Weekly Winners

August 24-30, 2008

Ok, this week was beyond busy. Back to school week with a couple of extras thrown in is what I call this week. So...here is what my week was like. (I really meant to have pics of my classroom, but kept forgetting to take them, so maybe next week!)

Tuesday started with a full day workshop on PLCs. This is my former student teacher, but now new third grade teacher! Yahoo for Melissa!

Tuesday night I got to see Edwin McCain. Go read about it here.

By Wednesday, I needed this.

and this, but....

I waited until Friday...Sally & I snacked and drank.
Then we grabbed another drink and hit the road to get our toes "purtied up".

Sally is an excellent driver (she had only a very short small drink and lots of food before driving).

We arrived to find "Lily-Boy" ready to work on our feet. (Lily's husband of "Nails by Lily", sassy name compliments of Sally) Doesn't he just look pleased to see us?
We settled in and prepared for a nice soak and massage.
ahhh....soaky-goodness (sally's legs)

soaky goodness on my legs

We asked why Lily-Boy was using this on Sally's crusty lovely toes...he said it makes them look perfect, as in cuticle perfection I think....

Tra la la la la.....Sally's lovely toes.

My nail boy, working away at my toe-sies.

Umm....did I mention Sally got nail polish in her hair? Yeah...don't ask...maybe it had to do with the fact that we'd had a couple drinks...but Lily-Boy promptly fixed it up for her.

For more weekly winners, click here. AND, come back on Thursday for more pictures as I'll be featuring Thirteen People I love working with. It originally started as Thirteen Sexy Teachers, but I didn't want to offend anyone....

Dog Days of Summer Meme

So I was reading Fizzy Thoughts by softdrink and thought this meme was cool. A nice way to tell you more about me, hence the name, "meme". I guess softdrink got it from Blonde Momentos who if I understand correctly got it from Chartroose.

My uncle once: caught a piece of metal in his eye mowing his lawn...you can bet no one in our family mows the lawn without proper eye protection!!

Never in my life: done illegal drugs. Really. No pot even.

When I was five: I was a sweetie :) Just ask me.

High school was: ok. Except for Mr. Ellis...dear God, he was like 100 years old and 30 years past retirement. You can only show so many videos, wear so much chalk on your pants and slam so many dictionaries to wake sleepers before kids can't stand you!

I will never forget: Ok, this should be like, I'll actually remember.... OK, the one thing I never forget to do is eat. Shocking, I know!

Once I met: Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke) from the Dukes of Hazard. Yeah, she was seriously shopping at Albertson's in Rapid City, South Dakota. I even got her autograph in my Miss Piggy autograph book. (And no, honey she wasn't wearing her Daisy Duke jeans. Tee hee hee...that's what you get for reading over my shoulder!)

There’s this girl I know: who is losing her dad to cancer. Pray for her.

Once at a bar: I met .

By noon, I’m usually: pulling my hair out because of small children.

Last night: I had a pedi with my pal Sally. Oh yeah, we had drinks and yummies before....the new best way to prepare for a pedicure!

If I only had: a never ending cash flow that would allow me to just do whatever I want. You know, like not have to work, but volunteer in all my friends' classrooms.

Next time I go to church: will be Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service.

What worries me most: where society is headed, the life my daughter will have given this.

You’ll know I’m lying when: I say I like salad.

What I miss most about the 80’s is: hanging out carefree with my friends and cruising in my sweet Ford LTD.

If I were a character in Shakespeare, I’d be: Juliet. How tragic is that?

A better name for me would be: Francesca, because it's just fun to say. Or Grizelda. That's a cool one too!

I have a hard time understanding: women with Coach bags that are also on welfare...seriously, I witnessed this last week at the grocery store. Just don't get it.

If I ever go back to school: I am always in school...teaching...taking classes, but if I go back full time it'll be for my master's degree.

You know I like you if: I make snarky sarcastic comments.

Take my advice, never: be a teacher hotel room cleaner (don't even get me started on this one....).

My ideal breakfast is: donuts. No, they always taste really yummy, but then I feel sick. Oatmeal or an egg mcmuffin type sandwich sticks with me the longest. Coffee is a MUST!

If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: don't blink, it's that small.

Why won’t people: just be nice.

The world could do without: child abusers and meth heads.

I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: touch raw meat without gloves on.

My favorite blondes are: Shorty McShort.

If I do anything well, it’s: being a good friend.

And, by the way: Behave Yourself!

Haiku Friday

work keeps me busy
my poor blog is suffering
it will suffer more

i am fairly sure...
much to do for the first week
welcome first graders!

For more Haiku Friday, click here. It's fun. Read some. Leave some comments, just spread the love. Enjoy your weekend.

Today is Wednesday, Right? and a little Brady Bunch too...

Yesterday I was tired. Today I'm exhausted. And as I sit here I can only think...today is, oh shit, what day is it? Then I have to think about what I did yesterday and anchor it to the "schedule" for my week. Yeah, today is Wednesday.

Yeah, gorilla breakfast at the high school. Speech from the superintendent. Broadcast test scores from across the district making people feel bad and jealous; to show the fantastically smart and hardworking teachers in most schools; to show how dumb state assessments are and that they are one day in a kid's life and reflective of an entire education to that point, not just the teacher for that year.

Off soapbox, you can continue to read on comfortably.

So you may be wondering, my 6 or 7 readers, why is Janelle so exhausted? Doesn't the girl ever sleep? Well, she does, or should I say, I do sleep. Not much last night though, because.......



wait for it......



I was partying like a rock star

No, not quite like a rock star, but close enough, or should I say as close as I'll get these days...

Let me give you a hint:

And another hint:
Did you guess what I was doing or where I was? Here is the story...please sing to the tune of The Brady Bunch:
Here's a story, of a girl named Janelle,
who loved doing many different things.
So when her friend named Lori asked
her a favor
she couldn't say no

It's the story, of a man name Edwin
who was performing at the Aladdin last night
he was awesome, his last name McCain
we enjoyed it so very much!

till the early morning that Janelle had to wake up
and her eyes popped open at 5:15a.m.
then she felt the need to b
log this story
that's the way Janelle spent her Tuesday night
her Tuesday night
her Tuesday night
that's the way Ja-nelle spent her Tuesday night
ba da ba da bum bum!

To sing with music, click here or here. Really...try it...it's a lot of fun! (Remember to stop my music player first though)

I had such a great time with my good friend Lori. We didn't get home until midnight-ish and it was so worth it! Edwin McCain rocked the Aladdin last night and I wouldn't change it for the world. Thank you Lori for taking me with you.

Now I have to go get dressed for work. Eek!

I'm Tired

Ok, I've got little to say today. I'm just plain tired...I worked 7:30-5pm yesterday...maybe a bit long...primarily I was finishing up my classroom library. I just need to label the new tubs of books and it's good to go. Thanks to my neighbor Tricia who helped me with the finishing pieces and my fantastic lit coach Jenny for some good advice.

So I'm also tired because I was out partying with my book club gal pals. Ok, not so much partying as intaking waaaaaay too much sugar at DQ in the form of a Georgia Mud Fudge Blizzard. And NO I didn't make it to the gym yesterday.

Speaking of book club, there was much discussion of the book, The Heat of the Night by Sandra Parshall. I won't go into details, but it was the author's first book. Our group agreed it was an ok book, but some of us were thinking it was a bit on the cheesey side and lacked some elements. One of my faithful readers (hi Leon) said that she used too many adjectives. So there you have it. I just thought it was ok, but too cheesey and predictable. The ending redeemed the book and made it so that I didn't regret reading it. I can't imagine how hard it is to write a book and put yourself out there to the world to be criticized like this. Sorry if you're reading Sandra, but did you see that I actually didn't regret reading it and enjoyed parts?)

So I'm off to a day of inservice in the form of lecture on collaboration in the form of PLC's. I hope I don't fall asleep cuz I'm just that tired. Have a good day!

WINNER!! We have a winner!!!

I'm sure all of my lovely readers (all 6 or 7 of you) have been waiting with baited breath for the winner of my grand pay it forward giveaway. Well, wait no more. Here it is....

Well, first I'd just like to say thank you for the whole 8 comments I got. Seriously people, you out did yourselves. I really enjoyed your thoughts on funerals. Really. I. Did. Honest.

So here is the winner Random.org chose:
And the first comment was left by none other than the very lovely LoriB. If you've not been to her blog check it out and leave some love.
So....if Lori dies before me, I'll totally make the trek to Disneyworld to help spread her ashes!! I'm assuming she'd prefer me to blow them from the top of the Everest ride, so that is how I'll do it. I'll probably sing a little song too....probably something tasteless and cheap and raunchy. Cuz that is just how I am and Lori loves me anyway. (and so does her darling hubby)

So, congrats to Lori! (now she has to have her own giveaway!!!) I'm soooooooo totally going to just take a picture of her when I give her the goods (oh man, I gotta get on that)! And finally....today is not an official workday, but I'm treating it as such. My goal is to also hit the gym today. Wish me luck ;) If I don't forget, I'll take a couple pics of my classroom (and Shorty's new haircut) to share with my faithful (6 or 7) readers.

Weekly Winners

August 17-23, 2008

My friend Liane

Princess Kitty

Mr. Tall helping biking McShort with her new bike

and she's off...

going, going....

ruh roh!

am I a horrible mom for taking pictures of her first crash?

"don't take my picture!!!"

scraped knee

a Barbie bandaid will fix it all up!

Mr. Tall & Sporty McShort

Loving the bike!!!

"Yeah, I'm good at this, I love my new bike!"

For more weekly winners, click here. Check some out. Leave some comments. Leave me a comment. Spread the love! Winner of PIF v3.0 coming tomorrow!!!

Perks...

Some days it pays to be a teacher. Like today. Especially today.

Today was "teacher appreciation" day at Staples and Office Depot. Usually you go and get a free bag with a couple goodies in it and some free coffee and donuts. But today. OMG!

Staples, you outdid yourself!! The jump drive was awesome, thank you very much. But then all the vendor tables you had set up? Fantastic! I visited each one and entered their drawings. I won a bag of supplies from the LA Fitness table, which then told me about their fantastic signing special. I signed up. (I've been meaning to sign up with a gym again for a while and today was the day.) Then I was on my way out and I heard my name again...yup! Thank you Horace Mann (investments/insurance) for the $20 Staples gift card. Yahoo!!!

Office Depot, not as good. A re-usable bag, folder and note pad. Thank you Office Depot, but Staples kicked your butt!

I also stopped at Scholastic Warehouse for their big book sale....I dropped some cash and got lots of new books. Some for Shorty's birthday (a bit over a month away), mostly for my classroom. Just a couple more days until I'm back at work.

Happy Saturday! OH and don't forget, if you've not entered (and not many of you have) my giveaway, go enter!!! It ends today!

Haiku Friday

summer vacation
officially four more days
ready for the end

shorty mcshort is
making me crazy insane
bring on working life

Ok, am I sick or what? I'm actually looking forward to going back to work. Sick. I know. God bless all the stay at home moms, I don't know how they do it. Seriously. Some days are just that challenging. Shorty is going to daycare today. I need a day of fun. Radical...Irrational...Too Complex to Be Real is coming to play today. I can't wait!

Bring on the fun baby!!!

For more Haiku Fun, go visit Christina's place and you'll find more Haiku Friday postings to go visit.

Thursday Thirteen #1 & Giveaway Reminder

Ok, this is my very FIRST "Thursday Thirteen"....I need a better icon setup, huh? Just one more thing I need to learn how to do....or ask Mr. Tall to do for me.

So for my first 13 list, I shall recount 13 stupid things people asked/said/did at my garage sale. With my internal monologue in italics after it.

1. Does this TIVO come with a lifetime subscription ($20 price tag)...uh duh...it's twenty freaking dollars...are you kidding me?!

2. (holding about $15 in toddler clothing, person asks) Will you take $7.00 for these? Fack no I won't take seven freaking dollars...are you serious?!

3. (looking at a bin with atari game and game cartridges) Ummm...do you have ? Uh, why don't you freaking bend over and look your damn self?! The games aren't even mine!!!

4. Do you have any tools? Does it look like I have any tools in this sea of baby clothes, toys and books?!

5. Can you break a fifty? (after spending 25 cents) Do I look like Wells Fargo to you?!

6. Are there any other sales around here? Do I look like I've been out shopping? NO! I've been sitting here answering stupid questions!!!

7. Do you think this (pack and play for an infant) will keep my dog in? OMG, what?!

8. Will my dog (see item from #7) be able to chew a hole in this? Are you serious? It's your dog!

9. Switched price tag stickers to get a better deal. Come on people...it's a GARAGE SALE!

10. Unfolded a table full of clothes and bought nothing. Do you do this at home when you're dressing in the morning?! COME ON PEOPLE!

11. Parents who let their children run around knocking shit on the floor. Get a baby sitter or just be a parent...heck, leave 'em in the car if you have to.

12. Parents who let their children pick shit up and put it down wherever...I get sick of moving shit back...really!

13. Parents who send their kid up to bargain the price because they're like 5 years old and who can seriously say no to a short cute person? are. you. serious?!

And there you have my very first Thursday Thirteen. Click here for a list of more of them to visit!!

AND...if you've not entered my giveaway yet, GO ENTER!!! Just click here, read post, leave comment with you entry. Easy-peasey! (only 9 entries so far and it ends in a week or so....)