Cruise Prep Time

Exactly 5 weeks from today I will be here:

Waiting to board this:

So that I can do this:

While I am in:

Are you jealous?

Co-Workers Who Drive You Crazy

I really dislike co-workers who might have a few years on you and think that there way is the best way or that they are more important than you. There is a fellow teacher of mine who just drives everyone crazy with her opinionated views. She thinks she knows all and is so important. Now in small quantities I really like this person, but sometimes....she just pisses me off. Here is today's situation:

Our basketball team is in the district finals this weekend and so they decided that a pep rally would be a good idea to show our support for them. That's fine, no problem. They emailed all of us asking our opinion. I responded great idea, but could we not lose the same period of the day as we did last time. Well, this person responded that the period I suggested was her planning and she didn't want to lose it because she really needed it. Doesn't everyone need their planning? Someone is going to have to lose it. Why not her? What makes her special?

I responded that my argument was that we had lost one period last time why not another one this time? Why lose instruction time in the same class again? She responds with this comment:

"You are very funny. (just kidding). I will work things out, while you educate. ;) ha ha ha"

Okay now what do you think that means? I, as well as others, took it to mean that she was making fun of me and the fact that I was concerned with instruction time. What else was I supposed to think after that first sentence? I was like WTF??? Let's just say that comment went all over me. What was she thinking? So I called her on it through a private email not mass email for the whole school to see and this was her response to me:

"I was pulling your leg---I said (JUST kidding!). I am more than certain you are an excellent teacher! And I mean that! It was just cute that you said it the way you did, and that is why I said that. You are a fine teacher. Yes, e-mail can have some problems in that area. I can be sarcastic, but it was more meant to be funny, guess it wasn’t. Sorry, I would never insult you."

Nice save. Whatever. Then she sends this out to the entire faculty to save her own ass.

"Just so EVERYONE knows, I was trying to be funny and tease a little with _____. She is a fine teacher and I would never want to “imply” otherwise!!!"

Again, nice save. It was funny though cause other teachers took it the same way I did and came to see me immediately after it came across email. They were seeing if I had exploded yet. LOL!

Of course, this was on top of dealing with an uncooperative principal and bookkeeping beauracracy. I needed Happy Hour badly after this day!

Anyone else work with these kind of people?

Pesky Ex-Friends

Ever have any of those? I do. One in particular! There is this girl I used to work with at the school. She was getting married, asked me to be a bridesmaid, I accepted, everything is cool. Well then her fiance acts like an ass and she calls me and another friends to help her move out of the apartment. We go, help her, still everything is cool. She of course has called off the wedding and is moving on with her life. Come to find out she goes on her "honeymoon cruise" with the guy! Bitch! Lied straight to my face about where she was and had me feeding her cat while she was gone. Anyway, I told her I wanted nothing to do with her and at this moment am still trying to forget she exists.

Well...that's impossible because she will not leave me alone!!!!

She is now engaged to marry a guy who works in my building. I like this guy and hope he knows what he is getting himself into with her. He is a nice guy and doesn't deserve to get hurt. Well, anyway, today I get an email from her...see she won't leave me alone!

"______ and I are getting married soon and we’re in the process of removing our current furniture to replace it with new items. We’re down to his couch, love seat, computer desk and a glass top table. Please spread the word that these items are available for sale as I can’t think of 2 people who know more folks than the two of you do."

She and him are apparently moving in together and are consolidating furniture. She wants me to pass the word about her furniture because as she puts it I know people. WTF? Whatever! My best friend and I are completely amazed at her ability to act as if nothing is wrong and that we are still friends. I wanted so bad to send a nasty email and let her know exactly how I feel but alas I can't. I like her fiance too much to hurt him that way and it would affect him negatively. So instead I am here venting about what a bitch she is!!!! AAAAHHH!!!! Maybe one day she will get the hint.

Anyone else out there have pesky ex-friends who won't simply go away?????

Where to start?

I realize that it has been like 6 weeks since I have even thought of this blog but I've just been very busy.

My most exciting news is I am going on another cruise. I am so excited. Only a few weeks to wait for it. That's the worst part. I want to go now. I booked the cruise in January and then started looking into airfare. At first I was going to try to save money and be strategic about when I flew. However, then I did my taxes and realized because I bought my house last year, i am getting a sweet refund. Screw being frugal. I'm going all out on this cruise. So I got the plane ticket, hotel booked for the night before...and now I just have to wait. Yuck!

I have been on the message boards for a few days now and it seems like quite an interesting bunch of people. I'm sure there will be a few strange ones but the best part is that a bunch of people I know from two years ago are also going on this one. Can't wait to see all of them again.

School is going well, although we have now missed 5 days of school that we will have to make up. That sucks. We were going to be out before Memorial Day and now we are barely out before June.

Had an ice storm this week and got to leave school early on Thursday. Of course we had to wait for all students to leave before they would let us leave. That made for a rather tricky and slippery drive home. I felt for all the people who lived outside of town. I had only a 10 minutes drive home, but some had upwards of 45 minutes. Had to be difficult. Of course then we went on and missed all of Friday. Love sleeping in but hate have to make it all up later. I would rather go to work now and be out when it warms up. LOL!

Weight loss is going well but slow. I probably will not make my goal before the cruise but I definitely will make it. I'm nothing if not a fighter.

I'm also into tennis season now which means my time is no longer my own. We have practice everyday after school until 6pm which makes working out very difficult. I'm just too tired to get up early before school and too tired to go after practice. Got figure something out. Can't stop eating now can I? LOL!

The past week...

Okay so where to start???

First of all, my brother came home from Iraq on leave last week on a three week leave. The day he arrived my mother emailed that morning and I immediately started making plans to get out of work and get to the airport to meet him. His plane arrived on time, we ate lunch, and went back to my parents’ house to hang out. His girl friend was supposed to arrive at 4:30. We were going to pick her up and then go on to the SC vs. HC ball game. Well she calls at 2 and says that her flight has been cancelled and she is trying to get another one. Right before we are to leave for the game, she calls and says that she has a flight and will arrive at the airport around 10:30. Cool, of course she asks if we have heard from my brother and we promptly tell her no. We want to surprise her at the airport. So we go to the game. As we are proceeding through downtown, I suddenly hear a thump-thump-thump. I look at my brother, turn down the radio, and panic. Something is not right. At the stoplight, I open my door and look back. Oh no…a stupid flat tire. Okay, no problem, my brother is with me and we’ll just get out and change the tire. We call my parents who are in another car to tell them what has happened. Now the fun begins…we can’t figure out how to release the spare tire from the back of the car and my book is sitting at home on the kitchen table. Great place for it! So we have to call my parents back and have my dad come with his tool box and try to figure out how to get this spare out.

Dad arrives and tries the fix-a-flat stuff first with his portable air compressor. No luck. So we proceed to try to get the tire. Finally after like 20 minutes, we find the lever to release the tire. DUH! About an hour after I stopped, we have the tire changed and it’s on to the game. We were planning to stop at Subway but since we were not an hour behind schedule, we would just have to stop at the game. Crap…pizza is so not on my diet! But neither is eating at 10pm when the ball game is through.

So we watch the ballgames. Tight games, decided by just a few points. But SC wins! So a positive after quite a crappy experience on the side of the road earlier. However, we now get another phone call from my brother’s girlfriend. Her plane has been delayed again. Now she thinks it will be midnight. Great! I knew I was going to pay for this the next day. But what can we do? We proceed to the airport and sit…and sit…and sit…watching the arrival board to see the time get later and later. My brother and my dad proceeded to curl up in corners of the baggage area and snore. I wanted to go home, but I wanted to greet her too. So tired. Her plan eventually lands at almost 1AM and we wait for baggage. Crap…no baggage…her luggage has not made the plane. She and my brother have only the clothes on their back until their luggage arrives. Finally leave the airport at about 1:30 and make it home to crash for a few hours before getting up to come to work.

What a fun day!

The next day was very hard. I walked around all day like a zombie. I was exhausted. After work, I tutored my student and then it was home to finish last minute cleaning and to sleep. Of course, trying to sleep when you are too tired to sleep sucks! Just laid there. Finally gave up and turned on the TV to watch Gossip Girls. Love that show!

On Thursday, I had Bunko night, and I was letting them use my house. I had it cleaned too! Top to bottom! It was a fun night, with yummy chili and sandwiches and I won! Yeah!

On Friday, it was a long drive to Mason County for another ball game. They were ranked #1 in the state with a supposed all star forward. SC just shut him down. It was quite game. Then a long drive back home.

Saturday, I had to go an buy a new tire because my tire could not be fixed. Damn, more money. Then off to the airport to pick up my other brother and his girlfriend. That's right, both brothers and their girlfriends are here. Yeah, I get to be the 7th wheel! yippee!

Things are good, though, so good to have my brother home. If only he didn't have to go back. Well I need some sleep. I'll talk more about the girls later. LOL!

Run, Run, Run

What another long day! Started off rough since I got up late, but school went well. After school got out, then it was off to the races. I spend an hour tutoring some kids from my classes. The ran to the gym for a quick mile on the treadmill and my first aerobic step class. Unfortunately I could not stay for the entire hour. We did some weights and a few lunges. Now let me tell you, I hate lunges with a passion. They hurt! especially with my bad knee. Not fun! I probably won't even be able to walk tomorrow. After the gym, it was back to school to work another ball game. Yes, I know, I work a lot but hey they pay well! LOL! I got to leave at half-time and then it was over to the hospital to see a friend and her new baby. What a cutie! Then to Walmart to pick up allergy medication and finally home around 7:30. Then it's what's for dinner??? I am still having a huge problem watching the sodium intake but still putting calories in my system. I got on the scale at school tonight and not a pound difference from last week. This is going to be hard!!!

A Long Day...

So yesterday was the longest day ever. School was okay even though I had to take a note from two girls in class. Oh, and what a piece of work that was. The other kids were wanting me to read it out loud. I didn't and I'm so glad I chose that. The note was pretty raunchy and vulgar talking about two girls getting it on, etc. wow!

Then it was a race to the Y to get the workout in even though I was so sore from the day before. After 45 minutes on the treadmill, it was another race home to get shower and changed and back to the school.

I worked a ballgame last night at the school where I sold tickets. It was crazy we must have sold over 1000 tickets. Crazy. I had to stay and work the sock hop afterwards so when I stopped taking tickets, I went out to the car and took a nap. Yeah, that's right, turned on the car, started the heater, locked the doors and went to sleep. I have been so tired this week with the start of school and not being able to shift by sleep cycle back to where it should be. The dance was fine except for some little 3 foot nothing with a whole lot of attitude. She was out doing back flips in the middle of the dance, so I told her to stop before someone got hurt. She was like I'm not getting hurt and rolled her eyes, etc. That went all over me, and I just about had the policeman escort her out. Fortunately for her, her little friend pulled her away just in the nick of time. I really hate stupid teenagers. At the end of the dance, I had to get out of there. I was so exhausted, really dead on my feet. So at 12:30, I finally pulled in the garage, headed upstairs and crashed.

So still on the diet althought I cheated tonight with a piece of pizza at the ball game. I have absolutely no will power sometimes. I went to the Scott County ball game with my parents and my dad bought a pizza and I just had to have a piece. But I did only have one.

I'm using the website I mentioned previously to track my food intake and have realized that my sodium is out of control. I feel like I am eating healthy but the sodium is at like 200% of what I should be taking. I just don't know what to do. No wonder I can't lose weight. Something has got to change.

First Day of School for 2008

So today was the first day of school in 2008. Started off rough because last night I tried to go to bed at around 10:30 but could not fall asleep until sometime after 1 am. Then the alarm went off at 5:30 and I so did not want to get up. But I did about 6. Did a little aerobic exercise to a DVD and jumped in the shower. Actually had time to eat breakfast at the kitchen table. That was pretty cool. Left the house on time too. WOW!

The day itself actually wasn't bad. I got a new group of kids in 1st period who are honors' students so it should be interesting. They seemed like a good group of kids and it seemed like we could have a lot of fun...we'll see. It was different since last semester I had first period for planning and now I have to teach. However, the good part is that I now have the lunch period for planning so I can actually eat without having to inhale my food.

The faculty decided to play the Biggest Loser again this term. We will be weighing in every Friday until Spring Break which is the second week of April. This is good for me because I am very competitive and want to win! In addition to this motivation, I also have the motivation of wanting to go on another singles' cruise in April and I will have to wear a swimsuit. My goal is 25 pounds and if I can lose 2 pounds per week I will get there.

I also found this cool website: www.thedailyplate.com It allows you to track what you eat and when you eat it. So I figured why not. Entered everything I ate today, my current weight, my goal, and activity level, and figured out that I need to eat about 1800 calories a day as I work out. Okay this sucks. I was only able to eat about 1200 calories today and while this is good, it sucks because I work out hard and burn more than I should with that diet. The other thing I noticed, which I think I already suspected, is that my sodium intake is out of control. I have to get this fixed so that the weight will vanished.

The rest of the day went pretty much as normal seeing as how the other classes I teach are year long and I already know these kids. After school, I went to the YMCA to get in some cardio. It was packed. You could definitely tell it was January with all the new people and their new year's resolutions. Crazy. Couldn't even find room to park. However, give it a month, and half of them will be gone. They never last.

Well, I have finished my school work for tonight, so it is off to bed in a few minutes. Definitely feeling the 4 hours of sleep I got last night.

Happy New Year!

Hello guys!

So I know I have been really really bad at this over the last few months...ok I suck! LOL!

So since last night was New Year's Eve...let me tell you about it. I went to a friend's house for a 'couple's' evening. There were four couples, me, and another single guy. Now this guy and I had dated for a while this past summer but had since parted ways. Now let me say I was glad that he was there simply because it didn't make me the 9th wheel. We had a good time playing games, eating, etc. Things were going well, but I was keeping my distance. Well, I made the mistake of giving me a kiss at the ball drop and it suddenly changed. All of a sudden, he was in my lap, wanting more kisses, and putting his hand on my leg, etc. Of course, I really didn't want any of this. I mean we tried this, and he basically dropped me when he didn't get what he wanted, what most guys want unfortunately. So he just up and decides to leave a little after midnight. WTF? I mean come on! grow up! I honestly think he expected me to just forget the last few months and just fall in his lap begging for it. Please! I may be 31 and hopelessly single, but I don't think so. Give me some credit! I couldn't believe, well I could but still. I went down that road once, not again.

The other funny thing was this 21 year old who was there with a 37 year old man. Ugh! So immature. She of course didn't eat, got drunk, and proceeded to spend an hour in the bathroom. She wouldn't come out until almost every one had left. She was so embarrased and we were definitely over her by the time she left.

Tomorrow is my last day of vacation before going back to school. So while I promise to write more, we all know how that is going to go. LOL!

I am also going back on the diet on Thursday, and starting the working out again. I think I am going on another singles cruise in April and definitely need to slim down and quick. Keep your fingers crossed.