The Aforementioned Flowers

...were thrust in my face this morning by a 5th grader who, on an almost daily basis, drives me to the edge of my endurance (twice a day since he joined drama).  The problem with this kid is he's too darn funny and he knows it.  Most of the time when he should be in his seat, he's running around making it terribly difficult for me not to laugh.  I think he has a Napoleon complex -- he's a year older and two inches shorter than my teeny sister.

So, this morning, when those delightful sunflowers and daisies abruptly blotted out my field of vision, I was both taken aback and not at all surprised to find his arm at the end of the stems.

"Here, Miss."

"These are beautiful!  Thank you so much."

"Miss, on the card, what I wrote, my mom made me put 'love'.  She said it would be cute."  Clearly, he did not think it was cute.  "Just so you know."

I sighed, and laughed, as I usually do with this boy.  "Alright."  He skittered away.

Ms. C.,

Thank you for helping me practice my lines and do good in the show.  I know I give you headahces sometimes, but we alays have fun.  You are a great teacher and I'll miss you.

Love,

White King

I showed my partner teacher, who laughed out loud.  "Ain't that the truth."  She picked a petal off a sunflower.  "That's why they pay us the big bucks."

Indeed.

I will not deny i needed something like this right now.

One of my cast kids gave me there this morning. They may be my favorite of all the flowers ive ever been given.

Am I... Old?

It can't be.

I'm only twenty-three.

But I'm showing my 6th graders School House Rock, and...

And...

They don't love it! They think it's dumb!

Oh, what a world...

Becca Needs Your Help!

This is Becca.


Becca is many things to many people. To me, she is sometimes called Donut, sometimes Gabe. She was with me this one time when a portent-of-death SUV almost killed us. She is my godmother (I adopted her as such when I was confirmed, since my baptismal godmother is M.I.A), she was the only person I've ever chosen to live with, and she's my best not-blood-related friend.


This is also Becca. Aside from being all of the above, Becster is also a source of much amusement when I get punchy.

Now, in addition to all these things, Becca will be a marathon runner. But she's not running for the sheer human achievement factor or for her own glory, oh no. My Becky is running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to raise awareness of and money for research of blood cancers.

This is where you come in.

Her fund raising goal is $4,000. If enough people pitch a little bit in the pot, she can totally make that goal. Here's her fund raising page. If you have two minutes time and a few bucks you can spare, go help the girl out. Every little bit helps, even a dollar!

I think with our collective pocket change, we can help Becca make a difference in the fight against blood cancers.

Thank you kindly!

Zefram Cochrane Sings to a Pig

Actually, when I watch First Contact, I have to work at not thinking, "Hello, Farmer Hoggett!". Babe came first.

And if you want to get really technical, it's James Cromwell.

This song has been stuck in my head for days. The video is a little quiet, turn it up.

Food for Thought

...from Drew Carey, of all people.



Hat tippage to Fr. Steve

We're All. Going. Crazy.

During a class two and a half hours after recess.

 

6th grade student: Can I go to the nurse?  My tooth fell out.

Me: What?? When, just now?

Student: No, recess.

Me: What?!  Why are you just now asking to go to the nurse?

Student #2: He lost it.

Student #1: Yeah, and I just found it.

Me: Where?

Student #1: In my sock.

 

At that point, I just stopped asking questions and let him go.

Is That a Freight Train...?*

I just turned in my last set of lesson plans for the year.  This is a very flat coin with two distinct sides:

 

Heads: Wooooooo hoooooo!! We're almost done!! It's almost summer!!  Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!! (Dance)

 

Tails: (sniffle) I won't be here next year.  I won't teach this kids.  I won't live with these sisters anymore.  (sniffle)  (Cry)

 

It's more or less the emotional equivalent of Red Bull and vodka, which I have never tried because I would like my heart to continue to function normally, but i hear it's a trip.

 

*The title, by the way, is suposed to be a clever play on the "light at the end of the tunnel", referring to the fact that for me the end of the tunnel may involve a meeting with a metal/emotional train

Characters

We had to cut play practice short because the gym was booked for the sports banquet, but i didnt warn the kids parents so ive been hanging out with them for the last half hour. Included in no particular order are alice, the red queen, the red knight, and the unicorn. And me of course. After they get picked up i have to RUN and change so i can attend said sports banquet. yup. still busy.

Faith

With both his wife and daughter teetering bewteen this world and the next, if you'll allow the phrase, a young man prays:

I prayed this morning at Tricia's bed, holding her left hand with tears in my eyes. I expressed to God that I will accept anything He chooses for Tricia in the next few hours and days if He would allow just one person to understand and accept Him as their Savior. I don't like the idea of making deals with God, but I needed a sign that He is God.

Less than two hours later, a woman posted on Andy's Blog that she was finally "understanding" and "accepting" Jesus as her Savior.

My God is the awesome God.

Nate, January 10th