Scrabble Queen.

As a testament to a woman's ability to multitask, I have always found that I am much more productive when it comes to lesson-planning when I am watching something. Today, I watched a few episodes of Felicity and finished up all of my lesson plans for the week of the 24th by 3pm. This left me relatively free for the rest of the afternoon.

As it was a glorious day outside, Jamie and I opted to walk to the park and play Scrabble. Amid the many, many children riding around on bikes with training wheels (which are different from tricycles as Jamie pointed out) and dogs running around playing with stuff. Seeing all the kids running around and people with dogs made me feel less old -- which is a blessing since I've felt really old ever since getting married.

After I kicked some tail in Scrabble, Jamie had to buy me dinner so we went to Cuban Food.

All in all: it was a good Sunday afternoon.

Good Intentions.

So I was very excited that this might be the first Saturday in over a month when I wouldn't have to go to school/work. I got all of my copies done and my classroom ready for Monday. I wake up bright and early this morning, have my breakfast, read my news...at 9am, sharp, I'm ready to start planning and...

I forgot my freaking Teacher's Manuals at school.

I had assumed they were in my bag because I had every single other book in my bag. But no. They are sitting at school. I called to see if anyone was at the building, and no. There is the possibility that some construction people may be there this afternoon so I am going to have to stake out the building. On my used-to-be-free Saturday.

In the meantime, I will work on the progress reports for my students...the ones that are due on Monday after 11 days of teaching. This school is hard core.

Burning Question.

I promise I will stop posting videos soon -- but Jason's comment reminded me of a question I had been wanting to pose for a while. Since Jamie and I don't have fancy cable, the only access we have to Flight of the Conchords is what they give us on YouTube.

I don't know what the premise of the show is -- but I gather that it is a random assortment of music videos strung together loosely by some vague storyline. While I am a fan of pretty much every song, the following two are my favorites. (I know these videos are nothing new, but you know you want to watch them anyway because they are always funny).

I cannot decide on which I like more, though...opinions?

And of course, the classic:

Okay. Done with the videos for a while. I promise. Unless there is a gem.

Sweet Distraction.

Because I cannot bring myself to write about work...I give you some immature humor. If you watch the whole thing, you won't be sorry.

Maybe I'll post again soon with some actual news on what is going on in my life...

Internet Killed the Video Star.

It's Sunday and that means it's time for some procrastination!

Maybe the fact that I have seen nearly all of these videos -- and even linked to some of them in this blog -- should be an indication that I spend too much time procrastinating on the internet. Still, I like the internet video commemorating all the other internet video people. It's very meta.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow.

Apparently, here at the Long household (that's weird to say) shaving a sad excuse for a beard is the perfect opportunity for some hair-tomfoolery. Jamie's singing group will be performing at a 9/11 Memorial Service on Tuesday, and so Jamie decided that it was time for the "beard" to go.

I think he is trying to put off helping me at school on a SATURDAY (ETD was 20 minutes ago) because he decided to play around with his face, to wit I give you: 'Stache Attack!

The "Mountain Man".



The Skeevy Casanova.














The Ned Flanders.

Apparently Jamie has never seen an episode of The Simpsons as he does not know that this is clearly not a good Ned Flanders impression. Ned Flanders has FOUR fingers, Jamie! FOUR!

Now I can I see my husband's face again so I am happy. Also, I know that I am very lucky to have a husband who does not mind making a fool of himself for the sake of our friends and family. Okay, off to school...

P.S. Jamie came up with the punny title. Not mine!

To the Bone.

Let me begin by saying I love my new school. It is a positive environment for our students, and I believe that we will really be able to make a difference in the lives of all of the young girls and boys that walk through our halls.

But...dammit do my feet hurt. Never in my life have I worked as hard as I have been working for the past week. And sadly, I have to report that I feel like a first-year teacher all over again -- a feeling that I had never intended to revisit. There is something to be said for building something like this from the ground up.

I get to school at 6:30 in the morning and usually leave well past 6:30pm. My first few days/nights I definitely didn't get out of the building during the single-digit hours going home only to sleep for a measly few hours.

I have always felt that the Teacher Union in Baltimore City was the reason for many of the public school system's problems. Despite being a paying member of said Union, I rarely agreed with their practices and felt a great sense of freedom when I resigned from Baltimore City Public Schools and stopped being a member of the Teacher's Union.

I no longer am a member of a Teacher's Union...and as much as I regret to admit it...I think that they may have had a point. A teensy-itsy-bitsy point. Like having a period for lunch is good. Also, having a time to pee during the day is also good. Oh, and being able to sit down for a little while is also good. As it is, I am with my kids every single minute of the day. I am with them for breakfast. I am with them for lunch, recess and until they get picked up at (sometimes) 5pm. I take them to the bathroom twice and I look longingly at the toilets knowing full well, that I will not be going to the bathroom for several more hours.

As soon as the last child leaves, I am overwhelmed by the simultaneous urge to eat something and to use the restroom and I have to decide which is more important. I left my lunch at home once, and didn't even know I had left it at home until I got home and saw it sitting on the kitchen counter. I don't even know why I make a lunch anymore, as I usually just recycle the same sandwich from day to day.

I love my school. But I also love my feet. I must find the most comfortable shoes on the planet and somehow make them cute enough to be business casual.

Okay. I'm done with the rant. And if anyone from school is reading this: please don't fire me. I really am committed to our kids and to our school. Honest.

Mountain Man.

I know I said I would blog about school/work...but I still can't bring myself to do it yet. Instead, I will post about the return of my darling husband. He got back from his backpacking trip to the Sawtooth Mountains and brought back pictures and more facial hair.

Kind of hilarious.

I have to buckle down and do some work now -- but I think it is a safe bet that I will be posting again soon to tell you about the first days of school...if only to procrastinate from the work. For now, let's just say that I have never worked so hard in my life.