Pictures from Thanksgiving

Here are just a few of the pictures I took over the break. Sorry there aren't more, Gramma, but maybe at Christmas.

Me and Boo


Me and Dad


Me and Katie


The Big-Headed Dog, Buster (named after Buster from Arrested Development? Who knows. It seems like he would be an appropriate namesake, since he's slightly obnoxious, socially unrefined, and definatly not a normal animal!)


Me and Rylan after bathtime



Jackie and Jared



Katie, Jackie and Me getting Christmas Trees

You may tell 12 people whatever you want...

I know I'm a copy cat, but I really like the idea and I can't get it out of my head. And, I can't sleep. So, here goes nothing:

1. You know me and see me like no one has ever known and seen me. I will always have a special place for you in my heart.

2. I am sorry I didn't go to your graduation. It was wrong and I won't miss the next one, I promise. You mean the world to me, and I miss you so much. And to your wife, I am sorry for being a jerk, and I really do want to be friends.

3. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry. I still cry over that note and not knowing what happened. I wish I had answers, and I wish I could know that you'd forgiven me. I want you to know that I never gossiped about you, though. I never slandered your name.

4. I miss you and our adventures. I can't wait to watch the "home videos" of our premortal and mortal lives. W If I could have a big sister, I'd want it to be you.

5. You are killing yourself. I know you know that already, but why do you have to be so stubborn and proud? Why can't you just quit and stick around for the next part of our lives? It's so hard to be ok with your choices when it so clearly effects us, too. I will miss you, but I'm more afraid for you than anything.

6. Thankyou. Thank you for doing your duty and more. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for helping me find my faith, for helping me find myself, for being my spiritual and emotional cheerleader, and my lifesaver in so many ways. Our friendship was meant to be.

7. Even though you're younger than me, in so many ways I look up to you.

8. I have these weird memories from childhood. What really happened? Do you remember? Did I make that up?

9. I'm glad you went first and that I followed. Thanks for ralleying the gang down here so we could be together forever.

10. I'm so glad I kept a journal, because as I read through it, I remember why.

11. I will move every summer for the rest of my life if it means I get to take a road trip with you. They are some of my favorite memories I have of spending time with you.

12. It is true, and you know it. I love you. I love your family. Please, please, please come back.

Is It Possible For Shoes To Be Sexy?

I have this pair of beautiful, black leather, 4 inch heels that I love. My mother, blessed woman that she is, bought them in a moment of pre-graduation-festivities generosity. They were wildly expensive, but if you've tried buying shoes in a size 5 you'll know how difficult it is to find cute shoes that are small enough, and you'll know that sometimes you've gotta just suck it up and pay. Ah, the price of midget vanity....You have no idea how expensive being short can be! But I digress.

There is in our church building a most obnoxious pulpit that makes a sounds similar to what I imagine a moose's mating call to be whenever it moves up and down. Since I was speaking in church today, and am fairly short, I thought I'd minimize the moose calls by wearing the above mentioned beautiful, black leather, 4 inch heels. I rarely wear these shoes, mostly because they seem too dressy for normal every-day functioning, and they're 4 inch heels--that's quite a jump in stature for me! However, today I seized the opportunity to wear them. I was somewhat stunned at the feeling that I had as I wore them.

I found myself liking the extra height--I mean, what's not to love? I could see over the pulpit, I could look people in the eyes. It was fantastic. But, even more than I loved the height, I loved the way these shoes made me feel. I'm not even joking when I felt like I was attracted to my own legs when wearing these shoes. They are down right sexy, and I felt sexier in them. Is that a sin--to feel sexy at church? But I did! So my question is, is it possible for shoes to be sexy or is this how I would feel at 5'4" all the time? And if I were 5'4" wearing these amazing 4 inch heels, would I feel double sexy? These are answers I need to know! Because,given the way I felt in those shoes, if that really is the case than I believe I would have to invest in growth hormones, a pair of these amazing shoes in brown, and probably a good doctor to deal with the back problems such vanity is sure to induce.

What do you think???

Home Sweet Home--FINALLY!

Well, I finally got everything unpacked, put away, decorated, etc. It's only taken a month, but my house is finally my home. I took some pictures for anyeone who cares to see my tiny happy house. :)

Much Love

Had I Only Known I'd Broken The Laws of Classroom Etiquitte By Teaching My Class, I'd Have Never Been A Teacher. I'm So Sorry For Being So Rude

Ok, so today I had yet another mind-blowing, unbelievable, stunning momment as an educator in the public school system. I seriously couldn't believe it. Talk about a blind-sided comment. Here's the story.

I'm trying to teach my 3rd period class, which, by the way--if you haven't yet heard my rantings about 3rd pd, it is my worst class (I can't even begin to explain the kinds of things I experience in 3rd pd. You'd have to just see the tapes. That's right, I video tape them for evidence to show parents, but I digress...)and all through the class period I have kids talking. One girl-a new girl as of last week- in particular, however, is especially driving me crazy. So, after class, I go to her and tell her that she was being rude and disrespectful. Here is how this conversation went.


Me: Ashita, (and yes, that's her real name) I really don't appreciate you disrespecting me while I'm trying to teach.
Ashita: Miss, I wasn't doing anything.
Me: Yes, you were talking the whole class period and I asked you several times to stop. You were being rude and disrespectful.
Ashita: I wasn't disrespecting noone
Me: When you talk while I'm teaching, you disrespect me, and your classmates that are trying to learn.
Ashita: Oh, well I didn't know.
Me: Well, now you know, and if it happens again, I will ask you to leave. I will not try to talk over you again.
Ashita: Well, I was talking first.
Me:(Stunned at the audacity of a student to actually say that aloud) No, see, that's where you're wrong. This is my classroom, and I talk first, and I tell you when to talk. Are we clear on this? I'm in charge here, not you. If it happens again, you will be excused.

So there you have it. The conversation that continues to this minute to send my mind spinning. I just wanted to say "Oh, excuse me. I wasn't aware that you were talking first. How inconsiderate and rude of me. Had I known that my teaching was going to be an inconvenience in your life, I never would have become a teacher. Please, please, forgive me." But really, I just wanted to smack her. And if she were my child, I probably would have.