reedy's rambles

I just got back from a Young Adults' Retreat. It was a really great weekend. The guest speaker was so down to earth and humble that it made any skepticism about the weekend disappear. He spoke about the commands of Jesus throughout the New Testament, forgiveness, anger, and the "one another" verses in the NT-- serve one another, love one another, forgive one another, etc. It served as a breath of fresh air.

We hiked a mountain on Saturday. I am not one for hiking anywhere at anytime. I really didn't think I was going to make it; I mean it was straight up in the rainforest. Through encouragement and some deep inner strength, I made it to the top. The view was spectacular. We could see the ocean on two sides of the island, and the clouds were just whisping past us. It was truly beautiful.

Now, I am contemplating how much I have to do before Wednesday. I have so and so much to get done. My apartment is not packed at all, and I am moving down with Joe for the month of April and May to save money to move back. I hate moving.

I am watching Dirty Dancing right now, and I just figured out the dad is the same guy I love from Law and Order. I know you all probably knew that already!

Money and I have a love/ hate relationship.
I love money when I have it, and I hate it when I don't.

Do you ever sit down and try to balance your budget, and realize there's no point?

Friday is our Field Day. We are going to make our banner tomorrow in school. They voted on the theme "5-2; 2- fast, 2- furious, 4-you!" I thought it was a fun idea. They voted for a purple banner, but red was cheaper. This is going to take a lot of convincing on my part that red is a better choice!

I have decided humor is my greatest weapon in the classroom. I talk to my hand when the students decide to not listen to me, and they think it is hysterical to watch my have a conversation with my hand. They even stop talking to listen to my hand.

Yesterday, though, I completely lost my temper. It is a good thing that fifth graders can let you start over everyday. I was so upset that the cleaning lady hadn't been in my classroom for days, and the classroom just felt "sticky." The kids didn't seem to mind at all. They chose yesterday to put ketchup on the wall, drop cookies on the floor, and spill soda on someone's workbook. So, I lost it. I told them if they wanted a trashy classroom, I'd help them and I turned the trash can over. Then I just went to my desk. Of course, the neatest, nicest students cleaned up everyone's mess, including mine. I felt horrible. Today, everyone kept their trash in the trash can and when I asked for a volunteer to empty the trash can, I had more volunteers than ever. Oh, what you can learn from fifth graders!

The group from Lincoln comes for Week of E next Friday. I am so ready for them to come, it is always a fun time. And then . . . my parents! Non-stop action folks!

"I look at you and I'm home." --Dori from Finding Nemo

Liza is doing better. She'll need some good recovery time, and I still wish I was home!

Today is Abolitionist Day, so celebrate your freedom.

I had an awesome talk with a friend last night. It has been a while since I have had one of those deep, hard-core conversations. One where you feel a little more vulnerable, a little more connected, and a lot more hope. I am going to miss "here" so much that my heart already aches.

Just to keep everyone updated, I have packed 3 boxes, but I have given away 4 huge boxes! I love giving things away; it is a brand new feeling for me. I tend to be a pack rat and lean towards the materialistic side of life . . . Here's to building my treasure in heaven so rust and moths can't get to it!

Sometimes I hate being so far from home.

Liza is in the hospital with some fifth disease that usually happens only to children. I wish I could be there to give her a huge hug and try and make her laugh. Please pray that she recovers quickly!

My sisters are two of the absolute coolest people I have ever met. They are strong, smart, funny, confident, and just fabulous. Of all the people I miss when I am here, it is them. They are the first two people I want to see when I come home.

I can't relate to people that don't get along with their brothers and sisters. We have had our fights sure, but they never have lasted long.

I wish I was home right now.

I love restoration.
Joe and I have made-up. Tears, smiles, and forgiving. A wonderful night.

My students take their big test tomorrow. I hate how nervous it makes me. It is just that amongst teachers at our school, the results are so competitive. However, they do tomorrow, I know I tried my best-- and that is all that I can ask from them.

A student had a nervous breakdown in my class today. I held my composure, although, just between you and me, I almost broke down and cried in front of my students. This student, Kevin, is under tremendous pressure. He is an awesome competitive swimmer and practices early in the morning before school and after school. He is punished if he doesn't get all his homework done before school ends. Knowing this, I am more lenient if he is bent over his workbook before we have ever read the lesson.

Today, during a 10 minute free period he lost it. He felt like some students were laughing at him, and he really lost it. I was at my desk, and I saw him with his fists clenched walking tensely growling. He started punching a desk and screaming. Needless to say, the other students stopped and looked so scared. I calmly "jumped" up, went over to Kevin and held him. He tried to wrestle away muttering he was going to hit another student. Keeping my composure, I asked the students just to walk outside and sit on the bench that Kevin just needs his space.

Soon, I was holding him, but it wasn't a restraint hold, but a comfort hold. I reminded him to breathe, and I told him that I was proud of him for walking away when he was so angry. He was crying, growling, shaking, but he was listening. He told me that he just lost it when he felt he was being laughed at. We talked for a while, and he decided that he would go up to the chapel and work on some math (his most favorite subject) for a little while before art. I agreed with this plan, let him go, and brought 17 scared students back in the classroom.

I just explained to them that Kevin just got really nervous, and that he's fine. We talked about how scary it was, but that we needed to still treat Kevin like everything is fine. At the end of the day, I was proud of everyone, including myself. Everyone was friendly and calm by 3:00. I, however, needed a nap.

You wouldn't believe the audacity of this "gravitygal" I just played against in Scrabble. First of all, I had a BINGO with harness that also fell on a triple square. Second of all, I played great words such as lava, bowels, and seafood. Now, I may have lost by almost 100 points, but it was a good game. She just played a word over the triple square -quizzes (using a blank for the second -z) and a couple of lucky words (what does -oe mean??). Anyway, it was a fine game and I was just fine with losing, really! Then at the end of the game she said -- "gg, thnx." No problem, nice ending. THEN, (hold on here it comes) she said, "Maybe you should play someone with less experience." CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??? The audacity! I just clicked off the game, which means it doesn't officially count and she doesn't get all her points! Ha! Take that gravitygal!

Sidenote, it is day 3 of Joe and I not talking. Why does silence just get easier? Every hour makes it harder to just make-up. Grrr . . . I hate being angry, I hate fights, and I hate awkward silence!

I love teaching the Civil War. I have decided that I am going to make my students memorize the Gettysburg Address for fun. Isn't that so much fun?? "Four score and seven years ago . . . " Wait until I tell them, they'll be so excited!

I tutor 5 boys after school. Today we spent the entire hour dividing. I hate long division, absolutely hate it. There is no way to make long division fun or exciting, so I talk in voices as I explain the problems. Today I alternated between a drunk Transylvanian and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. At least we weren't bored . . .

I need to start packing, I mean seriously packing. I am moving in with Joe in 2 weeks and I am not ready at all!! I have so much to do, but all I want to do is . . . anything that it not productive.

In the mood for randomness (big surprise):

I want to see the musical Rent again.

I still like the smell of old school paste.

I feel pretty in pink.

There is no substitute for a good pair of tweezers.

I like red Skittles, orange Starbursts, and green Laffy Taffys.

Sometimes I watch Recess.

I don't understand the Stock Market.

I hate white chocolate.

I always could use a 2:00 nap.

I hate watching snowmen melt.

I would wear a gray T-shirt and Jeans almost everyday if I could.

I saw two shooting stars tonite. I needed that. I also saw a star that was in the actual shape of a star, when I looked at it had 5 points (or blurry lines). It looked just like a gold star I might stick on a student's paper. I needed that.

Joe and I listened to "American Pie" tonight. He reminded me that the last time we were on a listening kick here was when I first moved here, and we both felt like we were starting over. I even almost cried when he talked about someone coming to take the couch. Ridiculousness. Sheer ridiculousness.

One of my coworkers asked another coworker of mine why I didn't bring anything in today for free. I thought that was really funny, but that sums up my workplace environment. If you brought in cookies, they would expect them everyday.

I am so anxious about everything right now. Moving back, finding a job, selling my car, finding an apartment in St. Louis, and just being back in St. Louis are all things swirling in my head right now.

As my anxiety increases, my patience decreases . . . This week I think I have made 6 students cry, 3 today. Not all those tears were bad though, some were repentant tears (or drama tears), and that was OK. I have been a little "mean" lately. I need to work on that. Tomorrow is me be nice to my students day, I'll let you know how it goes!

My shower faucet leaks. It has always leaked a little, but now it leaks a lot. I mean it leaks as if a shower is going on, it won't turn off-- at all.

The last two days, I have taken things from my apartment that I do not need anymore to school to give away. Both days, everything has been gone. Don't get me wrong, I sincerely wanted people to take everything, I do, but the "rushedness" of the disappearance is comical. The first day it was assorted bath products, today it was things from my closet. It all reminds me of school luncheons . . .

There is nothing like witnessing our teacher luncheons. As soon as prayer is finished, there is a race to the food. I mean a race. A few of us stay behind to broadcast the race:
There goes Mercado, she definitely has the lead, she's moving in to attack . . . And there goes Dinah racing to the start, she's gaining on Mercado . . . It is going to be a close race . . . Oh my, out of nowhere, Orietta takes the lead . . . Here they go . . . Who will pile their plate the tallest? Oh, there goes the rolls, none of those left . . . The race is finished . . . Oooh and Mercado retakes the lead with a take-home box . . .

Seriously folks, that is not an exaggeration, just ask Sosa!

Funny stuff, I wonder if I will miss that stuff next year . . .

There are some friends in my life that no matter what they did, said, or how they acted, I would still count it a privilege to be their friend without apologies or excuses.

There are some things I believe that I will believe no matter who disagrees or argues-- without apologies or excuses.

I believe that life is based on choice. No one should ever be forced to do anything or believe anything they don't believe in. People should be allowed to make choices, stand behind their choices, defend their choices, and accept any consequences for their choices. I am pro-choice. Instead of forcing someone to make "our" choices, we should figure out the "whys" of their choices. We are so quick to force, intimidate, pressure, and connive that I wonder do we even care? We say we want to be more like Jesus, but tell me-- when did he ever force or pressure anyone?

Do you remember the part in Stand By Me where he sees a deer, but he doesn't tell anyone else, and he says that he kept that just for himself? I love that part. Sometimes, when I see or feel something amazing or new, I want to run and tell everyone, but sometimes I just want to keep it all for me.

I had a wonderful me day. I planned to have this day all week. I woke up early, had coffee at Starbucks, and took pictures all day. I took a walk around the fort, had lunch at a cafe, and just took my time all day. I squeezed in a quick glance at Marshall's, a waxing of my eyebrows, and a new book check at Borders too. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, I packed my first box today. That's right, box #1 is packed.

I played a game with myself to pack the box. I pretended this was the only box I could take back and whatever I could pack into it would be the only items coming home with me. Let me tell you . . . I took pictures out of old frames just to make everything fit. I use the term "everything" loosely. The box was the size of a copier paper box. Here's what went inside (in order as it got packed):
* My kaleidoscopes
* My journals
* My dad's Matisse drawing book
* Picture frames wrapped in my purple placemats that were my window
treatments (thanks Trading Spaces!)
* My box of "Send Jenn Mail" letters and notes from Lyndsay during college
* 3 Photo Albums: Childhood, High School, College
* A small stained glass art from here
* The candle holder Katrina made me
* The olive wood sheep Alberto gave me from Israel
* Various loose photos stuck inside the albums

Didn't I do so good for Box #1?? I deserve ice cream maybe even with Bailey's.

I think 10 more boxes should fit everything I need to take back with me!

I dedicate Box #1 to Peggy Allen (who doesn't even read this!) for mailing me $30 to help me move back. I love her. She was my motivation for box #1.

I like being by myself . . . usually. But tonite is a great nite to be by myself.

I just spent a few minutes outside with my neighbors chatting about cats, rats, babies, and our dangerous staircase. It was really nice. Neighbor talk is great because you can chat for a few minutes, so you don't feel alone, and then you can go right back inside.

I thought maybe I'd do some "room sorting" tonite, but do you understand how big of a project that is? I guess I am still banking that this room will pack itself, but that isn't happening so much. I am planning to move in with Joe next month to save money, but to do that I have to be semi-packed and junk-free. I understand how people conclude that moving isn't worth it, and some people just stay where they are their whole lives because they don't want to move.

I just got the urge to post this:
Name: Jennifer

Nickname: Jenn, Jenny, Foof (G-ma), Jeffida (Mama)

Number of candles on your last birthday cake: 25

Pets: Ha! Can I count the lizard that is currently sharing my residence? They just come and go.

Natural Hair color: reddish brownish, although here they think it is blonde

Body Piercing: 2 in each ear

Eye color: hazel

Birth Place: A hospital in St. Louis

Current Residence: Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Been to Africa? Nope, but would love to go!

Love someone so much it made you cry? Yes

Have you found your ultimate soul-mate? Not yet

Been in a car accident? Yes . . . several . . . one involving a fire hydrant, and one here involving me hitting a police officer

Croutons or bacon bits? Croutons, especially Garlic Croutons

Favorite day of the week: I love Saturdays and Sundays, but probably Saturdays because it is all mine

Favorite word or phrase: I love the phrase-- No me toques-- (in Spanish it means don't touch me)

Favorite Restaurant: Cherry Blossom (Mmmm . . . sushi)

Favorite flower: Pansies andGerbera Daisies

Favorite sport to play: I love playing football on the beach!

Favorite drink: Cranberry juice, Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Cherry Coke, and Cherry Seven-Up-- and Chambord Margaritas & Apple Martinis

Favorite Ice cream: I like so many ice creams . . . Probably Chunky Monkey by Ben and Jerry's

Favorite fast food restaurant: Wendy's (for their salads)

What color is your bedroom carpet: Carpet in my humid, no a/c apartment?? Are you crazy?

How many times did you fail your drivers test: 0

Besides this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail? Christian Martin and Dacia

Which store would you choose to max out your credit card: Macy's and Old Navy

What do you do most often when you are bored? Blog, Play Scrabble On-line

What time do you go to bed? 10:30

Favorite TV show: ER-- ooh me too! I also love Law and Order SVU and Charmed (I know witches, but I am perplexed!)

Last person you went out to dinner with: Joe

Tattoos: Nope, but I want a little palm tree

Favorite place to visit: HOME-- at least until I live there again . . .

Where would you live if you could move right now? Can I just not talk about moving right now? It causes a sense of panic!

Where would you go if you had a free, round-trip airline ticket? Switzerland

Favorite school subject: Algebra

What is the weather like right now? Warm, but with a nice breeze tonight

// posted by Jennifer @ 7:02 PM (0) comments |