Houston for the Holidays!!

Wow it's been since Thanksgiving! Sorry! I got really busy with work getting ready for the christmas break! Right now we are in Houston visiting Adam's family for the holiday! It's been great and I'm afraid will end too soon! Yesterday we tooled around downtown looking for the tunnel shopping area and could not find what everyone was talking about. It sucked....oh well we got some exercise. Today we braved the traffic and went to the Galleria Mall for a while. I walked my heals off! We had a wonderful dinner at PF Chang's! The best scallops ever! Tomorrow we are going to see a play called The SantaLand Diaries! Christmas day will be spent here at the house and then FRIDAY!!! I think ....we are going shopping again! I hope to hit up Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn!!!

Ruidoso Trip Day 2- Saturday

Go tech and go pokes! Pop and I caught what shelby had and i've been sick and asleep since 2 today. Went up to the mountain. Shelby, Mike and Jenny skiied while Mom and granny watched. I was asleep in the back of the car. Sucks..wanted to go to the casino but can't do much when you are sick....

Coming home tomorrow....

Cya.

Ruidoso Trip Day 1-Friday

We left a lunch today for Ruidoso!! It was a fun trip down (across) here. Mom, Shelby, Jenny and I traveled in mom's car. It was my first trip with my new IPod and I loved it!! It's so great not to have to worry about searching for stations to listen to and every other station in New Mexico is Tejano!! Just what I love to listen to! It was fun and great until....


I was trying to get every ones attention that there were two dead cows on the side of the highway outside of Plains, TX. As soon as I turned around to get Shelby's attention..... she threw up! Mom veered off to the ditch and we all jumped out! Poor thing...I told her to take her pants off and she wouldn't because she was on the side of the road and said someone she knows might pass by us!! She was in high spirits! We got all cleaned up and were on our way again. She gets car sick sometimes.

We got here about 3:00 and had plenty of day light get settled in the cabin. We are staying at the Rainbow Lodge RV and Cabin Park. It's beautiful! The cabins are converted RVs with a tiny hide away upstairs....which is where I'm sleeping! Good thing hot air rises. It's about 30 degrees and "raining/sleeting/snowing" outside. The forecast is calling for snowish stuff until about noon tomorrow. Shelby, Michael and Jenny are all going skiing while mom and I sip our hot chocolate in the Lodge and people watch. They are kind of bummed because only 2 runs are open and they kinda suck. It's not worth the money and the long line for the one chair for me!! They have a bar...I can watch the Tech game.

Granny, Pop, Mom and I went out to the Inn of the Mountain Gods tonight to try out luck at the slot machines. I did well! I played on 20 bucks for two hours!! That's good for me! I played a Wizard of Oz theme machine and in one bonus spin doubled my money! Mom has the magic touch though she left with about 3x her money and I left....empty handed. Tomorrow Michael, Jenny and I are going to go play some Texas Hold 'em. I have been playing for fun for about a year and a half now, I should do well. Who knows...I'll update.

It's midnight here and I'm waking up early for the good coffee. Love to everyone. Check back tomorrow night for another update on my random trip to Ruidoso!!

Oh, I've got a joke...

How do you get a giraffe into a 'fridge?




Open the door shove him in and slam the door shut.....How do you get an elephant into a 'fridge?





Same thing??NO......



Take the giraffe out, shove him in and slam the door shut....



All the animals were at a meeting....who wasn't there???



The elephant, he's still in the 'fridge......You are walking along and come to a river you have to cross. The sign says "Crock infested waters" how do you get across??


Take the bridge???No, there isn't one....it's the wild........


Just wade across, they are all at the meeting!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!! Love it!

Blah

That's about how I feel right now. Blah......


I had a wonderful birthday and I knew that I was going to crash sometime...it happen yesterday. I had a blast! A few friends and I went to a new piano bar in town. It was fun. (Details removed here after re-reading....go figure that something happen to upset me on my birthday......) I am more pissed at those who are very close to me....family......that did not even call to say happy birthday.....Oh well, one of them, I'm used to and I guess I should not expect much out of him but the other one surprised me.... I had been so sick and partied a little too hard and disrupted my recovery so I am paying for that now. I have been held up in bed for a day and a half and about to bust out! But, I don't feel good. I'm sick of being sick.

I had an awful dream last night! My dream was about school. I was taking a spelling class (?) and some sort of biology class and FAILED THEM AND HAD TO PUSH MY GRADUATION BACK!! Super bad dream. I woke up and for a minute I thought it was true!! Oh well. I'm having a hard time finding things to keep myself busy. The sub jobs have super slowed right now and I'm lucky if I"m working 3 days a week. Should I get a part time job?? I just feel they would not hire me because I would have to be gone the week of Christmas. We will make it work! or at least try. I am getting so sick of sitting around the house not doing anything. I need some excitement in my life!

Okay well, I'm going to go back to doing what I've been doing all day.....nothing.


It's only Monday but I am very much looking forward to a great weekend of kicking some OU butt and hanging with my great friends!! Part 3 will be the best ever!!!

Nov. 5, 2008 - The Day After

"Hope Won" - Oprah


Well, it's been a long time and I figured what an occasion to write but the day after the most important election in our history as a nation. The magnitude of this decision we made is huge and speaks to the change our country needs. I am not saying anything bad about Bush, I voted for him! America needed this President to prove that America is the land of opportunity where ANYONE can be President, no matter the color of their skin!

Another interesting point...Obama had 32% of the youth vote (18-29)! 4 years ago it was only 9%! So many young people came to his side and I love it! As a young person in America, I am proud of the decision that my generation made!

Moving on....What else.....

I am finished with my classes at Wayland. Student Teaching starts Feb. 23rd! I'm bummed it's starting so late but oh well. I am so sick of substituting! It's the only aspect of teaching I can honestly say I hate and cannot wait to be done! I would rather be cleaning up puke on the sidewalks after the Tech game than substituting! The pay sucks, the kids suck and some of the teachers suck. It's like I am less of a person because I am subbing. I thought I felt that as a para-teacher last year but man subs are treated like crap! The only good thing is that I can take days like today when I schedule myself unavailable to rejuvenate and go at it again tomorrow.

How about them Red Raiders!!!! 1st in the Big12, 2nd in the BCS and AP!! 3rd in Coaches!!!! It's a great time to be a Lubbock-ite!!!! This weekend against OSU will definitely tell us how good we are!! (I think I already know) It's going to be hard because Tamey made me a secret, closet OSU fan!!!! We shall see!

I have a headache so it's bye bye time.

Peace, Love, Obama!!!

J

Act IV Performance Cancelled due to freaky weather and no access to a computer in my car

Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation.
Kin Hubbard (1868 - 1930)


Wow. Weird weather here in Lubb-yuck. One day the high is 40 and the next day it's sunny and 78. I did it though...I unpacked some of my winter clothes the other day! I also have spent more time in my car or away from home this week than ever!!

Lots happen this week...

LHS didn't make it to the area marching contest...kinda sad. The kids were super bummed but my girls had nothing to be sad about. The did super good and made me proud. So ends my career as a colorguard director. I think it's kind of silly to say that at 26 (almost 27...ekkk) I am retiring as something. It all started in 1996 and it's ending 12 years later in 2008. I made a good run at it and had fun. I'm glad I get to go out where I was. I was appreciated and loved going to work.

I finally got my wedding ring back today!!! It look super good and didn't end up costing me my left leg, just a small chunk of hair. I apparently knocked it somewhere, somehow and bent the head that holds my diamond. The jeweler called me Friday and said it was not going to be saved and they had to order a new head for it. He ordered me an industrial one that I cannot bend. My ring looks brand new and very different and I love it. But somehow my wish that the diamond got bigger didn't come true....oh well.

Mom's birthday was Friday. I didn't get to see her because of a football game but Saturday Jenny, her and I went to Hobbs to have some fun! I played on 10 bucks for about 2 hours and then decided to try a game I had not played before and went up to 30 bucks and down to zero in about 2 minutes. We had a blast! Within 15 minutes of us being there, Jenny was trying to show me something on the screen and accidentally hit the max bet button and lost 20 bucks in one shot. She was upset and didn't play for a while. At about 9:00 Texas time, we decided to head home; we were all starving. After driving Hobbs for about 20 minutes looking for something that sounded good, jenny said....why didn't we eat the casino buffet, with our gold club member cards, we get 3 dollars off!! Great idea and back to the casino we went! After prime rib and all the fixings...that 20 dollars I was going to come home with was spent. We had a blast and giggled all the way home! I love my mom and sister and love our little secret excursions we often take.

My birthday is coming up!! Super exciting. Lori is going to be here this week for her pre-birthday celebration! It's going to be a blast. I was driving to the mall to get my ring and discovered what I want for my birthday!! I am the only person on earth with out some sort of music playing device for my car... I need an Ipod!! Let's hope Adam reads this!!!

Gotta shower so I can go play some poker tonight...do you think I have a gambling problem???

L8r Jess


I have to add this to this post. Amy Poehler did a great Sarah Palin rap on SNL this weekend and for those of you who missed it...here it is. (In no way does this post or any comments there in reflect the views or support of the original poster....GO 'bama!)

SNL - Amy Poehler’s Sarah Palin Rap Lyrics
Weekend Update
one two three
my name is sarah palin you all know me
vice president nominee of the gop
gonna need your vote in the next election
can i get a ‘what what’ from the senior section
mccain got experience, mccain got style
but don’t let him freak you out when he tries to smile
cause that smile be creepy
but when i be vp
all the leaders in the world gonna finally meet me


how’s it go eskimo
(eskimos)
tell me what you know eskimo
(eskimos)
how you feel eskimo
(ice cold)
tell me tell me what you feel eskimo

(super cold)
i’m jeremiah wright cause tonight i’m the preacha
i got a bookish look and you’re all hot for teacha
todd lookin fine on his snow machine
so hot boy gonna need a go between
in wasilla we just chill baby chilla
but when i see oil lets drill baby drill

my country tis a thee
from my porch i can see
russia and such

all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up

when i say ‘obama’ you say ‘ayers’obama.
(ayers)
obama
(ayers)

i built me a bridge - it ain’t goin’ nowhere.
(ohhh)

mccain, palin, gonna put the nail in the coffin of the media elite
(she likes red meat)
shoot a mother-humpin moose, eight days of the week
[three gunshots]
now ya dead, now ya dead,
cause i’m an animal, and i’m bigger than you
holdin a shotgun walk in the pub
everybody party, we’re goin on a hunt
la la la la la la la la
[six gunshots]

yo i’m palin, i’m out...

Act VIII

'But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. 'Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland


Has anyone ever read the poem 'Jabberwocky' by Lewis Carroll? I want to know what he was on and I want some! If you have not here's a sample.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird,
and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back."

Lewis Carroll was noted in this piece for making up words. I recently wrote a paper titled "Spiffy Neat-o: The Art of Coining Words" and stumbled up on this wonderful piece of work! If you ever have free time, google 'new words' and click on some of the sites to see new words that have been added to dictionaries recently. Some are ringtone, ginornous, soduko, crunk and DVR. Pretty interesting to me! Also in my research I stumbled upon http://www.urbandictionary.com/ a hilarious site with slang and other fun words.

I have decided that I am going to become rich before I turn 30. I am going to start writing a children's book this winter during my time off from school. I think I have an illustrator lined up and now I just need a really good idea. I am going to start with a k-2 book with simple sentences but I need a more grand idea to start writing my series of young adult novels. I'm brainstorming, let me know if you have any great ideas for topics. I want something totally original and never done before.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

I am so super excited that Neal E. Boyd won America's Got Talent. He's so great and I can't wait to buy his first cd!

Also, anyone else watching Survivor: Gabon? I'm already hooked and am playing Fantasy Survivor while all my friends are playing Fantasy Football.

I have to tell about something that happen with my computer the other days.... On Thursday, my computer's CD-Rom drive quit working. I spend about an hour online chatting with a technictian to fiqure out the problem. Finally got it fixed. The VERY NEXT DAY....my AC Charger quit charging my computer. I spend 2 hours trying to get the not american english speaking hp people to understand that I live on 9th street. Try anunciating it enough to say over the phone and them imagine you are saying it to someone who does not understand english. It was an ordea. Needless to say, I drove to the FedEx place today to get my new adapter.

Wow, I am a typing machine tonight so I am going to go.

Deuces Brah

J

Act VII- Slept through it

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
Confucius

Does Confucius say anything about 'no matter how fast you go'? Still super busy and tired all the time. I am going and going and going. The only time I spend at home, I end up crashing on the couch with an alarm set to grab 20 minutes of sleep before rushing off somewhere else. Last night was the first time I've had to spend with friends in forever!

The gals (Amanda and Tamey) and I got together and watched The Sex in the City Movie!!! I never watched the series but the movie was the best! I laughed and wanted to cry!

Well, that's about all my continually exhausted mind can do right now. I have homework...of course!

Act VI

All my possessions for a moment of time.
Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603)


You said it girlfriend! Today I am going to talk about how busy I am. Which is funny to me as I sit here typing a blog that should not be at the top of my list right now. I should be sleeping. Today I ran and ran and ran! I left the house at 7:30am-ish and didn't really sit down until now...it's 10:00pm. It's go here, do this, rush here, do that. Isn't there more than this to life. I wish so badly that I could live in some fantastic land where time went slow and life slowed down to at least a brisk jog. I'm going to be 7o before I realize it. I guess it's my fault because I tend to put too much on my plate but right now it's all things I have to do. I have to work during the day, I have my commitment to LHS in the afternoons and Wayland at night. I so look forward to the day that I can come home from work and just be home and not have ten zillion things running through my head or something to add to my calendar.

Tonight the "tree killer" (see Act I or II) passed out 10 packets for "extra reading to supplement the text". Now, it would not be bad if these were 1-2 page handouts....not it's the 'tree killer' remember. One packet is over 78 pages, another 50. Can I hire someone to read it all for me? I'm taking bids. (click here to place your bid) haha

Well, I need to take a cue from myself and get some sleep so I'm not so tired tomorrow. Today I was so tired and running around that I forgot to eat! ME FORGOT TO EAT!! I know.

The next time you are snuggled up with a good book you are reading FOR FUN...what's that? Think of me.


Peace, Love and Pickle Juice

J

Act V

Politics is applesauce.

Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)


I need to rant for a minute! Have a diatribe moment, as Adam would say. (And he wonders why we call him Google Boy!)

I am very disappointed in my local news stations. Every evening before the 10:00 news came on last week, which I record religiously, I saw John McCain's face....EVERY NIGHT!! What happen to equal media coverage? If I wanted to hear Obama speak at his convention, I had to search through all the CNN's to find it. This is not fair! I know that Texas is a Republican state and I used to be proud of that but I am not anymore. I don't think it's fair that our local TV stations have made the decision that the most accessible candidate is going to be McCain. I don't think I have to say who I want to be president and I'm trying to be neutral on this point of equal coverage. What about those people in the viewing area that do not have cable...? All they hear is the Republican side of the issue because it's on every night. I know that I am the minority on this issue and many people don't even care but it's more about being conservative or liberal it's about being fair to all candidates. Stepping down from soap box....

Did you guys hear that the "In a world..." guy at the beginning of all blockbuster films died? That's sad. I can't tell you what the guy looks like but his voice has become a part of movie culture. What will it be like when the next guys says "In a world....." Will they keep with the low and ominous voice or will they pick someone with an annoying voice? Something to think about...

I tried but now it's back to bitching...sorry folks. Yesterday, I spent the day with my mom, sister and nephew. It was great until.....dinner time. My mom has this 'friend' who never goes away. He's an older man and creeps me out. I wish that for once I could go spend an evening with my mother without him just showing up. He pissed me off last night. He got something on his glass and made my mother get up to clean it off. Get off your lazy ass and do it yourself. and them my mom was spooning herself out some pasta and he said....since you are serving....get me some. No one will ever be able to replace my dad in my eyes but Jesus why this jerk? His wife passed away in the spring, let the dirt settle dude! I know I might piss off people by saying that but that's how I feel. My mom can do so much better! I hate that this is something that I will just have to deal with. I can't tell my mother who to share her time with but it sucks that it's him. I just wish for once I could go over to my mother's house and he didn't show up and if he does I wish there was a time that he left at a decent hour!! When I leave at 9:00 it's time for you to go home too jerk!!

Got to get ready to go to a family lunch where you know who will be....I'll try my best to be nice...

J

Smoke Break

What a splendid head, yet no brain.
Aesop (620 BC - 560 BC)


Haha!! Love it!

Quick post. I'm super tired from working my first sub job today. I work the rest of the week and hope my body gets used to it soon!

Mary and Curt were here this weekend!!! It was wonderful and we had a great time! I'll sum it all up for ya later...too tired!

I played in my usual poker game with Amanda, Steve, Adam, Jeff and Tamey this sunday! I was not going to play but was talked into it and ..........TIED FOR 1ST PLACE!!! The guy I was going heads up with and I were tired and decided to split the pot!!! Poker Buds, first rounds on me!!! ORder something fancy!!!

More later....

Sleep like babies, J

Snack Bar Break

Outings are so much more fun when we can savor them through the children's eyes.
Lawana Blackwell, The Courtship of the Vicar's Daughter, 1998


So I have a very funny story to tell!

Adam and I went to Wal-Mart this evening. Adam turned down the chip isle to get us some chips to go with our salsa and this little boy who looked to be about 5-6 years old comes around the corner saying...butt cheek...butt cheek...butt cheek....he them walks by me and grabs my butt saying butt cheek....butt cheek.... kids are so funny!

The rest of our trip was spent walking around saying butt cheek...butt cheek...

We ran into a good friend who promptly went home and messaged me on facebook.com with butt cheek...butt cheek...

That made my day!

Never be too grown up so that you can't go around saying butt cheek butt cheek grabbing strangers butts!

J

Act IV

When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.
Henry J. Kaiser (1882 - 1967)

I hope my work speaks for itself...


Well, I have to tell you about my first week of classes! What a weird semester I am going to have. As I already told you, my monday class only meets until the end of september. Great! My Tuesday night class, Linguistics with the Tree Killer, (more on that later) only meets 5 out of 11 weeks and my Thursday class of course meets every time with tons of work. My Monday and Tuesday classes are being taught like an independent study class. The Tree Killer was telling us that this semester has the most students in Linguistics that ever has been. It's been independent study because it's only ever been but just 1 or 2 students. Oh well. She totally outdid herself this past week. I ususally see her walking down the hall with 2-3 paper grocery bags full of handouts but we were all shocked when we walked in and saw 6 bags full of handouts for the first night of class! I had to get a seperate folder just for her handouts in addition to the one I have in my spiral notebook. oh well....

I have tons of homework to do this week and am only half way done. I had to write a self-assessment paper and will attach it if you would like to read my life story and philosophy on education.

Peace out....going to help Adam with the yard

_______________________________________________________________
Self-Assessment (I'm warning you it's long!)

Self-Assessment Paper
My name is Jessica Q. I am the oldest child of three. I am 26 years old. I have a sister, Jenny, who is 24 and a sister, Shelby, who is 8. I am married to Adam Q, age 26. We were married on May 21, 2005. I have a wonderful Mother-in-law, Father-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law. I grew up in Lubbock, TX most of my life. When I was in the 4th grade, my family moved to Flower Mound, TX. After one year, we moved back to Lubbock, TX because my Mother did not want to raise us away from our extended family that was here in Lubbock. Moving back was a great thing. I was raised around my Grandparents, Cousins, Aunts and Uncles. They were able to help me understand at an early age that family is the most important thing in life. We were always getting together for barbeques, birthdays and holidays. I love having a big family, 25 of us in all. We are still very close as we continue to grow, adding husbands, wives, nieces and nephews.

In life, my hobbies include being with my family and friends, reading and sleeping. I enjoy reading for fun, when I get the chance. I recently finished reading Tuesdays With Morrie. Every teacher should read it because it’s a great story of a relationship between a student and a teacher. I also enjoy playing poker. This is a new hobby of mine. My husband and I play every Sunday evening with friends. It’s an interesting hobby and one that challenges my brain unlike school work and we enjoy it. I say I enjoy sleeping because I value the time I get to spend in bed on Saturday mornings watching TV.

Like most girls, my work experience began when I started babysitting the kids next door. I would keep them for a few hours at night and soon learned that I got paid well to do this. All I had to do was watch TV while the kids slept. It was easy money! I started contributing to my retirement when I was 15. I got a job working at a brand new Italian fast food-like place in Lubbock called Fazoli’s. I enjoyed working there as a “bread girl” but the only drawback was I smelled pasta no matter where I went. The smell stuck in my nose and it soon turned into a not so fun thing. I worked there for a short time and moved on to work at United Supermarket. I started out bagging groceries and enjoyed doing that. I got a good tan in the summer and kept my skinny figure by being up and moving all the time. I worked for United for most of my high school career and began checking at the register my senior year.

High school was a normal experience for me. I was a good student; made mostly A’s and B’s. I was in the band all 4 years. I enjoyed playing my clarinet but enjoyed being on the flag line more. I loved the challenge of something different and that not everyone could do. I was soon spinning like the seniors and did very well. I was a captain on our flag line my sophomore year and loved every minute of it. Fall Guard was fun but Winter Guard was much more exciting! We got to travel to places like Dallas, Houston and even Ohio to compete against other guards. We were pretty good and it was a fun time in my life.

I entered college at Texas Tech University in the fall of 2000 as an English major. Following my experiences in high school, I joined the Goin’ Band from Raiderland. I was on the flag line there also and joined the band sorority, Tau Beta Sigma. Through this organization, I met my husband and my life long friends. Two years into college, I decided to change my major to business. Don’t ask me why, it seemed like a way to make a lot of money. After a year of business classes my third year at Tech, I decided that was not making me happy and left Texas Tech University.
During my time off, I worked a lot. I began working at Bath and Body Works and soon moved up in that company. I was encouraged by my mother to return to school and in the spring of 2006, I enrolled at South Plains College. I knew my passion was to be a teacher, and I was going to work toward that with everything I had. After taking every education class I could at SPC, I enrolled at Wayland Baptist University. That was the best decision I could have made. I am in my senior year and am so glad I went back to earn my degree in teaching. If I had not, I would not have been doing what I was meant to do, and that is to teach.

I have substitute taught and worked teaching an enrichment class and know this is where I am suppose to be. I will student teach in January of 2009 and graduate in June of 2009. I am very excited and feel that my determination and perseverance have help me get to where I am now.
When it comes to traveling, I am like most people I have traveled to all the states surrounding Texas. I have also traveled throughout the south and most of the 13 colonies. During my senior year in high school, I had the opportunity to travel to the US Virgin Islands to watch my Aunt and Uncle get married. It was a very unique experience that I wish to repeat some day. My husband and I took a cruise for our honeymoon that took us to places such as Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize, and Costa Maya, Mexico. On our trip we saw the aftermath of such hurricanes as Frances that hit in the beginning September of 2004 and Ivan that hit toward the end of September 2004. Grand Cayman was the worse hit and we could still see the small Caribbean island struggling to get back on its feet as a tourist destination.

When it comes to my work ethic and what I want to accomplish as a teacher, I am very hardworking and determined to succeed. Through my work at a local elementary school, I was able to attend many workshops that contribute to my understanding of teaching students. I have been privileged to hear speakers on topics including differentiated instruction, motivating students, new technologies, behavior management and special education programs. One of the conferences I went to last summer was about Positive Behavior Support (PBS), a program that motivates students to understand that their behavior contributes to their education. One of the speakers trains orca whales and has developed a motivational speech that pertains to students and animals. The speech was mainly about behavior and rewards in ‘training’ students. I was very interesting and I learned so much from his experience with whales.

Through my experiences I have learned that to be a good teacher you must be willing to try new things. To be a great teacher you must be innovative by creating challenging experiences for your students to discover learning. My philosophy is that of a progressive nature. I follow the theories of Dewey and Piaget. I believe children should have the opportunity to learn by doing and interaction. I believe that I can give my students information but until they do something with it, they do not fully understand it. I will create an understanding for my students by giving opportunities to interact with each other and the concept.

I also follow a constructivism approach in that my students are partners in their education. I will guide them toward understand by helping them form their own understand and opinions about their learning. I feel it’s very important for students feel they have the freedom and knowledge to come to their own conclusions and formulate their own understanding of material. They will achieve this in my classroom through free discussion and thinking. All viewpoints are important to me and will be encouraged in my room.

Many characteristics come together to make an impactful teacher. I feel that my personality traits will make me a good teacher. I am energetic, fun, spontaneous and creative. My personality will be my flair and finesse that my students will enjoy about being in my classroom. I will be open to new methods and innovations to teach my students. My goal in teaching will be that my students will succeed. Every child can succeed and any achievement, big or small, will be celebrated.

I am especially open to new technologies that will enhance my teaching. I enjoy working with programs, such as, Microsoft PowerPoint, Publisher and Word to create exciting lessons and handouts for my students. A skill that I cannot wait to use in my classroom is creating Web Quest activities that use the internet as a tool for gathering information and constructing a project. With the invention of things such as Smart Boards, new projectors, Dana Carts and CPS quizzing tools, classrooms have the opportunity to utilize technology that will equip our students with experiences that will benefit them in the coming years of their lives.
The preparation I have received from Wayland Baptist University has prepared me to be a great teacher. With graduation just around the corner, all of my hard work is coming to a great culmination that will springboard me into a life long career of teaching and learning. Soon I will be doing what I was meant to do in life, teaching others.

Intermission

One of the most sublime experiences we can ever have is to wake up feeling healthy after we have been sick.

Rabbi Harold Kushner


Jesus, when will this day come! I've been sick for too long. Ever year, I have bad allergies, thanks mom and dad for that!

My body is so drained from the busy schedule I keep that I can't get well until I have time to rest. Adam's parents are coming in over the Labor Day weekend and I'm looking forward to spending relaxing time with them and getting some rest.

I started my last semester in a classroom (as a student) last night. This semester I am going Monday, Tuesday and Thursday plus an online class (shirt load of work!!!). I'm excited! My monday night class only meets 6 times!! I'll be done by the end of September with one class! It's the one that has you write a resume, conduct interviews and do end of degree testing! MAPPS test?? who knows! I will take practice PPR tests and content area tests so, wish me luck! I get to sign up for graduation in October so, put it on your calendars, Jessica's actually gonna graduate in June of '09!! The class I have tonight is not going to be fun. I'm taking that one english teacher no one wants to take because she's old and slow. We will be there until 10:00, I'm sure. Every time I see her walking down the hallway, she has two giant paper bags full of paper. We all say that she kills 2 trees a day with her paper passing out OCD. We'll see, I'll be sure to bitch about it if I do have to stay til 10 on the 1st night of class.

Debt: sucks....
Being broke: sucks more....

Here are some of my solutions to this problem:

-Turn tricks on my street corner (Illegal, I think)
-Pimp Abbey out
-Sell all our stuff on Craigs List (kidding)
-Call the Dr. Phil show
-Sell my gall bladder on the black marker in India
-Call the President
-Sell Ringo
-Walk to work to save on gas (yeah right I'd have to leave at like 3 in the morning)
-Call China for a loan
-Join an online support group
-Start one of those chain letters saying that you send a dollar to everyone on the list and your name is added to the next list and people send you money (yeah!)
-Move to Mexico (everything's cheeper in Mexico and we'd be closer to Adam's parents!!)
-Continue going to class and finish this freaking degree, graduate and make real Adult Money!! (That's the one)!

Going to class. Holla at ya boy!

J.

Act III

Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.

William Dement, in Newsweek, 1959

Do you ever have those crazy dreams that you killed your whoever...., talked to your dog, swam in a bowl of cheerios, turned into a rock....let me know....it's great!

Great weekend! Had a small garage sale on saturday to earn some money to go out with my sister and her friends on saturday night! Talk about desperate!

Played poker on sunday and I've decided I'm not good at it anymore. It sucks! I feel that everyone I play with knows I suck and they take advantage of that. Some jerk kept checking to me and acting like he didn't have anything and beat me with a freaking flush to take me out! Don't be like that! I guess that's how the game goes though...I learned something and maybe I will do better! I don't care to qualify this time because Adam's parents will be here for the next tourney and I want to sit with them and watch.

I just tooted and Abbey looked at me funny! hahah!

Adam and I decided that we want to have some kids and raise them as athletes. We will train one of them in shooting, one of them in curling and one of them in darts (I know it's not a sport yet but by the time we have kids it will be). We feel that with those sports and about $100 bucks a year in training, we will have olympic athletes.

Has anyone noticed how hot Michael Phelps is??? Wow... I mean...he's a great athlete! Actually he's amazing! We just watched him set another World Record and Olympic Record!Did anyone see where Kerry Walsh (Beach Volleyball) went to spike the volleyball and lost her wedding ring?? FUNNY STORY......not so funny story....

Okay Friday, Adam and I went to Crystal's apartment with Israel to watch the opening ceremony. To keep our interest, we took a shot of apple pucker everytime a country walked in with 3 or less athletes...it was funny!
Anyway, I had some to drink and when I do, my hands swell so I took off my wedding ring and thought I placed it in my purse (like I do often)....
The next day, I woke up and could not find my ring! I woke Crystal up, turned my house and bed (literally) upside down and almost tore out the seats of my car. I was on the verge of crying when Adam got home. He went over all my steps and looked everywhere I had looked. We were in the garage talking about the insurance we have on it and if it's enough to replace it if we must when ......dah dah dha dDAHHHH!!! Adam had a thought!
"Hey Honey, didn't you go get the mail when we got home and picked up that tennis ball and played with it"
We walked slowly scanning the area from the garage to the mailbox....I walked over to Adam's truck which is slightly off center of the road in front of our house and ....there it was! I guess instead of putting it in my purse I put it in my pocket and it must have fallen out when I was playing with the tennis ball in the middle of the street! I am a very lucky gal and am so glad it was not injured! Not even a scratch!

I think it has something to do with my good dead from you know who for helping that woman at the dollar store pay for her bleach. thanks dude!

J

Act II

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

Will Durant (1885 - 1981)

Quote is fitting....I finished my last final for this semester about an hour ago. It's so relieving! It's been a tough semester. I'm getting very close to being done and I'm excited! I have this fall (august - october), take off the winter term because I'm done with course work and student teaching in Janurary! I am going to do very well this semester. One B is reported and two A's are on the way. I am going to brag on myself for a minute...I just calculated my GPA and I'm at a 3.6! I think that will look good on my resume! In the past three years I've only made 6 B's and one C! Moving on....

I am so tired today! I have worked very long hours outside with my girls and I finally have a day off! Tomorrow I am going to try to sleep in but I bet I wake up at 7 because it's what my body is used to. Today was tough...it's hard keeping the balance between teacher and friend in my situation. There are some teacher things I cannot do and some friend things I have to do to keep them working for me. I struggled today and got my first hs girl attitude and backtalking. We talked about it and I think next week will be better. I feel better about my job with them now and tried to make it fun today and it was!

I am off work next week and like Steve, I have a to-do list: here goes:

Make a to-do list (Thanks Larry)
Clean our bedroom
Clean guest room
Gather all garage sale stuff in the garage (Garage Sale on Aug. 16th at my sister's house)
Watch all DVR events that have been on there for over a month and delete them
Wash my car
Clean out my car
Wash Adam's truck
Clean out Adam's truck
Give Abbey a bath
Discover the cure for cancer while rummaging through my garage
Clean out the fridge
Sit on my couch and drink the bottle of wine I bought a month ago
Meditate
Read a book...FOR FUN (Tuesday's with Morrie)
Visit my grandparents (Mother's side-of course)
Get my hair cut
Go to bed before the sun
.....that's about it.....


Oh no....it's 8:51pm, I am going to go to bed early tonight!!

Good night and God bless! xoxo

J

Act I

"Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?"

Jane Austen- English novelist (1775 - 1817)

In starting this blog, I don't know if anyone will read it but we shall see. Right now it serves the purpose of distracting me from doing work on a final project I have due tomorrow. We will see what other kind of purpose it can serve as it develops.

I have one-third of my finals completed for this week. Last night I took my English Lit. final (the last english lit class I will ever have to take God willing) and managed to pass the class with a B. Back in my days at TTU, that would have been fine but here lately (the last two years), that is not so cool. I was bummed but I guess that's what I get for only reading half of the required material. I did manage to read all of Jane Eyre and all of Paradise Lost but slacked on the small stories.

I have a final presentation tomorrow night in which I have to teach a lesson for 30 minutes. Should not be hard, that's why it's okay to slack right now. My last final is on Thursday and it will be a fun one, I think. It's classroom management and we have only had one assignment for the past 11 weeks and have had no previous tests. I don't know what to expect but my professor said bring a pen and your favorite sonic drink, I'll bring the pizza. Should not be too difficult.

I'll let you know, blog.

I am on week 2 of summer band and cannot believe I'm so out of shape. I feel that I'm too fat to be doing this job anymore and should quit. One of the girls called me lazy today. and I responded with I get paid to do this. I fear that's what it's become, a paycheck and nothing else. I am not going to teach guard anymore after this season. I think I've hit a rut and can't find excitement in it anymore. Part of it is that the fun is gone because a good friend is not there anymore. But he's off to bigger and better things! Oh well....maybe I will work harder tomorrow and try to sweat off some of this summer blubber.

I have been blessed the past few weeks! Friends have had babies! I bought so many boy clothes for Caden that when Michael came, I knew just what to get him and when Lani was born!!!! OH BOY...GIRL ...I was very excited to buy girl stuff! I hope everyone is happy and all the bundles of joy are so totally cute! Another blessing is that a great friend moved back to the LBK. She has been away for a long time and I wish so much that I could go spend every minute with her shopping and going out to eat like we used to. I am always so tired and busy....I must make time.

Life at home is great. Adam and I finally got to get that nasty carpet out of our living room. We worked very hard to save money and put in a new hardwood floor a few weeks ago. I'm obscessed with cleaning it and can't wait to have people over....if I can just find the time. I think I took for granted my alone time that I've had for most of the summer and miss it. Maybe I am lazy...

Time to go now, this has taken up an hour of my time and I'm done. Time to get some homework done.

Good luck and goodnight.