Update

This is what my obsessive sticky notes looked like a couple of hours ago.

Then this happened.  Which may not look like much, but I'm telling you, that many verbs in the box on the left equals a LOT of progress.

See all those names added to the sticky notes below?  That, my friends, is the fruits of my labor.  Via blood, sweat, and tears.  Well, actually, it's more like my headache, annoyance, and crabby attitude.  Because after all that time, I only got to cross ONE THING off my list.  Do you see that thick, Sharpie line on the left?  How's THAT for annoying?  I feel useless.  I even timed myself on some of it and still don't have much to show in ways of line-crossing-off.

And you're also probably thinking to yourself, "Jill, who the heck CARES about what you got done at work today?"  or maybe, "Jill, if you're that busy, why in the world are you wasting time blogging about it??"  Good question, one I've asked myself.  And you're right, you shouldn't care.  And yes, this is slightly a waste of time that I'm using as my reward. Because quite honestly, I bet I don't need to know what you accomplished at work today, either.  But you know, I write on this blogsy* for my own benefit most of the time, so deal with it, okay?  Also, sometimes I think I like to pretend that my work is so stressful right now because I'm a teacher and it's finals and end of the year and every other teach I know acts like they're saving the world  and blah blah blah.  You know what?  It's not more stressful. (And I'm certainly not saving the world.) Because even if it were by some chance more stressful right now (which no one is able to measure, really), I get the big fat summer off in about 10 days.  And you can all hate me for it, and I will feel bad about it as I sit by the pool.  Jajajajajaja.  
*** blogsy was coined by Lyndi.  I love it.***As I reread this for editing purposes (because I'm obsessive like that), I noticed that I used the word "teach" instead of teacher.  And I'm going to keep it because from now on when I refer to a "teach", it's going to mean the ones that annoy me and think they're really important.  You know what I'm talking about.***This has now ventured out of "reward yourself with a break" into full-fledged time-wasting.
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want

I feel like these 3 rooms pretty much sum up me.  (Minus that pink carpet.)  But wow.  Taken from the marion house book.

Little ass grad parties!

As in, Lyndi met the little asses! And the one that's supposed to have her baby any day now. We made a pit stop along our tour de grad parties yesterday. We also stopped by our great-grandmother's old house in Firth. Best part of that was when Lyndi asked about "her" great-grandmother and then we realized, oh yeah, that woman we both share...hence the relation. Except that we both kept calling her Margaret and her name is definitely Martha. Hahahaha. Cut us some slack, we were 5ish when she died.



Picture fail. Patti says, "oh! Didn't know a phone took a picture that fast!" Yep, PW, that's what happens when you're using the iPhone. Welcome.




We actually took another one because I claimed that my face looked fat. To which my dear father replied after my second pic request, "What, you think it's going to get smaller by the next picture?" Aaannd thanks for that, Dad.
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Their last day

Well, friends, it's official. My senior students have checked in their books and are finished with Spanish 4. This year feels a little different, though. They are the first class that I've been with for four years. These were the freshmen I started teaching with my first year at Norris. And then I had them all again in Spanish 2 and now again in Spanish 4. I moved with them through the years. They also comprised my study hall for the past four years. Needless to say, we have spent countless hours together.

But it's not all happy times. They have been the group I struggled with the most. I watched a lot of them change for the worse their sophomore year. They were a part of my worst year of teaching. I think back to some of the things they said and did to me as sophomores and I just cringe. I cringe because they are partly just "unique" in their behavior and also because I was such a naive and terrible teacher. But oh my, how I've learned from that year and from them.

I will always think of this class with affection, even though most teachers here are very ready to see them go. And I don't blame them. But for better or worse, these are the kids I "grew up with" as a teacher. For some of them, I was so involved in their lives I feel like I was a weird mix of mom, older friend, and teacher. In four years we've walked through parents dying, kids getting arrested, kicked out of school, the whole bit. But we've also had a lot of fun. I will never fault this group for taking life too seriously, that's for sure. I even had to modify my curriculum to fit their "I really don't give a crap" attitude this year and that was from the motivated ones!

Anyway, I didn't cry today but we have senior breakfast and sign out tomorrow morning and then I think it will feel really final. And then I will spend my weekend going to 30 some graduation parties. Normally I wouldn't try to go to all of these but this year is different. I feel like I owe it to them. The pictures below are pretty telltale of our year this past year. And they make me smile.




They made "grills" out of tin foil today and played gangsta rap. And still asked why the music had to be appropriate. Sigh. At least they're consistent.




I will miss these four a LOT.
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hahahaha

Thanks, Tabitha, for sharing this.  I heart this for combining sports and Lord of the Rigns.  Man, I love those books.  And I totally understood that there was an error and how they corrected it.  If I had my glasses on today, I would've shoved them up my nose as I said that last bit.

Ummm

Timeline for Spanish 2 for the next two weeks. They requested a timeline format so I obliged. And then yelled at a kid who erased a little part of it. Doesn't he know I have obsessive tendencies by now??? So yeah, we're going to get all of that done and graded in 2 weeks tines 100 students. Gross. I guess I could take their smart suggestion of, "Wies, let's just like, not do some of it." Thanks for thinking through that one for me, students. You're pure genius. Good problem- solving skills happening in this room.


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I heart Jane

As in Austen, as in a non-lesbian kind of way.  But really, I luuurve her.  I think we would be besties if she was still alive and kicking.

Thank you, oh hello friend blog, for these lovely images.

My cupcakes bring all the boys to the yard

That was the theme of the evening as Sarah and I made cupcakes for my Spanish 4 going away party tomorrow.




That's Sarah modeling her perfectly filled cupcake tins. I'm so impressed.



This would be Sarah's cupcakes bringing all the boys to the yard.



Me being hot and sticky. (I held out and didn't turn the AC on. Turns out that was a bad idea when your oven is on for 2 hours.)



We had a frost off but the weather conditions proved to be a challenge, even with the decorating "tips."




Thank you, Katie, for doing your best to get a flattering shot of us. But as it turns out, when you decide to wear your bathing suit cover up around the house with not much else but your apron & a sweaty mess of a bun, there's not a lot of hope for a classy picture. It was deffo an "inside" kind of an outfit if you know what I mean. That I wore outside because I got *swear word* hot. Oh wait, I mean HOTT. It's now in the laundry because I of course got batter and frosting all over. (and for everyone's sake, that get-up should stay in the laundry until I either a) get some sun b) return to the gym on a regular basis or c) invent a time machine that takes me back to my body as an 18 year old. I pick c. (which incidentally was always my favorite letter choice when we would take quizzes in YM or Seventeen.)

Wow. Bunny trail about my swit suit cover-up (that's actually a clearance nightgown from Target...) Sarah and I decided to next tackle piña colada and or mocha cupcakes. We will keep you posted.
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I'm in love

And how could I not be??? If I have children and they're half as cute as this sweet face, I'll be happy. (And don't try to plug the, "ohhh but all mothers think their babies are cute!" I know that. But that doesn't mean the rest of the world thinks so.) He also happens to be a very laid-back baby who will charm you with his smile. I already promised him I'd do whatever he wanted. It's my job as his aunt. (this is also true of his older brother who got me to do anything he wanted today by yelling, JILL! And then tugging on my hand. I chased him around the yard and through the house and let him splash me with his bathwater, all while in my dress.)


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Prom hair!

This would be my two sweet cousins, Veronica and Victoria. They both went to Southwest prom yesterday and I did their hair. I think they're adorable. It was also Victoria's sweet 16 the same day! (oh my word, I just realized I don't really remember what I did for my 16th birthday! I always remember everything...what's happening to me?? I remember I was at rehearsal but what after? Tabitha, HELP!)

Anyway, these two are the youngest in our family of the cousins and I think they're pretty great.

Omg

I'm blogging from my iPhone. Yes, friends, my smart phone is still smarter than me.


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gracias Design*Sponge

I heart their site.

want this

my thoughts on bikes

also

One of my senior classes opted to listen the entire soundtrack of Lion King while they took their final.  Weren't they like 3 when that came out?  I was in 5th grade so....whatever.  Also, I realize I could probably expand on those events in my life that I just mentioned, like how the shows went but I really don't feel like it.  Either you, A. came and saw it or B. didn't.  And if you didn't, I bet you had a good reason and don't need to hear about it.  So I will summarize the experience with this beauty of an image.

HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.   I mean, it is one of my most favorite shows but come one, we all know I don't take myself too seriously.  (Ash, that was for you.)

oh hey from a month ago

Well...my life in pictures in the last month.  That are not from my camera.  Because I have not had time to pull those off either.  Updates coming.

Yes, that's right.  I went and lost my mind in the last month and have done 2 musicals (don't worry, one was just middle school..nbd.)  And now my seniors are taking their comprehensive Spanish 4 final and then...we're done!  Well, just with that class but between trying to finish up their year and grade their verbs and projects and quizzes and create a 10-pager of a final, I feel like I have lived at school.  Or maybe ran to Ralston Costume more times than I care to count.  I think if these were the only things going on in my life, it wouldn't have been so bad but throw in birthdays and Easter and family gatherings and friends and showers and trying to maintain a social life (was I supposed to have one?  I'm trying!) and well...suffice it to say, that I will officially have spent an evening at home for the first time...next Monday?  Otherwise it's maybe been a few weeks?  Oh well, I'm almost there!