Ohhh... this poor little neglected blog!

I just haven't been feelin it lately...call it writers block, lack of anything exciting to say, busy days and exhausted nights. some random bullets to update the last month... geesh, I didn't realize it had been that long!


I do love my new position at work. I'm teaching a 6th grade LA block, 7th grade LA block and a 7th grade Math. It's a whole other world outside of the self contained classroom... one that takes some getting used to. It's funny how people expect me to know certain things because I've been teaching in this building for so long, but they don't realize that being SC comes with it's own set of rules outside the realm of normal. Simple things, like I've never had a true "homeroom" before, or cafeteria duty. There are ways these simple things are run that I was oblivious too... but people expected me to just know them because I've been around so long. So I've made funny mistakes and surprised some people with my assumptions of how to do things! But it's all a learning curve... some days I feel like a first year teacher just learning the ropes. And the actual teaching... well I can't say enough how much i am loving that again. My days in the SC class were so over run with social skills and counseling and mothering and advocating that I forget how wonderful it was to just teach curriculum. To have 30 kids working together on a writing piece, or a research project, is a really awesome feeling. I love the learning that is taking place. It's been a long time since I had that sense of accomplishment. And how nice is it to have kids just constantly go out of their way to say hello, goodbye, thank you, and all the other normal mundane stuff that most take for granted.


As for the changes to the building... I miss my former principal, tremendously. As crazy as he sometimes was... he was a mentor, and I truly appreciated the respect he had for his staff members. My new principal... notsomuch. She treats us like we are little children. Don't even get me started on her "dress code" for us when you should see the unprofessional fashion train wreck that she is most days. Aside from so many other things... she is a "because I said so" type of leader, which is not conducive for a happy working atmosphere. On top of that, 3 of my favorite people were transferred, and my bff  T is out on maternity leave again!!! (BTW, she just delivered the most beautiful HUGEMONGUS baby boy. She is about 5 ft tall and 90lbs soaking wet, and she delivered a 9.1lb 22in baby with no drugs (that was by accident, she really wanted the drugs, he really wanted out... he won!)) I digress, so it has been kinda lonely without some of my favorite people... but then again, I am so much busier this year, there is not much time for socializing anyway.

 Meet my newest "nephew" he was exactly 2 weeks old here. 

sorry for crappy cell phone pic, I took this while he was sleeping on my chest... 

just look at those cheeks...

I have lost 9 more lbs... for a total of 31 so far... it was a slooooww moving month in regards to the scale! For those that have asked, I have cut out all white flour carbs, and am only eating whole carbs like potatoes, oatmeal, whole grain stuff. Cut out sugar, anything carbonated, processed foods. Counting calories, only having 1100 a day max (mostly very lean proteins), supplemented with extra protein supplements. I eat a LOT of plain greek yogurt with a dash of splenda. I am however allowing myself the occasional cookie, or sweet and glass of vino here and there so that I don't feel like i"m depriving myself. One thing I've learned... nothing tastes as good as 31lbs lost!!! I feel fabulous, I look fabulous, IMO!, and I'm glad I made the decisions I did to change my life.

I'm on vacation this week from school (fall break) and for the first time in 12 years I am not on a cruise ship sailing into the sunset... And i'm kinda regretting that decision. Along with my whole "get healthy" decision, I foolishly implemented a "start saving" decision. WTF was I thinking... it's cold here, and I should be sitting in the sun with a mojito in hand. Oh well... I am however going away in 7 short weeks for a fabulous X-mas vacation... (so don't feel too bad for me!) So I will count the days until then when I will be in my very "Happy Place"!


Since I am not away, and it IS cold out... Today, I have been on a cleaning spree of sorts. I rearranged stuff in my house, cleaned out closets, scrubbed floors, washed windows and made the whole house just sparkly. I could actually hear little mice singing "cinderelly, cinderelly, wash the windows cinderelly", ok, well not really little mice, it was me singing, but you get the idea. Took multiple bags of stuff to goodwill, and multiple bags of garbage to the recycling center. Nothing better than a clean house!

I'm looking forward to the holiday season... Thanksgiving will be at my Aunt J's again, and this year instead of going to Radi0 City X-m@s show (because really, how many times can you see the same show year after year after year) we are going to see this:

 I am so stinking excited... this is one of my favorite X-mas movies and the broadway cast they have is amazing!!! can.not.wait.

So I guess that's about it for now... I will try to be more diligent and post again before another month goes by! Hope all in bloggy land are well... smooches!