Songs our youth are singing today.

"Because I Got High"

It's Like, I don't care about nothin man,

roll another blunt, Yea (ohh ohh ohh),

La da da da da da La, Da Daaa,La da da da, La da da da, La da da daaa

I was gonna clean my room until I got high

I was gonna get up and find the broom but then I got high

my room is still messed up and I know why (why man?) yea heyy,

- cause I got high [repeat 3X]

(La da da da da da da da da)

I was gonna go to class before I got high

I coulda cheated and I coulda passed but I got high(La da da da da da da da da)

I am taking it next semester and I know why, (why man?) yea heyy,

- cause I got high [repeat 3X]

(La da da da da da da da da)

I was gonna go to work but then I got high

I just got a new promotion but I got high

now I'm selling dope and I know why (why man?) yea heayy,

- cause I got high [repeat 3X](La da da da da da da da da)

I was gonna go to court before I got high

I was gonna pay my child support but then I got high

they took my whole paycheck and I know why (why man?) yea heayy,

- cause I got high [repeat 3X](La da da da da da da da da)

I wasn't gonna run from the cops but I was high

I was gonna pull right over and stop but I was high(La da da da da da da da da)

Now I am a paraplegic and i know why (why man?) yea heayy,

- because I got high [repeat 3X](La da da da da da da da da)

I was gonna pay my car note until I got high

I wasn't gonna gamble on the boat but then I got high

now the tow truck is pulling away and I know why (why man?) yea heyy,

- because I got high [repeat 3X](La da da da da da da da da)

I was gonna make love to you but then I got high

I was gonna eat yo pussy too but then I got high

now I'm jacking off and I know why, yea heyy,

- cause I got high [repeat 3X](La da da da da da da da da)

I messed up my entire life because I got high

I lost my kids and wife because I got high

now I'm sleeping on the sidewalk and I know why (why man?) yea heyy,

- cause I got high [repeat 3X](La da da da da da da da da)

I'm gonna stop singing this song because I'm high

I'm singing this whole thing wrong because I'm high

and if I dont sell one copy I know why (why man?) yea heyy,

- cause I'm high [repeat 3X]

La da da da da da, La da da da, Shoop shooby doo wop.

Get jiggy wit it, skibbidy bee bop diddy do wahhh- cause I'm high [repeat 3X]

(hey where the cluck at cuz) [clucks]Well my name is afroman and I'm from east pomdale (east-pom-dale)and all the tolweed I be smokin is bomb as helllllll (excelent delivery)I don't beleive in Hitler, that's what I said (oh my goodness)so all of you skins (skins) please give me more head

The question of "Why?"

Today is Stupid Question Day (I love looking up the bizarre holidays that are out there) and I thought I would discuss the ultimate stupid question: "Why?"

"Why?" isn't a hard question to answer. It seems so simple to just give a reason. However when a 14 year old decides to ask "why" there is a lot more to that question than meets the eye. When a teenager asks an adult "why", it is a challenge to the adult's authority. It is their way of getting under the parent's skin without being directly disrespectful.The common answer "Because I said so", just doesn't seem to cover everything for the teen either, they must then ask "Why?" to challenge you even more. They want to know why you said so. This usually brings about the response of "Just because", which isn't satisfying enough for the teen. Now you are getting into a power struggle at this point, and somehow the teen has figured it out. If you can't give them a "good" answer to "Why?", then you are stuck with possibly trying to explain "Why not?". Here is how the teen sees it: You can't tell me why I can't do something; therefore I can do it, if I want to. Parents can end up in a wonderful argument with the teen, until one of two things happens: The teen wins and gets their way or the parent goes to jail for murder.

When in the middle of a why-argument with Princess PITA, I truly understand why some animals eat their young. They didn't want to have to answer the question of "Why?" later on in the young's life.

Working Out

With my adventure in weight loss still on a steady course I find myself searching for some kind of work out that I will find fun and enjoyable enough to do more than once. In my search here is what I have found:

Jeff Costa's Cardio Striptease Workout: OMG!! This is the funniest DVD I have watched in a while. The moves were ok and I can see getting a good workout from them, however it is the commentary from Jeff that is so hilarious. The family actually sat around watching this tape laughing our asses off at the things he would say. The whole ab routine that is done standing up, he claims it is great for doing in the line at the grocery store. Ok, so I found this one wasn't for me.

Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease (Yes I know there is a theme forming): This was a good video for working out. Something I would definitely do again, so I am now looking into purchasing the set (pretty much the curse of death for any DVD in my house LOL). There was a great dancers warm up on there and the moves weren't crazy, however some of the moves like isolating just my ribcage to rotate in circles, I just couldn't get that down. And I am not so sure about that slapping my ass part in each of the dances.

Gloves and bag: God love hubby, he knows when I am just not going to give in on some things. Last night I got my first set of boxing gloves, they are so fun to put on and punch with. Hubby says I have no power in my punch and don't hurt him. However, I don't think it best that he be my full time punching bag. I am still trying to work him for the punching bag for our anniversary. Seems only fitting since I am going to sit through Neil Diamond for his gift. Some how I think boxing and getting out my frustrations might turn into a good workout for me :-).

Anyway....All this trying out of workouts is fun and it has had a benefit. I saw a 2.8 pound loss last night that brings my total to 46.8 now. It is so nice that without really trying I am finally seeing some results. I don't care what anyone might think, but Weight Watchers WORKS!!

Updates

On all kinds of things.....

Greyhounds first.....I think I am about ready to wring my darling Wink's neck. I never thought a counter-surfing dog would drive me as nuts as he does. I know why he does most of his behaviors too. It seems the days that I am not in the house long or come home late is when he does something really bad. Tonight when we went to pick up Princess PITA from her football game, I come home to find the fresh-from-the-freezer box of Samoa Girl Scout cookies missing. Where should I find the box upon searching the house....In about 15 pieces in the two dog beds. Hubby swears that Wink is setting up Dagwood and I am starting to think he might have something there. We have tried baiting Wink and having several empty coke cans fall on the floor in hopes it would scare him enough that he wouldn't want to surf anymore, but tonight is proof that the cans didn't do the trick. Next will be the pencil cup idea we were given. I will let you know how that one works out.

My search.....ummmmm, yeah, not going where I would like it to. Good grief how hard is it to just find neat, fun, a little on the freaky side kind of people to hang out with??

School....Well it seems I can't make my assistant principal happy right now. Seems there is concern about how 7th grade history is being taught in my building. Funny, I have done this for 3 years and this is the first time anyone said they didn't like how I was doing it and the one complaint he has about my teaching was the one thing my student surveys last year stated that the kids wanted more. Why is lecturing a bad thing? I learned well and succeeded on tests and my teachers didn't teach me with "hands on" activities. It was basically listen to what I tell you and read the book to find the answer. And while I am on this, his comment to me today was that I am teaching to the MTV generation. UM, NOT, I am from the freaking MTV generation, the kids we teach now are not what I would call the "MTV generation". This group of kids is about computers and technology. Maybe I missed something or I am not fully seeing his point, but I think he described the kids I am teaching with an incorrect term. I also had to tell him that I had duties as a cheerleading sponsor that I needed to complete before finding more materials on maps, charts, and graphs since it is my fault as a 7th grade teacher that the 8th grade students suck at maps, charts, and graphs. (To my 8th grade team, I love you all and I am sorry I screwed up your kids and didn't teach them the right material to do well on your benchmark tests.) Anyway, when I mention that I have something I need to do before that search for materials, I was reminded that I am contracted to be a teacher, I reminded him that I am also paid to be a cheer sponsor. To that he was speechless. And while we are on the topic of my contract, my day is from 8 to 4pm. That is all I am effing paid for, I put in minimum 20 hours over that a week on school related tasks that I am NOT paid for. So if we want to just focus on my contract, then I will work my 8 to 4pm and not help out with anything that I can't do on my 45 minute conference. I wonder if they would know the difference if I wasn't there busting my ass every freaking day for them.

I think it is time for a sick day...cough, cough......I think I have a fever and can't make it to school.

The search begins

I have been telling my husband and some of my good friends that I need a gay man in my life. Someone who has the same interest as myself and would be a good person to hang out with occasionally. I have wanted someone to go to the movies, dinner, Starbucks, bookstores and things like that with. Hubby isn't in to those types of things, movies and dinner yeah but the movies I like are nothing like the ones he likes. I also enjoy male companionship.

I decided to try out Craigslist. I have heard all kinds of things about it and thought it might be worth a whirl. I didn't specify that I wanted a gay man and probably should have. I have gotten e-mails from about 12 men, some just didn't get the strictly platonic part. I am not looking to cheat on my husband or have an affair, I just want a guy friend that I can go out with and talk to that is close to home. I may have to post another message on Craiglist and attempt to find a gay man instead of a straight guy. I had one guy send me a set of pics of a guy getting a BJ, ummmmm, how did that fit with platonic? Why do straight guys just assume that a woman is looking for a little something on the side if they want a male friend? Just because I want to hang out with a guy doesn't mean I want to have sex with him. One of the guys I e-mailed back and forth with asked to see a picture which I didn't mind sending him. He then asked for more pictures and wants "sexy" ones. Ummmmmmmmm, that kind of doesn't go with the platonic thing either if you ask me.

Anyway...The search has started, we will see how this turns out.

If I were a rich girl....

....I wouldn't teach anymore.

Seriously! I love having the rare opportunity to warp young minds but these 60 hour work weeks are killing me!

I got away today for a few hours with my inlaws. My mother in law is a trip. She has gotten more and more out spoken as she has gotten older. She let loose on lawyers this week when she was called in for jury duty. I swear I don't think she will ever get picked for a jury, but if I was a prosecutor I would want her on my side. It was a case for a drug dealer in their small Texas town (I mean there are like 667 people in town, super small). She wanted to know why the charge was worse when he was in a "drug free" zone around the school. And she has a good point, isn't selling drugs bad no matter where you are? I mean there are kids where ever you go in that town so it would be bad for someone to sell drugs anywhere. Anyway, I just love listening to her hot sports opinions.

Time

Time is a very funny thing. It moves so slowly when we need it to go by quickly and there is never enough of it to do the things we enjoy. I have been thinking about time a lot lately. Everything I do now has to be checked against a calendar. I was asked today if I had anything to do tomorrow afternoon and the sad thing was I couldn't answer because my calendar wasn't in front of me. I am not quite sure when my life spun so far out of control that I don't have any more time for the things I love and enjoy doing, or time for my dear friends, or time with my greys, or time with my daughter (who is still a P.I.T.A.), or time with my darling husband.

It is nearly midnight on a school night, everyone is sound asleep and my brain is running. I am thinking of the thousand or so things I need to get done tomorrow, and know deep inside there aren't enough hours in the day to get them all done. I realize so often that after I have left school I forgot something important that I should have handled before leaving school and going to a meeting.

My to do list for tomorrow:
1. Make time for the people who are important to me.
2. Make someone's day tomorrow who may just need that little boost.
3. Hug my dogs.
4. Tell Princess PITA (that will be my darling daughter's name from now on) that I think she is wonderful.
5. Kiss my husband and tell him how great he is.

All the other 1000 plus things will get done when they get done.

Quick on their feet

Today I shared with my students about my little accident on Friday and how the week in general blew. They all agree. But the funniest thing was one of student's comments.

~side note~ We have had a cricket problem lately, and I tell my students it is bad luck to kill crickets. I have told them a few times I don't need any bad luck so no killing crickets in my classroom. This this in mind......

After I share the mess with the van with my students one of them asks "Mrs. Davis, did you kill a cricket?" LOL They can be sharp sometimes :-)

Maybe I did kill one by mistake and this was karma biting me on the ass last week. LOL

Weather and Kids

If there was ever doubt about the weather effecting student behavior it is gone. We have some disturbances that will be stirring up rain in our area and the kids were off their rockers today. I have noticed that happens also around a full moon. I don't know why there isn't more research out there on the weather and people's moods/behaviors.

At least the day was better over all. The van is in the shop and I will hopefully know sometime soon how long I will be without it.

Oh and one other small thing....Why do parents yell at kids for doing the EXACT same thing they did as a kid? I know I do this, but I am picking on hubby right now. My darling daughter has to write a brainstorm and an outline for an English paper. She decided to write the paper and then was going to do her outline then the brainstorm. She said they would all match that way. My husband told me once that he did that the whole way through high school English and tonight I heard him yelling at her for doing it out of sequence just like he did. I just found that very funny.

What a week

I believe some weeks it would have been better if I had just stayed in bed and hidden away from the world. This week was one of those.

Between me family and my husband's family we each lost a grandparent in three days. We weren't very close to either grandparent but I was a little shell shocked with back to back deaths. We went to his grandmother's funeral and all was well. I think my husband needed to be there.

Friday when I get back to school I find that my afternoon classes where hell on my sub. I was lucky enough to meet her, but she scared the hell out of me, I thought she was Broom Hilda, the little witch. I stayed late after school (NEVER do I stay late on a Friday) to rearrange my room and get something in order for my classes.

I get a call from my husband to let me know my father has sent me a letter, but that he wanted to wait until I get home for me to read it myself. I know this can't be good news since I haven't talked to the man since January.

On my way home, I call my sister while sitting at a red light, no answer so I hang up and toss the phone in my purse. Light turns green, I am quick off the mark as always, as I am entering the intersection I hear screeching tires and look to my left to see a piece of shit car screeching into the side of my van. PERFECT! I get out of the car cussing and pissed, the woman gets out of her car and says to me "I had a green light", I look up at my light that is turning yellow, "My light is turning yellow, are you kidding me?" She didn't say another word to me. Luckily there were two cops that were on a call about 5 houses up the road that saw it and immediately pulled up for the accident and help out. They both told me there were plenty of witnesses (I got names and numbers) that saw her run a red light. My self and my daughter are fine, we were just shaken by the impact and my hip is sore from making friends with armrest on the door.

I get home finally and read the letter from my father to let me know he is done with me and my sister and that getting together for the holidays would make him want to vomit. He signed it my deceased father, so at least I hit the trifecta for deaths. Hell everyone knows death travels in threes. I did appreciate the letter from the far beyond from him, it was just the thing I needed to sum up my wonderful week.

I think this weekend I will hide out at home and not play with anything electrical.

Happy Birthday, David!!

You are the best. I am lucky to have such a great friend like you . I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are. Love you bunches!!

Student comments

I was asked by a student yesterday why I have to be so strict. I have one major rule in my classroom, it covers all other rules set by the school, that rule is RESPECT. I expect my students to respect themselves, each other and me. I give them the same back as long as they give it to me, you know the Golden Rule.

Anyway~ back to me being strict. I ask that my student do their warm up activity in silence. It isn't ever something that is so hard they can't do it quietly at their desk. I usually have a Powerpoint presentation set up with a timer for 10 minutes, the length of time for the warm up activity. During that time I have started standing at the front of my classroom with my discipline plan and writing "learning choices" (that is what my school calls a consequence) on the discipline chart. It is during this time that my student raises his hand and asks me why I am so strict. I told him that if the class could be respectful and give me the ten minutes of quiet I have asked for during warm ups then I wouldn't be so strict at the start of class. He tells me that he is respectful. I told him I appreciated that and asked him to continue on with his warm up. Within 30 seconds he turns and talks to the kid next to him. Yep, I think he missed the point.

I will say that as long as I have been standing in front of the class with my chart I have had less noise at the start of class. Maybe in a couple of weeks I will have them trained.

Bad Mom

Many days I am happy that I have my beautiful 14 year old. If I hadn't had her I would probably have no children. Last night though, I wasn't so pleased. It is amazing how badly a child can hurt your feelings sometimes.

I had the week from hell as far as needing to be in more places than humanly possible. Friday night a group of teachers gathered at Chili's for happy hour. It was nice to go somewhere and not be trained or talked to about test scores or work on lesson plans, you know just being a person for the evening.

I get a call from my frantic daughter at 4:30pm. She wants to know if she should get ready for her game (she has to go to the Varsity football games and support her team). I told her yes she should and that she should eat. I get off the phone with her and continue on with my happy hour. Hubby even showed up to mingle with the lowly teachers he chose to leave at the end of last year.

It was nice to hang out with him for a while too. Around 5:45 he says he is going to go home and make sure our daughter is ready for the game. I tell him I will be following close behind. I call the house at 6:03 to let them know I am on my way and my daughter answers. In near hysteria she tells me she is going to be late to her game and I remind her she doesn't have to be there until 6:45. She yells that she has to be there at 6:15 and she is going to be in trouble. I tell her fine, leave.

Upon getting home 2 minutes after talking to my daughter the house is empty. Ok, so I look up the e-mail that I got from her sponsor...hmmmmm, it says 6:45. Her pre-game check sheet in the living room says 6:45.

When she got home from the game (hubby and I left after the first quarter, I hate football)...anyway when she got home I asked her about the time thing. Her words and I quote "You could have been home with me, but you chose to go to happy hour instead." WTF?!? I bust my butt at work all week long, going in at 6:45am and not getting home until after 6pm every night and I am not allowed, according to my 14 year old, to go out for a couple of hours with friends before her game. I was two flipping minutes from the house. And what hurt most was that I read into that comment that she thinks I am a bad mom for not being home immediately after work. ~sigh~