Ramblations.

There isn't anything in particular I have to write about but I have the desire to write.  So instead of wasting any more of time staring at a blank screen, I've decided I should just ramble.  Because that I what I am good at.  And I'm all about doing what I am good at rather than trying to get better at what I am not wired to do. 

- I really want a bike.  Preferably pastel yellow in color and in the Cruiser model.  But I also want to be able to ride in on trails and for long distances so I'm not sure a cruiser is the best fit... I know what I want though.  Looks kinda like this, minus the blue frilly designs....:

- I recently came across a link to something titled 50 Ways to Cope With Stress.  I clicked on it because I thought it would be legit, researched based itemized suggestions.  It wasn't.  But it was better!  Read it and add it to your to-do list:



- Our school went under lock-down (because the drug dogs were here, not for some sort of other scandal) the other day and I conveniently had 3 students in my room taking a test.  Three of the most different students you could find in any American high school, I promise you.  1 was a preppy, blond headed, blue eyed boy, 1 was a dramatic, 'punk' chick, and the last one was an athletic g from the hood.  We spent a good long while talking about everything from how he doesn't see the point in education because his brother graduated top in his class but didn't go to college and is making $175,000 working on the coal mine to how she doesn't see how cigs can be detected from the drug dogs if you are of age because she's smoked since she was 10, and how he has been to my high school in Georgia because he knew a guy that was Walton's star basketball player that now plays at North Carolina State and is their MVP.  The things you can discuss, debate and connect when you are stuck in a small room with 4 people baffle me.

-I just got out of a 2 hour long meeting with the Special Education department at my school. I have never been more certain that although I love teaching and I adore people with special needs and I believe in advocacy for both those causes, I do not belong in this profession. There is too much emphasis on paperwork and legal jarring and not enough focus on the student's and what they need not only in the classroom but in life. Maybe one day, and maybe one day soon, I'll be in a position where I am doing the things I love in this profession instead of worrying that I am going to get monitored and in turn, get cited for a careless error I made. Maybe.

-I am really looking forward to going home this weekend for Easter! My sister is coming home, I am going with my boyfriend to his hometown and my mom is making a big ole celebration meal for the greatest gift we were ever given- Life everlasting, forgiveness of sins and love that endures forever! Christ is risen and we are throwing a party!!! (And also because after this weekend, I enter the LAST week of soccer season!!!)

- We are having a lake house trip next weekend because we have all lived together the past 2-3 years (NB came in a year later) and this will be the last year we are all together. MB is getting hitched and moving to Germany, NB is going to graduate school at Clemson, RC is finding herself a career in Birmingham and me.... well who even knows. But we have never all 4 been somewhere together where we are just us. We've talked about it forever and promised we'd make it happen! I am SO looking forward to it. Rain or shine, it doesn't even matter. I am certain I will forever cherish next weekend's memories.


I guess I had more to ramble about than I thought... Until next time, friends!

Professionalism. Not My Cup of Tea.

In attempts to use my time more wisely or just to cut my amount of work into half, I recently wrote a letter to the parents of seniors I have on my caseload.  In this letter I explained that although their precious son/daughters would in fact be graduating in May, there are still some items that needed to addressed.  I wrote in such a manner that the parents should have no questions upon completion of reading, clearly stating the objectives left and what part they would play in achieving the desired results. I ended my letter with this as my last sentence:

"All you need to do it send it back with her and we will be good to go!"

I was as professional as they come.

One of my seniors came into my room today and said: "You know you wrote, we'll be good to go on that letter?"

Me: "Huh?"

Kid: "You wrote, we'll be good to go, at the end of that letter you sent home to my momma!"

Me: "Yeah... What's it to ya?"

Kid: "My momma read it and asked me if that was professional.  We kept saying 'we'll be good to go' all night.  Ha!  We'll be good to go, Ms. Peters!  You wrote 'we'll be good to go!"

Me : "I never claimed to be professional, okay?  I'm not a professional person!  Get off my case!"

Kid: "Yeah, I know that Ms. Peters.  I think that's what makes you so cool."

So in the case of Professionalism vs. Coolness, I roll with Coolness.  And in the case of my job description and what I dreamt about when I thought about being a Special Education teacher was always to be cool and never give off the vibe of professionalism to my students.  I am who I am, always.  No matter the case: interviewing, talking with parents, or in writing a letter there is no alteration to my personality.  If I was to act all professional and not throw in my personality, I would be giving false information!  And I have never been about lying, nor will I ever be about it.  I'm just about being cool.

Wanna Play a Board Game With Me?

Last night, my roommates and I got totally sucked into the show 'What Not To Wear'. I'll admit we do have some tendencies to become obsessive about certain reality shows, however; I can't recall a time in the past 3 years of living with them that we have intentionally sat down to watch 'What Not To Wear' like we did last night. We were captivated by many things on this particular show, such as: the extremely poor choice of clothes from the contestant, her childlike attitude towards all things mature, the way her arms were consistently locked straight out in front of her and her obnoxious high pitched voice. Needless to say, we were intrigued and in for the long haul. We must've tried at least 2 times to fast forward through the commercials using the DVR, just hoping that maybe somehow we had paused live TV at some point without any of use realizing it... It never worked.
At one point, when they were going through all her old clothes they brought up a clip of her in long jean overalls. Naturally, they (Staci and Clinton) made some sort of witty/hilarious joke about how it is never appropriate to wear long jean overalls and then asked her why she wore them. Her response was simple, pure and genuine:

"I wear them because they are comfortable. Because I am me in them. I wear them because I think that when people look at me in them they think, "I'd like to play board games with that girl.".

After laughing at her comment and repeating it multiple times throughout the course of the show, I have thought of how innocent her comment was. Although her claim to fame on the show was that she didn't care about fashion and had never worn makeup because both those things were superficial and fake, she clearly does care about what people think and how the view her. She wants them to want to play board games with her. So it got me thinkin'. Thinkin' about how it would probably be therapeutic, healthy and possibly very beneficial for me (and YOU) to know what you want people to think when they look at you.
When people look at me, I want them to think:


-She has her head on straight.
-She looks put together.
-She has a nice smile. (Working on smiling more and looking more genuine with it- smiling with my eyes)
- I wonder what she does with her spare time...
- That was nice of her to acknowledge me.
- Yellow is her color.
- I would like to be her friend.
- I am thankful for her.
- She has made a difference in my life.
- She really doesn't care what people think.
- Wow, she is fun!
- What a good friend/teacher/coach.
- She made me feel important.

I could go on. I won't though. Some of those things may seem trivial. And yes, some may even seem superficial or not honest. That I am trying to be/live in specific ways rather than by just who/how I am. But there is nothing wrong with trying and striving! I could have made it a more eloquent list but I jotted those items off in less than a minute flat so I know they are honest, real and sincere. I hope you do this too! Heck- I hope you do it and leave them in a comment for me! Please. I was right earlier when I said it might be healthy and beneficial for me- it will be for you too!

Oh, and another one to my list, because, honestly, who wouldn't want this thought:

-I'd like to play board games with her.

Monday.

Today started off poorly for me. But hey, it was a Monday morning so I should have seen it coming. I woke up at 4:45 to my dog making the noises she makes before she throws up. And she threw up at 4:46. After I cleaned up and she calmed down, we laid back down. But I lay awake. So, I woke up this Monday morning at 4:45. Also my right eye was so swollen due to the pollen I encountered on my balcony last night that it was painful to see and not to mention incessantly watering. And my left side sunburned legs were uncomfortably painful in any work appropriate garments. Needless to say, I said "I hate Mondays" a minimum of 4 times before the first bell even rang.
But just when the morning seemed it couldn't have ever gotten better, it did. Much like when you are running a race and think you'll never make it, but you do. Just like when you check your mailbox just for the heck of it not expecting anything but it is full to the rim of letters, magazines and goodies!
There is a student here (who will remain nameless but I will use the letter 'S' to personify the student) who has a special hold on my heart. I can't really explain it or give a specific reason to why S has such a high priority of my attention. It might be because S is on my caseload, it may be because S comes into my room multiple times a day just to say hey, it's possible that it's because S has shared S's life with me and in turn has touched my life as well. To me, it’s not really important why S is important to me and I don't feel I have to justify it to anyone because I am a teacher. And because I am a teacher, my students will be important to me. No matter what.
Anyways, I know a lot about S. I know S's home life situation, I know S's desires for life and I know S's struggles. I know how much S cares about family, education, jobs and the here-and-now. So when it came to celebrating the senior year rite-of-passage, aka PROM, I knew S would want to go but that S would have to make a lot of things come together for it to be possible.
Now, again, the logistics and details as to how this happened aren’t important. But I wanted to make sure S went to prom, with a date, and only had to pay for the essentials. So I did just that. I saw true gratitude and thankfulness from S when S found out about prom being taken care of. I felt genuine sincerity from S when S spent the majority of the day in and out of my room shaking S's head saying how I would never know the magnitude of thankfulness S had.
But none of this happened on a Monday morning. Nor at any time on a Monday. But it does lead me to this Monday morning.  S stopped at the doorway to say the usual 'Good morning' and lead into small talk. As I asked my typical 20 questions about the weekend, S eventually walked into my room and came to my desk and in the most sly and most sleek way slid a card on my desk upside down so I wouldn't see that it had my name on it. Luckily for S, I may be obnoxious and a stone’s throw short of usually caring about calling someone out, however I knew S was trying to play it cool. I knew this because 1. My aide was in the room and 2. I am awkward when it comes to giving people stuff that shows any sort of raw and real emotion. After it was slipped on my desk, S quickly exited my room without looking back at me once.
I waited till I knew S wasn't coming back. I opened up the card and held it in my hands and read it underneath my desk so nobody would see it, in respect of S. I've debated what excerpt to write on my blog or how to briefly summarize it. But I've decided against both those options because I feel I wouldn't be giving Monday the kind of treatment it deserves! That I may be shortening someone else out of changing their ...monday... into a Monday. So to whomever reads this, may your case of the Monday's turn into a case of it’s-closer-to-Tuesday!



The card:
"Most great people have something in common: they all have at least one person in their corner who believes in them. I'm sure I'm only one of many who admire and think the universe of you.
I hope you can draw endless energy from knowing that wherever you are, whatever you're going through, there will always be someone to count on.
There will always be someone somewhere wishing the best for you, rooting for you in spirit.
There will always be someone who thinks of you, cares for you, loves you.
That someone is me. -D. Derrick Barnes"

Thanks,


S.

A Real Coach

The boys and girls soccer team's practice at the same field everyday.  The boys on one field and the girls on the other.  Yesterday we played on the same field.  In a scrimmage.  Here was the deal:

For every goal we (the girls) scored on the boys, the boys had to run 5 miles. 
For every goal they (the boys) scored on us, we would shake it off and keep on trying.

The boys scored within 1 minute.  As I watched my girls barely try, slowly jog after the ball and laugh about it after it happened I let my annoyance/fury show by yelling across the field "If ya'll aren't going to try we can just stop now!".


**They didn't astound me with their effort after that or even really come close to scoring.  But I will NOT rant about that here.  I have exhausted all my engery on the subject.  (The head coach and I decided that today at practice they will not even touch a ball because of their as of recent poor attitudes and weak attendance/effort at practices).**


A Varsity boy soccer player just came in my room (in the middle of the block) and quickly told me that I finally look like a real coach out there. I said, confused and caught off guard, "What the heck are you talking about?"  And as he walked backwards towards the door to return to class he said, "Yesterday.  When we scored and you yelled at them and said something like 'We can just stop now if you aren't going try!'.  You were a real coach.  And it was awsome!".

I guess I've made it as a high school assistant soccer coach yesterday at practice. 
I guess I should probably quit now while I'm ahead, eh?

March On to April

I made a list in March of the things I was excited about for the month.  And whereas some of things I accomplished and enjoyed, some of the items are March-ing On to April as well.  So, without further adieu, here are the things I am looking forward to in April:

1. April showers (because they bring May flowers but first the flush out pollen!)
2. Easter and the sweet flower cross at my home church
3.  My room mate's birthday (April 19th)
4.  KT's birthday (April 18th)
5.  Sweet Ash's birthday (April 20th)
6.  Lake house trip with my roomies!
7. Soccer season.  ENDED.
8.  Crossing off each day on my calendar at school and then fist pumping the sky while whispering the number of days left that are so conveniently numbered in the top left corner of each box.
9.  Finishing all 22 of my IEP's.
10. (same as from March) Hopefully, maybe, my fingers are crossed for, finding out more stable plans for where I'll be and what I'll be doing next year....

If #10 is a repeat in May, my list will only have 1 item.  Take a wild guess at one it'll be.

We Got Spirit, How 'Bout You?!

At the beginning of the school year, new teachers were assigned clubs to be the sponsor of.  I, however; was not put on the list.  (Yes, in hind sight I see the awesomeness of that but at the time I was an eager first year teacher who wanted to be involved, get to know more students than just the Special Ed ones and not feel left out).  So I volunteered myself to help the 2 new teachers put on the Rocket Club, aka the school spirit club.  And if I'm honest here, I will go out on a limb and say that although our club is a joke I might just be one of  the best thing that has happened to spirit here in this run-down little town!

Anyways, the club is a joke because when we meet on the First Tuesday of every month, we do nothing but sit in the cafeteria and make small talk with our social groups.  I had grand plans of each meeting involving poster making, electing officers and the school being filled with the spirit of my clubbers!  But I lost all that go-get-'em juice approximately 2-3 months into the school year.  I did accomplish what I said the club dues would cover:  designed a rockin' t-shirt that has the 'famous' pep-rally chant on it, purchased maroon and gray shakers and face tattoos!  Then I quickly peace-ed out of any responsibility.

Today is the first Tuesday of the month.  And when I got my reminder event email yesterday, my eyes tricked my brain into reading "Event Cancelled".  I didn't even question anyone, I just made a mental note that I was off the hook for this month!  I even told a student today when they walked into my room to ask if we'd be doing anything that "We aren't doing anything because its cancelled!".  I should've looked into it when the student thought I was crazy but I just told her "I have the email, you want me to pull it up to prove it?!" (Should have followed through with my sass.... Then this whole entry would be null and void).

So, I am on the phone with my insurance company trying to figure out how to get the best bang for my buck for a new pair of eye glasses when I hear the assistant principal get on the intercom and announce the clubs that will be held today.  And because I am the world's WORST multi-tasker I can't hear her nor the nice helpful man on the phone telling me what I could have paid if I had just done some research...  The bell rings, I quickly and respectfully get off the phone (I just finished a survey with the company giving him my 2 thumbs up in hopes he won't have a horrible rest of the day due to my urgency) and call my co-sponsor to see if Rocket Club had been listed. 

It was.

Now, I normally don't have any plans for the club to do but I at least have a nice new print out of the members and who still has yet to pick up their spirit pack but instead, I grab a Manila folder to make myself feel like I am legit and run like I am not on the 3rd floor with a skirt and high heeled boots on.  I get to the cafeteria after most of the club has and sit down with Jennifer.  Almost immediately, a student asks what we are doing today.  When I look up to give her a sass answer, I see an administrator.  AN ADMINISTRATOR IN OUR ROCKET CLUB MEETING!!!  Seeing as though this is the one time I actually have nothing prepared with me, I say "Start a chant!  Now!".  Luckily, this girl was a confident, fun and spirit filled-girl who smiled real big and went back to her table.  Within minutes, she had her entire table participating by either dropping a sweet beat on the lunch table or throwing a line about the Rockets!  It was kinda hard to understand, which may or may not be a good thing, but it grabbed the attention of everyone in the lunch room, even the I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table! 

Whenever I hear a beat, I can't help but tap my feet, swing my shoulders and wave my hands like I just don't care! And that I did.  In front of 9-12 graders, a teacher and an administrator.  Once that particular table finished, they said some mumble-jumble that 'challeneged' another table where a weak little cheerleader tried to express her love for her school but when that failed, the first table just did it again; as another administrator joined the party!  When they threw it back one more time, the cheerleader (who is also a soccer player and had been showing her I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table how I "cheer" at the games) yelled: "Throw it to Peters!".  And they did.

My friends, it was thrown and it was caught. 

If you know me AT all, you most likely know that I will not and can not throw down a challenge, especially when it has to do with spirit and/or potentially making a fool or myself.  So, Ms. Peters, the teacher but at the time clearly actin' a fool instead, said (while I move around like I am straight up Will-I-Am rappin'):

'We got spirit, YES WE DO!  We got spirit, HOW 'BOUT YOU?!'.

Yep.  That's what I said.  Out of anything  I could have said or done, I shouted back the lamest chant there is because my club was being monitored by 2 administrators and I had a room full of students staring at me, expecting me to deliver.  And who am I to let those kids down?!  Instead of the typical response of a louder "We got spirit" dialogue, I of course got a roaring outburst of laughter.  And then a round of applause.  Even from the administrators. 

From then on, we went from more beat droppin' to chant line makin' to step dancing creatin'.  And today, the Rocket Club had fun!  Today, the Rocket Club fulfilled the description of 'leaders of spirit in their school'.  Today, there were no plans for Rocket Club. 

May you have a no-plans-but-gonna-make-it-HOW-'BOUT-YOU kind of day as well!

2 States in 2 Days

Charleston, South Carolina is home to many things:  my sister, Rainbow Row, cobble streets, many-a-island, good food like this place and this one coffee joint called Hope & Union. Needless to say, Charleston is a neat city that incorporates a beachy atmosphere and chic-couture.  And I spent my weekend there!  We planned this whole trip around the Cooper River Bridge 10K Run.  Oh, and for a visit to see my sister!  I had never run more than 3.1 miles before this past Saturday nor had I ever run on a bridge.  Why I was up for this challenge, I am still not sure.  Why I was able to actually run the 6.2 miles, I am still not sure either.  Maybe it was a runner's high (doubt it) or maybe its because there were 41,000 other people constantly around me?  Or heck, maybe I have some runner in me!!?  (My dad is an avid runner.  I'm pretty sure the man can't sleep at night if he doesn't run 4-6 miles a day.  He runs during his lunch break.  Normal, right?  Oh yeah, he also ran 50 miles on his 50th birthday.  Yeah.  ON.  Not for.  Like on the day, the one day.)

I digress. 

After 5 hours in the car with 1 puppy and 2 eager 10k-ers, we arrive in Charleston just in the nick of time!  We quickly dropped Huntley off with my sister and made our way downtown to pick up our racing bibs.  Now, keep in mind, Charleston is a city but no big city.  There are 41,000 other people trying to do the same thing we are doing.  Trying to pick up their bibs while enjoying the free give-aways and intriguing sale stands.  Well, once we enter the fun filled tent full of people and all-things-runner Justin goes immediately into 'we-have-to-get-what-we-came-for-before-we-soak-anything-else-up' mode.  Whereas my eyes catch everything there is to offer from the free Ritz crackers to the 80's style running shorts.  However, at any brief amount of time spent looking at those I couldn't dare brush off the nervous/antsy guy to my side looking around.  So we carried on.  And then we carried out because once we got the necessities, I had lost all excitement to spend time with these overly excited people.

We grilled out at my sister's boyfriends condo for dinner.  Delicious.  He made homemade french fries (healthy style) with this thing!  I'm gonna get me one of those things one day... And it'll be trouble for all parties involved.  We kept it chill that night by watch T.V. and I would boldly say that all 4 of us are now addicted to the show Shark Tank.  Watch it. 

The next morning was an early and chilly one.  We took a Ferry Boat across the river to the other side of the bridge.  I love riding boats!  And I even loved it that morning amongst the avid runners who spent their ride applying sun screen, stretching their legs and eating bananas.  The two of us didn't partake in any of those activities on the boat.  Once we got off the boat and caught up to the 'F' corral, the race began!  Just like that.  No down time, no pump up, no nothing.  So maybe we pushed our time a little?  But it worked out.  We ran that 6.2 like pros!  Well, pros who average about an 11 minute mile and finish in 1:11 kind of pros...  But I am proud of the fact that we (I) only walked about 7 minutes of the race!  You can laugh or judge if you must but nothing will not make me proud of the fact that I ran over an hour straight!!  Nothing.  So say what you want. 

After the race we walked back to Claire's apartment, finding Radcliffe Street (COOL!!!) 

and stopping for iced coffee (a good after-the-race drink, eh?).  We spent probably the next 2 hours sitting in front of the TV with Claire and her roommates.  Stretching.  And stretching more.  We then went all over the island and found a place for lunch where Huntley could be with us.  (My sister wanted Hunt to be able to do everything with us... So she pretty much did).  Claire drove us around showing us the sweet scenery of downtown, the battery and the local spots.  We attended a Oyster Roast where we cracked open some legit oysters and helped ourselves!  By around 8:00 that night, Justin and I were done.  Exhausted.  In over our heads.  We tried to play it cool and suck it up to act like fun people but we just aren't weren't.  We were home and in bed by 10:30 after leaving the place to be only minutes after arriving there. 

Sunday morning we participated in Sticky Bun Sunday at Wildflower Cafe (link provided above) and headed home.  Home to the tortuous routine of parent meetings, math help, soccer games and responsibility. 
All of which I'm sure doesn't happen in Charleston.