A Talker

I've been lucky enough that almost every year I've taught there's usually been one or two little girls with whom I really click and have been able to maintain a friendship with over the years. I had so many women that invested in my life that I count it a privilege I would get to do the same. Even better has been to watch those girls grow into amazing young women. Alana, Grace B., Hadley, Sarah, Grace F., Jenna...creative, funny, talented young women.

Another bonus? Their moms are super cool and have become dear friends along the way as well. Teaching definitely has had some unexpected rewards.

This afternoon, I had the chance to hang out with a little girl who was in my class last year. I knew from pretty much day one that Abigail was a kindred spirit. The telling sign? She never stopped talking. Never. But it was never mindless chatter. Homegirl has good stuff to say. She's spirited, confident, thoughtful and seriously funny. Her mom? Another fave. Sassy and witty, I've been grateful to see her during the school day as she's worked as a kindergarten assistant.

Abigail and I headed to Sweet Cece's {duh} and I finally got to hear all about all the going ons of her life from the last month or so. I give you, Abigail's musings...

- On her grandparent's stamina, "My grandpa had worked the day before so I stayed up until 12:30 but he was just worn slap out!"

- On deciding what sport to pursue, "See, I really want to be a tennis star and a cross-country star so I think I'm just going to keep doing both."

- On frozen yogurt, "Oh my word, this stuff is just so good, I think it must be ice-cream disguised as yogurt!"

- On the challenges of fourth grade, "Oh my gosh, everything goes so fast! I was still on the first paragraph when Mrs. W said, 'Ok, turn to the next page...' and I was like {insert eyes as big as saucers here}."

- On Knox {she went with me to take Knox to run around at the high school field}, "Knox, you're just being a lazy butt, aren't you?"

Love that girl. I can't wait to watch her become a tennis star, a cross-country star and an award winning meteorologist. Oh yes, she's going to do it all.

Guess what tomorrow is!

The first day of school! My classroom is ready to go...

My cozy little corner. I moved my desk to make room for my reading group table in the larger corner.

 I couldn't handle all the computer wires behind the tables sooooooo...I made these panels!

 I'm pretty pleased with myself. The sewing bug has definitely bitten!

The rest of the room is bright and cheerful, just the way I like it. And clean. But it won't stay that way for too long!

I am ready for this school year. The last one didn't end so well and I'm ready for a do-over. So. My lesson plans are made, my classroom is exactly the way I want it, and there are twelve kiddos {six boys, six girls} who will enter that room tomorrow ready to start third grade. I'm ready to teach them, and not just their multiplication tables or the capitals of the United States. I'm ready to teach them about compassion and patience and forgiveness and adventure and being daring.

Will you remind me of that when I write about how they're driving me crazy? Thanks. And away we go!

Blame it on the a-a-a-a-alcohol.

My inconsistent writing, I mean. No, not really. When your total alcohol consumption in the last two months is one margarita, one glass of wine and one mixed drink {none, by the way, did I finish}, I don’t think blaming it on the alcohol is legit.

I suppose I could blame it on the half-marathon training but my husband isn’t buying that excuse anymore {What? I can’t milk another week of post-race handing off of chores?}.

I could blame it on lack of interesting blog fodder which would be so true except that I really do need to take the time to post about all the interesting things I saw for sale at Walmart the other night.

There were many. Cell phone pics to come.

I don’t know where the blame lies but I do know it’s 11:56 p.m. and I need to go to bed. But not before I tell you a few important things.

First, and most important, I am spending the weekend with my four best girlfriends celebrating the 10th anniversary of The E-Ranch. There will be wine, there will be manicures, there will be PW’s cinnamon rolls. There will also be cringing as we watch video of ourselves from ten years ago. In other words, IT WILL BE AWESOME.

Also, we need a new pic of the four of us because I’m pretty sure this is the first time in three years that we’ve all gotten together and none of us are pregnant. Truly, the wine will flow.

You want to know what can make me grin so big after running thirteen miles? My hunky husband. That is the reason for a smile this big. And after all, every good southern drama queen needs her own personal paparazzi.

Look, my sister and I have been dorks from the time we were little. It’s just always going to be that way.

My Marmee is the best. You should know that.

This is currently my favorite student. No, she’s not passionately singing. She was praying at the start of our chapel and totally struck that pose. Why is she my favorite? Because she could talk the hind leg off a mule and I can relate to that quality in a girl. I’m just sayin.

It also doesn’t hurt that she compliments something I wear every dang day. Every day. Even if it’s just my socks. Talk about boosting a girl’s self-esteem!

 

Ok, that’s all I got. Next week is my spring break so I really have no excuse for writing. Y’all hold me to it, m’kay?

Cheesing it up like it’s my job,

Your SDQ

My trainer doesn’t need to read this.

I had no real intention of taking a hiatus from the blog. It felt like I was on a roll. I’d blogged four days in a row, the writing juices were flowing and then BAM!- the pace of life in general went from nice, steady, normal to full, intense, non-stop.

My days are get up, get ready {which typically involves a purse, lunch bag, workout bag and school bag- yes, I am officially a bag lady}, teach, grade, nurture, plan, listen, discipline, leave school, run {anywhere from three to six miles these days}, head home, smooch my husband, give the monster some attention, eat, watch a few shows, repack/prep all my bags, go to bed and then get up and do it all over again the next day.

I realize I’m not going to get a lot of sympathy from the moms out there and that’s fine. But for me, it’s a much faster, fuller pace than I’m used to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not unhappy and I’m not complaining! Life in general is actually really good right now. I’m enjoying my marriage more than I ever have, I’m loving the running I’m doing and the intense pace at school helps keep my mind off the other frustrations that can derail me there.

But today? I’m wiped.

We have Grandparents Day tomorrow at school. Days like this are a lot of fun but they also require a lot of work. Projects, cleaning, prepping the kids to host their grandparents, music rehearsals {with RECORDERS AND KAZOOS, oh my ears}…it’s a lot of worthy effort on everyone’s part that goes into a memorable day.

It just so happened that today in the midst of all the work there was an innocent comment and an innocent question that triggered emotional landmines for me. Good times, right? I won’t make you listen to all the details here because, hello, that’s why I pay my therapist good money. I will tell you that by 5:30, I was done. The tears were starting and I wanted out.

There was a 4.5 mile run on my training schedule and a workout bag right by my desk. Running makes me feel better and I know this. Wasn’t gonna happen. I left school, I left the bag right where it was and I made a beeline for Sonic and a #1 combo. I don’t even care if it’s “old” patterns, I just wanted comfort food, our bed and “Devil Wears Prada” in the DVD player.

Couldn’t find “Devil Wears Prada” but it turns out multiple episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” work just as well.

Also turns out that an understanding husband who lets you cry it out works too.

Hallelujah, amen and tomorrow’s another day.

Cynicism. It’s what’s for dinner.

They called for snow. “Massive storm coming in from the west,” they said. They waxed eloquent about the high pressure and low pressure fronts. They used their bright graphics and catchy slogans and assured us that we needed to prepare. “Head to the store now!” they said.

Ha.

I scoffed. I mocked them. Because the last time they said all that? Nada. A few flakes and one day of missed school for not much more than maybe a quarter of an inch of some stuff that didn’t even stick around for the afternoon sunshine.

So I didn’t make a trip to the grocery store {or Walmart, as the case may be. The one near the foot of the mountain is just fabulous, in case you were wondering.} I didn’t stock up on milk or bread or anything, really. I spoke in patronizing tones to my kids when they eagerly speculated about an early start to the weekend in the form of a snow day. I won’t lie, I hurled insults at the perky weather channel meteorologists. I giggled when Nashville { a mere two hours from us} went ahead and cancelled school the night before when the temperatures had hovered in the 50’s all day and not a drop of precipitation in sight.

Cut to today at 11:30 a.m. and my headmaster whispering to us as we entered the lunchroom, “We’re dismissing early at 1 p.m.”

Huh. Hmm. All righty then.

I gathered my kids back in the classroom, broke the joyous news to them and started the Friday packing up process. And then what to my cynical eye should appear but snowflakes. SNOWFLAKES. Falling slowly at first and then faster and faster. Before I knew it, it looked like this…

Not bad, right? And it was melting as soon as it hit the ground. So while I was a little worried and figured I’d better stock up on a few essentials, I didn’t exactly speed over to Wally World. Actually, I couldn’t have done that even if I wanted to because the fine drivers of Chattanooga interpreted snow melting on the ground as OH DEAR LORD, I NEED TO GO TWENTY MILES AN HOUR! THE MOISTURE! THE MOISTURE! Eventually, Jason and I met up, moseyed through the aisles, all the while planning to head over to Sarah and Kyle’s for dinner.

And then we walked outside and hit the roads only to find this…

Awesome. For the record, I did not take these while driving. Jason and I started out in separate cars but it became clear pretty quick that my Honda Accord didn’t have a chance when it came to getting up the hills around The Shore House. So we left mine safely {I hope} stowed away in a parking lot and proceeded to spend the next hour and a half trying to drive what should have been two miles to our house. In Jason’s 4-Runner, we were fine. That thing took a steep curving hill like it was just another sunny day in Chatt. And Jason? Never broke a sweat. Love that man.

So dinner plans cancelled, I watched Knox romp in the snow…

…took an evening stroll with my love and my freckle-faced monster in the falling snow…

 

…and ate a heaping plate of oven baked cheese fries. Hey, walking through four inches of snow will make a girl hungry.

Truly, I am giddy with delight and surprise over the afternoon’s turn of events. See? Cynicism pays off after all. Hoping you and yours are warm and snuggly tonight!

The Sun’ll Come Out…

When? Oh, when will the sun come out?! After sub-freezing temperatures through Christmas break and New Year’s we had more sub-freezing temperatures and nothin’ but grey skies. Can you say indoor recess? Now, normally I adore indoor recess. Kids play sweetly and quietly while I grade papers {or surf the web}….

Yeah, not so much with this group.

Mostly, I spend the time mediating spats over the Twister game, reminding the boys the Jenga pieces are for building not throwing, and begging my resident drama queens that play “kittens” to keep their meows down to a dull roar. Fun times, right? Finally, the temps rose above freezing and we were released to head back outside for recess. Hallelujah!

And then the rain came. Sigh.

Besides throwing a wrench in my recess plans, all this arctic wet weather has seriously derailed my running routine. Because, honestly, what would you rather do on your Christmas/New Year’s break? Run outside in nineteen degrees or snuggle up inside with your hubby and make super yummy Pioneer Woman recipes? I hate to break it to y’all, but the Pioneer Woman won and won big.

So I’m off my running game. I’m amazed {and a little worried} that after just a few weeks off, I feel so sluggish. A few pounds have snuck their way back in but that’s not a major concern for me. That’s not what the lifestyle change was about after all. Instead I want to feel that energy and strength that comes when I’m running three to four times a week. Not to mention the gloriously deep sleep that follows it. Because, note to self? Indulging the eleven o’clock late night craving for popcorn does not a full night’s sleep make.

What I’ve learned when I’m off my game is that it is vitally important to just take that one step back into the healthy routine. I managed to nail down a three mile run today and plan to do several more before the rain returns on Thursday.

The darn, danged, rob-me-of-my-indoor-recess-peace rain.

Anybody have some stellar indoor games I can teach my kids? Because Twister may just be the death of me yet.

Her Day of Days

Back in 2001, the headmaster of a growing classical Christian school bravely hired me to be a lower school teacher there as they added a second section to each grade. At first, I was to be a third grade teacher. Among other hiring, however, things were shuffled around and it was determined that I would be a fourth grade teacher alongside a master teacher who had been at Trinity School since its inception, Mrs. Rita Davis.

And my world has never been the same.

Rita took me under her wing that first year of teaching and I found a kindred spirit like no other. She mentored and nurtured and advised {when asked} and prayed and laughed and loved. Most importantly, she let me be the teacher God has created me to be. In fact, she encouraged that teacher in me. She let me make my own mistakes, she listened and agreed to my ideas, she challenged me to step up and lead in our grade level endeavors. I can still remember the immense joy and responsibility I felt when she turned over to me the coaching of our classes’ annual recitation of the “I Have a Dream” speech. She believed in me and trusted me. In the nine years that I have had the privilege of knowing Rita, I have always known that feeling around her.

{Nature Hike, 2006}

{Prepping for our class trip to Camp Don Lee, 2006. This is soooo us- me with a clipboard organizing everyone and Rita’s exuberant joy making it that much more fun. Throw in some kicky flip flops and you have the dynamic duo.}

Jane Austen said, “My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.” And, oh! Is Rita ever good company. Anyone who is privileged enough to spend five minutes in her presence knows that. I have always marveled at her wit, her kindness, her ability to set people at ease with her thoughtful questions that convey an authentic desire to know more about you. She is the person you want to sit next to at a dinner party because the conversation will be funny and encouraging and interesting.

Both Rita and her husband, Dave, excel at being good company and I know this firsthand since they took me in the summer before Jason and I were married. Night after night of delicious dinners {have I mentioned that Rita can cook?}, lazy days filled with conversation ranging from the inane to the sacred, long walks, early morning workouts…and even still, I can go back and know that the back bedroom is waiting for me. My summer family- me, Rita, Dave and their nephew, Greg- became part of my actual family. Because with Rita, there is this ease as she and I flit between the many roles in our relationship: colleagues, mentor/mentee, mother/daughter, sisters {twins separated by twenty years, don’t you know?} and just plain friends.

{Reading Scripture at our wedding, 2006}

This picture captures one of my favorite things that Rita does so well. Glasses perched on nose, book in hand, reading aloud. These days, when I go back to visit Trinity and make the first stop in Rita’s classroom, I always hope that she will be reading aloud so that I can sit and listen. A fellow drama queen when it comes to books, her voice and tone create the world of whatever she is reading right in front of you. It is captivating, to say the least, and her students will vouch for that.

But it’s not just how she reads, it’s what she is reading. At Trinity, one of the first things the fourth graders memorize is Philippians 4:6-8,

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Rita taught me that we have them memorize this first because it sets the standard for what they will learn for the rest of the school year, both in the curriculum and out. She has put this into practice in her own life and the wisdom shines through beautifully.

Happy birthday, sweet friend. I love you!

Saints & Strangers

This past Friday was “Pilgrim and Native American Indian Day” at my school and the majority of the students and teachers dressed up to celebrate Thanksgiving with their classes before the start of our break.  Our third graders just finished studying the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies and we culminated the end of the unit with a reenactment of the first Thanksgiving feast. The kids came in their costumes {promised extra credit in Social Studies class was an added incentive} and we had such a fun day!

To see more pictures {with captions} head right over here!

I’m heading to North Carolina to celebrate my week long Thanksgiving break with my middle school/high school/college friends in Winston-Salem and then with my mom and sister down in Hickory. Allie and I are even running an 8k race on Thanksgiving morning in Charlotte to assuage any guilt that may follow from our decadent dinner.

I highly recommend that strategy.

I’ll try and post from the road but in the meantime, what is the moment in the last year for which you are most thankful?

Back when cursive was cool and so was dotting your i’s with hearts.

When I was eight years old, my Aunt Joann drew my name for our family Christmas gift exchange. Her choice of gift was, to this day, one of the most perfect gifts I have ever been given. Knowing my deep and abiding love for Nancy Drew mysteries, I opened the beautifully wrapped package from her only to discover eight brand new hardback Nancy Drews that I had yet to read.

My response?

I screamed for a solid thirty seconds.

And don’t lie, you totally wish you had those glasses when you were growing up.

I have held on to my Nancy Drew mysteries through the years and gleefully placed them on the library shelves of my classrooms. Several of my girls have gotten a hold of them this year and are loving them as much as I did. I have one little girl that comes up to my desk every time she finishes a chapter to tell me what Nancy is up to and who she suspects is the villain.

I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.

Yesterday during a break, one of the girls brought over one of my Nancy Drew books, held open the cover and looked up at me with a smug little grin on her face. There, on the front panel of the book in my eight year old handwriting, “I {heart} Jeremy Tilley.”

Ah, yes. Jeremy Tilley. The heartthrob that never gave me the time of day but whose deep brown eyes and fluffy brown hair captured my little third grade heart. “Yes,” I told the students who were starting to gather around with much giggling, “I had a huge crush on Jeremy Tilley.”

I wish you could have seen how big their eyes were. I don’t know what rocked their world more- thinking of me as an eight year old or the idea of their teacher having a crush on a boy. Ew, a boy!

I then proceeded to tell them one of my childhood embarrassing moments in the hopes that someday, when it inevitably happens to them, they wouldn’t feel so bad. One morning, during our “big group” classroom meeting time, I sat on the floor directly in front of Jeremy and his friends. I was painfully aware of his presence behind me and overwhelmed by his wonderfulness. I guess the stress of it all must have gotten to me because….I….ahem…passed gas. And not quietly. Jeremy and his friends, as most mature eight year olds would, began laughing and waving their hands in front of their face. They then scooted back creating an arc of space behind me.

I’ve only recently gotten over the trauma. It’s amazing what a good therapist can do.

My students, of course, thought this was hysterical and a solid five minutes of laughter ensued. My humiliation shared to lessen theirs? I’m pretty sure that they don’t teach that kind of mentoring strategy in grad school.

Thirty-Two

That is my new age as of 8:08 a.m. this morning. Two years into my thirties. I’ve decided that I am a fan of the thirties. I don’t mind being a little older, a little wiser and a lot more confident than when I was in my twenties. The thirties feel strong, sure, steady. There is a sturdiness to them that is unlike anything I have experienced thus far. In fact, I said to someone as an aside the other day as they were listing the benefits of each decade, “Your thirties are for not giving a crap about what other people think.” And I don’t mean that in a rude way, I just meant that it has only been in my thirties that I have discovered a sureness to who I am and what I want out of life.

The last five months have played a large role in this. I never imagined when I embarked on the lifestyle change what other changes might come to pass along the way. Some of those changes I can’t write about just yet. They are the reasons for my self-imposed blogging sabbatical. It is a story that may not be ready to be told for quite some time. And I’m ok with that. A new favorite blogger reminded me that some stories are not meant to be told right away but they will be told in their own perfect timing. So I’ll wait and continue to live out the story as it is right now…

But in the meantime, there was this thirty-second birthday. And I wasn’t really looking forward to it, truth be told. My life just is not what I pictured it would be at this age. Things left undone, things done now coming undone- it all felt so heavy. But then a sweet, dear, wise friend tucked a card into the mail just for me. I opened it this morning, a birthday treat for my burdened heart.

I read the heartfelt words of love and encouragement inside, tears of gratitude welling up. And I almost set it aside. But then I read the front of the card again and I really studied it, poring over the collage of words.

“Any given moment can change your life, she said, You just have to be there.”

“The overall quality of your life”

“The pursuit of it”

I was about to miss something really big about today. I was about to choose despair and grumpy and self-pity. I was about to let those things dominate my day. But those words on the front of that paper and ink grabbed me and they wouldn’t let go. Just be there. Just be present. Just be aware. Just be open. And so in that moment, I chose joy. I chose joy for my day instead of heartbreak. I chose gratitude instead of comparison. I chose delight instead of wishing for what wasn’t.

And it made all the difference…

Sabbatical

I’m going to be taking one for the next couple of weeks from my little piece of the internet.

Teaching has me particularly busy as I continue to find my footing in the midst of a new kind of curriculum and a school culture that is different from what I am used to. I’m loving every moment in the classroom {check out my classroom blog if you haven’t already} and need to make sure I’m giving it all the attention it needs in these first crucial months.

In addition, I always want to make sure that whatever I put up on my blog comes from an authentic place. I can’t really do that right now so I’m stepping back for a bit until I can. Healthy boundaries, you know?

Now if something incredibly funny happens in my classroom or I’m otherwise inspired to write about things that I can, I’ll post. But I just wanted to let y’all know that I will most likely be scarce around here for a while.

If you’re looking for some other blogs to read in the meantime, check out the ones I have linked in my sidebar. There’s definitely good stuff there! Thanks, y’all…

Next thing you know, I’ll be taking advantage of the early bird dinner special.

So I had this great post all worked out in my head. It’s all about the changes I’ve noticed in myself as a teacher. Specifically, the difference between teaching as a single gal and now, as a married woman.

Only, you’re not getting that post tonight.

Sorry. You’ll get it sometime.

But it is 9:25 and in about five minutes I am turning my lamp off and going to sleep.

You see, apparently I have forgotten those glorious first two weeks of the school year when no matter how much sleep you’re getting, you are completely freaking exhausted. I suppose going from speaking only to my dog and husband all day to talking with/giving directions to/answering questions/listening to thirteen eight year olds will do that to you.

Not that I am complaining. Believe me, I’m loving every minute of it.

Kind of like I will love every minute of the sleep I’m about to get.

Night night.

The First Day

Oh, my friends, it was a good one. A really good one.

But first, can I please tell you what time my body woke me up this morning just rarin’ to go? FOUR A.M. What the heck? That has never happened to me before. Usually my pre-first day of school jitters/hyperness has me completely unable to go to sleep the night before. Not this time. I went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow and then BAM. Four stinking a.m. I’ve often said that it’s just rude when my body wakes me up mere minutes before my alarm is set to go off. But two hours?! That’s just spiteful.

Even with the false alarm, I got off to school in the most organized fashion that I ever have. I’ve discovered that due to my commute off the mountain and over to the school {about thirty minutes, which passes quickly} it is going to be essential for me to prep everything the night before. I’m talking lunch packed, outfit picked, school bags already in the car.

Oh…wait. You say that’s just part of being a responsible adult? Well, looks like I’ve finally arrived.

The day with my kiddos went swimmingly. Schedule was followed, transitions were smooth and children were attentive. Success! I have to confess that there was part of me that wondered if I would remember how to do this. I think my horrible experiences substituting had me spooked. Lo and behold, this time around teaching was just like riding a bike. Once I stepped to the front of the room, it all came back. The tone, “the look” {you know the one- it would snap you back to obedience but quick}, the directions, the routines, it was all there. It feels so good to be a teacher again!

I came home ready to take Knox for a walk. We had gotten to the top of our street when I spotted the storm clouds and the rain started to fall. Back we went. Twenty minutes later the sky was clear once again so we headed out a second time. We didn’t even make it to the top of the driveway before it started raining. Sigh.

Have you ever promised your energetic dog the thing they want most in the world only to rip it away from them? Twice? I imagine it’s like offering your toddler a giant bowl of ice cream, dipping the spoon in, getting it to their lips and then BAM. It’s gone. The wailing that follows is something akin to Knox’s moans and groans as he laid on the floor by the front door looking longingly towards the street.

After dinner the sky was clear and I thought we’d try one more time. A half mile from our house the sky opened up. OF COURSE. Thankfully, we were just around the corner from our friends’ home and they gladly took in one sopping wet dog and his owner. And my across the street neighbor called to ask if we were ok and did she need to come get us because she had her boots and raincoat on, ready to come to our rescue. I am seriously blessed in the neighbor department, no?

And with that, I’m going to wrap up this glorious day. If you’re needing one more moment of zen, might I suggest that you head over to my friend Leslie Sloan’s blog? You really won’t want to miss the video tidbit she has waiting for you.

{P.S. If you’ve left me a comment or sent me an email over the last few weeks, please know that I’ll be responding to you this weekend. The back to school craziness consumed me but my inbox is now at 260 and as a girl who likes to keep it around twenty, that is seriously stressing me out. Maybe I should have tackled some of those emails this morning. Because did I mention I woke up at FOUR a.m.? Yes? Ok.}

Anticipation

Last year I wrote this post.

This last week, tonight even, I am living out every hope I poured out in that post. Name tags for the desks have been made and the seating arrangement planned. The bulletin boards are covered and waiting for white paper bags that have been uniquely decorated and filled. The classroom rules have been posted. The outfit isn’t picked yet but this time around, surprisingly, it’s the least of my concerns.

If your jaw just dropped, I KNOW.

A bystander no longer, tomorrow I will stand in front of a group of kids that God has hand picked to be in my class. I will teach, I will listen, I will laugh, I will love, I will pray, I’ll probably want to pull my hair out at some point.

But I will be a teacher again. And that’s pretty much all that matters.

Oddly enough, 26 miles looks amazingly doable right about now.

I am not sure I could be more tired than I am right now. Oh, wait. Yes I could. Check back with me on Wednesday after the first day of school!

Seriously, the last time I remember being this tired was after completing my one and only marathon. Only this time, instead of a Tiffany’s necklace as my finishing medal, I have a finished classroom! Wanna see?

{By the way, I promise I’m not going to do videos every post for the next nine months. But it is just so dang convenient right now when I can barely keep my eyes open, the resentment from my under exercised dog is palpable and I’ve basically had to go back and respell every word in this post thus far. The video? IT IS MY FRIEND.}

Praise be, tomorrow is a very laidback day for us teachers. I plan on getting some errands completed, beefing up on the math curriculum and putting final touches on things around the classroom.

And yes, I will exercise both the dog and myself. Because seriously? The glares that dog is shooting me rival a disgruntled teenager’s.

Just call me Pepe le Tres Southern

Here you go. Me, in video form. I’m not going to lie- my accent? Pretty dang proud of it. Jason and others tell me it gets even stronger when talking to my aunts. Frightening or awesome? I’ll let y’all decide.

Also, yes, I have some sun damage on my upper lip hence the fact that you might think I’m sporting a pencil thin mustache. It’s truly humiliating and if you have any remedies, please feel free to share in the comments. I’m not too proud to beg.

Ok, back to making my classroom come alive. Enjoy!

{If you love my super cute t-shirt with a darling flower on it like I do, you need to head right on over to my friend Tiffany’s website and Etsy shop to get you one.

Seriously, go.

You won’t regret it.}

We all need a little help from our friends.

And that is why I went to them when I was trying to come up with a name for my classroom blog. Behold, the suggestions…

{The views and opinions expressed in these suggestions are strictly those of the suggestors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Southern Drama Queen. She does, however, still find them humorous enough to share here.}

• The Bored of Education
• Mrs. Petree’s Got Brains
• O Captain, My Captain
• Get Me Learned
• Mrs. Petree Knows More Than You
• {Inspired by Steel Magnolias} This Is It. I Have Found It. I’m In Hell.
• Mrs. Petree’s Propaganda
• Corporal Punishment: It Works!
• I’m Not In It For the Kids…I’m In It For The Money
• Learn or Burn

Clearly, I will not be using any of these as I actually like the fact that I have a teaching job as of this moment. Still, the brainstorming assistance has actually helped me come up with a blog name which will be revealed once the blog is up and running in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

And now you’re wondering why you even read this blog.

I got nothing. NOTHING. So you get pictures of my ridiculous dog.

Slept like this as a puppy. Still does it.

Every time we’re in the car, this is where you can find him.

Bokeh, anyone? Eh? Eh?

How can you not love a happy dog like this?

Oh my lord, he is so weird.

Mopey Moperson.

So totally embarrassed in his too small Tennessee Vols sweater.

Oh yes, he gives high fives.

Ok, life won’t really kick into high gear until next week when I FINALLY GET INTO MY CLASSROOM!! And then I’ll have all sorts of lovely stories about nesting and new students and getting back into gear as a teacher. Until then, I need some inspiration. So. Be one of the first three people to leave a comment with a blog post suggestion and I promise to write about it.

Within reason, people.