Russia

I don't have time or the desire right now to tell you all about my trip so far to Russia.  I did want to give you a quick update.  I arrived in Moscow last Sunday and stayed there for 2 days and then we traveled 3ish hours to the northeast to the Golden Ring.  We stopped shortly in Vladimir and then continued on to Suzdal - a former capital of Kievan Rus/Russia although most people back home, including me, have never heard of it.  Our time in Suzdal and surrounding areas has been great and tomorrow we prepare for our overnight train ride to St. Petersburg!  I am very excited for the next few days.

More updates and pictures are to come once I get home and have stable internet and lots of rest!

До свидания!
 [dah svee-dah-nee-yah]
Goodbye!

I know it is long but please read!

This is a post from my cousin and I didn't really know how to cut it so you get it in its entirety.  This is not really a political plea but one of humanity!  I ask for your prayers on her behalf!

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This is a note I've been wanting to write for quite some time, but I've never been able to talk myself into doing it.  I'm doing it now because I'm angry. And I'm sad. And there's a big, strong boy up here that needs your prayers.

On November 28, my boyfriend's oldest son, Alex, was a happy, healthy, active 15 year-old boy. Tipping the scales at 6'1" and 203 pounds, he was a star defenseman on his hockey team; a hockey team that was runner-up in the Provincials just the season before.  On November 29, Alex spiked a fever so high that he actually became delusional, to the point of yelling obscenities at his mom and sister that should never escape the mouth of a 15 year-old.  He went to the Emergency Room, where he was given some fluids, told he had the flu and sent home. "Free" Healthcare Fail #1.  By Thursday of that week, he was still feverish, had started vomiting, and was complaining of a pain in his side.  So off to the the ER again, this time with a request to check his appendix.  Same fluids.  Same story about the flu.  Same result.  "Free" Healthcare Fail #2.  Another week later, a trip to his pediatrician.  "It can't be appendicitis, he's had the symptoms for too long."  No appendicitis, just the same flu.  "Free" Healtcare Fail #3.  Repeat this scenario.  Three trips to the ER, one trip to Urgent Care and two trips to the Pediatrician... landing with the final trip to the ER on December 18.

On December 18, Alex was a very ill 15 year-old boy.  He was vomiting blood.  He had a raging fever.  His kidneys were shutting down.  After a million tests, the doctors finally ordered an ultrasound.  And what they found was shocking.  Alex did, in fact, have appendicitis.  But, unfortunately, it went undiagnosed during SIX visits to healthcare facilities.  His appendix had ruptured nearly two weeks prior.  He was toxic.  His body was literally killing itself.  And we almost lost him.  He was too weak for an operation to remove the pieces of his appendix or the pockets of infections that had formed in his abdomen.  He had three abscesses; one the size of a golf ball, one the size of a baseball and one the size of a grapefruit.  Because he was too weak for major surgery, the doctors inserted drainage tubes into the abscesses and started him on the strongest antibiotics known to man.

On December 24, Christmas Eve, Alex was released from the hospital.  He was our Christmas Miracle.  And we honestly couldn't have been more excited to have him back home.  He was weak and tired, but he was home.  And we were able to share Christmas together, outside of the dark walls of the hospital.

Fast forward to December 27.  Alex had a fever, which meant an automatic trip to the hospital.  So back he went.  To the same place he had just lived in for a week and left a mere three days earlier.  And what did they do?  They told him his case was now too complicated and they could no longer treat him.  Alex's case was forwarded to The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto.  It's a state-of-the-art, best-of-the-best hospital.  At Sick Kids, two more abscesses were found.  Again drains were inserted.  And again he was put on antibiotics.  He continued to lose weight.  He continued to be in great pain.  And the abscesses continued to gain on him.  He had good days.  And he had bad days.  But he fought through it.  He came home to us, once again, on January 7.  He was 43 pounds lighter.  But he was home.  For good.

Until May 25, when a "routine" surgery changed everything.  Because Alex was so weak when he was first admitted to the hospital, they couldn't operate to remove the pieces of his appendix.  So a surgery was scheduled for May 25.  It was expected to be routine, with only a day or two spent in the hospital.  Unfortunately, a pesky abscess was hiding behind all of the scar tissue.  An abscess that had been building up strength in his body for five months.  So the doctors removed it.  And that's when the nightmare started again.  Two days after the surgery, on Friday, the doctors removed Alex from his antibiotics.  Within an hour, he had a fever so out of control that they had to pack him in ice to bring it down.  The infection was back.  With a vengeance.  Another ultrasound revealed five more abscesses. As before, drains were inserted to drain the abscesses and he was put back on powerful antibiotics.  Antibiotics that, unfortunately, resulted in a nasty case of C.diff.  And C.diff meant Alex had to be put on yet another antibiotic to treat that.  Alex's planned 2-day stay in the hospital turned into a 12-day stay.  But he came home to us last Sunday.

Fast forward a week.  My, how life can change in a week!  Alex is no longer home with us.  He spiked a fever yesterday afternoon after two hours of shopping at the mall.  The fever was controlled with some Tylenol, but he headed to the ER this morning just to be safe.  We had convinced ourselves that the C.diff had just reared its ugly head again and figured he'd get some antibiotics and be on his way.  Unfortunately, an ultrasound showed differently.  The infection is back.  In full force.  His abdomen is, once again, filled with abscesses.  They will likely try to drain the abscesses tomorrow, but the doctors aren't sure they're drainable.  The second option is a massive surgery in which they'd open him up and flush his abdomen to completely remove the infection.  Whatever ends up happening, enough is enough.

Why do I share this?  Because, in light of Obamacare, so many of you have asked me what I think of Canada's "free" healthcare. My response has traditionally been that I don't really have an opinion because I haven't had to deal with it.  Until now.  We asked 4 different doctors on 5 different occassions to check his appendix.  Why?  Because his grandmother had appendicitis.  And his uncle had appendicits.  And his dad's appendix ruptured.  And nobody ever checked it.  He never had an ultrasound until he was vomiting blood in the ER.  Never.  It's so easy.  And it's not that expensive.  But in a "free" healthcare system, even the smallest of expenses is a big deal.  An ultrasound could've stopped all this.  You know what else could've stopped this?  Not sending him home on December 24th, just because you have to hire staff nurses to work on the holiday.  What else?  Doing an ultrasound before releasing the boy from the hospital las week, to make sure you really did get all of the infection.  What else?  If you're not going to do an ultrasound before releasing him, at least send him home with antibiotics. Yes, they sent a kid with two different infections home without a single antibiotic.  "Free", in the Canadian healthcare system, clearly means "cheap"... and not cheap in a good way.

Why else do I share this?  As I sit on the couch in my quiet house, I am in tears.  This boy - this 15 year-old kid - has been through enough.  Alex will be turning 16 on the 30th of this month.  I don't want him to spend that day in the hospital.  I don't want him to ever see the inside of that hospital again.  I'm not his mother, but I so want to take this pain away from him.  And I want to take the weight of this situation away from his dad.  I want the nightmare to end.  We need your prayers.  Prayers of strength and courage for Alex.  Prayers of knowledge and guidance for the doctors.  Prayers of strength and love for the man I so adore.

If you're the praying type, please say big prayers for Alex tonight.  And if you're not the praying type, please just remember us over the next few days as we fight this battle yet again.  It's like a bad dream that you can't wake from... a nightmare that keeps coming back no matter what you do to rid your mind of it.  

And, please, no matter what you do, just say 'no' to Obamacare.  Keep some integrity in your health system.  Please.

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As of June 15th he is back in the hospital "We need big prayers, y'all. Alex is crashing. In x-ray and ultrasound right now to figure it all out..." quoted from my cousin Aleesha!

I craft - no biggie

So I was spending the morning searching Amazon for new free books to put on my Kindle (because I only get free ebooks) and I was showing off my new Kindle cover/carrier that I got from Thirty-One (click the link to take you to Jordan's website to check out all the cool things you can buy).  The holder is actually a Fold-N-Go Organizer with notepad but a Kindle (or Nook) fits in nicely.  So anyway...downloading books, showing off my new cover and I stand up to put it away and my Kindle falls out the top! Hitting my computer and the falling to the floor...crash, bam, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I freaked out - but only slightly (which surprised me that I wasn't more freaked out).

So Laura and I decided something has to be done!  Her suggestion - get some ribbon or something like that and attach snaps to hold it in place but so that you can still take it out.  Guess what...I just so happen to have a snap attaching kit and ribbon.  Really random I am aware but also VERY awesome at that point in time.

I read the directions carefully before attempting anything - because I am a planner and because I won't do it if I can convince myself that it won't work.

OH!  Did I tell you that I had to listen to Jason Aldean while I crafted?

The first step is to poke holes in the fabric.  This makes me extremely nervous because I don't want random holes in it if it doesn't work.  I do a test hole in a portion that can't be seen and it works!  So here we go.  I measure for the hole very precisely - stretching a piece of ribbon across the distance, folding it in half and then seeing where the middle is, and then eye ball it with the hole puncher - like I said very precise.  I worked really hard to punch the hole, got most of it punched and finished it off with scissors.  Whew that was stressful but accomplished nonetheless.  Now I had to make a hole in the ribbon to attach the snap - I just used scissors for that knowing the hole punch would jack. it. up.

Now comes the attaching the snap part.  I looked at the diagram to figure out which piece is (A), (B), (C), and (D).  And then I went to town.  Hammering was involved!  And voila! one snap is completed!  Now I folded the ribbon over, again precisely measuring where the holes will go and repeated the above steps!  Now it is complete.  I also added little pieces of rubber (extra stuff used to secure a rug to a hardwood floor - also something I just happened to have laying around) to the underside of the snaps that touch the Kindle so that the metal of the snaps won't rub and mess it up.

Let me just tell you this thing looks AMAZING!!!  Way better than I thought it would.  I do have some critiques of it - the holes are just off center (maybe my precise measuring should have actually been precise), I could have done this and that a little differently, etc etc.  But really I am super excited about it and won't complain - too much.  For half an hour's work I got a revamped Thirty-One Fold-N-Go Organizer turned one-of-a-kind Kindle cover!  Some things money can't buy!

Speed dating...on a military base

Never thought you would ever hear/see those words coming from me did ya?  No, me either!  Well my friend Laura mentioned that she had been invited by a friend to go and then asked if I would do it too.  Normally my answer would be "heck no" but for some reason I agreed to go and even had to almost convince her it was a good idea.  I know its crazy but I have no idea why I wanted to go to this thing.  Again this is TOTALLY not in my character at all so who knows.  I went into the situation like this - I don't anticipate anything relationship-wise coming from this experience but it will definitely be an adventure and something to get me out of my comfort zone (but on purpose).

Anyway as we get up to the gate and we have to get the car inspected since none of us are military connected.  The first thing the guard asks is "what brings you ladies to base?"  What is the response the driver gives?  "We're going to speed dating."  OH FANTASTIC!!!!  Now I am super embarrassed to be here and would love for you to leave me at the gate; you can pick me up on your way home.  So we all laugh hysterically, get back in the car, and are on our way.

We get to the sports bar where the event is being held and now I am completely reconsidering the whole thing but once again I push on through.  We get out to the back patio area and are asked to sign in and then sign a waiver claiming we know that the group putting this thing together is not a dating service and are not liable for anything that does or does not happen.  Also, that I am not married.  Oh awesome.

Now we start off with a kind of mingling game thing.  There is a name tag on your back and you have to ask yes or no questions to find out who your person is.  Then you have to find out who your "other half" is; examples include Demi Moore - Ashton Kutcher or eggs - bacon or yin - yang etc.  My person was Robin and my other half was Batman who actually happened to be a very tall, handsome man from Norway who is on base taking a nine-ish month course here in the US.  Oh...and his name is Hans!

Anyway...let the speed dating begin.  The girls are all asked to sit down at a table (two girls to a table) and then the guys fill in across the table - pretty much like you see on tv.  Each mini date supposedly lasted 3 minutes although many of them seemed to drag on and on and on!  Basic questions got asked "what do you do" "tell me about yourself" etc.  By like the 15th person I was so tried of hearing my own schpeel that I said "I could tell you all about how I am a 6th grade teacher but I would rather make up an interesting lie and tell you that I am an astronaut."  The guy seemed to go with me on it so we talked about how it would be cool to be an astronaut.  This has nothing to do with whether or not he was interesting just I was sick of hearing myself say the same thing over and over again.

One tactic that helped out with uninteresting guys was that since we were outside and had to deal with lots of bugs - mosquitoes specifically - if I had nothing to say I would just wave my hand all around my face and say something like "oh goodness these bugs are crazy."

I will say that there were some really good looking and nice men there but alas many of them were younger than me and as suspected, no love connection was made.  I could tell you individual interesting stories but I don't feel like it at the moment and really I think you kinda had to be there for some of them to really be funny.

Verdict on this adventure: a fun experience that I would probably do again - with the same expectations/or lack of expectations as this time.

Summer trip

Ok ok I know my posts are getting further and further apart but really the 3 people that read this on a regular basis already know whatever it is that I am posting.  But, for those of you that don't know, I am going to Russia in 36 days!

Russia?  Yep!  Why?  Because how many people do I know that can say they have been to Russia?  Like 1 - and it was the Soviet Union when she was there.  Also, I am teaching 6th grade social studies this year which includes Russia in the curriculum.  But really I just love the idea of going somewhere far away - for a visit - and learning about the history and see how other people live.

In order to get ready for this trip I have been teaching my students some Russian to help me learn some Russian. I can now hold a conversation that goes something like this:
"Hello.  Good morning (or afternoon).  My name is Brandi.  What is your name?  Pleased to meet you.  Goodbye."  I can also say "please" and "thank you".

Yep.  That's about all I've got at the moment.  Not going to get me very far but like I told my students, if you can be polite, it can get you some help.  Plus I don't really think that I will be able to hide my American-ness while I am there anyway so whatever I learn will be a miracle.

I have stocked up on travel size necessities, space-safer bag things so I can pack for stuff, luggage locks that are TSA approved so they don't have to cut them off should they need to make sure I don't have a bomb, and a wall outlet adapter.  I am still waiting on my visa to come back from DC.  I had to send my passport to the Russian Embassy in DC to get the visa.  This is super scary because should something happen to that passport during transport or whatever, there is no way I will get another in time for the trip.  YIKES!!!  And the embassy has been closed for at least 6 weekdays in the last 2 weeks due to different holidays for Russia.

I also was flipping through the channels tonight and found out that I have a Russian Television channel that comes straight from Moscow but is in English.  I have been watching for about an hour and they are replaying the same exact footage that I saw when I first tuned in.  I think if I watch it a few times a week, I will know more info about the ins and outs of Russia.  Like did you know that every year they open up all of the museums all night, for one night for free to anyone that wants to come?  Or that Volgograd is powered by a hydroelectric dam on the Volga River that although provides enough power to run the town plus send extra over to Moscow is also cutting down on the sturgeon population responsible for the famous Russia caviar?  Or that there are only 1000 days until Sochi hosts the 2014 Winter Olympics?  Well, now you do!

I hope to learn more about the wonderful place I will travel to in a few short weeks.  Maybe you can learn something too!  I will keep you updated on the process of packing, etc and of course supply you with lots of stories and pictures when I get back.  Stay tuned.

Spring Cleaning

BEWARE: Nostalgia and extremely long run-on sentences included in this post.  You have been warned!

I paid all of my new bills for the month and then organized and put away all of my bills and paperwork that have created an enormous pile on my desk and surrounding area for the last few months.  Oh the joy of a clean desk!

In general, my "office" area has been driving me crazy...basically since moving in almost 2 years ago!  I am known for keeping things - all kinds of things - but in particular school things.  I have a giant box at my mom's house in the attic that has junk in there from kindergarten - finger paintings, awards for 'clean cubbie' and 'student of the week,' mini coloring books, teacher evaluations on my ability to identify shapes and colors, etc. - all the way up to high school classes - the contents from just about every single class I took in high school including my "portfolio" from ART I (I use quotations around portfolio to signify that no one else in the world would qualify the art within the portfolio to be actual art - but hey I need an elective and so art it was.).  Like I said I keep EVERYTHING!

Somethings I brought with me to my big girl place are my notebooks from my college classes.  Now I don't have ALL of my notebooks just the ones from my education classes - a total of 7 complete notebooks plus random other things like lesson plans + junk to go with lesson plans and readings for classes - from 3.5 math classes - the half was from a Calc 2 class that I had a bad professor/I was doing HORRIBLE in the class and therefore dropped it but picked it back up the next semester with a different professor (Most of my math classes were INSANE and therefore when I looked back at the majority of my tests I wonder how I actually passed the classes.) - 4 books I used for my math ed classes - I am taking those with me to school Monday - from only 1 history class - not sure what happened to the other 5 or so classes (I probably did really bad in those classes and gave up hope of ever finding the nostalgia in them.  Although I didn't do too hot in the one class I still have so not sure why that one made the cut.  But alas, I have it.) - and from a drama class - senior year, fall semester, last semester of classes before student teaching; I loved the class and the professor and met lots of fun freshmen who were so cute when they asked if I lived in HJ.

So all of this is to say that I spent the good part of an hour (probably more than an hour) "reorganizing" my college stuff in the crates I have them in.  I was actually able to get rid of a small pile of stuff (plus I'm taking those math books to school) and did move some things around but no one would probably notice any real difference.  I also realized that looking at bad grades I got on calculus tests and history papers and discrete home works don't really have a whole lot of impact on me today.  I did well enough to pass the classes and I graduated on time and got my degree - which I am currently using.  Who really cares about my ending GPA?  No one!  Do I even know what it was?  Nope!  Do I care?  Nope!  I reference the notebooks and stuff every once in a while for an idea for my lessons but really the stuff is there to remind me of my small accomplishments and give me a laugh when I notice I got a 40 on a CALC 2 test (the first time around).

I still have lots of stuff in my office area that I could get rid of or put somewhere, I just need more organizing tools and apparatuses (?) (apparati?) to better organize them.  Summer project...check!

Next spring cleaning task - closet.  I need to get rid of clothes but once again I KEEP EVERYTHING!  "I wore that shirt that one time and I might be able to wear it again."  I think I need Stacy and Clinton to come in and tell me that everything in there is gross and give me $5000 to get a new wardrobe!  HINT HINT, WINK WINK to all those that read this for a nomination!

I think I am done for now - no need bombarding you with too much info!  hehehe

Wow...they never cease to amaze!

I was on for a workshop a few weeks ago and when I got back I had my students do a quick-write about how the 2 days went while I was gone.  I told them that the sub had written me a note detailing their behavior and general goings on so they shouldn't lie but tell me their side of the story.  I was expecting lots of "the sub was mean," "too much work," "I didn't do anything wrong," etc etc.  What I really got was "I was disrespectful to the sub and got sent to the office."  I also got "I did all of my work but I am not a rat.  I don't tell on people."  As well as "I was bad but the sub made me write sentences and then I got my work done."

What the kids didn't and still don't know is the sub had yet to leave me a note until the next day and I was surprised at how many actually told on themselves for even the smallest things.  Some of the behavior the students mentioned were little things that the sub didn't even tell me about.

It is very refreshing that even though I have A LOT of hard headed students that can't locate the Atlantic Ocean on a map or stay in their seat or bring a pencil or pen to class, they are honest about their poor decisions and bad behavior (most of the time).

If nothing else, they gave me a good laugh and restored a little of my faith in the future world.

Boys

Ok.  I have been pretty reluctant to mention this at all or talk about the 'boy' subject in general.  Lately it has been a really annoying thing going on in my brain and I figure why not share it with the whole world.

I would like to start off with the fact that the questions When are you getting married?  Are you dating someone right now?  Oh really, why not? are EXTREMELY annoying and I think this is to get out my side of the story and to provide answers to those questions.  This post is addressed to loving aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, other various family members, friends, and casual acquaintances of mine and every other single girl I know.

Let's start with the past.

Those that know me know that I have never had a real relationship.  I mean I had a boyfriend in 6th grade but that really means we would meet up at the dance and only talk to each other during the mandatory 5 slow dances and then after that the other was no where to be found.  We maybe held hands once - A BIG DEAL - and we passed notes every once in a while.  A major real-life relationship these things do not make.

I have had guy friends since elementary school, especially since I have two brothers and had mostly boys in the neighborhood.  I had/have my fair amount of crushes on boys - realistic and so-totally not going to happen crushes - but nothing that would ever resemble a relationship or the beginning of a relationship.  AND I am totally fine with this.  There are definitely times when I get a woe-is-me feeling while reading a cute book or watching a RomCom or hearing a really sweet song.  I have even been known to complain to friends and family that I will never have my happy ending.

To the people who really feel sad for me right now I want you to dry your eyes because at this point I actually feel lucky.  There are so many opportunities in my life that I have had because I wasn't tied down to anyone, or reliant on taking another person's feelings into account for decisions I have made for my life.  I also don't have the heartbreak of losing a deep relationship or making mistakes I can never take back that friends of mine have.  Praise God for that protection!

Questions I ponder on the regular - What would my life look like if I had dated _____?  What if I had given him a chance?  I wonder what life would be like if I was married.  Why haven't I had any relationships?  Why don't boys like me?  What is wrong with me? The questions are really endless along that line of thinking.  I have friends that are married and have children and last summer was a marathon of weddings for some friends and in those instances my mind really starts thinking obsessing.  But in my rational mindset I have clear thoughts on my current situation.

My friends and family in recent years seemed to be very concerned about me moving onto a new life stage and worry and want to set me up with any number of guys who they know, who are so-and-so's friend, etc etc.  These are not random guys or bad guys - many of them are probably really great guys.  But what are the qualities they are looking for in these people they want to set me up with?  Basically I think they are throwing anybody and everybody out there as an option.  Problem is:  I don't see every single-guy as an option for me.  I don't like to think that I have a checklist of qualities my ideal guy needs but I guess I kinda do.  (No I am not going to make a list of my top 10 [or 100] qualities but I am going to point out a key thing that I think is really important.)

Something that is extremely important to me is the guy needs to have a desire for the Lord and desire for Him to be the center of his life.  I am not into a 'missonary dating' relationship where I show him Christ and he follows me on the path.  That is not me, not what I see as my responsibility, and I defintiely can't be anyone's savior.  We both need to be on our own paths towards the Lord and eventually those paths meet and join.  This also can't be a trait that the guy seeks because his mom or sister or grandma or friends are pushing him towards.  He needs to want it for himself without factoring anyone else into the equation.  Without this quality I think the relationship would be very shallow and would lead to a quick dead end.

That is really the only serious thing that my knight-in-shining-armor needs to have but I also have preferences.  That guy should strive to have good relationships with friends and family. Not a 'mama's boy' but good to his parents and grandparents.  Now if you know any of these guys - loves the Lord and his family - send him my way!  I am all for that tall, dark, and handsome idea - think cowboy-esq - but I am not dead set on it.  It would be great if he has some sort of higher education and a job. 



Also, please realize that as much as I would like to live in 19th century pioneer times, I do not.  Therefore, being a single 23-year-old woman in no way means that I should be "put on the shelf" or that I am destined to be a spinster.  I have time to enjoy being single and figuring out my life and my hopes and desires.  I have faith in what He tells me in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future."  The Lord knows the desires of my heart and will provide all things in His time.  Which means that all you people are just going to have to be patient.  I truly appreciate your concern and your desire to help me on my quest for a man so don't stop those things just don't be upset when it doesn't happen in your time frame.

I hope this opens the eyes of some that yes, I do want a man but no, I am not desperate.  I will not take any man.  I also hope that those of you that read this and are dealing with the same situation as me realize that you are not alone.

Alrighty!  End of discussion.  Now we no longer need to harp on it!

Why is it almost Monday already?

I am not a fan of daylight saving time! The 'falling back' one hour part is kinda nice but not really worth its 'spring forward' counterpart. Yeah I know it is only one hour but I really think that my body was going to allow me to sleep another hour this morning, which is not normal recently (ie Saturday morning I woke up at 7:30 with no chance of falling back asleep).

I also don't really know where my weekend went...actually I do, I showed some signs of actually having a life and BAM...weekend over.

Really my weekend was jam packed with stuff.
- Awesome country concert on Friday night courtesy of Steel Magnolia, Easton Corbin, and Blake Shelton!
- Nail-biting ACC Tournament Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Disappointing ending for my Heels :(
- Getting my read on - I have been slack lately on reading so I read one all the way through and started another. The first was a sweet fiction book about a middle child that feels Stuck in the Middle with two sisters that have amazing lives and opportunities while she continues to be a 'plain-Joan' that brought real tears to my eyes and down my cheeks and demonstrated how chocolate ice cream has the power to drastically alter a person's life. I also started an interesting non-ficiton memoir-type that was recommended to me by one of my BFFs Maggie Same Kind of Different As Me that has already made me laugh and want to cry.

This has been a GREAT weekend and I guess I just don't want it to be over yet.

So I figure there has been a lot to keep me busy and not notice the time flying by. Knowing this still does not make me excited to go back to work tomorrow. I pray for a better attitude when I wake up.

Funny school story

Did you know that Joseph Stalin is from the COUNTRY of Mississippi?

I will leave you to ponder on that until I have the energy to elaborate!

-> Originally posted Feb 28...as of March 13, I still don't have the energy to really tell the whole story. Suffice to say, when asked what country Joseph Stalin was from, one of my wonderful - but clearly misinformed - students stated that he was from Mississippi. Oh the wonders of 6th grade.