2014. Welcome to the future.

Predictions:
1. Kim Kardashian will suffer a meltdown and will be put into mental hospital.
2. Death at Playboy Mansion. Not Hef.
3. Death of Brit Murphy will be resolved.
4. New evidence via relative of JBRamsey will shed light on the case.
5. Song about a cookie or cracker will be delicious...
6. Brad Pitt affair.
7. Bruce Jenner's youngest girls will face serious issues. One in jail.
8. Paisley is coming back.
9. Howard K. Stern back in spotlight.
10. Japan miracle.
11. Eric Clapton appears to me. Says something about a fire.
12. Ted Cruz has skeletons dancing in his closet.
13. Miley will lose tongue in freak accident.
14. Australia is huge in news this year.
15. Clooney will get married.
16. Triangles.
17. Kimye split
18. Harvey Updyke back in news. Because he dies of natural causes.
19. Branches.
20. Edward Snowden will disappear. Permanently.
21. Eminem will continue to make millions along with five headRihanna .
22. Leg Warmers will find a new use.
23. A movie or play about a taboo subject will be wildly popular.
24. A star from 1988 will pass away but will leave a heart wrenching message behind.
25. Mob secret revealed.
26. Jodi Arias will write a book.
27. Casey A will remain in hiding.
28. We will be amazed at what we see in the sky one day.
29. Keith Morrison from Dateline will interview someone I know.
30. Big eyebrows will be back.

Frost.Y.The.Snow.Mannnnnnnnnnn

"RUN! It's evil!!!!"

Ft. Toulouse

Graduation 2013

Well, I've been here for five years.  Same amount of time I taught at my alma mater.
Beautiful ceremony last night. Here are some pics. Enjoy.

Two English teachers are better than one!



Tiarra!




Logan !



John!

James Roy!

Me and amazing student Ashley!

Another amazing kid! Davis!

Good ole' Storm!

Click on this for the class slideshow!!!

Symbolism

It's the time of the year when I start reading too much symbolism in things. I guess spring is like that.

The fire in Opelika--the mill burning down, what was once the heart of Opelika.

Two red birds chasing eachother in the back yard, confusing the dogs.

Theo the cat hiding in the place between the upper deck and the lower deck, coming out for food. Hiding like Anne Frank.

********
Today I realized that it is possible that Luke suffers from depression at times, just like I do. I hate seeing that in him. I know how awful it is and how hard it is to explain this to him.  He said, "I feel sad but don't know why."  I know, baby, I know.

I also realized what a drain it is on the people around someone with these traits. I must have been a huge emotional drain on my parents.  I must keep an eye on him and his moods. He is more like me every day.

The Book Thief--My Favorite Quotes

“Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

I'm nearing the end of The Book Thief and how beautiful this man's words are!  Here are more of my favorites:


“Usually we walk around constantly believing ourselves. "I'm okay" we say. "I'm alright". But sometimes the truth arrives on you and you can't get it off. That's when you realize that sometimes it isn't even an answer--it's a question. Even now, I wonder how much of my life is convinced.” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

“She was saying goodbye and she didn't even know it.” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

“I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that's where they begin. Their great skills is their capacity to escalate.” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

“She said it out loud, the words distributed into a room that was full of cold air and books. Books everywhere! Each wall was armed with overcrowded yet immaculate shelving. It was barely possible to see paintwork. There were all different styles and sizes of lettering on the spines of the black, the red, the gray, the every-colored books. It was one of the most beautiful things Liesel Meminger had ever seen.

With wonder, she smiled.

That such a room existed!” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

“A SMALL PIECE OF TRUTH
I do not carry a sickle or scythe.
I only wear a hooded black robe when it's cold.
And I don't have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue.” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

“A halo surrounded the grim reaper nun, Sister Maria. (By the way-I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me.)” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

“You’re a human, you should understand self-obsession.” 
― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

The Boys

My beautiful boys are growing up so fast.  This past week, Luke took a tour of his intermediate school with his third grade class.  He is nervous. He told me, "They only have recess once a week there, Mom."  He looked really upset in general about leaving MVES.  He loves that school.  I do too.  TIS will have to really blow me away right away for me to love it as much as his current one.  I hate that Jake and Luke won't be at the same school next year.  Jake will be moving on up to first grade (he's already on a first grade reading level, and I am thrilled beyond belief about that, since he couldn't read at all when he entered kindergarten). 

Speaking of Jake, he has come a long way in one year.  He disliked his four-year preschool experience and I did too, because of ahem, the personnel, but he is loving his kindergarten teachers (he has two) and now he has an interning teacher.  "She's learning how to be a teacher, Mom."  He also informed me that she had gray fingernails so she must be a vampire. :) 

Jake likes playing Martial Arts games on the Xbox and wants to play baseball soon.

Luke is still into solitary pursuits like Minecraft creation on the Xbox, karate twice a week, and he's looking forward to getting back into swimming and diving lessons this summer. 

This summer, Luke will be NINE.  Jake will be SIX.  In 6 years Luke will get a driver's permit.  In 7 years he can drive on his own.  In 10 years, he'll be in college.

It's going by too fast.  How does one teach their children what they need to know in life to not only get by, but win? This is harder than I expected, for sure.

Morning Comrades.

"It's time to get up, Mom."

The whole cold sore thing was a false alarm.  Whew.  However, fate sent me a huge a** pimple on the crease of my nose for my enjoyment this week.  Chris keeps wanting to squeeze it and he attempted to exorcise it yesterday, but it wasn't ready.  It felt very angry though. This morning it taunts me in the mirror, glowing like Rudolph's nose. Nose. Heh.

Right now Jake, aka the Paul Revere of Morning, is playing Minecraft and killing zombies and spiders.  He was previously playing mascot football with Alabama and Auburn and he is choosing Alabama every time. He says, "Mom, we live in Alabama."  I suspect his kindergarten teacher is behind this reverse brainwashing. Hmmmm...

At work I am leading the kids in Animal Farm and so I get to brush up on my Russian Revolution factoids.

I started a new student club and got a huge response from the kids---a classroom full showed up for the first meeting!   Ancestry Society has been born. :)  I'm letting deb@te go. It's just too much for me on top of my real work teaching and you know, having a family of two young boys and a husband.  My last debate tournament is next weekend in my hometown of M.  I'm taking the boys out of school on Friday and getting a head down there and take them to see the Civil Rights area of downtown. Luke has been especially interested in Civil Rights this year.

We got good news from the mailbox on Thursday. Super good news. So good and major I can't even talk about it. Just know that it took a weight off my shoulders. And thank you if you sent good vibes or a prayer or two our way regarding this.

Random January Poem Free Style

January is the longest month in the world.

Measuring out the food supply. The coffee.
The gas.  The bread.
The cat food.

Rain.
Snow.
Heat.
Wind.

Puppy biting
Puppy pooping

 chocolate piles as
morning surprises

Bare feet.

Dave Grohl
.

Cold Sore and Light Fixture: Not a very deep entry

I am pretty sure I have my first cold sore. I'm pissed...

Yesterday it felt like I had gotten hit in the mouth. I brushed it off as the puppy scratching me or hitting me in the face during the night, as he sleeps between us.  Today it is more intense so I looked up cold sore symptoms and....yeah.

***********
Jake gave me another MLK Jr quote this morning.  I said, "Happy Martin Luther King Junior day."  He said, "Happy Martin Junior King Junior day to you.  This was his birthday but he didn't get his birthday because he died."
**********
Why is it that I keep hearing people talk about our president as Mr. Obama? I thought you should refer to him as President Obama.  I never heard "Mr. Bush" when Bush was in office. Am I the only one hearing this?
**********
I've gained weight. I hate that. I am hoping that once I cut one of my medications in half, it will help me lose some of it. I'm supposed to be watching my cholesterol as well. I haven't been.  I'm a little bit stressed y'all.
**********

 I hate this light fixture. First of all, I can't reach it to clean it. I don't have SCAFFOLDING.  Second, it's a nightmare to put a lightbulb in. It's way up there, on my tippy toes, on a chair, next to STAIRS.  Third, how 1993 is this thing?  I can't wait until we can get a different light fixture. Ideas?  I also want to get something to cover up the peep show we got goin' on with that window.

Funeral, MLK Jr, Casey Anthony, and Laundry

Apparently the lady (old lady) who lived three houses down from us has passed away. It seemed to take a week for the funeral to take place. Today these gaudy limos brought the black clad mourners to the house and everyone parked their cars in a nice orderly fashion up the hill.  They remind me of the Jackson family.  Everyone is good looking and dressed really nicely.

I wonder what will happen with the house now. Will one of the families move in? Will they sell it? Will they take down the wooden ramp?

Luke has been really interested in this family and with black people in general lately. He's alllll about Martin Luther King Jr. I like listening to him talk about him. Even Jake got in on the action saying that people killed MLK, JR because they didn't like his words and wanted to make their own words.

******
Tried to watch the Casey Anthony Lifetime movie tonight. It was so bad I left the room. It still recorded, so I will go back and see if I missed anything good. I doubt it. Really poorly done, but the reality of the trial and the people involved just can't compete.

Rob Lowe looked nice. :)
********************
Anderson Pooper update: He has hiccups after pretty much every meal and still bites our feet.
Beagle Bailey update: Still a darling beagle.
Maxwell Cat update: Still an asshole who likes sleeping in the kids' beds with them.
Theo the cat update: Spends 95 percent of his time in his hidey hole outside. Spends 2 percent inside the house hiding from everyone, spends 3 percent eating cat food in a paranoid manner.
********************
.

Between Ice and Air

There's this old woman that hangs out at the gas station near our house.  Chris and I have run into her several times. She always wants either a dollar or a cigarette.  The kids and I stopped by the gas station after school today for a snack and she was there again.  Propped up between the ICE area and the AIR.

She had on a red winter hat. Bless her heart.  I had no cash nor did I have a cigarette to give her.  The boys, especially Luke, were freaked out a little.

The Return of Theo

I'm tired of rain and I'm tired of hearing about gun rights.  I'm ready for the sun and new topics on the TV.

Yesterday was a glorious day of sitting in the same spot in bed for hours and hours, reading a book, watching reality shows, and browsing through different websites.  I fell asleep when I wanted to and, thankfully, because of the alarm, I did not oversleep and did not forget to pick up the boys from after school stuff.  Found out that starting on the 22, we can't (we meaning parents) sit in the lunchroom and watch the students do their karate thing anymore. I suppose this is the new normal after Sandy Hook. Bummed me out.

Theo is back with us. I don't know if any of you remember Theo. He was Reggie's pal. Reggie was the cat that passed away on Christmas Eve a few years back.  The nice people who took Theo in when we moved here had to find a new home for him because he wasn't allowing them to get any sleep and I think the man in the house never really liked cats.  They kept him for five years and now Theo is looking at me like, "WTF. You gave me up five years ago and now I'm supposed to be your cat again?"  :)  He still makes the "BONGGGGGGGGG" meow sound he used to.

Unfortunately, Max the cat is not happy that Theo is his new bro.  He has attacked Theo many times; once, I thought he killed him by knocking him off the high porch in the back. Theo survived though. He is very skiddish and only comes out of his little hidey hole outside for food.  I forgot how pretty he was. Very very fluffy and the biggest, green grapey eyes.

Jake and the Bookmark

Just a sweet thing I don't want to forget:

Over the past couple of days, whenever I'm reading, Jake will sit next to me and want to hold my bookmark for me. :) If I need to get up to do something, he wants to put it in the book for me.  "There ya go."

Jakers. :)

Question: Class, who shot Abe Lincoln?

"Henry Ford."

Life

Do you still agree with this?

Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.

Ronald Reagan

Left Side

Today was a red letter day; the boys got new seats on the school bus. "Mom, we're on the left side now! We've never been on the left side!!!"---an excited Jake. Doesn't take much. :)

Books, Hair, Here

I just checked out Angela's Ashes, Within the Plantation Household: Black and White Women of the Old South, and The Futurists.  My mind is all over the damn place.

I am gonna see what appeals to me from looking through them. I want some wow moments.
********************
I had a hard time getting Jake's hair to lie down flat this morning.  It's getting so dark too.  So fine.  On his way out the door to the bus stop, his floppy hair bouncing a little, Jake stopped and turned around. "I think it's time for a hair cut, Mom."

"I know."

"At the haircut store."

"Right."

***********************
Jake's speech has improved since being in Kindergarten.  He told me that he'd been saying "here" all wrong. 
"It's heeeeerrrrrrreeeee."
He's been saying "her" for years.  We kinda like it.  "I"m over her."  "Wher?"  "Her."
"Ther?" "Her."

Death in the Afternoon

Last period of the day. Regular 9th grade English. Primarily made up of boys.  I actually had to raise my voice from my desk and say, "Can you guys please stop talking about the best way to die and do the questions on page 527?"

Kar ra tay, Jerry.

I love watching Luke in his afternoon karate class.  Yesterday he was in a small group learning new moves led by a stocky red headed boy with pink cheeks.  The kid was really happy to be the leader.  Love watching Luke's look of concentration, his yellow and black belt tied around his skinny waist, hearing their soft "i" shout, then seeing the punch, the kicking of bare feet, his tough face, and the graceful bow.  Reminds me a little of when I was on the dance team (they called it the drill team--I guess because we really couldn't dance) and we were a bunch of sweaty teenage girls, some skinny, some overweight, some pudgy. Faces flushed in the gym of CHJH, trying to learn a stupid kickline. One we never really got.  We must have looked really ridiculous at the time. :)

Books I Wanna Read

Gone Girl
One Day
Cloud Atlas
The Art of Racing in the Rain

Any other ideas?

Knocked in the Noggin

Apparently some girls shoved Jake's head when he was riding to school on the bus the other day.  They also kicked the back of Luke and Jake's seat.  This irritates me and makes me sad at the same time. Someone hurting my kid? I'll shove your stupid head. So Chris talked to the substitute bus driver on Friday about Thursday's events. Friday morning I talked to the new substitute bus driver.  (I don't think they give a crap.)
Anyway, so Monday something happens again. I don't get all the details, but the girls are being a pain to Luke. I can't tell if it's normal irritation or bullying. Sometimes it's hard to know when they relate it back to you. 
This morning I drove the kids to school myself.  I just wanted them to have a day off from school bus stuff.  Love traveling Smokey Road.  Luke was looking out at the vast fields and said, "You know what they should do here? They should plant wheat fields."
I agreed.  "Then we could have lots of bread."
"Yep."
Who doesn't like bread?

I've been doing a lot of tutoring over the past few months.  Homebound too.  It's weird, but good money.

Past few years have not been easy. They have been a real pain in the rear. Hopefully things are on the upswing though.  Let's pray.

Cold Tuesday

Hug

Hello.  It's been a while.