FA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Last day is done, over, finite, finished, through, completed, ended, and defunct. I am officially a haus frau. A new adventure begins . . .

Looking forward to Christmas

A Few Gray Skies

Very little that I can post about. PH and kids are enjoying snow and skiing out West. Work has become very acrimonious over the past two days. The good new is that as of next Wednesday I will be done. The bad news of the job situation is longer than my kid's list to Santa and includes personal attacks by administrators who still demand that all will be handled their way to the detriment of some of the students. I'm just trying to wrap it all up as soon as I can because this has become a nightmare. I can honestly say that as a criminal lawyer I was treated with more respect, paid more, and there were less expectations on my personal time. I understand not all schools are alike but I now understand those parents who chose to homeschool their children.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

For two months, PH has been sending our resumes to selected jobs in Europe and for two months for the most part, we have heard nothing. A handful of thanks by no thanks letters, but for the majority of positions, no response. Until today.

PH received an email from a large international corporation in GERMANY requesting additional information about his experience and his salary. It's still way too early in the process to believe this is the job but I can't help but be a bit hopeful at the response. Someone out there is hearing my Christmas plea.

So feel free to leave any advice on dealing with international corporations in Germany. Before PH leave for Colorado on Wednesday, he has an email to which he must respond.

Two weeks

Two weeks until the end of the quarter. Although I will be returning with the students in January, my stay is only for a couple of weeks (possibly two) and then I am done. As the end of the semester is approaching, the behavior of students is escalating and I am more sure than ever of my decision. Besides the normal increase in talking and inability to pay attention, there has been a cheating scandal and a prank involving urine. Yes, that is urine; yes, at a high school; yes at a private, college prepatory high school where parents are paying beaucoup money to send their little angels. sigh.

Besides the school drama, life at home is a bit busy at I pack up PH and the children so they can leave for a skiing trip to Colorado on Tuesday. Notice that I am not going, instead to be replaced by my MIL on the trip, as I have to stay at school for more pranks involving body fluids. Really, I'm not a bit bitter.

Instead, I will be finishing my grades, completing the Christmas shopping and gift wrapping, and possibly have a glass of wine in front of the Christmas tree with the air conditioner on 60F(15C) so I can at least pretend it's winter. It appears my Christmas spirit has been replaced by sarcasm and the occasional eye roll. Looks like a stick in the stocking for Hexe this year.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

I wish we would have a "snow day" so I could spend time doing this stuff instead of grading papers

Very, very, very tired

Forgive the lack of blogging. Work is insane and they have asked me to stay on a couple more weeks in January if necessary :( I don't feel as though I can refuse, but after that I'm done. I'm so tired at this point, I can barely put together a coherent sentence. And only 27 days until Christmas and my entire family arriving here!

It's a Small World

The Morning Visitor

Let the Magic Begin . . .
My Favorite Ride
A Visit to Another Land
An Escape from the Parents
Yet, Another Distant Land - LegoLand

We came, we saw, we now have to make Thanksgiving dinner for 23

This is where my photos from Mouseland should be so that I do not have to write anything as (1) I am exhausted from Mouseland, (2) PH has had migraine since leaving Mouseland and I have spent the day trying to keep small children quiet, (3) the bug man sprayed today which means small children could not go in the yard (see (2) and you understand the dilemma), (4) 23 people are arriving in less than 48 hours and are expecting large, traditional dinner, and (5) photos from Disney remind me that since the school year has begun I have put on a ton of weight (no, seriously - a ton) and this is rather depressing.

Instead, blogger is failing and you get whining and disappointment. Sorry.

Off to Mouseland

We have never taken our children to Disney. I understand we have broken some Florida state law by depriving our children of the phenomena. We had this belief that the children should be old enough to actually enjoy it. Having reached the ages of almost six and almost four, we have decided it's time. I have next week off and tomorrow we leave for the Land of the Mouse for four days. Right now the kids only know we are going on a trip. You will probably hear their screams of delight when we tell them. I'll be bringing the computer so I'll try to download a couple photos in between running between parks. I wonder if Mickey serves wine?

For Claire

I have been tagged by Claire over in Germany. She wants to know seven Random and/or Weird Things about me. Me, a rather boring attorney turned teacher about to be full time mother. Thanks Claire!

1. I can still do a cartwheel and a handstand at age 38. All those years of gymnastics make me impressive to my five year old daughter.


2. My parents brain-washed me as a kid and I have a vast and frightening knowledge of old country and western lyrics. To this day, I know all the words to "Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys", "Reuben James", "She Stopped Loving Me Today", and "I Believe in You."


3. When I travel, I always visit a local grocery store and spend at least an hour looking at all the different items.


4. As a kid I had to go to a speech therapist for slurring and I stuttered when I spoke publicly through college. The stuttering just stopped in law school.


5. I think living without a change of season and mountains is soul destroying.


6. I chew on pens. It helps me think.


7. My middle name is Angela; the derivative of the name being Angel; I think my parents understood the use of sarcasm.

Now, according to the rules, I must now tag three other. Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.

3. Tag 3 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).

4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

I will tag: Expat Travels, Merisi, Sunshine, and anyone else who wants to join in.

Job update: I have given notice and will stop teaching in January. I can only make two observations about this most recent experience (1) January is still a long ways off and (2) this period will not be pleasant.

Two Roads Diverged . . .

I need to make a decision and soon. This job of teaching was suppose to become easier this year - I am no longer new, and I have materials now, and I've done some of it before. Yet, I am still working nearly every evening and on the weekend too. Some is me I'm sure, but some is that instead of replacing a teacher who left last year they increased the number of students in my classes, and put me in charge of a year-round student activity, and I still teach Advanced Placement classes and my scores have to remain high. I have tried to manage this - working mornings and nights so I do not have to work on weekends, trying to only work one or two weekend a month and leaving my nights free. Nothing has worked. The end result is that I am exhausted, slightly insane, and have little quality time with my family. I know this is a dilemma faced by many working women, but I am lucky enough that I can chose not to work. Wealthy we're not, but comfortable yes, and my pittance of a salary does little in the way of contributing to our overall family budget. So I need to make a decision - I've always worked, always contributed financially, and have always known that if needed, I could independently and financially survive. Not working outside the home seems as though I failed, that I was incapable of being a good mother and a good employee at the same time. I feel like a traitor. Yet I know that I am missing too much - too many of those moments of childhood that I can't recapture and I feel physically ill and tears gather when I think about it. I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.

Her eyes were closed, but the tears were glistening on her cheeks, and I think, in a moment more, they were in my eyes as well. It never really died, then-- the soul that can suffer so excruciatingly and so interminably; it withers to the outward eye only; like that strange moss which can lie on a dusty shelf half a century and yet, if placed in water, grows green again.

-Willa Cather
A Wagner Matinee

Scrooge Returns

Last year on this date, I couldn't help but note the number of trick or treaters we had that were past their prime. From what has appeared on my doorstep tonight, it appears last year's suggestions have been ignored. Therefore I am again creating a list of when you should know that you are in violation of the socially accepted age for trick or treating. Call my cynical, but there is an age when you are TOO OLD.

If you are old enough to use the word multi-tasking while having a conversation with me, you're too old.

If you are dressed as a St. Pauli beer girl, your too old.

If you are really pregnant and it's not part of your costume, you're too old.

If you are old enough to be sporting a five o'clock shadow, you're too old.

If you are discussing quadratic equations with your buddy, you're too old.

If you leave your car running to come to the door, you're too old.

If you are too busy fighting with your boyfriend on your cell phone to open your candy bag and instead thrust out your professionally manicured hand, you're too old.

If you purchased and consumed a beer before going out, you're too old.

If you can vote in the primaries, you're too old.

Happy Halloween!

Sunday Morning Window Shopping

RELAX - no one is about this morning.
It may be a bit early for these, but what about later on?
How much is that doggie in the window?

The one with the bottle of wine!

There's even something for cat people too!
Would these count as fruit for breakfast?
And here's a place to sit and enjoy breakfast!
You don't bring me flowers, anymore.
Let's kick up our heels! Yes, we're still here!

Normal posting to resume once I am no longer sleep deprived from my Homecoming duties!

Happy Anniversary PH!

Eight years ago, I walked down the aisle and agreed to love, honor, and cherish you. While I am sure there are days you wish to throttle me, your patience, kindness, and understand seem infinite. We are partners in every sense of the word and I can not imagine taking this journey with anyone else. So today know that I commit to love, honor and cherish you for now all my days. Happy Anniversary PerfectHusband!

Is it any wonder I am irritable?

Current Temperature - 85
Current Humidity - 84%
YUCK!

Boys of Summer - Don Henley

Nobody on the road

Nobody on the beach

I feel it in the air

The summer's out of reach

Empty lake, empty streets

The sun goes down alone . . .

Those days are gone forever

I should just let them go but-

This Week

Unknown number of over-eager high school students due upcoming Homecoming game and dance for which I am the faculty sponsor.

78 vocabulary quizzes that need grading

30 writing assignments to review

Twelve centerpieces to make for tables for dance

Four runny noses

Two very grouchy, combative children.

One off-duty officer to be hired for dance.

One sinus infection.

One husband who became nauseous and passed out due to sinus infection.

One discouraged, over-tired mother who wishes she could run away.

The Difference of a Week

Last Saturday, I was mistaken for a teenager. This weekend not so much.

While getting dressed, I was lamenting about a certain body part, complaining to PerfectHusband that said body part is hanging to my knees.

PH: Oh come on! They're not to your knees.

Tired looking Hexe who has been sick all week: Fine! Not my knees, just to my hips.

PH: They don't even reach your waist yet!!!!!!

Last weekend, I was young; this weekend it appears I am on the way to having saggy boobs! What a difference one week can make.