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Very Stupid

Posted on October 8, 2012 by auburnchick

The Mr. was gone all weekend, and I was stuck, without a car.

This turned out to be a blessing because I somehow managed to catch some sort of bug.

It’s scared me a bit as memories of my summer bout of pneumonia came swiftly back to mind.

I’ve taken it easy and did not even get out of my pajamas on Sunday.

I woke up this morning still feeling cruddy but needing to run a few errands.  We’ll return to school tomorrow, and sick or not, I must be on my game for my students (or at least do a good job of faking it).

When I returned home, I found this little sight…

The thought had crossed my mind that I should move that box, but I’d ignored it.

Stupid me.

While I was out and about, I picked up a couple of items at Victoria’s Secrets.  I just love getting their coupons in the mail!

Apparently, somehow they’d gotten my birthday information as being in October, so I had a $10 off of anything.

I walked around and kept thinking about how good Chicky smells whenever I hug her.  She gets her body mists from VS, so I decided to look around.

The perfume was too expensive, but I found a travel size body mist, on sale, at the register…$10 instead of $15, which made if FREE for me, given that coupon I had…

I was one happy camper, let me tell you!

Still, though, I was feeling very sickly by the time I got home, and I had a headache that was looking like it was going to turn into a full-fledged migraine at any moment.

Thus, I am not sure what possessed me, but I decided, in one weak moment, to spray some of that mist on me.

I’m pretty sensitive to smells, so I should have known better.

I immediately started feeling worse, and my headache pain jumped from about a seven to a nine and a half.

Sheesh.

In that moment, I thought that instead of being “Very Sexy” as the body mist’s name implies, I was, in fact, “Very Stupid.”

For one who may, indeed, be on the verge of a sinus infection (hence the pressure in my head), this was one stupid move.

Sigh.

 

Filed under: This-n-That | 1 Comment »

A Small Gift With a Big Message

Posted on October 6, 2012 by auburnchick

I saw one of my students walking down the hall during lunch a few days ago.

She said, “Mrs. Auburnchick, I have something for you.”

Then, she proceeded to dig through her purse.

She pulled this out…

This sweet tenth grader became a part of my class last year after she transferred, mid-year, from another high school in town.

For various reasons, her schedule changed twice during the year.  Both times, she stayed with me, simply moving from one class period to another.

It was the one thing her mother had insisted on…that she stay with me.

She has a few things going on in her life…BIG things…so she’s had a rough time of it.

Despite the challenges she’s facing, she her smile rarely fades from her face.

She continues to amaze me as I watch her stick up for classmates who are being bullied.

She’s even got a little guy who seems to have taken an interest in her.  Unfortunately, she’s not interested but is too kind to ask him to leave her alone.

I take special care of her, knowing her unique circumstances.

Her gift spoke of her appreciation and touched my heart.

It is moments like these that inspire me to keep pushing on…to keep lesson planning on the weekends and late into the evenings when I’d rather be knitting or reading a book.

That is what teaching is…moments like these…strung together…sometimes haphazardly…connections forged…sometimes when you least expect it.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Fall Break 2012

Posted on October 5, 2012 by auburnchick

We had the day off from school. Until Monday, I’d had no idea about the break! Go figure. it would seem that I am always the last to know, I guess.

I made the most of my day.

First, I slept in. I had graded tests and reading logs for over three hours and then spent the rest of the evening piddling around the house.

This afternoon, my friend, Jane, came and picked me up. We ate lunch at a local Mexican restaurant.

You might recall that I worked with Jane my first year of teaching. We talk on the phone about once a week but don’t get to see each other often because of our hectic work schedules.

We had such a wonderful conversation and stayed at the restaurant so long that dinner was being served as we left!!!

Our main topic was teaching…of course!! We are passionate about our students!!

Jane had recently met my mentor, Cinda, at a professional development workshop, and Jane was eager to share about the new strategies she had already begun using in her classes.

Jane and I offered each other advice about various things. BFFs are good at such things, you know!!

Not ready to leave each other’s company, we headed to Target after leaving the restaurant.

We hit the mother lode when we saw the dollar bins. As teachers, we gravitated toward the small pails and baskets…

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These are going to be perfect for the tables my students sit at!!

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I bought quite a few items…mostly snacks and other goodies for the football players I’ve adopted.

Jane and I had to be silly, of course, and tried on turkey and witches hats. We were like teenagers, taking photos of ourselves. We kept a wary eye out for security. They were probably steering clear of the crazy ladies!!

We wound up buying a cart full of stuff, laughing as we left the store…

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We made the most of our time. We knew we would be returning home to lesson planning, professional reading (she recently began her quest for a master’s degree, and I am about to begin working on my fourth reading endorsement class), and regular household duties.

The day could not have been any better!!

I am so blessed to have this sweet lady in my life.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Octoberfest Hodgepodge!

Posted on October 3, 2012 by auburnchick

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Hodgepodge!  Thanks, Joyce!!!!

I’ve been a bad blogger lately and just have not been able to get around and visit much!  Hopefully, with my school district’s Fall Break, I’ll have more time to make the rounds.  Please forgive this harried gal and, as always, thanks for stopping by!!  I treasure each and every one of you!

1.  It’s a brand new month…share one thing you’re looking forward to in October.

I’ve been looking forward to October because Chicky’s soccer team plays a lot of home games this month!  I don’t get to travel down to watch her play much because of the long drive.  I was fortunate to visit her a couple of weeks ago, and I’m planning on going back in a week or two.  I do love to see my girl use the talent God has blessed her with!!

2.  Is chivalry dead?  Explain.

I do not think that chivalry is dead.  I am constantly amazed when I see the teens I work with hold doors for the ladies and offer to lend a helping hand.  Chivalry is present.  We just need to keep our eyes open and be willing to look for it!

3.  On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts comic strip made its debut.  Which character is your favorite?  Which character is most like you?  (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Shroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, or Pig Pen)  If you need a description click here .

Oh, I definitely think I’m like Charlie Brown.  Charlie Brown doesn’t seem to have very good luck, and I’ve always felt the same way.  He’s also plagued with insecurities, and I struggle with my own as well.  Charlie Brown seems to try so hard to fit in but never really does.  Ding, Ding, Ding.  This rings a bell with me.  Sigh.

What I think I like best about Charlie Brown is that he never gives up and manages to find joy…despite the universe’s attempt to keep him from it.  This is what I’m like, I think.

Edited to add:  After reading Joyce’s answers, I visited the link to the Charlie Brown survey.  The results confirmed that indeed, I am Charlie Brown!

You are a good person, and in a way, you don’t get what you deserve in life.
You are kind, honest, and brave… but you always seems to have the worst luck!

You’ve don’t give up easily, but sometimes you can’t help but get a little depressed. Life is hard!  You might be surprised to know your friends like you just the way you are. Others can see your heart of gold.

4.  What’s something you’re competitive about?

Hmmm…tough question.  I am mostly competitive with myself, always upping the ante as far as what I’ve accomplished in the past and what I’m trying to accomplish in the present.  Take fasting, for instance.  Every time I fast, I go for longer and longer periods of time.  Stupid, eh?  It’s what I justify as “challenging myself.”

Yeah.  I know.  I need to get a life, eh?

5.  October is National Popcorn Popping Month…are you a fan?  How do you like your popcorn?

I can take it or leave it.  Since going vegan, popcorn eating isn’t as much fun since I won’t put butter on it.

6.  When did you first realize the world is small?

I first realized that the world is small when I randomly ran into a soccer parent in an airport in Washington, D.C.  I had not seen this parent in YEARS.  Our girls played together when we lived in south Florida and Chicky was in elementary school.  It was quite the coincidence, eh?  Then, a couple of years ago, when we were flying home from Seattle, I saw several people on the plane from Podunk, USA.  We’d all gotten on the same plane after a connecting flight.  Very interesting, eh?

7.  In terms of architecture, what’s the most beautiful building you’ve seen up close and in person?

Well, I don’t typically look at architecture.  Guess I’m not very artsy.  Plus, when I travel, it’s usually to soccer venues.  Thus it is that I must answer that the most beautiful building I’ve seen up close and personal is a bathroom…in the middle of a soccer field…that has real potties and warm hand dryers…in the middle of the winter.

You have no idea how much you’ll appreciate simple, square architecture when it has the above items.

😀

8.  My Random Thought

A sweet comment I heard yesterday at school.

After getting onto a student about something (I wasn’t being mean…just holding someone accountable, in a nice way), I apologized for “Going all mama” on the person.

Another student, a young gal, overheard me and said, “Mrs. AuburnChick, that’s why I love teachers…because they are all like mamas.”

Sigh.

This little one needs a lot of extra loving, and I’m so thankful she was transferred into my class recently.  I never would have figured myself for being a softie, but that I am.

I adore my students and feel as if part of what I do is to extend God’s love to these sweet babies I teach.  So many of them need to be cared about.  Sometimes it’s tough…especially when they are blessing me out, and I’m not talking in a “favored son” kind of way.

😀

One day at a time, one child at a time.  That is my motto.

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

In Case You’re Wondering…

Posted on October 1, 2012 by auburnchick

This was what my desk looked like for the majority of the day…

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It was my penance for giving my students a six-page test.

This is what I spent my evening doing…grading tests and chuckling as I came across comments like the following (my response is in pink)…

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I thought I’d share this glimpse into my evening…just on case you were wondering.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: | 3 Comments »

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