Summer Photo Dump.

Isn't this teacher's hair so snazzy? It's time for a back to school haircut, so...maybe?

Summer is slipping away and that makes me sad. I'm going to do a little summer recap of the highlights.

I said goodbye to this place:

 

Turned in my school keys

Moved my classroom into my garage

Yes, it's disgusting.

Had a nice, relaxing week on the beach

Spied this mermaid table in the condo across from us. A month later and this thing is still fascinating me.

My best friend got married to a great guy that's just perfect for her.

Spent a couple days in Savannah. I loved the trees and houses.

My new classroom was assigned. This is it!

It looks nothing like this now--this is how the furniture assemblers set it up. It's currently a big, fat mess. It's a teeny room compared to what I had before. I'm having a hard time making myself fit. I'll post pics soon, though. I only have TWO WEEKS to finish before kindergarten open house. Panic is setting in.

I unpacked the kindergarten team boxes containing classroom items and games. Glory! Christmas in July!

And in between, I've been trying to get in as much hammock swinging, pool floating, and screened-in porch napping as possible. 

It would be very nice if the next few weeks would creep by. 

On the Road Again.

Hey guys. What's up? NMH. This post is going to be short and quick because I'm up to my eyeballs in finishing my Action Research Proposal. It should really be called The Dumbest Paper in America. I have to have it submitted by tomorrow and then I will be done with classes until fall semester begins. Can't wait for that.

My professor is so patient. Bless him. He gave me some feedback on a section the other day that started with, "I can tell you've worked really hard and spent a lot of time on this section, but..." Yeah, basically I did it wrong. Typical for me. At least I tried. I sure as heck try.

I'm just not good with formal writing. The whole APA deal. Who cares. I prefer writing like I talk. You all know I'm anything but formal. I jack up punctuation on purpose on my blog because I like it. And I start sentences with 'and' all the time just like this sentence because I like it. It's more fun this way.

I made it back from Florida on Tuesday afternoon. I'm taking a short break at home to do laundry and re-pack and then I'm hitting the road again on Saturday. I'm going to Tybee Island for my dear friend Ashley's wedding. I'm so excited for them. I will be staying in Savannah. I've never been but have heard that it's a wonderful place. If any of you have been to Savannah, let a girl know what to do. I'm not going to have a lot of time there, so what's a must? Any tours to take? Certain sights to see? Shopping? You all know I love food--any restaurant recommendations?

Oh, and I just figured out how to turn on the reply feature to my comment boxes. I'm only 5 years late to that party. I tested it out by replying to some comments from my last post. That was fun.

Well, I guess that's all for now. Seriously, tell me what's up in the Savannah/Tybee Island area. I'd love to know.

Traveling Quirks.

I have many oddities. This isn't a shock. I'm a little bit odd when it comes to traveling. Sometimes I have a hard time being away from home and the comfort of my own things. A little bit of panic sets in. I'm a big "sense" person. Common sense, yes, I have plenty of that, but I'm referring to our senses. As in the five senses. I'm big on the way things smell and feel and look. I don't do much tasting and hearing of things in a hotel room, that's why I didn't include those. If something feels off to me, I have a hard time relaxing and getting comfortable in a space.
Knowing that a million (okay, slight exaggeration) bodies have been on the bed you're sleeping in at a hotel, condo, or wherever you may be, grosses me out. If I could get one of those full-body white lab coat getups complete with the head mask, gloves, and booties, I would. I'd wear it in bed and then I would safely dispose of it in the morning in one of those red hazardous waste containers.
I bring my own pillow and blanket to sleep with, they will both be washed, as will all of the clothes in my suitcase. I have to wash the funk away. I will buy a new toothbrush when I get home. I don't like letting my feet even touch the carpet of places I'm staying at. I wear my house shoes. At all times. I don't like using hotel towels. They're too crunchy and they don't smell good. While traveling, I typically just leave everything in my suitcase and keep it securely zipped up so nothing can even think about getting in (heaven forbid). I can handle making use of the closet and hangers to hang up clothes that I don't want to wrinkle. If I want to use a dresser for clothes or other belongings, I first line the drawers with paper towels (it works in a pinch) before I put anything of my own inside. Yes. I'm a freak. It's awful and I hate that I'm this obsessive, but I am. The older I get, the worse I get about traveling and staying somewhere. And the sad thing is, the place we're staying at isn't at all what I would consider nasty or gross. It's not a 5 star, but it's a fine, average condo at the beach. Very typical. I'm just an over-thinking obsessive that needs to travel in a bubble.

Are any of you like this?

It's a miracle anyone wants to travel with me. My quirks come out in full force around my family, (more than they do when I'm traveling with friends) because my family members don't even pay attention to my hotel/condo "rituals". They're used to it. They just know I'm going to do my thing. They know I'm going to clean and organize and try to find some sense of control in all of the chaos of a place that isn't "mine". It just stinks that I'm too uptight to be able to even truly relax while I'm on vacation. I need therapy.

For fun, let me give you a quick little look-see at some of the odd knick-knacks that are in the condo.

 I'm trying really hard not to be a crab.

 Pelican Twins with huge eyeballs.

"Flamingo Point" key ring holder.

Themed decor kills me. Beach condos, mountain cabins. It's hilarious. They typically have the oddest things to go with the theme of their location.

Well, I'm going to go suit up in my bio-hazard mask and protection suit. Sweet dreams, guys. 

It's Been Awhile (No, not the Staind song).

Hey guys, remember that time I used to blog on a regular basis? Yeah, I don't either.

Quick update from the past few weeks (because I know you're dying to know and then we'll move on):
1. School ended. And all the teachers said, "Amen".
2. I moved the entire contents of my classroom to my garage. Yes, it was so much fun. Thanks for wondering.
3. Action Research Proposals are probably the dumbest things in America and I'm glad I'm not a full-time researcher/action proposal writer.

I feel so out of touch with the world! I don't like it. How are you guys?? I haven't had much time for fun or anything extra that's not on a to-do list of boring, dumb things. Sadly, reading and writing for fun were thrown out the window long ago. The past month has been nothing but wrapping up the school year, having obligations between two workplaces, moving, moving, and moving some more, and two grad classes with TONS of nightly homework.

I'm not wanting to wish my summer away, but I'm ready for it to be July already.

BUT--Who cares about that junk. My complaints and fussing just make it boring and this isn't a place for boring. Sarah doesn't do boring.

It's summer and I'm alive, I'm eating well (way too well), and I'm getting tan. That's really all that matters right now.

--AND--

I'm in Florida. Right at this very minute. Writing to you. Sitting on a balcony. All alone. With the salty breeze, and the crashing waves, and my snacks by my side. That reminded me of the Going on a Bear Hunt story, but mine would be:
Going to the Balcony (group echo), Gonna do some homework (echo), I'm not afraid (echo), I've got my MacBook and my snacks by my side (echo).

That was fun. Well, it was only fun for those of you that participated and echoed along. And maybe did the thigh clap along thing, as well.

I've spent every night since I've been in Florida doing stupid homework for my stupid class, but at least I'm doing homework at the beach instead of on my couch. The couch is my usual homework hideout. Sitting on the couch, with the TV on, and, like now, snacks all around. I have quickly discovered that my couch and TV are no match for the beach. Homework is much more tolerable when you know the beach is right below your feet. I'm just thankful to be here. Away from home and on vacation. I needed this in my life. Things were just getting to be a little bit too much back home, you know? There were just some situations and stresses and people that I don't need to think about or see for awhile. This is why God gave us summer. And beaches. And ice cream.

So I promise I'll be back sooner than later to write again. I know, I know. I always say that. I really will, though. I feel inspired here. A break from life tends to do that, huh? I actually have the desire to write this week, and that's something I haven't had for a long time. I'm going to try to roll with it.

And because I can't stop thinking about snacks, let me share with you my Snack of the Week. Yes, I announced that in a loud, booming announcers voice. The Snack of the Week! It's a life changer, guys. If you like pineapple and coconut, you'll love this ice cream. I've downed two pints in the past two days. This is why my butt is the size it is. Back to the ice cream. It's the creation of pineapple and coconut getting together on a hammock while sucking back a few too many Malibu Breezes, which resulted in them having a 14 FL OZ tropical baby. That's the way I see it, anyway. This is their love child and their child is delicious. I would probably name their baby Pinenut. Or Cocoapple. I bet Hollywood hotshots would be all over a name like Cocoapple for their baby. It's the combination of Courtney Cox and David Arquette's daughter, Coco and Chris and Gwyneth's daughter, Apple. Touche.

I suppose you'd have to like pineapple and coconut to find delight within this pint. What a great rhyme! If you hate pineapple and coconut, then you'd hate this. Trust me. I'm just trying to bring the world together, one snack at a time, but I can't please everybody. We've all got different taste buds, and that's okay. I guess.

If I were in a Miss America pageant (I know, I'm cracking up thinking about it too), my stand would be about food and sharing the knowledge of delicious food to all of the citizens in this great land, the home of the brave. Because, you know, I definitely don't want for anybody to ever have to go hungry, but I certainly don't want for anyone to have to miss out on delicious foods. Knowledge is power. We would have food conventions and food parades and we'd all get together and hold our pints of Haagen-Dazs up high and smile while ice cream dripped down our chins and our eyes glazed over in a diabetic state. What a dream.

Well, now that I've probably scared you and you're quickly clicking the 'unfollow' button because it's all coming back to you about how weird I really am, I'll let this be the end. For now.

My Last Last Day .

I'm a wreck. I've had a knot in my throat all night. I am excellent when it comes to avoiding things and living in denial. That's how I cope. Avoidance and procrastination go hand-in-hand. It's pretty obvious that I have a lot of good qualities.
The time has finally come. The last day of school. My emotions are all over the place, as this blog post will be. I'm excited about summer. I have great and fun things to look forward to. I'm going to Florida for vacation in a couple of weeks with my family. I get to see my best friend marry a super guy. I found out that my kindergarten assistant gets to go with me to the new school next year. Good things are ahead.

BUT...

I'm sad.

I haven't done any of my typical end of the school year things. No class movie this year. No tear-jerker letter to parents. No talk to my students about them going to 1st grade and how I'll still see them all the time because I'll be right down the hallway...because I won't be down the hallway next year. I can't handle it. I've avoided it. All of it. I didn't want to make any of it real. But the time has come. It's here and it's loud and up in my face.
Every teacher (well, I'm assuming) looks forward to the last day of school. I'm one of them. Yes. My hand is up high. I love the last day because that means glorious summer. This year though, it's different. I kind of wish I had a little more time. I'm not quite ready to let go completely.

Of course I'll miss my students. This has been a great class. They have been so much fun. Because I am leaving to go to a different school, I may not ever see some of these little guys again. Sure, I'll be in the same town, teaching within the same county, but it's just different when you can't see your past students in the hallway and watch them grow up. Kind of makes me sad. I have a set of twins and a little girl that wants to be a "horse rider" when she grows up that I am going to be awfully sad to leave behind.

And then there's the main, biggest, hugest reason why I'm an absolute mess. I've already cried like 5 times writing this post up until this point. It hasn't been quiet, little weeps either. It's full blown ugly cry going on over here. I'm going to miss my kindergarten teammates, Ashley and Kelly. I'm going to miss them so much. I love these girls. It's so nice to go to work and to have friends there--real friends. Two of the very best friends that I have in my life. They are so much more than just co-workers that I see Monday-Friday. They make the whole day-to-day work experience even more fun.

I've tried to write letters to both of them tonight but had to stop. I couldn't handle it. Maybe I can try again tomorrow night. Tomorrow is the last day for students, but we all have a work day together on Friday. I'm afraid that's the day that I'm really going to lose it because that will be it. The end.
I'll just wear my sunglasses as I work in my classroom all day. Then it won't be obvious that I'm crying.
And yes, I'll still see them outside of school because we are friends, but it's just not the same. I share classroom walls with both of these girls. Ashley is on one side of me, Kelly on the other. Just knowing they were there every day was so comforting. Knowing I could pick up the classroom phone or walk over to their room to vent or laugh has been great. We get each other in a way that no one else does. They are my family apart from my family. Goodness. This will be hard.

Let's end on a positive note. A little Wilson Phillips for us. This one goes out to Ashley and Kelly and all my other teacher friends out there. Play this the day before the last day of school. Know that you can "hold on for one more day". We can do it, guys.

Facts.

Fact: It's been awhile since I've done a fact post. It's time.

Fact: I bought a one-shoulder number at TJ Maxx tonight. The cashier man said, "Ooh. Nice dress. Is this one of those fun dresses? Is that what they're called?" I replied, "I plan to have a great deal of fun in it, so I suppose it is."

Fact: You know what else is fun? Glitter is fun. You all know how much I like glitter.

Fact: I'm now the proud owner of a pair of silver glitter TOMS. After holding out for a long time, I finally jumped on the TOMS phenomenon bandwagon.

Fact: I'm pretty sure all of the kids in my kindergarten class will "ooh and ahh" once they see me in them.

Fact: My students can make me feel really good about myself sometimes. They're big compliment givers, especially in regards to my accessories. They're always telling me they like my ring. Or my shoes. Or my earrings. Or my toenails.

Fact: My students can also make me feel like poop sometimes. "Your hair has a lot of brown pieces in it now." In other words, you need to get your highlights redone, Ms. M.

Fact: Speaking of poop, my students have really kicked the bathroom humor into high gear this past week. They've been singing songs and randomly throwing "poop" or "fart" into the lyrics. One of their favorite songs is Taio Cruz's Dynamite. It can be heard on any given day in my classroom during work time. Here's an example of a lyric change: "I throw my poop up in the air sometimes, saying ayo, gotta let go....I came to fart, fart, fart, fart..."

Fact: It is kind of funny. How can you not laugh about the image of poop being thrown into the air? Gross, yes, but funny. Well, I guess it's all fun and games until it comes back down. What goes up, must come down, you know.

Fact: I can't blame them for enjoying singing that way because I'm pretty sure my brother and I sing exactly like that around the house on a regular basis. Yep. I'm pretty sure we do. And I'm a good 23 years older than my oldest student.

Fact: I guess they've given me a new song to add to my collection.

Fact: Call Me Maybe is probably one of my favorite songs right now. I turn it way up when it comes on the radio.

Fact: Speaking of turning it up (don't get excited, it's nothing juicy), I had to turn my heat back on today. It was something ridiculous like 45 degrees outside.

Fact: But then I did something dumb and made a smoothie because when you're cold, you need to make yourself more cold by making a really cold drink.

Fact: I didn't really like said smoothie. Even though it was chocolate yogurt, banana, and peanut butter flavored, it tasted too healthy.

Fact: And this is why I'm in the condition that I am in.

Fact: Speaking of my conditions, I stared at the computer screen a good five minutes before I started writing this post. I was intimidated by the change of the new Blogger layout. I guess I don't embrace change as well because I'm old now. So it makes sense.

Fact: It also makes sense for you to leave a comment below. Tell me a fact.

Potlucks. Happy Hour. Over sharer.

I don't really have a lot of substance to share, but I had the overwhelming urge to write. That might have something to do with the fact that I have homework that needs to be done. Actually, it should have been submitted 6 hours ago, but what'dya gonna do, Sarah? What'dya gonna do?


So what's your take on potlucks? Do you like them? Hate them? Have you ever given a thought to how you feel about them?

Here's my take on potlucks. I love food. This is no secret. They say (whoever "they" is, psychologists? scientists?) men think about sex several times a day. This is how much I think about food. But probably times 187. Food is magic.

With that being said, you'd think I'd be the fan of all fans for a potluck.

You're kind of wrong if that's what you think. I'm all about a smorgasbord of free food, but unlike our friend Templeton the rat from Charlotte's Web, I care about where my food is coming from. I won't just eat anything. I'm not a picky eater, but I'm picky about where my food originated. I have to know that it came from a trustworthy kitchen. To break it down one time, I have to be pretty confident that the maker is clean and the food was prepared with clean hands in a clean place.

Do you all feel me? Are you weird about potlucks like me? I feel like we all know the dishes to steer clear of. Am I right? Or do you just eat and not think about it and ask questions later if your stomach starts to rock and roll?

And what about the word potluck? Who came up with that? Why is it called potluck? Do you have luck if your hind end doesn't end up over a pot (being the toilet) with heaving and sickness from eating after all of those possibly unclean dishes of food? I mean, really. Why potluck? I think I'm going to google it.

So why am I talking about potlucks? We're having one at work tomorrow. And what did I prepare for this feast? Doritos and Lofthouse cookies. Yes. I slaved all evening. I am exhausted. At least no one can blame me if they get sick. Blame Kroger.

Next pressing topic on my plate tonight...

 Plate. Get it? I was talking about potlucks and then I said, "on my plate". Clever.


Sonic Happy Hour. Again.

I know everyone in America was aware of the all day Happy Hour event that was going on. Of course, I couldn't pass this up. I'm a loyal Sonic drink customer. After my exhausting trip to the grocery, I went to Sonic to get my large drink fix. There was no one at Sonic. I was the only car. Excuse me? It's all day Happy Hour! I was surprised but then realized maybe not everyone needs a huge Coke at 8:00 like I do.

When the carhop came to my car I asked her if she was exhausted. She kind of looked at me strangely. I then realized that was maybe a creepy question. I just assumed she knew why I was asking. It was all day Happy Hour! I figured her skates had burned up the sidewalk serving all those drinks. Maybe she had to replace a couple of her wheels. I didn't know. She had to be tired.
I then rephrased my question and said, "So have you all been slammed today because of the all day Happy Hour?" Better question, Sarah. Now she understood me. She said they hadn't been busy at all. The most cars they had at any one time during the day was 10. They even sent half of their staff home. That is sad for Sonic.

I told her the weather was at fault. It was too cold to have cold drinks today. I was in a sweatshirt. I told her this proved my loyalty though. I braved the 65 degree chill to support my drinking addiction.

I hope I'm not too hungover to go to work tomorrow.

Anyway, we chatted for way too long about Happy Hour and drink combinations and speculations about why everyone hated 1/2 price drink specials today.

I don't know what comes over me sometimes. I can't control myself and have to talk to people. Sometimes it just comes over me and I have to talk to a cashier, or a Sonic carhop, or a random stranger like the lady I met at the allergy doctor office today. All of that to say, I'm an over sharer. I over share. I do. I realize this. I don't over share with you guys though. If anything, I under share. Probably. Right?

I try to be friendly to strangers and smile and say "hello" and "thank you" and "yes ma'am". But shouldn't that sometimes be the extent of my talking? Can't that be enough? Do I not hear myself talk enough during the 7 straight hours while I'm at school? Am I that desperate for conversation?

My over sharing happens in instances like this:

Example 1: Cashier says they like your purse. I should handle it this way: "Why, thank you" and scene. Nope. Instead I'll go into the whole story of where I got it and why I got it and why they should get one too.
And then they look at you with crazy eyeballs because you've just gone and over shared and then they make a vow right then and there to never, ever compliment a person for as long as we both shall live.
You can blame me for why compliments aren't given out very much. I've ruined it. I over shared. I've scared people.

Example 2: You strike up a conversation with a stranger at the allergist office. You start to talk about dog dander. The next thing you know you're telling her all about your dog and where she sleeps at night and the kind of bandanna the groomer just gave her. The next thing you know, the lady stands up to leave and she says, "I enjoyed getting to know about Daisy".
And then you realize. Over share. She knows everything about my dog. You were talking a mile a minute. And she didn't want to know that. The whole waiting room didn't want to know that.

So we'll end with these three important questions:

1. Do you like potlucks and do they make you feel lucky?
2. Did you go to all day Sonic Happy Hour or was it too cold for a cold drink?
3. Do you over share or do you follow your parents directions and not talk to strangers?