Boo.

The Saints lost, but Peyton pulled through. New Orleans is going to the Superbowl--on a technicality, but going nonetheless.

And, there's always next year. I have such a newfound joy in watching these guys play. In years past, I didn't care much, but now I really, truly care.

Happy New Year

Just wanted to wish everyone a great 2007. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us!

Don't Stop Believin'

Happy Birthday to Mary Megan!! Live it up on the 26th year of your birth. Enjoy the concert and in the words of Journey, "Don't stop believin', hold on to that feelin'. Street lights, people..." Okay, I'll stop now.

America's Most Wanted

The face of a hardened criminal...My little sister Maggie:



So Maggie got a "citation" recently for, drumroll please,

LOITERING!!

Nevermind that she had just driven up, had not even turned off her car, and was saying hello to some friends before heading home.

Apparently the fine Little Rock police department found it necessary to have 12 officers for 29 kids. Now, Maggie has done silly things before (ummm, tequila), but she is a pretty good kid.

Also, my parents are not the type to think "My baby would never do that." Oh, no. They are more like the, "What did you do?" parents. But this time, they are in Maggie's defense. The kid didn't do anything wrong and got cursed out by law enforcement for...sitting. There's not even a sign that says "No Loitering."

Now, there was one car there with alcohol, which is admittedly not great, but still, punish those kids, not the ones that were, once again, sitting in their cars.

She even asked the officer to search her car and Maggie said when she didn't find anything in the stack of LIBRARY BOOKS she had in her trunk, the officer was pissed.

So now Mags has to go to court and defend her evil sitting habits. Stupid Little Rock.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Eat a lot, sleep a lot, drink a lot. That's my plan.

I am grateful for my friends, my family, Grey's Anatomy, and Spanx.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Eat a lot, sleep a lot, drink a lot. That's my plan.

I am grateful for my friends, my family, Grey's Anatomy, and Spanx.

Where am I?!?

So yesterday I walk out into the hall because the 6th graders are being loud. Then I see the teacher with gloves on. Turns out almost all of the 6th graders are breaking out in some rash and itching like crazy. Awesome.

I helped calm a few hysterical kids down but then had to go back to teach.

The end of the day: I hear one of the other English teachers say, "I think those girls are fighting." I look over and 2 girls arms are flailing at each other and pulling hair.

I run over with another teacher and we pull them apart, meanwhile I get nailed in the arm. I have a bruise, but it's not too bad. What a day. I had a few drinks.

What a Week!

My kids decided they would turn into demon spawn this week. From Hell. Every other teacher said the same thing, so I guess they're spiking the water or something.

Yesterday I had a kid tell me " I'mma 'bout to go off on you" and then shooed me away with her hand, saying, "Go on. Go back to class." Good times.

But tomorrow is Friday. Tomorrow is Friday. Tomorrow is Friday.

Just an Update

So things have been going better. After a few weeks of constant chest pain, I'm doing better.

I still don't sleep well at night. I have this problem with critiquing every decision I made that day and wondering if it was the right one. Should I have been nicer? Should I have been more mean? I wish I could turn it off.

I definitely heard a student call me a b**** in class, but I didn't exactly see who it was, but I have an idea. I just looked at all of them and said, "I heard that, but I obviously can't do anything about it since I don't know exactly who did it. But you know what? It doesn't matter to me." They looked pretty suprised. I've kind of gotten to the point where I don't care if I'm scary or a "b."

The point is, I have a job to do. I am enjoying it, and if that makes be a b, then oh well.

It's just so frustrating sometimes when I think about how disrespectful these kids are compared to how I acted in school.

We give them breakfast every day in class. Needless to say, cereal and crap goes everywhere. I ask a kid to pick it up. "It's not mine." Of course, I say, I don't care whose it is, just be a nice person and pick it up. "I'm not a nice person." Ahhhhhhh!

On the other hand, I've really connected with some of the kids. Some of them draw me pictures and give me hugs when they see me. And ankle monitor boy is out of my class due to a schedule change. Whew.

I am tired. It's 2 a.m. but I'm excited because I got a week ahead in lesson planning.

Now I'm nervous because our big standardized district assessments are coming up and I'm scared all of my kids will fail and they will say I'm a lousy teacher.

I am tired.

Big House

A few days ago I got a student in my class that had a schedule change. I had heard a few things about him, but nothing specific. I would like to also mention he was wearing pants the first day. This is important.

The next day, I saw him in the principal's office because he had gotten in a fight after school.

Friday. Walking around while the kids are working. Look down for some reason. Kiddo is wearing shorts. I see--an ankle monitor.

Like Martha Stewart wore. Somehow I don't think this kid was doing insider trading. He's in 8th grade, by the way.

I would, however, like to know what the hell he has it on for. I don't feel threatened by him (yet) but I'd like to know whether or not it's a good idea for me to be in the classroom alone with him. I'm also a little pissed because on the student/parent application, it says that the school absolutely does not accept kids from juvie. Obviously not true.

G is furious. My parents are furious. What if this kid assaulted someone?

On the other hand, I had them write papers and he wrote a pretty eloquent one. I guess you never know.

So far...

I was definitely called a nasty name in Spanish by two girls yesterday. I just had this instinct that they were talking about me, so I said "I heard that." One girl looked terrified. I checked with another teacher and they were basically calling me "white bread" in espanol.

Today one of the girls drew me a picture with a bleeding heart with my name in the middle that said "Sorry about yesterday." I almost teared up when she gave it to me. A little spooky, but sweet nonetheless.

Another girl started talking to me in the hall and then started spilling her guts to me. She told me she's been in foster care for awhile but lives with her father now. I knew their lives were bad, but I guess I didn't think they were that bad. So I almost cried after that conversation too.

I fluctuate between panicking and having my chest hurt because I totally don't know what I'm doing and feeling like I can make a difference. Wish I could just stick with the last one.

If you remember anything that your teacher's did or said that really used to piss you off, please tell me. I caught myself saying, "I WILL keep you after this bell rings if you don't stop talking."

Setting Up

I got to go into my classroom today! I'm so happy to have most of the decorating and rearranging done.

Just a few fun facts about the school that I found out today.

They have "only" had to completely lock down the school once or twice.

Gang members try to come into the school to recruit members.

On the other hand, almost everyone I've met has been so cool and helpful. There are a ton of teachers willing to talk at a moments notice. It's going to be an interesting year!

Papa Don't Preach

My Dad was right. I jumped too quickly at this job because after being out of work for 5 months, I got a little desperate. I was scared another job offer wouldn't come along and with the program I'm in, I have to get a teaching job within 2 years. And I'm not planning on being here 2 years.

Now I'm regretting it a little. I had a great school district e-mail me yesterday about interviewing with them. Now, I know an interview is no guarantee for a job. But, if I did get the job, it would require me to break the contract I signed with the other school. Part of me feels like it's not too big of a deal to break the contract, they could find another teacher, but another part of me feels like I should honor what I signed.

I was going to set up an interview, but in my heart, I don't know if I could break the contract. Training starts this Tuesday. So I didn't set up an interview and at first I thought it was the right thing to do, but once again, I'm kicking myself. And I love Girard, but he's not helping much. For being so supportive of this job from the start, he's now all freaked out about the kids and the neighborhood the school is in.

I'm just absolutely terrified now that I've made this giant mistake and I'll wind up hating teaching. I also think I'm psyching myself out and the doubting every move I make needs to stop.

No real point to this post, just need to get it out. I think a therapist is in my future!

Some Disappointing News

Girard found out yesterday that the company he works for feels that right now, he could learn more in Dallas. This means that they are no longer holding the position for him in New Orleans and they're posting it on the job board. Girard offered to go back earlier to fill the position, but like I said earlier, they think he'd learn more here, blah blah blah.

This also means that when we go back, we might not be going back with the company, which sucks, because he really likes working for them, just not the Dallas boss.

However, they also told him that knowing how hard it is to fill positions at home, the job might still be open in a year. He also knows that he could "quit" and then go reapply in New Orleans when we go back. Ugh.

Don't get me wrong, Dallas can be cool, but it's also...unbearably hot, it never rains, it's spread out and everyone thinks that Texas is pretty much the best thing since, well, God.

Happy Birthday Clare!

Clare turned 8 on Tuesday...we had a luau party, complete with tiki torches and musical beach towels. We know how to throw down.



On another note, Maggie drove on the highway on Thursday. Um, so had a car been in the other lane when she decided to exit sideways instead of straight, well...I think you get it. Looks like she inherited her big sister's driving skills.

Another Career Path

If teaching doesn't work out, I think I'll definitely become a Pussy Cat Doll.

I saw them on Good Morning America, and the dancing consisted mainly of dropping it like it's hott and flailing their hair around, and I am an expert in both.

I just need some hair extensions, teeth whitening, a spray tan, a new wardrobe and to lose about 40 pounds. I think that's doable.

D, I hope work gets better for you soon, but if anyone can do it, you can!

KCMO

Here I come...I can't wait!

I'm Sleeping On It

I had an interview this morning. They called me about 30 minutes later to offer me the job! I really, really wanted to just say yes right away, but everyone insists I sleep on it and really think it through.

It's going to be a tough job. I'd be working with at-risk kids in the 7th and 8th grades. I'm not afraid of the kids, just afraid of failing them...but I feel in my heart that I might be able to do some good.

I tell the school tomorrow. Oh, and I am no longer allowed to pick a hotel and make hotel reservations. Since we got kicked out of our apartment because of the mold, we had to find a hotel, and the apartment people said it has to be under $100 a night. The neighborhood is safe, but the rooms, um, not so much. There was a leftover pee stain on the toilet when we first got here. Yummy.

So, any words of wisdom for me?

What's that smell?

Last night, Girard felt a wet area on our carpet. He pulled the furniture away from the wall by the wet spot.

Mold. Ew. On the wall, on the carpet...it had been hidden by the furniture.

The maintenance guy comes by and starts cutting into our drywall. Behind the wall--a broken pipe that is basically pouring water onto our concrete floor behind the wall.

They moved us into a model apartment last night and now have to move us to a hotel. Yayyy! Good times!

Breakin' the Law

Girard and I were at a party last night that got broken up by the police. Yep, we're badass.

Actually, it was a pool party that was perfectly harmless. A bunch of people in their 20s and 30s drinking beer and barbequing. Dangerous!!

Apparently we were disturbing the peace of one person in the apartment complex.

We all thought it was funny because the last time any of us had the cops called on us was either never or in college, but we decided to live on the edge with our Bud Lite and burgers.