The Final Countdown

So I've decided that things are sunnier with countdowns. And yes, the jock in me is currently singing the oh-so-fabulous tune by Europe. So here's a list of the most important countdowns to date...

16 days of asshole seniors who think they rule the world.
35 days of slacking juniors who could give a rat's ass about the rest of the school year.
1 more day of SAT class...can I get a witness?
3 more research classes...THERE IS A GOD (who enjoys watching me sweat the rest of that countdown)
1 week til my final...2 weeks til my presentation.
36 days until I'M FREE from the confines of my classroom.
2 days til my Momma comes.
1 day til I see my favorite boy.

Note to self: don't ever forget the effectiveness of "I'll wait" among the youth of today. McC: I'll help you write the book. =) Get hype.

A Long Week...on Monday!

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I'm exhausted, physically and emotionally, and it is only Monday! I guess this is just proof that I am not a spring chicken any longer.

This past Friday, I took Vikki out for a night of dancing at Have a Nice Day Cafe...a place we've tried to go several times, but never have gone when it is open. We had a blast, dancing the night away. Here's a shout out to all her LAME friends who bailed at the last second. We had fun without you. Na na na. We'll definitely need to hit that spot again...sooner than later.

Needless to say, due to the lateness and nature of the evening, Saturday was a recovering day. Oye. I'm not able to rebound like I used to in my days of yore. Not so fun...

Got in the first fight with Raymond. Also not so fun...but resolved. Nuff bout that.

Tonight really has one goal: sleep. SLEEP. Not a whole lotta sleep the past 4 days, so Miss Turner needs some rest, or my students may feel their teacher has been replaced with an extra from the thriller video. No lie.

Note to self: A quote to leave you with..."We'll put her in a friggin petri dish and look at her under, you know, one of those things." I love you TrayD.

Holy Schikes!

What a weekend. Action packed and tons of fun. Not only was it a pay-day weekend (score), but it was the Tiki Bar opening down at Solomon's Island. I've never been to the opening festivities, but this year was an exception.

First, I owed Raymond since he came with me for the opening night of the play, Footloose, at Htown. It was less than stellar, so we left at intermission to meet up with his posse holding it down at the Tiki Bar. It was freakin cold as all get out Friday night. I didn't drink, but the boys did. Then we went back on Saturday afternoon with more of our mutual posses (and more of my peeps showed up later) and we chilled from about 4 pm til about 10 pm. Solid. Between falling down drunken stupors, puke in Ray's truck, Mojo's card tricks, and huge balls it was certainly an experince to remember.

It was a fabulous time...plus I got some qt with my boy. It was great spending time with him AND my peeps for a change. Nice combination. It was a moment to sit back and see how far my existence here in MD has come in just 2 and a half years. I had such a great time with him this weekend...cleaning the cars, chillin with Tam, Adam, Marisa, Jen, and Dana, and being creative without proper provisions. =P

Today was fine. Kids took their performance assessments today...aka the essay portion of their final exams. I'm afraid to look at them. I'm hoping they're better than what I'm expecting. Crazy time of year is starting though. 2 weeks til prom. 4 weeks left with seniors. 40 days of school with the rest of the hooligans. PAR-TAY!

Note to self: Playboy came to the house today. Why? Dunno. Found out that a kid I put in Alt. Ed. is officially a supplier. A boy broke my sister's heart on Friday for no reason. Ray made a hilarious frog film. What's the connection? Unless you're a bunny with drugs, angst, and a camera...you'll have to turn to Maggie Moos, Ben & Jerry, and Sex and the City for therapy.

Alas...one more day

Is it bad to live for Fridays? I have found this month to be horrendous. Between bitchy, blaming parents, spring-fever-filled students, the sudden moving situation, and stomach-issued weight gain...I have a new-found disdain for April. I just can't seem to get out of this "low" and stay out. My saving grace is the few moments of solitude where I'm not trying to scream, explode, keel over, or sleep. Those moments are few and far between.

Sad news today too. Our bird, the beloved Pimp Juice, died of unknown causes. He's been out living at Tim's house for a few weeks and has been "ill." We brought him home two days ago, and he died at some point today. Vikki found him in his cup. We loved that retarded bird. Sure he didn't understand the mechanics of flying or landing...we never got to teach him to sing "Pimp Juice," or teach him the gangsta bob. A moment of silence for our lost pimp-in-training.

Note to self: Beware the ides of prom. There is a proper technique to turning down repeated offers from students to be their dates...allowing both parties to laugh and save face. So far, it seems to be "You got served." Clutch.

Sunny Days

And the sun shall rise again! Day two of absolutely beautiful weather...and I'm reaping the benefits. There's something about opening the windows, running in the sun, and 60 degrees that just makes life better. Especially since I had a rough week and some definite crap going on in my head that needed to be released on Friday...this weekend was the right one to have nice weather.

BTW, Vikki once again proves how much she rocks and how grateful I am that she "gets" me and is willing to force me to take care of my shit. A much needed impromptu happy hour complete with Sunset Passion Coladas, cheddar biscuits, and awesome convo got me back to where I normally am on the "girl-o-meter." Clutch.

Chilled with my favorite boy yesterday...with a twist. I was the token girl amidst a group of his college buddies. They get together every now and then for food and movies...so I got to tag along. Needless to say, each time I meet another facet of Raymond's friends, I learn so much more about him. He is quite a character...but even moreso this time...his friends made me miss my college boys a lot. Watched a horrible movie, Sin City. If you were considering it, save yourself and don't. Boring and retahded.

Today has already been pretty productive...some papers graded and entered into the gradebook, 2 loads of laundry done...and now I'm off to run and do some errands.

Note to self: Beware of singing/sombrero yielding restaurants with Raymond...he's a fan of the singing.

TGIF

It's Friday. Can I get a witness? What a week. For the first time this school year, I feel like a week lasted longer than 5 days...

Good news: My Mama is coming to visit!! Surprise for me!! She told me last night that she's flying in on Thursday the 28th. I'm excited. She'll stay for the weekend and we'll get to hang out. I know she has an alterior motive (other than her wanting to see me)...I know she wants to meet Raymond. Apparently she tried to make this a surprise in the truest sense by EMAILING Raymond and trying to arrange for HIM to pick her up from the airport! AUGH. Slightly stalkerish (since she stole his email off of a forward I sent to multiple peeps). Fab. Great start to that introduction.

It's official. Vikki and I are moving to our new digs around May 20th. Clutch.

Note to self: I don't feel funny...is that weird?

Grad Attack

Ok. So I realize now more than ever how much being a student SUCKS. I had my second session of Educational Research Methodology tonight. Blower. It is a painful class, coming complete with Air Head, Jock Strap, and Question Girl. Come on, you know these guys. Air Head: the token elementary teacher who gives teachers a bad reputation of being technologically retarded and negative in the common sense dept. Not to mention a constant reminder of how much I want to smash her rose colored glasses into a million tiny shards. Jock Strap: the PE teacher who just wants to "get by" to get his masters, copies my answers to each activity, and insists that Weight Lifting will increase students' test scores. And oh...drumroll please...my all-time favorite...Question Girl. She'll get her own paragraph.

There's one lurking in every class. The person who has a question for EVERYTHING, including information that is CLEARLY spelled out on the handout in front of her. She is the one who makes a 4 hour class last 5 hours because she has thought of every nook and cranny of the scenarios presented. She is not the Devil's Advocate though. Oh no. I maintain, she is, in fact, THE DEVIL. Two words: duct tape.

So I'm tired and cranky. I can't stand trying to juggle teaching, schooling, after school teaching, lesson planning, grading, and OH YEAH something that doesn't have to do with EDUCATION...hmmm...a life? Augh. Maybe tomorrow will find me in a better mood.

Note to self: in the sand is twice as grand.

It's Official!

We are moving!! Vikki and I got our lease in the mail today...we just have to fill it out and have our credit check and BAM, we're moved out of the condo and into the old-people townhouse. Schweeet.

First day of the after-school SAT course at Northern. There's nothing like earning some moolah for watching kids enter their practice test scores into the computer. Butter.

Note to self: Guacamole rocks, Pimp Juice is coming home, and 2 out of 4 Final Four teams are Big Ten schools. Booyah.

don't kill the flowers

That's right. It's Monday. I have been in possession of a pot of beautiful violets for 24 hours. They're still alive...now. Raymond told me to make sure they don't die...so I'm determined not to kill the violets. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not completely incapable of keeping plants alive. However, I'm not sure if I can handle the pressure of being told not to kill them.

Vikki and I went paint sample shopping today. We are totally stoked about our new townhouse...probably even more stoked about the prospect of re-painting the joint. It reeks of old-people smell and taste, so it is in the best interest of all those involved that Vikki and I fix the terrible injustice done to the place. We've got our colors picked. Next is to establish the crew. Clutch.

Grades were due today; I'm prepped and ready for the barrage of asshole parental units that will blame me for their children's miserable grades. All I have to say: Bring It On.

Note to self: People in Beamers are assholes that don't know how to drive in parking lots...but Trader Joe's saves the day with cheap cheese.

And the winner is...

It's Friday, it's payday, AND it's the end of the longest 4-day week ever! Can I get a witness? With the end of the 3rd quarter this past Thursday and grades due on Monday...I find myself swamped and stressed and TIRED. Sheesh. Who knew just how fast things would get back to "normal" after a nice long week of spring break? I'm actually in pretty good shape for grades though. Only a few papers to grade and last minute changes to the gradebook/comments, etc. Not too shabby.

AND I didn't get April Fool's joked today. I was really surprised. I figured at least one of my students would get me today. Sweet. Apparently the wrath of Turner has rightfully installed immense fear in them.

Vikki and I are hoping to nail down some plans for new digs this weekend. Trying to get approved for a loan, trying to locate something I can afford in the Annapolis-esque area...and trying to get a grip on the reality that I have no money to afford a place in Annapolis...EXHAUSTING. We'll have to see...

Tomorrow I get to see my favorite boy again...hang with him and his sister's crew. Not too shabby!

Note to self: Don't go to banks with loan guys who stare at your chest 3 times for longer than 2 minutes per glance.