus then I can grade them and send them to friends with the comments I would've loved to put on them.
• I get to go home this weekend for 3 weeks! I'm so excited, even though I'm being dropped off at 6:30 for my 11:59 flight. Oh well, I can re-read "Good in Bed", it's a good book. I'll be working at BN, but not a whole lot. I want to work enough so that I can afford some furniture when I come back here, but I need a break as well. Saturday I get to see the dog and family. I'm not going to be coherent really...but I get to see them. Sunday, can't wait for Sunday. Dan sent out an email to us about getting together for a pot luck dinner at his apartment for this Sunday. My email back: "This Sunday? Like the Sunday I'll be home Sunday?!" I was a little excited. I get to see everyone! Even Adam's coming up for this dinner. That rocks my world! So, I get to see all, well almost all, of my most favoritest people in the world on Sunday! YAY! The week after Christmas I'll be heading up to DePere to see Harr (her new house and wedding pictures too!) and Mary Kay, Niki, Erin, and I'll be spending quality time with Adrienne! It's going to be awesome...even though Big Blue will be my mode of transportation. If that's the case...one ear bud from my mp3 player will be in my ear at all times. I can't handle not having a CD player in a car...and especially not in Big Blue...hell no.
• The last thing...my neck is killing me! I think it's just all of the stress with the apartment, insurance, and all of that jazz. I'm sure once I'm in my own bed on Saturday morning I'll be fine. I'm hoping my Secret Santa will get me a massage (that won't happen), so this kink will go away. It's not too bad...yet. I know it'll be getting worse soon...

ONLY 3 MORE DAYS!!!!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

(As an aside...just as I was typing the third sentence in here, my clothes got done in the dryer!)

New favorite song

Sue put this on one of my Road Trip CDs, and it's stuck with me ever since...

"Everybody"

You are so sexy my love

You got me trippin' over my tongue

And I can't say what I mean but I mean it when I say

That I fell so hard for you that it broke my heart in two

Now I'm wrapped in black and blue

You know I'm crazy 'bout you

Should I take a chance

Or should I sit and wonder you

[Chorus]

I wanna tell everybody - everybody

That you're so much more

Than they've ever seen before

I wanna tell everybody - everybody

If they touched your hand

Then they'd never wanna let you go

Like a junkie to a rush

I'd trade my momma for your touch

Oh wait that might just be too much

Well I'd do anything but that

You are so tempting my dear

You strip away my useless fears

No you don't care that I'm weird

And that's amazing

As you walk on by

Oh I - I sit and wonder you

[Chorus]

Spinning around like nobody's watching

Nobody else but me

So far beyond my imagination

If they could only see

You are so sexy my love

You got me trippin' over my tongue

And I can't say what I mean but I mean it when I say -

[Chorus]

[Chorus]

I know, I haven't really updated in awhile

Ok, this past week wore the crap out of me, and got me whatever my kids have been passing around the room. I spoke too soon my first week about the kids not being sick. DAMN ME!

Well, this week I ventured off to adulthood with going to see an apartment. It's really nice (has a pool and hot tub right there for me :)). I get a washer and dryer (outside on my patio-in a closet), a dishwasher, and it has a nice feel to it. I took Mary with me to check it out so I could have another opinion of the place. It should've been Dan, but since he's 2000 miles away and has "exams" (what the hell kind of excuse is that?!), I guess he can give me his opinion when he comes to visit this spring.

Thursday night I stayed at school until 5:30ish. I knew Mary and Roger weren't going to be home until later in the night, so I was able to stop at Target and get some things, as well as meander home. I got home, put on my sweatshirt (which I do every night), and called Ben so he could put me on the list of "awful friends" since I hadn't let him know that I was moving to Vegas. He was cool with that, and as we were talking, Mary and Roger came in. Huh, they were supposed to be at a funeral, but I guess they didn't stay for the services like they had told me they were. That's cool yo. I was going to finish up with Ben, eat a quick dinner, and then finish typing up lessons so I could just sit back and relax this weekend. I got most of my lessons done, but I had a few more that I was going to type up during my "free time" (if you can call 30 min lunches and 50 minute prep times free time).
Friday I got to school and typed up my last few lessons (I'm still missing 3 lessons...my holiday ones), and mentally prepped for the day. The kids were alright. I could tell that it was Friday, and they were ready to just get the hell out of school for the week, since they were nonstop chatterboxes. I told them if they got 18 "balls" (pompoms), they could have candy at the end of the day. That somewhat worked. I ended up plugging the damn thing so that they could get candy. I have a feeling that this is what's going to happen to get to our goal of 40 for Wednesday so that we can have a party on Friday. One of my instigators, and main trouble maker, was behaving, and he came up to me asking if I could remind everyone to be quiet. He then asked that if they weren't listening to me, could he ask them to be quiet, and then if that still didn't work, could he go around and poke people hard with his pencil. "You know what ______, I've asked the class to be quiet WAY too much today. They should know that we're all working for 18 balls today. I would love it if you could poke everyone with your pencil, but we just can't do that in school." He's now one of my favorites. I came home from school, sat down to eat (fried chicken surprisingly), and then watched some sort of sporting event. I think I pulled out my knitting while watching TV.

Saturday I woke up to my phone ringing at 5:45 am. I thought I had accidentally set my alarm to go off, and was pissed since the NyQuil was not being very effective at 5:45. I silenced my phone and it vibrated at me one more time. I realized that someone had called me...AT 5:45 AM!!! WHO THE HE--...yeah, Dan would call me at that time of day. He was nervous about his exam, and since he'd call me walking to his exams while I still lived in Madison, he thought he would call me now. It took forever for me to fall back to sleep. I was having a decent dream too! I can't remember what it was, but I do remember that it was a good one. Maybe in my dream, Dan's Operation Find Kristy a Man Vegas Style wouldn't have been implemented, because she had one...DAMN YOU DAN! I woke up a few hours later so that I could go to the bank to set up an account so I could put my paycheck into a bank. It took me almost 90 minutes to set one up. Before I went to the bank, I headed to McDonald's to get some breakfast. Since I haven't been eating much lately, I decided I could go to McD's for breakfast. As I was pulling out of drive thru, Mary called to let me know that she had to go to the mall to get some Christmas gifts, and would I like to join her after I got done. Why would I pass up a perfectly good trip to a mall? At first she told me that she wanted to go to Fashion Show (which is on the Strip, and is the 3rd largest mall in the country), but we ended up going to a different one. She is the exact opposite of me when she shops. She HATES shopping! She knew what she needed to get, and she was on a mission. She grabbed what she needed at Dillard's, and then we headed into the mall. We went to 3 different stores, and then headed out. She asked if I wanted to grab some lunch (why not), and we headed to a restaurant. On the way to lunch, I called Sue to let her know that it was 63 and sunny out, and we had the sunroof open in the car. It was nice rubbing it in. We went to a restaurant called Islands. It was a good place, but I wasn't used to having so much grease in my system that I got sick after lunch. Not cool...but I was able to make it to Kohl's after lunch to get a picture frame of the Cult at Homecoming this year to put on my desk at school so I have something positive to look at when I need a boost in the day, and I got part of Adam's Christmas gift while I was there too. I got home, sat down to watch yet another sporting event (it was either football or basketball), pulled out ye olde knitting, and vegged for a bit. We ate dinner, and then I left for a few minutes to check on something. I came back out, and Roger was getting ready for bed. I hadn't seen Mary since we got home from shopping and lunch, so I knew she was in her room. It was 6:11. That's when I decided that I was going to do some more shopping. I had one more thing to do in order to get Adam's gift all settled, so I did what needed to be done, cruised around town for a bit (whilst talking to Patty), picked up some euthanasia (or echinachia--however it's spelled) and apple juice, and came back home. I got home, entered all of the grades into my grade book, watched a little TV, and headed to bed. Downed a bit of NyQuil too...

This morning I slept until 10. That's the latest I've slept since I've been out here. Not cool. I rolled over and watched a little TV (5 minutes), got up, showered, and went out to get some breakfast. I ate my yogurt, and drank some of my orange juice. Went in to get Adam's gift to put together, and watched some football. Roger watched the game, and then me putting together the gift for Adam. He enjoyed the gift. Once I was done with Adam's gift, I went back to get my knitting. I have not knitted this much in my life. I'm getting better and better at it. I no longer have to look at every step I make with it. I can just watch the game and go. Kinda cool. Talked to Dan, was able to help him purchase some candle thing... I think. I can't remember. All I remember is that we're going to go shopping a week from Tuesday before we get totally smashed! It's gonna be hella fun!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! Ate dinner at 2:30 this afternoon. Mary wanted to eat dinner before heading to church at 5, so I thought she meant 4ish. Nope, dinner at 2:30. I'm going to have to get used to eating dinner at 7pm when I go home this week! Talked to mom, went back to knitting, and then headed to church. Once we got back from church, I decided I needed to get to Target since Secret Santas starts tomorrow, and I still hadn't gotten anything. Roger heard I was going, and had me pick up something small for him to hide from Mary. It's awesome. He's slowly turning into my father! I came home from Target, read some People (was going through withdrawal since I haven't read it since I've been out here!), and watched the end of the Packer's game...well, up until overtime. I decided to stop there. That's when I starting doing this. Well, I was surfing the net and talking to Erika before I updated, but you know...

Alright, I hear the NyQuil express pulling into town, but I promise I'll update sooner this week...

Really Tiny update

Just wanted to update a tiny bit:

• Stayed at school tonight to finish report cards and to type up lesson plans. Got the report cards done, now I just have to type up my math and holiday lessons...not doing it tonight. Was at school until 5:30, came home, sat back down at the computer at 8, and just finished most of the lessons.
• Saw Eagle Crest last night. Nice apts. Expensive, but nice, and not in the slums of the city. Have to get my stuff in tomorrow so that I can have one held for me near the teachers that I've met from Mary's school. And...Dan wasn't there. He should've been, but he wasn't...I did flashback to apartment hunting with him while I was going through the apartment. :)
• While taking a break from lesson planning tonight, went to look at Dan's photos. Good times had by all. This weekend I'm going to get a nice frame to put the picture of the Cult from this Homecoming to put in my classroom. That way, my day will always have some good in it ;)
• Tomorrow is Friday. After tomorrow, only 5 days of teaching, and 7 days til I come home for a bit.

I think I'm coming down with whatever's been going around the classroom. I've been sucking on vitamin C drops like they're going out of style.
That is all. I'm about to take the NyQuil express so I can get some sleep.

Hilarious!

Ok, so, I was checking out Dwight's (from The Office) blog, and I found something funny in it:

"Dear readers of Schrute-Space (many, many of whom are women) I need help in understanding what makes chicks tick.

For instance, I will hear a certain girl say 'Do I look fat?' And I will respond, 'What do you mean by fat? In some cultures, (bush pygmies), you would be considered 'hefty' or 'chunky' even. But to others (wisconsin) you would be as skinny as an anorexic.'

My observations are true and correct and yet I'm the one who has to apologize and buy 8 dozen roses and a dinner at Red Lobster in order to make up for it."

Just quick update

Just a quick update...It'll end up longer than I had planned, but I'm tired as all get out and this week is going to be rough.

• Got observed today. My principal was 10 minutes late to my 25 minute lesson. I was nervous all morning (like, wanting to puke all morning), but I guess it was over nothing.
  I don't like being a "real" teacher. Alright, I do, but I didn't realize how much stuff is piled on top of you. This week I get to plan for next week, schedule parent-teacher conferences, AND do all of my report cards by Friday. I get to put in all of the comments for the kids, but I don't know if I know them well enough to comment on a whole trimester worth of stuff. I'll be working on the comments with the teacher who started out the year with them.
• Worked my whole prep time on the report cards. It's all done electronically, and it was confusing. I felt like I was a little kid, having something explained to me today. I understand it all now, it's just WAY too much to handle this week. I worked all through "lunch" (if you can call 30 minutes lunch, when you have to prepare for the rest of the afternoon). I know Dan would kill me if he knew that I didn't eat lunch at school...(sorry Dan)but I have no time to just sit down and have lunch. I have way too much to do before the kids come back for math. Not cool.
• Called Dan tonight on my way home from work. He was out with Patty at Uno's. When I hung up, I teared up. I flashed back to freshman year when I would call home and my friends were all hanging out without me. Oh well. I think I only teared up knowing that I have a stressful week ahead of me, and being back there with them would lessen the stress. Or, I just knew they were plotting against me ;). We all know they did. Patty did tell me there was plotting going on, and I was able to get some of it out of her, and I called Dan thinking I could get more, but, alas...he didn't give me much to work with.
• Only 8 more days of teaching...only 10 days, 2 hours and 10 minutes til I board my plane back home...not that I have a countdown or anything...

My Field Trip to a "Not a" Dairy Farm

Ok, so, I was going to work on some lesson plans tonight, but I'm not feeling so hot. I guess I'll just update.

Well, today was my first field trip as an official teacher. I got to school just a few minutes later than I normally do, and I had a lot of stuff to do before the kids came in to go on the field trip. I was running around, trying to get some things done, when I heard an announcement that new teacher orientation was going on in room 56. What? I hadn't heard about that one. Fine, I can go...Didn't get to copy anything that needed copying, but oh well. Let's just get the kids and go since I had to have them on the bus as close to 9:05 as possible. I was worried all weekend that my kids who show up late all the time would show up late today and miss the trip. I was so happy when I saw all of them lined up on their "dot" (it's our room number in a dot that they stand at until I come to get them). I ushered them all into the classroom (and I had one parent who I guess is always talking to her daughter's teacher-me-about her, so I was freaking out that the parent was scrutinizing everything that was happening), counted them up to see who was missing, told them to line up, and we were the second group out there! I was so relieved when I saw that we weren't the last ones out there. We ended up leaving much later than we thought because one of the new teachers and the sub of another teacher, didn't know that we had to bring some things, and they had to run back to their rooms to get what they needed. We arrived at the "not a" dairy farm, and the kids were so excited to get to see cows. Big downside: no cows here. How can they call themselves a dairy farm without cows? Anyway...the kids got herded (pun intended ;)) into a room to hear about life on a diary farm from Calci Um the cow. These "animals" that were talking to the kids were all animatronic, and reminded me of Chuck E. Cheese, but creepier. Then they got to go see where the ice cream and cottage cheese is made, and then they got to see where the milk is packaged. Oh, and they got to see the big freezers where they store the ice cream. Still...no cows. They then got to go back into the room they were in originally, and got to eat ice cream while they watched a movie about the founding and growth of the dairy farm. I guess it all started near Las Vegas, and then as the city grew, so did the dairy farm, and then they built the one that we went to when they needed more space...some crap like that. I was enjoying the ice cream. We finished the movie, and headed back to school. I had thought the trip was going to be longer than it was. We got back to school within 1.5 hours, and were able to have our normal lunch time. Crap. I had only planned on being there a short while, so I didn't have much planned for the day. We were able to get in our spelling test, our math review, and our new week's spelling pretest, but I still had a good half hour to play with. I decided that since I kept getting kids coming up to me and asking if they can share a story with the whole class, that we would have some sharing time. We shared a lot of scary stories, and Miss Phipps decided to put the kabosh on it when everyone started talking about how people in their dreams were talking about killing people. Not cool. We had to share happy stories from on.

I got done with work and called over to Eagle Crest Apartments to make an appointment to go over there and see what they look like. When I called, they just told me to show up before 4:30pm, and they would show me around. I guess I can handle that. Called Adam, and he wasn't there...but I knew he'd be at work. Called mom, talked to her for a bit. Was in a funky mood and needed some good tunes while waiting to pass Lone Mountain before I called a friend from BN back. I put in a CD Sue made for me for the road trip. I didn't like the song that was on (I like the song, just not at that time), so I hit next. I totally forgot what was on the CD since I had listened to many CDs on the way out here. It was "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy." Ain't nothing gets a smile on my face more than that song! And, it has more meaning to it now since my school mascot is a Wrangler, and there are mountains surrounding me as I listen to the song. Good times. Belted out the song, and then listened to another good one. After I got done with BN (had to stop for some holiday books to teach from), I put the CD back on, and there were more songs that I hadn't heard in awhile (ones that I would normally hear daily). The best one was "My Humps". Good times had with that song! Nothing beats watching two grown men fight over whether or not we listen to that song over and over. :)

Alright, I should probably think about going to bed, even though my laundry isn't done. Maybe I'll just go lay down for a bit...I'm still not feeling so hot...


PS: To all of you back home...If it makes you feel any better, when I leave for school in the mornings, it is in the 30s. It's considered to be cold out this week...with highs only getting up into the low 50s...:) I'm thinking of you all when I hear about the snow!

Yep, another short one

After I got done here last night, I went back to my room to realize that I wanted to wrap Mary's birthday present. I came back out to scrounge for tape and scissors to get it done. I found both, and just as I was heading back to my room, my phone rang. It was weird since it was Adam's ring, and it was almost 12am his time. He's never up that late. That's exactly how I answered the phone too..."Well, this is weird, you're never up this late." Yeah, I'm nice. It couldn't have been, "Wow, what a nice surprise. You're calling me before I can get the chance to call you tonight!" Nah, he would've known something was up if I had been nice. It was nice to talk to him, granted I was tired, but hey, I never pass up a phone call with him (or anyone else). We were talking for a bit when he said he felt he was right back up at SNC. I asked why, and he said he was laying down still in the clothes he wore all day, watching TV while talking on the phone with me. That's exactly what I was doing too. I told him that if I closed my eyes (which I was doing already), I could pretend I was on my futon talking to him cuddled up with Pooh Bear (but I was with Nameless Elephant...Pooh Bear sits on the floor next to my closet right now). We were talking about how I could get up and look to see that there were people playing soccer in the hallway the floor above him, and how I could go to sleep and get a call about people "moving furniture" in their rooms. It was just good times. He asked me to fill out a referral for him to teach here. It'd be awesome if he came out here! He was also saying how we had to plan something for when I came home. I already have December 20th planned...about 8 bottles taken over to Dan's for the two of us to share! Damn straight that's what's happening! Anyhoos, after I hung up with Adam, I crawled into bed (Adam had hung up on me by accident during our convo, and I was able to change into my jammies then), and my phone rang. It was Sue. That's cool, I could still talk to her. I had meant to call her right after school, but Dan called me just as I was pulling out of the parking lot. Like I said, I never pass up a phone call (Sue can vouch for me here, I can't let a phone ring...unless I'm "unwilling" to answer my phone as Adam says). We talked for a bit, and then I was out like a light. I had some decent dreams. On another road trip with Adam. We were crashing weddings and just having a great time. Good times had by all in the dream. I think Dan and Patty, and everyone else from home made it in there at one point. It made me wake up with a smile on my face, and thinking that I'd be waking up in Wisconsin 2 weeks from then.

So, it totally doesn't seem like the holiday season out here. It's not right seeing Christmas decorations on palm trees, or without snow or bone chilling temps. It is "cold" here. I was wearing jeans and my comfy SNC sweatshirt all day. But there's no trace of snow or anything. Patty told me I'd miss snow, and today I did. Mom and dad were telling me how there was a snowstorm at home. I was thinking that if I was at home, I'd be looking out at the snow and planning on going sledding at some point. Planning...not actually going.

Thought of some Christmas presents today. I really want to be creative for one, but I don't have the time and energy it requires, so I'm taking the easy way out. I was also thinking that when I go home, when I go up to DePere to see everyone, the car that will be at my disposal with be Big Blue. How fun is that going to be to drive up to DePere? No CD player, just a car radio and cassette deck...oh yeah!

Alright, it's WAY past my bedtime. I was thinking I'd wake up early to see the fireworks being shot off at Mandalay Bay at 6am, but there's no way I'm waking up that early. If I did, Roger would make me stay up for coffee with him...and his coffee's STRONG...nope, going to sleep in again....

Not cool...

Ok, I'm about to pass out, but I wanted to apologize for not updating the past couple of days...I'll leave with a few notes and then fully update once I've gotten a decent amount of sleep (and that may not be until I'm home in 15 days, 8 hours, and 24 minutes...well, I'll be in Milwaukee at the airport at that time).

• Wednesday I was ready to pack up all of my belongings and head home. Long story short, my principal made me feel like crap, my kids were horrendous, and it took me 1.5 hours to get to a meeting that I allotted 45 minutes to get to. It's fun walking into a meeting 45 minutes late and having to sit front and center.
• For some reason last night I got homesick. I actually cried last night for the first time since I've been out here (almost in tears on the phone with Dan doesn't count...that was because of my craptastic day...and me thinking about how I couldn't just go over to his apartment and vent...ok, so yeah, homesick, but more of upsetness). I don't know what triggered it, but it happened. I looked at my framed picture of Eva in my car (damn sisters and putting her in my car - where she's never been allowed since I didn't want dog fur in my Ion - while I was at Homecoming!), and I was tearing up. Then Reunion was on in my room, and I was thinking about how I should be watching it with Dan. Things just started coming at me, and the next thing you know I'm clutching Nameless Elephant like there was no tomorrow, while I cried. I was lucky enough to have Sue call and cheer me up a little.
  
• Went into a BN here in Las Vegas for the first time (thanks for helping me find it Dan!). It's the first time I've been in a BN since I left home. It was all out of whack, however, there was no Thomas the Tank Engine train...that damn thing!
  
• Watched the Badger hockey game. Now I want to go see a hockey game. Any takers?
  
• Was jonsin' for some chocolate tonight, more specifically Better Than Sex cake. Didn't think I'd had any...but wait! Niki sent me off to Vegas with a couple of Hershey bars in my new purse she gave me! SCORE!

Well folks, I didn't realize how exhausting it was to teach full time, and I'm dead beat right now. I'm going to click "publish post", go watch Degrassi, and head off to bed...