Living The Good Life

How do I always seem to forget, come September, that eighth graders are insane? In the last week (keep in mind today is only Tuesday) I have had to stop students from shocking themselves by putting the end of computer cords in their mouth while the other end was plugged in, some students tried to set the school on fire (for the second time), a boy had a video camera in a bathroom stall (I don't even want to know...) and there is so much PDA going on in the hallway next to my classroom, I find myself making as much noise as possible ("Oh! Here I come, walking out of my classroom!" stomp, stomp, stomp). Ahh....spring. The kids are definitely ready for the start of summer, the only problem is that we have about five weeks of school left. Poor souls, they don't really expect me to make them work those last few weeks. (Insert evil laugh here) This is usually the time of year when I am anticipating summer just as much as the kids. We are all usually counting down how

Okay, D and I really are trying to get everything in order for the "big move" in July. I'm not even participating in my usual procrastination techniques, you know the one--denial. Mostly because the government seems to be doing that for me. I am getting increasingly bogged down by the insane amount of paperwork that this process involves. Each time I think we are on the right track and are getting everything under control, I find that I have one more thing to get. Not to mention that I am still waiting on my passport, D already received his. I contacted the passport agency for a status check and they told me it was being processed. Yeah--I got that late-breaking news already. I know the paperwork side of things really is a bit beyond my control, I can't force them to process my paperwork any faster, but it is still a bit stressful. Ecuador just isn't going to seem real until I have the visa and plane ticket in hand. On the brighter side... D's mom and

Things I am thankful for today: * A couple of my students offered to teach me some "sweet skate tricks" at the skate park this weekend. (uhhh...what?!) * The antibiotic I am taking for my teeth is actually helping to heal the unfortunate injuries from my latest bike ride (I went clipless on the mountain bike for the first time---ouch). * My husband still has the ability to make me laugh every day, even after eight years! Have I mentioned that he has started taking harmonica lessons recently? He is hoping that it will impress the Ecuadorians. I'm not so sure... * My sister was so concerned about the pain I was experiencing in my mouth, that she sounded the four alarm and I received MANY calls of concern today from various family members. :) She loves me. * I finished knitting a baby blanket for one of my many expecting friends recently and I think it might be the best one yet! Only three more to go... * I notice that more and more "Blakisms" are making the