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Dear World

Posted on March 31, 2011 by auburnchick

Dear World,

You know, life was going along just fine until you chose to rev up your engines and start spinning a little faster.

What, pray tell, is up with that?

It’s as if someone stuck a key in the ignition and started up a hot rod engine.

Now, I’ve been a fan of NASCAR for a long time, but I don’t really like living my life like I’m running the Daytona 500.

Oh, and don’t go saying that it’s high time I started playing with the Big Boys cause you see, I’ve always gotten plenty done, in my own time, thank you very much.  And, to tell the truth, I really enjoyed living life in the slow lane…watching people wave as they passed me by.

So World, would you do me a huge favor and slow down just a bit?

Some of us 40-something-year-olds get tuckered out a little quicker than we used to.

Thanks a bunch.

Yours Truly,

AuburnChick

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

An April Fool’s Hodgepodge

Posted on March 30, 2011 by auburnchick

It’s hard to believe that another month is nearly behind us!  Time flies when we’re having fun, eh?

It’s even more fun when you’re participating in Joyce’s Wednesday Hodgepodge!

Join in on the fun by posting your answers and linking up on her blog.

1.  April rolls in at the end of this week and in celebration of that infamous date (April 1st), answer this question – What is something foolish you’ve done?

Something foolish I did when I was younger was take a container of mustard and slam it down in the middle of my sister’s hardwood floor.  Mustard flew everywhere in her room (and it was a big room).  I got into so much trouble.  I was spanked severely and grounded for a very long time.

2.  With April comes Easter and that classic edible treat known as Peeps…so tell me…what’s your favorite way to fix/eat chicken?  That wasn’t what you were expecting, was it?  I ‘fooled’ you.  teehee

Yeah, Joyce is real funny these days.  LOL

Hmmm…even though I’m not eating meat any more, I do cook a lot of chicken.  Probably one of the ways my family likes it best is in Chicken Creole.  I have a really good recipe that I use.  I don’t feel like posting it today though.

My favorite way to eat it, when I’m not on a vegan/vegetarian diet is as hot buffalo wings dipped in Ranch dressing.

3.  What’s the best museum you’ve ever visited?  Or your favorite?  Or the one you’d most like to visit?

My favorite museum that I’ve ever visited was the Smithsonian Institute.  I visited when I was a teenager, and it was incredible!!!  I’d love to visit the Louvre.

4.  You know what they say about April showers…what’s your preference – a shower or a bath?

I love long, hot showers.  The problem with baths is that the water gets cold too quickly!

5.  “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”…fact or fiction?  Why?

I’d say both.  I think that absence can make your heart think fonder things about a person…until you’re around that person for three days and you remember why they annoyed you before they left.

Hey.  Don’t shoot the messenger.  We all know it’s true.

6.  What’s your favorite product made/grown in your home state/province?

Hmmm…tough question that even Google found difficult to answer.

Florida is known for its produce…namely its oranges.  This state is also known for its cheesy tourist t-shirts (hello, Disney and redneck beaches where airbrushing is all the rage).  I think my favorite product would have to be the oranges.

7.  What is going on in the world today that affects you the most.

Oh good gravy!  I have felt very disconnected ever since I unplugged my TV for Lent.  I’m going to have to take this to a local level and say that the new budget that the Florida legislature passed is what’s affecting me right now.  This budget cut millions of dollars from the education system, and it’s going to devastate every single county in my state as local school boards try to figure out how to reduce expenditures.  Not only that, but the state governing agency also decided to axe the tenure program for teachers.  This might help prevent some bad teachers from holding their jobs forever, but for teachers who will strive to do a good job (like your’s truly), it’s going to be disconcerting not to have job security.  I have not had job security in many years, and it frustrates me that doing a good job won’t give me that benefit.  I have other issues with this new budget.  Sigh.

My world is very small right now.

8.  My Random Thought…

Well, since I only provided a teaser yesterday about my cookies, I decided to post the recipe.  I encourage you to try these.  I don’t know why, but these cookies are the best we’ve ever eaten, hands-down.  They’re not too heavy, and they aren’t overly sweet.  They are just perfect.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 C. White Sugar
1 C. Brown Sugar
3/4 C. Butter-Flavored Crisco
3 Eggs
1 tsp. Cream of Tartar
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Salt
3 C. Flour
12oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

  1. Combine both sugars and the Crisco.
  2. Add eggs, Cream of Tartar, baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt.  Mix until fairly smooth.
  3. Add chocolate chips.
  4. Slowly mix in flour.
  5. Drop in spoonfuls on cookie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
  6. Cool

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 17 Comments »

A Whole Lot of Dough

Posted on March 29, 2011 by auburnchick

This year, my church will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary.

Every month, the church is focusing on one decade, and church members are learning a lot about the people and newsworthy events that occurred during each respective decade.

It’s been a lot of fun thus far.

This month, the church celebrated the 1930’s, and on Sunday, the church held soccer and horseshoe games outside with a chocolate chip cookie contest inside.

Well, Rooster had read about the cookie contest several weeks ago, and he was determined to get me to bake some cookies.

You see, I have a recipe that will knock your socks off.

However, with all of my work and school assignments, I haven’t been doing much of anything related to pots, pans, and the stove.

Rooster was not about to be deterred, however, and he and the Mr. tootled right on down to Publix on Sunday after church.

That was after Rooster dug around in my pantry and refrigerator to determine what ingredients we needed.

I could have made it simple for him by telling him that we had nothing.

This kid has not shopped for anything in the last seven months…ever since I started teaching.

So, off they went…two males on a mission to buy cookie baking supplies.

Two text messages and three phone calls later, they returned home with enough baking goods to make a double batch.

I.

Was.

Thrilled.

Yeah.  I’m sure you can hear my sarcasm.

I can’t say that I blame them, though.  My cookies are out of this world.  They’re like Lays potato chips…you can’t stop at one.

So, I mixed up the dough…

It was a whole lot of dough.

It didn’t take long to smell them cooking, and there were smiles all around as I pulled the first pan from the oven…

Of course, I had to let them cool off a bit first…

Then, it was time to call in the taste testers.

It was a tough job, but someone had to do it…

Especially since I’m fasting from sugar.

Sigh.

I have to say that I gave serious thought to diving in too.  Rooster told me that I had earned the right.

But no, I stuck to the promise I’d made to myself and did not even lick my fingers when gooey chocolate from the melted chips got on my fingers.

That is willpower, people…true willpower that I can only attribute to the Lord’s power in my life.

Anyhoo…

After two or three cookies each, the Mr. and Rooster announced that the cookies had passed muster, so we put some in a fancy bowl…our makeshift cookie jar…and headed out.

It was Rooster’s intention to sway the judges (i.e., the pastors) with something pretty to look at first.

Alas, I didn’t win, though.  I had watched nervously as Tom, the church’s newest pastor, scrutinized my cookie.  It was like watching the trio of judges from the show Chopped.  I couldn’t tell if he liked it from my perch across the room.  I was actually relieved that he got to eat mine third, though, because I heard him say, by the end, that he was nearly nauseous from eating cookies.

heehee

Being a pastor comes with a lot of interesting job responsibilities, eh?

Anyhoo, the bottom line is that I didn’t win.

Yeah.  I think I mentioned that already.

It broke my heart, and I walked away in tears.

No.  I didn’t.  I’m just kidding.

The Mr. and Rooster assured me that my cookies were the best there.

If there had been an award for most unpretentious cookie, mine would have won it.

I had let the chocolate chips do the talking.

Either way, I’m glad that Rooster insisted I make those cookies.  Watching the guys’ faces light up every time they pop cookies in their mouths has been a pure delight.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , | 5 Comments »

14 Weeks To Go

Posted on March 28, 2011 by auburnchick

Wow!  What a crazy week I had!

My newest EPI term was officially in its second week; however, I have been working ahead…trying to finish assignments before they are actually due.

Why would I torture myself?

Well, you see, when we begin each term, we are given schedules with the assignments and due dates on them.

The college has an online site where all of the term’s class materials get dumped.

Quite honestly, it behooves students to work ahead, given that we have the materials we need.

Besides that, I tend to be forward thinking.  As I looked ahead in the schedule, I quickly figured out that there were some very big assignments due for different classes but during the same week.

If I added them to my teaching responsibilities, well…they would make for one huge ulcer.

That is why I worked my hiney off to get all of my technology quizzes out of the way.  I also finished a rather large assignment in one of my Field Experience classes.  Most of the assignments in this class will, from here on out, be related to my observations/teaching experiences in my mentor’s classroom.

Speaking of mentor…

You might remember that I met my mentor last week.

What a great experience that was!  He has over twenty years of teaching experience and has been mentoring EPI students for the last five years.

I’m in good hands.

Thank goodness, because I’m nervous as all get-out.

I have two more observation/teaching days with him, and I cannot wait to learn more tidbits.

One thing I discovered last week was how invigorating it is to talk to other teachers.

I am so shy, and I rarely step out of my shell.

I cannot do this as a teacher.

I won’t grow if I don’t.

Being in Mr. Mentor’s classroom got me excited as I heard him put his own spin on the lessons he was engaging his students in.

Teaching is a profession in which you cannot just sit back and put your feet on the desk all day.

It’s not a profession where every day is the same old, same old.

Every single day is different, and, though you make lesson plans, you still never know what you’re going to get once you’re in the midst of teaching them.

With all of that said, I have to say that with nearly half of my program completed, I am exhausted.

I took a good portion of the weekend off, and my body was so thankful.

I slept a lot.

I needed it.

I spend nearly every waking moment thinking about my assignments or my own lesson plans for the classes I teach.

I am longing for July 1 when I can close the books on this part of my education and relax my brain.

But, I’m not there yet.

Until then, I’ll take whatever moments I can and work my behind off in the moments that I can’t.

With fourteen weeks left to go, I’m starting to feel like maybe…just maybe…I’m getting there.

It’s ever so slow and painful.  Sometimes, it feels as if I’m walking uphill on a very windy day.

God is good, though.  He is merciful, and He is with me every difficult step of the way.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Awkwardness

Posted on March 27, 2011 by auburnchick

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever outgrow my awkwardness.

I don’t know about you, but I just don’t seem to do well around people I don’t know.

I am, to put it mildly, painfully shy.

Oh sure…I might seem like I’m extroverted from reading my blog, but in all reality, I’m not.

I really hate feeling this way.  I think it holds me back from taking the initiative and meeting new people.

But still…I hesitate.

I think my feelings go back to when we moved to Alabama when I was in the 4th grade.

I did not know a soul, and moving from Colorado to Alabama was a HUGE change.

Not only was the weather different (I quickly learned what humidity was), but the language was different as well.

One of my classmates gave me an impromptu lesson in saying “ma’am” when I failed to follow protocol during class one day.

Well, excuse me.

My feelings of inadequacy grew when I changed schools at the beginning of sixth grade.  My new classmates had attended school together since kindergarten, and I found it difficult to fit in.

Feelings of awkwardness continued to grow.

One would think that getting older…getting married…having children…would help.

Not.

If anything, my feelings grew even more.

Plus, there’s nothing like the close scrutiny of certain teenage female children to make you feel like your every move is wrong.

Sigh.

What is strange is that the only place I do not feel awkward is my classroom…surrounded by my students.

When I enter my classroom door, something magical happens.

I become free.

I forget about my awkwardness and just “am.”

I don’t worry about acting silly.  I don’t even care how it comes across.  All I know is that for once, I feel like I fit in.

What about you?  Do you ever feel awkward?  What do you do to get over these feelings?

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 6 Comments »

Week 30 of Teaching

Posted on March 26, 2011 by auburnchick

The first week after Spring Break is notoriously one of the most difficult in a teacher’s life.

The kids don’t want to be back, and the teachers, though excited, aren’t sure they are ready to be back either.

Oh, and that’s not to mention the fact that everyone has one thing on their minds…SUMMER!

I, however, was not one of these people.

I had some good lesson plans tucked into my pocket, and I was ready.

I was ready to get this last nine weeks going because I need school to be o-v-e-r so I can focus on my certification classes and be done, once and for all.

Anyhoo…

Here’s what my students saw when they walked in on Monday…

First of all, I had arranged my desk a little differently.  I like the new setup because I can see my students better if I’m sitting at that desk.  It’s also a little better for me ergonomically-speaking.

I had prepped the board for my classes…

Oh yes.  They certainly were in for a wild ride.  I had spent the latter part of Spring Break working on my lesson plans, and I felt really good about them.

Several weeks ago, I had decided to combine my 9-12 grade lesson preps.  We will, essentially, be doing the same things in those classes…on different ability levels, of course.  The thing is that the Florida Sunshine Standards are nearly identical for all of these grades!  After taking a look at what I had already covered, I selected lesson plans that would teach the remaining, untouched standards.

Hence the wild ride.

My 9th through 12th graders will be reading the book The Seventeen Second Miracle, by Jason Wright.

I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this before.

I friended Jason, accidentally, on Facebook a few weeks ago, and he was kind enough to provide a study guide that a couple of other teachers had created (they had given him permission to do so).  If you’re looking for something like this, please contact him through his website.  He is a very nice guy who spent an afternoon exchanging emails with me.  I was very impressed.

I also developed my own lesson plans to supplement the study guide.

Every week, my classes will have assigned readings from the book.  On Wednesdays, my classes will meet during their regular class time and participate in “book club” discussions.  They’ll have to bring in the reflective journals they did for the week, in which they will have written about seventeen-second miracles others did for them and they did for others that week.  I think the discussions are going to be very interesting.

What I’m most excited about is the large project they will complete at the end of the term for this book.

It’s two parts.  Each student will write a short character analysis that will include a paragraph about how they identify with their chosen characters.  The paper will count for 1/4 of their project grade.  The remaining part will encompass a video project!!!

I divided the students into groups of three and four.  The video project will have to show everyday things that take seventeen seconds.  Then, the video will have to take on story form as the kids show how one “miracle” can have the snowball affect of changing a minimum of four people’s lives.  I’ve given them storyboard templates and a lot of other information to help them.

I am really excited to see how this plays out for them.  The message in this book is incredible.  It’s about how it takes very little time to change a person’s life, but we have to make a purposeful decision to step outside of our comfort zone, be willing to inconvenience ourselves, and then just do it.

Those lesson plans are going to be running in the background, so to speak, while we do other stuff…

Like write technical manuals, which is the current project.

Students are writing how-to manuals about two or three features of a regular household item.  They will be writing the steps, conducting useability tests, and then revising their instructions.  Their final drafts will have to include pictures, just like any good manual would.

Meanwhile, my 6th graders started a new routine this term.  I decided to incorporate Silent Sustained Reading for the first ten minutes of class.  Students are required to bring novels of some sort to class to read for the first ten minutes.  They LOVE this!!  I told them that they could consider this part of their 30-minute required reading time that they have to log for my class each day, which made them love it even more.  🙂

This week, my 6th graders began reading about Yellowstone’s summer fires of 1988.  I gave my students new workbooks that contained this story along with a host of other stories we will be reading this term.  They were so excited because the books were new, they can write in them, and they can even highlight in them.

It doesn’t take much to make kids happy, I’ll tell you!

All-in-all, it was a very good week.

Something I realized this week is that good lesson planning is key to keeping kids motivated and excited to learn.  It’s also refreshing to be excited to TEACH a lesson plan that I actually believe in.  I’m stepping outside of the box with some of my lesson plans this term.

I think that teachers need to be careful not to get stuck in a rut.  If we’re stuck as teachers, we can bet that students are stuck as well.

Changing things up takes so much time and energy, but the kids respond so positively that teachers can’t help but feed off of that energy.

I figured out that little things like turning the desks in a different direction also helps get kids out of their rut…

So, week 30 was very good indeed!!

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

A Boy and His Key Chain

Posted on March 25, 2011 by auburnchick

Observe…

That, my friends, is Rooster’s key chain.

I drove “his” car this morning, not paying attention to the key chain until I arrived at work.

I chuckled as I inspected the various items…

Captain America

 

Drum Key

 

Miniature Drum Stick (?)

 

From our cruise two Thanksgivings ago (I think)

Oh sure, it was funny…until…

I took Rooster to an appointment this afternoon.

You see, something magical happened to Rooster over the course of the week.

Ever since we came home with the first car, Rooster had decided that he better get serious about his driving.

He had been practicing…here and there, anyway.  But, he’d never been super-gung-ho about it.

Until this past week.

I took him to one of Podunk’s busiest streets (yes, it’s actually four-lane) and made him navigate some tricky maneuvers (i.e. turn left in one of those barely marked, no turn signal lanes that runs down the center of the road).  He made a couple of three-point turns on smaller roads.

I ran him through all of the “important” skills just to prove to me that he was ready.

He was.

I figured it was time…

It was time for him to make THAT appointment.

I checked him out of school early this afternoon, and off we went.

I could tell he was nervous.  He had not slept well last night, and he still had a stomachache from the lack of sleep.

I think he grew even MORE nervous as he pulled into the DMV’s parking lot.

We said a little prayer that he wouldn’t get the female instructor who is notorious for failing license seekers.

She’s so good at her job that she has bragged, as she’s gotten into cars, that she’s got the highest failure rate of any tester.

Uh huh.

As we looked around, we didn’t see anyone besides her.

Rooster groaned.

Finally, his number was called.

As he walked out the door, he gave me one last look.

It was the look of a lamb being led to slaughter.

My heart lurched.

I had to find a bathroom.

I had drank an entire bottle of water, and I’d had to “go” for quite some time, but there was no way I was letting my baby out of my sight until I absolutely had to.

I prayed as I did my business.

It seems as if I’ve done a lot of praying in bathrooms lately (remember when I took my General Knowledge Test?).

Anyhoo…

I waited.

I worked on my 6th grade lesson plan for next week.

Every few minutes, I would look up to see if he was coming in the door.

Then, I’d return to my book.

Finally, I saw Rooster.

I nervously got up and walked up to him.

He was smiling.

This was a good sign.

Indeed, it was.

He had passed!!

As the lady (same gal who tested him) asked the perfunctory questions for getting a license, I heard him answer with a “Yes, ma’am” this and a “Yes, ma’am” that.

I raised my eyebrows.

We do live in the South, but my children don’t always do what I’ve tried to teach them to do.

I was proud of him.

We had to sit and wait a few minutes while his license printed out.

That’s when he gave me the scoop.

He told me that he had been very nervous (understandable…Chicky had failed her test during her first try…under this lady…before she’d even left the parking lot).

As the lady began asking him driving questions, he answered by saying, “Yes, ma’am” this and “Yes, ma’am” that.  He told me that he’d gone above and beyond the polite factor just to keep her in a good mood.

I think it worked.

He drove us home, quite pleased (and relieved).

A mere sixty minutes later, he was ready for his first solo flight.

He and the Mr. were going to DQ to celebrate, and Rooster was going to help a friend from church move furniture into his house.  Rooster took “his” car so that he could leave straight from the ice cream place.

Just as I did with Chicky, I took photos as he was leaving…

That’s him, following the Mr.

Off he went, happy as a lark.  He was very responsible, even remembering to text me when he arrived at his destination and again when he was about to leave.

He came home much sooner than expected, and you want to know what the first words out of his mouth were?

“Mama, may I go to so-and-so’s house to spend the night?”

You know what that meant, don’t you?

Another solo drive.

Sigh.

I walked him outside, gave him the usual reminders to be careful, and then I watched him drive away.

I had a few tears this time.

I cannot believe that I will never have one of these days again.

My baby bird has sprouted wings.

It is very bittersweet.

Meanwhile, I can smile because, though he may be making small forays around town, he’s not quite finished growing up.

His key chain is proof of that.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

Always Amazed

Posted on March 24, 2011 by auburnchick

I am always amazed at the ways in which God provides for me.

Today, I had my first observation for my Field Experience class.  I was nervous because I was going to be meeting the teacher who had agreed to be my mentor.  I was also nervous because in a few short weeks, I will be working with him to create a lesson plan and then using that lesson plan to teach his students.

I think it can be intimidating to walk into another teacher’s class and “take over.”

The school where my mentor teaches is across town.  It’s a solid thirty minute trip.

Of course my dogs chose THIS morning to escape from the house…just as Rooster and I were leaving.

God provided, though.

My sweet but mischievous Molly came to me when I called her.

Stupid me didn’t get a good grip on her, so she escaped from me and ran off.

I called out to her, and she came to me a second time.

She never, ever does this.  Once loose, she’s usually gone for ten or fifteen minutes.

We’ve taken to leaving the back door open for her so she can come back when she’s spent her energy.

God provided.

I arrived at the school five minutes early.

God wasn’t done surprising me, though.

This teacher’s first period class is a dual enrolled English 1102 class.

I nervously walked in and took a seat at his desk.  I was only there to make observations today.

I was surprised to hear a student call my name.

As I looked over, I saw that it was a girl Chicky used to play soccer with.  We know her family very well and grew quite close to them during our traveling days.

She’s a senior.  I still can’t believe it.  She’s grown up in front of my eyes.

She was a welcome sight for my nervous self.

Second period was a class of honors ninth graders.

As they were settling in, the teacher explained that he was just beginning a new unit.

Wanna guess what he’s teaching?

Romeo and Juliet.

I don’t remember if I shared this picture before.  See if you understand the significance of it…

Those are the masks and shields that my ninth graders made…

When we studied Romeo and Juliet last term.

Did you just get chills?

I did too.

The teacher had already spent yesterday introducing the unit.  He continued this lesson today.

As I worked on the observations that I had to make for my Field Experience class assignments, I smiled.

I understood everything the teacher was saying.

Toward the end of class, the teacher showed a clip from the movie Shakespeare in Love.  The scene was the one where Gwyneth Paltrow gets plucked from the audience that had gone to view the opening of the play Romeo and Juliet.  The actor who was supposed to play Juliet’s part was having issues with his voice cracking.  She already knew all of the lines because she had been having a relationship with Shakespeare.

As the scene jumped from one act to the other (short clips from each), I sat, spellbound.

Although the 9th graders didn’t know what they were really watching, I sure did.

All I could think about was how excited I was to get to teach this piece of literature again.

It’s almost like I get a do-over…a chance to make the lesson even better than the first time.

God had provided.

Again.

He continued to provide when, in third period, one of the students who walked in was a gal from a different soccer family.

He provided yet again when, after class, a teacher entered the room to borrow my mentor’s microwave.

It was a gal from a third soccer family.  Her sisters had been Chicky’s travel and high school teammates.  Chicky even graduated with one of the girls, and they signed their college letters of intent on the same day (they shared a cake as well).

I have been humbled, yet again.

Despite my having a mini-meltdown at home last night after waves of overwhelming nervousness descended upon my weary shoulders, God must have been up in heaven shaking His head with a sad smile on His face.

He knew His plans.

One would think that I would have learned this lesson by now.

Humans can be such emotional messes sometimes, eh?

You know…some people do not believe that God manifests Himself into our lives on a personal basis.

I disagree.

God is very real and very present.  He doesn’t just care about the “big” things in this world, but he cares about even the smallest little details of each individual’s life.

I am so grateful that He didn’t just give Moses the ten commandments and wash His hands of us.

I don’t know why, but I just feel the need to put this video clip on my blog today.  I know I’ve posted it before…maybe two or three times.

This is one of my favorite songs ever.

It’s my way of praising the Lord for pouring out His grace on me.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

Springtime Wednesday Hodgepodge

Posted on March 23, 2011 by auburnchick

Well, it’s time to take a gander at the questions that Joyce cooked up for us this week.

Wanna play along?  Answer the questions on your blog, go back to Joyce’s lovely corner of the world, and link up!  It’s so easy that even I can do it!  heehee

On to the questions!

1.  Sunday was the first day of Spring, so they say.  Ahem.  What is your favorite outdoor springtime activity?

Even though I do not have much of a green thumb, I do enjoy planting sunflowers and getting out every evening to take care of them.

2.  Who would you want to come to your kitchen to cook dinner for you?

Hmmm…tough question…

I’d say ANYONE!  Cooking isn’t my thing, exactly, although I would gladly cook than have to take these certification classes!

My problem is that I began eating a vegan diet at the end of December.  I would need someone who is familiar with vegan cooking to take care of this dietary request.  I have no idea who in the world that would be, off the top of my head (and it’s 3:15am as I’m writing this).

3.  When did you last fly a kite?

Hmmm…I last told someone to go fly a kite last Thursday…

Just kidding.

I last flew a kite many years ago…when my kids were little.

4.  What topic puts you to sleep faster than anything?

Math.

I loathe math.

5.  Which flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?

I am totally drawing a blank here.  I am not a very sentimental person…at least most of the time.  If  I could afford to, I would keep fresh spring flowers in vases around my home, but not because they remind me of a person, place, or event.  Sorry guys.

6.  What significant historical events took place during your elementary school days?

  • 1975:  Arthur Ashe First Black Man to Win Wimbledon, Microsoft Founded
  • 1976: First Ebola Virus Outbreaks Strike Sudan and Zaire, Nadia Comaneci Given Seven Perfect Tens, North and South Vietnam Join to Form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
  • 1977:  Elvis found dead (this was significant and historical, right?)
  • 1978:  First test-tube baby born, John Paul II became Pope, Star Wars movie released (another historical event…where would we be without Darth Vader, Luke, Princess Lei, and Han Solo?)
  • 1979:  Iran Takes American Hostages in Tehran, Margaret Thatcher First Woman Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mother Theresa Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Nuclear Accident at Three Mile Island, Sony Introduces the Walkman
  • 1980:  Failed U.S. Rescue Attempt to Save Hostages in Tehran, Mount St. Helens Erupts
  • 1981:  Assassination Attempt on the Pope, Assassination Attempt on U.S. President Reagan, First Woman Appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, Millions Watch Royal Wedding on T.V., New Plague Identified as AIDS, Personal Computers (PC) Introduced by IBM

7.  Do you swear?  Do you pseudo-swear (crap, shoot, friggin)?

This is a difficult question for me.  I grew up with a stepfather who was an ex-Navy man (not to be dissing the military).  He swore like a sailor, and because I worked part-time for him and lived in the same house as him, I was exposed to it constantly.  Thus, I developed some bad habits.  Thankfully, I have come a long way since my high school days and now, only rarely (when I’m extremely angry), do I curse.

As far as pseudo-swearing, yes, I do a bit of that.  I try hard not to say crap.  After hearing it come out of Chicky’s mouth, I decided that I really didn’t like the way that word sounds, so I’m trying not to.  I do say shoot sometimes, but I guess I must not enunciate the word properly, because it comes out sounding like the other word.  I am trying to train myself not to say this word so people don’t think I’m cussing.  I rarely, if ever, say friggin.  I know what it stands for, and I don’t like it.

8.  My random thought…um…better make that story…

So, if you read my blog on a regular basis, you’ll remember that on Saturday, the Mr. traded in our wonderful Jeep and purchased not one, but TWO used cars…one for each of our chicklets.  We felt fortunate that we had gotten a Mazda 3 and a PT Cruiser for a decent price.

You’ll also remember that two days later, the Mr. took back the PT Cruiser because something was wrong with the transmission.  Fortunately, he’s been dealing with a very good dealership, and he got his money back.

With that said, the Mr. felt a little bad and told the salesman, who was amazing through the whole process, that if the guy found another Mazda 3, to call.

That was two days ago.

You’ll never believe what happened yesterday.

The guy called.

The dealership had just gotten in another Mazda 3 when someone traded it for another vehicle.

I, being the hard worker that I am, did not know this until I received a text from the Mr. around the time I got off of work…

“Call me.”

I had an inkling of what was up.

Before I knew it, Rooster and I were headed to the dealership.

The Mr. had been using me as an excuse to hold off on making a decision, saying that he needed my “approval.”

It wasn’t difficult to say yes.

I’ve loved Mazdas ever since I got a 626 while in high school.  The Mr. and I drove that car for the first eight years of our marriage, and I nearly cried when we traded it in.

We drove the “new to us” car home and parked it beside the other Mazda…

The gray one has about 30,000 more miles on it, but it has power windows, locks, and cruise control.  The other car doesn’t.  Other than that (and the color), the cars are identical…

And if you’re waiting to see which chicklet will wind up with which car…well, you’re just going to have to wait a bit longer.  Chicky won’t be home from college until the beginning of May.

I am still expecting an epic battle.

Either way, each child will wind up with a decent car.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 17 Comments »

Two Weeks of No TV

Posted on March 22, 2011 by auburnchick

Sunday marked two weeks since I turned off my television set.  Easter is still four weeks away.

Some of you have asked for updates on what it’s been like in Chez AuburnChick.

Well, let me tell you that it has been quiet.

It has been very quiet.

The first few days were very difficult.  It’s amazing how much we rely on noise to fill empty space.

I thought that Spring Break would be especially difficult with Rooster being gone for half of it, Chicky being back at college, and the Mr. at work all day.

It wasn’t.

I am so much more focused right now.  This focus has helped me accomplish quite a bit of stuff these past two weeks.

Time does seem to stretch endlessly, but that is a good thing right now as time is what I need to complete the many, many tasks on my plate.

Although I did not have any assignments due in any of my classes last week, I used my quiet time to complete all of the quizzes for my Field Experience class.  In addition, I have completed all but one of the quizzes for my technology class.  I have also finished all of the assignments through week five of that same technology class, and I’m halfway done with week six.

I know what you’re thinking…slow down.

I can’t.

I cannot afford to until my own teaching schedule is finished in May.

Another benefit I’ve noticed is that I have grown to not care as much about what the “reality” stars are up to.

Boston Rob?

I have no idea if he’s been voted out and gone to Redemption Island (don’t anybody tell me either).

I did receive text messages from Chicky regarding who the bachelor chose.  Go Emily!

But honestly, I am so glad that I did not watch the After the Rose show because I would have been all up in arms about their less than perfect relationship (go figure).

I really do not need the added stress in my life right now.  Goodness knows that buying two cars and returning one within two days is enough stress!

Another thing I have noticed is that I have grown very sensitive to the sound of the TV that the Mr. watches in the other room.

In fact, I have found it rather distracting and annoying as I sit in the living room and attempt to work on my assignments.

It’s as if my brain craves the peace that is only broken by the tapping of my fingers on my keyboard.

Because I am no longer tied to my TV schedule, I feel freer to sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather my part of the state is enjoying right now.

I am not fidgety during Rooster’s college class…anxious to get home “in time for my shows.”  Gosh…it’s almost like TV provided a “fix” to some insatiable need for entertainment.

The cable box used to mock me with it’s glaring white display of the time.

I fixed that.

I unplugged it.

Imagine that.

So, two weeks of no TV…it hasn’t been as bad as one might think.

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