Well I feel like it has been awhile since a post and I finally have some time to write now that it is SPRING BREAK! Woohoo! It does feel nice to have a week off from school and it is crazy to think when we go back we only have about 10 weeks left. The school year is just flying by and my 8th graders will be in high school before I know it. I'm getting a little nervous about the end of school because I haven't heard anything from the school districts I have been applying to and I am suppose to sign my contract by the 2nd or 3rd week of school for Warrenton. I found out there may be a stiff penalty for breaking your teaching contract, around $3-5000, eeks! Unfortunately it would still be worth it for a higher paying job in any other district. I have come to terms with teaching there a second year if I have to. With the economy the way it is, I am lucky to have the job that I have so I will just be thankful.

Onto more brighter notes, last night was all about babies! We found out that our friends, Blake and Amy are having a baby! It is just too cool, they are a great couple and are going to make great parents. It will definitely be different having a little one around at some of our gatherings but we still have some time to adjust for he/she gets here. Another one of Chris's friends is also having a baby and it is rumored that another one is too...there must be something in the water...I just hope I haven't been drinking any. Ha ha.

While I excited to be on break for a little while, I am so bored and it is only the first day. Chris spends his days working and my parents/sisters are out of town for a volleyball tournament, so it is just me and the dog. And I am trying to save money so staying home is the best option but I wish there was more entertainment. This week I am planning on hitting the gym everyday, let's just say that my pants are getting a little tight and I REFUSE to go up even one size. I worked really hard to get my weight down and I have gotten so lazy lately with how I have been eating and not excercisng so I am not surprised that I have gained a little. Re-committment is all I need, and what better time than with a whole week to devote to it? I plan on heading to Cape Girardeau next weekend and I am pumped. A few of us are headed down to just hang out and get a little crazy in our favorite town. Although I don't know how many friends will be down there to visit because I think it will be SEMO's spring break by then. I think we will still have a good time.

In case you haven't heard...Quizno's is giving away one million sub sandwiches. Go to http://www.millionsubs.com  and register your email address and PRESTO! one free small toasted sub sandwich. Mm Mm Mm Mm Mm Good.

I am stuck at school until 9pm tonight chaperoning the school social and I am so freakin' tired I could literally take a nap on my desk. I still have an hour until it starts and then I have to supervise open gym. I asked for an assignment that would involve mostly sitting or doing something busy, like concessions but no, I get put in the gym where I loathe the activity....kickball. Should be interesting I suppose...I remember the good old days of the St. Elizabeth and Roberts Friday night dances. Oh my goodness, the drama of those dances. Sometimes I forget how much I was like my 8th graders now. I always tease them about their life being so complicated and remind them they are 14. But I think about me at 14... I freaked out about everything, wanted to be liked so badly by the popular kids, and was just skinny, pasty, had BANGS (for Christ's sake), wore purple eyeshadow because I had no idea it didn't look good and still wore a t-shirt everywhere. I absolutely cringe when I look at pictures of myself from this time period. I would love to be that skinny again but girlfriend now knows that she looks good with a tan and some mascara.

I dyed my hair last night, just a touch up of the same color from the day after Christmas, I didn't think my hair actually faded that much but it really made a difference...it's super dark. The kids were so complimenting today...made me feel good that actually noticed something....sometimes I don't think they wouldn't notice if an elephant was hanging out in the room because they are so into themselves.

One of my favorite websites that I read regularly called Mental Floss, posted an interesting topic to respond to today, "What would be your dream job?" Don't even think about your educational background or anything..if you just got to whatever you wanted for a living what would it be? I think I would like to be a travel photographer...there is so much beauty in this world, it would be great to capture it on film. Or ... now this sounds incredibly dorky, but I would love to be a librarian. Surrounded by all those books and knowledge...amazing. One of the answers I saw more than once was a paint color namer...thought that was interesting.

I love coming home from work and having absolutely nothing to do, it's quite possibly one of my most favorite things because it makes me feel like I have one of those normal jobs that people have where the clock strikes a certain time and they can just get up and leave it for the next day. Things I may consider doing tonight: 1. Sitting on my butt 2. Painting my toe nails. 3. Laundry 4. Watching Bravo until I can't keep my eyes open. 5. Job searching. In order to have a list like this to consider it usually means I ran my tail off around work trying to plan tomorrow's lesson, making copies, grading papers, and just generally acting like I have had 10 times as more sugar than my students.

Well this week was probably one of the worst I have had in awhile, I was sick, had a crappy weekend, and oh did I mention I was sick? As my previous post alluded to I had some awful flu/bronchitis deal that is still keeping me down and not feeling the best. I had a sub Tuesday and half a day Thursday and I haven't graded any papers, my classroom looks like a war zone. I am particularly anal when it comes to leaving my classroom to go home for the night...I line up all the desks just right, pick up all the trash (because 8th graders have no idea that trash cans exist), erase the boards, and make sure my desk is cleared off so I can start the next day off fresh without any clutter. None of that happened last week. I am surprised you can still see the floor in my classroom, thank goodness for the night custodian who does sweep after I leave each day, otherwise I probably would have been ankle deep in paper. But I must move on and get back on track, it's a new week full of freshness.

This week has not been a fun one so far. I have this awful flu thing and I feel like death. I tried to go to school today and I knew I just should have called off but I felt determined to go but as soon as I got there I thought there was no way I was going to make it through the day. It sucked to drive 40 miles to and from school for a 30 minute day. I thought sleeping all day would help me feel better but it didn't, I'm hot, I'm cold, I cough constantly...yuck. And to top it all off it was 70 freaking degrees today and I spent inside in the dark. Boo this day.

OH man, what a LONG week I feel that I have had. And it honestly hasn't been all to stressful, in fact I haven't even done school work when I've gotten home the past two nights (even though I have needed too, oops.) Nothing really eventful going on, just the usual frustrations with school and my ridiculous co-worker who shall remain unnamed. It is getting to the point where I can no longer be professional...the kids don't like her, her team and other teachers don't like her, and she is freakin' clueless! If I have to stay at my position at this school for another year I hope and pray that she leaves, I can't possibly see how she will be offered a contract anyways but you never know.