If I were reading some good books, maybe I'd have something interesting to write about. I saw a few books at Border's lastnight that I wanted, but I'm not sure I want to pay for them. The library is always an option, but I owe them about a million dollars in late fees. Also, our library rarely has anything new. I want something new. I think someone should invent "Bookflix," like Netflix, with a higher shipping charge of course, but worth it, probably.

Floatin' like a butterfly

John and I had a wonderful time lastnight hanging out with the people from our marriage retreat in August. I guess we're going to get together every other month and review the stuff we learned and update everyone on how things are going. It's kind of an accountability thing.

Anyway, I'm learning such cool stuff about marriage. It's neat to get together with other couples and, instead of complain about each other or make fun of one another, we can actually lift each other up.

So our new friends invited us to sit on the other side of the church for tonight's service, which is really quite a big step. We've been sitting on the other side for the past three years. It could be time for a change seeing as this lady has been sitting near us lately that is really irritating. :)

I also went to breakfast this morning with the ladies from the retreat, and we're going to start going to a Bible study type of thing with them, too. And finally, we have friends. But you know, I still don't fill totally comfortable with them yet. I feel as though I've been shut up too long, and am just getting used to being out of the dark. Like a butterfly, just sprung from its chrysalis, waiting for her wings to dry and strengthen. Yep. Like a butterfly. Haaa. ;-)

Here I am again

John and I actually had a social life this weekend. On Friday night, we went out for ice cream with friends and John flirted with the girl behind the counter, asking her for "All Lovin,' No Oven!" If you know my husband at all, you know how ridiculous this sounded coming out of his mouth, especially when it was directed toward a beautiful 16ish girl who had never heard of that kind of ice cream before. She had an astonished look on her face, and the rest of us were laughing, while John stammered out that it was the one with cookie dough and some other stuff in it.

Saturday we had a meeting at church, and today we're having friends over for lunch. This means that I am making two of my specialties: cheesy potatoes and chocolate chip cookies, and John is making one of his specialties: shredded BBQ pork sandwiches. Oh yes, and I made iced tea. Which is very special because no one here in Naples makes their own iced tea.

And just a sidenote for all the ladies out there: My husband has been doing all the grocery shopping. Lovely.

On Friday I was eating lunch with two of my students while we listened to a kids' CD called "Six Little Ducks." Jasmin, age 6, asked me, "Mrs. Erdman, will you burn this CD for me?" And just because she's so adorable, I certainly did burn that CD for her today.

Sad Day

I think that Hermie, my hermit crab, has died. But I'm not sure. He just molted, so hermit crabs are supposed to be immobile after molting. However, he didn't bury himself or anything like hermies are supposed to when they molt. And now I've researched molting a little bit more, and I see that it's probably all my fault if he's dead.

It's so weird, because it seems like just yesterday when I could take him out of his cage anytime, and as soon as I put him on my hand he would peek out with his eyes on top of his head like an alien to look at me and explore my hand. And if John came around, he would immediately pop back in his shell.

I thought about getting another hermit crab, but no hermit crab could be as cool as Hermie. I've never killed one of my own pets before. Especially a pet I bought for my class. I'm so neglectful.

Just wondering

Does anyone actually follow the Q-Tip rule? Wash your ears with only soap and water. Use Q-Tips to clean out the outer ear only.

I use Q-Tips for many things. Cleaning between small spaces, touching up eye liner, fixing mascara mistakes, and more. But I definitely have never followed the ear cleaning rule. Though I've tried using just soap and water, it just doesn't get the job done.

I now love vampires.

I also finished the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer last weekend. It took me just over a day to read, and I pretty much did nothing else for those hours aside from sprint back and forth to the bathroom when necessary. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can't wait to get the next one.

Children's Books

Recommendation: Skippyjon Jones

A great read aloud as long as you know the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance. It's a crazy, loco story.

September has arrived.

Work has been exhausting and I'm being pulled in many directions. Feeling half full but running on empty. Getting enough sleep but having dreams laced with fears and fantasies beyond reach. So I call my former college housemate and share stories, news, and catastrophes. And somewhere in the mix, as I hang up the phone, I know everything is just perfect. The world has gone on, many lives are spinning in and out, and I am not alone.

Whatever will I do?

Ha
ha
ha
ha
ha.

It seems that, because I have went off >>>THE PILL<<<, I have been dropping weight like crazy cakes! Whatever will I do? I ate three brownies today, that's what! Heck yeah.

Well, don't get excited. For those of you who don't know, the only reason I went off THE PILL was for health reasons (apparently, human cyst factories aren't good places for oral contraceptives). And the dr. has absolutely forbidden me to get pregnant.

I now weigh--get ready--my actual weight from high school mid-track season. Break out the spandex, baby. Why can't my high school ten year reunion be today? Why?

We saw The Bourne Ultimatum yesterday. I looooooooove Jason Bourne. And I don't feel bad about it, either, 'cause John loves Julia Stiles. Great movie. I felt like doing karate kicks on the people right outside the theater. Then climbing outside of windows and running across rooftops. Just because.

All I want to do lately is eat junk food.

However, one of my co-workers had McDonald's today and the smell of it was nauseating. But I could definitely go for some donuts, popcorn, chips, or an ice cream cone.

I don't know what my problem is, but I have been staying at work way too long. It seems like there is just so much to do, yet most teachers leave at 3:00. What am I doing wrong?

It's not like I've been doing that many extra things that are super over-achieverish. I can be so inefficient.

My computer is retarded.

Sorry I haven't written lately, but there really hasn't been much news. Still the same old stuff: Getting my classroom ready. I went over there for four hours today, which was just about meaningless. I feel like I'm not getting that much done. However, all I really need to do is clean up, make nametags and labels and do a little walk through of my day to work out the kinks. They give us five paid 7.5 hour work days to do all this work, and I've worked ten days in a row, some far more than 7.5 hours. I wonder what HIGH SCHOOL teachers did this week. I'm rethinking my choices...

I think I'll change my mind when I see my 17 first graders cute, eager little faces. I love school.

John's sick today. His whole body is really sore for no apparent reason, so I told him to take a hot bath. He hasn't taken a bath in over 15 years. He looks really funny in a bath tub.

Classroom :)

My classroom is starting to kind of look like a classroom, and I'm getting more and more excited, sleepless, and nervous each day. It's going to be really weird being in the building now, as I'm used to being out in the middle of nowhere in a separate portable. So, I had my principal stop by like six times today, two third grade teachers, two second grade teachers, and more. I'm growing kind of paranoid that someone is always looking through my windows laughing at me. I'm going to need Prozac soon.

Good News!

I went to the dr. today and it turns out that he doesn't want to do anything about my newest addition. Yee-haw!

I visited my new classroom today and it is really nice. It was arranged very poorly, however. I'm not sure how I'm going to arrange the rest of it. It's too bad engineers don't ask us teachers what we want. Mleh.

I want to go to culinary arts school.

Camp Blues

I was at camp last week from Tuesday until Saturday morning, and let me tell ya, it pretty much blew. I won't complain too much, because I'm not completely sure who might wander onto this site. Let me tell ya about the great things, though.

First, and most importantly, I was in a cabin with freshmen girls. Although we had to go through the pain of a few attitude adjustments, these girls were sweethearts and I love them. This year I might be teaching them every Saturday night, too, so I already got a head start in getting to know them. My patience didn't wear too thin at 3:30 am when they were begging me to help them play a prank on someone, either.

Next, my team (HONEY MUSTARD!) got second place. We were way awesome, and the only reason the Cotton Candy team won was because their color was pink and the guys had to cross dress in the fashion show.

Our youth pastor had some great teaching, and I got to know his wife, Stacie, a lot better. They are both close to our age, so that's pretty cool. They also went on the Peru trip, of course. I don't know what I would have done without Stacie's encouragement at camp.

Big problems arise at camp when adult leaders forget why they are there. Camp is ALL about the kids: their relationship with God and each other. At camp, a good leader will neglect his/her friendships, sleep, and materialism in order to make sure each camper has the best experience possible. I'm not trying to be like, "Oh, I'm the best counselor ever," but now that I'm home and have time to reflect on the experience, I am disgusted at the behavior of some leaders at this camp.

Ack.

Remember how I told you yesterday that we were going out to eat? Well, on the way down the stairs, I had a bit of a tumble. I came to what I thought was the last stair, stepped down confidently, and realized my mistake as my rear hit the concrete.

I have been practicing the RICE method today (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and I may be seeing a doctor tomorrow, because I'm finding it difficult to walk on my right foot. I don't think it's that bad. But I've heard that you can have a broken bone in your foot without really knowing. Let's hope it feels better soon.

Writers' Block

I haven't really been in the mood to write. But I guess I'll give you a very brief update of everything, as boring as that is.

Peru was great.

I'm working on making a scrapbook of our wedding and another of Peru.

I'm thinking about working on a bunch of stuff for school, but I haven't done anything since we got back from Peru.

I spent 200 dollars on clothes at Target the other day and now have no money left to buy things I need for my classroom or buy the Nikes and Merrells that I wanted. And all my khakis are ruined, so I could use a pair of those, too.

I went to the doctor the other day, she found a suspicious "lump" and now I have to either have a biopsy or surgery, which sounds completely undesirable at this time.

I am supposed to leave on Tuesday to go to high school church camp for a week, which, because of the biopsy thing, also sounds completely undesirable at this time and I'm kind of hoping to do one or the other next week instead of trying to do both and then go directly back to work, exhausted, cut up, and unprepared.

But I do look really cute today in my new clothes and we're going out to lunch in just a few hours. And the new Super Target is now open. Life is good!

Peru!

I'm going to Peru today! After standing and sitting at the Miami Passport Agency for NINE hours, I received my passport.

Hallelujah.

Goodbye, my friends!

Reindeer has brown antlers,
Ride on his pants!

What a fantastic day.

Today, I watched You've Got Mail and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory while organizing my teacher files. I also did the Caribbean Workout this morning with Denise Austin. She's a nutball, but she makes me laugh. So I think I'll start exercising with her every morning. It's too hot to go outside.

Nope, no passport yet. Definitely looks as though Peru has been shelved for me.

I am so tired. And sick. I can't stop coughing, which means I can't sleep. I can't do anything about my passport not being here. So I might not be going to Peru, which we've spent thousands of dollars on. I feel depressed. My head hurts and I've been drinking hot green tea with honey all day. I hate honey. I hate the passport people. I hate coughing.