Some people may not like the word sucky, but y'all, this week has sucked big time. No word captures its yuckiness (or suckiness?) any better.
I'll post more about it later--just wanted to let you know I'm still around.
I do want to end on a positive note: Lost starts back tonight!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Random bits of this and that
This week flew by for me. For me, personally, it was somewhat uneventful, but here are some highlights....
--Big administrative changes will be taking place at our school next year. I still haven't figured out how I feel about it. Sure, things could be much better, but things could also be much, much worse. I'm trying to think optimistically. I don't really feel comfortable saying more about it here.
--I managed to schedule "movie time" for all my classes this week so I could do more planning. Why do I feel guilty about that? They are all watching movie versions of plays they have just read---the juniors are watching A Raisin in the Sun and the honors classes are watching Death of a Salesman--and they all really seem to be watching the movies. I think I'm posting this because you're supposed to comment and say, "Amy, it really is okay that your students are watching movies this week." :) I've scheduled my first essay for my honors classes this coming week. I still don't know how I'm going to grade them, but I've got to get this figured out sooner or later. (Jen, how many hours of sleep do you get a night???)
--Speaking of A Raisin in the Sun...I'm shocked by how many of my students believe that racism no longer exists. They also believe there are no longer "white" neighborhoods and "black" neighborhoods. (Not all my students believe this...but many of them do, primarily the ones with the Gucci handbags and Apple iPhones.) These are the same students who refer to one of our football rivals as being located "in the ghetto." I think we could have a really interesting discussion about this in class, but frankly, I see so many ways it could go south that I'm afraid to probe the subject.
That's about it here. I don't have too many plans for the weekend, but that's fine with me.
--Big administrative changes will be taking place at our school next year. I still haven't figured out how I feel about it. Sure, things could be much better, but things could also be much, much worse. I'm trying to think optimistically. I don't really feel comfortable saying more about it here.
--I managed to schedule "movie time" for all my classes this week so I could do more planning. Why do I feel guilty about that? They are all watching movie versions of plays they have just read---the juniors are watching A Raisin in the Sun and the honors classes are watching Death of a Salesman--and they all really seem to be watching the movies. I think I'm posting this because you're supposed to comment and say, "Amy, it really is okay that your students are watching movies this week." :) I've scheduled my first essay for my honors classes this coming week. I still don't know how I'm going to grade them, but I've got to get this figured out sooner or later. (Jen, how many hours of sleep do you get a night???)
--Speaking of A Raisin in the Sun...I'm shocked by how many of my students believe that racism no longer exists. They also believe there are no longer "white" neighborhoods and "black" neighborhoods. (Not all my students believe this...but many of them do, primarily the ones with the Gucci handbags and Apple iPhones.) These are the same students who refer to one of our football rivals as being located "in the ghetto." I think we could have a really interesting discussion about this in class, but frankly, I see so many ways it could go south that I'm afraid to probe the subject.
That's about it here. I don't have too many plans for the weekend, but that's fine with me.
Monday, January 21, 2008
My Day Today
Don't you hate those days when you start out with the notion that you'll be very productive and then end up not being productive at all?
I was going to go shopping today because I needed a pair of khaki pants ("transition pants" because my maternity ones are too baggy--hooray!), and I also wanted to buy some shoes at DSW with some gift cards I received at Christmas. (Side note here: None of my pre-pregnancy shoes fit anymore because my feet are longer. This morning, I reluctantly handed over two favorite pairs of cute shoes to my mother. I hope she enjoys them in in all their cuteness.)
So Amelia and I headed to the mall after having a quick lunch with Darryl. The mall was stinkin' crowded. Like week-before-Christmas crowded. I found a pair of pants fairly quickly and decided to go in search of a black turtleneck shirt. Seriously...why is it so hard to find a basic wardrobe item when you need one? Along in my mall journey, Amelia started fussing and crying like nobody's business, which is very unusual. I figured she needed a diaper change, so I parked in Pottery Barn Kids--they have the best bathroom, y'all, complete with diapers in case you need them--and quickly discovered when I took her out of her infant seat that I had the poor girl bundled up so warmly that she was extremely hot. I decided to change the diaper anyway, and for some reason, that had me just sweating profusely. (Those of you without kids--and I was in that group not so long ago--let me tell you, changing a diaper in a public restroom is no fun. You have to get everything organized just so while trying to work quickly for those waiting outside. And you also have to try not to think about all the germs. I'm a bit of a public restroom-phobe.)
So after that detour, I continued to look for the black turtleneck in Belk's. No luck. I decided to give up the search and head to DSW. As I got ready to leave, I realized my keys were missing. I checked all my pockets, my shopping bag, the stroller, everywhere. Panicking, I went to mall security. (Amelia, thank goodness, was sleeping at this point.) The nice lady walkie-talkied all the security staff. No keys had been turned in. An intelligent lady behind me said, "That stinks. That means you can't leave, doesn't it?" Um, yeah. I went back to all the stores I had been in before (fun!), no luck. Finally, I went back to Belk's, and there, on a table where I had been looking at sweaters, were my keys. I don't even remember putting them there.
After all that stress, I decided to pass on DSW. I guess that's a good thing because as soon as I started home, Amelia decided she was hungry and cried for the entire 25 minutes it took me to get home. I also got home later than I planned, so I fell behind on laundry and such. Yay!
(Tim, is this story as boring as Jamie B's?)
I was going to go shopping today because I needed a pair of khaki pants ("transition pants" because my maternity ones are too baggy--hooray!), and I also wanted to buy some shoes at DSW with some gift cards I received at Christmas. (Side note here: None of my pre-pregnancy shoes fit anymore because my feet are longer. This morning, I reluctantly handed over two favorite pairs of cute shoes to my mother. I hope she enjoys them in in all their cuteness.)
So Amelia and I headed to the mall after having a quick lunch with Darryl. The mall was stinkin' crowded. Like week-before-Christmas crowded. I found a pair of pants fairly quickly and decided to go in search of a black turtleneck shirt. Seriously...why is it so hard to find a basic wardrobe item when you need one? Along in my mall journey, Amelia started fussing and crying like nobody's business, which is very unusual. I figured she needed a diaper change, so I parked in Pottery Barn Kids--they have the best bathroom, y'all, complete with diapers in case you need them--and quickly discovered when I took her out of her infant seat that I had the poor girl bundled up so warmly that she was extremely hot. I decided to change the diaper anyway, and for some reason, that had me just sweating profusely. (Those of you without kids--and I was in that group not so long ago--let me tell you, changing a diaper in a public restroom is no fun. You have to get everything organized just so while trying to work quickly for those waiting outside. And you also have to try not to think about all the germs. I'm a bit of a public restroom-phobe.)
So after that detour, I continued to look for the black turtleneck in Belk's. No luck. I decided to give up the search and head to DSW. As I got ready to leave, I realized my keys were missing. I checked all my pockets, my shopping bag, the stroller, everywhere. Panicking, I went to mall security. (Amelia, thank goodness, was sleeping at this point.) The nice lady walkie-talkied all the security staff. No keys had been turned in. An intelligent lady behind me said, "That stinks. That means you can't leave, doesn't it?" Um, yeah. I went back to all the stores I had been in before (fun!), no luck. Finally, I went back to Belk's, and there, on a table where I had been looking at sweaters, were my keys. I don't even remember putting them there.
After all that stress, I decided to pass on DSW. I guess that's a good thing because as soon as I started home, Amelia decided she was hungry and cried for the entire 25 minutes it took me to get home. I also got home later than I planned, so I fell behind on laundry and such. Yay!
(Tim, is this story as boring as Jamie B's?)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Date Night(s) and Semi-Rant
Because of the snow (how many times in my life have I gotten to say that?), Darryl and I had to split up our date night. We were afraid to stay out too late last night because of the overblown reports of possible ice on the roads, so we went to dinner last night and a movie tonight.
Darryl took me to Seasons 52 for dinner. It's a nice health-conscious (but good!) restaurant that we have gone to once before--each dish is under 475 calories...or something like that. Since I'm doing the whole diet thing, I wanted to eat there. We had the tomato flatbread for an appetizer (delicious, like a super-thin crust pizza), salads, the filet mignon, and a mini-dessert. (Darryl had the German chocolate cake and I had some kind of chocolate cake topped with peanut butter and chocolate mousse.)
Tonight, we saw Juno. It is such a sweet but smart movie. Here is where the mini-rant comes in, though: I have never been more annoyed by a movie audience in my life. There was a group of kids in the movie, oh, I guess ranging from about ages 12 to 18, and they were incredibly rude the whole time. They laughed LOUDLY through the whole movie, even through the more touching and poignant parts. If I hadn't been so into the movie, I would have gone and gotten a manager or something...it was that bad. Anyway, go see Juno. You'll laugh. You'll cry. Oh, and I ate some buttered, salty popcorn. That sooooo isn't on my diet. I don't think I'll be losing any poundage this week.
Darryl took me to Seasons 52 for dinner. It's a nice health-conscious (but good!) restaurant that we have gone to once before--each dish is under 475 calories...or something like that. Since I'm doing the whole diet thing, I wanted to eat there. We had the tomato flatbread for an appetizer (delicious, like a super-thin crust pizza), salads, the filet mignon, and a mini-dessert. (Darryl had the German chocolate cake and I had some kind of chocolate cake topped with peanut butter and chocolate mousse.)
Tonight, we saw Juno. It is such a sweet but smart movie. Here is where the mini-rant comes in, though: I have never been more annoyed by a movie audience in my life. There was a group of kids in the movie, oh, I guess ranging from about ages 12 to 18, and they were incredibly rude the whole time. They laughed LOUDLY through the whole movie, even through the more touching and poignant parts. If I hadn't been so into the movie, I would have gone and gotten a manager or something...it was that bad. Anyway, go see Juno. You'll laugh. You'll cry. Oh, and I ate some buttered, salty popcorn. That sooooo isn't on my diet. I don't think I'll be losing any poundage this week.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
TGIFriday
Friday is finally here! Woohoo! Has this seemed like a long week for everyone else?
I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Amelia had a not-so-great night Wednesday night, so I think I got about three hours of not-great sleep. Last night she had a great night, but unfortunately, I was still up trying to get stuff done (type out vocabulary tests, prepare my lunch for today, get Amelia's bottles ready, etc.) for about three of the hours she was sleeping. Darryl left for a day-long trip to Tampa just a few minutes ago, and I'm drinking some much needed coffee while Amelia contentedly swings in her swing. I would love just to slip back under the covers.
My parents are coming this evening for the weekend. If we don't have the Snow Storm of the Century tomorrow night (you know how the weather forecasters play it up), Darryl and I are going to dinner AND a movie!! I'm so excited!!! I desperately want to see Juno. I think Darryl wants to see National Treasure. But I gave birth, so I think I should win. :) (I think a running gag on the show Mad About You was that Jamie would always win an argument by playing the "but I gave birth" trump card.)
I think I actually had a point when I started writing this post, but I don't remember what it was supposed to be...
I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Amelia had a not-so-great night Wednesday night, so I think I got about three hours of not-great sleep. Last night she had a great night, but unfortunately, I was still up trying to get stuff done (type out vocabulary tests, prepare my lunch for today, get Amelia's bottles ready, etc.) for about three of the hours she was sleeping. Darryl left for a day-long trip to Tampa just a few minutes ago, and I'm drinking some much needed coffee while Amelia contentedly swings in her swing. I would love just to slip back under the covers.
My parents are coming this evening for the weekend. If we don't have the Snow Storm of the Century tomorrow night (you know how the weather forecasters play it up), Darryl and I are going to dinner AND a movie!! I'm so excited!!! I desperately want to see Juno. I think Darryl wants to see National Treasure. But I gave birth, so I think I should win. :) (I think a running gag on the show Mad About You was that Jamie would always win an argument by playing the "but I gave birth" trump card.)
I think I actually had a point when I started writing this post, but I don't remember what it was supposed to be...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
School, Daycare, Percentiles, and More
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I know you all have been clamoring for a post. :)
I survived my first week back at school. The students were actually thrilled to see me, but I think this was largely because seven subs--yes, seven--"taught" (and I use that term loosely) my classes while I was out. I made the decision to start out with some things that require very little time at home to prep until I get the hang of all this. Amelia is supposedly doing fine at daycare, and several of the workers said she's the most laid back baby they've had.
Speaking of Amelia, she is sleeping about 6 hours straight fairly consistently. Hooray!
And still speaking of Amelia, last Thursday she went for her 2-month checkup. She did okay with her shots--she cried for about five minutes or so. We also found out that she is already 13 pounds and 5 ounces, and she's also in the 99th percentile for height (!) and in the nineties for everything else. In other words, she's a big girl!
That's about it on this end. I'm very tired, but I don't really realize it until I sit down...like now.
I survived my first week back at school. The students were actually thrilled to see me, but I think this was largely because seven subs--yes, seven--"taught" (and I use that term loosely) my classes while I was out. I made the decision to start out with some things that require very little time at home to prep until I get the hang of all this. Amelia is supposedly doing fine at daycare, and several of the workers said she's the most laid back baby they've had.
Speaking of Amelia, she is sleeping about 6 hours straight fairly consistently. Hooray!
And still speaking of Amelia, last Thursday she went for her 2-month checkup. She did okay with her shots--she cried for about five minutes or so. We also found out that she is already 13 pounds and 5 ounces, and she's also in the 99th percentile for height (!) and in the nineties for everything else. In other words, she's a big girl!
That's about it on this end. I'm very tired, but I don't really realize it until I sit down...like now.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
First Day of School
It was the first day of school for both of us...and judging from this pic, we both had big hair for the occasion. :)
Technically, it was a work day at school, but still--it was my first day back at "work," and my first day of separation from Amelia.
I was proud of myself because I didn't cry, but then so many people asked me if I cried--then confessed about how much they cried--that I started to feel like an unfit mother. What's wrong with me?
Honestly, I don't think it's that I didn't miss Amelia--I certainly did, as evidenced by the bazillion times I watched her on the web cam and the fact that I left promptly at 3 today--but I think I am just eager to get back to normal...or normal with a baby.
Tomorrow I'll see my students. I'm curious to see how they respond to my return.
Well, time to prepare dinner...
Saturday, January 05, 2008
A few quick things
It's been a busy weekend. We ended up having to get a washer and dryer this week, and they were delivered today. The washer is a front loader. Is it sad that I'm excited by that?
Glad Friday Night Lights is back, but I didn't care for last night's episode too much--too "all over the place" for me. But I still love the show and the acting is superb.
I start back to work Monday. Ugh. I have more to post about that tomorrow.
You might notice that I have a new "commenter," Kristy. Kristy was one of my best friends in high school and college and we were in each other's weddings. When I was in my hometown last week, she happened to be visiting her parents as well and called me. I'm so glad she did! We had lost touch over the past few years, but we were very sure to secure email addresses and phone numbers, and now she's commenting on my blog! (That means I have what...maybe six readers now? Haha.) The cool thing about Kristy and me, though, is even when we haven't talked in ages, we can pick right up just like we had seen each other yesterday. :)
Well, my tree is STILL up, and I've told myself that I'm going to take down some ornaments today, no matter what--so I think I can get at least a few down before I go to bed.
Glad Friday Night Lights is back, but I didn't care for last night's episode too much--too "all over the place" for me. But I still love the show and the acting is superb.
I start back to work Monday. Ugh. I have more to post about that tomorrow.
You might notice that I have a new "commenter," Kristy. Kristy was one of my best friends in high school and college and we were in each other's weddings. When I was in my hometown last week, she happened to be visiting her parents as well and called me. I'm so glad she did! We had lost touch over the past few years, but we were very sure to secure email addresses and phone numbers, and now she's commenting on my blog! (That means I have what...maybe six readers now? Haha.) The cool thing about Kristy and me, though, is even when we haven't talked in ages, we can pick right up just like we had seen each other yesterday. :)
Well, my tree is STILL up, and I've told myself that I'm going to take down some ornaments today, no matter what--so I think I can get at least a few down before I go to bed.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
A few ramblings
1. So far, the diet is going well. I've made it through 2 days! :) I haven't really started on the "limiting computer time" resolution...that is really more for when school starts, though.
2. It's cold, y'all.
3. If there are any moms out there reading...I've tried to get Amelia on a flexible schedule, but with the holidays and such, it has been tough, and she seems to have put herself on a schedule. Basically, she wakes up 6-ish to 7-ish every morning, eats, sleeps again until about 9 or so, then follows an eat, awake/play, sleep (maybe) cycle, usually taking a nap in the afternoon...and then at night she usually goes to sleep 10-ish to 11-ish. Is this considered a flexible schedule? Sometimes she naps and sometimes she doesn't...but she is pretty consistent with the eating every 3 to 4 hours thing. Is this considered "structure"?
4. I'm ready for Lost to return. :)
2. It's cold, y'all.
3. If there are any moms out there reading...I've tried to get Amelia on a flexible schedule, but with the holidays and such, it has been tough, and she seems to have put herself on a schedule. Basically, she wakes up 6-ish to 7-ish every morning, eats, sleeps again until about 9 or so, then follows an eat, awake/play, sleep (maybe) cycle, usually taking a nap in the afternoon...and then at night she usually goes to sleep 10-ish to 11-ish. Is this considered a flexible schedule? Sometimes she naps and sometimes she doesn't...but she is pretty consistent with the eating every 3 to 4 hours thing. Is this considered "structure"?
4. I'm ready for Lost to return. :)
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy 2008...and Resolutions and Weight Talk (Sigh)
First of all, Happy 2008!
And in the tradition of the new year, I feel I must make some resolutions. I typically break my resolutions somewhere around week two because I make resolutions that are pretty ridiculous or hardcore (such as going from not exercising at all to exercising six days a week), so I've decided to make just two resolutions, both of them quite do-able.
I'm going to make better use of my time. More specifically, this means I need to spend less time on the Internet. A quick check of my email in the morning and a little blog time in the evenings should be enough. I pretty much NEED to make this happen in order to make time for Amelia, Darryl, and school. I'm still a bit overwhelmed about how I'm going to grade papers and take care of a baby. Yikes.
I'm going to lose my "baby weight." I've already taken some action on this one by joining Weight Watchers yesterday. WW is the only "diet" I've ever been able to follow with any success. I've figured that with the remaining pounds to lose from being pregnant along with some pounds I had hoped to lose before becoming pregnant, I need to lose 25-30 pounds. (I'll be happy with 25, but I'll be ecstatic if I lose 30.) I don't think I've ever been more psyched about eating healthy--I've basically eaten what I've wanted for the past ten months, and I just feel kind of "saturated," you know? Also, for Christmas, Darryl and my parents gave me some rather generous gift cards to some of my favorite stores, so once I get a bit slimmer, I can enjoy a fun shopping spree...so that's definitely incentive.
I'm not going to set any ridiculous goals about exercising. I know that if I'm already short on hours in the day, I'm not going to be able to fit in an hour session at the gym. However, I do hope to take advantage of any warmer days that we have by walking and pushing Amelia in the stroller. Some crunches here and there couldn't hurt, either.
And that's about it. It's time now to eat some grapefruit for breakfast. :)
And in the tradition of the new year, I feel I must make some resolutions. I typically break my resolutions somewhere around week two because I make resolutions that are pretty ridiculous or hardcore (such as going from not exercising at all to exercising six days a week), so I've decided to make just two resolutions, both of them quite do-able.
I'm going to make better use of my time. More specifically, this means I need to spend less time on the Internet. A quick check of my email in the morning and a little blog time in the evenings should be enough. I pretty much NEED to make this happen in order to make time for Amelia, Darryl, and school. I'm still a bit overwhelmed about how I'm going to grade papers and take care of a baby. Yikes.
I'm going to lose my "baby weight." I've already taken some action on this one by joining Weight Watchers yesterday. WW is the only "diet" I've ever been able to follow with any success. I've figured that with the remaining pounds to lose from being pregnant along with some pounds I had hoped to lose before becoming pregnant, I need to lose 25-30 pounds. (I'll be happy with 25, but I'll be ecstatic if I lose 30.) I don't think I've ever been more psyched about eating healthy--I've basically eaten what I've wanted for the past ten months, and I just feel kind of "saturated," you know? Also, for Christmas, Darryl and my parents gave me some rather generous gift cards to some of my favorite stores, so once I get a bit slimmer, I can enjoy a fun shopping spree...so that's definitely incentive.
I'm not going to set any ridiculous goals about exercising. I know that if I'm already short on hours in the day, I'm not going to be able to fit in an hour session at the gym. However, I do hope to take advantage of any warmer days that we have by walking and pushing Amelia in the stroller. Some crunches here and there couldn't hurt, either.
And that's about it. It's time now to eat some grapefruit for breakfast. :)
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