irony

This is going to be a short post as I need to get ready very soon. I've been "writing" this blog in my head for the past week and I would be sad if I didn't actually "put it on paper." Today, one of my oldest friends is getting married. It's so cool in a crazy kind of way. Most of you may know that we moved when I was in middle school to the other side of what I always thought was a small little town. We left our church and many of the friends that we had grown up with. Looking back on it now, I realize that we moved away and didn't really look back. Growing up, if my sister and I were not at our house, we were at the Gabel's house, or their grandma Olga's house. I remember when I was little that I could never really say her name correctly. Jenna, Marissa and Kalin were close to the same age as Cassi and I and we always had a GREAT time together. The older brothers, Phillip, Kurt and Brian, we never knew quite as well but I was always fascinated that they had older brothers, maybe a little jealous too. Often times, Cassi and I would leave our parents in mass to go sit with the Gabels. If family came into town, we were always there too. We went on camping trips together. We were really almost like family. In January of 2010, we all suffered a loss, Grandma Olga passed away. I took off from school and my part time job to attend the Rosary and funeral. The night of the funeral we went to the old Knights of Columbus Hall near St. Laurence for a dinner and I swear I was transported to a time when we didn't move across town and we were all still friends. We talked about lots of things. I hope this next section makes sense and comes out like I mean it. Understand that I would give anything to have my own grandmother(s) back to share in the good times we used to have. I also think that Olga brought us all back together in a really fantastic way that makes me miss her just as I do my own Nanny. I look forward to celebrating tonight with Kalin and I know that Olga, or Ouaga as I used to say, is going to be with us tonight as well. Enjoying the friends- no, family that she has brought back together!
Until next time.

The Devil's Ice Skates

Don't you hate it when you have a really great or at least decent idea but you're in the car?! It never fails that when that happens to me, I forget by the time I've reached my destination! This afternoon on my way to tutor, I had a moment of "blog-spiration" But by the time I got home, it was gone. I remember that I thought "The Devil's Bicycle" was a great title, but that's all I got...
[Note: I actually wrote this on paper on Wednesday evening and I'm now typing it on Friday afternoon.]
I do know this is my first blog in a LONG time. Lots has happened: Camp ended. I went to Niagara Falls, Canada, with my Aunt Mary and Matthew. I gave up Student Council, became Junior Class Sponsor and for those non-educators- that MEANS PROM! I gave up PR then got it right back. Needless to say, I'm still busy. However, I've also found time for some fun!! September is my "On the Road" month. The first weekend found the family and I in Keller for Aunt LouAnn's birthday. Miraculously, this lined up with a cheap (YET AWESOME) concert in Bedford featuring Jonny Lang. Then a few weekends ago, thanks to my wonderful friends Janet and Jennifer, we took a road trip to Albuquerque for my first REAL HANSON CONCERT. I signed up for a Meet and Greet, not even thinking that I would win! BUT I DID! I'm hoping I have that picture soon.....THEN thanks to my equally-awesome friends, Teresa and Emily, I took a little trip to Houston for Teresa and Emily's first HANSON EXPERIENCE. I'm going to try and include a few pictures at the end, or you can just check facebook...
The two adventures were very different. I will say the Houston trip is the trip that my 13 year old self ALWAYS wanted to take, but never did! There's also a way Awesome Video, that may possibly be kept under wraps for a LONG TIME. HAHAHA!
Ok, this school year has also had some other personal, everyday adventures. I think it's a pretty well known fact that I've moved back home, but my brother is also now going to my school. Bobby and I have always been pretty close, but this is bringing on a new dimension to our friendship/relationship. We've also RECENTLY (as in today [Wednesday])  started getting up at 5 AM to go to the gym. I've gone sporadically since school started, but between tutoring and games and living in the middle of nowhere, it hasn't happened as much as it should. I'm hoping that I get in a routine of that shortly.....UGH! Have I ever mentioned that I hate mornings? I am also looking forward to Basketball Season!
In other news, I regret to announce that I will not be participating in the Breast Cancer 3 day walk. I have been unsuccessful at raising money and I also can't afford to have to pay the balance. So if any of you were planning on donating to me, please donate to my mother instead.  The walk is about a month a way so ANY support you can give is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
I'm sure I had more to say, but for now that's all I got. Thanks for reading!
Until next time.
PS I'll have to work on the pictures for next time....It may just be a separate post...

Be optimistic

Well, as I type this it's still the 4th day of July, so Happy Independence Day!! Which also means that my birthday is only 3 weeks away!!! This year is kind of odd. First of all, according to the latest news report, we have recieved only 1.4 inches of precipitation this year and about half of that was SNOW! There have been MANY fires this spring/summer and the entire Texas Panhandle is under a burn ban and most counties have made it illegal to even have fireworks in your possession! I totally get why they did that, but it's still a bummer. It's a double whammy too, since our fundraiser for next year's Italy/Greece Trip was a firework stand. :(  So we still have to come up with a new fundraiser and the city put on a Laser Light show....After hearing the feedback, I'm glad that I didn't go. So, tomorrow I go back to camp for the last half of the summer camp season. This weekend has been nice; also quite busy, but nice. Long weekends are always nice. I spent this weekend moving back into my parents house. :) I sold my couch and the rest of my furniture is being stored in the basement for an undetermined amount of time. My unofficial plan is to pay off my credit card so I can actually afford a one bedroom apartment that doesn't suck. I have just made too many hasty decisions so I need to make sure that whatever I do next is in a positive direction. No more steps just for the sake of making a step.
Also with the previous school year finished, I'm more excited about the things that this next school year brings. I'll get to see my brother everyday at school!! I'm really excited about him transferring to Holy Cross. I also get to be in charge of a couple of things, I think. I think I still have my Academic Competition stuff- which I LOVE!! There's a chance of Student council, still. I know I have my Dual Credit class again. And a couple of other things that I KNOW I'll have. Like THANKSGIVING IN PARIS! YES PARIS, FRANCE. The closer the school year, the more excited I get about that!! Then for Spring Break- ITALY AND GREECE!! Of course, with the Academic competitions also comes all those trips in the spring, so don't plan on me attending any weekend event in March or April....haha. Oh, and also in November, I'm doing the 3 day Breast Cancer walk with my mom. (Click HERE to donate- I have to raise $2300 by November 4th :) ) I'm sure I am forgetting something else..I'm already excited about Basketball season, since my brother will be a Mustang this year. :) I'm still tutoring. It almost sounds like it's going to be another crazy year. :) The best part about it is that I work with some completely Awesome people that I get to call friends. You know, when I left Midland, that was my biggest concern. My friends in Midland will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart, they were my first school family and they were fantastic friends, Mentors and coworkers. I wasn't sure that I would ever find another group of people like that and while the two groups are definitely different, I still feel blessed to actually WANT to go to work....most days. On the plus side (sort of), this year we have 12 personal days, for sickness or personal days, so I'll be able to take more days off. The sort of comes from the fact that they don't roll over, so I either use them or lose them. Guess which one I'll be doing? :)
One last thing. In case you were wondering, my Hanson Obsession has not been cured yet. So in honor of that obsession and spreading the disease to other soon-to-be Hanson fans, here's my video of the month that I'm sharing. Unless you're reading this on facebook, then you need to click "View Original Post" cause it only shows up on the actually blog. :) ENJOY. Until next time.

guilt-free pleasure

First of all, I promise not to talk about Hanson. Well, except to say that I got to see a free concert this weekend AND MEET THEM and it WAS AMAZING. but surely you've all seen the video by now, so you know what a hopeless NERD I AM.. if not, send me a message. I'll send you a link...it's worth seeing.

Ok, so I just had to write a blog about HOW MUCH I LOVE TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL! I NEVER, EVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SAY THAT. And it always seemed like an accident that I even got the job at Holy Cross. I mean, the main reason that I thought it was a good idea to move back to Amarillo in the first place was because Canyon was opening all of those new schools. After an amazing student teaching experience at Canyon, I REALLY WANTED TO WORK FOR CANYON ISD. But THAT just didn't happen. Then when the Holy Cross job opened and I went in for the interview, as I drove back to camp afterwards, I just had this feeling of, "I want to be here." Anyways, even then, when he told me I would teach Algebra 2, I was TERRIFIED. I was probably terrified of the high schoolers for at least the whole first week. Thankfully, I don't think they realized it. Then, this year when I had to teach seniors and dual credit- another challenge and more terror. But gratefully, when you work for someone that you know respects you and understands you, you have faith in what that person assigns you to do. I was also afraid that I was taking on too much, between the dual credit, PR, Student council, Academic competition, and "normal" teaching duties, I didn't think I could do it. Honestly, there may have been a few days when my classes didn't have a fantastic teacher everyday this spring, but luckily I had them "trained" and they knew what to do. Anyways, now here I am, next year will be my THIRD year at Holy Cross. Today, I shared my "weekend" experience with two of my high school classes. Next year, as of now at least, I believe that I'll be teaching my two geometry classes again (YEA), my dual credit class again (also YEA) and then 6th and 7th Math, I also believe that I'll be doing Student council and Academic Competitions, along with coordinating that trip to Italy and Greece. But I'm really excited. I hate the end of the year, but I LOVE THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. It's odd how just talking about it, is making me excited. But we've already established the fact that I'm a nerd!!

Well, one thing that being at this school has done is encourage my organization, which has gone to Hell recently. I normally have my Semester Exams finished by the second week in May...I currently do not have them remotely close to being finished- and they are due in a week...so I need to get to work on that. Exciting news, family is taking a vacation after school's out, going to San Antonio and Port Aransas. Even MY SISTER IS GOING!!! I'm so excited!! I just hope that I have all my stuffed packed up before then so I can come back and focus on camp and not on moving or something else! Another consequence of my ......distractions......but hey, at least my distraction is somewhat healthy..it's not drugs or alcohol or something else that you can't come back from....although my behavior on Saturday may be difficult to come back from, it's not impossible. :)

ENJOY THE LAST 9 DAYS OF SCHOOL!!! (at least in this neck of the woods)

Until next time!

Does it move you?

Ok, it's been a long time since I've written a blog. I'm sure some of you have been wondering what the deal was. Unless you have a facebook, in which you case you know everything that I do. :)

Here is a playlist that I'm actually listening to right now. It is not 100% Hanson songs so never fear.. but it does include a few of my favorites. The people who have actually listened to their music without judging me for being lame have (I think) enjoyed listening to it. So push play, it should just keep playing the whole time you are reading the rest of my blog.




The last blog was written over Spring Break so just for the sake of record keeping, here's a cliff's note version of the past almost two months:

Drove to Austin 3 weekends in a row for state competitions, students earned a 3rd place in Art, 3rd place in Spelling, 6th place in Persuasive Speaking and in Current Events, and 3 students earned a 1st division at State Music contest. Flew to Fort Worth for another state competition- which we participated in!! My workout buddy left, which has been a bummer. I've been able to go like once a week since she left...maybe. Totally my fault not hers. I still have a job! I became completely obsessed with a really phenomenal band.

That's really the only part that I can "summarize" the rest will need explanation.

Okay, so first my obsession with Hanson. I'll try not to talk about this too much, mostly cause I feel a tad bit crazy. If I were talking to Betsy, she would tell me to "rein in the psycho Ted" and I'm going to do my best. So a BIG perk of traveling on all of those trips was the HOTEL ROOMS! King Size Beds all to myself and VH1 playing as loud as I want in the mornings. One of those days the video for "Give a Little" came on and I was FLOORED that it was Hanson, like the MMBop boys from junior high! Intrigued and having nothing else to do at all of these competitions, I started investigating whether this was a come back or just something I didn't know about. It turns out these guys have been making music for like the past 18 years, which considering they are like MY age, is NUTS! (Side note: I think that's Bobby's fascination, I mean they were six writing and playing their own music!!) Anyways, I slowly spiraled into the "HANSON VORTEX" bringing a few victims or guests with me along the way. My students are totally not having it though. Anyways, you should go check out some more of their stuff if you have any interest in the stuff I have posted. To pique your interest let me just say that they now have EIGHT KIDS between the three of them! NUTS!

So the reason I had to post my Hanson obsession is because there is actually a tangent that has sprung off this obsession. After a few days of listening to their music and interviews, I started thinking about stuff, like why I was so obsessed, on my way to school one day. And here's what I came up with:
     Some of you should know that I'm a sucker for music. I really don't know where it comes from, Nanny, mom, dad, or if it's just me. I started feeling like I was 13 years old again, and for a long time I thought it was because I was obsessed with a boy band from when I was 13, but then I realized that it was something else. It was the actual music that I was listening to and oddly enough that kind of made me sad. Now, granted I'm not really THAT old, but there have been TONS of changes in short 26 years I've been alive. Just look at computers and phones! But Hanson's music is not about going to the club or drugs or whatever. And I think, honestly kids are so bombarded with that stuff that it's just NUTS! I'm not trying to sound all preachy or whatever, but occassionally I get a little freaked out. I mean it is on my radar that someday, in the future, I may have offspring. I would like for those offspring to have some sort of childhood, that includes hopefully at least hints of innocence and happiness. As a kid, I was not aware of celebrities and all of their issues and problems. But instead of getting off on a tangent, I'll just say that Hanson's music is just that: music. Music that I'm not ashamed to play in my classroom, that I would probably play for Nanny and I honestly think she would enjoy. It's got good beats, rhythms and then when you actually listen to the words, there's some really nice stories that go along with them and the HARMONIES!! Now, as you can tell if you are listening to the playlist, I'm still a sucker for some good beats. But for now, my Hanson obsession is here to stay and now it's out there in cyberspace for all to know and read about.

Now for just a few notes to finish it out. Congratulations go out to my roommate Paula who got engaged since my last blog too! Very happy for her and Eric. Her news actually brings more news, cause the house I live in currently is Paula's......So, my plan is to "move in" with my parents for the summer, I mean I'm at camp for 90% of the summer so HOPEFULLY I can handle it. The tentative and hopefully actual plan after that is to find an apartment with the other roommate, Teresa, sometime around August. Also, I recently announced that I will be walking with my mom in the 3 day walk this November. The only catch is that I have to raise $2,300 before November. Don't let that overwhelm you being a math teacher, I crunched the numbers : There are about 353 of you reading this on facebook, if each of you donated just $6.50 I would reach my goal. So donate however much you can. Tell your friends to donate by clicking here and sharing the website with anyone you know. THANKS A BUNCH!
Now, I would like to tell you when I plan to blog again, but I just don't see that happening. I've got Student Council Elections next week, Mustang Fun Day the same week as finals, PLUS I'VE GOT TO MOVE MY CRAP out of here so I can go on vacation with my family! So until next time. If you ever feel like talking Hanson with me, just let me know. This blog just scratched the surface... :)

OUT WITH THE OLD

Well, it's Spring Break here in Texas!! YEEHAW! (Not really, but it seemed like the right thing to say at the time...)  My brother is on his 8th grade trip to Washington, DC. It's turned into quite an ordeal. He left Amarillo Saturday night at about 11:30 and he's only been in DC for a couple of hours now. Poor kid got stuck in Dallas. But he's there now and I hope the rest of his trip goes great, he's missing out on the smithsonian, but i've always wanted to go back there since you only spend like 4 hours total to see the whole thing. So maybe we will go back one day as a family or something. After a two week hiatus, I finally made it back to the gym too. It was pretty great. I'm once again quite grateful for Kristi, cause I've wanted to go back to the gym, but I haven't actually wanted to go to the gym, you know what I mean. But having her to keep me accountable is pretty great; once I got to the gym and on the elliptical, I felt A MILLION TIMES BETTER. Great news, thanks to an "anonymous" comment on a previous blog (I'm fairly certan I know who it was...) I've joined Weight Watchers and I've been doing a good job of keeping track of my points. I even bought some healthy stuff on my last grocery trip, which I think shocked my roommates a little bit. I also am completed uninterested in drinking cokes at this point. I have been drinking lots of iced tea, water, milk- I actually bought this "almond milk" that's dark chocolate flavored, it's delicious and super healthy. So thanks to whomever suggested weight watchers, even though I haven't gone to the gym, I've still lost weight. If I were on the TV show, "The Biggest Loser" I would have, however, gone home a long time ago. I'm not shedding the pounds like they do, but I'm also afraid that if I don't transition this period of my life, it will be a diet and not a change. I don't tell people  that I'm on a diet, cause I don't see it that way. I'm realizing and acknowledging that I've lived an unhealthy lifestyle, not only because of my diet, but also financially. In fact, I've decided that I will not take any "personal" trips until I've gotten my self into a healthy place, that includes my debt paid off and my body in shape. So if you live somewhere besides Amarillo and you want to see me, then unfortunately for quite some time, you're going to have to come here. It's just not smart to not do something about it. If I want to have any kind of future, I have to stop living the way that I am.
One thing I was thinking about on the way home from the gym is growing. When I graduated from college, I had a "what you see is what you get" kind of attitude. I didn't feel like I was going to change who I was. Now, I realize that I'm still changing and growing and becoming a better person- who would have thought THAT was possible?!?! HAHAHAHA, I kid, I kid. But really, it's kind of cool the transition that I'm making. For example, two years ago, I was living in Midland and I was a "regular" at a restaurant, so much so that I didn't have to order, they just asked me if I wanted Tea or Dr. Pepper. (Yes, I really am THAT predictable.) Now, after returning to the gym after a two-week hiatus, the gym employee who usually works when I go in, remembered me and my gym number. How cool is that?!? I mean, out of who knows how many members, he remembered me, and I haven't been there in two weeks!! I just think that's a big difference!! One that I'm proud of!
Now for an update in other news:
We had 7 kids qualify for TAPPS STATE ACADEMIC & ART COMPETITION this last weekend in Dallas. For only having two weeks to prepare, our kids did WONDERFULLY!! We also came in third place!! Two 3rd place finishes for middle school and high school!! That's pretty great for our first year to compete in this things! Truthfully, I had so much fun organizing and coordinating it!! I wasn't a fan of the comments and "negative" feedback that I got from some of the staff, including one teacher telling me I was a "sucker" for volunteering for so much stuff. But I didn't do it for them, I honestly didn't even do it for me. I did it for the kids, to make sure that are getting more of a learning experience than I did. I'm also discovering that I really am NOT A PROCRASTINATOR!! Not at all, whatsoever!! I like having things done in advance, very far in advance!!
Well, I just bought "Blast from the Past" on iTunes so I guess I'm going to head to bed and watch it. I was thinking of it after watching "My Fair Lady." Hope everyone has a GREAT SPRING BREAK! I'll let you know how STATE competition goes, it's April 1st & 2nd in Austin! Thanks for reading! Love you guys!

Until next time....

The Wonder Years

I spent this evening reading a Koala book with my nephews, Andrew and Jakob. It was exactly what I needed this week. I've been so stressed with PSIA, TAPPS, well you guys have heard it all, but I just needed an hour or two to be Aunt Lizzy. On my way home, I started thinking about why I had so much fun just reading this Koala book with the boys. I think, partly, it reminded me of being a kid. I then started thinking about why I didn't remember how much I loved to learn things when I was younger. Then I thought this, "Teenage Years are spent forgetting good things about your childhood so you can have something to complain about and hate your parents for. So growing up must be the process of undoing your teenage years." I don't know if that's true or not, but that's my theory for the day. Of course, I don't really think I was your typical teenager. With Cassi a little nuts and Bobby just a baby, I immediately jumped into the middle child role, trying to make sure everyone was happy and keep the peace, well mostly at least. I never really hated mom like most teenage girls say they do, did I mom? I did however block out alot of the happy memories. Fighting with my sister, building Lego Land with my sister. We built a park one time out of miniature lego's that was really more like a mini-festival. We used our California Raisins and other "little people" to have a full attendance, including music and entertainment. I have a picture of it somewhere. I remember one of the BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENTS I EVER RECIEVED. I hope you understand cause I can only describe it. I remember it was my fifth birthday, maybe sixth. It was a present that I got to open before everyone got there for some reason. But it was a book that had an electronic pen with it. I don't remember if the pen read the words or did something like that but I remember the feeling of excitement I had for that gift. So, I'm watching the kiddos for two days over spring Break and I talked to Cassi about taking the kids to the Science Spectrum in Lubbock. She said yes, so I told the kids before I left and I think they were excited. I mean those kids LOVE SCIENCE and this place has "over 200 exhibits on three floors" which caused Jakob to pretend to faint, haha. I remember Aunt Mary took Cassi and I to a couple of places like that down in Houston; we saw the butterfly exhibit and a dinosaur IMAX movie. So hopefully I get to take them to an IMAX movie too, but we'll have to see. So Tuesday I have a District Student Council Convention and Thursday and Friday we are driving a bus full of high school kids to the Dallas Cambridge School for District TAPPS competition. I'm really hoping our kids do AWESOME! OH, I also got news that Holy Cross came in THIRD AT PSIA THIS LAST WEEKEND!! There were about 7 schools participating so that's pretty GREAT!! For our first year, to get third place behind the two Lubbock schools that host these competitions every year. We beat St. Andrew's in Amarillo!! YEAH!!! Well, I now need to go grocery shopping. So I better wrap it up. Thanks for reading! HAVE A GREAT SPRING BREAK. LENT IS NEXT WEEK, SO BLESSINGS FOR A GOOD (??) LENTEN SEASON.

Until next time!