A little before this past holiday season, I had an interesting conversation with a couple of my guy friends. We were discussing, in depth, the appropriate weight of a girl.
At first it was as simple as "she has to weigh less than me" but then turned into a complex theory...we'll call this theory Thomas's Law.
According to Thomas's Law a girl...excuse me...a datable girl must be no more than two pounds per inch tall. For instance, I am 5'7" or 67" tall. In order for me to find my datable weight I would take 67 x 2 (for the 2lbs/in). The most I could weigh at my datable weight would be 134lbs.
Humph...who are we kidding...I might have been that weight at the beginning of high school but after I learned about how much I loved sports (tennis, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading) I quickly put much muscle mass onto my frame. Since then, with the exception of the freshman 10-15 in college, I have dabbled in the 145-155 category...no where near the two pounds per inch rule. In fact, for my weight to be acceptable, I'm going to have to grow to be 6'2"! ;) Or...I will just have to live with being 2.2lbs/in.
After I realized the truth that I was undatable it was time for a massive reconstruction plan on my diet and exercise lifestyle. My plan was to exercise more, eat healthy, watch portion size, etc. Trouble with that...I was already doing pretty well in all of those areas. I have always worked out 3-4 times per week and I eat extremely healthy during the day and at night with the occasional cupcake and alcohol intake.
Royally screwed is how I can describe myself over the past hour and a half. Whatever the deal is, I can honestly say that this must be my little taste of karma. Good news is that so far, everything has been pretty minor.
finished blog and left work by 3:05...not bad so far
pretty clear drive on North Ave from Grand-Damen
stuck behind slowest driver in the world
large truck blocked both lanes on North through the Western intersection
lots of horn and blockage happening...me in the middle...
park in lot to get security tag taken off gift
pay $6.25 for 15 minutes ($0.41/min)
head to Borders to get book club book (Gang Leader for a Day)
park in free lot
pay full price because my teacher card has magically disappeared
Again, nothing too bad...just a lot at once after a little while of only wonderful things.
Life continues to unfold and each and every day brings something new or renewed.
ISATs (this wonderful testing...no child left behind b.s.) started yesterday and with the start of the test, as with the start of anything one is nervous/anxious about, all of the jitters have, as they say, left the building. This week is quite nerve-racking for the kids so I did my best on Monday to be their (each and every student's) personal test-taking cheerleader. Going room to room before students left school on Monday (why to get their good nights' sleep of course) reassuring students that they already have all of the tools they need to be successful and to do their best was a difficult job!
Many of the students, even though they have taken the ISATs before, definitely felt the pressure to do well. This concept seemed a little strange to me seeing that when I was in elementary school, I recall no pressure at all. In fact, I experienced the exact opposite of that. For me, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills just happened to appear on my desk once a year as a surprise. Yes, not a very good surprise but a surprise nonetheless. Now, with No Child Left Behind and the threat to close schools and fire teachers, students pretty much know the testing dates as soon as they walk through the doors in August. So much time is spent emphasizing the importance of the test that it's of no wonder why students are stressing out.
This positive burst of excitement and enthusiasm about the tests definitely helped boost their spirits...at least I'd like to think so. After the first day of testing, I made sure to go back to each of the classrooms that I had so generously pumped up to get feedback on the tests. Most students told me that they did really well on the tests and that they weren't as bad as they had previously thought. One boy in particular who had expressed his concerns of testing on Monday let me know that he was nervous at the beginning of the test but then realized that he completely understood what was going on in the test and in turn "rocked" the test. (As a teacher those words are music to my ears :)
Walking through the halls this morning, I was stopped by one of my favorite fourth graders with a "good morning Ms. Bell!" After the casual good morning response the conversation went as such:
Me: I know you did an awesome job yesterday...are you gonna rock the test again today!?!
Students: Yeah! It was easy and I'm ready!
Me: That's awesome (insert high five)! You're a rock star...actually you're my little rock star!
Student: You're my hero.
Me: (taken aback) Wow! Thank you. That's a big job, I sure hope I can make you proud.
Student: You already do.
Usually it's the teachers and parents who are expected to pass out the positives like candy in order to boost the confidence of our youth...but after sometime contemplating...who does this for the adults?
It's rare. It's unusual. It's magical. It's worth it.
It's the tiny reminders, like the hero comment, that remind me of the why...the why am I doing all of this? the Why do I care so much? It's the reminder that I'm touching lives and making a difference.
Thanks Neyda ;)
Today is the zipper down, underwear inside out, stub your toe on a corner kind of day. It's the kind of day that would get a lesser person down. But not me...not today. I wouldn't change today for anything.
Speaking of the type of day...because of the birthday of Dr. Seuss, I had the pleasure of reading Dr. Seuss books all day long. Some old favorites like The Lorax, Yertle the Turtle, and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. As well as a new favorite Fox in Socks. After pumping up the kids at this morning's ISAT assembly and reading so many Dr. Seuss books...creation struck...here is my ode to Dr. Seuss and the ISATs:
I just love getting students ready for tests!
Because getting ready for tests is just really the best.
Getting ready for tests, yes, yes sir-y-bob
Getting ready for tests, that's just part of my job.
The students are ready. Don't worry, they'll do their best.
The students are ready to rock these fine tests.
Months and years to prepare will be of big help.
All these months and these years of the best sort of help.
It's the teachers who care about all that they do.
It's wonderful, amazing teachers like you!
Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of Valentine's Day. A time to celebrate love, loved ones, lovers...however, why are we just celebrating for one day? In reality, shouldn't we be doing this all year round?
I have not always been Negative Nelly (term stolen from Girls on the Run) about Valentine's Day. In fact, before this year, I was definitely an advocate for the love fest. This year something clicked. I have officially become a nay-sayer about celebrating love on this one special day and this one special day only.
It hit me as I was headed to the gym (the gym by my school...not the closest to me...actually probably the farthest away...but the one where people have let go of their New Year's resolutions which makes it therefore, fairly empty). The way to the gym is a long straight shot down Fullerton Avenue, the street where no one carries insurance and where everyone drives like maniacs. Coming back from my tangent...Fullerton Avenue was littered by an abundance of fluffy, plush, stuffed animals; pink gorillas, white teddy bears, and red dogs as well as red roses suffocated by a barrage of baby's breath. The question that repeated itself like a strobe light every time I drove by one of these stands, which was every block, was "What grown female or male would want love in the form of baby's breath and/or a stuffed monkey?" I'm sure there are a few but enough to evoke this much junk on the side of the street!?! Yes, cute to give to a child to celebrate a day of love. No, not cute to give to an adult.
Which brings me to my next question or rather point...the dinner. Question: What do adults to do on Valentine's Day if the stuffed animals are overrated and out? Answer: Why, go to dinner of course! Dinner at a fancy restaurant...usually a step or two above the norm. Example: If White Castle is where you take your dates, you might end up at Applebee's. If Long John Silver's if your norm, Red Lobster would be your upgrade. If a couple happens to be going to a restaurant where reservations are needed, make sure to call ahead...somewhere around the two week mark ahead. This will ensure your place at a pre-packaged, overly packed, usually fantastic place. Not only will the couple not get the best the restaurant has to offer but they will most likely not even get a choice of menu item. On top of all of that wonderfulness, a ton of expectations are laid like a blanket on the couple the second they walk through the door...sometimes even before they walk through the door...such as a photographer waiting patiently outside to capture the awkward Valentine's Day for all couples. What would normally be considered a great date at a great restaurant has now conveniently turned into awkward conversation and hopes for the future over an overpriced meal.
Didn't think too much about dinner and drinks with an ex last week, I stay friends with almost all of my exes...I guess I'm just that girl. I knew that my ex was still dating the girl he met right after we broke up (um about 2.5 years ago) and I assumed he was planning on telling me they lived together.
After about an hour long conversation...just catching up here's how the conversation went:
A-So are you living with new girlfriend now?
C-Oh yeah, it's been a while.
A-Wow, that's great! I will forever live with a boyfriend before marriage chuckle under breath
C-Yeah, marriage. Did I tell you that my brother and his longtime girlfriend are getting married?
A-Actually you did mention that...that's amazing, she is such a great girl.
C-They are getting married next June when she graduates from Vet school.
A-And you? You have been with your girl now for, what is it now, 2.5 years? Are you engaged yet?
C-Oh, haha, yeah.
A-big smile Really!?! That's awesome! When are you getting married?
C-Two weeks, October 10...
A-did not hear anything for about 5 minutes after that because the shock had set in...
C-I'm surprised mutual friend didn't tell you...
A-I guess it wasn't on her priority list...she does have two small ones now and you're not the center of her world
This was all the confirmation I needed to know and believe that I am officially "Good Luck Chuck" but for guys. Almost every boyfriend that I have had since sophomore year of college and one even before that have married the girl they dated after me...well, the ones that believe in marriage anyway.
Yep...went through the list again...still true.
With that being said...the streak stops now! From this point forward, I will no longer be "Good Luck Chuck." Instead, roles will be reversed and I am passing the torch to the last guy I dated and no, we are actually not friends...which is why this works really well...he will now be Good Luck Chuck...mwahahaha
If you would like to join me...I am getting together with a group of friends on this wonderful day of October 10...downtown Chicago...to celebrate the passing of the torch. Good-bye Good Luck Chuck status...bring on the Mrs. degree. :)
School is back in session (not the cause of my lack of blogging however). This begins year number five at the same school and I can honestly say that I did miss the students. Things have gotten off to a really great start but if I blogged about how perfect everything was, well, that would get quite boring. Instead, I choose to tell you two stories...
...one...
It is my fifth year at the same school so one might think that I know the students really well. I do. Usually I only need to meet and learn the names of both incoming kindergarten classes as well as a handful of new students, possibly one or two per class/grade. Sixty plus kids to meet and learn...piece of cake. We also have many, many siblings at the school which also makes learning names really easy.
While teaching sixth grade, I had asked the students what they knew about Pop Art. Show off that I am, I didn't use my grade book or a list of student names to call on students to answer questions. Confidently I called on Maria. "Yes Maria..." Maria looked at me funny and said "Juan." Only about two seconds later did it register and I realized that I had called sixth grade Juan by his third grade sister's name, Maria. Yikes, how embarrassing...for both. It was an honest mistake...Maria and Juan both look very similar in the face (you can tell they are related) and for some unknown reason, they both have the same haircut. Maria's is very short for a girl and Juan's is very long for a boy :)
...two...
In fifth grade, we have started making our mixed media me books. In these books, I require students to have an acrostic poem...something they have been doing since first grade at this school. Since they have been composing acrostic poems for so long, they basically have memorized which one word answers go with each letter of their name. Boring! For art class, I put a little twist on it. One word answers aren't allowed and students actually have to tell me something about themselves instead of Awesome Nice Neat Elephants. Being the wonderful teacher that I am, I do a think aloud with the students and my name and the end result looks something like this:
Art teacher to elementary students
Neat and ALWAYS organized
Never one to let someone down
Excellent tennis player
Believes in fairy tales
Elephants are my favorite because they never forget
Literary lover and avid reader
Lucky to have such wonderful friends and family
Of course with the fifth grade boys B had to be pointed out. "Ms. Bell, what do you mean you believe in fairy tales? Aren't you a little old for that?" Me "Prince Charming is on his way...he's just not here yet." Girls in unison "awe *sigh*."
