Today's my birthday. The kids at the middle school I teach at seem to think I'm a leprechaun. It all started because they make fun of me for being short. I'm only 5 ft tall. I've been called a munchkin and oompa-loompa too, but this leprechaun thing has really stuck.
I told them that they couldn't have my pot of gold. The 8th grade boys went so far as to bring me some Lucky Charms cereal and then steal some of it, so I could say they "stole me Lucky Charms!" They even come give me high-five before a basketball game so they can have some of my luck!
Apparently they think leprechauns are really old too, because they've decided that I turned 4001 today. I'm actually 34, but maybe I need to check into some kind of wrinkle remover if I look that old!
Thing is, I am so short, that I can blend right in with the 6th graders - sad I know, but I figure if all they have to make fun of me over is being short, then I'm doing good. Middle school age kids can be mean and they LOVE to make fun of people!
So today I celebrate my 4001st birthday, maybe they'll listen to the wisdom I've learned throughout all my years. Nah, they already know everything!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Loss and snow
Last week wasn't great for us. My dog, Adrian, got run over. She's been part of our family for the last eight year. We named her Adrian to go with Rocky, our Boxer pup, who died from Parvo. She, along with her siblings, had been abandoned at a vet's office. Her mother's owner was not happy when his German Shepard bred with a Black Lab, and my Adrian was one of the resulting pups. A girl I worked with was friends with the vet and brought the puppies to school. We bottle-fed them in her classroom. Adrian was one of my babies. She had out-lived all of our pets and I was devastated when I found out that she was gone.
My husband came home from picking our exchange-student up from her basketball game. As he drove up toward our drive-way he saw her, right in front of our mailbox. She was still in the road, and fortunately, she died instantly. I don't know how I would have dealt with her lying there suffering. I was so upset, I couldn't help get her out of the road. My 17-year old went and helped his dad. They were both sniffling when they came back in. I told my 13-year old, but my two little ones were already asleep, so I waited until morning to tell them. My son took it the worst. He's 10 and there's just something about a boy and his dog. He didn't want to go to school and told me that he felt "all torn up inside." My 4-year old just kept asking me where she was.
Two days later, it snowed. Snow in Texas is a rarity, and this was our second snow of the season. It snowed a lot too. I kept thinking of how much fun Adrian would have had playing with the kids in the snow. We missed school Friday because of the bad weather, and we had Monday off for President's Day. The four-day weekend was helpful. My brain needed the rest, and the kids did enjoy the snow. I don't know when I'll be able to get into and out of my pick-up without expecting her to greet me.
My husband came home from picking our exchange-student up from her basketball game. As he drove up toward our drive-way he saw her, right in front of our mailbox. She was still in the road, and fortunately, she died instantly. I don't know how I would have dealt with her lying there suffering. I was so upset, I couldn't help get her out of the road. My 17-year old went and helped his dad. They were both sniffling when they came back in. I told my 13-year old, but my two little ones were already asleep, so I waited until morning to tell them. My son took it the worst. He's 10 and there's just something about a boy and his dog. He didn't want to go to school and told me that he felt "all torn up inside." My 4-year old just kept asking me where she was.
Two days later, it snowed. Snow in Texas is a rarity, and this was our second snow of the season. It snowed a lot too. I kept thinking of how much fun Adrian would have had playing with the kids in the snow. We missed school Friday because of the bad weather, and we had Monday off for President's Day. The four-day weekend was helpful. My brain needed the rest, and the kids did enjoy the snow. I don't know when I'll be able to get into and out of my pick-up without expecting her to greet me.Friday, February 5, 2010
The 2010 Debut Author's Challenge
The Story Siren, an awesome blog I'm following, is hosting a challenge to promote 2010 Debut Authors.
What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?
The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year. (This challenge is limited to novels released in 2010).
The Story Siren is challenging everyone to read at least 12 debut novels!
You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year.
Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!
Their challenge is 12, but I bet I can do better than that! I might even do a little challenge of my own with my 13-year-old bookaholic daughter! Wonder who can read the most!?!?! I can put both my and her reviews on my blog. What do you think?
I'm signing up to participate! If you'd like to join me in the challenge, or would like to learn more about it go to The 2010 Debut Author's Challenge.
These are the books I've chosen so far:
1. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
2. A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner
3. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
4. Split by Swati Avasthi
5. Mistwood by Leah Cypess
6. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
7. Under My Skin by Judith Graves
8. The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman
9. Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
10. The Handcuff Kid by Laura Quimby
11. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards
12. Shade by Jeri Smith-Redy
Go join the challenge!
What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?
The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year. (This challenge is limited to novels released in 2010).
The Story Siren is challenging everyone to read at least 12 debut novels!
You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year.
Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!
Their challenge is 12, but I bet I can do better than that! I might even do a little challenge of my own with my 13-year-old bookaholic daughter! Wonder who can read the most!?!?! I can put both my and her reviews on my blog. What do you think?
I'm signing up to participate! If you'd like to join me in the challenge, or would like to learn more about it go to The 2010 Debut Author's Challenge.
These are the books I've chosen so far:
1. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
2. A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner
3. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
4. Split by Swati Avasthi
5. Mistwood by Leah Cypess
6. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
7. Under My Skin by Judith Graves
8. The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman
9. Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
10. The Handcuff Kid by Laura Quimby
11. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards
12. Shade by Jeri Smith-Redy
Go join the challenge!
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