Star Wars: What it's REALLY about

Ok, I'm not usually one for the cute factor, but this video is ADORABLE!

An Addendum

IT WAS THESE SUCKERS WHO TRIED TO KILL ME!



(Ed. note: aren't these some of the most beautiful people in the world? I mean, look at that baby, won't you?)


I would post a retraction from my last entry if those in question hadn't caused me to:

1. Puke up my guts all over their driveway the week before Christmas last year.

2. Become so sick one Easter that I didn't go to church, but instead got home from the airport, pulled off my clothing and crawled into bed only to be interrupted by my Visiting Teachers who thought I was a filthy heathen with a hangover.

3. Puke from the cabin in Southern Utah all the way to Yucca Valley California, leaving me in such a state that I refused to talk to a friend I hadn't heard from in 5 years.

4. Clean up my car FIVE TIMES when two of them (Carly and Rachel you know who you are) puked all over the place even when I'd given them Dramamine and bags with which to catch their vomit.

So, you didn't get me this time, but I stand firm in my resolve. You people will be the death of me.

Matthew's kids: I'm putting you on notice...

Curtis and Alyssa, this has propelled you to the top of the my FAVORITE KIDS list.

Love Hurts. . .

I've recently realized that some things that I love simply aren't good for me: Cool Ranch Doritos, cupcakes, In-N-Out Cheeseburgers with grilled onions and a side of fries, or Cafe Rio's Pork Barbecoa and house dressing. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water and causes me to gain five pounds. I know I can't eat these things in the quantities I desire unless I want to end up so large that it will take a crane and a specially cut hole in the side of my house to remove my bloated corpse. Excising these treats from my regular diet hurts, trust me, but I have bigger problems. I've got to get rid of something far more precious. I'm not referring to food, I'm talkin' about these suckers:




I know, I know, they look innocent, don't they? Angelic, even. Don't let their sweet smiles and beauty fool you. These children are disease carriers.

It never fails, but if I spend time with them, I get sick. They've made me puke at Christmas, want to die at Easter, and now, after spending only a few hours in their presence I've been cursed with a head cold. This, even though none of them appeared to be sick in any way. I'd lay the blame elsewhere if their track record wasn't so darn perfect.

Now, I love these vermin. Lots and lots. I'd even venture to say that they constitute five of my favorite ten people in the entire world. But, I'm thinking I might have to cut them out completely. . . for my health.

Cool Ranch Doritos, cupcakes, In-N-Out Cheeseburgers, Pork Barbacoa, and Jamie's kids. . . the sacrifices I must make!

Thankful...

I've decided that for the last few weeks of 2007 I'm going to post about the things that I'm thankful for. I'm not going to rank them, 'cause I'm not actually a ranking kind of person. Really. Just ask me what my favorite book, song, or movie is and you'll get a lot of hemming and hawing and then a list. I just can't narrow these things down. So, ahem. . .

Things I am thankful for 2007 edition:

*I was born into a family of spectacularly witty and intelligent people. Really. You should read our emails some time.

*My parents live within easy driving distance and have a REALLY comfortable guest bed. That bed is better than my own.

*Toby Stephens is alive and decided to be an actor so that I can see him whenever
I want!


* I have friends who love me enough to create "The Man Plan"

* I teach some of the most spectacular people on the planet.

* I don't have to pretend that my nieces and nephews are cute.
See exhibits A, B,and C:


(I could go on and on, as I have 10 nieces and nephews, but I don't want you to be jealous)

Tick Tock

We had an AVID party after school today. It was a rousing success. My sophomores have wanted to have a get together since the beginning of the year to meet the AVID Freshmen and impart their wisdom. I have had so much on my plate that it got put off until today. The Student Council pitched in and paid for pizza and veggies, and the kids came and had a great time. A few of my girls talked about starting an AVID club, others offered help and advice. I was so proud of my kids that I could hardly stand it. When the party ended one of my kids was waiting for me. He said, "Is there any way you can give me a ride home? There are some gangsters waiting for me at the light on the corner and I want to make it home in one piece." I decided that I'd rather break the rule against being alone with students than see him hurt in any way. I knew that he lived in a rough neighborhood, but was unprepared for him to look at my salmon colored shirt and decide that it was not red enough to get me killed (his neighborhood is controlled by the Crips), or ride in the back scrunched down as we drove past the light in question. I love this kid and feel a renewed desire to help my AVID kids do what they need to do in order to change their lives. I want them to have the option of living in a safe neighborhood and for their children to know a life that doesn't involve life or death decisions on their walk home.



On the way to my student's house he asked me, "What do you DO when you leave school?" I replied that I lived my life, cleaned the house, ran errands, took classes at UNLV, etc. He then said, "Do you have kids?" I thought we'd covered this, but when I replied that I did not, in fact, have kids he lectured me for about 5 minutes straight about how old I was getting and that I needed to get to work "popping out some babies before it's too late." Nothing like a 16 year-old kid's perspective to make you feel decrepit and dried up.