This is me now

Here I am, working late again. The latest is: Q started the garden (hurray!), one of my 9th grade classes is still entirely convinced that Marijuana is good for them, I judged a pro clogging competition on Saturday, and Quinn and I get to spend money tomorrow (yipee). Also, I'm not saying I hate the ending of Scott Westerfeld's Ugly series... it ended the way it needed to, but that doesn't mean I have to feel good about it. I had to start reading something else right away to get over Specials. Four books this week means I'm behind on grading so this is me (pic above) working late yet again. I'll tell you, it really gets freaky about 8 pm when you think you're the only one in the building and suddenly a janitor pops in and scares your pants off. Today Meree brought lunch to me at school. This was a life saver on several accounts. 1) Quinn and I are on the 10th day of not spending 1 dime and the food stuff is running low (popcorn for dinner kind of low which reminds me so much of New York days), 2) It's real nice to talk to an adult after 7 hours of student whining over having to read To Kill A Mockingbird (Most beautiful American novel ever written... I simply am at a loss to understand the intense whining) , and 3) Meree is just about my favorite person in the world. How does she do it all and stay a size 2? She's like that girl you wanted to hate in High school because she was perfect and beautiful, and good at everything, but you couldn't because she was so darn nice and humble and like able. Meree is my hero.

I auditioned for the school talent show today. I don't really know if teachers are supposed to, but I did anyway. I wrote my name under 8th grade on the sign-up list and showed up with my orange/brown Miller & Bens ready to go. I didn't know the student judges so maybe they don't know I'm a teacher. I did an Irish Riverdance and they seemed to like it because by the time I was done, about 20 more "judges" came in to see what all the ruckus was about. My Language Arts students promised me they wouldn't boo if I made it to the real show. I asked them if it was Lame-o for a teacher to try out and they responded with, "It depends on what teacher." Still not quite consoled, I threatened them with F's if I caught them making fun of me when I perform... that is, if I make it.

Q and I did sharing time yesterday. I hate primary. Have I told you? I don't like kids. Love teens, hate the fake, cheesy, smiley voice you use with kids. I guess, after 2 years, our class is growing on us and I do kind of like them, but I still loath diverting from the rest of the adults into the primary room every week. Back to sharing time: I made Q dress up and act out some parts. He blatantly refused of course, but I managed to get him in gear by the time things were ready to roll. He did such a good job! Kids LOVE him. We've made sort of a temporary deal: I take care of our future kids until than can walk, then turn them over to him until they reach middle school. It's no wonder our marriage works so well.

THE NEXT QUINTESSENTIAL NOVEL: I've finally decided on a plot. It's based on binary opposition and will be an allegory of LDS doctrine without being religious. It will combine logic, instinct, and emotion to propel a love triangle caught between the knowledge of good and evil. Well... we'll see. I start writing the thing in June... like everything else in my life.

They tell me that June and July are these magical months where you vacuum your carpet, wipe the bar with 409, and acknowledge people who once referred to you as friend.


This is Q with our 2008 garden and Meree at Lake Powell
(in case you were wondering what a real live superwoman looks like).

Good News?

I got my job back for next year. Is that good or bad? It was so funny. I told my 8th grade the "good news" and about five of them could not contain their chagrin. You could see the utter disappointment on their faces at the thought of having Mrs. Had for 9th grade LA. I must be doing a good job. Incidentally, I've also taken on a new attitude about the condo. Actually, I've decided I will self-combust if I don't. I am now positively willing the universe to produce a buyer in 6 months. Oprah says if I reaffirm my aspirations with hope and expectation, they'll come to fruition. Side note: I've posted all our Kauai on shutterfly (our shutterfly address is posted on this blog) if you want to look. Yep, after I saw them I agree... time to get that exercise machine I bought on QVC out of the box and actually use it. Also, may I just speak accolades for seasonique. 4 times a year... That is the bomb-diggity!

Lastly, Quinn and I took our debit cards out of our wallets and hid them for the next 10 days so, in advance, no- we can't do anything that costs money until April.

FlashBack

I thought the Stirland Fam would enjoy these prime pics.

Easter was great. Lots of food, lots of fam... just how it should be. I've been getting really super-depressed lately about our condo. We still have 6 months before we can sell it and it's a long shot. I just want the house, the dream, the cricut... you know, I want it all, and we're never going to be able to get even a piece of that dream if we don't sell our condo. About a year ago I started serious praying and fasting on behalf of the future sell. Now, even though it's still 6 months away, I can't sleep over it. I'm so freaked out. I'm tired too. Also, I complain a lot. Real fun to be around right? In short, it's been a rough tough year. 1st year teaching middle school English, a hefty lofty mortgage, teaching dance, primary, bills, ENOUGH!!! I shout to the cosmos: ENOUGH! Send my boat, I'm ready to sail into the next phase of life. The part where there are closets and garages. I know it exists because my friends have told me about it. Of course, they are living the good life: stay at home mom, cooking, time to clean toilets. I suppose the only way out now really is to write that quintessential American novel I've been scheming. No pressure.

Whale of a Tale

Aloha Time is the ONLY time!
We spent Spring Break in Kauai again and, just like last year, we planned next year's trip before we even came home. It was so fun to go back to a place that will never get old. I've also decided that Quinn must be part Polynesian underneath all of that Italian. He fit right in with the locals. We really had an adventurous trip. There wasn't much down time between riding on Navy Seal rafts around the Napali Coast, zip lining and kayaking through the jungle, and whale watching. We even went deep sea fishing... well, Quinn went fishing. I just pucked my guts out for 5 straight hours. Good thing I wore a water proof anarak. They had to hose me down a couple times. In short, it was one of the most miserable mornings of my life. I do not recommend 12 foot swells on a tiny fishing boat. Apart from the mega ankles sunburn the first day that forced me to wear pants the rest of the trip and Meg being super sick, we had a blast. I don't think we will ever go to any other island when we go to Hawaii. Kauai is so beautiful and still rural. It's what you picture when you think of Hawaii (think Jurassic Park). My favorite part, however, was the whales. This year we came prepared with binoculars and weren't disappointed. It's so amazing to see a 45 ton beastly fish suddenly jump completely out of the ocean just for fun. Sometimes the crash is so big, you can hear them slash on shore. I seriously love humbacks and the 20 yard surprise encounter off our raft solidified the affair. If you get a chance, ask Quinn about golfing on a PGA course or encounters with endangered monk seals. I may as well also mention the snorkeling with sea turtles. Really, it was a blast. I vow to always travel no matter how poor, tired, or old I become! Now, for the recovery of the adventure.

Happy Birthday Q

I really don't know of one person who doesn't like Q or want to be around him. He is so fun all of the time (minus when he is hungry). Life would be quite dull without him. If you do see Quinn, he likes to be reminded how close he is to 30!!!

FLORIDA

So most of you already know I'm way into crocs.
I blame it on Steve (insert way sad sigh here), oh Steve, why did you have to go?!? I still get emotional about it. Anyway, we went on the ultimate air boat ride on the church ranch in Florida two weeks ago. Chalk it up to the Ambien... Meg and I flew out on the red eye to join my mom and dad in Orlando. The best part of the trip was the airboat ride and touring the ranch. There really are gators EVERYWHERE! We must have seen hundreds. We even saw one in a swimming hole for kids. It was amazing. We would zip around the swamp on the airboat and head strait for these 11 footers. Then, they would swoosh straight into the water and we'd drive right over them. I really did feel like an Irwin. Never mind the fact that I had vicious, violent night mirrors of my dad getting eaten alive by alligators at Lake Powell the whole next week.





We also went to EPCOT and this amazing Animal Kingdom place where we went on a real safari. It was great getting away from work and stress for a while. Let me not forget to mention the chocolate chip cookie thing with coconut frosting in Germany. That sucker is solely responsibly for me having to wear a swim suit with a skirt attached in Hawaii next week.


Last week was also one of my two favorite events in SGU: The Parade of Homes. If you missed it, you missed out! This year was awesome. I live for the parade of homes (isn't this the ultimate playroom?). It was one of only 2 times I ever got homesick when we lived in NYC. I'll also leave a prime pick of Meg going to the prom. She looked so cute. Can you believe my grading is done so I can finally blog? I guess this is what it's like for normal teachers (aka- I didn't assign end of quarter essays this time 'round).

HOPE

...And when the wind blows, blows hard enough to take you off your feet, you shine. You shine and you shine and you keep shining until, no matter how hard that wind blows, it won't blow out your flame. Because, in the dark, someone must shine and it must be you. It must be you because you should, because you can. It must be you because sometimes it is only you. It must be you so that good is not wasted on the wind or in the wind. It must be you because one day your shine will be seen by someone else lost in the wind. Someone looking for light. Someone looking to see out of the storm and for proof that somewhere, somehow, someone did shine when the wind said they could not.

Just because we say goodbye to this Hope, does not mean we say goodbye to hope altogether. If we save just one, it will be worth it.

-Mrs. Hadley