Thursday, July 31, 2008

"Mama Calling"

Caller ID...one of the best additions to cell phones since...well, cell phones. The phone rings (usually making me jump) and I can instantly see who is trying to get a hold of me. At least 5-6 times a week...and sometimes more...my phone reads "Mama Calling."



I love my mother, we talk almost every day. She usually calls me just to see how I'm doing, and we end up talking for a while, mostly about nothing. However, there are times when I see "Mama Calling" that I sigh...what now? What can I possibly say to her that's new, nothing has happened since last night!



No matter...We still find things to talk about, and I hang up the phone feeling all caught up on small town gossip, PE lesson plans, or the latest on my little nephew. And what do you know, I'm calling her the very next day to see how she's doing.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Summer Days

I am a teacher, a middle school teacher to be exact. Whenever I tell people that I teach I usually get one of the following responses...

~ Oh, we need good teachers (not that they usually have any clue whether or not I am a good teacher)

~ I wish I would have been a teacher, but I couldn't live on that salary (it is possible folks!)

~ Ohhh (usually followed by a grimacing face) I don't know how you stand those hormonal teenagers...I love that age! Maybe it's because I'm younger than most of their other teachers, maybe it's because I have a sense of humor and will laugh with them, maybe I'm still a teenager at heart, whatever it is...I seem to click with that "awkward age."

One of the big perks of teaching is obviously having those wonderful 3 (well...actually 2 1/2) months off. I love my job, but I really enjoy summer time. For the first time in 10 years I took the summer off. No job. I was really concerned with this decision do to the fact that I live in a very small town with literally NO ONE my age who is not married with kids. Not the ideal place for a social life... But I was still optimistic figuring that I could fill my days with swimming at the Y, getting things done around the house, and working on a pretty big "to-do" list for the classroom.

Turns out, summer was great. Swimming 5-6 days a week, spending time with family and friends, camping at the lake, watching episodes of Sopranos (a new found addiction, thanks to great recommendation from a friend and Netflix), and updating/organizing school stuff. For the first time summer has been relaxing and not just "flown by" in a rush.

Someone said, "All good things must come to an end." I'm not sure I believe that..."good things" just evolve into "new things." Summer is ending, but school is almost here and I am ready to be busy again!

Entering the Blogging World!

I am ashamed to say that I am finally catching on to this "blogging" thing. I have heard people around me talking about "this blog" and "that blog" and sadly just nodded my head pretending to understand what they were talking about. Not that this is a complicated addition to our fast paced technological world, nor would I consider myself incapable of understanding, I just didn't have a reason to be interested. That is until last weekend. My cousin Casey and her kids came to visit and she showed us her blog. I was amazed! I constantly find myself returning to her page to read anything new she has added, and even go back to older posts. I kept thinking when I have a family and have something to write about, I'll do this...

Then I realized, I don't have to have a family to write about one of the millions of thoughts that seem to be running through my head all...day...long. So, here I am. New to the blogging world and excited to try something different. So, for those of you who stumble across my page and take in a few words, I hope you enjoy!