I say we hit the cruise control

Today was awful. I believe it was the worst I have had subbing ever. You know how much I say I love these kids? Today, they drove me nuts. The teacher was out today and our student teacher is now subbing and he got a call for another job today so he wasn't with us. The kids were extremely loud and didn't listen to me at all. There was nothing I could do to get them to listen. One kid missed all of recess cuz he was being stubborn and didn't want to do his homework paper (which he could have done in 5 minutes) so he put his head down the whole time. When I told him to come with me so we could go to lunch, I saw he was crying (which made me cry--I had never seen him cry before).

We were sitting at the lunch table and I was facing O and G(I will be using initials for the kids from now on), who were at one side of the table. All of the other kids were to my back. I hear J say "whoever thinks G is a tattletale, raise your hand" and I turn and every other kid had their hand raised (other than O and G). I said "J, what did you say?" and he said "oh nothing", clearly knowing how inappropriate it was. B told me what was said (confirming I heard correctly).

This was my finally straw and I started crying. Right in the cafeteria, in front of the kids. So, of course, the kids notice and start asking if I'm crying, to which I say no. But of course, the tears became worse since they kept asking and asking why I was crying so I just had to get up and leave the cafeteria. I went to the staff bathroom and stayed in their trying to compose myself before going back. I went back and as soon as I got back, it's "Ms. Greene was crying". So, of course, I can't keep the tears from coming so I just have to ignore the kids. Luckily, it was time for O's medicine so I took her to get that (O is the only girl in the class).

Took the kids down to the class and they still aren't listening to me and I get so frustrated that tears are forming again and they noticed. "Ms. Greene why are you crying?" "Ms. Greene why are you crying?" "Ms. Greene why are you crying?" "BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE SO MEAN TO EACH OTHER" A couple of them decide they need to hug me, started by T (I love him). But within 10 minutes, they are back to it. This goes on until the end of the day, no more crying but they frustrated me like crazy, until I let them play outside for 10 minutes. And sitting there watching them play, I realized some reasons I like them so much. I loved the way they interacted with each other on the playground. It was a joy to watch.

After school, I went to the K/1 room and the teacher and I started talking and I ended up in tears, telling the story. The IAs from K/1 and 4/5 came in, along with the art teacher*, and saw me crying and they all hugged me (I am so lucky to work with such supportive people). They told me, though, what terrors their kids were today too so it wasn't just me. The 4/5 IA said she asked her teacher if it was a full moon (not even close, by the way).

At Curves tonight, a latin CD was put back in the player, even though I took it out on Monday, I had a request from a member to remove it. I can't believe it was put back in the next day. The other worker asked me if I liked it and I shook my head (I didn't want everyone to hear me). But of course, it wasn't kept quiet. Someone working out told me something about I should learn more about other cultures. Hello, I never said I don't like other cultures, I just didn't like the music on the CD. It also doesn't help me liking it when I hear it every day I am there. There's a reason we have so many CDs and we shouldn't have the same one in there for so long. That's what pisses me off. I never complained about the CD cuz it wasn't a big deal to me until I heard it so much. ARGH.

So that was my day. So my horoscope today? It's totally the truth: "It seems people are going out of their way to be aggravating. Make a call to a like-minded individual for a brief gripe session this afternoon. Better to talk out your aggression than be involved in a road rage incident."**

*(stealing Amy's footnotes) she and I, who students always confuse, saw each other today and flipped out--we both wore white tees, jeans and pink zipper hoodies. We had the media asst take our picture--I have it on email if anyone wants to see.
**Hello, longest post ever

So, the zoo turned out ok. I put on sunblock this morning and I think I got a little sun anyway. It was a beautiful day, not too hot and it didn't end up raining (we were prepared!). I woke up this morning 1 1/2 hours before my alarm and couldn't go back to sleep, thinking about the big snakes at the zoo (I sat on a bench while the group went in the reptile house).

Fell asleep on the bus on the way home, along with one of the other chaperones and 6 of our 9 kids. I wasn't asleep long before one of the kids said "Ms. Greene!" and woke me up. I left school as soon as all the buses came for the kids. Got home, ate a little and fell asleep by 4:30. I just got up a bit ago, making my nap...3 hours! I hope I can go to sleep tonight. As of now, I am still having trouble keeping my eyes open but waiting for That 70's Show (*tear* Eric's leaving!) and American Idol could wake me up more.

from ten on Tuesday

1. stole candy within the house--those blue and white M&M's were tempting
2. chased Josh into and out of the tennis courts--and slammed the door so it bashed my face and blood went gushing
3. told my mother I hated her
4. stole little figurines from the Penn State bookstore, and there was no reason behind it
5. waited months before telling my mom I needed glasses, suffering through not being able to see at the end of third grade
6. spit in Josh's face (it was stupid cuz he spit back and it was totally disgusting)
7. asked my friend what homework was for science, retracted it and asked the guy I had a crush on, since he was actually in my class and she had the teacher a different period. hello, girls in 7th grade will do anything to talk to their crush
8. gave Jodi my phone number...although, that didn't turn out to be such a stupid thing, just at the time--giving my phone number to someone who was bullying me?
9. wore this god-awful blue and black polka dot outfit--a big shirt with big dots and leggings with little dots
10. got a perm, and not take care of it

wow, that was hard! it was practically pulling teeth for me. i expanded it to not necessarily being "a kid" but up to age 13. Do you consider that a kid? I didn't do many stupid things, I think, when I was younger. Oh well...beddy-bye time.

I hate having a steady job. I wish school started later in the day. I woke up last night at 2:30 and felt refreshed. And then I saw the time. And then I woke up at 4:30. And looked at the time. Then I heard mom up at 5:45. Then Cari woke me up taking a shower (which is attached to my wall) at 6:20. And of course, by the time my alarm went off at 6:50, I was beat. The day seemed to drag on and on. It was colder at recess time (11:30) than it was after work tonight (8).

I wish I could force myself to take showers at night like I used to. But I am just so tired, for some reason, I would rather wake up earlier to shower. No idea why.

We have an assembly tomorrow and the field trip to the zoo on Wednesday. Molly (the teacher I work with) is going to be out on Friday, so we'll see what sub I get. Jodi's birthday is Sunday. I still have to figure out what to get her. I am mad The Cosby Show DVDs don't come out until August cuz she wanted them before we even knew they were coming out. Maybe I could pay for them now and just give her the thing that it's all paid for until August. Was it her who told me to do that? Or was it Cari?

I am loving my Rilo Kiley CD. I listen to it over and over. I really don't like #4 but the rest are good.

We went to a tapas restaurant, Isabella's, on Market Street last night. Cari wanted to go there for her bday dinner and it took us that long to be able to go. Jamie and her mom and Megan came. Megan was the only one that had been there before. It was good. We were sooo full after. It's owned by the same people that own Brewer's Alley and Summit Station (which is in Gaithersburg, in case you didn't know--it's fab when they have their lobster night!). If you haven't been to Isabella's, Amy, you should go when you're down in May.

Alright, it's off to bed before I crash just typing on the computer. Have a terrific Tuesday everyone...hopefully I will remember to do the "Ten on Tuesday" tomorrow. If it's good.

I'm really getting frustrated with the lack of ice cream flavors with nothing chocolate involved. Even Baskin Robbins didn't have anything peanut butter without chocolate and didn't have strawberry cheesecake, which I usually love there! I know Capon serves a peanut butter swirl by Hershey's but I don't know where I can buy it around here. Not that I need ice cream, but still. Not finding good flavors is making me want ice cream MORE.

So after school, Kathy (the K/1 teacher), Maria (the K/1 Instrustional Asst), Tammie (the 4/5 IA) and I (the 2/3 IA) were sitting around talking. Someone mentioned Vegas for some reason and after talking for a minute, Kathy was like "so do you guys seriously want to go to Vegas?" She told us our hotel could be comped and we may be able to have a limo pick us up at the airport. So, of course, we're all like "hell yeah". I mentioned Sarah just going (Kathy reminds me so much of Sarah). And I mentioned how Megan found cheap flights recently. Then, Kathy said the flights would be comped too! Turns out her sister is a big gambler (of course, not a good thing) and was given $50,000 to come play in a Texas Hold-Em tourney. And when she does this, she checks into 2 hotels. How cool would this be? So we are seriously planning on doing this. Kathy was joking that we should do it before school gets out and all take off on a Friday. Of course, that couldn't happen, since Kathy and Maria can't both be out the same day. And it would look mighty suspicious is all of us were gone the same day. I really would rather go to Vegas when it's not as hot but if it's free, I guess I will deal! So this summer, hopefully...

Adam's CD came out today. And I don't have it. Went to Target, where I got Rob Thomas' new one, but they did not have Adam. Then I headed to Best Buy and bought Rilo Kiley and Damien Rice, finally. But, alas, no Adam. Went to Borders--guess what? NO Adam. I did order it through Borders and it should be a week. But Cari may order it through her work and get a discount so it'd be better. I hope it doesn't take too long.

About to leave for my staff meeting. Grr Argh.

Wore a "Math is Fun" Bert and Ernie shirt I bought from Penney's years ago today. Everyone loved it. Heehee.

Our student teacher was absent today so I had to do both lunch and recess with the kids. Got some sun at recess. I will have to start wearing sunblock. I don't know if it will still work if I put it on in the morning (cuz recess is 4 hours later)...any ideas????? Cuz I wear makeup so it seems odd and not good to put it on right before heading out on top of my makeup.

So today was my first as the long-term sub. Went ok...of course, some of them drove me crazy but the things they did were things they do daily (one cries, one argues, one talks incessantly). I am excited, though, about the kids. They are (mostly) fabulous. And I really want to be in there next year cuz I am so excited about one of the girls who will be in 2nd grade next year. She is a cutie--came off the bus today in an adorable dress and jacket. She's a handful but I love her.

Cari MADE me go with her to Dave and Buster's last night. She HAD to play more pool. She's SO demanding. Speaking of her, I just talked her. She's at a Suncoast manager's meeting in New Jersey overnight tonight. She said she has her own room (she's the only girl in her district who's a manager). They have open bar tonight! She's going to be hungover tomorrow...

I have a staff meeting at Curves tomorrow night. There is a large agenda...so of course, I can't wait.

I forgot to blog this yesterday...from 10 on Tuesday

Ten Favorite Foods

1. mom's mac and cheese
2. oatmeal with sugar and cream
3. Capon orange breakfast cake
4. cheese
5. chicken fingers
6. sweet and sour meatballs over rice
7. strawberries
8. fresh corn on the cob
9. crab (hey, where am I from? that's right!)
10. tacos!!!!

Well, it's been a tiring week so far, and it's only Wednesday. I can't seem to sleep at night. I don't know what it is.

I talked to the 2/3 teacher. She talked to the aide, who I will be covering for starting Monday. She has now said she will not be back. So, we are trying to figure out how we can go about this to practically ensure that I get the job next year. Oh how I want it so bad. Our principal is leaving next year. Just found that out this week. I like her but I know some people have their issues. I am just hoping we can get this all worked out before she leaves. Cuz she knows how much I wanted the job 2 years ago and I would think she would be able to somehow pull some strings to get it for me.

My back has been KILLING me for days. I wish my lovely, beautiful sister would give me a back massage.

I am hungry. I wonder what is for dinner. Mom and I were planning on going to Curves (I almost typed Curving, but it kinda didn't make sense, even though it woulda been funny) when she got home--before 4--so I came home and got dressed. Then she called to say she was tutoring and wouldn't be home til after 5. She's still going but I am so beat I don't feel like it. I know I should. But no. Not today. I will work out Friday. I promise. Unless what happened Monday happens again (I started working out and got 1/2 a time around and people showed up for appts and first workouts so all 3 of us working got busy at once...and I was busy non-stop for the rest of the night so I never finished my workout).

what the hell is wrong with my countdown? at 2 am it said "-2 days til cari's bday" but by noon, it said "-28 days...". and now i change the date to late may, and it's saying 12 days? sure...

So we had fun last night at D&B. It wasn't too thrilling until we got the pool table. People seemed to come out of the woodwork once we got it though, which was weird. These guys who work at Shenk & Tittle, which is a sports store near Cari's Suncoast, were playing pool and kept winning, so they were on the table for a while. I can't even remember now if they actually lost or if they finally gave it up cuz we were complaining. I played with Cari's coworker Matt against them and I don't think I got one it. We (or rather Matt) only lost by one ball though, which was good. After a while, I wanted to play again so Jamie's friend Nicholai (or however you spell it) played with me. He hadn't seen how bad I was before. We ended up winning 3 games and losing our fourth. We actually beat the one S&T boy(or "Tittle Boy", as we referred to him as), who was playing with another partner. The first game, I think I may have sunk 1 or 2 balls. The second, I sank nothing. The third I sank 3 (I was excited! I actually sank one, then sank a second on my immediate next turn...). The last game, which we lost to Cari and Matt, I did horribly again. We want to play pool more now...

Had 6 drinks last night and I think Cari had 8. She was drunk...I was not. Can you believe it? Me, Ms. Low Tolerance, did not get drunk on 6 drinks! Of course, I did eat while I was having my first one, but that was all I ate all night. I started feeling tipsy after the first one so I got another immediately, but it was a frozen drink and just seemed to make the tipsy-ness go away. The first drink I had I also had later in the night...but it did nothing for me. Strange.

There were about 20 people there (I can't count exactly, but I know I can think of 21). And even though Jodi didn't come and Megan was in the game room most of the night, it was still fun for me. Cari's friends aren't that bad...lol

Even though I didn't feel much last night, I woke up this morning with the biggest headache. I took 3 Advil and went back to sleep for 2 hours...and woke up to no headache. I still have a scratchy voice and feel a little stuffy but I'm alright. Cari's now back in bed napping. She feels fine today--booger. We went to Jasper's for brunch with Dad and Eric this morning. May be going out to dinner, just the three of us. We'll see.

I have to go work at Curves now...

Over at Pound, she mentions that Salon has a feature article on Torrid. Interesting. Some of the "expert" people think that because big girls can buy cute clothes, they may not have desire to lose weight. How assinine. Like not having stylish clothes really helped the fat girls in years past? The weight problem in this country has only gotten worse, not better, so how can stores like Torrid hurt? If it makes someone feel better about themselves, why not? The article mentions that Lane Bryant "is persistently (and perhaps unfairly) known as the frumpy aunt of all women's plus-size clothing". WHo thinks of it that way? Sure, there are some crazy clothes in there I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, but what store doesn't have that? Most of my wardrobe is from there and I don't think of myself as frumpy...and I hope others don't. There are PLENTY of things at Torrid that I think are disgusting, but that makes it all the better when I find my "Shake Your Bear Behind" shirt or my pin stripe gray and turquoise dressy pants. It is frustrating that their shorts don't fit me (argh-why does one size have to be too small and the next size up be too big?), since all other places that have shorts in my size have ones with inseams of like 20 inches.

That is my big problem right now--I need shorts but the freakin inseams are way too long. And because of where I wear my pants (which I always thought was my waist but who knows), the freakin crotch hangs low and the long inseam just makes it worse. I wish some place had low-rise shorts in my size, cuz then maybe the crotch would sit right.

ANYWAY, I may run to Target today, before work at Curves. Get a couple-a things. We'll see. Maybe Jamie's home and wants to go.

I can't believe I forgot to put Paris HIlton at the top of my "ten news stories you are sick of" list. I am so tired of hearing anything about her it's ridiculous.

I have decided to tell you all my favorite songs. Cari did guess about half of them, though it was out loud to me. And she did so without looking anything up. I am sure she would have gotten a couple more if she had looked at song lists for the artsits (like *N SYNC, Dean and Eric Hutchinson). She got the bolded ones correct. Here goes:

Tony Lucca - Happily Ever After
Matt Morris - Watching Over You
Dean Fields - Paper Dolls
Bush - Glycerine
Bon Jovi - Always
*N SYNC - Everything I Own (this is my favorite cuz I get to hear Lance's voice)
Adam Richman - Mary-Anne
Tim McGraw - Don't Take The Girl
Rascal Flatts - Bless The Broken Road
The Bangles - I'll Set You Free
Richard Marx - Now and Forever (part of the reason I love this song is Tony and JC sang it on MMC)
No Doubt - Bathwater
Dixie Chicks - Without You
Eric Hutchinson - Rock and Roll
Firehouse - Love Of A Lifetime
Gary Allan - Songs About Rain
Howie Day - Collide
Hanson - Penny & Me
JC Chasez - Build My World
Joe Firstman - The Adventures of the Empress of Harlem and the Amazing Subway Boy

stolen from Amy

1. "I got Debo on mind control. He says 'shut the fuck up' and I'm quiet. But, once he leaves, I start talkin."
2. "We had to burn down the school just to get you out of third grade"
3. "Tom, you're acting like a crazy person" "Maybe...it's cuz I just got hit in the HEAD with a ten pound ashtray"
4. "It's some good shit, eh?" "It's a fucking cigarette"
5. "Where are you going?" "Well, if you must know, a small study group with friends" "Otherwise known as an orgy?"
6. "Santa sneaks in with the relatives for Thanksgiving and hides in the laundry until Christmas"
7. "Hey, look at me! I'm gonna go touch the butt"
8. "She was always taking notes" "She was a secretary!" "'whatever!'[using air quotes]"
9. "No visible tattoos." "No revealing clothing." "We're both screwed. At least you're used to it." "Now Debra, don't be bitter. Certainly with your ever growing collection of flesh mutilating silver appendages and your brand new neo-Nazi boot camp make-over, the boys will come a runnin'" "Let's not fight, let's just rip."
10. "what are you gonna do today, Napoleon?" "Whatever I feel like I'm gonna do--gosh!"

I just got an email about upcoming Avril Lavigne tour dates. She will be in Canada, with one date in Illinois and one in Michigan right in the middle of the Canadien dates. Weird.

Cari and I watched this show before she left. It's on Style Network and called "Craft Corner Deathmatch". How hilarious is that? It's 2 people crafting against each other. There are different tasks on each show, including greeting card, gift wrap, wind chimes, wedding cake, and mosaic frames. Of course, they aren't really your typical crafts. The greeting cards were to incorporate leaves, the gift wrap was wrapping something without a box, using things found in a kitchen to wrap, the cake was with snack cakes. It was very addicting to watch. There are three judges that judge people. After 2 rounds (2 craft challenges--oh each challenge is 10 minutes), the person with the higher score wins. And that person then crafts against The Craft Lady Of Steel, for a big prize. The first episode we saw the prize was a sewing machine. The second was a cruise. Who wants a freaking sewing machine? Trip!!! If you get the style network, you should check it out.

from Ten on Tuesday

1. Terri Schiavo
2. the pope (I know I'm mean)
3. anything involving the president
4. steroids
5. Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards (who really thought they would ever last, anyway?)
6. Ashton and Demi pregnant
7. Britney pregnant
8. Iraq
9. Michael Jackson
10. baseball (though this is linked to #4, you know I don't like baseball in general)

oh just give some a try...i don't want cari to get them all!

1. Post the names of 20 musicians.
2. See who can guess which is your favorite song by each.
3. Once someone guesses right, bold that row and include the song.

1. Tony Lucca
2. Matt Morris
3. Dean Fields
4. Bush
5. Bon Jovi
6. *N SYNC
7. Adam Richman - Mary-Anne
8. Tim McGraw
9. Rascal Flatts
10. The Bangles
11. Richard Marx
12. No Doubt - Bathwater
13. Dixie Chicks
14. Eric Hutchinson
15. Firehouse
16. Gary Allan
17. Howie Day
18. Hanson
19. JC Chasez
20. Joe Firstman

Just got an email from Parsons--her apartment building burnt down yesterday! She was home and was able to salvage some things, such as pictures. And though she forgot about him at first, a fireman was able to save her hamster (which I didn't know she had). Some people took some pictures of the fire: set one, set two. You can reach her through email (or her cell, if you've got that) if you want.

I have off tomorrow and I plan on sleeping. And listening to my new mix CD from Amy (thanks!), though I cannot sleep and listen at the same time (I am not that skilled). And trying to get healthy before I have to sub again Wednesday and Thursday. I have to work at Curves on Friday and Saturday (no school for students Friday). Then starting next week, I have to sub every day til the end of the year, as far as I know (along with working at Curves on Mondays and Fridays after school). I am prepared to be exhausted.

My cough is still driving me nuts, but other than that I seem to be fine--my nose is no longer congested at all. Today was a rough day at school, in the class I was in, and it didn't help when I had coughing attacks. Please let Cari be better by Saturday! (she currently has no voice)

I forgot to add in my description of our trip that Wednesday night we were in the room at about 9 or so. We started hearing "pop pop pop" and went outside. There were fireworks over the Mississippi, that we could see from standing outside our room's door. It was exciting!

So my long entry will begin with Friday, March 25. I went to work at Curves but I felt awful so they sent me home. Luckily. By 6 pm, I had a 102 degree fever. I still had the fever Saturday morning so mom took me to Medical Access, where I was told I had a throat infection, which was not strep (or scarlet fever, which was going around school). I was given an antibiotic. I took it twice Saturday and by Saturday night, I felt so nauseous and had no voice. I didn't pack at all. I had stuck some things in my suitcase on Friday.

I woke up Sunday and felt awful still. I had only eaten little bits twice on Saturday. I couldn't eat in the morning Sunday because of the nausea (which was probably due to not eating enough when I took the antibiotic, which I had stopped taking). Mom and Cari helped out by basically packing for me. Luckily, I had put more in my suitcase than I remembered so all I had to figure out was carry-on stuff and shoes. And they folded everything. And I lay on the back seat all the way to the airport. And I lay on the airport floor when we were there. I couldn't sit up, because of the nausea, and I still had no voice.

We boarded our first plane on time but had to sit on it for an extra 45 minutes while they checked it out. We made good flight time but because of the delay, ended up missing our conection in Dallas anyway. We were put onto a flight 2 1/2 hours later to New Orleans. This plane also had to be checked out and we sat on it for an extra 30 minutes than we should have had to.

We got to New Orleans finally...only to not get Cari's suitcase. It didn't make it to New Orleans. So, we finally got to our hotel (which was really nice) after riding in a shuttle with a crazy driver. We were greeted at the hotel by the NICEST woman. She knew mom's name when we walked in the door. It was such a relief after the day we had had. Our room was located on the fourth floor, where there were 4 rooms sharing a sun deck. Very cute. Our room itself was a really nice size and the beds were soft (nice at first, but I started getting really stiff in the mornings). If you stood on a chair on the sun deck, you could see over the wall to the Mississippi River, which was cool.

During the trip, we went to Cafe DuMonde, Pat O'Brien's, and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Cari and I went in the pool (it's a miracle!). Our room was cold the first few nights and we were complaining, but the last 2 nights it was so hot, I couldn't believe we complained about the coldness. Much easier to sleep when cold than when hot.

I got my voice back on Monday but I am still now coughing like crazy. I got Cari sick by Wednesday. Cari's suitcase came on Monday so she wasn't without it for long (she did have a set of clothes in her carry-on). We went on a boat ride one day on the Mississippi, went to a wax history museum, rode a trolley, and took a mule-drawn carriage ride (it's a law that they are pulled by mules not horses). We relaxed a lot, which we needed, plus Cari and I were pretty drained, being sick.

It's good to be back home. I wish I could hear (ears are still messed up from the planes) and I wish I would stop coughing. Now, I am looking forward to Capon in less than 2 months! If I remember anything else about the trip, I will write it later. I am wiped...