A Different Kind of Memory

September 11, 2001.

I was in my classroom at school; it was my planning period. My mom called me from her classroom and asked if I had heard anything about an airplane crashing into the World Trade Center. I didn't, but I told her I would look online and see what I could find out. Apparently, someone had called the school, and word had started spreading. I found a short article online, and as so many others did, I thought it was just a terrible accident. And then I turned on the TV.....and as the morning unfolded, we all realized this was no accident.

Fear. Uncertainly. Utter disbelief. All those things went through my mind. It was a day that changed the lives of Americans forever.

It was a day that would change my life forever......but for a different reason.

You see, that was the day we found out that I was pregnant with Matthew. Honestly, I was really scared, thinking "What kind of world are we bringing this child into? What will life be like for this baby?"

As the weeks passed, of course, our nation realized that life would go on....it had to. And we realized that things would be okay, and that our baby would be okay, and we'd just keep on living.

And that is why September 11, 2001 holds a different set of memories for me. I will never forget......

First Day

Where has the time gone? We've been busy packing all the fun we can into these last few weeks of summer! It has been a truly wonderful summer, but now it's time to settle down and head back to school. While it's unpleasant initially, I know we NEED to be back in a routine! Matthew started fourth grade today, and I began my 16th year of teaching.

This should prove to be an interesting year. We have a brand new principal....not only to our school, but this is his first principalship. That, of course, brings changes....some I'm happy about, some, not so much. One good thing though is that all the faculty and staff who wanted to gathered for prayer this morning before school. That in itself helped the day get off to a good start!

Matthew started fourth grade today in the same classroom that my mom (Grandmommy) taught in. His teacher is the one who took Grandmommy's place when she retired to keep Matthew when he was a baby. She has also subbed for this teacher a few times. So Matthew feels a special connection to her, and has wanted to be in her class since he started kindergarten.

Overall, it was a good first day, and as usual, I'm completely worn out! Hope the school year is off to a great start for all of you!

I hope I don't look like I've been teaching 16 years! That makes me feel old!

A Little Project

This will probably seem really weird to some of you, but I always have a summer project, or rather projects--plural. I am sure it is because I'm a teacher, and feel like this is my best chunk of time to be able to accomplish things. Anyway, I always have a rather ambitious list of things that I want to accomplish during the summer! Here's the project I worked on tonight, and I am rather pleased with the results, especially for my first attempt. I think I'll make another one tomorrow for a friend whose birthday is coming up! It's someone who I don't normally exchange gifts with, but I'd just like to do a little something for her. What do you think? Would you like this as a gift?

My time is running short, and I still need to:

1) Clean out Matthew's closet

2) Clean off and organize my desk, which includes a LOT of filing

3) Try making a digital photo book

4) Clean out and organize laundry room (this is one that was just added in the last week!) I thought about some really simple things I could do to really improve the look of this room, so I'm going for it!

5) Paint canvas and cut vinyl lettering for wall hanging to go outside laundry room...Am I totally strange for decorating my laundry room? I just want it to look nice like the rest of the house!

6) Play with some more vinyl lettering projects, including some things for my classroom

7) Take Matthew and his friends from church to the local water park for the day

Will all these things get done? Not likely, but I know I'll manage #7!

New Trends...A Debate

A cousin sent me a link this morning that I found rather interesting. Apparently, Kate Middleton is bringing back pantyhose.

This makes me happy. I know you're thinking, "WHAT?" but it's true. Now let me clarify....I am not a fan of pantyhose ALL the time. In fact, in warm weather, I don't wear a single dress to church that requires hose. However, my point is that they do have a place. It depends on the occasion. To me, if you are going to dress professionally, and by professionally, I mean like someone in law or finance, you just need hose. For example, with a business suit, hose just finishes the look. Also, for me it's a matter of practicality....I can't stand the way dress shoes feel barefooted! (I'm talking about traditional pumps, not dressy sandals.) Probably TMI, but my feet sweat so bad that if I wore dress shoes without hose, they'd be ruined after a few wearings. The inside lining would be peeling up, etc.

I feel there are just some situations and outfits that "need" hose to complete the outfit. Business suits are the main ones. Maybe I'm so opinionated about this because I'm a business teacher? In my state, FBLA has a very strict dress code. We don't require hose, but we do require that shoes be closed toe and closed heel. We require a jacket with pants. There's a reason for this....when you start relaxing part of the dress code, like the shoe thing for instance, then it just opens the door for all kinds of issues, trying to determine "Is this a dress shoe or not?" Maybe it doesn't seem like a big deal, but our students can't get in to their competitions unless they are in dress code. You can really appreciate this when you get to the national level. Their dress code is more relaxed than my state's, and let me tell you, it's an "anything goes" almost. Two weeks ago at the national conference, I saw ADVISERS wearing maxi dresses to the competition. HELLO....a maxi dress is in no way, shape, or form, professional business attire! We are trying to teach these students about the business world, and I realize that in many businesses today the dress code is more relaxed, but if we set the standard high, basically like interview attire, they can't go wrong.

Part of the reason for my feelings is also the way I was raised....in true southern belle form. And don't get me started on our First Lady. I'm sorry, but a sleeveless dress in January for the State of the Union.....uh uh. A) It's JANUARY and B) It's the State of the Union, not a party!

And this blog post has turned much more ramblesome than I had intended, but the bottom line is, I'm glad to see that maybe I won't be considered such an old fuddy-duddy anymore!

To read the article: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/kate-middleton-brings-back-pantyhose-bare-legs-are-so-2010-2510160#photoViewer=2

Two Thumbs Up

I'm not usually one to write movie reviews, mainly because we rarely, and I mean, RARELY go to the movies! However, Saturday night we took Matthew to see Mr. Popper's Penguins, and I felt I had to share.

This is a great movie! Normally I am not a Jim Carrey fan, and I don't care for what I call "stupid-funny" movies. This movie greatly exceeded my expectations. It was a great little story, and the best part....no profanity. AT ALL. The only questionable language was the word "freakin'" used twice. That's not really considered profanity, but it's a word I don't care for and don't let my own children, nor my students, use.

So, if you're looking for a great family movie, I highly recommend Mr. Popper's Penguins!

While we're on the subject of movies, I must also add that I can't wait for The Help!

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

My wonderful husband had a milestone birthday a few weeks ago....the big 4-0.

I have been wanting to do something special for him to celebrate this milestone, but also to make up for a horrendous birthday two years ago. It was that year that we had lost one of our dear friends unexpectedly on Monday of that week, he was unexpectedly laid off from his job on Friday, developed a kidney stone Friday night, and then that Sunday was his birthday and Father's Day. Talk about a crummy week! Last year, I wanted to do something really special for him, but I just couldn't get this together, so I decided that this year, the big 4-0 was definitely the year for something extra special! I arranged for him to do the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Walt Disney World Speedway. It worked out perfectly since we were going to be in Orlando anyway for FBLA national conference. Now we are not really Nascar fans, but what man wouldn't want to drive a race car!

I was a bit nervous at first, thinking of all those people out on the track at the same time. I wasn't worried about Tracy's driving, I was worried about everyone else's! I felt much better after we got in "class" and found out that it was not a "racing experience" it was a "driving experience". Each student had their own instructor that they would follow around the track, and there were three "sets" of drivers on the track at each time. There were lights in the back of the car telling you whether to speed up or slow down....surprisingly, they said the "speed up" lights were the ones that were used the majority of the time! They started them out slow, around 110 mph, and if you kept up and were driving well, with each lap they increased the speed, with the hope of getting up to 122-123 mph. I am pleased to say that Tracy did really well, increasing his speed each lap and ending up with 121.something mph!

He said it was a blast and is already wanting to do it again! Note in the photos that these are REAL race cars, and the only way in and out is through the window! That, too, was a point of concern for me!! Ha!

Luke-isms

A few funnies from recently that I don't want to forget...

Upon drinking Sprite for the first time...."This Sprout sure is good!"

Seeing the UPS truck driving back into the terminal..."There goes the PPS truck!"

and best of all....

In response to, "Luke, why are you jumping on the bed?"

"'Cause I never tried it before!"