I, do solemnly swear, that I am up to no good...

Because this girl has clean dishes... day 2. See the blue glow on the dishwasher? It is in full washage mode. Oh, you see dishes on the counter?..... those just got HANDWASHED, sucka. Done and done.

I'm feeling a lot guilty because Baby J and I did not appear at the home game tonight to support Daddy.... but I needed to take a brain dump after today. Yesterday was a long day.... today was a long day.... and tomorrow I am going to be home late because I am catching up something serious with dear friends. You gotta take care of Momma in order for Momma to take care of you.

Oh, and new girl.... I think we are gonna get along just fine.

JFTB, out.

... and I shall call you.... Mini-me. (I hope.)

My principal must think I hung the stars. (Ok, let's be honest.... I helped. Ok... maybe I am reaching here. I swear I am not full of myself, I just have confident humor. I am really a humbled person. I swear, cross my heart.) I got to be on the interview panel for our new Math interventionist that starts TOMORROW. I was pretty broken hearted when the predecessor told me she was breaking up with me to interview for the PE teacher spot that opened up when the previous one retired at semester. She ended up getting it and tried gently to break up with me, but let me know we would still do lunch sometimes... I don't do well with breakups like that... Just ask my bff.

The first girl we interview comes in... with a hair cut, just like I used to adore (before I decided driving an hour to my favorite hair lady and paying $50 was overratted... and getting my hair cut period was overrated... ok, I just want to grow it out because it is flipping cold. Watch out for March. I'll get pissed and cut it again.) and wearing a cute outfit. She acts like she straight up owns the place (love) and instantly I have a teacher crush on her. I am sure she said a lot of great things in her interview and the questions, but all I heard was.... blah blah, teach writing at ACC... blah blah, teach vocabulary... blah blah Capturing Kids Hearts, blah blah.... for the kids... blah blah... language... blah blah connect with ESL kiddos... blah blah... background in language... blah blah... I rock.

Candidates dos y tres were great too. I am sure they were... but there was something about this girl that I just digged. Turns out, we hired her fo real... and her name is also my bff's street. WEIRD!? I just put that together. I hope she is ready, because I am going to latch on to her like stink on dooky. I really think we are going to SUPER get along. She is weird like I am, loves kids, jives the same way I do on building relationships with them, and sees the importance of language and vocab development. Girlfriend is smart.

That aside, I take what my bff wrote about a 21 day challenge as a throw-down... simply because I suck and am a quitter. If it weren't for my gallbladder taking a dump, I wouldn't have lost the 7 pounds I have lost.... I eat what I want, and my body in very panicked terms, tells me it doesn't want it in. Good system. Unless you can't find a bathroom.... different story.

She is going to blog about her projects every day. I have projects too... like, ACTUALLY do the dishes. ACTUALLY put away the laundry. Feed my child something besides frozen chicken nuggets, fish sticks or pb&j or pop tarts (In writing it really makes me sound like I suck ass as a mom...). So. Here we go. After I type this little ditty I am hitting up the dishwasher. I have both sides of the sink overflowing with dishes. I swear they were all clean yesterday.... I may just start there. ACTUALLY do the dishes for 3 weeks straight. If I have to blog about it, I may as well be about it, eh?

I can do this.

Ain't no one takes care of ya like yer Ma. True dat.

My mother is the MOST amazing and selfless person on the planet. (... and in this statement I also include my insanely awesome father and baby sister and younger sister as well.) Ok. scratch that... I think my family is the most selfless insanely awesome group of people on the planet. Let's rewind to the night of October 31. I wake up at 1:30 in the morning to the worst pain I have ever felt. No, i'm not lying. I've been in labor... i've been through childbirth. This straight up sucked. It didn't take more than about 20 minutes to confirm with my darling husband that it was time to go to the ER. We live in a small town, and the options are skim--skim--skim--skim for doctors. I mean, not even take a sick skunk I find on the side of the road to most of these doctors. This ER though, hadn't done us wrong in the past. We made an excursion in August when Daddy J almost chopped his thumb off in a Tim Taylor garage accident. True story.

They give me some pain meds, some weird tummy concoction my pharmacist sister calls "magic mouthwash" and do an ultrasound. The doctor comes in and tells me my gallbladder needs to come out. Now. They take me by ambulance (which was weird) to the hospital in Austin and we get to my room. By now it's around 6 am and Momma J is ty-yurd. I catch a few zzzzzs and Daddy J walks in exhausted. He hasn't been to sleep yet. We crossed paths as I got up, and he was headed to bed. Poor guy. A few hours later in trucks Mom and Baby J. She has taken off work, driven nearly 3 hours and picked up my son from day care and cleaned house and done some grocery shopping. I find out my Dad and baby sister are rolling in the evening, and that if my younger sister had had transportation-- she would have been there stat. Blood is definitely thicker than water. My surgery was a success that afternoon and I got home the next evening. Momma left today and just like when I was on maternity leave, I was sad to see her go. She takes such good care of me. I guess that's what moms are for, right? I want to be like her when I grow up. Friday (while still at the hospital) was my parents 33rd wedding anniversary. What were they doing? Taking care of me... What were they doing 30 years ago? Taking care of me... I talked to my mom today and told her I was sorry her and Dad couldn't go out together-- she said they wouldn't have it any other way. Cue the Kleenex!

Ok... but down to the real issue. ** stop reading now if you don't want to hear about people not checking on me. But seriously... it's a big deal. Especially if you know how my old school rolls...**

So we are on day 4 almost since my surgery and JUST NOW my boss has emailed to check in on me. (Oh wait... the school secretary sent me balloons... with the school's name on them... ) I have had 2 teachers ask how I was doing. I sent an email out when I got the balloons the day I got home from the hospital and just said "thank you for the balloons, thanks for checking on my classes... p.s. if you didn't know, I had emergency surgery, be back in a week... peace." NOT. A. SINGLE. REPLY. This makes my heart hurt a little.... ok, not that I want people wallowing all over me and falling head over heels sorry I can't eat fatty foods anymore and sorry that I had surgery... but really? Have a soul. I've had at least 7 or 8 people from the school I don't even work at anymore checking in on me. We call that caring. It makes me miss the W more than ever.... I miss the family I had there.

Well, that's why I am Jenny From The Block. I don't forget where I came from...

peace and fat-free dinners.

You don't get to tell me who to give up on...

I was told today not to waste my time on a student because he is nothing but trouble. This student has been in ISS more times than not this year, and is a clone to some sweet babies I have had in the past. I am a little ruffled because I never know when he is in ISS... that hurts my heart because my M.O. is a teacher that crazy cares for her students, even those that tend to get on the last nerve of most teachers. I ALWAYS visit my kids in ISS, even if they cussed me up and down and I am the reason they are there. That's why I usually don't have to send kids there.... because I build relationships with kids. I have not had a single disrespectful moment with this sweet one, nor have I had reason to get a little Bonquiqui. Yet someone else, who happens to not like him and has trouble with him is trying to tell ME that I AM WASTING MY TIME. I don't waste time with kids.... I change them. That's what I do. You may not like that he's coming to my sanctum, love, but he is going to be coming as long as I SAY SO. If you visited you would know, in my room... we love each other, we respect each other, we work together. The End.

Child, please.

I is writer... write? right?

My bff has a delightful coffee cup I admire a whole lot. It says, "Teachers", "Walk the walk, talk the talk, chalk the chalk". There's been a lot of talk for several years, but I haven't exactly done the walk. I was talking to a co-worker at lunch the other day about being a writer. His dad was a legit writer.... AND knew Dr. Seuss. Making me feel less than a REAL writer, he told me I just needed a blog. Cue steam from ears.... I HAVE A BLOG! I told my fuming brain.... the problem? I don't write in it much. I have conversations in my brain all the time that need writing down... they just don't. Like my dishes in the sink that need washing and my laundry that needs to be done (and ahem.... folded....). I think it's time I grabbed the chalk and chalked the walk that I keep talking. I can't promise they'll all be good.... but they'll be something.

p.s. My son barfed in his teacher's arms today and almost took out an innocent little girl eating breakfast. I felt bad for her.

Hmph. Stewing some thoughts for better things to come.

Now where is that damn chalk?......

baby dances for jesus

This morning my only wish was for us to go to church as a family. It's been a while. No kidding.... a long, long, long while. I grew up nearly never missing a Sunday at church. It's something I have been really battling with as an adult since I moved away from home. I can honestly say I have NOT been more than I HAVE been. Now that I am a mom, the concept of going to church has changed. I am going back to my roots, and I realize that if I don't instill in my little man the importance of going, it will inevitably be my fault when he grows up and doesn't understand the importance of being spiritually grounded. I for one, have been blessed beyond what I can imagine, and it's because of my faith I get through a lot of days. Well, this morning, I was adamant we attended as a family. Due to circumstances mostly beyond my control, I haven't taken Jax, or myself, since June. Daddy hasn't been in tow since Easter, and I had had enough of my little family spiritually spiraling out of control. We got up. I harassed daddy until he got up.... we got dressed... we made it out the door.... 20 minutes after 9. Did I mention the service starts AT 9:00? We pull up and there are very very very few cars in the parking lot. Are we missing something? We frantically plow through the doors to be greeted with a smile and a reminder that it's 5th Sunday so there is 1 service at 10:00 and pot luck lunch after. Coming to a pot luck empty handed is one of the deepest sins in my book, and my Nanny would be ashamed. Jaxon was glad he could run frantic around the sanctuary and at one point got kidnapped by the preacher's wife to hear the praise band warm up. He LOVED it. He loved it so much he ran up the altar front and center about 10 times... I was scared he was going to run through the band and touch all their instruments and break things... knock over the candles, pull on the ornate drapings on the Lord's supper table... but he didn't what did he do instead? dance. and he danced. and he danced. and he danced. He went a little Pentecostal for just a moment. And it was awesome. I also got some intense warm fuzzies I haven't felt in a long time just watching him up on that stage. Today, my son was dancing for Jesus. When is the last time I did that? I need to more often... Oh, and even though I came to the potluck empty handed did I eat still?

 Oh yes I did.

Two superheroes, no sidekick.

This is how it all started.... I met a fellow super hero in the spring of 2006. In May, our ways parted and  then as by fate, I met her again in the lobby of Hays CISD, as I sat nervously in a chair, donned in my outlet Anne Taylor suit and roach killer heels awaiting an interview that I PRAYED landed me my first teaching job-- only to discover, not only was she the interviewee fetcher, but she was IN my interview, and coincidentally... also a reference on my resume. The 3 people in that room that day would not only later to serve as some of my best friends and co-workers alive, but this super hero and I would also save the world together.... one writer at a time. 

To say I "got the job" would be an understatement, as I did not merely just "get a job." I landed myself a best friend, a teacher/rockstar/mentor/badass/student-centered/know-everything-whether-she-admits-it-or-not awesome lady person. She introduced me to the love of writing-- rather she brought out the little ember and made it into a big bonfire that would make A&M's look silly. She also taught me everything I know on how to teach writing. We are going to write a book, so Barnes and Noble (Borders.... RIP.... moment of silence please.) beware. It's gonna be big. Go ahead and get Amazon Prime now so you can get it overnighted for $3.99. I am serious. Life circumstances led her to need to take a hiatus... and life circumstances **should** have led me to go elsewhere. SHOULD. HAVE. I stayed. It was hard. I cried.... A lot. I also became really strong. I learned I REALLY could do it alone. I really was that smart, yet I still felt a crazy void. She's still on a hiatus, and I finally made the jump. This time away from EVERYTHING I know and into a pack of wolves. Hungry ones... with scary fang teeth. Like Kujo on crack. But you know what? It is a FIRM truth that God puts people and opportunities in my life for a reason. I think it's to bless people. My prayer everyday is for Him to use me as a blessing for others, and to bless me by putting those people in my path. He's never failed me since I started that. Yet I will say, my Jesus has a sense of humor that is totally parallel to mine, and there are surprises that do happen to come my way. 

Today, I got to be a part of a workshop I have been DYING to get a hold of for quite some time. My co-superhero introduced me to this book that was WAY abused with sticky note flags...

We used the HECK out of that thing. Last year, my tres fab teaching partner was a big Gretchen fan. I became to understand her a little deeper. Last week, my department chair announced we had enough money to send 2 of us to "XYZ" workshop, on the contingency you come back and present a training on the subject. I look down.... September 26, 2012-- Gretchen Bernabei... STAAR distinguished speaker series... blah blah blah. "I CALL GRETCHEN!!!!!!!!", I yell at her being the ONLY other one in the room at the moment. I get told it depended on who else wanted to go.... yeah, yeah. I tuned her out. I. AM. SO. THERE. I told myself. I wrote it into my AWESOME planner (yeah, co-superhero uno y dos introduced me.) and I was set. The weekend rolled around, and I went dove hunting (another post to come about THAT.... no really, I had a great time. No sarcasm.... really.)  and then stayed home Monday with a 102 fever and possible strep... (yeah, need to call the doctor to confirm that test...) I return to school Tuesday, try to confirm a sub... and the secretary has NO clue. The department chair? Yeah. She dropped the ball... never told the peeps in charge.... she apologized. Many times. I. about. lost. it. No lie. This was once in a lifetime for me. I haven't gotten to go to a training in a looooooooooooooooong time. My previous district had to cut funding and that is a place they chose to snip. Professional development? Are you for real? "Ooooh! let's not give our teachers opportunities to better themselves for our students or anything..." Ok. That's another story too. Stupid ADHD.... I swear. 

Ball dropped, we are 3rd down and inches. How are we going to recover? Well. The secretary at said new school likes me enough to make things happen. My principal approves it... then it gets in a holding box. Because the assistant superintendent has to approve.... the.... training. Oh. dot. em. dot. gee. If you know public education, like I do.... I just went ahead and assumed the mental fetal position and cried inside-- because I knew it was too late. The deadline to register for 1 of 17 seats left was at 5..... it was 2:30. nearly 3:45 came around and I got the email with the P.O. Jesus.... you are one of a kind. Thanks for the help.... swish!

I register.... I wake up this morning.... and I get to the Region 13 service center. I look and see a table, front and center. That chair is MINE! I scream and go for it.... There are 3 other women at the table, two I think are cool, and one that is dressed too cute and I can tell just by looking at her she is probably going to rub me the wrong way at some point. I ask if the seat is taken, and one replies, "No! Go ahead!" So I do. I don't want to be too eager so I don't sit RIGHT in front... I save that for my invisible superhero friend, vicariously attending this with me. 

 Yep... that's her on the left. AND her podium.... 
I am captivated all day long. She talks to me. She has me share my writing we do out loud with her Britney Spears mike and she tells me it's good. (Cue nerd laugh.... and snort.) Then... we take a break. And what happens?.....

Oh................ she SITS by me! (sorry cute teacher lady from somewhere in Texas I snapped. I was covertly taking this with my cell phone on the table and wasn't trying to get caught being a crazy nerd stalker fan.... guess my cover's blown, eh?)

I get uber ticked because I left my scissors book at my desk where I intended to grab it for an autograph. CURSES!!!! I am tellin' ya. I learned a crazy lot today. The whole time, I was jotting in my planner exactly what I need to tell my superhero.

We are talking about frantic jotting. FRAN-TICK. There are light bulbs and sirens going off.... I realize WE need to be writing a book.... WE need to be presenting workshops for teachers.... because WE are that dang good. Then we break for lunch. I get anxiety. I have no peeps with me to eat with. A 7th grader's nightmare.... One of the table girls pipe up and invite me along to eat with them. SCORE! I then meet up with 2 other teachers (now there are 6 in our posse...) and get shanghaied into their school van and we are prowling around Austin looking for lunch. (no lie. This never usually happens because believe it or not, there are some times when I "act" like I am shy. It's really just a Brown Recluse reflex-- because I am SO not.) We get back... we have some time... and guess what?

I ask her to sign my planner. She starts flipping through... my.... planner. She doesn't even make fun of my APB statement on the inside cover. We have a discussion about the planner and she makes me swear to email her the website to get one she likes mine so much. 

So now, I am in nerd heaven and spend the rest of the afternoon writing. And writing.... and writing... and writing.... and I remember how much I miss teaching it. The day ends--- all the teachers leave in a hurry.... and I realize it's me and a few gathering our stuff. And it happens.....

I get a picture with her. It's like I totally met Justin Beiber (only not, because he's creepy)... back, back. I feel uber complete... I just wrote the longest blog EV-ER and I am way proud of myself... I am proud of how far I have come as a teacher... and I can't wait to share all of it with my colleagues. 

Prepare to be glitter bombed.

 (Yes... I totally proof read this. It reads like my unmedicated ADHD brain. You're welcome.)