I just wanted to do post a quick update. Last week I had to start taking allergy shots again. After not having them since I was a freshman in high school, it seems really asinine to have to go weekly again. Plus there isn't any place convenient to go get them, but they will help and I should be a lot healthier this coming year.
Last week I had an emotional week with my students. They mean so much to me and I wish I could take them all home. Sometimes I wonder how their parents miss the best parts of their child! Instead most of my students' parents are out dating, partying, working, and doing other things that keeps them from home with their child. It breaks my heart, that's for sure. I even have a student who lives with his grandmother and his other siblings. They live in a 1 bedroom home and he sleeps in the living room on an air mattress... how sad!!! It is also funny the amount of respect these students have for me. Parents will call as to behavior help and it is just funny how natural it comes to me and yet maybe if the parents would spend more time with the child it'd be a different story.
As for updates on Dustin... he is drilling this weekend and if he hadn't taken leave on Thurs and Fri, he'd be working 2 weeks straight. You see, Dustin is active duty in the Air Force, right? Well he works 5 days a week normally and then when the yay-hoos that work in the guard (1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year) Dustin has to work those as well for no extra pay. On top of that, it is constant flying and busy busy busy! I guess whatever it takes to defend our nation. We've gotta train these boys some how right?
Nothing much else going on around here other than normal life. I've joined the Mona Vie company and am selling/promoting the Mona Vie goodness. You should check it out at http://www.monavie.com or http://www.buildthejuice.com or even http://www.brighart.com. This juice has changed my life and the business will provide me with financial security for those pesky student loans. So if you want to see healthy changes in your life, join the company to gain financial freedom, and/or just want to help me out, just let me know!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Tribute to Teaching
I just wanted to say that I had an amazing first week back to school since our spring intercession. The students were amazing and makes me want to have a gazillion teenagers around me all the time. I love them and they even keep me in line. Maybe I'm just an old middle schooler at heart? Students are such a blessing.
One of my students has become very close to me as she does not have much of a home life. She talked to day about how a student in her group was helping her with her hair. She is a biracial student and her mother doesn't know how to take care of African American hair. The student just wanted to thank me for putting her in the group I did because she started to feel a part of something and was learning things about life.
That brings up another point. I'm a middle school English teacher, right? While I do teach Literature and Grammar, I think what I teach most of all is social skills. I constantly reinforce the proper manners during particular instances. I love it!
Just a huge kudos to my fellow educators. Only we can understand how important our job is even though our days may be very long and draining.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Last day before reality...again
So last night I tossed and turned all night because I knew this was my last day to sleep in on break. I've been on spring break for the last 3 weeks and now I've got to get back to reality. We will be reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry for the next three or so weeks and then we will be reading Outsiders for the last weeks of school. I'm quite excited we've only got 9 weeks of school left. We get out on June 5th at 10:30am. Too exciting!
It is such a beautiful day today, I may go outside and do some Bible study or just knit and enjoy the breeze. We're going to go up to the butcher and get some steaks for dinner and grill out steak and shrimp. Today we've decided to have a no carb day and it's all veggies and meat. We'll see how that works out.
It is such a beautiful day today, I may go outside and do some Bible study or just knit and enjoy the breeze. We're going to go up to the butcher and get some steaks for dinner and grill out steak and shrimp. Today we've decided to have a no carb day and it's all veggies and meat. We'll see how that works out.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Funeral, Doctor, and Dinner
Today was the funeral for Dustin's family friend. He was asked to be a paw bearer. In that he was also asked to dress in his class A uniform. Men in uniform are such turn on's... here's a pic of him after the day's events:
The funeral was at 10:30 this morning and was over around 12:30 by the time we finished grave-side.
After the funeral, we ate at Cheesecake Factory. Dustin had some scrumptious fish tacos and I had chicken fettuccine. I am not sure why, but Cheesecake Factory always serves large portions, even at lunch. One time I ordered a burrito and it was as big as the plate and the plate was every bit of 14" wide! The lunch portions are indeed smaller, but still way too much. We opted out of cheesecake and headed straight to my doctor's appointment.
I've been having such severe problems with my asthma and allergies so my doctor wanted to run another skin test. So here Dustin was uncomfortable in his class A's and had to sit there for 2 1/2 hours! Unbelievable!!! The results: back to allergy shots every week. This time I have to have two shots every week as my symptoms have increased since I was 10...
Since we had to sit there for so long and Dustin and I were dressed up, we decided to go have a drink and an appetizer at a fancy restaurant. We stopped in to Sullivan's steakhouse. We haven't eaten there before, but man the menu was hot! We had a great time that's for sure.
Here's a picture of us after a really long day of oddness:
Now we're showered and relaxing in the living room getting ready to watch some television and call it quits for the day.
The funeral was at 10:30 this morning and was over around 12:30 by the time we finished grave-side.
After the funeral, we ate at Cheesecake Factory. Dustin had some scrumptious fish tacos and I had chicken fettuccine. I am not sure why, but Cheesecake Factory always serves large portions, even at lunch. One time I ordered a burrito and it was as big as the plate and the plate was every bit of 14" wide! The lunch portions are indeed smaller, but still way too much. We opted out of cheesecake and headed straight to my doctor's appointment.
I've been having such severe problems with my asthma and allergies so my doctor wanted to run another skin test. So here Dustin was uncomfortable in his class A's and had to sit there for 2 1/2 hours! Unbelievable!!! The results: back to allergy shots every week. This time I have to have two shots every week as my symptoms have increased since I was 10...
Since we had to sit there for so long and Dustin and I were dressed up, we decided to go have a drink and an appetizer at a fancy restaurant. We stopped in to Sullivan's steakhouse. We haven't eaten there before, but man the menu was hot! We had a great time that's for sure.
Here's a picture of us after a really long day of oddness:
Now we're showered and relaxing in the living room getting ready to watch some television and call it quits for the day.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Amos
Friday night after spending some time with the Baker family and their loss, we came home and let the dogs out. Three of them escaped through the gate at the fence as Mable pushed the cinder block out of the way. Following suit were Rosie and Amos. After calling the dogs to come in all of them came but Amos. We looked and waited and decided to go to bed at 2:30am. I woke up Saturday, got in the car and searched the neighborhood only to find nothing. We had no clue where he was or even if he was alive. I wake up this morning and have an odd feeling. The phone rings and it was the VCA Animal Hospital on 86th street; they had Amos. I immediately dropped what I was doing, got dressed, and got him. I thought he was a cuddle butt before, but now he won't leave my side and won't quit looking into my eyes. I have a feeling he won't escape again... The other dogs even seemed to have missed him as they kept smelling and following him around the yard. They even were licking him. Pretty amazing how close of a pack our dogs have become.
On another note, today is my last Monday of spring intercession. It is sad to think about but then I realize I only have 9 more weeks and then it is summer vacation for 6 weeks! Wahoo! I'm just planning on cleaning the house (even the walls) and exercising at least 2 hours every day this last week. I've kept up on the exercise real well lately and I don't want to lose how good I feel about it.
That's it for now. I'm off to cuddle with Amos.
On another note, today is my last Monday of spring intercession. It is sad to think about but then I realize I only have 9 more weeks and then it is summer vacation for 6 weeks! Wahoo! I'm just planning on cleaning the house (even the walls) and exercising at least 2 hours every day this last week. I've kept up on the exercise real well lately and I don't want to lose how good I feel about it.
That's it for now. I'm off to cuddle with Amos.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Our Condolences
Dustin and I send our condolences to the Gaff family in their loss of a wonderful husband, father, and brother. This family meant a lot to me growing up. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Another loss is a close family friend of Dustin's. Please pray for the Baker family with the loss of their 27 year old daughter Crystal.
Albion - Chris B. Gaff, 50, died Thursday March 27, 2008 at 6:55 PM surrounded by his family at his rural Albion home. He had been ill with Lou Gerhig's disease for the past 8 months.
He was born on February 14, 1958 in Columbia City, Indiana. He was the son of Burt Gaff and Jacquelyn (Norris) Gaff. His father died on October 2, 1994, his mother survives in Albion. He was a lifetime resident of the Albion area, graduating from Central Noble High School in 1976. He married Jody Smith in Albion on May 10, 1985. She survives also in Albion.
Chris was a deputy surveyor for the Noble County Surveyor's office. He was an avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, canoeing and watching old westerns. He was a member of the Sons of the American Legion in Albion and the National Rifle Association. Also a member of Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church in rural Kendallville.
Other survivors include a son, Caleb Gaff of Ft. Carson, Colorado, in the US Army, two daughters, Jolene and Courtney Gaff, both of Albion. Two sisters and brother-n-law Candy Gaff of Fort Wayne, Carol and Jim Pankop of Kendallville. A brother and sister-n-law, Cliff and Julie Gaff of Albion. Mother and father-n-law, Ron and Marlene Smith of Albion. Brothers and sister-n-laws, Matt and Mary Smith of Albion, Kim and Dan Phares of Ligonier, and Ronda and Norm Lortie of Albion.
Funeral services for Mr. Gaff will be Monday March 31, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church in rural Kendallville. Rev. Thelma Cobbler S.T.S. will officiate. Visitation is from 2-8 on Sunday at Brazzell Funeral Home, 771 Trail Ridge Rd., Albion. Visitation is also one hour prior to the service on Monday.
Burial will be at Sweet Cemetery in Albion
Please make memorials to Whitley County Hospice or Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church.
To send online condolences, please go to brazzellfuneralhome.com
To view a memorial tribute for Chris please use the link below.
http://videos.lifetributes.com/?id=14706
Another loss is a close family friend of Dustin's. Please pray for the Baker family with the loss of their 27 year old daughter Crystal.
March 30, 2008
Crystal Lynn Bowen 27, Greenwood passed away March 27, 2008. She was born May 12, 1980 in Indianapolis to Scott and Marsha Baker of Mooresville, who survive. She married Jevon Bowen September 23, 2000 in Greenwood and he survives. She worked as a reglazer and was Assistant Leader of Girl Scout Troop #478. Crystal was a wonderful wife and mother and the light of her husband and children's lives. She is also survived by her beloved children Miranda Nicole, Austin Michael, and Caleb Joe Bowen; sister, Nicole Baker, Indianapolis; father and mother-in-law, Larry and Sharyn Bowen, Greenwood; paternal grandparents, Clinton and Marilyn Parks, Greenwood; maternal grandmothers, Phyllis Baker, Indianapolis and Nellie Whitaker, Indianapolis; maternal grandfather, Donald Baker, Colorado; and maternal great grandmother, Mabel May Hopkins, Indianapolis. Services 10:30 AM, Tuesday, April 1 in Singleton Community Mortuary and Memorial Center with visitation 4:00 – 8:00 PM, Monday, March 31. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Glenns Valley. Memorial gifts have been suggested to the Miranda, Austin, and Caleb Bowen Trust Fund at any Chase Bank location. www.singletonmortuary.comSaturday, March 29, 2008
South Dakota Trip
After a week being home from our vacation to South Dakota, I'm just now posting about it. I still don't have pictures ready to post, but I will post them when Dustin is done down converting them. We were fortunate enough to have been able to borrow Nate's camera which is a professional grade digital camera so the pictures are very large and intricate.
Anyway, we left early Monday the 10th at 3am. We took I-74 through Illinois and then got on I-80 and took that through Iowa. We then went straight north to South Dakota. South Dakota is probably the longest state to drive through and there are no speed limit signs. So keeping that in mind my wonderful husband who wanted to drive most of the way ended up getting a real heavy foot and got pulled over by the ONLY police officer we saw in South Dakota on that stretch of road.
When we pulled into Rapid City, it seriously felt like home. I want to go back. It was a city of about 55,000 and amazingly at rush hour there were hardly any cars on the road! The scenery was so amazing. I cannot even describe. This state is definitely worth a trip back, that's for sure. We stayed on Ellsworth Air Force Base which allowed us to stay in an upscale Hotel type room for cheap. We saw Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Custer, and many other things in Rapid City. If any of you've ever seen the show Deadwood from HBO, we went to that same town where the Gold Rush folks like Calamaty Jane and Wild Bill Hickcock lived.
We decided to leave Rapid City and head to Wyoming on Thursday. So we drove to see Devil's Tower which was hidden by a lot of clouds and rain. It was a crazy sight, that's for sure. We then drove straight south and ended up in Sundance, Wyoming and were starving. We stopped at a Cafe that was hopping. The locals looked at us like a sore thumb, but we sat at the little bar next to some locals and started talking. Dustin order this thing called a Paco. It was a deep fat fried taco. The breading was sweet like a donut but still afforded to taste great with taco meat inside. I had homemade broccoli and cheese soup and a salad.
Once filled up with local's chatter and great home cookin, we headed through to Nebraska. I saw my first tumbleweeds and tried to take pictures of it. There is a picture I took of the red roads in the west because they make their roads with a mixture of clay instead of limestone like we do. After an exhausting 8 hour drive we stopped in Omaha, Nebraska and stayed at Offutt Air Force Base. It was HUGE and we are definitely going back. Air Force Two was sitting on the tarmac and I wasn't allowed to take pictures because it is illegal to take pictures unless the planes are in the air.
We then drove the rest of the way home and got home Saturday morning at around midnight. We had such a blast and will definitely take more trips like this in the future. Pictures will be posted at some future date when I can get Dustin get them resized.
Anyway, we left early Monday the 10th at 3am. We took I-74 through Illinois and then got on I-80 and took that through Iowa. We then went straight north to South Dakota. South Dakota is probably the longest state to drive through and there are no speed limit signs. So keeping that in mind my wonderful husband who wanted to drive most of the way ended up getting a real heavy foot and got pulled over by the ONLY police officer we saw in South Dakota on that stretch of road.
When we pulled into Rapid City, it seriously felt like home. I want to go back. It was a city of about 55,000 and amazingly at rush hour there were hardly any cars on the road! The scenery was so amazing. I cannot even describe. This state is definitely worth a trip back, that's for sure. We stayed on Ellsworth Air Force Base which allowed us to stay in an upscale Hotel type room for cheap. We saw Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Custer, and many other things in Rapid City. If any of you've ever seen the show Deadwood from HBO, we went to that same town where the Gold Rush folks like Calamaty Jane and Wild Bill Hickcock lived.
We decided to leave Rapid City and head to Wyoming on Thursday. So we drove to see Devil's Tower which was hidden by a lot of clouds and rain. It was a crazy sight, that's for sure. We then drove straight south and ended up in Sundance, Wyoming and were starving. We stopped at a Cafe that was hopping. The locals looked at us like a sore thumb, but we sat at the little bar next to some locals and started talking. Dustin order this thing called a Paco. It was a deep fat fried taco. The breading was sweet like a donut but still afforded to taste great with taco meat inside. I had homemade broccoli and cheese soup and a salad.
Once filled up with local's chatter and great home cookin, we headed through to Nebraska. I saw my first tumbleweeds and tried to take pictures of it. There is a picture I took of the red roads in the west because they make their roads with a mixture of clay instead of limestone like we do. After an exhausting 8 hour drive we stopped in Omaha, Nebraska and stayed at Offutt Air Force Base. It was HUGE and we are definitely going back. Air Force Two was sitting on the tarmac and I wasn't allowed to take pictures because it is illegal to take pictures unless the planes are in the air.
We then drove the rest of the way home and got home Saturday morning at around midnight. We had such a blast and will definitely take more trips like this in the future. Pictures will be posted at some future date when I can get Dustin get them resized.
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