XOXOXO to you all!!!

Curl up and snuggle....

That's really all I want to do tonight, but I have quite a few things on my to-do list. But let me set the scene for you. I am sitting on my bed, computer on lap, '2 Weeks Notice' playing on the tv, and Tanner (the cat) curled up across my legs. MUST GET UP!!! I will I will, right after I finish this post :)



AND this is a milestone for me. Because of my many a hiatus, I am just now reaching my 100th post. I contemplated doing all the tags I have yet to acknowledge, do 100 things about me, only write 100 words, and a few other possibilities. But that seems like so much pressure. Yes, it's a milestone, but I can do all those things another time. Right now, I just wanted to say hello, I haven't forgotten about you, and say Merry Christmas. Tomorrow is the last day of Kindergarten before winter break (a whole 2 weeks!!!!!) and I am so ready for it. There is a lot going on over the next 2 weeks so I feel like I'll have a lot to be (potentially) updating you on.



But for now, I'm going to turn up "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" (with Jenny from Gossip Girl as Cindy Lou Who), and get to town on organizing my closet; or cleaning my bathroom; or doing laundry; or wrapping my kiddies presents; or vacuuming; or painting my nails; or .... nah, I'll probably just watch the Grinch...




Once I upload my pictures, I can't wait to show you what I made for my kids this year! It took all of the past 2 weeks and about 5 hours last night, BUT I'm so happy with the turn out... You'll just have to wait and see!!!

Bless MY heart.....

Lordy lord chile... I must have won the worst blogger award. When it is December 15th and your last post was about Thanksgiving. Bad MJ, bad. So here I am, probably going to be late to school because I just couldn't not write something. It has been eating at me and to be honest I haven't even done a good job at keeping up reading everyone elses!! I know I have been tagged by quite a few people, so don't worry. I know who you all are, and what my jobs are, they will get done.

Updates:

FANTASTIC WEEKEND.... Wonderful amazing roller coaster in the end perfect weekend. Let me put it this way. I cried, I laughed, I danced, I drank, and though I'm still utterly exhausted, I can't stop smiling.

My baby bro got into Hampden-Sydney early decision!! Woop Woop.. He is doing his job of continuing the preppy frat-tastic level of my family. I'm so proud of him and he is super excited which makes it all that much better.

I haven't been all that great at the no nails biting thing. But yesterday (aka: best day ever) I didn't bite my nails once. It's a nervous habit, and well, I guess I wasn't nervous about anything yesterday and I just had no desire to. This could be the beginning of something wonderful. GO ME!

5 days left of school until Chirstmas Vacation!!!

Kiki is coming to visit me this weekend!! She was my senior year roommate in the Tri Delta house and is getting married next October! I'm so excited. She is such a wonderful person, friend, everything and I can't wait to have her in Raleigh once again. We have some great Christmas parties lined up to attend, some wedding stuff to talk about, and God and time willing, some snuggling in bed watching some romantic comedy just like the old days :)

AND NOW I AM OFFICIALLY LATE FOR SCHOOL.. Happy Monday ladies (and gents?).

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heading home to good ole Culpeper, Virginia. I love home. I miss it dearly sometimes. But that's why it is so great to visit!!!!!!!

advice, help, tricks of the trade?

How do I stop biting my nails?

This is a bad habit that I have been fighting for over 20 years here people. It is a nervous habit. I do it when stressed, upset, over tired, etc etc..... welcome to my world. There is a picture of me, playing soccer (back in the day when we probably still swarmed the ball the entire length of the field), 5 or 6 years old, mid-game, biting my nails. I have tried just about everything in the past. I am ready to give it another go. I want nails by Christmas. I have a month. HELP!

Somebody's getting married!!!!

and well, we all know it sure isn't me!!!

Congratulations Laurel!!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

Germany, Hard Rock Cafe, Spring 2004 (me=1, laurel=3 from left)

The last day of classes, Spring '05

Graduation, '05 (Laurel=2 from left)Kelley's Rehearsal, Spring '06 Wrightsville Beach, Summer '06

Raleigh, Winter '06/'07Ro's Wedding, Williamsburg, Summer '08

2 Officially down.... 1 now on it's way... 5ish to go!!!!

It done did it!!!

It snowed it snowed it snowed.. And I am proud to say that I was just as excited as my Kindergarteners. We saw flurries in the morning, then out during recess, then while visiting the Book Fair (didn't you just LOVE the book fair?? they're still awesome) it was like a blizzard outside!!! Then it did it again about 45 minutes later!! Go Raleigh!!!! We quickly realized we needed to go back to our weather graph and change it from 'dry' to 'snowy'. Because as Yogi put it, "Mrs. Tholand, we have to change it. This could be our only chance!" If you only knew this child, and the urgency with which he said it, you would know why i JUST HAD to change it.

wow

soooo, I know I know. I've been completely MIA. I started feeling so anti-social, as previously mentioned, so I've been trying to be more available, see more people. But that's just plain exhausting sometimes!! On top of it all, I still have this horrible cough, I'm still having stomach issues (thanks to my lack of a gall bladder), and I'm pretty much feeling like crap 24-7. So it takes a lot of effort to be around and attempting normalcy. Whine whine whine, b**ch bi**h bit**. BUT, after an awful morning so far, coughing so violently an emergency trip to the toilet was necessary, arriving at school 45 minutes earlier than the meeting started, NO HEAT at school yet (they promise it's on, it just takes about an hour for it to really kick in), I'm putting all that aside, and staring longingly out the window to hopefully see some...............

Though it'll probablyl only be one lonely little guy floating down to Earth....

Whatever, I like snow. What am I saying. I LOVE SNOW!!!! Sometimes I really wonder why I live in the South................. well, not really ;-)

River and Oysters and Family OH MY

Let me preface this entry with: I have needed some personal time, some me time. So please don't judge me for the LONG weekend I am about to describe :)

SO, last Friday morning I left a beautiful sunny and delightful Raleigh to meet up with my parents at Wharton Grove. It's my brothers Godfather's/father's best friend's house on the River just across from Urbanna, just up from Irvington in the thriving metropolis of Weems, Virginia. If you don't know any of those names, then you've never been there, so don't worry about it. ANYWAY, this is how a good ole river house should be. I love it. Don't mind the ivy growing into the house or the wysteria growing over the porch door or the absolutely amazing view from the deck over the River at sunset. There were a few reasons for this visit. See family, celebrate lil bro's 18th birthday (he's at boarding school across the River), and attend the Urbanna Oyster Festival, attended by thousands every year. SO I was super excited. Sadly Pav of Pav and the Goose was going to come with, but the new second job (which she needs to tell us about!) took precidence.

That night, we go to Rose's Steak House for the bday dinner up in Kilmarnock (I feel like I'm name dropping here; I just love this area of Virginia and don't you just love the names!!!). Little bro not so casually kept drinking my beer. I was so proud! Papa got a bucket of the peanuts they had at the front door, and just assumed that once cracked, the shells go on the floor. Well, no, this was not the case. So then he starts just dumping the shells on the nice black table cloth. Well, the look on our waiter's face as he walked up quickly told me that wasn't where they went either. He quickly turned around, grabbed another one of the tiny buckets and promptly put it down right in front of my father... who proceeded to crack and throw on the floor/table... Men.. But lil bro's friend (apparent BFF of the moment), we'll call him cutie, I mean, dreamboat, I mean WHOA best friend of my 18 year old brother!! AHH, ladies (and perhaps gentlemen), this kid is too cute for words I wanted to take him up, put him in my pocket, and take him home with me. He is so articulate, so mature, has done and seen so much, he literally mesmerized me most of dinner. He is gonna be a lady killer. (The next morning at breakfast, he sat down next to me and I couldn't help but kinda smile; how cougar-esque of me!!!) Anyway, moving on, we went back to Wharton Grove to open presents. I gave him a new Polo and a Northface fleece (thank god it fit!) and the big present my parents gave him was a lacrosse goal. How cool. He got some fun other things that he really seemed to like, good times, good boy, he knows how to play it. The next morning, we wake up bright and early (there is a whole story I'm skipping over, but I do believe it requires an entry of it's own, so it will just have to wait) and head across the River, for the Oyster Festival!!!! Mind you, it is raining, non-stop. But we brave the weather, bundled up, and head out. But this has already gone on longer than I wanted and there is sooo much more to tell. But my father is upstairs watching, let's see, 7:07PM, he's watching Jeopardy, so I'm gonna go kick his hiney and answer, let's see, it's not a College week or Celebrity week, so I'll average about 2 questions correct.

PS: Tomorrow LSL, Pav, and I are headed to the information session for Junior League. Anyone else going?!?!

PPS: I'll post pictures later!!!

hump day

I feel like I can't complain that it's ONLY Wednesday. Had Monday and Tuesday as work days and I think I'll be peacing out early Friday morning to spend the weekend at the Rivah with the fam. BUT last week was sooo long, I worked all day Saturday and Sunday at the toy store, on top of cleaning the entirety of my old house. Then I spent all day Monday unpacking at home and yesterday at school. AND I think I may have bronchitis. Bitch Bitch whine whine... I'm sorry. I've wanted to hang out with people, been feeling kinda lonely lately, but I'm just so tired at the end of the day and just want to sit down with my feet up and chill at my house. I'm so lazy lately!!!!

PS: I LOVE THE TREES!!!!!!!!!!!

18 years and counting

So, Nov. 8th is my 'little' brother's 18th birthday. I will actually get to see him on his birthday this year, and I'm desperately trying to be a cool older sister and get him an awesome present. But I am at a loss. I have less than 2 weeks to reach 'cool' status, so I realized I need to reach out for help.

He is active, loves lacrosse, all sports, being outdoors, sailing, but does do the video game thing. Hmm, sounds like a typical boy. He goes to boarding school (like me, and our older sister!), so some things are off limits (like someone suggested I buy hime some alcohol... NOPE). It's so hard to think of him as 18, and not my little brother. I coach girls younger than him, and yet feel like I treat them older. But he'll always be my baby brother... as much as he would roll his eyes and mutter something under his breathe if he heard me say that.

HELP!!!

PS: this picture is about 2 years old, but he is that much taller than me, a solid 6''1'!! And still wears the hippy hemp necklace, as preppy as that boy is, he throws some curve balls in every now and then ;-)

National Kids' Voting Day!!

In honor of the impending day, at school today we are having our election. Now, the upper grades (2-5) are voting with ''real'' ballots for President, etc etc. In Kindergarten however, we were simply asked to talk about the roll of President, who is running, and then hold a vote for anything ourselves. When asking the students who the President was, one student immediately raised his hand and exclaimed with great enthusiasm....

"Barack Obama!!!!"

My heart sank and it took me a moment to get my breath back.... I don't know if I'm ready for November 4th....

I liked the results for our vote. "If Ms. T was to get a puppy would it be named 'Riley', 'Parker', or 'Porter'? It was a close race, but Porter pulled out on top.

Packed up (sorta) and moving out (mostly)

So I mentioned awhile back that I was moving (again) and today is a big day! My parents and 'little' brother are here in Raleighwood for the weekend to help me move! My papa and his big Landcruiser are here to transport things like furniture and other pieces that just wont fit in the Volvo. This way, I can get most of my stuff out of house A and into house B, but still have a couple weeks (through the end of the month) to finish packing up and cleaning as time allows. Apparently the landlords are VERY particular and want it spotless upon moving out. Our next door neighbors, who moved in after, had to face a ridiculous deposit amount since the people that lived there before did not leave it exactly spotless. So the landlords have upped the ante. I have no idea if that's how you would spell that phrase, but you know what I mean, right?

Anyway, last night at dinner, PT (the little bro - senior in highschool) asked if I thought I'd ever move back to Virginia. I thought about it for a second, as many have asked me that actually. As much as I love Virginia, I've been rather nostalgic as of late too, I don't know if I'd go back. Knowing my parents are there, and that PT will most likely go to college there, I have reasons to go back, to get my fix. I love it in Raleigh... As far as I'm concerned, I'll be here unless a man makes me move. Seriously, I'll be going back to school in January, the school systems in Wake Country are wonderful, I've really begun making a life here, it has everything I have ever wanted. I sometimes wonder what about Richmond, or Charlottesville, or Charleston.... but for now, I'm stuck. So I'm asking you, if you live in Raleigh, what is your favorite thing about living here (or one of them). One of my favorite things about Raleigh, is that it's big enough to meet new people every day, and yet, if you want, you can run into people all the time at the grocery store, the bars, etc. I love, that it's beginning to really take off and grow, and that I can say, even in the short 2 years that I've lived here "Remember when blah blah blah wasn't there?!".

But I think my all time favorite thing about Raleigh, is that it's the City of the Oaks. When I was little, when we lived on The Farm (I'll talk about that later), I planted and oak tree. Dug a little hole, I could still show you where, and up came a little tree. When we moved, I just HAD to take that tree with me. I was very attached to this tree and refused to leave it behind. It was quite small still, maybe a foot tall, so along with Bert the beagle my favorite stuffed animal, and my little red "Going to Grandma's" suitcase, my little oak tree was one of my prized possessions. 20 years later, that little sapling is a full blown hunk of a tree. I told my parents they could never move, because I just don't think we'd be able to dig my tree up and take it with us this time.

picking back up old habits

An old habit I've recently picked back up, thanks to LSL (a fabulous old family friend who got married and moved to Raleigh, woop woop) who gave me a book to read, and then pass along, is reading before going to bed. To be honest I'll spend countless minutes (ahem, hours) on facebook, sending emails, reading blogs, etc, right up until I crawl into bed. But instead of staying up late watching tv, then getting on the computer (I'm writing fast I swear), I'm getting into bed, well, not as early as I'd hoped, but reading.. a book. It's so much more relaxing and good for your brain (so they say). SO, when I'm done with the book I"ll let you know what I think and hopefully I'll find someone good to pass it along to.

Thanks LSL.. I like it so far ;-)

What fun books are you reading? I don't want my good habit to end with this book!

eckanayszha????

***
For about 30 minutes today, a fellow Kindergarten compatriot and I were discussing my immune system, or what seems to be my lack of one. I have come down with one nasty cold. Yes, this is a mere week after getting the stomach bug. I have promised myself this fall, I would not fall prey to any kind of health problem. 2 years ago, October 4, emergency surgery to remove my days-until-failure infected with ganggreen gall bladder, out for... well, not long enough.. 2 weeks plus lots of half days. 1 year ago, November 14, Pnuemonia, missed Thanksgiving, out for 1.5 weeks, plus lots of half days (I have a hard time staying home and away from school for as long as I'm supposed to... perhaps some of the reason why I get sick a lot... I don't know when to quit.. hmmm... anyway). So this year, I backed off from working at the toy store as much, I'm trying to eat better, be good about taking vitamins, washing hands, etc etc. I wanted a healthy Fall. This year, thus far, I have had 1) ear ache 2) cold with bad cough 3) stomach bug 4) cold from hell. This current cold, has me coughing, both ears achey, breathing through one nostril at a time, and to top it all off, it seems to be focusing it's energy in my neck. Yes ladies and gentlemen (do I have any gentlemen readers??), I have a cold in my neck. Actually, it's a viral thing going around apparently, and my neck hurts like (excuse my language) crap. But it comes and goes in waves. So I've been taking cold medicine which has only reminded me of the many reasons why I DON'T take cold medicine. I had to have people repeat things multiple times, have students remind me what I was talking about, and I was walking the halls like a zombie. I still felt like poo, the only difference, I didn't really care! Hahaha. I was almost a complete waste of space today. Don't even get me started on how much fun the girls made of me at practice. Good times had by all :)

So those of you out there, that aren't graced by the presence of 20+ runny noses in your face on a daily basis, love your health, build your immune system, and send me healthy vibes...

OH WAIT.. The WHOLE point of this post had to do with ecanasha (which is the correct spelling, not the post title). So, my teacher friend and I were discussing even more ways to boost my immune system and we couldn't for the life of us thinking of ecanasha. We were saying eucharist, eckshell, and so many others except ecanasha. Then finally, sitting in silence on the playground, we literally all of a sudden turned towards each other and screamed 'ECANASHA!". After the laughing stopped, we were silent again, and I asked.... "Now how do you spell it?"

***The above post is a very good example of why I should not take any type of cold medicine. I apologize

Home sick...

I am home sick today with a lovely little stomach bug. It is actually neither lovely, nor little. It's been going around school and I thought we were in the clear. When I told a friend I was home, they felt I needed a teacher pick-me-up. It does make me chuckle...... Hope you all have wonderful Mondays AND, trying to reinforce my new mantra of being positive and finding the silver lining in ALL that life hands me; here's to a shorter week, and maybe losing a lb. or 2 :)

You Know You’re a Teacher When…
You repeat everything you say to your friends at least five times.
You think of the new year starting in August.
You tell your friends to spit out their gum.
Your favorite place to shop is the teacher’s bookstore.
You can eat an entire meal in 20 minutes or less.
The neighbor’s trash looks like something you can recycle for your classroom.
You count all your Valentine Day cards and smile.
You pick up a handful of napkins in a restaurant.
Your wardrobe is covered in paint.
You wake up in the middle of the night and say, “Who’s talking?”
Other people joke that it must be nice to have three months of vacation.
You are afraid to take a sick day because the sub doesn’t know your kids like you do.
Johnny swears and you smile because it was a grammatically correct sentence.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Rosh Hashanah!!! I am off this afternoon to drink some beer, watch some football, and celebrate the new year!!! This will be my first Rosh Hashanah dinner, celebration, what-have-you.

As a side note, Bar Boy, though the date was wonderful, we're just not sure. I'm just used to guys that are confident, perhaps a tad cocky. I'm not used to feeling like I make the first moves. I'm not saying I'm over it, but sometimes a girl just needs a strong guy that gives direction. I know I don't have to explain, because I think most girls out there get what I'm saying. I get that he's shy and a bit more reserved than other guys from previous 'relationships'. But I'm shy. I'm reserved. This will either be fun for me, or just irritating. Let's hope for the first. BB is a great guy, a really nice guy, but I'm thinking I need him to step it up and not seem like a lost little puppy calling me every 30 minutes from 11:30pm to 2AM, not leaving messeges. I just hope I'm not holding him up to stupid expectations... but a girl shouldn't settle either??? UGH, I am such a girl, stop analyzing and just have fun and do what you want!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, thanks, good talk ;-)

Success......

perfect outfit: check
fantastic hair: check CHECK
sufficient buzz: check check check...check
leftovers: yummm

kiss g'night:......... a lady never tells ;-)

1st date, help me!!!

Ok, remember a few posts back where I not so casually suggested everyone should make out with a boy in a bar?? Well, it has taken Bar Boy this long to ask me out on a legit date. I picked the location, because if I'd left it up to him, who knows how long it would've taken to pick a place. It's a place I'm very comfortable, great food, great atmosphere, sort of home turf... BUT WHAT DO I WEAR!!!! Here's the kicker of a day I have. Early release at school, which means meetings ALL afternoon. Followed up with a game at 5:15, thankfully home, in the freaking pouring rain they're calling for all afternoon. Then I'm supposed to hightail it home, shower, look gorgeous in something, by 745 for dinner and drinks. DAMNIT GREY'S ANATOMY PREMIER!! AHHHH!

Do I go casual, nice dark jeans, kitten heels, cute top and sweater/jacket with fun jewelery?

Do I go super sexy and snazz it up, this is a first date (but hello, we made out like teenagers in a bar, and I was wearing my super sexy dress... been there, done that?)

HELP HELP HELP.. This is Thursday night ladies, tomorrow, I am dating deficient.... What do you wear on 1st dates??

The Highs of life

I had the pleasure last year to work with a woman that truly changed my perspective, not only teaching, but on life. One thing she instilled in me, is the idea of realizing and embracing the 'highs' that life hands you. Whether it be completely out of the blue or hard-fought, these highs are reminders of who you are, and what you do with it. I have two areas in my life that I feel blessed to be a part of. Teaching and coaching. Here are my two most recent 'highs'.

Jennifer (names have been changed) is a beautiful young lady in my Kindergarten class. She is the sweetest thing, big smile, polite, caring, kind, everything you would hope for in a young lady (at the age of 5). Jennifer has a twin sister, as well as 3 older siblings all living with their very hard working, loving single mother. Yesterday, Jennifer comes running up to me waving her paper in my face. After I calmed her down to ask what all the commotion was about, I had to fight back the tears. She was beaming, pointing to her name at the top of the paper. It was perfect. Capital J, lower case e-n-n-i-f-e-r. Beautiful; and she knew it. She said, and I quote "This is the first time I have ever written my own name all by myself. No one had ever taught me to do that before. Thank you Ms. T"...... And as I'm fighting the urge to tear up now, I hope you see how this is a Teacher High. This is why I do what I do. I have changed this girls life, and whether she remember me in 20 years or not, I was there for that moment, and have helped shape her future. Seems silly for a teacher to need reminders of that, but sometimes you do.....

Though running from school to get to practice with my highschool girls is exhausting some days, it's days like today, that makes it all worth it. Now don't get me wrong, it isn't just because we won. Or because we beat an undefeated team.. that was (key word WAS) currently ranked #1 in the state. It was because I knew we could beat this team. We looked at last years game, we looked at the games they had played thus far this year, we worked on certain plays, we did team bonding games, we worked hard and got these girls psyched up for this game and went in knowing we were as prepared as we could be. We went into this game knowing we would play our best. And they did. I have never seen, an entire team, every single person whether on the field or on the sidelines give it their all like these ladies did. Half way through the game, I turned to the other coach and said it doesn't matter if we win or lose this game, I will tell them how proud I am of them. When halfway through the 2nd half, AP scores off a stroke, I nearly burst into tears. The looks of joy, the screams of camaraderie and excitement. I took a moment to take it all in; to look at the girls on the field beaming and ready to finish and put an end to this team, at the girls on the sidelines cheering their teammates on, the JV girls putting their heads together to do a cheer, the parents across the field clapping and jumping up and down. Here I was, right in the middle of all of it, and at that moment, I could not have been happier anywhere else. That, not the win (but way to go Saints!!), is my Coach's High.

Yes, I get payed to do both these jobs, and I'm not looking for praise or anything of the sort, but I feel blessed to have a passion for something in which I get to help others grow and build as people. Whether it be a challenging class full of high needs students, or a team down on it's luck or in a rebuilding year, I feel many people can miss out on the 'highs'. I have been so stuck on things in my life lately that have, well, I guess they've been lows, that I'm glad I can get my head out of the mud and take in these highs for all their worth, and go into each and everyday with a positive, ready for what life may bring attitude.

What are your highs?

Wanna get Goat faced at the shit Bar???

Check out the specials :)

You know you wanna................ So what are you doing tonight?

Here's to starting the week off right!!!

Had a wonderful evening full of old friends and then went to The Bar and met up with R&WP and WIDD. It was SO crowded after the big Wolfpack win!!! I haven't seen The Bar like that in quite awhile. I tried with no success to find someone, even with constant texting and standing on my chair. We finally gave up and just chatted on the phone for a bit after we left for home. I'll tell you more about him another time :) But it's so fun the people you run into and didn't know were there, and yet you can't find the people you came to meet up with!! Haha... Oh Raleighwood.. I heart you right now!!!

Three things Thursday

1) Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, and love. It is very much so appreciated. I tend to put how I feel, my emotions, be it fears, joys, etc, on back burner to everyone elses. It was almost refreshing to be able to write it down and get support without even feeling like I had to search it out. Just by putting it out there, y'all were there for me. Thank you so much for reading.

2) We won our game today!! Saw some things we needed to work on, during half time we talked it over, got back out there and were really able to put on the pressure and pull out a 5-1 win. Sadly, AP, one of our very best girls, hoping to play in college and in the throws of recruitment, got her finger smashed, blood gushing, NOT GOOD. She called just a bit ago to say it's not broken, just really banged up, very swollen, and hurting. Better than being broken, but doesn't make me feel better about playing the state champions on Saturday. 1 of the 2 teams that beat us last year.. Grrrrrr

3) One of my besties is coming down this weekend, Ro!! She's the one that got married in June in Williamsburg. Her husband (still not used to that) is going to be at Duke for about a month (smarty mcsmartpants is at Georgetown Med). I know they will be busy busy getting him settled, but I sure do hope i get to see her.. Check her out! Nothing beats an old friend :) xoxoxoxoxo

PS: I'm still loving my class..... The week goes by so fast, and I look forward to each new day. Kindergarten is truly fun this year. HOORAY!

getting by....

Life doesn't always turn out to be your fantasy. That's why you need friendships that are real to get you through it all.- Carrie Bradshaw

A Prayer To Live With Grace

May we discover through pain and torment,
the strength to live with grace and humor.
May we discover through doubt and anguish,
the strength to live with dignity and holiness.
May we discover through suffering and fear,
the strength to move toward healing.
May it come to pass that we be restored to health and to vigor.
May Life grant us wellness of body, spirit, and mind.
And if this cannot be so, may we find in this transformation and passage
moments of meaning, opportunities for love
and the deep and gracious calm that comes when we allow ourselves to move on.

A dear friend of my parents passed away this weekend; Bailey. My mother and I, far too similar for our own good, butt heads a lot and had been in a phase of avoiding each other (yes, we live in different states). But it took me about 1 second to pick up the phone and call home when I heard the news. The hardest part is she is feeling guilty about not being a better friend when he had said he wasn't feeling well. She feels she should've called again, gone over, done something. The thing with growing older, is you have to grow up. Every day, more and more, I see how much my parents sacrifice and give to be parents. I've found my mother leaning on me in times of need an easier burden to bare. I don't mean to come across selfish or ungrateful, but I think everyone has those moments in life when the child is now taking care of the parent. I'm just saying I'm glad that I embrace this role reversal, and I'm honored that she does turn to me and that I am able to be there for her... though it isn't always easy....

I obviously was not as close to Bailey as my parents, but his passing has hit me in an a way I wasn't expecting. I hear his voice, in my head. I'm not sure if those reading this will now think me a little off my rocker, but I can't get it out. He would always make these stupid ridiculously dry sarcastic jokes that he thought highly funny and I would nervously laugh because I never had anything to say in response. But he always made me feel so welcome wherever we were, always made a point to introduce me to people so I never felt out of place. He was always so interested in me and what was going on my life. We would have wonderful conversations. Obviously not living at home anymore, the only times I really saw him was around holidays at parties and at horse races and point-t0-points in Virginia. I love that this is how I picture him, all decked out, surrounded by the beautiful countryside (bourbon in hand)... It is such a strange feeling to know I will never hear his voice or see him again.. He will be missed.

RIP Bailey

And please pray for Dr. Cook, and all those hoping and waiting for his health to improve.....

1 more thing

I got a very fun email from a friend the other day entitled 'My South' but it took me until tonight to catch up and read through emails. This email made me remember something from the other day that I have wanted to share, but I've been awful about posting. As you know, I am coaching Varsity field hockey at a local private school. This is my 2nd year and though very different from last year, I'm still LOVING it and have enjoyed getting to know the girls better this year. Just like teachers (don't let them lie to you) I have a few favorites. One of them, we'll call her G, just cracks me up and she doesn't even try to. On top of it all, I think she'll grow to be a beautiful young woman, so smart, hard working, and one of her most stand out characteristics, is respect. Respect for her team/peers, her surroundings, adults, everone and everything. She never lets anyone be last alone, she always makes sure the equipment is taken care of, she thanks us coaches at the end of every practice, drive to and from a game, or any team outing. When giving her a reminder about positioning during a game down in Kinston the other day, in the middle of the game, G not only verbally acknowledges me, but says "yes ma'am, thank you!" and runs off to steal the ball yet again. (Now, don't get me wrong, she's cool. All the other younger girls idolize her and she's friends with everyone. So don't go thinking she's a dork!) One of the girls on the sideline says something and when I asked her to what she said, she couldn't understand why G always said yes ma'am, thank you ma'am, etc. She thought it seemed akward and just weird. I just sorta stared at this girl, because I couldn't quite understand what she was asking. WHY? Why did G respond respectfully at all times to someone 10 years her senior (eek) who is in an authority position? Not knowing how or why I would need to explain it, I simply asked this girl where she was from again. When she said 'New Jersey', I simply turned around and said, "Then you just wouldn't understand". In my South, that's just what you do. Oh, and G, she's from North Carolina :)

Tis the season

Yesterday one of my fellow Kindergarten team members was sent home as she had little to no voice left and felt like poo. All this week we have seen kids dropping like flies. It's scary when you see the colds and flues start spreading around campus. So I had decided to go this morning to the local pharmacy and stock up on some preventative measures. Scarily enough, I woke up with a scratchy throat, a bit of a cough, and really congested. Sweet. So I'm wandering the aisles of Rite-Aid desperately looking for my Airborne, when I see not one, not two, but three ladies standing around holding bottles of Airborne, Emergen-C, and Germ Defense. I decide to join the conversation. Let me introduce you to the group, a Kindergarten teacher (me), a 1st grade teacher, a 4th grade teacher, and a preschool teacher . Not a single one of us work at the same school or knew each other and yet there we were. A couple weeks into school though, I shouldn't be surprised. OH the price we pay. SO, what is your preventative measure of choice? I'm serious; as I left today with all three because for the life of me I just couldn't pick one (and 2 of the 3 were 50% off), I'd like to know what works best for y'all out there. So is it

A) Airborne (and who knew how many flavors there were now!)

B) Emergen-C (classic go-to)

C) Germ Defense (a new one in my book, but preschool teacher SWORE by it but she just likes the easy to swallow pill, not the dissolve in water tablets)

Gonna be a big day folks!!!!!!!!!!!

Rain or shine, hurricane or tornado (maybe not tornado, but you get the idea).......

VS.

Bring it on Wolfpack... Though I may not be going in full Tribe Pride paraphernalia, I will have a little momento upon my person so I can prove my love for the Tribe. Unfortunately I'm going with a bunch of State fans, using a State student ticket.... Oh well, get in how you can, right :)

I love football season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the road again.....

OH so many things to talk about. Let me count them for you......

1) The field hockey team looked great today! Won 8-0 and we showed a great game to the App State coaches who were there recruiting my girls! Woop woop!

2) Had all the babies today in Kindergarten. For anyone that knew me last year, and my hyper-active student/horrid parent class, let me assure you, that this year, is going to be OH so much better. They are so sweet and calm and absolutely adorable. I know, first day, but still....

3) moving... yep... again... yep, only been 2 months.... yep...

4) My baby bro really wants to go to Hampden-Sydney. It's gotten so expensive and my parents just don't know what to do. I know we'll figure it out, I'm just at the point in my life where I wish I could help. He's 8 years younger than me, part of me feels responsible for his future. Anyone else have younger siblings like that?

5) Maybe entirely innappropriate, and I apologize and please don't judge, but let me tell you, make out with a boy in a bar just once, I mean, really make out. It's so much fun :)

6) and last but certainly not least, it's time to touch up the hair (yes, I'm a blonde, but this aint natural). However, I've been contemplating going darker, as in perhaps a tad not blonde. I just can't bring myself to say I'd dye it brown, cuz once you go blonde, I dont know how you go back. Anyone done it? I need to keep talking it up, I'm a wuss.. But seriously, I've been 'contemplating' this idea of (eeek) brown for like years... I'm told I can pull it off... and I guess I can dye it back.. See, this is what I've been saying for ever!!!

Moment of the day!!!

A fellow teacher yelled to me from the teachers' lounge down the 2nd grade hallway:

"Miss Tholand, did you know at Jcrew if you show them your teacher ID you get 15% off!?!?!?!"

"WHAT?! No way!!"

and apparently, one of the 2nd grade teachers and her entire classroom heard this interaction and about 5 seconds later I hear a chorus of 2nd grade voices yelling

"YES WAY!!!!"

Reason #2873128612 why I love my job.... sometimes ;-)

First Day of School!!!!!!!

Wish me luck for Monday, the first day back!! This first week is a bit of a different schedule, but full of getting to know my new babies! Excited, nervous, anxious, ready to go... Mostly just glad to be getting back to what I do best. :)

Fighting the habit...

A pessimist through and through, I try to motivate myself, even when feeling so down in the dumps, against all odds, I try my best to find the silver lining in all situations. It may not change how I feel, make any difference in the outcome, BUT, atleast I can say I tried. There are those times though, when you just simply can't find a silver lining. When you don't have any inclination of even trying. When plain and simple, you're in a funk. You know you're in a funk, but like certain times of the month when you're crying at the drop of the hat and though you know it's that time of the month, it doesn't stop the tears..... but you just can't shake the funk. Well, welcome.

I take after my mother in that when I'm feeling down, I shop. If you have nice things, nice things should happen. It's like when I'm feeling sick, etc, I try to dress up, put on a little extra makeup; cuz if I look good, shouldn't I feel good? BUT, as it is (part of the funk) I'm B-R-O-K-E. SO, there will be no shopping for me. What's the next step you ask? Eating. YEP, I'm an emotional eater. So all those wonderful miles run and calories burned these past 2 weeks with the field hockey team... will be shot to hell by the end of the weekend :)

So what do you do to pick yourself up?

4 things....

1) The Hills is on tonight!!! Are you watching?!!?

B) Only 1 more day of 2-a-day practices!!! Woop Woop!!!
1) 2 girls have gone down with Mono.... eeek

3) School starts in less than a week!!!
a) There is a cutie-pa-tootie new 3rd grade teacher. All the singles at school are in a frenzy. It's quite amusing.. gonna be a good year :)

and

D) Bunco is tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Means I need to clean!!!

Beer, BBQ, and good times

The party was a wonderful success. WIDD came and Barefoot and I had a great time gettng to know her a bit more. Though over on my side of the court I was a little ADD and with so many people in attendence I found it very hard to stay in one room for too long and had to keep rotating finding new people to talk to!!!

Today was utterly lazy, except a much needed outing with Barefoot to buy provisions for our Bunco night this week and a little pizza snack :) I love just lounging around with the guys. We watch random History Channel shows and random things that I honest wouldn't watch by myself, but with them, it's great!! They let me lounge around all day eating leftover BBQ and being completely worthless.... It was much needed and greatly appreciated.. But it's late and we still have a practice in the AM that I need to be prepared for. Gearing up for full time back at school!!!!!!!! Summer, where did you go?!?!?!?!

Good Question: Bunco, What is it?

Well, let me tell you about Bunco:

Game Overview
Strictly speaking, Bunco is a game of dice, played in rounds. Players take turns rolling the dice and trying to accumulate as many points as possible to win each round. The game is played at tables of four in competing teams of two.
Players score points by rolling three dice and trying to match the number they're supposed to roll for that round. They get a point for each die that rolls the number, and if all three roll the number they score 21 points. They also score 5 points for rolling three of a kind of any other number. They get to keep rolling as long as they score one or more points with each roll. Once they fail to score they pass the dice to their left and the opposing team gets a chance to score.
During each round the teams at the Head Table try to score 21 points. The first team to score 21 points wins the round and play stops. At all other tables play stops when the Head Table play stops and the team with the highest score at each lower table wins the round.
At the end of the round players change seats, the winners at each of the lower tables move up a table, and the losers at the head table move to the lowest table. Players also switch partners at the end of the round, so you never play with the same partner twice in a row.
During play, players track the number of rounds they win and lose as a team, and the number of Buncos scored individually, on their personal scorecard. At the end of the night wins/losses and Buncos are tallied and prizes awarded.

NOT.. I mean, that's all true, but MOST IMPORTANTLY Bunco is a social game. It is meant for groups of ladies to get together, have a 'purpose', and leave everything else behind. No husbands, fiances, boyfriends, anything, new and old friends getting together, downing a few adult beverages, and catching up on all the good gossip, be it Raleigh gossip, Gossip Girl details, or what have you. It is a mindless dice game that you can most definitely get hyped up about, but you do not need to know how to play to play :) There are definitely rules to follow, but to be honest, as many times as I've played Bunco, I don't even really know how they count up all the points. I just smile and nod and hope I either win the big pot or get the biggest loser prize!!

So get a group together, try it, it's not as lame as you may be thinking. I judged at first too (sorry girls). But I think it's so fun because it brings people together, you meet everyone there, get a chance to talk to everyone, and it's just fun...

Bunco, field hockey, and kindergarten OH MY

I can't beleive a) how bad I've been this summer about posting and b) how quickly summer has gone by!!! This upcoming weekend, my boys are having a end of the summer bash and I just remember a couple months ago how far away it seemed and now all of a sudden it's here!!! What do you do to close the summer season???

Next week I, with Barefoot in the Park, get to host Bunco Night!!! It's a great group of girls who I met through Barefoot and though I've been a little slack in my attendence the past few get togethers, I'm so excited. I think some new comers will join us too!!! Yay Red and White Preppy and Well, I Do Declare!! Hope y'all can make it!!

Today is the first day of Field hockey practice at SMS. Last year it was a fantastic year and the girls were awesome. We went all the way to the States Finals, first time in school history, and lost in double overtime in strokes. If you don't know what that means, it's like in soccer when you have penalty kicks; one player vs. the goalie. I think one of the most unfair ways to determine the outcome of a game; but so be it. We lost pretty much ALL of our starting lineup to graduation, so it's a bit of a rebuilding year, but I can't wait to get started. (a little nervous too though!!) I'll be keeping you posted how we do!!

AND school starts sooo soon!! First day of classes on the 25th, but I'll be going in a bunch all of next week to get things all set up. OH I can't wait. As intimidating as the beginning of a new year is, I like how we have a staggered entry. We only have 5 or 6 kids come in each day so we can do initial assesments on them and see where they all stand coming into school for the first time. It's so eye opening every time I do it to really see what you're getting yourself into.

EEEK, still working at the toy store so I better get going before I'm late!!

A story in pictures

..... is coming to visit me!

(I'm on the left, looking rather bloated, i think its just all the layers I had on; it was cold in Baltimore.. ridiculously hungover shopping. sitting in the Gap dressing room while others tried on clothes.. I didnt end up getting the sweater by the way..)

She's coming all the way from for the weekend very spur of the moment!! Tried to get her out of the DC bubble for good, but then she had to go and buy a house with her fiance.. geez.

We became friends at and our friendship grew as roommates in

the House. I talked about that glorious house once

before when my bestest got married just a couple weeks ago in the 'burg. Here's the link to my blog with a picture!!
So if you're in the city of the (Oaks), a good time will be had this weekend :)

Add me???

Polos and Pearls?!?! Can I be added to your blog?

Less than a month...

I can't wait to get back to my little Kindergarteners. I'm so over retail. I have no filter; all my emotions show on my face. It's an awful habit and I wish I knew how to break it. A fellow blog friend mentioned on her blog how rude it is for someone to be on their cell phone when checking out. Not only is it horribly rude to the clerk and the other customers as it most likely will slow you down, but it's also rude to the person with whom you're talking to. I mean, can't this conversation wait 5 minutes until you're outside and good to go???
_____

BUT, on a positive note, when I went home last week to my parents house for a day (yes, in Virginia, drove 4 hours there and back and yes, I'm still recovering), I brought back lots of fun things for the house. Lots of pictures for the walls (real adult in great frames kind of pictures) including my ridiculously pretentious diplomas. We go from my Highschool diploma, that is huge, bigger than my College dimploma. My Highschool dimploma has every teacher's signature on it, hence being so big. They believe that everyone at The Highschool contributes to your growth and education and eventually your graduation and they want all to be able to show their support. My College diploma is in Latin. Yep, all of it. There is a translation you are given so you can have a clue as to what all that is saying. I LOVE THEM.

I'm back!

Back from a wonderful trip to the beach. I'll write more about that later, lot's of fun stories. One thing though that I love about the beach, is the salt water in my hair. Not only am I blonder (woop woop) but it feels so soft. It reminded me of a product I used to have:

John Frieda Blonde Ocean Waves. Did you ever use this!? I loved it!! I makes your hair that soft yet thick and flowy and wavy beach hair. I was almost sad I chopped off 6+ inches last week. I WANT TO GO BACK!!

1 more day!!!!

Have you ever been?

It's an experience unlike any other!! :)

2 more days of work

and then it's off to Carolina Beach!!!!

Heading down Thursday early and staying until as late as possible on Monday. Off to celebrate TWF's 25th birthday. CAN'T WAIT!!

Our favorite things about going to Carolina Beach:

bocce on the beach

THE FAT PELICAN!!!

drinking on the beach

being utterly lazy

getting tan

The north end and getting trucks stuck :)

and a lot more that I'll just have to leave up to your imagination

But for now, the roommate (I'll call her Curly) and I are going to watch the 2nd half of Gone With The Wind. Yesterday we came upon the fact that she has never seen it! NOR read the book. Well, anyone that knows me at all knows this movie and book are 2 of my favorite things ever. I'm just so happy to be sharing this with her on top of an excuse to watch it again. Even though I have a book already in progress (Into the Wild.. I'll let you know how it goes), I might have to take GWTW as my beach book :)

Has anyone read/seen the book/movie???? Did you not love it?!

AND PS:

Today is Red and White Preppy's Birthday!!!!!  Yay!!

I was planning on going anyway,  I believe The Tams are playing tonight, but come to North Hills tonight to hear some great beach music and wish her a good one and dance the night away... or pop a squat and drink a beer..

CHEERS!

Lazy afternoon...

These random days off during the week are worthless. I go into them with grand plans.  At the end of the day, I can rarely say I have been productive, though.  Tuesday, for example, I started watching a movie, baked some cookies, went to lunch with JHS, then went to a matinee.  Came back to CLJ and Steve-O's house where I'm dogsitting, played some guitar hero and went to bed.  Now today came. I SLEPT IN! I am ridiculously light sensitive when it comes to sleeping. So when I say I slept in, it was until 9am.  GO ME :)  I promptly got up, tended to the poor neglected dog (he was not pleased), ate some breakfast, and sat on their big comfy couch and watched tv.  They have direct tv and ever imaginable movie channel.  Totally unnecessary.  It is weird and cloudy, but when the sun started coming out I threw on some shorts, a bathing suit top, grabbed the pup and sat out on the backporch enjoying the sun.  After awhile I got my new book of the moment, "Into the Wild" (no, have not seen the movie) and decided not to do a thing.  Here I am, just finished watching the 2nd of the Queen Elizabeth movies (the first one was better), and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of the day. 

Part of me feels guilty for not doing something with these days.  But what are days off than exactly that. Time for yourself to do what you want not what you HAVE to.  So here are to lazy summer days. 

Know what I really want right now though??  Frozen thin mints... don't ask me why..  It's more, WHY NOT :)

Your Preppy Name Is...

Whitlyn Taggart Carlisle the Fourth
But most people know you as Coco..

I found a link to this quiz at Monograms and Manicures.. Just couldn't resist :)

Hope you had a great 4th!!

It's the 4th of July!!!!!!!

Happy Freedom Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off for an afternoon of beer, bourbon, ladder golf, kickball, hamburgers, smoked pork, and great friends. What could be more American?!

Beer, Freedom... America :)

I done been tagged... a LONG time ago

So Red and White Preppy tagged me a long long time ago and I'm just getting around to doing this. SO SORRY. I'm still getting used to my new summer schedule. Let me tell you, I do not like getting home at 6:20pm everyday. I liked my 4:15pm. I MISS SCHOOL!!! I MISS MY KIDDIES!!! I know I know, I'm enjoying summer and I know I'll miss my low key downtime, but I'm looking forward to next year!! Woop woop!!

I'll tag someone soon... but for now, enjoy learning a little about me :)

1. What were you doing ten years ago?-I was sweating my little (because it was back then) hiney off on the turf fields at UVA field hockey camp. Back in the day I was planning/hoping to play in college until I blew my knee. I am so grateful that I did...

2. What 5 things are on your to-do list for tomorrow? 1) Get to work early (just me and the boss lady) 2) Pay rent 3) Pick up Gabel to dogsit for the weekend!!! 4) Attend birthday drinks for teacher friend at Vivace 5) Prepare for the holiday weekend!!!! Happy 4th!

3. Snacks you enjoy? Monteray Jack Queso Dip!!! Doublestuff Oreos, house dressing and breadends; cherries!

4. Places you've lived? Sperryville, VA; Culpeper, VA; Alexandria, VA; Williamsburg, VA; Baltimore, MD; RALEIGH, NC!!!!

5. What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?1) Pay off all loans and debt 2) Send my parents on a fabulous vacation, or buy them new cars, or something else fabulous 3) Donate school supplies and extra clothes to my school for my kids; because the smiles on their faces would more than pay me back 4) Visit Sweden and/or (umm, obviously AND) go on a cruise in the Mediterranean 5) Donate to St Jude Children's Hospital

They're hitched!!

A story mostly in pictures :)

The beautiful bride, moments before walking down the aisle. Even with the stressed to the MAX mother (in the background) she was so calm and happy. I pray I am like that whenever it is that I get married.

The bride and me; friends, sorority sisters, roommates after college, and so much more. Some of my favorite times were staying up late on Sunday nights because we didn't have DVR to watch Desperate Housewives followed by Grey's Anatomy. We both had very early starts to our work days and always started Monday mornings off a little crankier because of that:

The house that brought us together, Delta Delta Delta!!! Isn't it cute!? I took a little time to myself and walked around campus being nostalgic and visiting all my favorite places. If you have never been, and I don't mean to toot my own Alma Mater's horn, BUT William and Mary is one of the prettiest places in the world to me. If you ever go to Busch Gardens, Water Country or C Dub (Colonial Williamsburg), do yourself a favor and walk around campus. You can feel the history all around you and it pulls you in. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to go to The College.

Below is the back of the Wren Building. It is the oldest standing academic building in AMERICA (eat that Harvard). Whenever I was having a bad day, needed to think, needed to be somewhere safe, I would go here. On the left is the Great Hall, in the center academic classrooms (with the Bell tower top and center which each senior gets to ring on the last day of classes!!!), and on the right, with the door slightly open, is the Wren Chapel where Sarah and Diego got married. It is small, and utterly gorgeous.
The bride and groom cutting the cake with his Navy sword. Marrying her college sweetheart who is at Georgetown Medical, commisioned by the Navy. A Navy doctor, not too shabby, so hot:
Tri Deltas!!! Put two or more Tridelts in a room together at a big occasion with booze, well, you know....
And the Sigma Chi's doing their thing. I love boys...They are definitely one of my most favorite couples in the world.

I miss them so much already!!!!! They are off on a very surprise honeymoon, as he told NOONE where they were going. So I am done with weddings until October in Atlanta. But I won't worry about that today, I'll think about that tomorrow..... After all, tomorrow is another day ;-)

Trashy trivia tonight!!! See y'all there!

Get me to the chapel on time!!!!!!!!!!!

She's getting married (duh, not me, the one on the left; silly gooses)!!!!!!!!! WOOP WOOP!!! Off to Williamsburg for the college sweethearts to get married :) Back on Sunday

It's raining men!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish..... But if you were in Raleigh last night, it was raining something. I have no idea what time it was but the thunder and lightning were right over head. There was so much lightning and it was so close, every time there was a strike, my phone would make this weird static sound. I was starting to get a little freaked out. It was the middle of the night but part of me wanted to call a big strapping young lad, but like I was going to touch that phone!!! So then I contemplated going and getting my roommate, but thought about how I've barely known her for 2 weeks, and though we get along fabulously, she might think it a little strange!! And don't get me wrong, I LOVE thunderstorms. Hello, I went to College in Williamsburg, Va, that place knows how to do storms... but this one was a leeetle close for comfort as I'm still getting used to sleeping in a new place. So I sucked it up and started day dreaming. That's what I do when I can't sleep. I day dream. Is it still day dreaming if it's the middle of the night and you're in bed???

I have a feeling I'll be better about blogging now that school is out. I will be working at the Toy store for the summer, and my hours are 10-6. Quite a different schedule, and NO snack time?!?!?! I did see the cutest thing yesterday. A young father came in with his two adorable young daughters. I would say 2 and 4ish. Blonde like you wouldn't believe and bright blue eyes. They were precious (dad wasn't so bad himself.... I mean). When they were leaving, the youngest wanted to be carried so he scooped her up in one arm and said "Well we can't leave out Lilly!" and scoops her up in the other arm, kisses them both on the forehead and walks out. I wish I could've taken a picture. It just struck me as so cute. I have some guy friends who say they are "cursed" and will only have daughters. I think they would all make great fathers, especially to girls, so I can't wait for the day they do have a daughter and they're hooked. I love my daddy to the moon and back and think the father-daughter bond is so important. Perhaps this is a little (late) ode to the Papa.

another saturday night.......

Here I am lying in bed, in my pajamas at 10:22 on a Saturday night. Ended up going out a little too hard last night (big woops) and was at work all day today. So I came home, made some spaghetti, watched some movies and thought really hard about unpacking some more, but decided to come and check in on blog world. I've missed it..

My sister is on the east coast this weekend. Normally a resident of San Francisco, she is back home for a wedding. I felt bad that I was happy my little brother, who is back at the 'rivah' working at a sailing camp for the summer, isn't home. If the whole family had been together and I wasn't there, well, this one would not have been a happy camper. With S all the way out in San Fran we really are only all together for Christmas. Though only just about 4 hours away, I wish my parents and I were closer. Maybe then I wouldn't call so much..... maybe :)

I hope you don't read the following and start thinking I'm sketchy. So hear me out please... Working in a kindergarten classroom, with 5 year old children, there is a lot of physical contact. Be it helping zip up coats, holding hands so they don't run down the hall, seperating fights, handing out snacks, giving high-fives. And hugs. Some teachers do not show emotions and are not affectionate in anyway. I assure you, after being in the school system for 2 years now, I know the fine line between affectionate and affectionate. I love to give the kids hugs, pats on the back, and I will hold their little hands all day if I could. Some of the kids come from homes with 4 other siblings, single parents, care givers working multiple jobs. Sometimes they need loving from wherever they can get it. I miss my hugs. It hasn't even been a week and I miss my kids. On the last day of school, my little Chyna was sitting in the corner during free time normally the most chaotic thing we ever do. When I went over to see if she was okay, I saw she was crying. She saw me leaning down to talk to her and just reached out putting her arms around my neck almost sobbing saying "I don't want to leave Kindergarten because then you won't be my teacher every day". Well you can guess how quickly she wasn't the only one in the room crying. I stood up with her hanging from my neck and carried her out in the hall where we 'popped a squat' and had some one-on-one time. I just told her how much I was going to miss her, how the summer was going to fly by and when she's in 1st grade next year we'll just be across the way from each other and she can come visit me all the time. I assured her though that she would soon be way too cool for Ms. T and she's forget all about me. Expecting a laugh or chuckle or something, I was shocked when she started crying all over again. Thrown a little off guard I asked why that made her sad. She said if she forgot about me, then I would forget about her, and how do people that love each other just leave and forget about each other??? This is why I hug, and why I miss giving them. She nearly broke my heart. So I hope that you have people in your life that you get to hug. Hug them, and hug them often. It's good for the heart :)

Later that day, we teachers, in celebration of school being over, had a 'mandatory staff meeting' at the Flying Saucer (a bar... and it wasn't really a meeting). There were over 20 of us there when our waitress came up to the table telling us that all of our beers, the entire tables first round of drinks, had been payed for by a patron in the bar that didn't want to be recognized. They wrote us a note though. "Please accept my small offering to try and say thanks for all that you do. Teachers are out there doing all the heavy lifting for the rest of us".

and I've moved.....

If you aren't in the South at the moment, let me fill you in. It's hot. Not the run of the mill, living' in the South kind of hot..... HOT. 100 in the shade as highs, and who knows what the heat index is. I heard on the radio this morning that I should be thankful, thankful that the humidity is only about 40% or "we'd be in for some real hot days folks!" AND as luck would have it, this is the week I had to move. True, it was only about a mile up the road, but I was also doing it pretty much by myself. When I broke down in tears Wednesday night, as my Saturday deadline was drawing near, I finally broke down and sought out some help with the larger pieces that just won't fit in the Volvo. So here I am, Sunday evening, completely exhausted, sore, covered in bruises, but comfortable in my slowly coming together room.

My new roommate, AH, is a hoot. Absolutely adorable, so friendly, and we get along GREAT as roommates so far. I've only 'been' here for a few days and I already feel more comfortable and at home. At 25 you are just too damn (pardon the language) old to settle, to live in a place you aren't happy with. We've been to college, most of us had that random first roommate in the teeny tiny room. I also had Highschool on top of that. I'm glad I'm not living alone anymore. I like coming home and knowing someone else might be there. It's a comfort thing..

Speaking of comfort, we have our last field trip of the year. Yes yes, we did JUST go on one to the strawberry farm. Tomorrow is our second to last day of school. If it wasn't going to be so hot I would be thrilled about going to a park and riding the merry-go-round and sit outside for a picnic. But tomorrow's high has gone down.. a whole degree... to 100 degrees even... I can hear one of my students repeating a phrase I've taught them... "You have to roll with it Ms. T.... be flexible". Once, one of my very lovely students responded "But I aint flexible Ms. T... LOOK!". My response: "stretch".

Sex and the City!!

THIS MOVIE IS WONDERFUL!!!! I got to go to North Hills last night (with Barefoot in the Park and The Social Papillon) for an advanced screening and let me tell you; I laughed, OH I cried, I needed a hug, I needed a man, I needed my girlfriends, and thankfully I left with a big smile on my face. It was so good. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I went in with huge expectations and every one of them was met and hit out of the park. GO SEE IT!!

Happy Friday!!!

SATC!!!!!

Surprise for me!! A friend went to Blue Martini for happy hour last night and got tickets for tonights show and she loves me so I get to go too now!! We aren't guarranteed to get in, so we're just heading up to North Hills early to grab food (hopefully, CHIKFILA!!) and get in line to hopefully get in. Not sure how it works, but if we do get in, sweet, if not, a wonderful excuse to put packing off for one more night and potentially get Chik Fil A.. woop woop

What a beautiful day we had today!!

Dinner was lovely on Tuesday. It's just so fun that something (the internet) that is meant to broaden our horizons and show us the world, can show us so much that we have right down the street!! Can't wait to do it again, girls!!

On another note, a friend of mine and her man hunk are going for a romantic get-away to Ocracroke Island. Has anyone ever been there for a mini-holiday? Any suggestions, recomendations, warnings??

9 days of school left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so looking forward to a few days off. I'm so preoccupied with end of year testing, getting 1st grade class lists prepared, creating the new Kindergarten class lists and OH so much more, that I've barely gotten to packing. I have to be all packed out and OUT OF HERE by the 7th. EEK!

TUESDAY Drinks and Dinner?

Hello Ladies,

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Mine was filled with 9 hour drives, too much day drinking, and a wee little bit of a sun burn. But so much fun. As for tomorrow I'm still game if you are! How about we aim for 6:00 at Mellow Mushroom? I can't believe how hot it is supposed to be, so sitting outside would be WONDERFUL! Shoot me an email at magnoliasjuleps@gmail.com if you're thinking of coming or just post a comment so I can have an idea of how many are coming (and if you're bringing a friend along as well). So whoever is there first can try and grab a table. Looking forward to it!

And the winner is.........

David Cook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off to PA to the middle of nowhere to a friend's cabin. There aren't enough beds for everyone going, but that's why we love cuddling right?? Guess I should start packing :)

Happy Memorial Day!

but then we're gonna do the finish rrrrrough

in honor of KtP... get 'em tiger... rrrrrr

Raincheck.... literally

Okay okay, we'll do drinks next week.

Make that Tuesday??? :)

I'd like to propose a toast....

on Monday or Tuesday. Let's meet at Nelson's, or I guess it's Fosters now, for a Raleigh Ladies Happy Hour. I love being at Nelsons/Fosters, getting a drink and some how working my way upstairs without spilling half of the drink all over myself and never finding my friends. So, I thought how nice it would be to go when it's not overrun with underage ITBers and drunk older men. With the old menu back, I'm not sure what kind of drink specials they might have, but it could be fun! How nice would it be, bring some friends, meet some new ones, and have a drink and a snack looking down on the world around us (because we'd be on the 2nd floor of course, not because we're at Fosters and that makes us better or anything.... ;-)

Let me know if you want to go! I'll send out an email to those that respond with final time and date! I'm getting a group together and plan on going anyway. So join us!

Field day, Strawberry picking, and other Kindergarten fun

Today was field day. Now in my day, when we had field day we had the huge parachute, water balloon launchers, spinning around on a bat, three legged races, and so many others I can't even think of them all. Today was not all it should've been cracked up to be. It was so lame!!!! The highlight of the morning though, was Grant. Grant is from the YMCA and teachers child aerobics. Well, let me tell you, he got their little hearts pumping. It was hilarious. The modern day Richard Simmons. The kids loved him though.... oh where is Richard Simmons now:
Tomorrow is our field trip to the strawberry farm. We get to pick our own strawberries and take them home. I taught them today how I used to pick strawberries: one in the bucket, one in my mouth, one in the bucket, one in my mouth. I'm going to get yelled at by other teachers and the farmers I think. OH WELL.... I plan on having strawberry stained children tomorrow afternoon. Lord, please don't let it rain.