Perfectly Presidential Monday

As decreed by some President...somewhere...this was a perfectly Presidential (and beautiful) Monday!

Ok...except I had to get my eyes dialated

AND...

I couldn't read

AND...

I got a migraine.

BUT....

I don't have any icky eye problems and my eyes are actually getting better with age

AND...

because I couldn't read I didn't have to sit at the computer and do lesson plans

AND....

because of Excedrin, my migraine was not a doozy and only lasted 3 hours

SO....

now I will eat some medicinal Cheetos and go lose myself 

in a book!

It's a great day.

Happy Monday!

Sunday Salon - Yeah for President's Day!!

Yeah for President's Day ... 

and the chance to breathe, relax and enjoy the blessings of the United States of America!!

Listening -- To Pandora. It's soft, quiet and a gentle rhythm for my Sunday afternoon. My son gave me a Pandora subscription again this year and I love it! I play a special station in my classroom, another after the students are gone and yet another on Sunday! I love it. Thanks, Q! 

Eating -- It was Jennie's week to cook and she treated me like a queen. I especially loved the little filet mignons that we had for Valentine's Day. Certainly cheaper than any restaurant AND we didn't have to face the crowds. (One of my students gave me a lovely cake that was the perfect dessert that night as well. Thank you mucho!) I've also recently discovered a Honey Greek Yogurt that is out of this world. Rich and I both love it. It has been great for lunch this week. Yummers!

Loving -- Family! My niece came home from living in the Dominican Republic for 20 months. It feels great to welcome her back and feel like our family is back together. She's a big part of our lives and to say that we missed her is an understatement. Yeah for family!

Reading-- Last Writes by Sheila Lowe. 

I am also ready to read The Marriage Bureau for Rich People for Book Group and a little Lisa Scottoline just for fun!! I finally visited the library yesterday for the first time in weeks. I knew something was missing!!

Feeling -- Sunday-afternoon-satisfied. I love the calm of knowing that I don't have to go to work tomorrow.

Thinking -- How fortunate we are to have J&K and baby Tinsley living with us right now. It is the perfect arrangement at the perfect time. We are so blessed!!!!! Now if I could only perfect that Mary Poppins way of housecleaning where everything flies into perfect order I would be totally content.  

Wanting -- "More time to just sit, think, ponder, read, listen and be still. Some times on Sunday night I feel that I 'pay' for enjoying my Saturday." This was last week's quote. I think I really got just what I wanted today. So I guess I don't need much else - - oh, yeah... A job for Rich. Just puttin' it out there.

This Week -- Eye Appointment, Dinner with my in-laws (I adore them! I love these bi-weekly dinners. It's such a treat to be with them.) Planning, Tutoring, Meetings for work, Literacy Night at school (It's supposed to RAIN. A LOT. - our 'Reading Under the Stars' may have a little twist or two!)We also have a party to attend this weekend as well. There's so much to look forward to.

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Just Noting...So many bloggers that I adore and follow are leaving blogging and boy will I miss their humor, insight and comments. I am not a 'regular' blogger but I love posting when I do, reading other blogs and getting fresh ideas and opinions from so many of you. Thank you for your friendship. I just know if we lived nearby we would be a raucous bunch! Thanks for being at the other end of this Internet-tether. 

Sunday Salon...Gem Show Style

Gem Show Style....

Is that like Gangnam style??

Drawing by 'Andy' in my class....

Listening -- Episodes of Castle on the DVR are playing in the background. Rich is enjoying catching up on a few shows since he's still footloose and fancy free tonight. 

Eating -- This weekend it has been yummy-central! Out for breakfast, a picnic lunch and Zona 78 pizza (A Tucson-specialty!) Wow, it was worth watching what I ate all week to enjoy the weekend fun.

Loving -- My pretties from the Gem Show!! It was a blast to shop up and down every row for hours. J&K and baby Tinsley joined us. There was a bargain around every corner.

I bet you want some too.....it was a blast!! There are literally paper plates covered with precious gems just out for you to run your fingers through. You almost become overwhelmed and jaded to the amount of $$$$ around you. (You aren't really supposed to take photos there but these came off our instagram hashtags!)

Reading-- Last Writes by Sheila Lowe, Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer, Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. Book Group is this week!! I have got to read faster. I am also re-reading Teach Like a Champion for the Book Study I am leading this week. BUSY! I wish I could read two books literally at the same time!

Feeling -- So stoked about teaching the new math methods I learned last week. It is exciting and empowering. I wish they had taught me math this way. I might not have had the math-phobia I did for so many years.

Thinking -- I can't WAIT for the Tucson Festival of the Book! My son is letting us stay at his apartment for the weekend and I intend to soak it all up!! (He will be at Disneyland for the weekend so partying will continue for both of us!) We've already scheduled lunch dates, dinner dates and patio breakfast time with my mom.Just thinking.... 

Wanting -- More time to just sit, think, ponder, read, listen and be still. Some times on Sunday night I feel that I 'pay' for enjoying my Saturday.  

This Week -- Book Group, Book Study (that I am leading for the staff), Tutoring, Valentine's Day frivolity and more....

YUM!!!!

Sunday Salon - Super Bowl Style

Sunday Salon - Super Bowl Style!!

 Yep, many of you will curl up with your good book and shun the TV and football today. While I, little ol' me, will embrace it and celebrate the day--Super Bowl Sunday! I love that pigskin. Alas, I am pretty much alone in my fetish of the said football around here so I will lay out all of my munchies, chips and dips and sandwiches and cheer by myself --- and love it!! So...until the kickoff arrives I bring you...

Listening: silence. Everyone is gone and I am amazed at how quiet the house is. 

Eating:  On the menu....guacamole and salsa, nachos, spinach dip bread bowl, chips and french onion dip, shrimp cocktail (for my husband when he passes through to watch snippets of the game to support me and because he loves me!) sub sandwiches and lots of fruit! What the heck, I may whip up some cookies and haul out the chocolates - - depending on who's winning! A girl can only eat so much. (Seriously, J&K may join me once they return from K's weekly family dinner...they're supportive like that!)

Loving:   Having roommates! J&K are so easy to live with. And who wouldn't want to see this little bug everyday?!?! Little Tinsley is adorable!!

Reading: Same as last week....May B by Caroline Starr Rose (middle grade), Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer (for Book Group) and Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors (for Book Group 2)...

Feeling: A bit worried. Shake it off....Trust! I know.

Thinking: About the memories of watching football with my dad. It was time I spent just wanting to sit with him. It was 'our' time. He taught me all about the game and it meant so much to me to have that in common with him. My dad received a football scholarship to play at the University of Texas and was the first person in his family to ever go to college. One of his best friends, growing up in his little tiny town ( we called him Uncle Don,) played college ball too and was always at our house when I was tiny. Uncle Don went on to play quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and I have fond memories of the players coming to parties at our home and seeing them all around town. My favorite Christmas was the one where there wasn't a present under the tree for me....imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang and it was my 'uncle' who brought over my very own football, signed by all the Cowboys players!! He took me down the street to teach me how to "really" throw and play that very morning!! I was the envy of EVERY boy (and girl!) Gosh I love thinking back about that!

Wanting:  A good diagnosis for my grand-kiddo!! Please! Please!

                

This Week: Rich and I are giving a presentation this Tuesday that is kind of a big deal. We are both so relaxed about it and that can be a dangerous thing! :) I have a big professional development week ahead for work too. I love l that, but it does mean I have a few days of sub plans to come up with. I don't like that so much. Finally on Saturday we are heading to Tucson and the Gem Show. Wahoo!

Daddy's Girl

Should I start this like they do in AA? 

Hi, my name is Insideabook and I am a Lisa Scottoline newbie...

Well, I was.

Now I want more...and more...and more...

I have only a little time for reading anymore (during the school year) so I mete out my time carefully on book group books and those books that really grab me right away. What a fun surprise then to find this book on my library reserve list....thank you to some bloggers recommendation. The fact that I finished this book so quickly is a tribute to the smart and sassy writing of Lisa Scottoline. 

There were no life lessons to be learned...oh, okay, stand up for yourself is one. But this was not mental-floss. This was mousy girl law professor stands up for herself and saves the day kind of book. 

Nat Greco, daddy's little girl, brothers' little sister, and family's little 'gnat' certainly thinks less of herself than she should, much like many of us do. When asked to attend a prison speaking assignment she reluctantly accepts and is nearly raped during a prison riot that breaks out that day. When she is able to escape she happens upon a Correctional Officer who has been terribly wounded and in his last words says, "Tell my wife it's under the floor." Well Nat is nothing if not a stand-up kinda girl. She takes it upon herself to deliver the message and then all "h-e-double hockey sticks" breaks out!!

For me this was a fun escape from task-reading, from math planning and from the have-to's.  

Sunday Salon - The Wet Version

 I think I may need an ark soon. It's been raining - pouring mostly - at my house for going on 2 days. That seems like some sort of record for us in the desert. It is cuddle-up-with-a-good-book or watch-a-movie-in-your-jammies kind of weather. It is NOT go-to-the-farmer's-market kind of weather. It is NOT help-move-your-daughter-and-her-family kind of weather. It IS be-glad-it's-raining-on-the-weekend-and-NOT-on-a-school-day-with-no-recess kind of weather!!

Listening: To the drip,drip,drip. LOVE IT! It lulled me to sleep and I truly woke up at 3:30am when it stopped! How wonky is that??? 

Eating:  Today I'm sipping herbal tea for my sore throat and laryngitis....Chicken soup may be next.

Loving: 1. Fun dates with Rich ---here's where we were at 10 am yesterday

Taking photos of each other in an empty theater.....

Why was it empty you ask?

Check out the time....

We laughed and laughed and laughed!! They had sold us tickets to a show that started at 10 pm!! The sign had stated 10 but we all assumed that it meant 10 in the morning. Well I guess you know what assume means, right??? Funny thing, no one had asked or noticed. The ticket meister just sent us to theater 21 and we were on our way. We did get a refund and the staff was so embarrassed that no one had noticed. It would have been a long wait in the theater.

              2. Washing baby clothes and socks! What a hoot. I always forget how small they are. 
              3. Rain

Reading: May B by Caroline Starr Rose (middle grade), Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer (for Book Group) and Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors (for Book Group 2)...I really want to read another Lisa Scottoline...

Feeling: Reflective. I tend to be this way when I am under the weather. I guess having to be still will do that to you. 

Thinking: How sad it is that we have to teach our students about lock-downs. We had a lock-down drill this week.  Next week we have a drill where we practice evacuating the campus. The police came and rattled my doors, they pretended that there were people standing outside the door pleading for me to let them in, they set off fire alarms to try to trick us and get us to flee the building. It was hard for ME. The kids were pretty nonplussed. We have had long talks and conversation in class so I do believe that they know that I would do all in my power to protect them. They tell me, "You would go all mama-bear on them, right, Mrs. V?" Yes, I would! I know that drills are important and truly saved lives in Connecticut. I know that when you are prepared you don't have to fear. BUT...I  hate the  fact that we live in a day when we have to have them. It breaks my heart. 

Wanting: 1.My voice back---it's been 4 days!! Even my whisper voice is gone. Truly gone. I am mute. My husband is probably enjoying the quiet, but it sure is hard to teach this way AND it's harder still to get someone's attention in the house. Hint, hint, honey. Just come to me when you're talking to me.

                2. Some encouraging job news for Rich
                3. Something crunchy....without calories...celery??...rats! Not what I had in mind.
                4. Another Lisa Scottoline book. Any suggestions?

This Week: Much calmer! Yippe-ki-yah! Testing for all of the 4th grade kiddos, Tutoring, yoga, and I am excited to be leading our school staff on a Book Study on Wednesday. Yep, that yoga breathing is working this week.....mmmm....

Love that wet stuff...Stay dry!

Saturday Snapshot

The first time to breathe all day.....

So let me set this up... the day has finally begun to wind down.

A full day with students after a holiday.

No breaks.

After-school tutoring is completed.

Now it's time to clean up, polish up plans, grade, attend another meeting 

AND

head off to a team dinner 

AND

a meeting at the district at 7:00pm.

Rats, I missed Book Group.

But after a 14 hour day I was too tired to think straight.

This was hour 10 but I do think it literally was my first time to breathe all day!

Whew!

(PS - I am not complaining. I am ever so grateful I have a job :)!!!)