Signs that Caution: "Sixteen's Unsafe"

"Anthem Part 2," Blink-182

It's true what they say. Teenagers can be cruel, selfish, lazy, unmotivated, and apathetic. However, they can also be incredibly smart, witty, passionate, creative, daring, and truthful. Every day my kids challenge and impress me. We are studying 19th century American literature right now, and I LOVE it. We started with transcendentalism, and got to read Thoreau, Emerson, Wordsworth, Whitman, Longfellow, and Bradbury. We moved into American Gothic last week, and read William Faulkner and lots of Edgar Allan Poe. The kids analyzed classic Gothic poems and modern Gothic songs and made posters:


They also wrote their own Gothic poems:


We're now focusing on Realism and Mark Twain, but during the Transcendentalism part of our unit we read and listened to the "Sunscreen Song" from 1999. Since the lyrics praise the importance of being your own person, following your own dreams, and appreciating nature, the connection to transcendental life seemed fairly clear. We decided to come up with our own "words to live by," and posted our ideas on a 20 foot stretch outside the classroom in the hall. This is only a portion:









A few of their words of wisdom.....

You know yourself better than anyone else.
Think green.
Go to the beach.
Be fair.
Belly dance.
If you have the opportunity, take it.
Have no regrets.
Eat buttermilk pancakes and smile.
Know your neighbors.
Respect everyone; don't blame others.
Keep the people you love in your life.
Wear your favorite color.
You can't shake hands with a clenched fist. -Gandhi
Life's a garden...dig it!
Take a drive with your best buddies.
Chances are, you were right.
Say good morning to Ms. Murray.
Hate is easy, love takes courage.
Eat sushi at least once!
Sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams you never knew you had.
Live every day as if it were your last.
Respect yourself. Keep your own identity.
Watch the sunset.
Leave the nest.
Memorize the lines from your favorite movie.
Lie in the grass at night and appreciate the beauty of the stars.
Drive slower.
Leave a legacy.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond

David "Pooh" Maddan
1979 - 2008

I Can't Remember When the Earth Turned Slowly

"Spinning," Jack's Mannequin

So apparently, although Tim and I are currently both leading very busy lives, nothing is as interesting as our dog. Pathetic? Maybe. But he's just so damn cute. And he does keg stands...


In other not-as-cute news, Tim came home from work yesterday to find the big trash bag (which we, stupidly, left on the floor in the kitchen) completely demolished, it's contents wrecked haphazardly all over the kitchen and hallway floor. Compliments of Bailey of course...(maybe he had been doing kegstands prior to this incident?) I'll spare you the shot of the upturned kitchen, but here's the proud instigator (and yes, that's a Hamburger Helper box in the corner. Judge all you want, that stuff's amazing):


Tonight Tim carved Halloween pumpkins while I caught up on DVR-ed television and avoided grading papers (an art I am perfecting FLAWLESSLY, by the way).


There is still one more I need to carve later in the week, but for now our front windowsill looks like this:

"My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am."

I'm Under Those Same Stars

"For Blue Skies," Strays Don't Sleep

Things I've Done in the Last Few Days that I'm Not Entirely Proud of:

1) Used toilet paper as a coffee filter.
2) Came home from work Wednesday and watched an entire Lifetime Original Movie rather than graded papers, exercised, or called people back.
3) Let the dishes sit out for four days until Tim finally did them even though it's been my turn for a LONG time.
4) Had a cavity and (apparently) needed to be TAUGHT at the dentist's office how to floss.
5) Made plans to go to a NKOTB concert.

Things I've Done in the Last Few Days that I AM Proud of:

1) Picked a caterer. :)
2) Got goosebumps of excitement at school before I got to teach Longfellow and transcendentalism.
3) Had a former student tell me she wants to be an 11th grade English teacher because of my class.
4) Washed my car (okay, that was like two weeks ago).
5) Made plans to go to a NKOTB concert.

Just Another Saturday...

"May 16th," Lagwagon

Friday, September 25, 2008, 12 Midnight: Lobster Season Begins.

Saturday, September 26, 3:30 AM: Tim wakes up to meet a few other crazy-obsessed friends and takes the first lobster dive of the season. (Nights before, he had already laid out his gear and retrieved a "Lobster Report Card," a new necessity required by the Department of Fish and Game to track how many people dive for lobster, where they go, what their success rate is, etc.)


Saturday, 7:30 AM: Tim comes home (after catching 4 lobster), and retires on the couch for a few hours.

Saturday, 9:30 AM: Tim wakes up and eats breakfast.

Saturday, 10:00 AM: Tim puts on his STILL-SOAKING wetsuit and heads back out.


Saturday, 1:00 PM: Tim returns and retires to the couch to "watch" the Michigan game. Go Blue!


Lobster season has hardly started, and our freezer already looks like this (seafood, anyone?):


Yesterday afternoon, we went to the Adams Street Fair with friends, and then to Chip and Amanda's house for (a delicious!) dinner. Chip and Amanda recently became the proud parents of a beautiful Boxer they named FlapJack Daniels (Jack for short). He's awesome and, (really, whether either of them likes it or not) is going to be a good friend of Bailey's in the near future.


Speaking of Bailey, he is doing well after being treated two weeks ago for skin infections due to flea bites. We are continuing the slow process of training him-- (it's slow due to our lack of effort, not his; he's actually really smart). We decided he's not allowed in the kitchen, since the space is very small and it's easy to trip over a 16-lb. dog underfoot. So, he sits at the edge of the tile and gives this look while we cook:


The other breakthrough was teaching him to sleep on the ground instead of in the bed (which he was used to living with my dad). Most of the time he's great about it, although he's been sneaking in unnoticed as of late. Sometimes, he forgets he's a dog altogether:

So Is That What You Call Tact?

"Seventy Times Seven," Brand New

Almost two weeks ago, Tim and I arrived in San Jose early Saturday morning, and drove straight to Seascape Resort to check in before meeting up with Krissy and Scott. The four of us stayed in a beautiful two-bedroom, three-bath villa overlooking the water. We had such a fun time hanging out in/at the pool, ordering room service, drinking cocktails, and catching up.

On Saturday, we headed over to Pebble Beach so Tim and Scott could fantasize about playing the course one day. Krissy and I enjoyed the view and gawked at the idea of spending $400 to play a few hours of golf. To each his own, I guess...


That night, Jody and John's families hosted bonfires and s'mores at the beach. It was a great way for people to meet one another, catch up, and hang out with John and Jody before the wedding. Of course, another priority (maybe this was just Krissy and me?) was to eat lots of s'mores.


The ceremony was on Sunday afternoon, and Jody and John were married on "Wedding Bluff" overlooking the Pacific. The weather was perfect and the bride and groom were beaming and beautiful!


Roommates!


The reception (where, as I sidenote, I drank my alcohol-quota to fulfill the next three weddings I attend) was awesome. There was a perfect mixture of touching moments, silly dancing, dance floor sing-a-longs (I hope that wasn't just me?), and love. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Merrick!

UCLA Athletes...


Cuttin' a rug...


Sunglasses on the dance floor...oh-so-tactful and appropriate...

-A heart that loves is always young-
Greek Proverb

It's Gonna Be Me, You, and the Dance Floor...

"Forever," Chris Brown

Tim and I spent last weekend at Jody and John's beautiful wedding in Aptos, CA. I promise to post about it, but right now I'm EXHAUSTED as I spent the entire day teaching The Crucible to 11th graders and Cry, the Beloved Country to 10th graders. I am spending the rest of the evening on the couch watching DVRed episodes of Friends and The Office. The only time I plan on leaving the couch is to answer the door to pay the delivery person for my and Tim's yet-to-be-ordered take-out. But I just wanted to post one picture to give an idea as to why tonight's wild and crazy activities will most likely not include wine. Or beer. Or champagne. Or tequila shots...