Peace Out...

I'm going on a blogging hiatus. Not that I don't do that all the time. I'm just telling you this time. I'm not going to be at school...and since that pretty much is where all of my material comes from, I'm going to be empty. If something funny comes up at home I'll post. Don't hold your breath.

To end about my kids.

Last day of exams. Bell rings at 10:28. At 10:30 I go close my door and skip to the office. I was quite literally skipping.

One of my sweet, precious girls sees me in the hall and says "Ms. S____, why are you skipping, and why do you look so happy."

I said "because it's Christmas break...aren't you happy"

"Well YEAH, but I'm a student. You are a teacher. What are you going to do all break without us?"

Bless her heart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!

Thing about school...

Things about school that make me shake my head/scream/laugh/cry etc.

1. - I have one student who refuses to work if I give him a calculator (number) affiliated with the wrong gang. I go to great lengths to ensure he only gets nuetral numbers. He's in ISS today. I took a test and a nuetral numbered calculator to him. He refused to use it because apparantly now he'll only use numbers directly affiliated with his gang.

2. - same kid is running a huge operation of selling stolen ipods, cameras, cell phones etc. If it weren't totally illegal, wrong and immoral, I'd jump on it. There selling some good stuff cheap. But it's hot. So I'm not buying. Anyways. I'm the one who busted them. Problem is, while we all know he nad this other guy are doing it, we can't prove it because their (insert terrible adjectives) parents are supporting their story. He tried AGAIN today to sell me stolen merchandise. Did I mention I'm the reason the cops are on their backs right now.

3. I had a dream last night that I had to take the SAT and that my test score was going to determine whether or not I had a job. Then I dreamed that I didn't score high enough, so they made me the pencil sharpener so I could keep working here.

4. Some kids NEVER get in trouble. Even after I turn them in 5 times before 9 o'clock in the morning.

5. My cheerleaders are little...ANGELS...Or the opposite. Whatever you want to call it. And that is the nicest way I can describe them. Yesterday they lied to me MULTIPLE times and kept lying even after I caught them in it. I let them have it. I was so mad. So...After that, They are walking upstairs with me to sit in my room...and they have the audacity to ask for candy. -

Similarly I had campus security come remove a child from my room. the next period he was back in asking for candy. WHAT IN THE WORLD!

Dropped the Bomb...

So, I bit the bullet, put my big girl panties on, and told my roomies I'm moving out in June when the lease runs out. I was really scared to do it, but I'm really glad I did. I didn't want to damage any relationships, because they are really sweet girls. I just really want to live alone. So...Next year - Single living here I come. I'm pumped! It'll be a first. And I think I'm going to like it.

HUGE thanks to Holli for her Mongolian encouragement. I knew she was on the other end of the computer waiting for me to report that I'd done it. See holli, you can be there for someone...even from half way around the world.

Stay tuned for some fun pictures, and a funny story, from my slumber party week with Cass...who by the way has not shown me her pictures from her wedding. I'm not bitter CASSIE!

Dinner?

Is it okay that I am eating supper at 3:00. Er, make that finished eating supper at 2:56. Is that bad? I was hungry. That slim fast lunch wasn't doing the trick today.

YIPEE!!!

I JUST FOUND THE CORD THAT CONNECTS MY CAMERA TO THE COMPUTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm REAL excited. Or is it really? Anyone.
So...because I'm so excited...Here's a picture from Cassie's bachelorette weekend of...

Golf?!

Basketball Sidelines!

Sorry for the cheerleading video. I'm trying to find a way to get around not having YouTube at school, and needing my girls to see the video. :) Feel free to by pass this post.

In love...

TG: "Mrs. Singleton,"
ME; "Yes?"
TG: "Are you in love?"
Me w/ a very confused look: "No...??"
TG: "Yeah you are, you listen to slow songs all the time."

ATTENTION WORLD...I'm in love.

Apparently.

Happy

Maybe I'm posting a lot because I'm happy. :)

Just in a good place.

Here's the shake. (I don't know what that means?)

Anyways...

I love my school. I really want my kids scores to be better than anyone else's on the benchmark exams that we are taking, so that my administration will fight for me at the end of the year.
I know I'm not good. I know this is a long shot. But I don't think it is entirely impossible.

I realize that most people work themselves to death because they love their kids. And I do love my kids. But not enough to work myself to death. I LOVE MY SCHOOL ENOUGH TO WORK MYSELF TO DEATH! I LOVE MY SCHOOL! I love my school! There are just no two ways about it.

Mainly I love my administrator (who for the rest of the world on this blog will here after be known as Mrs. B. - I contemplating being her friend on facebook...I would be creeped out if I found someones blog and found out I'd been referenced...Not that she wouldn't know. I digress).

SPOILED. That's the only word I've got. Absolutely SPOILED. She's wonderful. Even if I am still at this school next year, but I'm in another house (meaning she's not my supervising principal), I'll probably cry.

Anyways. The intent of this post was to say I feel really supported today. I wrote this kid up the other day, for what I thought wasn't enough to write a referral, and he got MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I FEEL SO VALIDATED!

That's all I wanted to say.

I feel validated today.

Doctoral Fourth Period

My kids are going to fail the End of Course test if the government does not grant us the leniency we need for it being the first year of new standards, and my school is going to fail AYP. There is nothing I can do about it, and there is nothing they can do about it.

It's been decided.

That being said, if the benchmark is lowered. We may be okay.

As it stands we are going to fail. It's depressing, but I've made peace.

So where that leaves me is this.

A beautiful honest moment with my fourth block today. I was just real honest. I told them they were going to fail. True story. Then I talked about why it mattered. Then I made up some crap about how they don't want to go to a school that has been taken over by the government (I have no idea what that kind of school would be like, but I made up some colorful details).

Then I told them about college.

And they actually listened. They actually freakin' listened. (In the voice of that girl from Now and Then who says "we did it, we actually freakin' did it" when they think they've raised little johnny from the dead...Anybody?...No? Okay..)

And somewhere in my speech I decided I wanted to get a doctorate.

So, thank you fourth period.

For you time.

And your insight.

Peace.

PB

There is peanut butter on my spoon. I need to put it back in my lunch box. I don't have any paper towels and I don't want to lick it off.

What's a girl to do?

OMG!

We had a WATERFALL at school today...

No, seriously.

I was out of class for training all day, so as I was coming around the corner from my break, headed back to my class, I heard what sounded like a waterfall.

My thought process...

"Wow, that sounds like a waterfall...no way, 1 - i'm on the bottom floor, 2 - i'm inside...must be the air conditioner, i hope this doesn't mean it's going to break again...."

"HOLY COW!!! There IS a waterfall"

Y'all...a pipe broke in the ceiling and it was FLOODING, not trickling, but a SOLID sheet of water coming in the hallway. There were principals, janitors, coaches and secretaries frantically "sweeping" water out into the court yard in an attempt to keep it from getting to a copy machine or drink machine. I have NEVER seen anything like it.

Everyone stayed in 2nd period for over 2 hours, and NO ONE could leave. There was no water in the building. We took an early lunch break so we could go somewhere with water to use the bathroom.

I'm SO thankful I had PD today. Geeze.

Strange as it is though...these are reasons I love my job.

I realized today that I love it.

At least I love it today.

It's a start!

A new note...

Do it DAM!

I'm tirod i don, wona du it!!

I hope ya azz fail den shit im tryna help u

fuk fack

Wow! Woll, I apreciate dna tryna help bt i jux don fill lyk doin itt...

U GNNA FAIL BYXL!

Oh wow. nah ima turn it in until monday cuz i aint evngn bi able to finish tuda.

K im doin upm 4 & 5

she git on mi nervous (teacher)

yhu min nervs!!! lmpao...

So I dnt giva fack

Okay!!!she's so annoying

Duh she tryna make us write I b damshix

yea shes bin such a bish

I no she pass dad

het yea.

Mnnshi don it me do Mr. H wrk...

Do it fuk na nai aint evn gon duit no nwr.


I would provide a translation but I don't know what most of it says...

What I do know is that I'm annoying, and my kids are lazy. RIDICULOUS

Score for the home team!

I sent two kids to ISS today! GO ME!!!!

Cheering Woes

If ONE MORE cheerleader comes to my room and says "Are we having practice?" or texts me and says "Can we have practice?" I'm going to SCREAM!!!!

I am absolutely enjoying not having practice. I LOVE the thought of not having practice for a week, or a month, or the rest of the year. (Okay, I'm dreaming...but still. The thought makes me smile).

WHY do they want to practice? Half of them don't show up when we do, and they certainly don't actually practice. Seriously. GIVE ME A BREAK.

I guess we need to practice soon. Hopefully games don't start for a few weeks and I can have this whole week with no practice. Help Me!

I know I know...

I'm too busy to post, but I post twice in one day...

Is it bad that I pick my students homework up out of the turn in basket and immediately turn around in put it in the trash??

Oops. :)

crazy...

I just realized I haven't posted in a really long time. Life is crazy, school is busy, and things are good...most days.

Cassie's wedding is this weekend. (which is happy and sad). But, it means I'm not working tomorrow (which is definitely happy), but that means that I have an hour and a half of planning left at this point, so I need to GET IT INTO GEAR so I can leave on time.

The weekend breakdown:

Cheer Practice (2-3)
9th/10th football game (4-6, but i leave at 4:45)
4:45 - 5 (pick up dry cleaning...aka the brides maid dress)
5-5:30 (dinner/drive to class)
5:30-9:30 (class)
8 (sneak out of class early)
8-8:30 (drive to Cassie's house)
8:30 until bedtime (hang out at Tony's Goat Hill Farm)
bedtime-6a.m. (sleep...too bad my body's alarm wakes up super early)

Friday:

Brunch/hang out with Cassie
Go to walmart to buy pillows for the 3 house guests this weekend (it's embarrassing that I only have 1 pillow...Oops)
Hang w/ court
Rehearsal at 4:30
Rehearsal dinner
Go home and GET SOME SLEEP/Call/text Cassie a million times because she's about to get to have sex... :)

Saturday:

8 - get up (that's optimistic...I'm praying I can sleep late)
shower
hair/makeup
drive to Tony's Goat Hill farm for lunch
Head to the walking horse farm
Get Cassie married
Reception
Dinner/Piano bar with the roomies
Go to bed

Sunday:

Sleep all day
Wake up for brief periods of eating & hanging w/ Ashley

Monday:

Get up and start it all over again (minus the wedding this time) :)

I'll be back soon...hopefully w/ wedding pictures.

Beauty

Sometimes you just have to stop and blog in real time. Because it's just that good. At least to me. At least to my heart right now.

I often pass by the person with the sign "will work for food" or "need a ride" or "please, help" etc. and I'm ashamed to admit I often pass them by (I know some of you out there reading will think it's good I pass them up, but I don't).

Today, as I was having what I thought was the worst day of my life (bad class, cheerleader suspended, an hour at the emissions test play just to fail, 2 hours at the DMV for nothing etc.) It felt like the worst day ever.

Then I was leaving the DMV and this beautiful young girl asked me if I knew the way to Nole's road. I didn't. I got in my car, and I saw her ask someone else. I decided to ask her if she wanted a ride. She jumped in, and off we went.

It's a good thing she got in to, because after we headed that way we realized it was like 7 miles away. Anyways, enough time to hear about how she had just been released from jail. All her charges were cleared, and she'd been in for 25 days. She's originally from the Bronx, and has been living in Nashville for 7 years. No family here. When she was arrested, her 3 kids were taken and put into foster care.

And earlier I'd cried about my day.

I dropped her off on the corner closest to the address, she was going to wait until her friend got off of work (he worked at the hospital on the corner) to head to his house.

I don't know her name, but she was beautiful.

I hope she gets her kids back.

I hope she deserves them, and does right by them from now on.

People really are people if you stop and get to know them.

Beautiful People!

I kept thinking "How did I get here?" In this car, in Nashville with this beautiful woman. My life almost perfect compared to what she's been going through.

Thanks Lord.

Stream of Consciousness

SO I have this girl... Let's call her Renee. She talks out ALL THE TIME. We made this deal that she could write down anything she wanted to say if she would just not talk out, and I would read it after class.



Here are some gems...

• Shut up JT


• JT Keep it up and Ima beat u up


• Go buy some paper & stop askin for some


• Your not funny


• JT your breath stinks


• Why y talking about people get some maths kills because you dumb


• You need to shutup when nobody talkin to you


• If you are hungry JT go eat a banana or I rather you just starve


• You cant sing either


• You ugly heffa


• Shuttup


• If i'm not talking to you shut up and you aint gonna punch nobody in the face cuz i'm gonna punch you in the face JT Ricky got beat up Anna & Dueno make a cute couple


• U smelled yo mama feet


• What will the sargent do if you step on his shoes


• Stuart you thank u so smart but u not smart but on a 9th grade smart u swear up and down u a mathmetichen but u not


• JT u just a hater U punk

This is how my babies think...

Notes

Please read the following note I took up in class today (Exactly as it is written on the paper)



Whussupp Chrisy



nun BrD. ion wnA take Dis Test.



Rite men etha anis duba hard ion lyk dnis class bunt anyways.



ryte! she IYLK miss. Norwood



lol! Bunt iuno dnis stuf im black black people dont know shyt & lol [up] & dna pup rally whus bron O.M.G.



yea. Dey boy Cheerleader wus gewd doe. -n0 yhu crazi



lol, bunt O.M.G. dna homecomin thang 4 dna freshman was dnat bull LITERALLY.



Yea who U go Forr? I went 4 denise!



macy duh



awl! she b b.shixxn 2 much. Ms. S....



I'm sure it would have continued but this is where I took the note...

THIS IS THE FUTURE!!! This is the next generation. I think they spelled maybe 10 words correctly. WHAT LANGUATE IS THAT?



This is what I deal with people

**Names changed to protect the guilty

Things that make me nauseated

1. knowing I probably ruined kanoxious's (remember him) life. *I hope this is an exaggeration, but it may not be. this responsibility is killing me.
2. 14 year old's making out IN PUBLIC, like I've never made out in PRIVATE...Okay, maybe I have in the privacy of my own home but NEVER in PUBLIC. This one makes me nauseated for 2 reasons 1 - because it's just gross 2 - because why should the irresponsible 9th graders be getting some love when I'm not?
3. When my TFA program director shows up at exactly the wrong time...again. I'm trying to be a good corps member and it keeps back firing.
4. The fact that I'm missing the season premier of HOUSE. Don't worry...I'm going to get a bottle of wine, and I'll enjoy the show online after it's over...so from 9-11.
5. Knowing I'm not going to get any sleep tonight (see #4)

Playing Teacher

So yesterday was maybe my favorite day ever (okay, not really, but it was a good day).

I got home @ 5:30
Made a pizza
Sat on the couch
Watched the local news
Watched wheel of fortune
Watched 2 hours of House (in preparation for the season premiere NEXT WEEK!)
Talked to Cass
Went to bed.

GLORIOUS.

Tonight, I'll be @ school till 7:30, and will be doing good to be home by 8.
Not to mention that I still haven't figured out when/what I'm going to eat.

Why? Because I have open house.

Which means all my sweet parents will come by to talk about their obnoxious precious babies.
I'm glad their coming but honestly I feel like a little kid playing "school" except that when I played school, I was never the teacher. I was always the bad kid.

Perfectly Pear

Perfectly Pear White Tea from Celestial seasonings is my new favorite treat. It is a mild tea with just the right hint of pear. Toss in a little honey and it is perfectly delightful.

Not only does it taste great, because it uses real fruit and tea leaves it contains high levels of antioxidants making it perfectly delightful and perfectly healthy.

Not to mention that the box has great little quotes like "I have tried, too, in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in." -Oliver Edwards

Why I'm Late?

So,

again, I'm a terrible teacher. SO...I just pulled my tardy log.

Anyone who is late signs the tardy log.

You get 1 free tardy

2nd- call home
3rd- teacher intervention (IDK what that will be yet)
4th- office referral

SO, anyway...On the log I give them a place where they can list the reason they are late. For example, if there bus is late I won't count that against them, but they have to mark it down so I can check it (as you can guess since I only check it about every 3 weeks, I'm obviously not going to check it...if they were smart they'd all put that down as the reason Ha!)

This one kids reason...

"hugeing my girlfriend"

I don't know if I'd be hugeing someone that can't spell!

Survey

Okay, so I really do anticipate updating this REAL SOON with beautiful pictures of...

-My classroom
-My dear friends
-Cassie's Bachelorette weekend o' fun.
-Cassie's shower that was FOREVER ago
-My house
-and ANYTHING else that might be on my camera

In the meantime, let me entertain you with some quotes from my students. I gave a "survey" the other day. I'll post some of the questions below with some of the responses:

How do you learn things?

• Music (from the kid who dances in his seat ALL DAY LONG...No music, doesn't even care if he has an audience...just wants to dance)
• I learn my best by nothing...I just learn
• A lot
• If the teacher would talk a little louder (note, I have one girl who has to close her ears when I walk by because I'm so loud..I think this kid needs a hearing aide)
• If the teacher speaks louder (look...another hearing aide kid)
• By a good teacher (guess I'm not one since this kid is failing..oops)
• When someone tells me step by step what to do (go to jail...they'll do that for you there)

What distracts you from learning?

• everyone in the class (me too, buddy, me too)
• People being obnoxious for the soul purpose of annoying people
• Girls
• Pretty Girls
• IDK. I just don't pay attention
• Pretty Girls
• Girls
• Pretty attractive young women
• When people talk a lot. Shut up. I know I am one of them, you don't have to tell me.

What do you want me to do differently?

• Tell us how we'll use it in the future (welcome to high school math, it's worthless in the future)
• That P.R.O. stuff, it's kindergartin (maybe if you went back to kindergarten, you'd know how to spell it)
• Speak Louder (SERIOUSLY, Then they'd be able to hear me downstairs)
• I don't know really, This class is too easy, Why would I want it differently
• If you would have fun teaching, then you'd be funny, then we'd have fun learning, because I really understand more when we have more fun learning.
• Nothing, you're perfect (I like you too kid)

What are you going to differently?

• Stop getting an attitude (you promise?)
• Never talk again (Seriously? I'll pay you?)
• Nothing (we'll, at least he's honest)
• Be a great student (right, but HOW do you do that)
• What are you going to do differently?
• I don't know really, Honestly, I just want to get an A and go home

I love these kids, but I'm SO tired at the end of the day...

I seriously don't know how people who don't get out of school until 3 survive. I've been out of school since 2:05. It's 3:49. True, I have a game tonight, but I won't go home until @ LEAST 7:30!

@ least I enjoy going to work.

Yelling

If you are offended by tales of teachers yelling at kids then stop reading now. Seriously. A lot of yelling happens in this story. And the responsible adult is the one doing it. If not keep reading...because I'm about to vent.

Okay, so God has a sense of humor. I totally thought I had great classroom management...really. This summer I would have said "I don't have many rules, or any consequences but I have good rapport with the students so they behave."

Now...I have rules...I have consequences...I have a good rapport...my students are terrorists...TERRORISTS I TELL YOU!

Today it wasn't even the bad class.

I have a inclusion teacher second period every other 3rd second period for half an hour. And math is not her specialty...meaning I only know slightly more than her. Meaning, of no fault of her own, she's not very useful.

Today she was doing a jeopardy review game for my class because they are having a test tomorrow.

They were maniacs...Animals.

She doesn't ever make them behave
I get frustrated and yell at them
The problem gets worse when I hand the reins back to her
There's a lock down
The kids have a million questions
It's funny to me how they tell us not to tell the kids it's a lock down, but they come over the intercom and announce it...
We're still under lock down, and one of the things we have to list on the sign in our window is our cell phone number
I forgot to put my cell phone on silence, so during lock down I get a call from a 615 (Nashville) number
I answer it thinking it is something to do with the lockdown
It's the varsity representative calling about uniforms
The kids go crazy
(Please remember there is another teacher in the room doing NOTHING about it)
When they got done with the jeopardy game I LET THEM HAVE IT.

I shouldn't have, but here's the deal, I was mad. There was a lockdown so I couldn't send the kids out, but during the review game most of them talked and played the whole time. The class average for this class is in the 60's...BAD. I have a kid with an 11 average.

Basically what told yelled at them was that they were lazy, didn't care about their grades and were going to fail my class. I threatened to call parents and tell them that their child was happy with an F. I told the class that the kids failing where the ones with attitudes. One girl told me I had an attitude and I said "Sure do, and you might as well get used to it because I have no plans for getting rid of it." I told them that if they failed one semester of my class they failed the whole year (which is true) and I told them that since none of them ever came for help that they must want to fail, and if they failed algebra they'd probably fail other classes, and that would set them back from graduation, and if they didn't graduate they'd never get a job and they would starve to death or sell drugs and get killed.

I refuse to talk for the next hour (my planning)...because I DON'T HAVE A VOICE...@ least not much of one.

I know I'm a terrible teacher.

Thanks for telling me.

Jerk.

BTW...I still love my job (I'm sick and twisted)

Top 10

Top 10 reasons why a fire drill at 2:00 ticks me off.

1.) None of the kids have been to their locker yet, so they have a legitimate excuse for not doing homework (which by the way I NEVER assign, but of course did today)

2.) only half of my kids got the review sheet for my test tomorrow, so now I have to find a new time to give my test, which puts me even further behind.

3.) my room was left a mess because you can't stop a fire drill to put up white boards, markers and worksheets

4.) my cheerleaders get panicky and are late to practice because they can't find their way back INTO the building

5.) kids miss their buses because no one can find their way around the building

6.) it's ineffective because at 2 o'clock most teachers don't think it's a real fire drill, so they stay in their rooms with their classes until an administrator yells at them. in a real fire. they die.

7.) it makes me even more flustered after an already flustering class

8.) it interrupted my lecture about how my kids are going to be miserable, unproductive citizens for the rest of their life if they don't get their act together in my class.

9.) most teachers don't actually leave the building...they stand in the lobby talking about how stupid a fire drill at 2 o'clock is. again, in a real fire...dead. (except the old man, who just gets in his car and leaves...he breaks the rules, but he lives).

and

10.) it's messes up my schedule which really ticks me off...and the world revolves around me right?

NOTE TO SELF: When you become a principal don't EVER have a fire drill 5 minutes before the bell rings.

Cheerleading Tryouts and Such

So I had to [edit...two, evidently I didn't have an english teacher] cheer leading sponsors in high school. At the time I loved one of them and could not stand the other. Now i appreciate them both...And I'm turning into the one I didn't like. Oops.



Let's rewind to last Thursday. I had a MANDATORY meeting for all girls interested in trying out for cheer leading. I announced this meeting for a FULL week to give the girls plenty of time to make plans to be there. WELL....like 8 girls showed up.



"Okay, I guess I only have 8 girls trying out"



Think again. 14 showed up the first day of clinic. WTHay! Seriously...so we had a talk about what mandatory meant, and I agreed to let them all tryout (Secretly hoping that two of the quit so I didn't have to cut only two girls).



Next mandatory thing. To attend all clinic meetings.



Tuesday...16 girls.



WHAT? "Okay, I can deal with this, now I can take 10 girls, and cut six" Good.



Next mandatory thing...All forms must be turned into me BEFORE practice on Wednesday.



Guess how many girls had turned in all of their stuff on Wednesday...How many were "technically" eligible to tryout on Wednesday?



No really...guess....



THREE....3....Uno, dos, Tres.


THREE girls where it as far as turning in all of their forms. Talk about frustrated.



And we were down to 10 at clinic on Wednesday



At tryouts Thursday I had 9 show up. Everyone else said it was too hard...



Except the girl who came by my room on Thursday morning...who'd never been to a meeting or a clinic day, and wanted to tryout.



SERIOUSLY...Think again.



So 9 tried out.


And this is what kills me...

THEY WERE NERVOUS THEY WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT.



Dear little baby girls,



Use your brains...There are only 9 or you

I have to take all of you



Geeze!



I'm nervous. This year is not off to a great start.



I've already had one teacher on me about a girl on my squad with an attitude.


This should be quite interesting.

The thorn in my side...

Let's just call him Kanoxious. Because Ka starts the first part of his name and obnoxious is what he is. But he's also cute, charming, and really funny. What's a teacher suppose to do with that.

Me: (getting on to him)
Kanoxious: Man, what...what did I do
Me: You know what you did, please stop
Kanoxious: Man, you always picking on me, you must not like me. This is ridiculous
Me: When do we argue things? (correct answer...2:05)
Kanoxious: Right now...Naw, I'm just playing, I'm just playing
Me: Kanoxious, go wait for me outside (this doesn't scare ANYONE by the way)

Me: What's the deal?
Kanoxious: I didn't say it
Me: I heard you
Kanoxious: Okay man, I did...I did...I'm sorry
Me: Okay, you can't speak out in class like that...
Kanoxious (interrupting me): Man, i didn't do it.
Me: Did you do it or not?
Kanoxious: Yeah, yeah, I said it...I'm really sorry Ms. Singleton
Me: Kanoxious, you are a leader in the room...
Kanoxious (interrupting again): I told you I didn't do it.
Me @ this point = really ticked off, but also about to laugh.

CHARMING...ADORABLE. He will go places, if he can control himself.
What's a girl to do. I feel as though he'll appear in many future posts. Look for Kanoxious

AIR CONDITIONER!!!!!!!

Dear Air Conditioner Repair Men,

WORK HARD, Work FAST!! It's hott in here.

Sincerely,

A teacher who doesn't want to hear "I'm hot" all day long

Two days down...

AHH!! I'm so excited. I LOVE MY JOB. Seriously. It's pretty awesome. I mean, come back in October and I may feel differently. But for now.

Some highlights from the last two days.

*If you name your kid after a terrorist, he will probably definitely act like one.
*I had a kid come to my class on Friday because he was bored. BORED! Get a grip

Kid: "you didn't call my name"
Me: "What's your name"
Kid: ""
Me: "You're not on my role"
Kid: "I know"
Me: "Let me see your schedule"
Kid: "I don't have one"
Me: "Why not? Are you new?"
Kid: "No, mine was messed up"
Me: "You're suppose to be in the media center"
Kid: "I know, I was there but I got bored so I decided to come to class with my friends"

Give me a break. I made him leave, but of course, as fate would have it, this very talkative friend of mine is in another one of my classes.

Oh the joy.

Missing....

If you were a jump drive with LOTS OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION where would you be hiding????

P.S.: The teacher next door to me (who is BY THE WAY not the hott coach who's not really hott) BLARES old, bad country music and SINGS all day long. So I'm listening to Tristan Prettyman on Pandora. I like her...and I like this station. You should check it out. Just saying.

And if you find my jump drive I'll love you forever.

First Day

The first day is over. I survived. I'm exhausted. Two kids got arrested @ school for things they did over the summer. Not in my class. Not much to tell today. I'm sure the stories are coming. I know I have @ least two that will provide for interesting blog posts. Well, three if the girl who hates the world comes around.

Peace.

Feeling like a teacher

I am officially "in school." We started our in-service this morning, and the kids come on Friday. There is SO MUCH to be done between now and then. Hopefully I'll be able to breathe again sometime in October...@ least that's what I'm shooting for.

I spent some time @ school working and doing trainings last week, but I feel like it has only been today that I have started to feel like a "real" teacher. Don't confuse that with my feeling like a "real good" teacher, just a "real" one. I suppose time will tell.

Tomorrow I get the whole afternoon to just working in my room. Hopefully lots will get done.
I shopped for almost 3 hours tonight (mostly because I'm indecisive and don't know what I'm doing) and I spent $120.00. I about flipped out. I get $400.00 to spend, but still. I HATE SPENDING MONEY...Even other people's. It kills me and I feel guilty every time. Especially when I splurge and buy the $8.00 pens instead of the $1.00. But COME ON...sometimes you have to do what will keep you sane. And YES! cute pens will help keep me sane.

I had a great weekend @ home this past weekend. I'm learning that I really do love it there, and there are so many people from my past that I feel like I have a connection with (family & friends). It's hard to leave sometimes, but I'm thankful for the hard in that. It means things are good. And they haven't always been.

Off to get my beauty sleep. Somebody once told me that nobody likes an ugly teacher. :)

Addendum & Blackberries

As an addendum to the last post I'd like to throw this in for Marie. They're no you either. I'd actually take either the TH or you over them for miles and miles. Even though I like them. Most days.

Okay seriously, I had this thought today that "they are NEVER going to leave."

Now, I was telling Cassie today. I'm sure I had these thoughts Junior year....that I was psycho, crazy and what was i thinking because these 9 people where NEVER going anywhere...but the thing is. I don't remember having those thoughts. I just know myself, so I know they probably existed.

Some new thoughts.

I heard A talking to her fam in Polish, and I taught her how to use a can opener (yes, you read that right). I'm liking E a lot...and L doesn't close cabinet doors, like EVER.

Okay...this post was suppose to be about blackberries. I've gotten off topic.

Cassie and I went to pick blueberries on Wednesday, but no one had blueberries. So she found us this little farm in Cross Plains, TN and we picked blackberries. They are so flippin' big it's ridiculous.

I've made blackberry muffins and a blackberry & peach cobbler (the peach came from the farm too). I have pictures, but no way to upload them. I'll try to find a way to do that this weekend, and I'll post the pictures and the recipe.

After we picked, we went to this 1930's style drug store and soda fountain for lunch. Sorta like Toomer's but smaller and way better because lemonade was a dollar something instead of $4.00. We both had pimento cheese sandwiches, which were great...no cottage cafe, but great. Then we had milkshakes. I had peach, she had cookies and cream.

Wednesday was a good day.

Pictures to come.

Tomorrow is my first day @ school. WooHoo/Nervous. It's definitely getting nervous in here. I'll make it though. No hott coach tomorrow, but I'll keep you all posted when he finally does make an appearance.

The Roomies...

L:

L is from outside of Boston. She talks a lot (I know, I know...I do to. She probably doesn't talk as much as me, I'm just not used to being around someone who compares). We'll get a long pretty well I think. She likes to bake (ME TOO!) She went to boarding school for High School. Most of you probably don't know this about me, but my dream in High School would have been to go to boarding school. Really Elementary and Middle school too. After I watched The Little Princess I was convinced I needed to go to boarding school. It was all very romantic. A year long slumber party with fancy dresses, servants and fireplaces in the room. All set in the European country side. Who could ask for more. :) She is pretty athletic, and played soccer @ Rhodes. I think we'll get along.

E:

E is from Kentucky and went to school @ the University of Kentucky. She is super close to her family and went home every weekend during institute, which is no small feet. She says "cute" and "precious" about everything. These are her adjectives of choice. That will probably get on my nerves, but otherwise I think we'll get along fine. She is very mothering and is more of a rule follower than Cassie. Thankfully I've had Cass in my life the past 5 years to help me ease into E. E is very mothering and super cautious. If we have to be somewhere that takes 15 minutes to get to, she leaves 45 minutes before we need to be there. Needless to say she and I probably won't carpool much. She's teaching 6th grade reading, but would probably be better suited for Kindergarten. Either way, she is adorable, and another good roommate.

A:

A is from Denver, Colorado, and went to the University of Colorado @ Boulder. She was last years Ms. Poland International. She is a dual American and Polish citizen. Her parents are Polish immigrants. She loves Jesus and it is evident in the way she lives her life. She's dating (and probably about to marry a guy) 9 years her senior, but from what I know about her this will be a good move. I think she and I will get along best. We seem much more alike in personality (which is hard for me to admit since she is the one I thought was most standoffish initially. She absolutely does not know how to cook, so hopefully we can teach her some of those skills before she gets married next summer. I'm looking forward to doing some church shopping with her, and getting to know her this next year. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, if you've been to my house you've seen, and if not you need to hurry and come....but she loves monkeys. She and L share a monkey bathroom, she has monkey plates, bowls and cups. Monkey place mats and a monkey welcome mat.

That's the roomie summary. Don't worry, they can't replace the TH girls. I'd trade them for all of you any day, but I think they'll be good substitutes until you all decide to move to Nashville.

The Roomies...

Boring...

I'm settling into boring. Here comes round zero. It's actually not boring...just the excessive amounts of meetings and workshops I've already been subjected to this summer make any meeting or workshop seem tedious.

The house is coming along nicely...I'll be posting pictures as soon as I find a way to upload them (I don't have a cord).

I met a couple of teachers from my school...I'll post about them soon too...

Come back in a few days, and posting will resume.

Peace out.

Life these days.

Oops...

I forgot the blog existed this week. Apologies to my 4 faithful readers and anyone else who happened along.

I'll be back...but probably not regularly until the end of the month.

Guess what???

.........

No really, guess............................................................

Okay, I'll just tell you.

INSTITUTE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew...I'm so glad.

I'll post a final recap eventually, but for now...an update of sorts.

Currently I'm @ SIFAT...I won't bore you with tales of how this is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PLACE TO BE. I went to Worship on the Water @ Lake Wedowee yesterday to hear Nate speak and Addie and Laura sing. I lounged around yesterday afternoon. Watched some TV...Which I haven't done in FOREVER. Went to worship (I love worship...I miss corporate worship), got up and helped w/ breakfast. Went to town. Helped with lunch. And just got back from a run...I ran into 3 cows...They were just chillin' in the old village. That's why I love this place. You go for a run and meet up with 2 cows and a baby calf. It seriously looked like I was interrupting their conversation. I like to think that they left and started talking about me.

I'll be here till Friday, then I'm off to Nashvegas to move into my new house!!!

Cassie's shower is on Saturday. More Moving Sunday. Getting settled Monday and Tuesday. Round Zero on Thursday!

I'll update sporadically until then, but regular posting will resume begin @ the beginning of August.

Peace.

I love Jesus...

So, I was going to start this with a picture...but shutterfly is blocked @ school. Maybe I'll throw an old picture in at the end of this post.

I think when God does good things we should tell each other.

1st off, this weekend was crazy. Most of it was good...but maybe not when my sister punched my step mom in the face. We're still hoping she grows up one day, and hopefully it will happen before she wigs out and does something really stupid.

So...back to the good part.

Emily is crazy most of the time, so when we all went to lunch as a family, it was no surprise that she and my mom got into a fight (that doesn't sound like a good part, it's coming...i promise). At the end of the day, I ended up taking her to the gas station...to pick up her check...to the grocery store, and then home.

@ the grocery store, I just really felt like I should give her money. I NEVER GIVE HER MONEY.

1.) because I don't have the money &
2.) because I feel like she needs to take responsibility for her world.

So, I struggled with myself for a few minutes, and at the end of the day I just felt like I should give her $40. Actually, I spent $10 on her, then gave her $30.

Okay...that was Sunday afternoon...Go back with me to Sunday morning, or even 2 weeks ago. Mrs. T.J. told me she had a care package for me. Then Sunday morning, she told me to wait for her in the parking lot so she could give it to me. Well, I was running late to lunch, and I ended up texting her and telling her I'd swing by her house later.

Money is TIGHT right now. It just is until I start getting paid. So, after I gave Emily the money, I was kicking myself, wondering what in the world I was doing giving away money I didn't have.

I headed to the Griswold's. T.J. met me coming through the door with money in her hand. I started to refuse it, and she stopped me and said "listen to me. this is $40, and God has blessed us so we just want to turn around and bless you."

I started crying like a baby.

It was exactly what I'd spent on Emily. The money I didn't have, and I was legitimately worried about giving it away....and here I was getting it back.

The effect would have been totally different if she'd mailed it to me, or given it to me at church.

God's in the little things, even the timing.

Frustration...

Okay,

so...if you are homosexual or bi-sexual and are easily offended you might want to stop reading. I don't mean to offend, and I hope you could read it all and not be offended...just know that I am not writing this with the intention of offending, and if you are offended, I'd love to talk about it.

I'm finding that there is a double standard in the world. I am hearing all of this stuff about "tolerance" and "not offending" and the list goes on. Here's the deal. I'm not allowed to say how I really feel about homosexuality and bisexuality, because I would be "judging"...when really I'm not judging. PLEASE HERE ME SAY I AM NOT JUDGING. My conviction that a man was made to be with a woman does not have to mean that I am passing judgement on those who live differently. I do not presume to know how it feels...I do not presume to tell other people how they should or should not act (unless they belong to my particular religion, and then i feel as though i have a responsibility to call them out in love).

But can't I be allowed to disagree????? Can't I be allowed to say "I don't think that it is right?"

I am perfectly capable of saying that and still loving the person, and loving the person deeply. WHY DON'T PEOPLE GET THAT????????

I am finding that if i say "I don't agree with that lifestyle," or "I wouldn't want my 8 year old child exposed to that lifestyle," that I am suddenly this psycho, bible beating, christian. I'm okay with being that person, but I want people to understand that the love exists. I can be friends with you and not agree with your lifestyle.

BUT, Please let me believe that it is wrong...you are passing equal judgement when you assume I am judging with out getting to know me.

Get to know me. Let's talk about it. Let me disagree without you passing judgement on me.

*Diversity has obviously been the topic of conversation @ institute lately.

Around Atlanta

So, there hasn't been much free time. But we've managed to get out once or twice. Last weekend was great. I really wanted to go home, but staying turned out to be the right decision. I've struggled with how to deal with people who are different than me during institute. Mostly, I have a hard time being around people who don't subscribe to the same moral values as me. Meaning, the rest of the world apparently. It's hard when almost everyone else thinks it's okay to get drunk all the time.

It's also been difficult, just because everyone is so open about the things they do. I've heard all about some people's sex lives, and there pasts, and just any myriad of things that I thought normal people didn't talk about. I'm not sexually active. I have a very strong conviction that God created that for marriage, and that in that covenant, it will be BEAUTIFUL! I'm not judging, but it's been a struggle for me to not judge. All that to say, it was good I stayed. I needed to be around these people. And force myself to love and not judge...


First stop...Sweet Water brewery. A huge group of NCC (Nashville Charter Corps) went, but these are the girls who rode with me. From the left - S, N, C, Me, P.
We had a great time. Also, it's a great deal. $8 gets you a tour of the brewery, a souvenir glass, and 6 glasses of beer (*be advised I had like 1 and a half...maybe). There was live music outside, and it was just a fun way to spend Friday night.

Some notes about the girls we were hanging out with. N, she's definitely one of my favorites so far. She is my age, and played volleyball at Dayton in Ohio. We get along really really well. She has a good head on her shoulders. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better the next 2 years.

C is one of my institute roommates. She's crazy, but a whole lot of fun. She's from New York, but was born in Opelika. She short and spunky, and apparently people confuse her as me sometimes, saying we both have attitudes. I can live with that.

Then there's P. She's is HILARIOUS! She can talk to a brick wall. Example, at Sweet Water, she met 2 German guys and 2 Turkish girls. At the braves game on Thursday night, she was BFF with the usher lady. Seriously, she's fun.

After all the group fun on Friday, I needed some alone time, so Sunday I went here...

The Martin Luther King Jr. historical site. This is where he and Coretta are buried, and it is right down the street from his birth home and the church he went to as a child, and then pastored at later in life. There is a really good informative museum there, so I spent some time looking around. There was an art exhibit set up in honor of him, so that was cool to see also. After touring the museum, I went here...

His birth home. There was something historic about walking around the neighborhood he grew up in, knowing he walked these streets years ago, and something about them transformed him into the activist we all know him for. I like to think about world leaders as small children. Someone knew them before everyone did. I want to know those people. It also got me thinking...If not him then who? One of the exhibits in the museum had a quote from him about a time when he thought about quitting the civil rights movement. He was just looking for a non-cowardly way to back down. WHAT IF...What if he'd backed down? Where would we be. If not him, then who? If not me then who? I ended with a tour of the grounds. I found these little plaques lining a rose garden. They all had poems written by elementary school kids. This was my favorite.

"Love is when you like something so much...Silence is when you fell good and listen to the ocean...Conscience is when you listen to your mind and do good."

If only we all had Love, Silence and Conscience!

PB&J

Dear GaTech dinning hall staff,

How in the world did you forget the PEANUT BUTTER on my PEANUT BUTTER and Jelly sandwich...That is now a jelly sandwich...with banana. At least I remembered the banana.

Do better next time,

olivia

Faithfulness...

I'm just so excited right now.

#1...I ONLY HAVE 8 WORK DAYS LEFT OF INSTITUTE!!!!!! AND ONLY 4 MORE LESSONS TO TEACH! Praise the Lord...Seriously.

The end is in sight!


I can see it...I'm going to survive this. (It hasn't been that bad...but I will be glad to get my life back. )


#2...I don't know if I've mentioned this to any of you...or maybe just a couple of you...but I've been craving christians. Seriously. I mean, I just want to be around christians so bad that I can't stand it. I dont' think I realized how much I took for granted the community that we all had (together and w/ others) in auburn, and that I've had in Dothan. Even if it wasn't always intentional community, it existed at least...NONE at TFA so far. It so hard to be in such a secular environment. EVERYTHING is F*** this, F*** that, Let's go get wasted. I seriously had a conversation w/ a guy about drinking last week, and he thought I was CRAZY because I don't go get nasty drunk ALL THE TIME. I told him I'd only ever been drunk once, and I count it one of my bigger mistakes in life, and he didn't believe me for a long time, then he just didn't understand. This is the prevailing attitude of most people here.


SO...That's good, because I am learning patience and how to deal with people who are different than me in a non-judging, just loving (that's good...non-judging just loving) way. ANYWAY...all that to say, last monday or tuesday I just realized that what was missing was christian community. I just prayed and cried out for that, because I need it.


THE NEXT DAY...I found out about this church that has dinner/bible study on wed. night and some of my corps was going to meet in the lobby at 5:45 wed. to go. 5:45 came and went. No one showed up. I've been really home sick this week (which I think is a result of no community) and I just cried wed. night. I saw the girl who was suppose to be organizing it later, and she said that everyone was just really busy so they cancelled at the last minute (UGH! True though...I can relate to the business). I was dissapointed to say the least.


Which brings me to today. I knew a group of people was going to go to this church tonight (midtown community church...if you know people in atl. tell them to check it out)...I woke up and decided that I just really wanted to go to First Baptist Opelika (their pastor is really popular in the southern baptist convention). It was a great service. But it was their 4th of July, honor the military service. Which is great and SO important, and SO NOT WHAT I WAS NEEDING THIS MORNING. The afternoon came and went...I went to the MLK Jr. Historic site, and saw the museum, his birthplace, his church and the fire station he spent time at. I got home and decided to take a little nap... I slept through the "meet up time" for church tonight, and honestly, I wasn't sold out about going anyways. So I got up, ate some oatmeal and thought "you know what, I'm going to church...who cares that I have to go in by myself, who cares that I haven't done ANYTHING for school tomorrow and I'll be up WAY late...I'm going" BEST DECISION EVER! There were 8 REAL NASHVILLE PEOPLE THERE! Real people who love Jesus. And in my judgements that EVERYONE was terrible and currupt I missed at least 7 other people who love the Lord (and I know there are at least 2 more).



The service was phenomenal. A retired missionary from Indonesia spoke (which is good for me, because I feel like my heart for missions just keeps growing and growing).


There were 2 points in the service where they told us to turn to a neighor and pray for them/over them. The first time was @ the beginning and it was to pray for someone. I was w/ Jessica...a TFA girl from Nashville, and it was just so good to pray w/ her...then later we prayed God's blessing over each other.

AHH!! So Good. Afterwards...Anita (one of my roommates for next year) wanted us to all pray together after the service before we came back to GATech, so we did, and it was just good. I don't know these people well, but I'm so excited for the opportunity to get to know them more. It's gonna be so good. Okay, sorry for the novel. I am just so excited.

Jesus, Kids and Phones

So yesterday's post was NOT suppose to be about that...but I got on a tangent, and I'm glad I did.



Speaking of God's faithfulness in the previous post...let me tell you about yesterday.



Have I mentioned here that my schedule is nuts?



Well, let me tell you, my schedule is crazy. Up at 5:30 (or 6:13, just depending on when your body decides to turn your ears on so you can actually hear the alarm)...breakfast between 6:15 and 6:45...bus leaves at 6:50. Teach at 7:30...classes for me after that. Get back to Ga Tech by 5. Sometimes run, sometimes nap (only twice actually...pat me on the back), work some, read some, chill some, then buckle down till at least 10....sometimes midnight. It's pretty intense.

It's left little time to be lonely. But I think it finally hit yesterday. It's some combo of me just standing out here...and getting into the groove of things so that I finally have time to stop and reflect.

What do I mean by stand out...well, for instance. We've been talking about floating the river next weekend, and a bunch of people are taking a bus to the river. It's an extra $12, so I told him I wanted to drive. He said "not a good idea, you'll be wasted." When I told him that I don't get drunk - 1, he didn't believe me. 2, he looked at me and said "why not? I've never met anyone who thought that way before"
Another thing that is new for me, is this is the first time in my life I've heard someone talk about church one minute, and the next use the f word and talk about getting drunk. It's a strange culture. I'm fortunate to have been shadowed by a very Christian bubble. But I'm glad it is popping, I need to learn to love the world...not just the Christian and morally good people of the world.

WOAH!! That was a tangent...anyways...

Lonely...I was lonely, and Tuesday night was just journaling and praying a community. Just a place to be with other Christians, and people to encourage me, etc.

Yesterday, my former TFA crush who's becoming more of a good friend, told me that the Indy corps has a bible study and praise time on the soccer field on Sunday morning, and he invited me to come! SIGN ME UP!

Again yesterday, some member of my corps told me about a great church they've gone to a few times, and said that they are going back, and are going to start going to a Wednesday night dinner and small group study!

THANK YOU LORD! Less than 24 hours after I asked you delivered. I should ask sooner!

Oh, and we had the WHOLE afternoon off yesterday. My response "I have NO CLUE what to do with a free afternoon...I've never considered it possible"...and I didn't even sleep...Gotta embrace time while it exists.

WooHoo!!!

On a lighter note,

My goal for my class is to take up a cell phone by the end of the summer. I'm super lax with my kids, but they're well behaved because they love me (seriously...who would have thought I could relate to African American teenagers in inner city Atlanta). I just really want to play teacher and take up a cell phone. I mean, I'll give it back at the end of class.

Dear students,

Please let me catch you texting.

Sincerely,

Olivia Singleton!

How did I get here #2

This my friends, is a Bolivian sunrise. God made it just for me...and the thousands of other people who saw it. But just for me.

I said I was going to do more How did I get here's...and Oops....i forgot. My life has kinda gotten crazy lately. Have I mentioned I'm @ TFA institute?

Anyways...I just thought my blog is boring these days, no pictures you know. That led to me finding this picture, and remembering my How Did I Get Here's. So...this one is gonna be short and sweet. And I apologize in advanced that a lot of these will be related to Bolivia and Africa...but that's my heart...I'll find other ones.

I had a moment when I was watching this sunrise.

Three of us had taken a few days off at the internado in Bolivia and hoped a bus to the first "big" town, rurrenebaque. I'm using the word big VERY LOOSELY. Think the smallest town you know...then divide by 10. Rurre is probably still smaller. Anyways...We decide to do an overnight tour in the pampas, which are basically swampy jungle. The tour consisted of floating down the river. Seeing capabaras (the world's largest rodent...think about what a rat would have looked like in the movie Honey I Shrunk the Kids and you'll have an idea what that is), pink freshwater dolphins, monkeys of all kinds, birds of all kinds, and more alligators and cayman than I ever care to see again.

In the afternoon we went swimming with the dolphins. Which also means we went swimming with the cayman and alligators as well. (obviously we lived to tell the tale).

That night we met up with other tourists to watch the sunset and play soccer...and in that conversation we met a girl from Holland. Her name was Claire. The story is simply this. Claire asked what brought the three of us to Bolivia. We explained that it was mission work, yadda yadda ya...

Then Claire said she "wasn't a Christian and she didn't really get what that was all about anyways. If there is a God, he should just care that people are nice, not whether or not they put their faith and trust in Jesus"my paraphrase . Long story short...We got it all wrong. We gave her the wrong answer. We flat out told her lies (I'll take the brunt of that one). We were ill prepared to share our faith, and we did nothing to help Claire's along. In an effort to keep her from thinking Christians were pushy or judgemental, we failed, and we all walked away from that conversation knowing we had failed.

The next morning, seeing this sunset, I was reminded that "His compassion never fails, His mercies are new every morning" -Lamentations 3:22-23

And I wondered ...
"How did I get here?"
In a strange country,
With three people I barely new before I left the states
In the middle of the jungle
Talking with a girl from Holland
Who was fluent in 3 languages and learning a fourth
Was way smarter than me
and was asking me about Jesus
AND THEN...
Even after I failed and knew it...
The Lord painted that beautiful picture for me.
To remind me that he knows my faults already,
and has compassion on them
because my words couldn't have saved Claire anyway
Only my God can
and my God will send me another Claire
and He'll send Claire another christian.

First Days

I haven't posted about the first day yet. I want to. This post is definitely not going to do it justice (since I'm still trying to figure out why I'm awake and blogging and not taking this precious opportunity to sleep), but I'll try.

I wasn't nervous like EVERYONE else on campus. I think I care as much as they do, I'm just really good at separating personal and professional life. Anyways, the only nerves came because I knew I would be observed for at least 5 minutes at some point. What I wasn't prepared for was to be observed for 15 minutes by my CMA (corps member advisor) and SD (site director). ..especially not the FIRST 15 minutes of my class.

I'm gonna be honest, I had kinda sorta planned to scrap some of the things they wanted us to do, so them being in there changed my game plan a bit. But not too much. I'm just not super strict like I feel like they want us to start out as. And that works for me. I realize it doesn't work for everyone but it works for me.

So. It was good. I got my first extended observation and debriefing out of the way. My FA (faculty advisor) always observes.

I'm not gonna lie. I think I'm a bomb teacher. I think I'm great. True story, I think I'm pretty great at everything. I know it's not necessarily always true. For example, I think I'm a great football player (if you know me you know I can't play football worth a crap, I still think I'm great).

All that to say, I got a bit of negative feedback, but best I can tell, I'm ahead of a lot of people.

And, as much as I hate to admit it...I'm getting better.

THE CLASS:

The first day was good...I was feeling them out, they were feeling me out. I had a decent lesson, and a decent amount of people did well on my assessment. I'm thankful for that. Nothing major happened. One girl refused to answer when I called on her, and for the sake of a confrontation on day #1, I let it slide.

I don't let it slide, but they're comfortable with me now, so that's good.

The funniest thing so far is when Cliche (yes, that's her real name...she doesn't spell it like that, but I don't want her to come across this blog on a google search for herself) told me her pit bull ate her homework. She's one of my favorites. I mean, we all know her pit bull didn't eat her homework. I gave the class this whole spiel on being a grown person, and not lying. If you don't do your homework, own up to it. I understand stuff happens. She was so funny...she kept saying "I wasn't lying I was just playing"

Really Cliche? That was a joke? Your dog didn't really eat your homework? I'm shocked! :)

Several of our students have missed more than the 2 absences allotted, and probably won't make it through the summer.

We have one kid who works until 5 a.m. then makes it to school b 7:30. I'm impressed he shows up, but even when he's awake, it's so hard for him to focus. Today, we started bringing him a coke, so hopefully that will help keep him up some.

We have one kid who we don't think can read. He just smiles a lot. I'm sad for him. I'm not sure what we can do to help in the 3 weeks of teaching we have left.

We have a kid who is so smart, but because of a transcript issue is having to makeup algebra I. He aces everything.

Actually we have several who ace everything. We're still confused about why exactly they are in summer school.

I had great lesson today. 2 of my kids made 50's, 2 made 6o somethings, and EVERYONE else made 75 or 100. I was proud...and I was reminded that for at least the next two years, I will be living for moments like those!

BTW, someone called me and crushy boy out today for our "sexual tension." Oops...guess I need to check my flirting at the door!

My favorite things....

Some would say I live my life in phases...some would say I commit temporarily, but overall am non commital. They would all be correct. My current temporary (but I think will be permenant) commitment is a new used, but new to me pair of sunglasses that N. found in his office and was going to chunk. I LOVE THEM. I've gotten some pretty nasty comments about them.

"olivia, those are so ugly."

"You're not actually going to WEAR those inside are you?"

"We're going out in public, leave those in the car."

When I ask people what they think, they almost always respond in the negative.

I'm holding my ground.

I like them.

Here I present Exibit A: The glasses

What? It's not love at first sight? It gets better. The little sides are grey and say LIONs and have a picture of a Lion...I'll admit it, I have NO IDEA who the LIONS are. I'm sure they are a sports team of some kind. I like the glasses...who cares who the LIONS are.

So this brings me to yesterday...I'm on my way to a little volleyball, when Joseph makes a comment about my glasses. Basically he just acknowledges them, or says nice glasses or something. So I immediately launch into a tirade about how I don't care what people think, they're beautiful, etc. etc.

To which Joseph responds "No seriously...I love them...they're great"

When i told them where I got them he thought they were even greater.

They got great reviews on the sand court.

And when I didn't have them on today, someone asked where they were.

Which brings me to Exhibit B:Me wearing them in public @ Court's bachelorette dinner!

So all you haters...back off. They look good. I'm just sayin'

The Big Day...

Tomorrow is the big day. I start teaching at 7:30 (that's 6:30 central), hopefully my kids will be too sleepy to be bad. I'm not as nervous as I should be I think. But who defines "should." I'm going to bed.

Peace.

Embarrassed

Dear Readers,

Let me tell you a story.

I'm a LOSER!!!!!! I'm so embarrassed. SO EMBARRASSED.

SO I have a teensy weensy little crush on this guy here @ institute. It's not a big deal, he has a girlfriend, he's not from my region, etc. So, nothing is gonna happen.

But he's a flirt...and it's fun...and in my defense, I didn't know he had a girlfriend until today. SO...

All that to say, I wanted a low key night tonight. I'm going to Birmingham for Kelly and Tyler's wedding in the morning, and it seems as though everyone's plans tonight involved intoxication. I do a few drinks, not intoxication. SO, I played volleyball after dinner, then hung out.

I couldn't sleep so I thought to myself.

"I'll just go do finalize my lesson plan for Monday, type up my assessments for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and do a lesson plan for Thursday"

That sounds like a lot, but the only part that was time consuming was the lesson plan for Thursday..ANYWAYS...This brings me to my point. I decided not to go out. A lot of people were going to see movies...I just couldn't sit through a movie. My schedule has been insane. I'm too tired. I would have paid $8.00 for a nap.

Long story short, I'm sitting in the computer lab all alone at 11:30 on Friday night...everyone else is out partying. I hear a familiar voice coming down the hall way...Oh it is my teensy weensy little crush friend, and his TFA best friend.

If I could have jumped in a hole I would have. I'm in my blue plaid P.J. shorts with a fleece on and zipped up...no make-up and my hair is in a wet messy bun on top of my head...and I have an Algebra 1 book in my lap...I scream NERD...I just needed some glasses and I'd fit the bill.

So He and his TFA best friend walk by

Whew! They didn't see me.

Then I hear "Hold up? Hold up...No way"

"What are you DOING in here?"

I respond with a rant of "it's not what it looks like, I'm not a loser, etc."

There's lots of laughing going on at this point. Then silence. Then the best friend laughs a walks out...actually they both walked out. Then Teensy Weensy Crush walks back in and goes, no seriously, what are you doing?

So I explained about how I'm going to Birmingham tomorrow, and was hanging around here, and wanting to get ahead...then he says:

"Were you just bored?"

OMG, I'm not that big of a loser, I had things I could have done...Help me.

Did I mention he is pretty hott. I mean seriously. The girlfriend isn't in the country right now, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't live in his region (I have no bases for thinking she doesn't live in his region) so basically they should break up so we can embark on a long-distance relationship.

I'm kidding.

Kind of.

Sincerely,

The lame girl @ institute

hmm....

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live"

-Henry David Thoreau

I've stood up to live right?

Procrastination Nation

I just saw where I've posted 41 times...that is super impressive to me. If I were a betting person, I would have bet against my keeping this up. I'm not great...but I like it.

Just a little break-down on Institute so far, for those of you who care.

1.) Our school got broken into. I know right, welcome to the inner city. We are broken up into CMA groups (corps member advising)...so my CMA group has/had a sweet room. This school is pretty cool, and has several mac labs. We came into school on Tuesday to find that the window was smashed in and all the macs were gone. CRAZY. For clarifications sake...these were mac DESKTOPS...I am very confused about how someone made out with approximately 4 labs FULL of DESKTOPS without getting caught. Who does that? How did no one notice? Where was the alarm system?...I'm amazed. Anyways...that threw the day off a little, but not too much.

2.) I've gotten to observe a few times and my students seem pretty cool. When I teach I'll be the only white person in the room...which I think is pretty cool...I like being a minority (hence my desire to live in Bo-Town/my new slang for Bolivia).

3.) Speaking of teaching that starts Monday. I'm up right now at 9:30. I'd much rather be asleep, but there are lessons to plan, and I spent way too much time farming on facebook. If you haven't started DON'T...It sucks you in and it is a huge, pointless, waste of time. Please note, I am not judging you. I'm obsessed...I'm so close to getting a house, that it is pretty much all I can think of. Anyways...Now it is 9:40, and I have moved on from farming and am now using blogging as my preferred method of procrastination. I think it is because I had coffee for dessert (I'm SUCH AN OLD LADY..Gah!)...Anyways, I know I won't be able to sleep for a while, so that is how I'm justifying it.


Wow, I just went on a tangent. For those of you still with me...I appreciate your dedication. Let me apologize in advanced for all of the boring TFA/teaching posts to come. Hopefully once I start teaching on Monday, there will be some good stories (or maybe not, uneventful could be good...just unlikely). More posts to come on my thoughts on the TFA training process!

Increase the Peace.

Wedding Weekend

And of course the pictures are out of order so just bare with me. One day I'll figure this all out...

This is me and Cass at the Double Decker Bus/Coffee Shop. A-Mazing. The bartender guy, I think his name was Jake, got annoyed with me I think (something about Jake's) I was just making friendly conversation. Anyway...It was a cool little deal, and my hazelnut coffee was great. Just what the doctor ordered after the wedding festivities. Yes, I'm starting at the end...but not going chronologically....I can't figure this thing out. Deal.
Here's a fun reception shot. Me, the beautiful bride and groom, Cass and the fiance, and SFL. By the way, all these photos are courtesy of SFL. I used Court's camera all weekend, but given how she's on her honeymoon, SFL saved the day.

This would be my favorite part of the wedding...Meet B. who pretty much played with me and Cass the whole time. She was wonderful. This was us swinging her in the middle of the dance floor. She wanted to swing, spin, dance, play tag and...

play Simon Says. Note that neither Cass, Joe or I felt the need to tell her no. Instead, we just rolled around on the ground in our b'maid dresses...in the middle of the reception. We're cool. You're jealous.

and finally the bride and groom say farewell. I think Court would have stayed at the reception all night. Austin was ready to hit the road. Hope you guys are having fun in Utah!!!

Court wedding #1

It's funny how we get to these places...This isn't so much a how did I get here post? But kinda. I'll classify it that way anyways.

4 1/2 years ago, I sat at a football game with Cassie & Courtney and said "silk or lace" and Court said...."Silk I think...Yeah, I'm pretty sure I would rather have a silk wedding dress than a lace one." I was talking about lingerie...and we've been friends ever since. I like to embarrass her, and she enjoys it. I know this because she is marrying someone tomorrow who does the same thing (in a totally fun and she loves it kinda way).

It has been beautiful to see her life go from dreams of the wedding and wedding night, to it actually happening. Today has been a beautiful day...and I know tomorrow will be too.

Courtney, I'm so thankful for your friendship, and love and the fact that you have Austin in your life. I can't wait to see where the Lord leads you. And tomorrow night...it'll be hott! :)

It's just funny to think about HOW DID WE GET HERE FROM THERE. How did we get to Courtney's wedding day from the football game almost 5 years ago where we were dreaming of this day?

Pictures to come!!

Induction #1

I have arrived...I'm finally here in Nashville, but don't worry...not for good...that would be WAY too easy. Just until Thursday.

Here are the facts.

8 roommates (or maybe 6, there is still the potential for 2 more 1 more to show up)
The nicest dorm room EVER
Cool girls from everywhere (Ohio, Milwaukee, New Orleans, etc)
lots of work to keep me busy till Thursday

I went to the new school....I need to come up with a name to call it on the blog...suggestions welcome.

School facts:

I'm the new 9th grade cheer coach (WHAT?!?!??! ...I know)

There's not a 9th grade squad yet, so tryouts will be at the beginning of the year (there is a whole new post awaiting my thoughts on this whole thing)

My classroom is nice....it's a good size, and seems very functional, only time will tell. BUT, all the classrooms come with a closet you share with another teacher, and apparently I share a closet with Mr. "really good to look at, young, attractive, baseball coach." Now my tract record with baseball coaches isn't great...but he'll be easy on the eyes anyways. :)

I'll only have regular Algebra...which means I only have to plan for one class...which is great.

I get $400 to spend at the beginning of the year (those of you who realize this is nothing...don't spoil my excitement about having money to spend on my class)

I'm sure there are a million more facts that she told me today, but this is all I can remember in my state of exhausted delirium. Probably won't be much sleep tonight either, as I anticipate tonight this week working very much like the first week in the dorm...lots of staying up late to get to know each other.

I'll keep you posted! :)

How did I get here #1

I would start by apologizing for not posting in over a week, but it's my blog...and only 2 of you care anyways.

SO...onto more important business. I said I want to start going back and telling you all two about times in my life when I've had these WoW moments. You know...the kind that make you step back and go "how did I get to this place?" Mostly they are good, although I suppose they could lend themselves to being negative.

ANYWAYS-I though I was going to go back and post some big ones from before...and I still will soon this time next year when my life slows down. In the meantime...I had one of those moments this week, and there's no time like the present.

I got restless in Dothan early this week and headed to SIFAT to go hang out with the kids at the TP (trailer park). When I went up that way, I had no idea how much would be going on, but it made my time there much sweeter.

1st, the TP was awesome...I love the kids, and the counselors came out too, so it was great. Afterwards we did the slums for all of the field training students currently on campus learning some ApTech stuff. Then Thursday, I cooked breakfast and lunch for 20ish people. Sweet labor. I loved it.

But here's the WoW moment. Thursday night (I almost left...but I'm so glad I stayed), the Guatemalans came out for a cookout and friendly game of soccer. We were all kicking the ball around (OMG...I love soccer even though I'm not very good...I know I don't have any blog stalkers, but if some of you wander over and happen to be from Nashville and want to kick around a soccer ball with someone who has the skill level of a 4 year old...I'm your girl) , getting ready for dinner and having a great time. We break up the game...get in a circle...and pray. Suddenly I realize how AMAZING it is that I am standing in this circle, thinking about the baby calf that was just born in the next field over, with a Kenyan guy on one side of me, a kid from Jasper, AL on the other, a couple of guys from Haiti across from me, Guatemalans, Mississippians (is that a word), Floridians, a Filipino woman...and someone I used to think I loved was saying this beautiful blessing over the food, and I found myself happy for the love in his life, and unbelievably amazed at where God has brought me.

All I could think was "How did I get here?"

And the only answer I got was "I have plans for you."

*The picture is me cutting privet at SIFAT...Seriously, I love that place.

I PASSED!!!!!!

I passed the praxis....I Passed The Praxis....I PASSED THE PRAXIS!!!! I passed....I Passed...I PASSED!!!!!
I PASSED THE PRAXIS!!!!!!

I made a 140...I needed a 136....This is probably the worst I've ever done on my test in my entire life. Definitely the worst I've ever done on a test I studied for, or I should stay studied like a CRAZY person for. But, I don't even care...I PASSED!!!!!!!!!

I did better on middle school. I made a 183...I needed a 150 to pass. So I'm SET...I'm gonna have a job!! YIPEE!!!!!