BEST OF 2009- nods to EM-SHIZZLE

So I have this friend, whose name for all intensive purposes is named Em-Shizzle. I only knew her for an incredibly daring and thrilling month abroad in Spain but I am convinced we were secretly friends in a past life. I stock her blog about once a month and often wonder what she ever did about that guy who had a crush on her in Andalusia. She doesn't know it- but she is one of only two or three people who I feel totally get "it"- life I mean. A little sarcasm, some introspection, and lest we not forget a dash of cynicism all mixed in with an air of les et fair that simply poses as a front for really caring. Seriously, her stuff is one of the very few things worth reading online.

She's real. SO...... back to THIS.

Or getting there actually. I'm not a conformist, but Em-shizzle has peaked my interest so that I want in too. Here it is- late, completely depressing because 2009 bombed on my charts, but here none-the-less because whether I got the idea from someone else or not, it is a good idea (of course it is, it's from Em-Shizzle) and I'll be glad I have it some day.
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BEST OF 2009
1. What was your best trip in 2009?

OK- it's my first entry and I'm already depressed. Have I mentioned how insanely DEPLORABLE 2009 was? Usually Q and I travel quite a bit but this year we "pour"ed every penny into paying off our second mortgage thus kissing two years of salary good bye for good (yep- that sucked). Anyhow, my two trips of the year included a PLC teachers conference with my principal and SCMS teachers, and OGDEN for Q's Dad's funeral (during which I was so beyond sicker-than-a-dog --not to mention how hard that was for Q and his Fam--).

There was a smigin of travel on the docket that is worth remembering however. Q and I escaped to ZION for an overnight spring get-away. The best part I can remember are the toilets at the Motel (capitol M). Not being fasceous here, those toilets were amazing! You could flush 7-10 hotdogs down at once. How do we know this? My uncle owns the hotel and his brother-in-law (who researched and installed the toilets) runs the place. He spent 20 minutes telling us about them when we checked in. We were so impressed we vowed to use the same brand one day in the next millennium when we can afford to build our own house. Some day some day. Other than that, the hotel was free and it was much needed for a married couple who hasn't lived alone in over a year. We watched TV the whole night (in case you were wondering).

2. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?

For sure the best eatery splurge was Scallops and Shrimp on the rock at Anasazi. We even coughed up a pretty penny for the cheese fondue appetizer and chocolate desert. Go there. Actually, save $$ for a year, then go there.

3. What's an article that you read that blew you away? That you shared with all your friends. That you Delicious'd and reference throughout the year.

It was one... I'll have to find it again, the LA police chief wrote about the persecution of Californian Mormons concerning prop 8. I loved the way he didn't use cheap anger, sensationalized tones, or play victim to shout out two simple messages: Mormons weren't the only ones who voted so they shouldn't be targeted, and the persecution was a double standard. Rioters were invoking their right to free speech to persecute Mormons who had used free speech and freedom to vote to defend their beliefs.

4. What book - fiction or non - touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?

Where to start right? Actually, books are something I know and I know well. If you haven't read this puppy then you haven't experienced life in its literary fullness. How good is Sweetness? Let's just say my top 11 books list had to be altered (first time since The Book Thief) and it was no easy task saying goodbye to The Old Man and the Sea. Also, I'm considering Flavia for the name of our first-born daughter. Just read it. You won't regret it... and if you do, you're weird.

P.S. THE ROYAL RIP OFF OF THE YEAR: NO IRMITAS AT DICKENS!!!!! WHAT A SHAFT!!!

Bah Humbug

Just found out no Christmas bonus this year. I know they are trying to save jobs. That's important. But it still sucks to lose that money... especially since we're most likely looking at a $10 million deficit and jobs will be lost anyway.

I'm Bah Humbugging today. Somebody say something cheerful! (and whatever you say, DO NOT say, "at least you have your job")

Here, I'll Start:

St. George weather is PERFECT this time of year!
Oatmeal cake can fix almost anything.
Quinn is HOT and he's all mine!!!
Dicken's festival is coming up which can only mean one thing: IRMITAS IN MY FUTURE!!

Your Turn:

CONDO for RENT or SALE- please pass this on!!!

CYPRESS POINT #64

Once again our condo is up for SALE or RENT

We have created a website with all of the information and many photos.

Please relay THIS SITE info to anyone you know who may be looking to buy or rent a fabulous place!!!

We ARE willing to wave the deposit if we know you or your references are fantastic.

It is available on December 1st.

ONCE AGAIN: Please check out our CYPRESS POINT #64 website for details {or just to take a look}. Your help in passing this info along is tremendously appreciated!!!

http://cypresspointcondo.blogspot.com/

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{WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? Go check out the CONDO now!!!}

Never let your husband pick the Christmas Picture Outfits...

When I informed Q that we would be taking Christmas Card photos after church he practically grew claws and fangs and tried to send me to the mental institution. We argued and argued about it all the way home and then some.

Here's the playback:

Q (aka: typical husband): "You're ALWAYS taking pictures. I find it extremely difficult to believe you haven't taken ONE decent picture that can be used."

Me (N): I just want to get some nice ones. I don't like any that we have, I looked through all of them last night."

Q: "What makes you think if we haven't taken a good one in an entire year that we will take good one in one afternoon."

N: "Why can't you just accept that we are going out to take pictures today."

Q: "Why can't you give me one good reason why we should."

It went on and on until I finally made an offer he couldn't refuse... one I would soon regret:

N: "Fine- if you do it, I'll let you pick the outfits."

Q (WITH NO HESITATION WHATSOEVER): "Yankees. We're wearing Yankees outfits this year."



I'd already conceded without realizing the possible damage, so it was too late to rescind. Without further ado, I present our 2009 Christmas Card Pictures, finagled by me, styled by Q.

P.S.


Get ready for a good solid laugh.

Oh- and it's worth it to click on them and see the full sized version of our stop-motion!

...and some serious shots, because the Yankees should always be taken seriously ("NO WAY CAN YOU TAKE MY YANKEES BLANKET TO TUACAHN, IT COULD GET DIRTY!"):

I'm delighted to inform you that I did manage to sneak in some outfit changes. Here are some candidates for the montage:

I have to give Quinn props because he came through in the end. He scouted us some locations and even offered enthusiasm for extra shots when I said we could go home! Overall, I'm way glad we went. There is a winner or two in this bunch I'm sure, and I haven't even photoshopped yet!!!!

This is our lovely stand-in photographer (my little sis). I have a pretty kick trash camera and bought a nice new portrait lens off Mia so we were set. She'll have aperture settings down pat before I'm through with her. Honestly, I love my Nikon. Life is so much better with a nice camera. Seriously, THEE BEST investment in the world!

Halloween Party Breakdown

Mom and I had a blast from the past as we sporting old clogging costumes for the big event. I didn't dare wear this baby to school though. I'll have to dig up a pic of my kilt to show you my SCMS Scottish garb. Normally I have no problem getting all dressed up and school spirited for the little rebels but I'm having a seriously rough go of my job this year. Lack of enthusiasm and all that rot. You'd never understand unless you taught middle school Language Arts. It could bring Hercules to his knees. Did I tell you about the kid who threw a paper airplane at my back last week? I try to keep in mind my glorious students from last year who come down and visit me from the highschool almost everyday. How I miss them. We just survived PTC's this week which went really well other than the fact that we didn't have early out days so I had to work for 13 straight hours for two days in a row. Whatever genius at the school board thought of that one better not cross my path in a dark alley... actually, there are a few other qualms I have to pick with the school board. Sometimes I think the last time they set foot in a classroom was when corporal punishment was still available! Speaking of that, a couple parents gave me permission to use physical force at PTC's this week!

I've been lagging on the blog. Sorry. I've been extremely depressed as of late and overly scheduled. I have had something EVERY night for the past two weeks and it continues until Brazil. Awe- Brazil. The very thought of it gets me to thinking I can cope long enough to make it to our dream vacation. In fact, things have been so stressed, I don't even feel bad about spending BUCO BUCKS to do it right. Hasta.

Q says: No swimming in the Amazon

In just over a month, I'm going to catch myself an Amazonian Anaconda!

Annual Halloween Party- You're Invited!

This is our second annual Halloween party!

Every year my parents' street is invaded by hundreds if not thousands of trick-or-treaters.
The houses are bedecked in spooky detail and the neighbors set up booths for fresh scones, donuts, hot chocolate, and even hot dogs.
It's super fun and THEE best place to trick-or-treat.
Last year people gave out full sized candy bars and at one house kids fished for prizes and presents.

This year we will be serving soup (zupa, creamy potato, and chili)
and decorating sugar cookies.
We will also watch THE BEST EVER Halloween movie:

The Mummy Daddy
(which at this current moment I am playing for my Middle Schoolers and they're loving it)

So please stop by Saturday night.
We'll start the festivities at 6 pm.
Be sure to bring the kiddos.

3 TAP DANCERS!!!! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!!

THER IS JUSTICE IN THE WORLD AFTER ALL!!! FINALLY- SOMETHING TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FOR! BRING ON THE RIFFS, CRAMP ROLLS, AND WINGS!!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED I THINK I MIGHT PEE MY PANTS>

Did I mention the bottle of URINE?

Today I heard my first,
"Wow, you make essays easy Mrs. Hadley,"
and it almost made up for the incident a few weeks ago when a mysterious warm bottle of urine was left in the middle of the room for me to pick up and throw away in front of everyone.

...almost.

Nothing like a few calories to lift your spirits!

Cinnamon Rolls, Take two:

I decided to play with a few different recipes and added some ideas of my own.
Not sure what I did but here's how it turned out.

The results:
Extra SOFT with extra cream cheese frosting.

Not quite perfection yet, but close.

Is it just me?

Ever start hating something you're really good at? Something you really used to love?

Attempt confirmed

...Yep, my job really is trying to kill me. Today marked 6 DAYS of no voice. I made it first period, second, then lunch hit and that's when the History and Band teachers gave me the best advice: "It's not like they're not going to graduate if you go home."

Then I almost passed out- cold sweats- seriously something's wrong - why haven't I kicked this after two weeks panic.....

7th was so kind to me. They listened. They cared. They complimented me on my new shirt and listened to my story of how Q rubbed vicks on my feet at 4 am.

Then my modern day Savior, Mr. Langston the Math teacher, offered to teach my last class and I escaped. Somehow I managed to pull a substitute lesson, prep for Langston, grab my grading, and teach my rowdiest class all in the very hour death came knocking on my immunity door.

Two hour visit to doctor's later:

Not Swine (thank heaven) but something bad and weird. Flu/Colds don't last this long. Bloodwork results Friday- Diagnosis unresolved, cause professionally calculated:

HIGH JOB STRESS

At least this doctor gets it. My first year I saw a guy for an antibiotic and it took severe convincing for him to give me one. He said he'd much rather I just cut the stress out of my life. I laughed at him and replied, "I'm a first-year teacher, I'll take that antibiotic- and don't be shy about the dosage."

Today I had a woman PA who, upon divulge of my chosen (lol) career, simply confirmed, "Well that's why you're sick. You couldn't pay me enough to teach middle school."

"It get's worse," I responded, "I teach Language Arts,"

To which she promptly wrote out a prescription for an extra day of 500 milligrams. Finally- someone who gets it. ...And I didn't even have a copay!

Now for that news... (and PS- MIA)

So sorry to leave you hanging... that is assuming anyone is interested enough to be hung...

Reasons for my long departure from blogdom into an abyss of wretched existence:

• I can now verify for a fact that my job is trying to kill me.

{The next time you survive grading 200 1st time middle school essays PLUS revisions and live to describe it, you'll understand my brain waves flat-planing more minutes than I'd care to admit.}

• I have been on death's door, SUPER SICK for over a week.

{I am telling you- it's everything. I haven't been sick the whole time working at SCMS so I think it finally clobbered me with a vengeance served to keep me down until the kicking and screaming stopped. The screaming, at least, has stopped. I haven't had a voice for 5 days. Try teaching 35 middle school students at a time with no voice! ... and as for the kicking...}


...THIS is my good news! I've been stressing about telling Lauren I wanted to teach clogging again, and oh so worried to step on her toes but I found out last week she moved! So I am able to sail back into clogging smooth as ice cream, which is exactly what I did today (midst death knocking on my door with what could be described as the Tsunami Flu of the Century).

Why such good news? This will justify my leaving public education next year!

...I will finally be one of those normal people whose job isn't constantly trying to kill them.

p.s. MIA- The MUST-READ book I was telling you about is Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I am convinced you, and EVERY literary addict will LOVE it or my middle name isn't Ella Minnow Pea :) Now what was that book you told me about? I forgot and it's driving me crazy!