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31.3.09

cast in green tights

Green tights...green tights...

...the hideous kelly green running leggings that we were forced to wear all four years of high school cheerleading under our skirts if it was even remotely cold outside.

Green tights...green tights...

...the hideous kelly green running leggings that have now repurposed themselves in my running wardrobe after, do I say it, thirteen years. Now serving the purpose they were initially created for.

Green tights...green tights...

...to limp/run the 2009 Shamrock Shuffle in 1:00:39 (yes, embarrassing...but injury is my excuse) and meet up with high school friends to celebrate a mini "before the ten year reunion" hang out, dinner and wine session.

Green tights...green tights...

...my kryptonite, the essential downfall that was needed to let my body heal in order to become healthy again.

Green tights...green tights...

...currently replaced by a soft walking cast.

25.3.09

...thoughts...

Why is it that our students can spell masturbation correctly but not dided died?

lyrics

dashboard confessional
as lovers go

let's just put it this way...if anyone were this passionate about me...I would fall instantly head over stilletos

She said, "I've got to be honest, You're wasting your time if you're fishin' around here." And I said, "You must be mistaken, I'm not foolin', this feelin' is real." She said, "You've gotta be crazy! What do you take me for? Some kinda of easy mark?" "You've got wits, You've got looks, You've got passion, But I swear that you've got me all wrong."


I said, "I've got to be honest, I've been waiting for you all of my life." For so long I thought I was asylum bound, But just seeing you makes me think twice. And being with you here makes me sane. I fear I'll go crazy if you leave my side. "You've got wits, You've got looks, You've got passion,But are you brave enough to leave with me tonight?"


mrs. potter's lullaby
counting crows

very difficult for me to narrow down my favorite part(s) but I tried to keep in the lyrics that spoke the strongest to me...including visualizations

Well I woke in mid-afternoon cause that's when it all hurts the most. I dream I never know anyone at the party and I'm always the host. If dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts. You can never escape, you can only move south down the coast.

Well, I am an idiot walking a tightrope of fortune and fame. I am an acrobat swinging trapezes through circles of flame. If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame. And though I'll never forget your face, sometimes i can't remember my name. favorite lyric of all time that reminds me of teaching


...And the price of a memory is the memory of the sorrow it brings. And there is always one last light to turn out and one last bell to ring. And the last one out of the circus has to lock up everything. Or the elephants will get out and forget to remember what you said. And the ghosts of the tilt-a-whirl will linger inside your head. And the ferris wheel junkies will spin there forever instead. When I see you a blanket of stars covers me in my bed.


...You can see a million miles tonight But you can't get very far. Oh, you can see a million miles tonight But you can't get very far.

getting through

Getting through what you might ask?

My list:
typing lesson plans
grading all projects
creating decorations for the book fair
entering grades
writing a teacher manipulatives book
running 8 miles (supposedly)
reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
checking summer school boxes for reading and math teacher resource books and student editions
drawing shoes
ordering summer school supplies
ordering art supplies

While working through my list yesterday...and many of these things stay on my list from day to day until I can check them off...I happened upon an amazing visual image from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close:

I hid behind a mound of earth that had been dug up to make a grave for some books, literature was the only religion her father practiced, when a book fell on the floor he kissed it, when he was done with a book he tried to give it away to someone who would love it, and if he couldn't find a worthy recipient, he buried it...

...The books had been buried, so I hid this time behind a group of trees, I imagined their roots wrapped around the books, pulling nourishment from the pages, I imagined rings of letters in their trunks...

Since the reading of this passage I just keep trying to find a way to visually represent this...a way in which to represent this without screwing it up...without making it seem/look/feel trivial. This passage sums up the way I think about, look at, react to books. This passage sums up the way my parents and family think about, look at, react to books. If only the artwork in my mind could be extracted for the enlightenment of others...but then again, isn't that what every artist wants to accomplish?

24.3.09

training schmaining

After virtually no training for the past 3 weeks...and a night out...I went ahead and hopped back on the training wagon for the Kentucky Derby Half Marathon and ran 7 miles.

Wow! Was that real?


Yep.


For the first time in a long time, I amazed myself. In this fresh amazement and with a little help from a popular tv show called The Biggest Loser, the decision has been made to fully train and participate in the Louisville Half marathon in exactly 1 month from today. However wrong it may be...if the fatties on The Biggest Loser can run an entire half marathon without walking...I can too.

18.3.09

the wiz

On Friday morning I was handed a note...the kind of note that kids pass to each other in the halls...from a former student's younger sibling.

The note stated that quite a few former WB students were performing in the musical The Wiz at their high school...great heads up. Thank goodness I leave most Friday nights free. After hearing about the performance, another teacher was more than happy to attend the $5.00 performance with me.

Amazed. Rewarded. Proud.

Watching these students sing and dance in front of a room full of people maybe around 150 was amazing. Some of the students even had primary roles. Needless to say, I am incredibly proud of all of them...even the students that weren't on stage but who helped paint the set and make the props and costumes. There were times in which I had taught more than half of the performers.

After the show, I made my appearance known to the girls. One response...since the note was only from one student and the rest had no idea I would come or have even thought of me since they left was

Um, hi...You look really familiar...confused look lasting about .2 seconds...Oh my God!...Ms. Bell!?! Followed with the world's strongest hug, screeches, and more hugs competing for a title...then pictures.

It's always nice to know that you have made a difference in someone's life...no matter how insignificant...and even if it is only a few years after they've left that they remember you.

Also, a BIG thank you to the teacher who braved a long drive, off-key and sometimes non-existent lyrics to go along with kid choreographed dances, and for assisting me to an utterly rewarding experience.

16.3.09

dieter not dieter

Funny since they are spelled the same but the reading goes as such (dee-ter not diet-er).

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.

Dieter. The name of my mother's family. The name of my Grammy. The name of fat, little, blond German boys in cartoons like PepperAnn. My middle name. A name of which I am forever proud...a name of which will be forever strong.

Dieter. Comfortably fitting since I believe I have tried every diet at least once. If only there were one in which the dieter (haha) would get to eat nothing but doritos, pizza and chocolate. If only I needed one...it might stick.

12.3.09

level two

Only 5 personal training sessions left and I have to say that having Veller train with me is the best decision I could have made. After getting ditched for her free personal training session I asked my trainer if she could just come with us...thinking that it would only be for a day. Within 10 minutes I realized how amazing personal training could be...as long as you are laughing the entire time. Clearing it with David first, I invited Veller to be my training buddy. Fitting since I convinced her to sign up at the gym so I could selfishly have a work out partner. Best thing I have done and all in the name of fitness.

The good thing about my workout buddy is that she is a little less experienced with some of the techniques being introduced and therefore helps me improve my techniques while correcting hers. As Veller said when asked if she would like to pay for personal training sessions no thanks, I took health class in high school. Fortunately or unfortunately working out and fitness in general has changed since that time.

She keeps me motivated...the best thing about a work out buddy. There are times during the personal training session in which I have to set the weight I am lifting down so I don't do damage to myself or anyone around because I am laughing sooo hard. That should be a prerequisite for any work out session...laughter must be involved.

At one point during a session we were in a triangle formation using our core muscles to bounce pass a large exercise ball to the next person. If we all passed at the same speed at the same time the exercise would have worked. We must have started speeding up before Veller got the hang of it because numerous times she would have all of the exercise balls in her corner of the room. In her I'm about to give up on the world voice she insisted this sucks! It's like I'm in a video game on level two when I haven't passed level one.

Isn't that the truth...

another free day!?!

It's amazing how behavior instantly improves when rewarding students with a movie after 10 classes of good behavior. Not that I am upset at these behavioral improvements...it is just that I am bored...hence the blogging. While watching Wall-E for the umpteenth time, it is in my best interest to journal then record my findings. Here they are...


smack that-or-not quite christmas


I was reminded while listening to a light music station the other day about a kid story from my first year at the WB.


Kindergarten student, Justin, called me over and motioned for me to lean in so that he could whisper his favorite Christmas song to me. Silly of me to expect something like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer or I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, even something a little more on the serious side of things like Silent Night, etc. Nope. All expectations flew out the window when I heard Justin whisper


smack that, all on the floor
smack that, give me some more
smack that, 'til you get sore
smack that, oh ooh


A little disturbed that a kindergartener just whispered these lyrics into my ear, I quickly explained that this was definitely not a Christmas song. Justin replied with but Ms. Bell, it's on the radio all the time and it's Christmas. Makes sense...I guess.


bc and ad for 2nd grade


Wednesday classes are my days to teach art history to 2nd, 4th, and 6th grades. Yesterday in 2nd grade, I read aloud an artist biography of Pablo Picasso in preparation of making our Picasso people. While discussing the important and interesting information about Picasso, one student asked about the difference between BC and AD. Since I have been teaching cave art to 1st graders, I have a pretty politically correct way to explain the difference and felt comfortable doing so. For the life of me, I cannot recall how this topic even got brought up.


Upon hearing the BC and AD terms, more students became interested in what each meant and with 5 minutes left in class...we discussed. Ms. Bell is a real person...right? Ok, now some people might believe that Ms. Bell has magical powers while some people don't. Either way, Ms. Bell is still a person. Ok now some of us may have heard of this guy called Jesus Christ. Whether you believe in his stories or not, he was still a real person. He is actually a person that our calendar years are based upon...

After that riveting discussion we began to do math to figure out how old Picasso would be if he were still alive today 128. We also did the math to figure out how many years Picasso died before Ms. Bell was born 8. Anytime a year was mentioned, Carl would shout out either BC or AD with his newfound knowledge. When he saw how old Picasso would be if he were still living, he exclaimed Wow! He has got to be dead! then he looked at me and said You're not dead...I can tell.


Just another day at the WB.

11.3.09

sunshine & rabies

Oh how I've missed Trivia Tuesdays! It was a nice relief to eat and drink with friends while showing off our trivia knowledge of trivial things...or lack thereof.


One of my dear friends (can you tell I have been reading Dracula lately?), one who hasn't seen me since my 160lb weight loss Tim, wanted a little insight to how I have been doing and dealing with what happened...the regular inquiring questions. In the process of my explanation that I am doing surprisingly well (in case you were wondering too), I happened to mention that in our happy oblivion, one of us thought that once the move happened everything would be sunshine and rainbows.


Upon hearing this, Tyler leaned over and said "more like sunshine and rabies." Quite funny and clever, I have found Tyler's comment to be one with much truth. In relationships isn't it always the case that we take the good and the bad?* Yes, relationships, the good ones anyway, are supposed to be easy...but even the easy ones take work. The good sunshine is what helps us through the bad rabies. When the rabies overtake the sunshine, you realize that it is time for the vaccine...even if it stings for a little bit.


*You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life.

thank god for office mates

Here's a shout-out to my favorite office mates of all time...Team MAGIC (Music, Art, Gym, Informational sciences and Computers), the FAT (Fine Arts Team) or shall I just say the specials teachers at the WB...mainly speaking about gym and music...not that library isn't included but I do share my office with the former.


Even though I am not happy about being displaced from my fabulous art room this year, I am happy that I have been relocated to the gym office...the back of the gym where three of us are squished a little bit like sardines. While I might not sound so grateful, in all honesty, I truly am. Grateful that everyday I come to work...good or bad...I get to be myself, laugh out loud, speak my mind, speak the truth, ask for guidance, etc...and my office mates think no less (or more) of me for it. In truth, I consider them to be great friends...especially since they know some of my secrets;) God knows that office holds its fair share of them.


I thank Matt for his fake surly attitude, your mom jokes, and for his ability to tune me out when necessary.


I thank Molly for her encouragement, inspiration and guidance/advice.


I couldn't imagine this year without the two of them. As for the WB...I don't think they will be trimming the FAT anytime soon. We are all too knowledgeable about our subjects and too good at what we do :)

9.3.09

insight from a sixth grade perspective

The past couple of weeks have been a time for me to look at relationships in a whole new way.

What makes them work? What makes them strong? How do you make them last if only one person is committed to making it work? How could a relationship even work if one of the people involved thinks of nothing but themself all the time?

Well, I'm sure by this point you can sense my frustrations. Don't worry, I have more but will save you the pain of reading them...(pain like is she really recording these thoughts, not pain like ouch.)

This morning two things happened:

1) I finished Breaking Dawn, the last in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and

2) I confiscated an art journal that was being used to pass notes

In regards to #1, I loved this series and if there is an Edward out there for me (someone who cares about me/loves me so unconditionally) I can't wait to meet/realize/find him. Wow! What a passionate love story....however, one for fiction :( Finishing this book and therefore the series has blinded me a little and confused my positive thoughts about relationships in general. Confused because as much as I would love to have an Edward (or Jacob) of my own they are completely fictional and therefore do not exist...does that mean that my Prince Charming (as the Disney movies promised) does not exist? "Some day my prince will come. Some day I'll find my love. Though he's far away, I'll find my love someday. Some day when my dreams come true."

In regards to #2, the sixth grade girls have interesting take on things...like sixth grade boys
(written by 6th grade girls...complete with their punctuation, spelling, grammar, etc)

*how they are?*

-When they say sorry they don't mean it.
-they treat you like garbage when they are with their friends.
-they never think aboute you & you are thinking of them all day.
-they don't listen to you
-they hang around with the girl you hate the most
-they make your relashionship not work
-they want you to do what they say but they don't want to do what you say
-they are the reason is over
-they make you sad

*how to 4get aboute someone (asap)*

intro-when you like someone and they don't like you you try your best to stop thinking aboute them

I know that things will always work out for the best. Everything happens for a reason. Blah, blah, blah. Yes, these are phrases that I have hear before and in light of certain recent events have heard about a thousand more times than necessary. Thank you all for the kind words...however, please note that I am a very impatient person and want to know...NOW!!!...what the future holds for me.

2.3.09

the best friends indeed

Thank God for good friends in not so good situations. I feel that it is my turn to say thank you to my very nearest and dearest for dropping everything and to reach out to a friend in need this weekend...me.

After a snag in the fabric I like to call...my life, I have been able to rejoice in the fact that my good friends are, just that. Friends that are new and friends that are old both came out to show support and love whether in the form of a 27 hour time period with your's truly or through lunch and mani/pedis, or comfort through familiar places and some bloody mary's or through text messages and phone calls or through a fabulous journal and kind words. All were presented and all were appreciated.

I am extrememly hopeful that good things will come my way. In fact, I know they are. What they are and in what form, I am not quite clear...but good things are coming!

Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold.