Today

Some of the best things in life come when you are least expecting them.  Does this mean you shouldn't have any expectations?  No.  Not even close.

It does mean...

Relax.

Enjoy today for what it is....today.

Be present.


Do what you like to do.

And do it with passion.

Smile.


Be who you are.

Show your heart to the world.

Start something new.


Or finish something.

Write a thank you note.

Find the joy in the small stuff.  (Like a clean bathroom...)

Say 'I'm sorry'.

And mean it.

Just sayin'.

Pictures of Me

This is me.  And all my school kids.  

I do not have blue hair or a green dress.  

BUT highlighters are all that and a bag of chips in first grade.  I get asked every day at almost everything we do if we can use our highlighters--and I let them.  

Surely they will run out of highlighter soon.  Just sayin'.

 

Conversations

Each day I take a group of Firsties to my room for a small group reading time.  On the third day this conversation takes place:

First grade boy #1: Guys, she's not a real teacher.

At first, I don't register what he is saying.  Then--

First grade boy #2: Yeah.  She's just a helper.

Me: No. This is my classroom.  I teach first grade. 

They begin to argue with me.  More kids join the conversation.

First grade girl #1: No. She's just a helper.  She's not a real teacher.

Me: I AM A REAL TEACHER.  This is my room we are in right now.  Remember on the first day of school when the teachers stood in front of the whole first grade? I was up there with the other teachers.  

First grade girl #2: No.  I don't remember you.  Sorry. 

Me:  I am at recess with you everyday.  Don't you see me out there?

First grade girl #1: Lady, I am too busy playing to be looking for you.

Tomorrow will be better.  Just sayin'.

Summer Read #1

Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman is my first summer read.  I probably wouldn't have picked this one up on my own because it's non-fiction and takes place in prison, but it's my old lady book club selection for June.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Just sayin'.

And It Begins Again

School has ended.  Finally.

It occurred to me this week that we haven't vacuumed since, well, awhile.  Like maybe spring break. So there's that.

All of my school stuff is packed and moved from one place to another.  Again.

All of my children are home for the weekend--2 of them for the summer.

I am taking a few days off to rest, relax and read.  Then the summer cleaning will commence.

I have a few projects to complete for my new classroom, some sewing to do and TV to watch.  Oh and books.  I have books on books to read.

Just sayin'.

Sunday Favs

Book:  The Book Thief...make yourself read this book.  I'm telling you it's worth it.

Movie:  Divergent

TV Show:  The Good Wife

Food:  It's strawberry season!!

Klutz Move: On Fridays the PE teacher and I combine our PE/Health kids to play a game.  Friday we played a game that the PE teacher made up called 4 Corner Soccer.  Basically 4 teams try to make a goal in one of the other 3 teams corners.  Once a goal is made, the team that got scored on sits down.  To get the game started, 4 players come to center court, teacher puts partially deflated ball down and gets the heck out of the way.  But not me.  I lolly gag a second too long and took a partially deflated ball in the shin.  Full force kick by a Freshman boy.  Holy bajolies the bruise I have is amazing!  To his credit, the young man apologized after his team won the game.

Song: Say Something by A Great Big World....my girls think this is the saddest song ever.  I do not.  I have no idea why I am so drawn to it--probably because I cannot decide what it means.  It just has nice music in my opinion.

Best Moment: When I told a sophomore that I would not be at the HS next year, her eyes filled with tears and I assured her that she would be able to get me whenever she needed me.  She smiled and said, "When I am senior, I can be your teacher aide!"  You betcha.  I will look forward to it, my dear.


Quote for the Week:  Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.  -Socrates 

Just sayin'.

Old People Probs

A couple of weeks ago I was having just general conversation with my Freshman.....which can go anywhere. Believe me when I tell you that sometimes all I do is laugh....and shake my head.

Freshman have a million questions inside of them begging to get out and no filter.

On this particular day, my neck was out of place and I was struggling to move.  A Freshman boy asked me if I was OK......

Me:  My neck is out and it hurts a lot.
FB:  Oh.  What'd you do?
Me:  No idea.  I think it's because I am old.
FB:  You are not old, Hays.
Me:  How old do you think I am?  (Keep in mind--I tell them how old I am on the first day of school and my birthday is in February. )
FB:  Well, (and he is dead serious) I think you are about 35.
Me:  Bless you.  But I have a daughter who will be 24 and I have been a teacher for 20 years.  So am I 35?
FB:  Possibly not.  How old are you?
Me:  I am 47.
FB:  47?  Really?  You don't look 47.  And you certainly DO NOT act like you are 47.


Although my ego was stroked accordingly, I ended the conversation there.  I really did not want to know how old I act.

Later that day I went to our elementary school to work at the after school program.  A very, very sweet kindergarten boy took hold of my hand and began walking with me.  Conversation about his day and what he would do on the weekend ensued.  He asked me to push him on the swings.  You may remember that I am a really good pusher from this post.

I told him yes, of course.  I also told him that my neck kind of hurt so I wasn't sure how many pushes I could give him.  He then looked at me with melt-your-heart big, brown eyes and said....

"Mrs. Hays, are you like 70?"

Ego deflated.

Just sayin'.

News...

I have a new teaching assignment next year.

Hang on to your hats people......

And it is at my request for the first time in my teaching career.

Having given up social media for Lent, I discovered that so much of my time had been sucked up under the ruse of 'checking' social media. When I was ready to share this info, I was disappointed that I couldn't use social media to do so.  Then I realized I have a place that I have been neglecting.  A wonderful place.

A writing place.  So with this announcement, I hope that I will be returning to writing on regular basis.

And with that, I am thrilled to announce that I will be teaching first grade next year.

Just sayin'.

Confession

I hate winter.

With more snow on the way today and subzero temps to follow, winter is rearing its very ugly head.

I hate coats.  I hate cold. I hate snow.  I hate the world getting dark by 5:30.  I hate mittens, scarves, hats and boots.

I don't even really like sweaters except for the fact that my muffin top is hidden underneath.  I don't like wearing shoes and socks.

I hate winter.

So the countdown is on......Sunday, March 9 we 'spring' forward.  Thursday, March 20 is the first day of spring and Easter is April 20.

I think I can make it.  I think I can.  I think I can......just sayin'.

Friday Favorites

I have just a few favorites going in my life right now.  Nothing major.  Nothing life altering.  Just few things I find joy in each day.

**Poached eggs and grapefruit.  My family thinks poached eggs are the grossest food ever created. Poached eggs are a throwback to my childhood.  My mom would make them on cold winter mornings paired with toast and a half of a grapefruit.  It's still one of my favorite winter breakfasts.

**Dixon Ticonderoga number 2 yellow pencils.  If you haven't used one of these bad boys--you are missing out on a great writing utensil.  My Freshman know these are my pencils and they covet them as well.  Miss Hays just bought a box of 96 for her classroom.  Of course, if you aren't a pencil and pen addict, it might not matter to you.  Just sayin'.

**Bic Cristal Bold pens.  Man alive. These babies write SMOOOOOOOOOTH.  They write bold and thick.  For someone like me who presses too hard when I write, these pens handle the pressure nicely. I picked up a package in CC and Miss Hays picked me up 2 more packages in The Hat so I am pretty much hooked up for a while.

**George Winston Radio on Pandora.  Oh My.  I could listen to piano music all day.

Nerd status revealed.  Just sayin'.

Denial

Today I am in denial. Who am I kidding?  It's not just today.  I spend most of my life in denial. Don't judge me.

Today I must return to school.  Christmas break has ended.  Go in Peace Christmas break.  It was a wonderful time filled with reading, Netflix, family and relaxation.  And food.  Two of my teacher friends texted me last night with concerns about having to wear real pants on Monday.  I share that concern.

It did snow yesterday so there were high hopes of a teacher workday snow day--but the district sent a message out last night that we would be having teacher workday and to get there when we could safely.  I live 4 blocks from school.  Pretty sure it will take me until noon to dig out.......just sayin'.

All kidding aside, I am very thankful that our district gives us workdays.  Tomorrow is an inservice day and kids come on Monday.

Monday will be here lickety-split.  Just sayin'.

Randomness

Happy New Year!

Taking a cue from Mrs. E over at Easy Street....... I have some New Year Randomness.....

*Coach and I spent New Year's Eve home alone.  Our first since 1989.  We read our books, had a little dinner fixed by Coach and watched some really bad TV.  Oh and in bed by 11:30.

*Our microwave shot craps the week of Thanksgiving and I haven't replaced it.  I think we miss it, but can't be sure.  I also refuse to pay $75 or more for a new one.  I want one for $30.

*We (really it was me) cancelled our Monday thru Friday paper delivery.  We moved into town in 1997 and have taken that paper every day since then.  The paper wasn't getting to our home in time for us to read it before we left each day--not because of our delivery person--she rocks--but because the paper itself wasn't getting to CC due to issues at the paper.  We were going days without reading it.  Therefore, we decided to try Saturday-Sunday delivery only.  It also saves $10 a month only getting the paper on the weekends.  We'll see.

*I didn't renew any of our magazines for 2014.  When no one from our high school tried to sell me magazines, I took that as a sign that I didn't actually need to renew my subscriptions.  My mom is extremely generous and pays for me to get several magazines as part of my Christmas gift.  Those will be the only magazines we will continue to get each month in the mail. We'll see.

*My affair with Netflix is becoming well-known.  A friend of mine called to tell me that she had begun watching Hart of Dixie and she thought I might like the PBS produced Call the Midwife.  I had social-media-ed (not even a word, yet) about how I was watching Hart of Dixie in an effort to task avoid. Like I watched 8 episodes before I could drag myself off the sofa...just sayin'.  Other than sports on TV, we don't watch much regular TV.  We wish we could just subscribe (and pay for) to sports channels.  This year when the sports desert hits we plan to take our cable down to basic basic cable.  Why pay for something we don't use?

*I think I am seeing a 2014 theme here.....money.

Just sayin'.