Today

Me and the stupid dog. This is the second picture I took. The first was of Dexter staring at my cleveage. While funny, I didn't want to reveal my secrets yet. ;)


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On Sucking

I know what you're thinking--why is she writing Rated R crud?  I don't want to hear about a suburban wife/educator/mother talking about "that."  Ok, I'm not talking about that.  But it's an awesome image in your head right now for sure.  I had HORRENDOUS writer's block Thursday and Friday night.  I'm super behind.  I had to erase some stuff that was so horribly written that I'm 3,500 words behind my goal in fact.  So I feel like I'm sucking at the writing game.  I really hope this week goes better in that venue.

Also, I only have 4 weeks left of school.  I may be switching schools and grade levels for next year, so I could have some busy summer months ahead of me.  AND I'm bent on getting back into my hardcore workouts and eating right starting this week (ENOUGH starting over on this, Amber, OK?).  I lost a ton of weight last summer and looked decent (not as good as I did before baby #3 unfortunately), and I'm determined to get back to that place.  I strongly dislike feeling like a pudgy muffin butt...

Check-In

Currently: Happy that I was able to get down a little over 1,200 words tonight.  My goal is around 800 words per night until May 31st.  Last night I only had 400 so I had to make up for it tonight.  

Listening: To nothing.

Loving: That it was a warm day and we got to play outside tonight and that summer break is less than 25 days away now. Also, I gave my husband the gift I got him today--the expression on his face was priceless!

Thinking: About my little sons--they've been very naughty the past two nights.  What's the deal and how do I reign them in without being a great big meany?

Wanting: It to be the weekend and for all my lesson planning to be done.

Needing: To exercise--I'm slacking!

OLW (one little word): Give.

Completing this stinking book...

I have 17 more days to complete my book.  That's 4.5 chapters in 17 days.  That's 1 chapter every 3.8 days.  That's 795 words a day for the next 17 days.  I love this book.  I love what it's done to me mentally.  But I also love that it's almost over.  Well, at least the first draft part.  Then I'm stepping away from it for 1 month (until July 1st).  Then it's on to HARD CORE editing mode.  Hopefully by mid-July I'll be fully into my 2nd draft when I head to the writer's conference.  Oh. Boy.

TGIF

It's been...a week.  I'm not enjoying state testing, but at least no one puked this week (children) or f'd up (the grown-ups).  I got over my "other-teachers-suck" thoughts and felt better about everyone again.  I even got good news about my plans for next year--I have a small shot at an elementary art position (not overly crossing my fingers) or at least a spot at an elementary that is 10 minutes from my house (rather than 40 minutes from my house).  The stars must have aligned--ok, ok, my administrator went to bat for me like no tomorrow.  Thank goodness he likes me.

My teaching partner was falling apart because of some personal issues and because I'm leaving her.  It felt like a bad break-up for a couple of days.  The, "It's not you, it's me" conversation.  I love her, but my family comes first.  I'm sure she'll find peace with it all...I have already.

I continued with writing--I had the CRAZIEST epiphany on Wednesday.  Everything connected and my story developed in an awesome way.  It's like I was being told the story.  So. Fricking. Cool.  I was squealing in the kitchen and poor hubby had to hear me talk 100 miles an hour to explain the new plot line.  I made it up to him by buying him a secret gift.  Mwhuaahaaaa.

Now, it's Friday, I'm lounging in my bed and getting ready to write some more.  Tomorrow I'm lucky to have coffee with an old friend in town from Seattle and then the hubs is doing some secret stuff for me on Sunday (all I know is I have to be ready at 1:00 PM).  I told him all I want is to sleep in until 9:00 AM.  I'll humor him, though.

Check-In

Currently: Getting over my irritations of the day.  I'm really trying to be calm and collected.  But after today's not so good moments, it's tough.  I had a teacher barge into my class and be rude (for no other reason than that she doesn't get social cues), an administrator overreact and be grumpy with me, and another teacher be bitchy because I put kids first instead of her.  Then I had a kid puke during state testing.  Lovely.

Listening: The boys play games; my keyboard go "click-click-click."

Loving: That it's getting closer to the end of the school year.  I love my class and all they do, but I'm feeling spent this week.

Thinking: About how I wish the "big people" would really put the "little people" first.  The problem with public education is sometimes politics takes precedence.  

Wanting: To enjoy the rest of the week with no stress.

Needing: A massage.

OLW (one little word): Hugs.

A Day in the Life...

Here's how my day went.  Some of this is typical; some is not:

Wake up with the baby at 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30.  I think she's teething.  MONSTER TEETHING.
6:00 AM alarm goes off.  Slap the snooze two times.  Finally up at 6:11. Send mom a happy birthday text.
Shower, make-up, hair, get dressed, and don't eat breakfast.  I make sure to peek at the three kids and the hubby, all still snoozing (I'm slightly jealous). Out the door by 6:55.
Realize I better get gas as the car is chiming at me.  I stop and get gas at 7:05, grab a coffee, and hit the road.
I arrive at school at 7:40 AM.  Say "Hello" to the office ladies, check-in, and head upstairs.  I search for my keys in my enormous purse as I talk to our Principal Intern in the hallway--we discuss my possible interest in an art position next year.
Finally the keys are located, I'm unlocking doors, switching on the computer and taking a look around to make sure my floor is clean (a whole other ball of wax).
I create new math worksheets as my mind has changed on what we need to cover in our math mini-lesson today after what I saw yesterday.  I sign 36 Science Fair certificates, put entry tasks on student desks, and make sure I have all my other materials.
8:10 staff meeting: We discuss evacuation procedures in case "that thing" ever happens.  Yuck.  We discuss the MSP--I start my testing this Thursday.
8:30 I head back to my room and start grading papers from the day before.  I'm so happy they are really getting our measurement unit.
8:55 I'm back out the door and greeting my students.  I remind them to line-up correctly and to kindly enter the building.  Where is half my class this morning?  We get inside, students get moving to their entry tasks (except for the few that I have to remind), we go through morning announcements, and then go over the entry task.  The rest of my students have trickled in.  Students turn them in and we do "thumbs"--this is our mental check of if we had a good night or not to help me know if I need to address any issues that keep them from learning.
9:20 We begin our math lesson--we discuss metric linear measurement.  They get it right away so we can take off and get going on the independent work.  I sit with my struggling students and help them make sense of it all.
10:00 We go over the work we did, turn it in, and get ready for writing.
10:15 We touch base on how things went with writing yesterday and students commit to finishing their stories.  I circulate and help all 24 students that are present, pep talk at least three that are REALLY struggling (sitting with them, encouraging them, rooting for them), and remind one little fella (no less than 20 times) that, yes, he must stay in his seat and not talk, and not talk, and not talk,...
11:25 I tell my students how amazing they are to get their writing done and do it beautifully, and walk them out to recess.
11:30 Breathe.  I scarf down my lunch, call my husband to say hi, and check emails.
11:45 I go to make copies for tomorrow's work, talk to my teaching partner, and barely have time to make a restroom stop.
12:00 I pick up my class from the lunch room and get them upstairs.  They do spelling while I try to find that video on erosion/weathering--where did it go on my computer?
12:15 I take students down to the computer lab--we go over the MSP tutorial for the 4th time, double check that we understand how to complete the work on the computer, and practice typing and math skills.  I make a new seating chart for our MSP testing.
1:10 We're back upstairs.  One student reads a picture book to our class to try and earn her "Brown Belt" for reading (Reading Karate).  She does such a great job--about makes me cry.  We discuss racism and segregation (as this is what the story book discusses a bit).  We decide it just wasn't fair and we'd all fight against it it we lived during that time period. Mr. Principal pops in to say hi.
1:25 We review a few reading concepts in order to make sure we're ready for the MSP on Thursday--we talk about predicting and inferring, fact and opinion, and author's purpose.  Man, these kids know what they're talking about!
1:45 Students read independently.  I check in with some on what they need to work on, we pass out Reading Karate belts and beads, and I meet with some to talk about summary writing.
2:15 We clean up, discuss what we need to remember for tomorrow, and head to PE.
2:30 Breathe.  Grade more papers, make more copies, go meet the kids at 2:55 to walk them outside.
3:00 Say goodbye to my class, hand out their papers, and talk to our special education teacher about accommodations for my special needs students for the MSP.  You getting a theme here? MSP!
3:20 More grading papers.  That pile never ends!  I also get the opportunity to look over the notes I had parents write to their kids to encourage them on the MSP.  Several of the notes bring tears to my eyes.
3:40 Time to head out as I need to run errands and get home.  I stop at the craft store to get brown cardstock and photo corners.  Then it's time for the long trek home.
4:40 I arrive home.  The baby is crying again and the boys are being nuts.  Nana looks ready to go today (at least yesterday was better).  I get the kids calm and boot them out in the backyard to play.  Time to start making dinner!  Something easy is in everyone's near future...
5:00 I talk to my fabulous neighbor over the fence about her amazing daughters who have both had cancer (Gee my life is easy compared to that any day!  She's an amazing mom).  I let her vent and encourage her because I love her!
5:30 (I think?) We sit down to eat.  Everyone is happy.  Then, bath for the baby and the boys take showers (a new thing at our house!).  We get jammies on early and begin to build robots downstairs with blocks.
7:00 Time to tuck in the baby--she's screaming and angry.  At 19 months, I was hoping this would be easier.  I finally just have to let her cry it out a bit.  Don't tell Nana.
7:15 Call my mom (FINALLY!) and say happy birthday.  She retires this year and I'm so excited to see her more.  The boys play some more and watch a cartoon.  I do the dishes.
8:15 My sister arrives to stay the night since her commute is long.  She's not feeling well.  I get the boys ready for bed and we read a story on the top bunk.  Then I'm pleaded with to sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."  Of course, I do it--for those knuckleheads!
8:45 I look over a frame I need to prep for pictures for one of the hubby's co-workers.  It's time to pick colors for mats!  But, oops, the hubby needs to add hardware to it before I can finish it up.
9:00 Texting to my BFF and my hubby...I begin composing this post about my day.
9:20 Take the dog out, turn the TV off, say goodnight to my sister, and head upstairs to my bedroom.  I begin to write.  It's been three weeks because I had the most horrible respiratory infection.  I'm finally feeling better.  The writing feels like a stranger, but I'm pleased to see that chapter 17 actually started out good.  I get 1,050 words down in one hour.  I feel exhausted and tomorrow is my long day.
10:30  I reluctantly start shutting down the computer (after finishing this last thought), and will soon go wash my face, brush my teeth, send the hubby a text, and slip into bed.  It's been a good--if not busy--day.  It always feels like it doesn't slow down until this very last moment.  I often have to remind myself to take some good deep breaths.  Hopefully tomorrow I will get to write more (in the novel--not here!).  Sweet dreams...