Black & White

Today I got into an interesting discussion with my junior lit class. I do not like discussing this particular topic with them, but it really means a lot to them. All I will say is this topic generally is never agreed upon. You either believe one way or the other. And you seldom (never) can convince either side into conceding anything for the other. But this is a good group and I let them talk. I did participate as well, and this I know for sure: you either see things as black and white, or gray. I am a gray, but in my youth I was a black/white. None of this matters. I love the fact that a group of teens can feel so passionately about a topic. As I said in a previous post, this is our future and it is looking brighter all the time.
I also got a treat today. I got to visit with my last year's Civics class (now big sophomores!). My how they have grown. 10th grade can be rough, and for some this year will be tough.
I can hardly wait for the weekend. I need a day off! Sad, but true.
And NO I will not tell you the title of the topic, but feel free to guess. :)

Tuesday

Today is just Tuesday. I can not for the life of me figure out how time is actually standing still! Why is it that during the summer time flies, but the school year is d r a g g i n g ????
I did have a pretty good day with only a few minor bumps. A couple of my senior boys were working my nerve today. They should know better by now. I try to remember what it was like to be a senior in high school. 22 years is a LONG time ago but I think I can still grasp the concept. They know everything. I know nothing. They are cool. I am old and lame. This is a waste of their time. I am just in a bad mood. Yada, yada, yada.....Teenagers!
Actually all the kids are great this year, and I am really enjoying teaching. If I didn't do this, what WOULD I DO?
Not that I am wishing my life away, but come on Friday... HURRY!

Old Friends

I had an absolutely "mahvelous" Saturday! If you don't know, I am an Arbonne consultant. I spent all day yesterday at 2 parties hosted by Mrs. Trish Oxner and Dr. Martha Gore. I co-sell with one of my oldest friends from grade school (1st grade as a matter of fact), Marla McCrary. We grew up southside FC (the Hills before it was a popular MTV show). Marla introduced me to Arbonne (thank you!) and it has been a blast! The best part, other than the products, is that I get to spend time with a friend I have had virtually no contact with in YEARS. Growing apart is a natural process from high school to college to adulthood. We have always kept up with each other, but never in a million years would I have thought we'd be working together (and well I might add).
After two exhausting and successful parties, it was cocktail time. It was after 5p as if it really mattered! We were joined by two other high school buds, Wen Carman and Chris Morledge. Spending time with these two has NEVER been dull, and yesterday was NO exception!
One of the two has gained a little bit of weight (I won't say which one--CM--LOL). But it looks great on him! He has always been so little. I can remember underweighing him only ONCE in my life, and I so enjoyed finding out that it's now TWICE! Woohoo! Catching up (aka gossiping) was the highlight of my day! What a hoot! Thanks guys! I love ya!
Well, now I have to go ready myself for another week of teen angst. Have a good Monday!

Random

I am soooo not feeling creative today. The kids have literally worn me out. The room is full, the mouths are ON, and Ms. Steph is not. Whoever thinks that teaching is easy really needs to sub for one week (not just one day). Whether it be teaching elementary sweeties or secondary mouthies, it's a HARD J.O.B.! I love it though. When a kid finally "gets" it, there is no better feeling in the world. When you can keep a "too cool for school" teen's interest for 25 minutes of a 50 minute class, you have had a successful day! It's kind of like wrangling rattlesnakes except teenagers wrangle in packs. They are very smart. NEVER underestimate them. They can love you one minute, and loathe you the next. The trick is to never take it personally. They are full of surprises (not all of them pleasant) and are quite impressive when they want to be. They are our future--full of hope, wonder, knowledge, and possibility. Scary, huh? LOL
To Jake--- thank you for subbing because we will miss you when St. Jude calls. Also, politically I am in Switzerland for now.
Later..........

Politics

OK, enough blogging from me about courtship and marriage. Not really my style but I was trying it out for fun. Here I go....
What is it about friendship and politics? Can anybody really agree to disagree when it comes to basic fundamentals in THIS election? I try never to talk "real" politics or the nitty-gritty (as I like to say) with friends/family/or co-workers. Same goes for religion, social issues like same-sex marriage, abortion and/or capital punishment. That's not to say that I won't give an opinion. I am very opinionated--it's one of my crosses I bear. I like to play devil's advocate a LOT. Some people can take me, some can not. (and no, I didn't mean to rhyme)
However, I find myself truly torn between the left and the right this year. Where can you find the REAL story? Journalism is not on the internet. Depending on the news source, one story actually ends up becoming two. How on Earth are we going to sort it all out? Any ideas?

The Courtship

After our second "first" date I was off the market. I told my best girlfriends that this was IT. They made fun of me, and told me to have some more wine! But I knew.
Less than 3 months later I would transfer my job from Little Rock back home to Forrest City. I regretted that decision almost immediately. Let me just say this... I said I would never, and I repeat NEVER, live in Forrest City. This would be the first of MANY words I would eat. I had a job, but no engagement ring. It was just on faith that I knew we would marry. He asked, but without a ring who really knew?
Finally, on May 16th of 1997, we married. I had no idea I would marry on this day. We had applied for a license, bought the rings (which means nothing unless you actually go through with it), and had 30 days. He called me at 9pm on a Friday after he got off work and told me to get ready. I was like ready for what? To get married he said. We actually forgot our gold bands and had to go back to Forrest City to get them. We drove to retired justice-of-the-peace Mr. Floyd French's home in Goodwin. It was 10pm and we had to wait for him to finish watching the news. He married us in between the weather and sports (I kid you not). I had on a brown suit that Anthony hates to this day and no makeup. He had on stinky chemical work clothes and was filthy. We have no pictures--thank goodness!!! I am telling ya that although we didn't look pretty it was the most beautiful ceremony I have ever been a part of----awwwww.
We didn't tell anyone until the next day including our parents. Boy was that interesting. LOL
Oh, and my maiden name (Davis) just happened to be the same as my betrothed's (Davis!). No relation I swear! Convenient, huh? And they said it wouldn't last......

How I Met My Husband

I have known my husband since we were juniors in high school. I, the Forrest City girl, did not date boys from Palestine. I know it's snobby sounding but that's just the way it worked. However, Anthony drove a corvette. I liked corvettes! He asked me out and of course I said, YES (especially to the corvette)! He was too cute but a little on the skinny side. Somehow I managed to convince him to let me drive. He did..... and the car broke down. I swear I did NOTHING but drive the car. Our date ended pretty much after that, and his car sat in my parent's yard for almost THREE weeks! I never went out with him again.
He swears that during the next two years he came to every party at my house (there were quite a lot!) and would try to talk to me. I truly do not remember ever seeing him again after our first date. Over the course of the next TEN years, he would ask my Mom about me and for my phone number. She would update him AND give him my number. She nicknamed him "loverboy". My mom did not tell me this until about one year ago. I had no idea.
Long story short. He called and asked me to MEET him at BJ's Star Studded Honkytonk one Thursday. I already lived in Little Rock, and my picture was on the wall of BJ's (don't ask). I had been out late the night before but I said I would try to meet him there. I didn't. Felt bad about it and called him a couple of days later. The rest is history.... I knew from the moment I met him, albeit 11 years later, that he was "the one".

1st day of school

The day I dread so much finally arrives. I usually get a headache by 8:30 which I manage to keep ALL day. The second day my headache arrives a little later, and by the end of the week I am pain free! I love all of my classes. Jury is still out on the students. LOL No, really, they are good compared to what they could be! It is weird for me this year because I am not senior sponsor, the hat I wore 2 years in a row. I LIKE it!!!! No pressure. Just a regular school year.

Blakely started 4th grade and loved it! I can not believe that she is actually in the 4th grade! It truly seems just like yesterday I shipped her off to Kindergarten. Time truly does fly.

Well, with this headache I am keeping this entry short. Will update later......