28 is Great

The day went well. Thus far I have received one very awesome home made NYC skirt from my mom-in-law, Celene Dion ticks, and souflet dishes (yippee). I have even been famous for a week as my name has remained on the Burger Bar marquee (thanks Matt and co.). I subbed a class last week and, after I introduced myself, the kids said, "Wait, you're that Mrs. Had, the one at Big Bens?!?!" It was like I was an American Idol. They asked me what I did to get on the marquee and I told them I'm just a really important teacher... and I buy a lot of hamberguesas.

I also got to spend $200.00 of my school's money at the book fair! No birthday correlation, but it made for a nice day. How many books does 200 smackeroos get you? Enough to last me about a month! Here I am, having shopped to my hearts content. I spent two hours at the book fair rationing my money.


The biggest Birthday news, however, comes from Quinn. He must have spent a million-zillion hours making me a 30+minute video slideshow of our year in New York. It is AWESOME and, of course, I'm ready to move back right this minute. I'll try and post it to the blog if anyone wants to see it. My favorite part are the "mug shots." If you visited us while we were there, you know what this is about! FYI: we are planning our dream house floor plan around those mugs.



There's more: Our friends Jeremy Young and Megan Hatch got hitched this Saturday and I officially started my rudimentary wedding video business. O.K.- it's still in the works, but this is my 2nd wedding video production and it's pretty fun. Maybe I can quit teaching someday and survive off a lucrative wedding video career! Here's some pics of me filming the wedding (glorious day) and one of my favorite little nephews [PORTER] and Matt.

Happy Birthday to Me

Mrs. Hutchins' class made me a crown so I thought I'd show you. I've been wearing it all day and I'm not sure I'll be ready to take it off tomorrow.

Birthday Wishes:

-New Car Insurance
-Oat Meal Cake
-Massage from Quinn (including but not limited to feet)
-New House
-Jimmy Johns for Lunch

Birthday Goals:

-Stop being so cynical and fatalistic (especially so Quinn isn't embarrassed to tell people about our blog)
-Finish my novel and contract an agent
-Focus on others
-Sell Condo
-Be delightful
-Ignore a realist's perspective
-Excercise

When did life turn into 2008?

Anyone still writing 1999 on their checks besides me? Here's the skinny: It's not that I don't like people, and friends, and social activities... I'm just weird. This year has been completely overwhelming for me and by the time I get to 7 pm all I have the energy to do is sink into my couch and watch American Idol. I'm sorry, maybe I'll be different next year or if I ever have a kid. I'm just so tired all the time and I can never really shut my mind off all that's on my plate, no matter who I'm around or what I'm doing. 200 kids walk on top of me everyday I often think being a mom will be the first time I have a chance to breath finally be a real person (oh no, here comes the masses of comments from all the moms out there who can't wait to tell me otherwise).

Excuses subdued.... Quinn has started posting. This is a new development so I think some encouragement will be in order. I've got to mention this little tidbit about his last post though: After Quinn wrote about Joe Torrey, serious, literal tears started streaming down his cheeks. No joke, this kid was down right emotional about it. Classic. I don't know if he would want everyone knowing, but I say you've got to give it to passionate people no matter what it is that consumes them.

I wrote a book this weekend. Okay, just the first 5 chapters and prologue, but I'm quite excited... and nervous. I never thought I'd be one of those people who didn't try something just because they didn't want to deal with the possibility of failing. I've told myself that it doesn't matter if the thing gets published, I'm just writing it for me... but we all know that is hogwash, besides, I have a mountainous, horrific, mortifying mortgage to pay off (speaking of that, does anyone want to rent, lease, or buy our condo?). I'm thinking of posting a chapter for anyone who wants to read it and tell me if it's totally wretched or has promise.

St. George is seriously cool... not a cool as New York, but narly none-the-less. How do I know? I attended the main street block party with Meree, Porter, and Bronsen last Thursday. It was a miracle that I didn't have to teach dance, so I made the best of it and snuck doown just before the new Office episode. The new park is awesome and I ran into my favorite student in the world: Codey (downs from DMS special Ed). Can you believe he graduated a year ago? I'm getting old. He remembered me and that my birthday was this month. That kid is amazing.
(p.s. I'm turning 28 tomorrow)

Mom and I went to a recording studio and laid down some tap this weekend. Is was fun and, might I add, a bit humbling. Since I've been teaching beginners for three years, I didn't realize how brilliant mom was and how crappy I'm getting with no practice. She is amazing. You should read her bio- She's practically famous and no one in SGU would even know it!

Ode to Joe!!

So, the new baseball season has started but it's just not the same without Joe. As we speak, the Yankees are playing the Red Sox on ESPN and I am writing this Blog (1st time). Don't worry everyone, I am still a die hard Yankee fan and that will never change but man I miss that old man!! I miss seeing him in the dugout, I miss seeing him hobble out to the Mound and his stoic look on the bench. He's been like a father figure to me these last 12 years. It's been a good ride Joe. Good Luck in L.A. (the Dodgers are now my 2nd favorite team).

Mrs. Hadley and the Formidable Talent Show

Today I have met bravery. As author Scott Westerfeld would put it: the talent show was quite "nervous-making." Mostly it was when I looked up and saw M. H. in the bleachers, Pesky little 9th grader that is nothing but trouble, pain, and agony to a teacher or any respectable human being with a soul for that matter. He's the type of kid that would slam me with a rotten egg bomb in the middle of my pull back sequence.... But, to my great pleasure, the little sluggers were good to me. They actually stopped talking while I danced (a first in SCMS assembly history), and they even cheered and clapped. I also may have detected a few "I Love You Mrs. Hadley's" from the rafters. Quite the surprise after 3rd period today when I almost creamed more than a few of them. They can be so vicious to an English teacher and then, in the same breath, turn right around and make her think she could hang in there and survive another day or two. Luckily, a day or two is all I have left. Folks, we've entered the 20's as far as days of school left... and I have the feeling, come June, I'm really going to LOVE my job!

What have we been eating? this is the ethereal question posed at our house. I really don't know what we eat, because I don't go to the grocery store, and we've certainly cut back on eating out as of late. Maybe this is why I am so proud of my killer turkey sandwich. The fact that making a turkey sandwich is considered extreme cooking at our house may clue you in to how dismal the delectable resources have become at the Hadley house.

Nothing out of the ordinary. My aunt Debbie died. I've been babysitting alot... ykhtg, Quinn thinks he is going to buy a fishing boat, and I dressed up to finish Farewell to Manzanar at SCMS. My students says it's dumb I do it, but I can tell they like the costume factor. Speaking of costume factor:

I made the school talent show. If you want to come and see me brave the student body in fishnets, it's tomorrow (Wed. April 16th, @ 1:45 pm).

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

So Sad

One of my students died yesterday. I had been working very very close with her on a personal journal project. It is so sad and unreal to think she is gone. I'm having a rough go of it. She is pictured below... so full of hope and finally making it out of some very dark places. I am so sad today.

La Verdad

Today is one of those days I console myself with this consequential fact: When middle school teachers die, they go straight to heaven.

Here is a picture of some of my star students (aka- the ones who 'get it' that Animal Farm isn't a fluffy story about a bunch of farm animals). They are holding up a fake propaganda newsletter I made and used to convince them of my massive lie. They don't know it yet, but in this picture I'm about to tell them the truth... and they are about to A) be impressed with my manipulation skills and floored by the fact that I actually used them, or B) be insanely mad and ready to hate me for the rest of year, claiming my lie is sufficient cause for revolt. In any case, I really got them stirred up and thinking which, in my profession, in a rare and positive thing.

New Game Plan

I've decided to become a stay-at-home wife. It's true, this whole concept of "childless women leaving work force to manage household" is not an urban myth restricted to the Upper East Side Manhattan social-elite. I too desire to join the ranks of prime-time-pumped, Martha-menaced, semi-detriment-to-society livelihood. Why, I ask you, do I labor day in and day out babysitting a crowd of teens who, for all intensive purposes, disregard reason and manner without reproach? It's like casting pearls before swine when I could be... well, blogging. Throw in a little geneology, some scrapbooking, a few homecooked meals, a clean toilet, and perhaps my stint away from the private sector and public workforce could be justified. So I say to married-almost-30-somethings everywhere: "Do we really need a kid to have an excuse to stay home?" -and- Is this desire for the warp-speed of time that dissipates into black holes and microchasms of unnoticed, under-appreciated productivity to be replace with slow mornings and walks in the park so wrong? I mean, retirement age is subjective... right?

DECEMBER 2007 (back tracking)

2007 went out with a bang and we are now official grown-ups. A mortgage (oops, my mistake) two mortgages, no more internships or school (for now), and a long long push to tomorrow (aka: our hopes and dreams for real lives, the picket fence, kids...). In December, my students were able to compile enough items to send Christmas packages to 700 troops. As a reward, I promised to have Miss Utah come and speak to them. I delivered! She has a very busy schedule because she is one of the most popular Miss Utah's ever, but she came to SCMS and gave my students an exclusive interview right before Miss America. She talked about her service in Afghanistan as a combat medic and told us about the Middle East. My 9th graders has just finished an entire Middle Eastern unit I designed, so her comments were quite relevant. She may not have won Miss America, but she definitely earned that popular vote, at least with my students. They were even nice to me for while... at least until the beginning of 3rd quarter when I invented a huge lie and convinced all of my students to believe in false propaganda. We're learning about the art of persuasion and how it allows evil, horrible men to take over nations. Since I lied to them pretty bad (of course they all fell for it) they don't trust me much these days. C'est La Vie. At least now they'll hopefully think twice before being bamboosled and brainwashed again.

In other news: Quinn missed his Golf Tourney in San Diego. Work has just been too busy for him and the weather wasn't cooperating. He never comes home before me and I don't leave work tell 7:00.

"

Oh Summer, Oh Summer. Wherefore art thou Summer? Deny thy delay, refuse thy predecessor, and I'll no longer be a recluse.

"

-That was my tribute to Romeo and Juliet (which will be 4th quarter's curriculum)

AS OF LATE...

We've been busy, hyperspeed syle; I also recieved my very first cold sore.

This has been the most insane month. Quinn had 50 deaths in 26 days at work and I'm preparing my students for end-of-levels this quarter. We were able to go on an awesome hike in Snow Canyon though. We've planned some fun trips for the spring (Disney World, Kuai'i, New York, D.C., San Diego, and, of course, Powell. Mom still thinks she and Quinn are going to Alaska together. I'm not sure Quinn is opposed to the idea. In fact, if it wasn't for the final Yankees Stadium season in the Bronx, I think he would go. My new favorite pastime are two websites Matt and Ashley introduced me too. Now I find myself browsing on-line during class a little too often. Check out these awesome, 1-at-a-time, deal busters:

www.whiskeymilitia.com and www.steepandcheap.com

I only failed 10% of them!

I'm sorry, is it Christmas? Most years Christmas seems to sneak up pretty fast but this year I'm wondering if it's coming at all. We've been so busy this month that we haven't had a chance to think of celebrating in the yule tide even for a second. I think part of the pandemonium has come from school lasting all the way untell the Friday before Christmas this year. Today, however, I'm officially finished grading 200+ essays in three days. Somehow, essay grading really takes it out of you. In my next life I'm coming back as a PE teacher. I've also officially completed all SUU business and vow never to return. The last tuition dollar has been spent and my Utah Level 1 license should be in the mail. You can view my e-portfolio (wicked little thing to complete) at:

https://phil.chalkandwire.com/EP2_Migration/SecureUrlPage.aspx?PageId=82268&u=guest&cus=16&URLID=1746

or it can be previewed at:

https://phil.chalkandwire.com/EP2_Migration/QuickPreview.aspx?u=metc4199&t=2236980&PortfolioId=4347&GId=82268&SID=0&IsFirstTime=true&SB=true&Module=PF&IsHTM=true&Cus=16&SPID=82268&IsReadOnly=False

Quinn is doing well- he is quite the social butterfly. He recently returned from a seafood buffet and may be permenantly converted to the genre. Last week he recieved two calls on Friday night and two more on Saturday night so he went more than 72 hours without sleep. I don't know how he does it. He is really enjoying his job and it seems to be a perfect fit for him. In other news: we are very proud to announce that we have set up two 401k accounts. This is significant because we are comming closer and closer to becomming real live adults. I guess when you're pushing 30 it's time to face growing up... at least a little bit.

Merry Christmas and all that Jazz.

Here are a few picks from Fall 2007. Our last Lake Powell trip of the year (man,

we are starting to get antsy to visit the lake again) and our Thanksgiving holiday pictures that Quinn is always so excited to pose for.

What a Ride!

Before I complain too much about teaching, let me just mention that today I received 6 Christmas candy grams and two batches of fresh baked Home Ec. chocolate chip cookies from my students for no apparent reason other than they thought I might enjoy a treat today. Pictured here is my angel 8th period class. OK- now for the venting...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think I've breathed since school started. It's been rough, tough, and, at times, a little bit ugly. Middle School kids are hideous to begin with, but slap them with a technical essay, a reading requirement, and management expectations and they get down right dirty and evil.



The latest stats:
Summer was a blast... after I made it through Spain. We spent some time at Powell and then I started teaching... for free. Can you believe it, technically, after two complete degrees and graduating in May, I'm still a student paying tuition. I skipped the student teaching stuff so WCSD is making me do an internship. Actualy, I received my first paycheck on November 30th and took my self out for take and and a movie (Quinn was in Loa). Unfortunately, that was about all I could afford since I spent that paycheck about fifty times before I got it.
This first year teaching business is educations version of waterboarding. I'm wondering if John McCain got wind of this he might not consider it down right criminal and outlaw the practice all together. Anyhow, I've done well and actually got first page newspaper coverage! Check out what my students and I have been up to:

http://www.dixieweekly.com/pg-archiveArticles/a-3015/Local_Students_Unite_in_Service_and_Patriotism.html

Quinn finished his internship and got a raise which, ever-so-quickly, was claimed by the government. Taxes. It'll happen every time. We spent a lovely UEA weekend in NYC!!! Can you believe it, our building went condo! Anyway, I think we ate at all our favorite joints and spent much of the time not believing it had been a year since we'd moved home. Some times I wonder if I'm not having some sort of affair with NYC I love it so much. In fact, I already had my next two trips back to Manhattan planned before I even left for this trip. It just solidifies the fact that New York will never be out of my system. I will always and forever fantasize about moving back.








FOR NOW:

We've been working so hard, it's difficult to think about the holidays. Most of the time I feel like I've dropped off the face of the earth and I'll suffocate before I get back. Did you know, I haven't checked my voicemail since before Spain (May 2007 for those keeping track). Oops. Busy is good... right?

P.S. Quinn got an elk. Sorry, no picture, but if you want to taste it, stop by around 7 pm and we'll fry some up for you.