My Oh My.

Alright, so let's just say that my vacay did NOT get off to a good start. First of all, I ran around crazy all last week trying to get junk settled to leave for 2 whole weeks. That's a hard task to do now that I'm responsible for a house. Not to mention, I needed to celebrate my birthday, my mom's birthday, and Father's Day (lame) before I left. My birthday was Friday, and of course, my friends (KP, Fal, and Tabs) provided the upmost of entertainment. What seemed like it was going to be just another night in Nashville quickly was not. Saturday I ran around crazy until my birthday/mom's birthday/Father's Day dinner at the Mom's. She made chocolate gravy. Don't. Even. Get. Me. Started. There was then another impromptu trip to Nashville, which turned out way better then I really wanted it to. Made it home around 5 a.m. and was at the niece's house (Jordo) at 8:30 a.m. to leave for Rosemary Beach. On the way out of DC: bluelights. Speeding ticket for 15 mph over ONLY because he caught me right where it switches from 55 to 45. Stupid. He also got frustrated with me for trying to hold his clipboard. Really? 7 hours later: Jordo and I roll up to The Lazy Parrot (the name of our house.) I will be spending 2 weeks here with the nieces ( Jordo, Amb, and Clarah) the nephew, Jackson and my bro and sister-in-law. We went to bed early, so we would be rested and ready to head to the beach Monday morning. Monday was also my Mom's birthday, so we got up and sang a speakerphone seven person rendition of the Birthday Song to her. After our little ditty, my mother then informs us that she has been in the ER all night with my grandmother. My Nurse BFF, Pugh, stayed in the ER with my family and is again proof that I have the absolute best friends in the entire flippin' world. I have been stressed to the tee and worried senseless because I haven't been at home with my Maw. Yesterday was a waiting game for whether or not I needed to leave. The best case scenario for what was wrong has been determined, so I do feel a tinsy winsy bit better. If anything goes wrong, I will obviously be hitting HWY 331 like it's nobody's business. Oh, you think I'm finished, but I'm not. Apparently I have this really cool re-occuring condition called Cellulitis that breaks out on my ear that is stress related. Guess what has decided to pay me a visit? Crappy, crappy, crappy. Thank goodness I have a pretty sweet doc back home who can just call me in a script for antibiotics and painkillers. It hurts real bad. On the bright side (I'm glad Cr made it safely through Bonaroo,) I am on a beautiful beach with a fantastic family. I talked to my grandmother this afternoon, and she sounded well, and she isn't in any pain. It can only go up from here.

Sidenote: I am super pumped about World Cup play. I am shocked that we tied England, and I can't wait to see what happens! Tim Howard is BA! USA! USA!

What can I say? I'm cheap.

Of course, now that I'm out of school I'm a bit of a blogging fool but anywho. I'm also a sucker for these deal websites as you already know. Restaurant.com is a gift certificate website that I sometimes use. Normally it has $25 gift certificates for select restaurants in the area for $10. Right now if you use coupon code SAVE whenever your check out you get 80% the certificates you're buying! I just bought $200 worth of gift certificates to restaurants we eat at in Seaside for $18! The website supports quite a few websites in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood. Even Char from Cookeville is on there. Happy deal shopping :)

She get it from her momma

Disclaimer: corny, sentimental blog to come. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Do you have those people in your life that every time you sit down and talk to them you just know it's going to be a darn good conversation? No matter what you're talking about, you just know it's good people and good conversation. I have quite a few of these people, but specifically today I was sitting poolside at Auntie K's chatting it up with 1 of them. KB and I got on the topic of our mothers. Basically, what we were discussing was that our mothers are phenomenal, and they have given us so much to be thankful for. The point of our convo was also the fact that anytime we start to complain about some mundane problem we have, we try to remember all of the trials our madres have lived through. Don't get me wrong. I know most girls think their moms are the best and yada yada, but seriously my mom really is. I would never divulge all of my mom's personal facts via internet, but take my word for it: the lady is 1 tough cookie. She is by far the most selfless person I know. She lives for her kids, her family, and doing for others. I can only hope to be half the woman she is. I also believe that she is who she is because of all of the tragic happenings of her life. I am much weaker than her because she has sheltered me from anything even close to all that she has overcome. She still leaves me little "I love you" notes all over my house for me. She cooks all my friends' favorite dishes for them at all hours of the night and day. Examples: fudge, (Ms. Hawaii, Pugh, Cr) chocolate gravy, (BFF-J, Pugh, KP) chocolate oatmeal cookies, (Pugh and Fal) and her sweet tea is basically famous. Even if it does put you in a diabetic coma. Along with my Auntie K, my mom has taught me what unconditional love is. Not just unconditional love for me (they have to love me) but for everyone regardless of their flaws. Let's just go ahead and say it: Betty Jo is the shit. And yes, she is honored to know that her potty mouth daughter describes her this way :) Okay, I'm done.

Steal some cover. Share some skin.

I have had a very blessed last couple of days. I was able to combine old friends, new friends, and the fam with some redneck fun in the boondocks. We embarked on the Bad Ass Wheel Weekend on the Duck River in small town U.S.A. Friday and Saturday. We floated for 5 HOURS! Yes I complained, yes I was whiney. 5 hours was a little much for me, but I had an absolute blasty blast. KP and Fal had a bit more fun that I did, but someone has to be the responsible one I guess ;) J/k. They were only one step ahead of me. Fal lost all of her possessions, and bathroom juice might be her enemy. KP's camera has permanent water damage. Bonfires, cornhole, and four-wheelers set off a pretty kick A weekend. KP, Fal, and I also pretty much met the ying to our yang: Ms. Niki Noodle. We were also introduced to the sweetest 7 year old Puerto Rican beat boxer and his parentals. Our hostesses worked so hard, and it was greatly appreciated and enjoyed. I will add pictures on later posts.

Another pretty sweet happening in the days of my life happened Wednesday morning. I got on one of my "teacher cheap" websites. Normally STAR magazine (absolute "smut" as Candy would call it, but I can't help but love and relish in it. Plus, it reminds me of the good ole days in room 114) runs $79 for 52 issues in a year. Instead I paid $7.99 for 52 issues in a year! Thank you www.tanga.com! Preciate it.

Also this evening, I have a shout out to the people of Dish Network: I dislike you so much. Your technical representatives make me want to punch myself in the face. Thank you for the wasted 45 minutes of my life.

A second shout out: "Imma tell you one time" Justin Bieber. You know what? I'm not even ashamed. No, I'm not creepy. I'm just sayin'. The kid is absolutely adorable, he has perfect hair, AND he sounds the exact same on the radio as he does live. Gotta respect that. PLUS, he's actually hysterically funny. Example: Watch this. So basically, yes, I have Beiber Fever. Dont' judge me.

Random Tuesday

I am hurting for being right here (pictured above) right now. Vacation officially begins June 13th in the Lazy Parrot at Rosemary Beach and will continue until June 26th. Absolutely CANNOT wait. Granted I will be working on lesson plans on our screened in back porch for countless hours as I listen to the waves of the beach, but I'm okay with that I guess.

However, until then I will be settling for the Duck River this weekend. A little bit of a downgrade, but I'm pretty pumped about The Bad Ass Wheel Weekend at my sister's. Fal and KP will be in attendance to share the fun. Updates/pictures of this to come.

Another recent random development: I love cereal. For basically any meal. No certain kind. Just cereal in general.

Memorable Movies and Memorial Day

This picture is completely random and has nothing to do with my blog. Ashton is just 1 of the cutest kids ever (AKA D's son) and he just highlights my fear that my kids will be hideously ugly because everyone around me has gorgeous children. i.e. Ashton pictured above :)

First things first: Sex and the City 2 did not let me down. It was pure happiness for me! Was it as amazing as the first? Absolutely not, but there was no way that was going to happen, and I didn't expect that. Of course I laughed, I cried. It was awesome!

Speaking of movies, the movie Avatar and I have been playing this little cat and mouse game. I have refused to watch it, and it constantly haunts me via allusions and reference. Last night I finally gave in. Holy crap that movie is phenomenal! I may like vampires, but I am not a sci-fi kind of girl, but this movie pretty much rocked my world.

This Memorial Day weekend has consisted of countless hours of family and friend time. I did a little shopping and bought new patio furniture for my back deck. My house is obviously still a work in progress. My list seems to be growing longer and longer. Necessities needed: kitchen table, 2 bathroom light fixtures, bookshelves, doorknobs (because these tacky gold ones are driving me nuts,) and a hall tree (I didn't even know that's what these were called.) I try not to even drive by Lowe's because it has some sort of control over me, and I am tired of them taking all my money. I can remember hating going to Lowe's. What happened? Regardless, I am in no hurry and perfectly content with the way the crib is right now.

This weekend was also a holiday weekend because it was Fal's birthday. Celebrations were definitely in order. A day by the pool and a night out at Big Bang and Paradise Park was just what the birthday doctor ordered. Family time was yesterday and will also be today at the mom's. I am feeling very patriotic, blessed and appreciative this Memorial Day. I am extremely happy to be celebrating those that make me feel this way.

Bittersweetness

It's been awhile so prepare for a doozy (oh yeah. it's a word. google it.) of a blog. Recent updates: #1. graduation was great. Emotional but great. Jordan got all of her hair cut off, so she looks more like me now. Just like old times. #2. last week of school=depressing b/c I get too attached. #3. got my tax return FINALLY. #4. Sex and the City 2 premiere is this week!

Further explanations follow:

I am now celebrating the end of the school year with my Literature counterpart Candy (calling her this is way more fun than her real name anyways.) Mexican food, episodes of The Big Bang Theory, along with each other and Jose's company is a pretty sweet closing of work for the next 2 months. We finished out the school year with students ALL day yesterday at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. Not a bad trip I must say. Holiday World is SO clean and economically pleasing. Stations with free drinks and free sunscreen AND lunch and dinner combined was only $10. The majority of us old folk were serious fans of the water park which is where we spent the majority of our time. I am sad to see these kids go on, and I have enjoyed them so much, but I am also happy for them to begin their high school journey.

Not only are they leaving but so am I. This time last year I was absolutely devastated to be leaving DCHS. I began my teaching career surrounded by teachers I had admired so much in high school. Not only are they great teachers, but they're even better colleagues and friends. Due to schedule changes and all the craziness that was the DC school system this year, I was placed at Dickson Middle School 8th grade Language Arts. I was determined to make the best of it. Little did I know it would introduce me to my "mammasita," a new best friend, and an amazing group of 8th grade kids. I have learned so much about myself as a person and a teacher. I know this year has made me better at being both. Basically lost my mind emotionally during lunch Monday when Candy gave me a notebook of letters (pictured above) that our kids wrote to me. Tear? Oh to say the least. She also made me a picture book from pictures throughout the year. Awesome.

3 years teaching=2 different schools and 3 different classes, so it's only natural that I will be heading back to the hill next year to teach 11th grade English. I'm a little nervous to say the least. I plan on spending the majority of my 2 week vacay at Rosemary Beach working on lesson plans and trying to be as prepared as possible. We'll see if that actually happens. Regardless of the stress involved, I feel like this is the best thing for me right now.

Absolutely obsessed with the new B.O.B and Hayley Williams (Paramore) song "Airplanes."