January 6th

Hello Everyone,
  I did not post last week because I was working on my dissertation and tried not to do ANYTHING but read, listen to recordings, write and sleep.  I got a lot done but now the question is did I get enough and am I on the right tract.  Earning a PhD is a lesson in perseverance more than it is about being smart.   I wish I liked writing more than I do so that I could get it done quicker but the idea of having to write it all out makes me pretty miserable, especially because my committee says that I am a terrible writer.  UGH!!!  So anyway, I am on my way and I have all my case descriptions done, now I am just forging ahead with cross case analysis and then chapter 5.

So we went back to school on Monday, January 6th and it was an extremely pleasant day.  You can tell everyone has had a break and is feeling more relaxed because I did not have ANY write-ups.  I was totally amazed and expected more of a ruckus but it was a day that allowed me to some things completed for school and plan a little ahead so that I an get behind later!!  You know, typical educator issues!!!

For the most part it has been a relatively nice week.  On Tuesday, the High School Task Force met and we had a great discussion and then some of the Asst Principals went out to eat dinner together.  We had a great time at a cool "Design Your Own Burger" place where they also have veggie burgers.  We had a lot of fun talking about our holiday breaks and the exciting things happening at our schools.  Wednesday was slow and while it took some time to get things done, answering a lot of questions and planning with the Admin team it was a good day.  The seagulls they told me about have "descended" upon the campus.  I really do mean this with all honesty.  The seagulls hang out in the trees and on the roof until the bell rings and when the kids go to class they dive down to pick up the leftovers from the ground.  It really is a sight to have 12-20 birds circling you and coming down very close - they are not intimidated at all.  Now, imagine 12-20 birds and the excrement that is around as well.  It really is a challenge to stay out of the birds way.  Now, on the good note, this only happens from about 8:00 - 8:15 and then again after lunch for about 20 minutes.  Thursday was a busy day as well.  Non-stop and go, go, go!!!  Mike and I planned for Spring Cleaning on the campus this morning and then I dealt with discipline issues the rest of the morning.  This afternoon was dedicated to teaching Depth of Knowledge to teachers and RTI planning.  Needless to say, I am feeling a bit brain dead right now.

Notice the birds.  I tried to catch them in flight!!

On top of all this, I think that Squeak is either meowing at me because she misses me or because she wants a friend.  On Tuesday night she was in the apartment crying and I kept calling her.  When I got up to find out where she was, I found her in the guest bedroom on the bed, looking at the sliding glass mirror closet doors.  I think she was talking to her reflection thinking it was another cat.  When I picked her up she leaned like she wanted to bump heads with the other cat but of course only hit the closet door.  Then on Wednesday night she decided to get inside my bag and lay there with me for about 30 minutes. This is the same bag that I sometimes carry to school.  I have decided she must want to go with me.  She really is comical!!!

Squeak is ready to go to work.

See, she is comfy!

For those of you that remember, I am an Athletic Trainer so I am around athletics all the time.  I spent 13 years in Laurens District 55 High School with all students who play basketball being about 5'7 therefore no height on the team.  Well this year, North HS has an awesome team as usual and when you look on the court they are not 5'7 - they are 6'2 and so on!!  Wow, a really tall team.  It is humorous from my point of view!!

No short boys on this team!

  Well the end of this week has turned out rather interesting.  We had some students that decided to come to school late.  Well, they were hanging out at the local shopping strip mall and someone called the school so we had to go and pick them up.  When they got back, as we normally do, we searched them for drugs and drug paraphernalia.  Well, needless to stay they were clean, which was absolutely GREAT!!!  The only problem was one of the girls had a tool she was not suppose to have which ended up being considered more dangerous than I thought it to be.  She stated a friend gave it to her and she was giving it back to them today.  That led from one thing to another and therefore she is suspended.  I probably should be watching more reality TV and shows than what I do to learn more about different types of weapons, tools, drug paraphernalia and things people have. I don't think the Disney Channel is cutting it, but I do like there is no cussing, death or MAJOR drama on the Disney channel as there is in real life teenage lives.  With that being said, if anyone knows of any good shows for me to watch to "get with it" let me know and no, Duck Dynasty does not count.
 
  Well I got to leave school early for Friday - 6:00 pm and was able to spend a relaxing evening doing shopping, cooking and catching up with some emails.  It was nice to be able to relax even though I know I need to be reviewing the PhD.  I really just wanted to let my brain rest for a little bit.  Saturday was nice.  I had breakfast with a friend, got laundry completed, cleaned a little and relaxed pretty much all morning.  I hung out with my BFAW (Best Friend at Work) and her family on Saturday night.  I have been introduced to the world of sushi and since I am a vegetarian (not pescatarian) I am not sure if you could even day that I eat sushi.  Anyway, avocado rolls, cucumber rolls and veggie rolls are yummy!!!  After dinner, we made our way to the JW North's Theater for student One Acts.  Now, let me explain this.  Students write and direct short plays and put them on in January.   I was not sure what to expect but I have to say they were pretty amazing, a few were weird and I did not really understand them but they were pretty funny.  There were two spoofs on Disney Princesses which were hilarious!!!!  There was a One Act with singing and dancing that was great as well, it reminded me of Glee.  Another hilarious performance was of two girls who "called on" the diva powers of Miley Cyrus and Beyonce to help them dress for a party.  Of course Miley Cyrus and Beyonce "Slammed" each other and it was hilarious.  The students at North High School are absolutely talented and amazing as well as the theater teacher.  I truly enjoyed the performances, even the ones that I did not understand simply because the students got into the plays so much!!!!

Spoof on Disney Princesses

Miley and Beyonce

  I leave you with a picture that was sent to me Friday morning.  I absolutely love this picture because I like how the fox looks like it is smiling.  It absolutely made my morning and got me through the day when I needed a laugh. I really wish I knew what the circumstances are of this picture.  I can only imagine the fox looking into the wind and squinting.

What does the fox say???