The antithesis of me...

Baylee, Ladle and Annabelle-- Snakes, Roaches and RATS
Juxtaposition and synonymity
warm, happy, summer days with not a care in the world-- cold, windy, cloudy mornings with an ice scraper in hand... here we go again.
A cold glass of some classy wine--maybe even a little unclassy, while some of the time, it's nasty tap water.
Good friends, loved ones, good times-- people that backstab, lie and start rumors.
I love you, I hate you
warm nuzzles and cold snouts
Cold feet and Warm cuddles
Can you help me? I have the answer.
Is it Oatmeal? Is it Belgian Waffles?
Shrimp Tempura Sushi and Cafeteria chicken and noodles.
Strawberries and chocolate
gummy bears and those strawberry candies the Elementary Spanish teacher used to give out
pink and brown, although together they make perfect harmony.
Basketball
Baseball
war
and
love
Harry Potter and Twilight
Say Good Morning, Say Good night.

When teachers actually GET to teach...

When teachers actually get to teach
and get to put down their grading pens
Stop worrying about TAKS tests, and hurt feelings…
When teachers can be teachers
Not moms
Or dads
Or counselors
Zookeepers Or problem solvers…
When teachers can show their kids all the way to the moon and back
Without fear of breaking a rule
Or making someone mad for deviating off of what they feel you should teach
When teachers can share advice with a student
And not be criticized for what they believe.
When teachers love to go to work
Because they get to do what they dreamed of
When someone finds that school
Give them my number, and i’ll be first in line to put my name on a door.

A Slice of Heaven Called Fayetteville, TX...

If I could thank God for only one thing today, I would thank him for Fayetteville, TX. If you ever get a chance to visit it along Hwy 955, you will surely feel as though you have been transported to a surreal town, populated by only 261 people. What you are seeing is not a dream, it is not a mirage... what you see is real.
Last night I witnessed a team of boys play so hard and fight so tough for a coach they believe in. This coach happens to be my husband. With so much at stake, and a play-off spot to snag, you had to be on pins and needles every time the ball moved up and down the court. We would be up, then we would be down... and down a lot. There was a minute left on the clock and we were up by 3... but a minute is an eternity in basketball my friends. Then the other team scores... we are up by 1... then they score again! We are down by 1!! There is only seconds left on the clock, what are we to do? Jason calls a time out and draws up a play they need to make in 3 seconds... 3 seconds! One of the starters has fouled out, and it is up to little Trevor, a sophomore that has played only 30 seconds of the entire game, to take up the slack and go... he makes a life saving lay-up just as the clock retires to 00:00. The buzzer goes off, we have won...by ONE point-- and the Lions are going to the playoffs!
What really touches my heart, is when we leave the game and eat in town. Last night as we made our way to the table, kids were pointing and telling their parents proudly, "That's Coach Woodall!", people were clapping, parents getting up from their table to shake his hand... I felt like the queen, following my celebrity husband. We were only at a dive cafe in town, but you would have thought we were being escorted VIP to a table at a million dollar steakhouse. Here comes the beer, it has been passed over by another table, and someone shouts: "Coach! that'ns for you!" We eat a fantastic meal, corn nuggets and grilled cheese :) We head back to school to celebrate the win, and the homecoming dance. When you walk in... you see a group of kids dressed in their pearl-snaps, their jeans and boots. It made me laugh. In high school, we begged our mommas and daddies for a $200 dress just to wear for this one night... these kids look no more dressed up then if they were headed to show their prize winning hog... But they are two-steppin' the night away, dancing with anyone and everyone having the time of their lives. I even got stolen away by a senior varsity basketball boy myself, and he showed me how they dance in Fayetteville, Texas.
But if I could thank God for one thing my friends... it would be Fayetteville, Texas-- and everything that makes MY life (and Jason's), one slice of heaven.

delicate flurries of happiness

As I got dressed this morning, I commented to Baylee about how it was impossible for a girl to fix her hair perfectly everyday. As I stood there, armed with my friend the flat iron, our conversation was interrupted with a sound. Ping! Ping! Ping! Could it be rain? Ping! We looked at each other, with a silence that lingered as if it were an hour. Then Baylee broke the silence. "I think it is sleeting Bee!" I ran to the window, and sure enough, there were thousands of white bundles jumping off of the shed as if it were a trampoline. Sleet! Ladle interjected his opinion... We must open the windows!!! Oh the joy of it! I stood at the window, with Annabelle and the other cats... enjoying the sleet as it raced off of the neighbor's roof and poured onto the grass. Sadly, it didn't stick or last too long, just like winter.

The view from the bench...

I am a coach’s wife. I love it more than anything in the world. There is nothing I enjoy more, than sitting behind Jason's bench and watching him in action. It's cool to see someone you love doing the thing they are passionate about... and TRUST me, that boy loves him some basketball. He says he doesn't know I am there... He has to be lying about this one... the best feeling of all, is when something happens in the game, and even though he has an assistant, there are sometimes he looks back at me... shakes his head, and makes a comment like I am a part of his coaching team... and I guess I am, when you look at it. I like it when I can ask a question now, and somewhat seem intelligent. "Hey Coach! that other coach is a butt head! Why did he half-court trap the whole first half when he was up by 30?" I guess all those play conversations at dinner time on paper napkins have paid off...

You want me to clone myself, and what!?

So I am pondering on the thought of having to clone myself. It seems that it doesn't matter how many things people want you to do, or get done-- someone always gets pissed. Why is that?

True story from today...

Me: Thanks so much for being a part of my classroom today! I just wanted to make you aware that I have a parent conference that was scheduled before I knew you were coming, and I MUST be at this conference...

MEAN GT lady: Well.... this is the first I have heard of this... You have really put me in a wedge.

Me: I understand your time is precious, we are all meeting until 5:30 correct? I will do my best to expedite this meeting so I can be with you asap.

MEAN GT lady: Hmph! Well... I guess if this is the case, I have almost wasted 30 minutes of my time sitting in here then haven't I?

Me: (speechless... as she waddles out the door) Well, I look forward to meeting with you later!

P.S. Did I also mention she told me she was staring at a student of mine and said, "I can't figure out for the life of me if that child is a boy or a girl..., but it is obvious they need a lot of attention." Me: "Yes, HE does, but oh! He is so smart! genius that boy is..." Her: "Well, he must have to be to deal with this gender ambiguity" O dot M dot G... skater hair does not = transgender. I could scream. Really.