a creature of the night....

     I confess... I have become one of the creatures of the night...not by choice, but by schedule... For those of you who might have noticed, I have been rather lax in the facebook/blogging world these past few weeks.  For those of you who may NOT have noticed, let me just say simply "I have been lax."      However, with that confession, comes another.... It has not been entirely my fault... it is the fault of a mouse and millions of people who flock from distant shores to see said mouse.  Because of this "flocking" which extends late into the night, I have been compelled to stay and sell wares, baubles and remembrances to the above stated masses of people.
     In plain English, I have been scheduled to work the closing shift at MouseGear, the largest merchandise store of the four Disney Parks.  My shift begins usually somewhere between 2-4 pm and ends between 1-3 pm.... Just recently I completed 16 days with only two days off. 
     I have throughly enjoyed my adventures as a Cast Member at Epcot MouseGear.  I absolutely love mixing and mingling with the guest.  In fact, I have been given a couple of special " You Made a Difference" or " Magical Moments Maker" awards by my supervisors at work who have watched- unbeknown to me"--my interaction with guests and/or their families and hence the above mentioned awards. 
    The downside to this magical experience is that once the guest are gone home, I usually discover that the feeling in my legs from the knees down has also gone...I have a half mile walk from my car to the underground tunnel where I clock in at....and then that same distance at the end of the shift... So, at least I am keeping up my walking routine... In fact, I have lost 10 pounds since July 3, just by walking at work...
     I have learned to embrodiery the "Disney Hats" and have become quite proficient at it...I have been a personal shopping advisor to many a guest from around the world and have witnessed the seasons of summer vactions from schools all over the world..
    My reason ---lame as it may seem---for not surfacing to write before this is simply that I have been totally exhausted when I get home in the wee hours of the morning.... sleep until about 3 hours before work and do the routine again....
     So, there you have it.... Yes, I am still alive!   But, Yes..... I have also become one with the creatures that inhabit the darkness after the fireworks are gone......

MOUSE GEAR...

This is the name of the place I will be working while at Disney... It is the largest merchandise shop on Disney property.. The only one larger is at Downtown Disney.   It has four entrances to it .... Here are some pictures of "stuff" available for sale... everything from crystal Mickey earrings to Disney pencils..   By the way, it is located to the left behind the big Ball known as "Spaceship Earth."

This is the wall of Bulk Candy..... !!!!

                                                      Notice the "Engineer" Costumes

                       Whew !!....   guess there isn't gonna be any "down time" at work here !!  

Hi Ho, Hi Ho.. It's off to work I go... .

I started my career with Disney along with about 50 other newbies at a classroom at Disney University.  The day long class is called " Traditions" and immerses you in the Disney frame of mind, history and culture... It was really quit enjoyable.  The exciting part was when we were presented our "official Disney name tag" at the end of the day..There is a ceremony and everything... Folks... Make no mistake.... The enthusiasm and joy of working for Disney that you hear and see people talk about is not fake !!   It trickles from the top down to every cast member --no matter what part you play...   Kind of reminds me of how the Church works and the joy that comes naturally from the whole environment of the Gospel..

 During the Traditions Class, When you answer a question correctly, or are the first to answer it, you get a "Critter."  These are small plastic figures of Disney Characters that are not available for sale or anywhere else except during the Traditions class.    I was beginning to think I was going to come home "critterless" because it was getting late in the afternoon... Then.. .we were blessed by a visit from a very, big, MOUSE !  Mickey surprised us with a visit !!   The coordinator then started a round of trivia questions for us to answer.  I thought... I am pretty trivial.... I can do this !   The question was asked.. "What was the name Walt originally wanted to name Mickey?"    I KNOW !!   I KNOW !!  My mind said as my hand shot up !   Miraculously, I was called upon and almost had a Senior Moment !  Then, I recovered quickly and answered " Mortimer"   That was correct !   Success at last !   I was gonna get a valuable "critter."   I did get my "critter!"  But it was presented to me by none other than Mr. Mickey Mouse himself !     I managed not to faint and gave him a good tight hug for all of his many fans in the Cattell family-- including in laws and out laws !!  

Oh... what an experience that was... Dreams really do come true, don't they ?!!??

"Now it's time to say Goodbye to all our company ......M I C K E Y M O U S E

Now that I have been in Orlando just under a week, worked 4 days and had two off to try to unpack the car... let me give an update...
Leaving Tifton was a WHOLE LOT HARDER than I thought it would be.... The lucky part (I guess) was that everyone had to leave quickly to be somewhere else, so my goodbyes were quick!  
I must say that I really miss Caiti... She has been an appendage of mine for almost a year and life seems a little less comical and chaotic---I am not sure that is a good thing... I really do miss her snuggles and hugs and unconditional love.  
Jimmy gave me a tight hug as I left and has called several times since to "check" on me... He is not very demonstrative in his affections, but I KNOW he loves me, in spite of all my quirks!
I was doing really well with my Goodbyes to my two close friends- Debra and Debbie until they both told me that I was the sister they never had and they would miss me too much!  Who knew??  Amazing how the number of sisters a person can have can grow over a lifetime.
I should have never visited Mom and Dad after my two Debbies got my "hay fever" started...   It has been 19 years since I came back to Tifton and Mom and Dad have been the one constant during my time there.  Physically, I was ready to leave, but when I started with the good bye hugs to my parents... I realized that I was not mentally ready to leave them... It was the hardest thing in the world to do to pull away from them and actually walk out that door and get into the car....    Heavenly Father, Please take care of all my loved ones that I left behind in Tifton... Bless me that I might make them  and YOU proud of me..

His ways always amaze me !

One of my biggest worries about my temporary move to Orlando has been.... WHERE THE HECK DO I LIVE FOR JUST 9 WEEKS !   Anyhow, today I got a wild hair and decided to look on Craigslist for Orlando.  I came across this ad there:  "From July to Sept. only I am renting my spare bedroom.  Beautiful two story townhouse in Winder Garden, Fl.  Furnished queen sized bed and TV, Wi-F- and utilities included, except for the phones.  WOW !!  I thought, this is just what I need and the time frame is perfect !  So, I called...
Needless to say, my new landlady's name is Christine.  I will be living in the bottom of the two story town house.  The reason she only needs to rent the room out for such a short period of time is that she is getting married in October.  Did I say the rent is only $400 !!!   Also, it is quite near where Travis and Sarah are and very close to work.... When she made the comment that "The Lord must have brought us together."  I knew I had found the right place!

As the World Turns.... so are the Days of My Life !

My philosophy these days is to take life one day at a time... I actually read a statement just last night that said
"I try to take life one day at a time---but sometimes several days attack me all at once!!"  Don't you love that??!!
Anyhow, because I know my Disney experience will be short lived and I know that I am not rich enough to retire, I have been looking at "less than traditional" employment.  Most of you know that I have been applying to agencies who recruit teachers to work overseas.  Specifically, I have been applying to work overseas in South Korea.  Although I have had great response to my online applications and have had two over the phone interviews with the recruiters for the schools, I have discovered one sad fact.  The odds of my getting an opportunity to teach overseas in specifically Korea are getting lower and lower.  It is not because I am not highly qualified.  The problem is I AM TOO OLD!    The retirement age in Korea is 55.  Most parents pay big bucks to these schools for teachers to teach their children English at a early age.  My preference of students is from ages 12 through Adult.  not necessarily the "little darlings"   Therein lies the problem. ... Most parents expect their child's teacher to be YOUNG and full of endless energy.  Although my energy level is high when teaching, my age is also "higher" than most Kindergarten teachers.  Thus, the recruiter's problem with me... They are doing their best, but......   
Because I really want to work somewhere overseas, I am open to all kinds of possibilities.  Also, because I really like to do things just a tad different than other people, I want a job now that most people would not normally think of.   I got an offer yesterday to be the manager of a new cooking school that will open up sometime in the fall of this year.  That was a really cool offer.  The funniest part and the one that makes this opportunity unique is that it is in Manchester, England.   I am supposed to be talking with the lady who made the offer in the near future.  That is when we will both see if we can come to an agreement on what she wants as compared to what I want.... I will keep you posted ---"As the World Turns on the Days of My Life!"

Florida or Bust !!

I realized today that although I had posted the results of my interview with Disney on Facebook, I didn't give a lot of details on it.  Soooooo...... here's the update--   A week ago today, I had my face to face interview at Casting at Disney.   I learned a couple of things even before I had my interview.   I already knew that Disney employees are called Cast Members because they all play a role in helping people have a magical experience at Disney.  However, CAST also stands for  Compensation, Appearance, Schedule and Transportation.  These are all the categories that a new employee needs to know about.  Cool, huh?? 
Anyhow, I was interviewed by a guy named Steve.  His wife is actually the secretary of the VP of Casting.  We hit it off great because we are both a bit old !  I had applied for a job in either Housekeeping, The front desk of one of the resort motels or to work in the child care center.  None on those jobs were available.  However, he looked at the screen and said "Wow!: This one wasn't here yesterday!   It just happened to be a job in Merchandising (sales clerk) at Mouse Gears.  For those of you who are uninformed (as I was prior to this experience), Mouse Gears is the largest gift shop Disney has.  It is at Epcot just back behind the big
"Golf Ball"  Epcot also happens to be where Sarah works.  The uniforms the Cast Members wear are not too hideous looking and the best part is THAT IT IS INSIDE AND THE A/C WORKS WELL !!
Needless to say, I said "Yes- Gimme that job!" 
I will be leaving Tifton around noon on July 2nd.  I have to start the training process at 8 am on July 3rd.  My position is considered "Seasonal" which means it is temporary- sort of...  After the training period is over, a seasonal employee can work pretty much on his or her schedule.  For instance, if I were a seasonal Cast Member and also a teacher and I had a long four day weekend.. I could call up and say "Put me on the schedule for 2 days (or however long I wanted)   Also, once you are training in merchandising, you are able to work in any of the gift shops on Disney property which means OVERTIME !!! I can pick up overtime shifts pretty much as needed while I am down there at Disney.  My official dates for this employment are from July 3-Sept 4th.  Because it is only for about 9 weeks, I will not be able to rent an apartment very easily.  So, I will probably be staying in an extended day motel unless some generous person wants a roommate for a short while or a church member has a room to rent out.
I am really excited about this opportunity for several reasons.   Top of the list--I can see my kids more often and I will be working at "The Happiest Place on Earth!"  Nuff said !!

Reducing, Rethinking and Removing.....

     For the past two days, my good friend, Debbie and I have been hard at work organizing, packing, labeling and stacking my "worldly goods."  At age 56, I find that I own a king sized bed (which I haven't used for almost 6 months cause it won't fit into the room I live in), one double bed, one chest of drawers, a small kitchen table with I use for my desk and 47 boxes of other " stuff."
     I find that today I also have 4 fire ant bites, 2 yellow jacket bites, a SORE back and hips and several bruises and scrapes!   But I do feel almost like my house is a house of order again for the first time in a long time... Even if that house is just a house of boxes !
     

Oh No !! The Mouse !!!

About 3 months ago, I put in an application to work seasonally at Disney... Well, today I started the interview process by doing the online interview.   Have my "in person" interview next week... Even if I get a job overseas, I can still work at Disney because I think it is only 20 hours a year you have to work in order to stay seasonally employed.  With the 20 days paid vacation in the contract with the overseas schools, I could fly home, visit and still keep "current" with Disney.   Oh..... so many options... so much paperwork....so little "ready cash" left this month to get it all done..... one step at a time.... one step at a time... one step at a time...**breathe**    Okay... I feel better now...

What am I thinking ???? !!!!!!

In my search for the direction for my new adventure in my life, I find that said direction has taken a decidedly different turn than I first anticipated.  This weekend has been spent on polishing up my Academic Vita (resume for you non educational types).  The reason for this is that I am actually applying for a teaching job in.... wait for it..... South Korea !!!   For some reason,in the past month,  I have had two emails from a website about teaching in Korea.  In addition, Sarah has suggested the same thing.
Also, I have just found out today that one of my very good friends here in Tifton has a sister in law who is actually employed by the Department of Defense as a teacher.  Needless to say, I think that would be an awesome job too..... so, my friend Debbie is getting info from her sister in law as to the "how to's, what fors and
everything I wanted to know about teaching for the DoD but was afraid to ask...
I cannot believe how long the process of filling out on line applications for teaching ANYWHERE are.... but, then again.. why would I be surprised... ???  What would a teaching job be without PAPERWORK?????

The start of my next new adventure...

     Today at 1:30, I locked the door of Room 114, walked down to the office, turned in my key, and then left  8th Street Middle School, my home away from home for the past 7 years.   The classroom is totally empty of anything that screams "Ms. Tucker Lives Here!!"  It is a room of a few desks and other pretty sad looking pieces of furniture.  But it is also a room filled with the memories that only over 700 hyperactive, emotional, hormonal 8th grades can make.   I did my best to help teach these youngins some history in addition to some life lessons.  How well I succeeded only time will tell.  I know that I will never really know the impact I have made-for better or for worse on my former students.  I know the impact they have had on me. 
     Today is truly the first day of the rest of my life.   What will happen tomorrow remains to be seen.  Exactly what I will be doing this time a year from now, God only knows.   
     People have asked me where I am going... My answer to them is "I'm going on Faith ---and taking life one day at a time...

Memories...

     I have this picture in my room of Mom and me.  It is actually my favorite pic of us.  We are sitting on the stage area of the Leroy Rogers Center at one of the last family reunions we had there.  Mom is wearing a beautiful blue pant suit and I am also wearing blue--a denim dress.   She has such an amazing grin on her face that every time I look at that picture, I just have to smile.   I guess I love that picture so much because we both look so happy.  I am happy to have so many special memories of just Mom and me.  
--Nursing Grandmomma McGhee through the last week of her life because Momma had just had leg surgery and could not do it.  Because I had time off from school, I became Mom's surrogate.  I remember her saying how proud she was that I didn't mind taking care of her momma-even if it wasn't always a pleasant experience as her health declined.  I remember calling Mom and Dad in the middle of the night that Grandmomma died.  When Mom arrived, she told me how glad she was that I was the one who was here with her. Just about every year since her death, Mom and I have had the chance to talk about that experience.
--I cannot count the hours I have spent cooking, pouring over cook books, organizing recipes with Mom.  Everything I know about being adventurous in the kitchen, I learned from her.  Because of those experiences, I have been able to not only support myself at times by cooking, but I deal with stress in my life by cooking.
--If you look in the dictionary next to the word "Grandmother", you will find Mom's picture.  She is everything anyone could ever wish for in a grandmother.  And she is so darn cute, too !

Momma is getting on in years and may not be the vital, rambunctious lady she once was.  But she still loves each of her children, grandchildren and great grand children unconditionally.  She loves her "eternal companion" the way only someone who has been in love with someone for almost 60 years can.   I don't know of anything I would change about the way Mom raised me.  I think I turned out pretty well.  (It was when I left home that I began to fall apart ! )  If I could change anything now about Mom, I think I would ask God to relieve her of her many physical aliments so the "little ones" in the family could see just how magical and cool Mom really is.

Train up a child...

     I am sitting in my chair in my room. God must have decided to give the mothers in South Georgia an additional present because it is an absolutely beautiful day today.  My personal Mother's Day has been really quiet.  Travis and Sarah are both working, so couldn't make the trip up.  But that is okay.  I realized today that since they have both grown and flown the coop, we probably have spent more Mother's Days apart than we have together.  But I have learned that distance is relative when you are talking mothers and children.  Two years ago, this weekend, I was with Travis and Sarah when they received their Bachelor's Degree from SIU-E.  That was such a cool, but humbling experience-not to mention how awesome a Mother's Day gift it was!  Having been a single parent for most of their formative years, I have asked myself many times if the choices I made while they were at home would help or hinder them as they got older.  I am still not sure of the answer to that question.  I just know that without the help of a loving family, especially Mom and Dad, who nurtured not only me, but also Travis and Sarah through some really difficult times, my children would not be the independent, gainfully employed, driven, but grounded in the Gospel people they are today. 

So, thanks to Mom and Dad... Thanks to Aunt Carol, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jimmy... Thanks to the surrogate mothers in Primary and Young Women and the father figures in Scouting and Young Men....Thanks to all those who had even a smidgen of influence in making my kids into who they are today.

I am their mother and for that I will eternally be grateful...   They make me feel proud and humble just to be around them..

I love you, Travis and Sarah.......

Miscommunication....

Somehow, today FRIDAY did not realize that I had already had MONDAY this week.... Quick recap of my day before noon....1st period:  One of my exuberant students was messing around my desk waving her hands and suddenly she knocked over my cup of water I always have on my desk... .I caught the escaping water mere micro inches away from my keyboard...  Then, while still in 1st period, I snagged my skirt on a jagged part of one of the desk in the back of the room... Thank heaven it was in the back of my room next to my desk because the hole happened to be in the MIDDLE OF THE BACK of my skirt!  I was quite good at easing into my chair without any student knowing what was going on.  Then, I got out my sewing kit and after turning my skirt around, I proceeded to repair the gap while still teaching... (Gosh, I am so talented.)  Anyhow, the hole was such a big, jagged one that the repair job made it appear as if I had a "crack attack" --if you know what I mean... I could not turn the skirt around and wear it backwards even after the repair because it was right smack dab in the middle of my skirt and would have drawn undo attention to its location.  Believe me, 8th graders notice EVERYTHING about what a teacher is wearing.  I knew that if I could just make it through 1st and 2nd period and teach while sitting down, I would be okay...
But NOOOOOOOO---THAT WAS NOT IN THE PLAN OF MR. MURPHY OF MURPHY'S LAW FAME...  Half way through 2nd period- WE HAD A FIRE DRILL !!!  So, not only did just my students get to see my "wounded" skirt---so did the entire 8th grade classes on the front hall !!!   We were outside for 20 minutes, so there was no way I could hide my "boo boo!" 
    I did manage to race home and change my skirt during my lunch time...  Once, I got back to the school, I thought "What else can go wrong today??""     How about the fact that it started to pour down rain just 10 minutes before the end of school..   This fact caused us to go on a "Rainy Day dismissal schedule which means that teachers have to stay in their room with their late bus riders until that bus arrives and the kids are called.  School gets out at 3:15 and my last student on rainy day dismissal leaves at 3:50!!!  
     Once I left school, then the mad dash to the bank to cash my check, and to the businesses that are begging for my money ---all before they close at 5:00!  
     Can I just tell you how grateful I am that tomorrow is Saturday and maybe Mr. Murphy will not find me if I stay hidden in the pool or in my bed !!!???

Last time... :-(

Tonight was the Honor's Night for Eighth Street.  Although our team didn't have any Superior Honor students this year, it is still neat to see our "little ones" dressed in Church dress and shirts and ties... Makes them look so grown up and makes me realize that in just 18 days, these will be officially 9th graders ! 
I have been feeling really down about the things I felt I just didn't get to do with my students this year because of all the "regimentation" and cookie cutter teaching I had to do this year.  However, one of the administrators stopped in during my 6th period class today.  This is the class with  my worst behaved and most obnoxious students and I had just reached my wit's end and my bag of tricks to get their attention has been totally depleted.  So, I called in the Big Guns to have a talk with them..  He said...   If Ms. Tucker gives me more than 3 discipline referrals a year...that is soooo unusual... It is because she refuses to give up on your guys.  A referral is a sign to me that she maxed out her patience with a student.  In the past four years, she has only given me a total of 7 referrals.... until these past two weeks.    That's how I KNOW SHE IS SERIOUS. Then he said something to them I totally did not expect.  He said  " Ms. Tucker is our most decorated teacher we have at 8th Street... Wal Mart thinks so, the rest of the faculty thinks so, the community of parents and former students think so and so do the Veterans of this county.   How DARE YOU disrespect someone every one else respects and honors.. . You will never have another teacher like her---ever---!   You are leaving this school in 18 days but so is she... Is this class gonna be the one that has the label of "the only class that  Ms. Tucker couldn't teach because wouldn't let her!?  SHAME ON YOU!
 His words just blew me away!  Apparently, they did my students also... I looked around and several of them were crying.... and none of them breathed a word after he left....   
When I was cleaning up the room after class was over, I found a couple of apology letters tucked in my keyboard......   Thank goodness we are given the gift of a new day every morning we wake up!  My spirit was renewed by this experience and I really needed that....    Thanks, Coach Torell......

Where has the time flown...

I was looking at my blog tonight and realized how long it has been since I truly wrote something meaningful, enlightening or of worth to my millions (?) of fans......
So.... as I sit here eating my bowl of homemade Oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar and butter... here goes...

First let me say that the past month at school has been emotionally and physically draining... I have come home or shall I say--STAGGERED home with barely enough energy to change my mind...
For several reasons, this has been the WORST year I have ever had as a teacher.  The kids have been difficult, unbelievably rude and lazy, the teaching has been regimented to the point that there is no time or room left for putting any of my "original" teaching style or strategies, the administration have been MAJOR ----holes and seem willing to bring down the faculty more than build us up and support and there has been a feeling of isolation since the first week of school because every other teacher (at least on my hallway) feels the same way.
That said, for those of you who don't know it, I tendered my resignation last month and it was accepted by the Board of Education this past month.   Sooooo, what this means is that as of May 25th, I am not longer employed by Tift County School Board.
However.... I have felt for most of the past year it was time for me to move on from Tifton and move ????? and do ????  Because my children live in Central Florida, I have been looking hard at that area.  I actually have several options of where to live and where to work.  My best friend Kathe, will become an empty nest single parent this summer and she lives in Titusville---a very affordable and tempting place to live... Only 45 minutes away from Orlando and the kids, but soooo much less expensive...  Or, I could rent something with the kids.... or rent something by myself ....or....?????     It just all depends on the job I get...
I have an application online with the Florida Virtual Schools, which means I could live anywhere in Florida and still work... I also have several places I am investigating around the Orlando area.  These are private or charter schools.  I also want to place applications with some of the many community colleges in the area.  I also have put in an application with Disney to be a seasonal worker, which means that once I get hired and finish my training , I can choose when I want to work---weekends, holidays, school breaks, etc.   I have even looked into teaching abroad somewhere.  
As you can see, many things are still uncertain... One thing is certain however---by the time school starts again, I will not be in Tifton teaching...
People have asked me where I am going and I have told them   "I'm going on Faith."  
I have done everything in the Tift County Schools that a teacher can do as far as accomplishments and recognition for hard work. And I am truly grateful for those experiences.    I just feel I need to move on to something different...

To all the little ones in our lives....

While trying to de-stress from the madness that is CRCT week, I came across this video.... ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0SI83NlYp8&feature=related

A side affect

I am discovering one of the side affects of living with Jimmy.  While he is at work in the evenings, Caiti and I have some strange, but wonderful experiences, talks, walks, etc.   This past five days or so, Caiti has been complaining about how her stomach seems to be hurting all the time, but she is not throwing up or has any other symptoms associated with coming down with a "bug."  In puzzling over what might be the cause, I suddenly remembered that Hey !  She is actually 10 1/2 years old and maybe... just maybe... Aunt Emma is getting ready to move in with her !   Since I only had one girl and that "event" was soooooo long ago in my memory, I might be wrong... But, based on the ages of the girls I teach and when their "visits" began...... it is a distinct possibility.  !
The first time I got a visit, we were living at Eglin.  I was supposed to babysit for my very first time and it just so happened to be for a teacher of mine.   It was Saturday morning when I discovered there was no doubt that somehow I was bleeding to death !   I remember even thinking that I was going to die and therefore would not be able to babysit for my teacher and how mad she would be !  
Caiti's reaction when I suggested the possibility to her was """  No Way !   How can I do 'THAT" and still jump on the trampoline !   I did tell her that on the bright side, I did not have to have my visit from Aunt Emma anymore and all Caiti had to do was be as old as I am!   I cannot publish in the presence of polite society the look that she gave me when confronted with that piece of info. !!
Ahhhhhhh....... life with a little one ----What can I say ????  

A funny thing happened at my desk today...

Tension is at an all time high around school these days.  My students have been wearing their tiny little fingers to the bone with all the "stuff" I have been giving them these days.   Sooooooooo... in the midst of all the quiet in the room today--(which at first led me to believe I was in a dream world), I decided to do something to try to at least put a dent in their stress level.  
     I was at my desk working away when suddenly... I hollered   "OH, MY GOSH !   THERE'S A MOUSE ON MY DESK !!!!! "  Of course, my students squealed and shrieked in panic.    Then they looked at me and I was collapsing on my desk laughing so hard I almost needed a bathroom pass.  
     When I had all of their attention, I simply held up my computer mouse by its "tail" and let it dangle from my fingers.... The look on my "darlings" faces was priceless !   I enjoyed doing that so much I did it every period today !   It has been weeks since I laughed that hard....
     And someday....... sometime...... I will do it again to my unsuspecting students !!!   (Visualize me rubbing my hands together, having a horribly, wicked grin on my face and the theme from "Jaws" playing merrily in my brain.....   )      Exit stage left.....  

Random thoughts at day's end.

No, I am not a the motel and forgot how to capitalize it.... It is 11:00ish and I am winding down...

I have one thing I really HATE doing as a teacher and that is to grade papers.  Since the beginning of this last 9 week's period (2 weeks ago) I have given 16 worksheets/packets for the students to do.... Why?? You ask...
Because my students would rather do those than watch one of my cool movies.  They would rather talk than do anything else. quite frankly.   Anyhow... I digress.... Today, I got 2600 assignments graded AND recorded in the grade book.  I AM COMPLETELY UP TO DATE ON GRADES!  LOOK OUT !!  THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!  Actually, I am determined to have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with school once Easter Break starts this Friday afternoon.  Since mid-qtrs are due 9 days after we return from break and in the middle of the "crunch time review" for CRCT, I decided to just bite the bullet and get these things done... ! 
GO ME !!  GO ME !!

Please, Please.... !!

Pray for me and what is left of my sanity---Here is what the next couple of weeks look like for me:.

1- Spring Fever which means Hormonal rages are rampant
2- FULL MOON !!
3- Easter Break starts officially Friday, but the youngins are not as antsy about this break as I am  !!
4- CRCT starts the week after we get back !!
5- Mid quarter grades go out in the MIDDLE of CRCT week---can we say "What the H e double toothpick was someone thinking when they did the scheduling on that ????????
6- IF the Mock CRCT was any indication of what the real one will be like---I am sooooooooo dead!  Out of 102 students, IF the REAL CRCT counted on them moving to 9th grade, I would only have 3 students going!  I actually have 28 students who have an excuse for not passing..... they have LEARNING DIFFICULTIES !
 The other ones suffer from the "L" disease------LAZINESS !!!

HELP !   HELP !   HELP !    HELP !   HELP !

Another beautiful day---weather wise !

I personally think that standardized tests have a specific place...... Deep, deep, deep in the bowels of Hades!!!
I know somewhere there is life after them... I just am not sure I will survive this year's crop of participants!  Throw registration for 9th grade into the mix and you get INSTANT CHAOS!!! 
That is why I decided to do nothing related to school at all when i got home.. Well, except bake a Butter Pecan Bake with Cream Cheese Icing to take in tomorrow for the adults at the "zoo" to indulge in....
For those of you who don't know it, Caiti will be performing in her first play this coming weekend.. She is playing the part of John in "Tink's Peter Pan"-this year's offering from the Drama Club at J. T. Reddick.  She is really getting BIG TIME!  They are into the final practices at the Preforming Arts Center at the High School-  WhooHoo!  Seriously, she is super excited about it.  While I was waiting to pick her up this evening, I had decided to take Lacey along with me for the ride.  Then I realized what wonderful, open spaces the High School grounds offered an inquiring dog and its devoted master.  So, I was able to get in about a mile of walking in the beautiful sunshine while I waited and Lacey discovered the fountain outside of the PAC... She now thinks of it as her own private drinking fountain.... She went back three times to get a drink!  The great thing was I didn't even have to fix any dinner cause the cast ate pizzas...  Well, there you have it!  Another fun filled day!  

10 Life Lessons....

10 Amazing Life lessons from Albert Enstein

1. Follow Your Curiosity. "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."
2. Perseverance is Priceless. "It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer."
3. Focus on the Present. "Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."
4. The Imagination is Powerful. "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge."
5. Make Mistakes. "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."
6. Live in the Moment. "I never think of the future - it comes soon enough."
7. Create Value. "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value."
8. Don't Expect Different Results. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
9. Knowledge Comes From Experience. "Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience."
10. Learn the Rules and Then Play Better. "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."

Oh my gosh.... !

I have decided that when I get old... I want to find a way to bottle the energy that Gretchen has !!  She has two speeds:  Full on and totally off !!  

Happy Sunshine Day !!

I am thankful today for the sunshine and the pleasant temperatures that went along with it.  The combination of those two things allowed me to 1- feel physically good and 2- accomplish so many things !
Here's what I did...

1- Slept till about 11:30.... aaaahhhhhh... what lovely decadence!
2- Made four batches of brownies for Relay for Life
3-Made two chocolate cakes for Relay for Life... One will end up being an Oreo Cake and the other a Kit-Kat cake..
4- Did three loads of laundry
5- Washed and cleaned my car --inside and out
6- Took over food for three days to a sick friend of mine
7- Walked 2 miles today
8-Visited with Mom and Dad
9-Put a roast in the crock pot for Sunday dinner tomorrow
And it is only 6:45 at the moment! I think I will spend the rest of the evening on myself by reading a book, taking a bubble bath and doing my nails...
As James Brown said "  I FEEL GOOD!! I FEEL GOOD!!!

It's gone.... I think !!

Whatever nasty little bug had a hold on my blog page for the past couple of weeks is finally gone... I think !!
Anywhoo...

I was thinking again today about how sometimes we do things and really don't know why and then sometime later the "why" becomes perfectly clear.... Case in point--
Tuesday afternoon I was at school enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that comes when everyone is on Spring Break (or the weekend or whatever) and you are the only one there...
Actually, Caiti and one of my students from this year was also there with me in my classroom.. I got so prepared and ahead of the game I scared even myself!  We decided that we would go out and walk a mile and a half around the track because it was truly a beautiful day.  For some reason, after about the first 1/2 mile, I was just suddenly really tired and we decided to quit.  The student, Sara, said we had about an hour till she could be dropped off at the place her mom works-which just happens to be our family's eye doctor.  Since we were so close to the house, I brought her with me to introduce her to Dad and Mom and just kill some time.. Within 15 minutes of our arrival, the emergency with Mom started.. I was able to drop Sara off at the eye doctor and still come back to take Dad to follow the ambulance to the ER.  As I was driving, I realized that if we had walked our intended mile and a half, we would never have been at Mom and Dad's in time to help out!  Don't know if I was just "in tune" at that time or what----but it was just one of those instances that make you pause and think !!

Doing something dangerous...

I was just sitting here thinking (that's where the doing something dangerous part comes in)....

1- These past two years have been filled with a boatload of ups and downs... but my boat is still afloat!
2- I can't believe it is only 10 weeks until the end of the school year !
3- Days like last Saturday's trip to Andersonville are like trips down memory lane... especially when some of the people who drive are some of my former students !!!   eeekkkk!!
4- My voice is a little gravely today--maybe that's why 3 out of 4 of my classes were quiet for me today..  Whatever it takes !
5- I have seen evidence this week of the writing talents of both my children-  Travis with his beautiful ode of love to "his Lindsea" and Sarah with her grasp of Spanish still after all these years.  When I read her comments to her friends in Chile and couldn't read what she said, I thought how cool it was for her to still be fluent in Spanish!
6- I am looking forward to the family reunion this year.  Cant wait to see if little Derek still "loves" his aunt he has only seen once, and maybe I'll even have a few tricks up my sleeve to liven up the place this year! 
7-I find I am surrounded with negativity as the main ingredient in many places I go these days---Maybe that is why sometimes it is easier to succumb to it instead of trying to summon the energy to fight it or maybe that is why I find myself purposefully isolating myself from it at work...
8-I am anxious for this weather to settle into the beautiful spring weather we all deserve.  It is so hard to get out and walk when there are icicles hanging from your nose or the wind chimes are blowing straight out! 
9- I realize that I don't have to refer to my history textbook these days in order to teach because I am teaching about the 1960's-the present time.... Oh, No!!!
10-I think my brain is tired from thinking so hard today, so I'll say Good night and let the little cells rest :-)

On the verge....

An Open letter from me to the Lord....
     Dear God...
     I know that you have told us that you will never give us any more trials than we are capable of enduring at a particular time...
     Well, just in case you decide you want to, I will not mind sharing some of the seemingly unending stress with unforeseen accompanying blessings  with someone who has had some time off from such "mixed emotion" situations.  If it were not for my love of You, and my trust that You really DO know what is going to happen in my life, i really believe that I might be on the verge of losing what is left of my mind! 
     Now, Lord, I know that to many I might appear to "have it altogether."  But, you see, Lord, I have noticed lately that not only am I becoming forgetful as to what "it" was... I don't really remember the last place I had "it" when "it" was altogether... :-)   I have become less and less coordinated lately about the trick of keeping several balls in the air without doing myself irreparable harm... Remember, I am the one of your daughters who once played catch with a croquet ball and missed-resulting in a quick visit to the ER and several stitches to my lip.  In fact, I can send you a picture of the scar I have from that particular experience. 
     So, please, Lord.... just for a minute or two of YOUR time, not necessarily MY time, I would relish the opportunity to "take a chill pill", "stop and smell the roses" "tiptoe through the tulips" or just take a deep breathe.......
     Thank you thus far for the many lessons I have learned through my previous "learning experiences." I promise  I will be ready to tackle some more in just a little bit, but just at the moment, I am a little more weary in mind and soul than I like to be in order to give my new trials the attention they so richly deserve.  
     Of course, whatever happens is up to you, but I figure the worst possible answer from You would be "No, no break now"  in which case just disregard the possibly negative attributes of my above words and along with my next schedule trials and afflictions, please send some indication as to the possible arrival of my "guardian angel" so I will know if I continue to make a fool of myself at least you have sent me someone to "be in my corner", "to watch my back" and to remind me of just how special it is to be in the "here and now."
 Hopefully I will visit again with You again really, really soon.....
Susan

Everyone I asked said I could...

All the adults in my little world at the moment said I could... Of course, I am the ONLY adult in my little world at the moment.... Here was my question to My Self...

"If I went into work this morning by 4:30 because for some reason I was wide awake at at 3:00 am and could not go back to sleep, is it okay for me to go to bed by 6:30 pm if I see no reason to stay up any later...

Self answered back to me... Yep!!  What cha waiting for??

Nite...!!   ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Seems like I'm dancing...

Today has been one of those days when for each step forward, I have had to take two steps back...But I kept dancing and dodging "bullets" and am still standing at the end of this evening... Hear that world !!  I'M STILL HERE !!!

Special happening of the day was when i got a very grown up phone call from Amelia this afternoon.  She asked me if I knew how George Washington died.  I said "Of course, I did."  He died a day after riding around his house and farm on his horse.  He rode in the rain and caught a bad cold and that is why he died." 

Additionally information on his death.  He died on the 14th of December.  Apparently he knew his time was really close at hand because it is reported that he said his goodbyes to all and said something like "I know I am going to die but I am not afraid of it."  Then at about 10:00 pm, he composed himself, placed his hands over his chest and quietly breathed his last breathe. He was really old for a man of that time.  He was 67.  However, he was just a young whipper-snapper compared to Ole Ben Franklin who was in his 80's during the Constitutional Convention and because of his gout affliction, had to be carried up the stairs of Independence Hall every day by 4 "guests of the jail" just down the road.  

Note: Amelia called back later and wanted to know where Lincoln died and what he was doing when he died.   Ahhhhh... the love of history is safely in the hands of the next generation!

I just realized...

If Travis and Lindsea have been "courting" for over a year....
If Lindsea has now been introduced to BOTH sets of parents...
and IF both of them have survived these life changing events......... Then.......

THAT IS SOME KIND OF SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP MY BOY HAS WITH THAT YOUNGIN !!!

Yeah!   And she loves tanning booths and pedicures/manicures as much as I do !!

I think she's a keeper....

By the Way... Just in case you were wondering... both dads are named "DALE "  !!!!!!!!!!!  What are the chances of that happening in any family but mine !?!?!?!?!?!??!

Sarah... on the other hand...is gonna marry some rich, VIP she meets while giving him the ultimate tour of Disney.... How can that not happen ???????????????????

Found this.. thought it was quite appropriate...

What more can I do ...

In my 7 years at Eighth Street Middle School, I have always prided myself on working as hard as I could to bring honor-not only to my profession- but also to my school. In return, my school family has rewarded me with the honor of being their Teacher of the Year my third year of teaching..the students voted me WalMart's Teacher of the Year for Tift County in my third year and it goes without saying how proud I am of the many plaques and recognitions I received for the efforts of the History Club to bring the Moving Wall to Tifton. After being in the profession for a while, I have learned that the Teacher of the Year is more of a popularity contest type thing ( and I seriously think I got it that year because I brought in a lot of food and left it in the Teacher's lounge). I was tickled with the WalMart award and the $100 gift certificate, but was disappointed that the $1000 check given to my principal for the school somehow never made it back into supplies, etc. needed by me in my classroom.. (Traditionally, that is the case with that $1000. )
I relate all these past things in order to give background on my latest episode...
As those of you who read my Facebook/blog know..during Education Week this past November, I was surprised to the point of speechlessness by being chosen as one of the ten Teachers of Excellence in Tift County this year and the only one from Eighth Street. This is the highest honor a teacher can receive here. It is an accomplishment that has a lot of meaning. It means that people-parents,former students and community people have actually taken the time to write down something about me and how I have affected them or the lives of their child. We do not know specifically who writes those letters. We just know that what was said made an impression on the committee that chooses the Teacher of Excellence.
Anyhow, the banquet to honor all of us was held on the 11th of Feb. It is a pretty big deal. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club and is a fancy buffet, sit down dinner and entertainment deal. We are allowed to bring our spouses/significant others and seating arrangements are made in advance. On the evening of the banquet, I was surprised to see my good friend, Debra Sellars walk in. She said she was there as my "date" and to also represent the administration of Eighth Street. Don't get me wrong... I love this woman and was thrilled that she was there for me. But I was surprised along with the planners of the event and several of my friends from the community that my principal had not bothered to let me know that he would not be in attendance at this banquet. I still have no idea as to why he was not there. Needless to say, I was truly embarrassed that he was the only principal not present to support his school's Teacher of Excellence.
What more can I do for this man to represent the school he is in charge of and to bring honor to it and the student body???????????

Just wondering...

Does anyone ever read the blogs I write?? If so, Let me know by posting some kind of comment....good or bad... I really don't care... I just don't know if anyone even knows I am here since I have had the new blog title... If they do, I'll be more ambitious... If not,well then....

Nance.. Thanks for commenting :-)

Wish you had been with me !

For the first time in heaven know when, I actually celebrated my birthday this year! When you recover from your faint... read on !! Travis, Sarah and Lindsea had convinced me to come down to spend it with them.. So I did.. I kidnapped Caiti as my partner in crime. We sat out early in the morning of the 26th and arrived in Orlando by mid afternoon. Travis and Lindsea met us and went with us over to our hotel room on Disney property.. Gotta love those discounts from the kids ! We stayed at the All Star Music Resort and had a wonderful end room for just under $50.. That's what I'm talking about! Caiti had no idea we were staying there, so it was fun to see her look of surprise when we drove up and there was a HUGE cup of coke next to our room.. (See picture below to get an idea of the size of that sucker! )








By the way, when we checked in, I got an It's My Birthday pin to wear and a long stemmed red rose.. .yes, it was real! It was too cool... I had to get used to people wishing me Happy Birthday as we walked around the parks... It was so fun, I wore it the next day too !

We met up with Sarah after she got off work and piddled around a little before heading for the real entertainment. I knew we were going to eat at one of the restaurants at one of the resorts, but had no idea which one.. We ended up at the Polynesian Resort with the Tiki torches, heated outdoor pool with a volcano in the middle and little things like that.. I thought we were going to eat in the Captain Cook restaurant, but Sarah walked right on through it and out the back door.. After winding around a path lit by the torches, we came to a place with some ladies handing out leis.. We each got one and then gathered for a picture of all of us. Following the path, we came to an outdoor dining area just off a stage.. We were at the outdoor luau and dinner show "The Spirit of Aloha" The food was served family style and it was all we could eat! Pineapple bread, wonderful salad,b-b-q ribs, baked chicken, steamed veggies, rice and a chocolate volcano for dessert.. The show was done in stages and let me tell you.. if you worked at Disney as a cast member of that show, you would NEVER, EVER get fat..!! Those people moved their hips and legs in ways I had no idea the human body could move.. !!







During a part of the show, those of us with birthdays got to go on stage and do the "Birthday Hula" Let's just say, I don't think I will be getting a call back for my hula prowess!



The next morning, we got up early and went to Hollywood Studios (formerly known as MGM Studies) Apparently, I was not walking fast enough for the others in my party because shortly after we arrived, I was presented with a wheelchair complete with deranged drivers in the guise of Travis and Sarah ! Actually, it helped us to get through the lines at the attractions cause we got to go in the back door! We went to Toy Story Midway Mania where I proceeded to whop Caiti's butt with my skill at shooting a pop gun type thing.. again, Who Knew ! We also went to The Muppet Theater.. (thought of Dad while there), the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, Star Tours, and some crazy people like Lindsea, Travis and Caiti went on the Tower of Terror and the Rockin Rollercoaster. At one point in our travels, we came upon some performers from High School Musical 3 who were giving a street show... They came into the audience to get people to dance with them and Caiti chicken out... So, I was forced to do one for the "Team! Yep... I was dancing in the streets...




We ate lunch at the Prime Time Cafe and even tasted a Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake while there.. tasted just like a P B & J sandwich! I discovered there is something not quite right about some people who dress up in tight, brightly colored costumes.. Caiti and I made the Lighting McQueen and To-mater look good and had a couple more rematches at the Toy Story attraction... Then, alas, it was time to say good bye to the fun, the companions and the time away from reality.... "Now it's time to say Goodbye to you and all our friends.. M I C K E Y ... M O U S E !!

Having survived the month of Jan... life continues... !

It is so hard for me to believe that Jan 2010 is now history... Where did it go ????? I suppose I could say that I spent the first half of it in a drug induced la la land and the second half wishing I was still there !! Being out until the 19th recovering from surgery was fun at first, but got old really quick !! Jimmy survived and did quite well with his first official Substitute teaching job---- My darlings !! I have heard nothing but good things about how he handled the class and he has now become a hot item at 8th Street for the other teachers... Could it be his flyer he had me make up so he could put them in the teacher's mailboxes... it said "Want a 6 foot Sub For Your Classroom.... and had a picture of a submarine sandwich... The caption at the bottom said.. .He's the next best thing to you being in your classroom!! Who knew??!!

Just a thought...

I realized today a couple of things. My children and I am probably the most athletic members of the Cattell family. Within the past year and a half, I have walked off 54 pounds and walked in my first 5K and have plans to do another one in March. Travis has now competed in his second Walt Disney Marathon. Not only did he start them both, he finished them both! This year he had Lindsea by his side and that is so neat to me I long for a permanent walking and exercise partner... Sarah can run 3 miles easily and the only reason that she did do the half marathon yesterday was her work schedule did not allow it. Knowing that exercise was once a dirty word for me and one of the things I was sure I was allergic to, I am so grateful that as the three of us are getting older, we can still find things that link us together-such as walking/running exercises. The Word of Wisdom does say that if we follow it, we "shall run and not be weary,and walk and not faint." I find myself anxious and eager to get back to walking again just as soon as I heal from this surgery.. Then, who knows...I may end up right up to your front door... so, LOOK OUT!! GET YOUR WALKING SHOES ON!

Now I know why:

I returned from the doctor's office just a short while ago. Now I know why I have been feeling more tired these past few days than usual.. It seems that the combination of removing the staples, the irritation from the staples that were not removed and the weight of the excess skin from my weight loss have combined to make a hole in my incision about the size of the top of my thumb. I have to pack it with medicated gauze on a daily basis from now until next week when i see the doc again. Caiti has been my nurse and has done an excellent job of applying betadine and gauze to my incision. However, I am not sure how she will do when she has to start poking some mediciny ( i know.. it is not a word) smelling gauze into a hole in my stomach with a Q-tip. Maybe I can bribe her with something she really wants... ! Oh, wait.. Christmas has just passed as well as her birthday and she now has everything she wants!! I must figure out Plan B quickly!!

How things change in just a few short days...

If you could see me know, you would see me singing and jumping for joy! The heater man is here with the part for the furnace!! This wouldn't be such a big deal except that the heater went out the day before the sub-freezing temperatures arrived... Thank heaven for space heaters, but even they did not help much... when you don't worry about putting something in the refrigerator to keep it cold because the temperature in the kitchen is about as cold as the temperature inside the refrigerator... that is too cold for me! I have not felt my feet in about a week!! So, here's to the men who brave those frigid temperatures outside to make my warm and toasty inside !! What am I saying.... here's to men in general !!! :-)

It just feels so weird...

Today is kinda surreal for me. I should be in school, surrounded by hundreds of eager (?) students who are anxiously awaiting the next morsel of wisdom to fall from my lips. Instead, I am at home and it is so totally quiet, it is almost unnerving. I have only my thoughts to keep me company at the moment and that may not be such a great thing! Then again, it is bitterly cold outside, my incision is not healing well because of persistent infection and I did not sleep well last night. Soooo, maybe it is a blessing that I am where I am, doing what I am doing.... This is actually kinda deep thinking for me on such a day as this. I think I'll go take a nap!! Till later...

Feeling Guilty... Nawwwwwww

I should feel really guilty... The teachers have to go back to school tomorrow, but I'm not going back yet for a couple more weeks. Feeling guilty... Nawwwwww. Wishing I had some other reason for staying out of school for two more weeks... Yeah.....

Jimmy will be my substitute... how cool is that... If he can survive this experience, he is a good man !!

A sad passing....

Other than my family, few things have been in my life for longer than 10 years. Until Skye... my Russian Blue cat I have had since she was a brand new kitten. I got her from a co worker who rescued her from the middle of Hwy 319 on her way into work one day in 1995. She was always a cat that could adapt to any situation. When we lived in the country, she was happy as an outdoor cat...When I lived in town, she was happy as an indoor cat who had taught herself to go to the bathroom outside... She was a tough cat.. She survived an encounter with an armadillo or some other pesky creature who took a bite out of her tail. That is why she had such a short tail the last 4 years of her life. She always acted as if she owed what ever piece of real estate she happened to be laying on at the time. But she always came running, or walked with cat-like steps, to get a good head scratching. She never would cuddle for long, hated car trips and didn't get too excited at the usual "cat" toys, but she was always "there." She died in a place where she was loved. She died having lived a good long life. She was the first pet my children ever had and was Sarah's "Skye Baby." I thought she was beautiful. She will be greatly missed...... Rest in Peace, Skye Baby...