Ohh Ohh Ohh...It's So Devious!

A few faithful readers who have been reading for a while might remember that I'm a Survivor fan. Several seasons back I even did a weekly recap. I thought it was great...everyone should share my passion for reality TV. Well, in my reality, no one really cared so I stopped. And this isn't my introduction to say that I'm going to revert back to those recaps. Unfortunately, I think after a dozen seasons or so of Survivor it has started to lose it's appeal to me. Seriously, it's the same story with new characters. Lately, my attitude has been if I'm home I'll watch. If not...I can easily catch up next week.

Well, let me just say...I have officially been drawn back into the sink hole that is Survivor. I haven't been a faithful watcher this season so let me just say my upcoming facts might not be as factual as a faithful watcher's might be. If you're a fan and I've gotten something wrong feel free to correct me in the comments. Apparently, there are two immunity idols this season. One is located on one tribe's beach and the other is on the other tribe's beach. I think these immunity idols could basically reshape the game if the owner knows how to play it right.

Well, Yau-Man found the idol this week in the dirt. His excitement was actually kind of fun to watch. You see, he's this old fart that looks like a strong wind will blow him away. I bet you he was counting his lucky stars that he found himself on the winning tribe or he'd be gone. Anyway, he was extremely happy to have found this petrified turtle thing on a rope.

Now...for the BEST part of the whole show...what has drawn me in against my will...instead of telling anyone (other than his partner in crime Earl...which I'd go on about if I were doing weekly recaps...but you NEVER agree to share your idol...big eye roll and sigh) he found it, he makes a fake one to put back in the exact spot.

Okay, I know I put a lot of those ... (my friend B would know what those are called) in that last paragraph, but let me just say it again. Yau-Man found the immunity idol and then made a fake on to put back in the ground. Presumably another tribe member will find it and think they have the real deal. I love it!!! It is so devious. In all the seasons that immunity idols have been in play, I never even imagined something devious like this. And I'm a competive person so it's totally something I would do! I bet a lot of past season immunity idol winners are kicking themselves for not thinking up something like this. Anyway, I can just see how this is going to play out. A disgruntled tribe mate is going to find the "idol" and think they've got the power. And as any Survivor watcher knows, the disgruntled tribe mate is going to shoot off his or her mouth, piss off a lot of people, get voted off, and then hold up this fake idol. Oh...I can't wait!

So, you see due to my own deviously competitive nature when it comes to games and winning I've been sucked back into watching every week. I have to know how this little twist will effect the game. I wonder if Yau-Man will be able to keep this little piece of trickery to himself. Oh, just when you think you've beaten the addiction something like this happens!

Tweet Tweet

Another weekend is coming to a close and I can honestly say it has been a very productive one at that. Yesterday, I spent most of the day doing some in depth Spring cleaning. Not exactly fun, but a clean home is a great feeling.

Friday at school, a few people were asking about my weekend plans and I mentioned that I needed to clean my bathtub. I'll admit it isn't one of my regular weekly chores, but I try to get to it once a month. Unfortunately, it's a chore that has been pushed to the back burner for several months now. With a small sense of shame I'll admit that the bottom was so soap-scummy I spent more time trying to stand up straight than getting clean in the shower. I know...ick. When I related that as my reason for needing to clean, a friend at work said, "Don't tell that story to anyone else." After hitting it with Comet and a brush I can say that it's sparkling once again! I also dusted anything that stood still, washed every stitch I own, and put fresh sheets on the bed. All of that was in addition to the regular routine. It sure felt nice to go to bed last night in a perfectly clean and straight house!

I slept well until early this morning. For one thing, my internal clock obviously doesn't know that it is the weekend and on weekends I get to sleep late. I still woke up about 6:30 but I fought the urge to fully come awake courageously. Unfortunately, the birds outside my window decided to join in the fray.

I'd just like to say that I like birds. I think they are cute and make some sweet sounds...but not at 7:00 in the morning. It seemed that the little things took pleasure in tweet tweeting this morning. It wasn't a constant tweet tweet, but two or three short tweets in a row every minute on the minute. I guess it doesn't help that my bed is right under the window. Have you ever noticed that if you're trying to sleep and you hear the birds chirping it begins to sound like words? I swear...the longer I listened the more it sounded like sleepy head, sleepy head, sleepy head.

Giving up on any efforts to sink back into dream land, I got up and started the day. And it's been another beautiful day today! Winter is my favorite season, but I think Spring must be next in line. Things are starting to bloom and the weather has been so fabulous. To top off this great day, I tried out a new recipe that turned out yummy and this is the important part...I didn't set off any smoke alarms! It's okay...go ahead...clap and applaud...lol. Anyway, this weekend has been restful and productive. I hope your weekend has been too!

What Is A Meme Anyway?

Feeling brave the other night, I agreed to let Ed interrogate...err I mean interview me. Just kidding! I like to find out things about people and this is sort of a new twist on the old questionnaire type thingies. The following was required to be added to my post so here goes:

The Rules: Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me.” I respond by asking you five personal questions (I will leave these questions for you in my comments) so I can get to know you better. If I already know you well, expect the questions may be a little more intimate! You WILL update your journal/bloggy thing/whatever with the answers to the questions (please don't leave your answers in my comments unless you don't have a blog). You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.


1. How do you decide which panties to wear each day?
Oh, that's an easy one! I have panties that have the day of the week on them just like everyone else. Right...just like everyone else? ;)

Seriously, I have all kinds of undies in the drawer (boy shorts, bikini, hipsters (my personal favorite), granny panties, and a thong or two thrown in for good measure. Above all, comfort plays a major role in which pair I grab from the stack. Also, I think about the kind of pants I'm going to be wearing.

2. Waxed, trimmed or fully natural?
I feel like the text should be red because I know I'm blushing. Let's just say a combination of naturally trimmed.

3. As a teacher, are there any kids in your class you would like to take out behind the woodshed?
NO! I know some people are thinking I'm just saying that, but truthfully, NO! I like all my kids. True there are some who have quirks that get on my nerves, but they all add to the classroom in a great way.

Just today, during Science, we were looking at a picture of Mount Rushmore (we're studying rocks and minerals) and I asked who these guys were that they were so important to be carved into a mountain. My kids dutifully answered "Presidents!". I took it a step forward to see if they knew who they were. We did great until Thomas Jefferson...and one girl claimed it was George...George Clooney. I cracked up!

See...who would want any of that out behind the woodshed?!

4. If you had to give up your computer or your television for one week, which would it be?
Oh you can't imagine how tough this question is as I'm addicted to both. I would have to say that I'd give up my computer before I'd give up TV. What can I say...I have couch (or recliner or bed) potato tendencies!

5. What makes you smile?
Too many things to count or list make me smile. One of my favorites though are Mrs. Baird's trucks. There is a bakery/factory in my hometown and they have trucks that have little sayings on the back of the trucks. My all time favorite: We haul buns! I smile every time. :)


Well, there you go. Here is a little bit more about me (some of that probably way more than you wanted to know about me) so if you're so inclined (or brave!) drop me a line and I'll ask you five questions.

Pass The Kleenex Please

My Spring Break travels came to a close late Saturday night so I didn't pay much attention to my porch, but I did notice that it looked...off. Well, Sunday morning on my way to church I noticed again the offness of the porch. It looked greenish. I was running late so I made a mental note to look into this greenish business when I came home.

After getting home and changing clothes, I went out to investigate. Yes, my porch was a strange shade of yellowish green. It seemed to be covered in a fine dusting of something. And even more perplexing was that all my deck furniture was covered in it too. I had no idea what this stuff was, but I ran my fingers through it. I will never learn to curb my curiosity.

I couldn't tell what it was by touch or sight so I just left it. Monday morning I discovered the yellow stuff on my car. What the heck is this stuff?

Thankfully, at work everyone was talking about the fine gold dusting we'd received. Apparently mine isn't the only porch, deck furniture, and car that was covered in pollen. Yep, the nose itching, sneeze producing pollen. Maybe I should mention that I'm highly allergic to pollen. Especially tree pollen. Apparently, this is very common down here in East Texas, but not so in West Texas. I've been told that trying to wash it off the car is useless and using a broom to clean off my porch will only track it in my house (more so than what is already tracked in on my shoes). Thank goodness Spring only comes once a year!

Oh well...live and learn...and buy stock in Kleenex!

Last For A While...Promise

This is me and Dex. He's a fat kitty who I love and miss terribly! I got to love all over him while I was home for Spring Break. I can't say that he loved it, but I sure did!

I have a lot of things to post about, but it's kind of late (for me at least!) so I'll probably wait until tomorrow. Be sure and stay tuned...some of these posts just might tickle your funny bone!

P.S. I think this one is real :)

Love This...Love Me

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

What Is With The Fake Smile?

It seems that recently my blog has become a self-photo blog. It wasn't as tramatic as I thought it would be either. Oh, I'd posted pictures before (things like my cat or my Christmas tree), but I hadn't posted any of me. It might sound silly, but for me, putting myself (literally myself) out on the internet was a big deal. You just never know who might cut you and where they might paste you and I don't consider myself a raving beauty so I didn't want any negative comments. Thankfully, everyone has been complimentary and I haven't been pasted anywhere unsavory.

Anyway, all these pictures has brought something to my attention. I really do have a fake smile. That smile on my face...it's not the real thing. Apparently the real thing is much prettier and my mouth isn't open so much. I bet this all seems random, but for many many many years my parents have been telling me not to give the fake smile when I have my picture taken. And for many many many years I've questioned that what if that really is my smile. Are they saying my real smile seems fake?

Well, apparently, my parents aren't the only ones that have noticed this fake trend. My friend G took a lot of pictures of us over the last week (cook off, sock hop, and Dr. Seuss Day pictures) and we were looking at them today. Out of no where she asks me, "Steff, what is up with the fake smile? You've got one on in every picture." Not to mention that of course my parents had to mention that the smiles were all fake when I shared the pictures with them. Well...crap.

It's hard for me to distinguish between the real smile (the one that comes out when cameras aren't around) and the faker (the photo ham). So, I asked a few people. What makes my smile "real". Apparently I have dimples when I have a true smile, my eyes light up, and my mouth has a more relaxed posture. Okay.

My apologies to those of you who have to suffer through the faker photos. Now, that I've admitted that I'm capible of a fake smile, I have to wonder how I can coax a real smile to the surface when the camera is around. I suppose it'll involve practice and a lot of exposure to cameras. Wish me luck...this might not be pretty!

The 50s

I defintely liked Sock Hop day better than Dr. Seuss day! I was pretty nervous about that whole white socks and black shoes thing, but it turned out very cute. A group of first year teachers decided to dress up like the Pink Ladies from the movie Grease. We wore our hair in pig tails, had scarves tied around our necks, wore men's dress shirts, and of course...the pink sweaters! I didn't get all that many pictures on my camera, but my friend G is supposed to be mailing me the ones from her camera. If any are worth sharing I'll post them.

On to other news...the weekend was good. I went shopping yesterday. I discovered a huge Sam Moon shopping center (three seperate stores!) and came away with some jewelry and new purses. That's what I should have a picture up of! Anyway, the plan was to get a new purse and some new Spring shoes, but since I kind of blew my budget on purses the shoes will have to wait. Sacrifices people...we all have to make sacrifices.

Next week is Spring Break and I'm going home!!! I haven't been home since Christmas and this Mama/Daddy's girl is more than ready.

I hope your weekend was great too!

The Things I Will Do

I love teaching and I love my kids and I got a little wrapped up in that love today. That has to be the explanation for why I dressed in black, wore a bib and a bow around my neck, and kept a felt Dr. Seuss hat on my head all day. What other explanation could there be?

Tomorrow is actually Dr. Seuss's birthday...the fiftieth one...but we have another thing planned so our school celebrated today. ALL faculty came to school ready to be dressed up by our lovable librarian, Mrs. R, as Cat In The Hat. Here was me...in all my Dr. Seuss glory.



Anyway, Mrs. R got everyone dolled up (I did decide to abstain from the paper tail...it wouldn't have done much for my actual tail) and I have to admit that it did add something to the day. We had a float (Green Eggs And Ham from the 2nd grade class was the best. You know, in my prideful opinion!) parade. Each class took a book and decorated an AV cart. We had special Rhyme Time announcements on the hour. (Again, I think my class really rocked with the classic Prelutsky My Fish Was Small poem.) We had yummy kitty snacks. We watched Dr. Seuss movies. While the day was loaded with fun it wasn't exactly our highest learning day. As one teacher pointed out "We're dressed like cats. Do you really think we're going to teach them anything today?"

And tomorrow might not be any better. The PTO is hosting a Sock Hop tomorrow night. And to get everyone in the mood, we're supposed to come to school tomorrow wearing a 50s outfit. A bunch of the first year teachers got together and we decided to bring back the Pink Ladies from Grease. I'm sure we're going to look super cute, but I'm having a hard time understanding how socks with flats was ever a fashion DO.

Okay, well I need to go roll my jeans and find a scarf for my neck.