I can't hang

Wow, going out in the city takes a lot out of a person! That and way too many Jager Bombs. I went out with a couple girlfriends to Bucktown and to the Gold Coast. We ended up on this trolley full of alcohol (complete with a kareoke machine) that was rented out by a 20 guy bachelor party. My girlfriends were dancing, drinking and partying, while I preferred to just to take a seat and enjoy the beautiful weather and views of Chicago as we drove up and down Michigan Avenue, State Street, Division, and Rush. I had forgotten how lovely the city looks and it gave me a new appreciation of it. I definitely plan to visit it more this summer.

Haa, funniest part was when this bum came up to the trolley and started begging for money.....instead of giving him money, the guys poured Jim Beam from a handle straight into his mouth. 5 bucks said thats how he got to the streets in the first place!

We ended up a dance club with the bachelors......my girlfriends were getting freaky on the dance floor while I sat a table talking to the only engaged guy there about relationships...haa haa. He gave interesting advice and said that damn quote that all people getting married say........"you just know." Meh.

I had fun, no doubt, but wasn't into the whole thing so much. People kept asking me "are you having fun?" What, just because I wasn't rounding 3rd base on the dance floor I was a stick in the mud? Yeesh. But my girls were a blast to go out with and while I spent entirely too much money and felt like showering the whole time, it was fun! I got offered Cubs tickets for today but I'm just not feeling up to it. Too bad though, its a great game!

My first weekend of freedom

Ahhhhhh, no more workie on the weekends for a while! So far I've played sand volleyball at a bar, grilled out at my place, and then almost got into a fight at Buffalo Wild Wings with a White Sox fan. I'm sorry, but how classless is it to cheer every time they showed Prior getting hurt on ESPN?

Tonight??? I'm venturing down into the city to Bucktown with some friends and maybe hitting a Cubs game tomorrow............I think I can speak for all teachers when I say "I love summer!!!!"

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH (no huge spoilers)

That movie was ridiculous! I don't think I blinked the entire movie and I forgot I had popcorn to eat. I thought the movie was amazing....the light saber fights, the sad romance, the dark look of the movie, the special effects, the music tie-in from Episodes IV, V, VI....and.....they tied up virtually every loose end.

Sure the dialogue isn't the best, but who the hell cares? I like to lose myself in a movie, not hang on its every word to make sure I know whats going on. If you were to look at my favorite movies, they are either slap stick humor like "Office Space" and "Dumb and Dumber", or movies with lots of guns, explosions, death, fighting and sex. One of thing, which comes naturally when doing a saga backwards, is that there are no huge suprises.... I know who lives, I know who's going to die, but how that unfolds was fascinating to watch.

I went to this movie with the bride, groom, and bridal party......the girls had never seen any Star Wars before (what the hell planet did they grow up on?) and the bride said "I like the little green guy, I hope he doesn't die!" Yeeeeesh. I told her, as did her new husband "There's no point in explaining it to you now.....its like opening up a book and only reading the 3rd chapter!"

All and all, I give the movie an A. Some of my students said "It could have been better"....what more do you people want? I plan to go see it at least 2 more times. I also have a crush on Obi-Wan Kenobi (he looks like C) and he just gets hotter with each movie.

A few things did bug me though.......if one wants to get nit-picky.

#1 In Episode I, we find out that Darth Vader, as a young Anakin, builds C-3PO. Did C-3PO ever find out the evil Sith lord is his maker? Or can they attribute that to him getting his hard drive wiped out?

#2 C-3PO and R2-D2 show no signs of recognizing Tatooine, when they spent time there in these first 3 movies.......memory wiping maybe?

#3 How come Obi-Wan Kenobi doesn't remember R2-D2 in Episode IV? He was a constant presence in the first 3 Episodes. In Episode IV he says "I don't remember owning a droid." Hmmmmm.

#4 Padme Amidala.....I swear that Princess Leia in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, talked about her mother with Luke.

LUKE: Leia... do you remember your mother? Your real mother?
LEIA: Just a little bit. She died when I was very young.
LUKE: What do you remember?
LEIA: Just...images, really. Feelings.

She said things like "She was very beautiful and kind, but sad." Luke seem comforted when hearing about this and goes on to say "I never knew my mother." Now, for those of you who saw Episode III, please tell me how this can be? Was she maybe talking about her adoptive mother? If that was the case, it makes that whole scene totally pointless. Maybe it was the Force that caused her to remember Padme.

Some of you who are reading this are probably thinking I am a nerd, then so be it. But my family and I have always loved these movies and I'm sad to see them end. For those of you who haven't seen it and plan on it.......stop waiting for the crowds to die down and go see it!

smiley

smiley
Originally uploaded by :birke:.

LAST FULL DAY OF SCHOOL TODAY!!!

Here comes the bride..............

I will be gone for the next few days at my best friend's wedding. It should be a rip-roaring good time up in DE-troit. And nooooo, it is not in the ghetto that is Detroit, its at a beautiful golf course. I will, of course, be the drunk bridesmaid (a vision in pink), who's tearing it up alone on the dance floor.

I'll post when I get back. Have a good one.......

wrigley and tex

wrigley and tex
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

The two men in my sister's life. They always give her lots of kisses!

I have a new boyfriend!

Good news everyone, I have a new boyfriend! I've known him for about a year. He never lets me down, knows my likes and dislikes and likes to suprise me on occasion. My boyfriend is the last thing I see before bed and I like to sit with him while enjoying a glass of cold milk and chocolate chip cookies. My boyfriend I just broke up with introduced us and brought him over to my house for the first time last September.......his name is TiVo.

Yes, my boyfriend is TiVo. It occured to me last night when he taped "Sex and the City" for me. It ironically was the episode where Miranda and Steve broke up and she called TiVo her boyfriend. I started laughing out loud b/c here I was eating cookies and milk, just like Miranda, watching TiVo. I spend more time with TiVo than anyone else so it was a natural progression.

I know what you guys are thinking, I'm weird....but watching that episode last night put me in stitches :) For those of you who are unfamilar with TiVo................here's the link:

http://www.tivo.com/0.0.asp

My new boyfriend

TiVo lives!
Originally uploaded by pdcryan.

TiVo is the best!

sailor-thumb

sailor-thumb
Originally uploaded by snarkyspot.

Where can I order this poster for my health class?

Students say the darnest things

Interesting things I've heard my freshman students say today:

"Hey, Sarah, we have 3 holes down there!!!"

"Teacher.....aren't bacterias and viruses the same thing?"

"Who's the bad guy in Star Wars? Dark Vader?"

"Thats not fair teacher, just because I forgot to do the homework, doesn't mean I should get a zero. We all make mistakes."

"Hey Caitlin, do you have herpes?" (who would ask that to someone?)

"Whats with all the different color hair in here today? You have maroon, you have gray, and you have a blue mohawk.....was there a paint fight I missed?" (that was me)

"I have a good idea for a gay porn...."Gayzed and Confused"

FOR SOME REASON, THE THINGS COMING OUT OF MY STUDENTS MOUTHS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!

More to come.........................

Real Player

Real Player
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

Poorly-drawn cartoons inspired by actual spam email subject lines!

(courtesy of www.spamamusement.com)



HAAAA HAAAA HAAAA...I hate it when that damn "buffering" comes up!

How to make Money with Stocks

How to make Money with Stocks
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

Poorly-drawn cartoons inspired by actual spam email subject lines!

(courtesy of www.spamamusement.com)


I don't know why I find these so hilarious!!!!

i heart my couch

My first weekend since the break-up......and I left a party to come home....watch a movie and IM with "C." Is it healthy to keep in touch with someone you just broke up with? Not sure, but it makes me much happier. We are chatting about our day, almost like nothing has happened, but it does feel different. I love my couch. Last night my girlfriends came over, we grilled out and went country line dancing. It took everything they had to get me off my behind, but once I was "Slappin' Leather" and "watermelon crawling" I felt better. Tonight my fellow teacher had a graduation/housewarming/engagement party (getting married to another fellow teacher). It was 1.9 miles away, which was nice. I was the only one without a date and I sat there with a bottle of water, and grazed the snacks on the island. Then people started pairing off in 2 couples to play euchre so I hit the road. I think I'm going to lay on my beloved couch, watch one of two movies "Phantom of the Opera" (mmmm the Phantom is delicious) or "Bridget Jones 2: The Edge of Reason". One a tragic love story, and another a story about "spinsterhood." What can I say, I'm quite the wild woman!!!!

Friday the 13th

Ever want to know why millions of Americans are friggatriskaidekaphobic? Today is Friday the 13th and when a student of mine asked its significance, I had no idea. So here you go:

A Brief History of Friday the 13th

cold baseball game

cold baseball game
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

I froze my buns off at this freshman baseball game. 40 degrees with 35 mph winds is not typical May weather! I've been rained on and frozen this week....I give up!

Exhausted

I think these past 2 weeks were the longest of my life. I closed on my first house, am living on my own, and broke up with boyfriend......all while working 60+ hours a week. I'm exhausted physically and mentally. I have looked like death all week with my long hair hanging in my face and no makeup.

Well, today, I decided I need to look like "me" again, and made an appointment to get my hair cut during lunch. I just got back and I feel a bit better. The lady chopped off like 5 inches in some spots! (and for those of you who know me, thats a big deal) My students have complimented me but I'm still not quite used to it yet.

Now that its been a few days since we broke up, I'm learning what triggers my frowns or my missing him. Besides the physical part (duh!), its definitely not having someone ask me about my day (besides my parents.) C and I would email one-liners all day long "How is your day going?", "how did that meeting go?", "ready for class tonight?", "what are you teaching today?", little things like that. Its really hard not knowing exactly whats going on in his life everyday. I used to talk about him all the time, even share an occasional story with my students. I still want share those stories but I can't say the "ex-********" word, hell, I can't even type it.

But, at least my guilt about working so much is gone....replaced now by the guilt of breaking his heart (and mine too.) But he knows he'll be okay, and I know that too. He is a great guy with a loving family and great friends (too bad they live ALL OVER the country!) My girlfriends are going to get me good and drunk tonight, but probably need to keep me away from my cell!!!

I have noticed something else, I seem to be blogging a hell of a lot more lately. Its therapeutic for both of us. And I think we both know that we check eachother's blogs so no matter what happens, we can still know how the other one is doing. I'm sure some things I WON'T want to know, but hey, thats life.

I just want to curl up on the couch and fall asleep with my dobermen, seeing that the mother of all storms hit last night and kept me up half the night. Wind, pouring rain, booming thunder, bright lightning, and even hail. Being a new homeowner, all I thought was "I think all my windows are closed, hopefully the grill cover doesn't fly away, and I should go get my American flag!"

Well, enough rambling, I'm being silly.

Is love really enough?

My boyfriend (C) and I broke up this past weekend. On C's blog, he asks the question "Is love enough?" I has really made me think. I found a website that attempts to answer the question.

Is Love Enough?

love

I love you Porgy
Originally uploaded by ilheu.

I just thought it was cute

Students scared straight!!!

Today was my dreaded STD Powerpoint. My students just learned the very, very basics in middle school but I wanted to really show them what's out there. They learned about HPV(genital warts), chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphillis, scabies/pubic lice and HIV/AIDS. Some of them hid their faces in their shirts, others were staring with their big doe eyes, and others asked a million questions. It was painfully obviously the kids who are already sexually active because they turned this funny shade of green.

Some kids blamed me and said "thanks to your childbirth presentation yesterday and this STD one today, "I will DIE a virgin!!" Others said "you're just doing this to scare us!"

I just pleaded to the kids: "I AM doing this to scare you. This is scary stuff. I know people who have had to deal with this and its awful, stressful and can affect the rest of their lives. All it takes is ONE drunken night with someone you don't know and your life is changed forever. If I can spare even one of you the heartache that comes from this stuff, then I have done my job. I want these images burned into your brains so the next time a situation presents itself, you think with your brain and not your pants."

I really think I did well today with the kids. As soon as the bell rang and they lit out of the classroom, they were spreading the word like wildfire. I had random kids peeking their heads inside my class to ask me a question about something they heard from a kid in my class.

Thats something I love about teaching...till the day they die, they will remember today's presentation. It may change the way they think, or it may not......but at least it made them think. And as any fellow teacher would know, its like pulling teeth the last couple weeks of school!!!!

Here are links to a couple great websites and blogs I have found that deal with STD's:

STD's for Dummies

Afraid to Ask

Quotes worth mentioning

I thought these quotes were great:

"Liberal students are being let down by their professors, by the world. ...[T]hey're buffeted along by a liberal media. They have liberal public school teachers. ... They have liberal professors. They don't know how to argue. They can't put together a logical thought, whereas you could put a college Republican on TV right now and he can debate you...and do a credible job. But liberals, they throw food, they curse." --Ann Coulter

"Why are Senate Democrats so afraid of conservative judicial nominees who are African Americans, Hispanics, Catholics, and women? Because these...nominees threaten to split the Democrat base by aligning conservative Republicans with conservative voices in the minority community and appealing to suburban women." --Steven Calabresi

"[John] Bolton has been nominated to be ambassador to the United Nations. It's not like it's an important job. Get a grip, people! He's not replacing Paula Abdul on 'American Idol.' The UN is an organization with thousands of people from all over the world with one thing in common: They badly need to be yelled at." --Ann Coulter

(courtesy of the Federalist Patriot)

never having kids!

I just showed a Power Point and discussed Pregnancy and Chilbirth for 5 class periods today. After seeing all those pictures, I don't want to have kids! The thought of birthing something that big AND having an episiotomy. I know its a miracle and such, but ewwwww.

Blah

Things are warming up here. This time last week we were freezing our buns off, what a difference a week makes.

I figured out a great way to get my mind off things............shopping. After I was soaked to the bone, I went to Cost Plus World Market and Pier 1 Imports to buy things for my house. Then I went home, played with my new stuff, watched "The Bachelor: Women Tell All", and went to bed. I've found that keeping busy is helping me a bit.

During lunch today I have to get the final fitting for my bridesmaid dress for my best friend's wedding next week. I've never gone to a wedding without a date before.....looks like me and another bridesmaid without a date will dance the night away together. I'll be that drunk girl looking pretty in pink. She just better not make me say a speech after I've been drinking because I know every crazy/dirty/drunk thing she has ever done.

Time to go get the dress...............it better fit. Good thing I haven't had much of an appetite lately, I'll look better.

p.s- this last couple weeks of teaching is TORTURE! I just want summer to be here NOW.

rain

rain
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

Days like this I hate being an athletic trainer and I hate the soccer will play in ANY conditions!!!

let it rain/lightning/thunder!!!

I'm sitting here praying to the lightning gods to make it an electrical storm out there. Otherwise, I will be sitting outside for the next 3 hours in the pouring rain without any rain gear. I was supposed to be working just practices but another trainer changed the schedule last minute and I got screwed once again.

As long as its not lightning out, no matter how hard its raining, we will play. The last thing I want today is to be soaked to the bone looking like a drowned rat.

Sperm Stories

Well, this couldn't have come due at a better time. For homework, my students had to write and draw "A Sperm Story." Their assignment was to explain the sperm's journey from the testes to the egg in the uterus. They had to use certain terminology (i.e- vas deferens, labia majora, urethra, erection) and had to illustrate it without being perverted. Here are some of the great ideas I've seen so far:

"American Sperm" , "The Fast and the Spermious", "Supersperm", "You Got Sperm'd", "The BachelorEGG", "Spermus de Solei", "The Sperminator", "The Little Sperm that Could", "Grand Theft Auto: Vas Deferens", and I can't even wait to see what the rest of the classes do. I'll let you know the rest.

For extra credit they have to come up to the front of the room and read it like a children't book to the rest of the class. How can one stay upset when looking at pictures of sperm dressed up like Superman, or a sperm looking like James Bond or one with a half-machine face. I couldn't help but laugh and smile.

Leave it up to sex ed. to lift my spirits, even if it is for a short while. ~~~~~O <--spermie

Sperm's Journey

P8050006.JPG
Originally uploaded by Dshot.

Wish I could put this up in my health class!

No title

Well, my boyfriend and I broke up this weekend. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I walked into my office a few minutes ago and got a "hiiiiiiii, how are youuuuuuuu" from a good friend of mine. As soon as I think about it, I get all teary-eyed. I just read an email from him and read his blog and I started crying here at my desk. How am I supposed to teach about eggs/sperm and fertilization today when I can barely keep it together?

I went to the Cubs game yesterday and that was a welcome distraction....too bad I got sad when I looked at every place we've ever sat at Wrigley over the past 2 years. I'm at that really icky stage now where I'm losing it at random times over random things.

He handled everything with class, dignity and I couldn't have asked for a more amicable break-up........which has kind of made it harder. His mom asked him if it was another guy......I barely had time to see my own BF, let alone meet someone else. Its the last thing on my mind and the thought of him with someone else makes me sick to my stomach. But, we did what needed to be done, and I think we both know that.

I want nothing but the best for him and seeing him so unhappy with everything in his life was tough and I didn't want to add to it. He does have a lot to figure out in his life and its something he's got to do on his own. I figured, the less time he spends being upset about our relationship, the more time he can focus on his career path.

I don't know how to handle all of this. I'm okay as long as I stay busy....which is obviously NOT a problem. I just hope he is okay.

Elephants!

Image_06.jpg
Originally uploaded by kungfucat.

I Heart Elephants

My first night..............

Well, I made it through the first night in my new house! My parents came over and hung curtain rods till around midnight and I finally fell asleep around 1am. I'm suprised I didn't even do that whole waking up in the middle of the night and thinking "where the hell am I?". I was using a down comforter and I woke up in a cold sweat, but other than that, my short night was an alright night!

dresser

dresser
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

I need to learn how to R E L A X !!!

bedroom

bedroom
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

I'll have many restful nights here

sectional

sectional
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

Plenty of room to sprawl out

painting

painting
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

so pretty

My living room

living room
Originally uploaded by Toribear5.

Its so beautiful!

Mixed emotions!!

Well, today has been an eventful day. On one hand, I'm fighting with my boyfriend, and on the better side, its my first night in my new house!!!!

My BF says I never have any time for him, he's absolutely right. I don't. I happen to have a job that requires many endless hours of work. Why do I do it? Because I love it! Well, that, and the fact I need the $$$ to pay my morgage. Teaching and Athletic Training can take up anywhere from 50-70 hours a week on an average, leaving barely any time to spend with family, loved ones, friends and boyfriends.

I have a BF that wants to spend more time with me. Who wouldn't I'm fabulous :) But seriously though, unless I go down to the Industrial Tech rooms, throw my body on a saw and cut myself in half, its not going to happen. These past couple weeks have been even worse b/c I was moving. In my past relationships, my lack of time has been a constant issue. I'm not quite sure what the solution is......find someone who works as much as I do?...find someone who is okay with seeing me 1-2x a week (depending on distance living apart)?

My BF probably thinks I'm being a brat or something (whatever) but it seems as though he's finding ways to pick a fight. I know he's not happy with us right now and neither am I. Whats the answer? Hmmmmmmm........not something I want to deal with my first night in my new house!!!

I want to go downstairs, have some yummy mussels, pack up the rest of my things, and head home! I want to lay on my sectional, turn on my TiVo, catch up on my soap oprera and Survivor and enjoy some R & R until my 12 hour work day tomorrow!

Well, its dinner time and then I'm outta here!!!

More Stewie:

Chris: Hey little dude, how about some ice cream?
Stewie: Yes I could go for a frozen treat right about now. But no sprinkles. And for every sprinkle I find, I shall kill you.

Meg: Everybody! Guess what I am?
Stewie: Hm, the end result of a drunken back-seat grope-fest and a broken prophylactic?

Stewie: By all means, turn me into a child star. Perhaps I can move to Californ-i-ay and wrangle me a three-way with the Olsen twins.


(courtesy of http://www.familyguyquotes.com/ )

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Soooooo cold.......

I can't work in these conditions! Our school turned off their boilers on April 15th (by law they don't have to keep it on past then) and our school is absolutely F R E E Z I N G ! ! ! The average temperature is around 50-56 degrees in all of our classrooms. Our office was a balmy 52 degrees on Monday morning.

We asked them to turn the boilers back on so we can have some heat but they can't and won't because of construction issues as well. Its our policy that staff and students cannot wear jackets inside school so everyone is walking around with their teeth chattering.

IT IS MAY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. In honor of this my office decided to have "Chili Day". We have warm food....chili, hot chocolate, salsa, etc. One of the teachers also put up a bunch of pictures of fish and on each of our desk was fish bubbles, and a fish pencil with a card that says:

"I thought maybe the tropical fish might get us thinking about warm places like.....Aruba, Jamaica, Key Largo, Montego, instead of cold placese like.....Canada, Alaska, Antarctica, (our town)"

Its funny, it sometimes can get so HOT in this school (90-97 degrees) in August and September that we have to cancel school early. The 3rd floor is always the hottest, which is where I'm at and now its the coldest.....I thought heat rises???

I'm going to sip my hot chocolate and get to class!!!