Thanks, Davey! I needed a swift kick in the arse!

Hello again my faithful!

Thanks to Davey, (my homie from the mitten) I'm back and ready to update you on me. (Since I'm an expert on the subject!)

As you can imagine, I've been SWAMPED with work! 10 hour days MINIMUM! It's insane, and it's about to get crazier because we do a 3day/2night camping trip with the 8th graders the 2nd week of October, and there is a mountian of paper work and prep work to go along with it. Naturally, I'm right there in the middle of the planning, and the stress. From what I hear, though - once this camp gets pulled together, and executed - it's the most fun thing of the year. Let's hope that information was accurate. :)

The majority of my work - outside of grading papers, creating worksheets, quizzes, lesson plans, etc... - has been dealing with the parents. These parents LOVE LOVE LOVE their children! And that they should! These kids are truly fabulous people. I have great confidence that they will be running the world in about 15 years. They will do very well. But the parents are so involved in their childrens lives that they are emailing me and calling me and setting up conferences with me over every single low grade, question, big homework assignment... Which wouldn't be a big deal if I taught only 30 students, but multiply that type of high maintenance by 137 - and welcome to my nightmare! :) To be honest, though - I am happy to have parents like these who only want the best for their kids. And eventhough I have to sometimes really go to the mattresses and defend my grading, assigning, etc... I'm okay with putting up that fight. These are good, noble people. And so am I. And at the end of the day, we all just want what is best for their children. I guess you could say I've gone the complete cycle... Denial - the parents won't come after me! Admitting - these parents are kicking my ass! Anger - who do these people think they are to question me!?!? and Acceptance - We're on the same side, we just don't all realize it yet. :)

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood today. The sun is shining, it's about 74 degrees out... We've got every window in the house open, and the fans going. The house smells clean and fresh - and the air is light. It's just damn near perfect.

And then, my Sooners will be kicking off in about 20 minutes. So - I'll have a football game to top of my wonderful, relaxing, not-a-care-in-the-world Saturday.

OOH! Alex and I got new cell phones! I'm totally high tech now. I have a bluetooth headset and everything! We also switched carriers... My number is the same, but I'm now with Cingular. It's saving us tons of cash - and I think we will both be a lot happier with Cingular than we were with the other guys.

My candle business is getting off to a shaky and slow start. I closed my first catalog party yesterday. I didn't do stellar sales, or anything like that - but it was a start. I need to get more people interested. But since I don't have friends that come over to the house - it's really difficult to do the whole "Wow, Amber! Your house smells amazing! What is that?" Well, friend #4, that would be my Gold Canyon Candle in the cool and refreshing Ginger Lime Scent. Let me show you what else we have..." So - I've basically been harassing people via email to buy my candles. If I've recently harassed you - A: I'm sorry, and B: SO BUY A CANDLE ALREADY! ;)

Alright - 15 minutes to game time... I'm going to get myself all set up on the sofa. I wish you all a lovely evening! And I promise to try to check in more often! :)

September Saturday

Hello! Greetings! Salutations!

Welcome to my three-day-weekend bliss. :) Not only do I not have to go to work on Monday, but there is also a game tonight at 6!!! Now, in an ideal world - I would be going to said game, but watching it on TV will have to suffice, since I do not have season tickets. (mainly because they are WAY WAY WAY too expensive)

Work has been bleeding me dry. All I do is work. I am there by 730 at the VERY latest, and I think the earliest I left this week was 430, but I averaged more like 530 or 6. I get home, eat dinner, and then am usually in bed - or on my way there - by 9. It's a sad existence.

Furthermore - I've decided to endulge my Big Brother 7 obsession by getting the live feed for the last couple of weeks. The people in these chat rooms are so vapid it's rediculous. So - I don't enter the chats, I just watch. Like a good little voyeur. It's really sad, I know... But I'm so interested. PLUS! One of my students looks and acts creepily like Dr. Will.

I get so tired of the people who watch BB7. They seem to be stuck in high school. They only want the popular, cheerleader/football player-types to win. They NEVER root for (or sympathize with) the nerd, or the mother of 3, or (god forbid) the older person. It sickens me to see how many BB7 fans are in love with Janelle. Here is the epitome of vapid. She's a one-trick pony, folks... She flirts. That is how she gets as far as she does in the game. Sure, she can win competitions... But if she didn't flirt with key men in the house - it wouldn't matter. And why people don't see that she was one of the first to betray her alliance is beyond me. She isn't loyal, she isn't particularly clever. She's manipulative, and a tease. And that's who America is chosing. Sad. Meanwhile - Dr. Will has been the puppet master all season long. He has orchestrated everything that has happened inside of that house from start to finish. Although he is not "America's Choice" to win - he should. He played the game every minute he was in there. Granted - he made Janelle think that he was interested in her - when he is not... Granted - he lied at every opportunity. But it is not his fault that people believed him. My theory - if you're playing BB - either lie 100% of the time, or don't lie at all. It is the people who only lie once or twice who are villanized.

And if you don't watch BB - you've totally lost interest in my blog. Oh well. It's pretty much the only thing I've got going outside of work right now.

Alex and I are doing fine. But not seeing much of each other - since he is taking some classes this semester, and I am working all the time. Two nights a week - we literally see each other for half an hour before I need to go to bed.

I'm going to go run some errands now. :) And continue to enjoy my time away from work. :)

Okay, okay.... I guess I'll post

*grumble*

But I'm tired, and I won't promise anything wonderful.

I've been SWAMPED! And by "swamped", I mean at work 10 hours a day. I even went in last Saturday. It's been a whirlwind. But, I can honestly say that after this first week, I feel like an old pro. I'm not apprehensive or nervous. I feel like I'm a good teacher, and I know what I'm doing. I admit there are still times when I won't know what I'm doing, but they will definitely be fewer and farther between.

I've got a good group of kids. There are a couple who are more high-maintenance than the others... But none are too much to handle. :) They are EXTREMELY hard-working. And, I was even able to have a silent classroom for the majority of the week. :)

In other news - I've started a side job... I'm selling Gold Canyon candles now. They are better smelling than Yankee candles - and more reasonably priced. I was a customer, and then my cousin Cathy (who sells them) convinced me that I should make money off of my addiction. And thus - a dealer was made. :)

So - if you want to order candles, I'm your girl. And you should see (and smell) the Fall and Winter line! YUM-O! In other "yum-o" news - it's my girl Rachael Ray's birthday. I know she doesn't read - but I'm sending her best birthday wishes anyhow. :)

I haven't had much of a life outside of work in the past couple of weeks. So there isn't much else to report.

Ciao

ASSIGNMENT

WATCH BLADE, THE SERIES TONIGHT ON SPIKE TV AT 9PM CENTRAL!!!

DO IT!

A week without posts

HECTIC WEEK!!! I spent 4 solid days last week on Marmee's party - then yesterday had to start setting up my classroom. Today was the first day we were required to be back at work. The kids don't have to be there until Aug 21st. And eventhough it is a lot of fun to be there without the kids - it still doesn't seem fair.

I am literally falling asleep while typing this.

Guess i'm on my way to bed.

I always thought Miranda and Steve were meant for each other.

Greetings my faithful!

Busy week ahead! My Grammy arrived today, and plans are starting to take shape for Marmee's upcoming party. (this coming Saturday, the 12th at 630pm - if you're in the area, SHOW UP!!! Email me for details)

So much to do to get ready for the party. I have a list a mile long of groceries and liquor and other crap to buy.

But I don't want to complain. The party should be great. I'm really looking forward to it!! :)

In other news - we learned this week that my thyroid is sluggish. Doy! I could have told someone that about 6 years ago. But I finally have a new doctor who was willing to run tests on me - and lo and behold, she discovered an issue. So I'll be starting some medicine for that. Hmm... It will be interesting to have a metabolism again. :)

I need to get some sleep. Alex is taking an intensive class this week. It goes Mon-Thu from 830am-730pm. But it's just one week. Anyhow, I have to get up in the morning with him and send him off to school. (How June Cleaver am I?) ANd then Grammy and I will hang out a bit. We're going to have to map out a plan of attack for this party. :)

Hope all is well out there with you. Drop me a line.

Pudding Pops!

Picture pages, picture pages
Time to get your picture pages
Time to get your crayons and your pencils!

Picture pages, picture pages
Time to get your picture pages
Time to let Bill Cosby do your
Picture page with you!!

Enjoy them!!

On our way!

On our way!,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

Here we have me, and my sweetheart in the Tulsa Airport on the way to Vegas!!

Aren't we the cutest couple you've EVER seen??? :)

Bellagio Water show

Bellagio Water show,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

This is also from our room. Bally's is accross the street from the Bellagio. We had a perfect view of the water show. Every fifteen minutes. :) (It was prettier at night!)

Fake Eiffel Tower

Fake Eifel Tower,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

If only this were a shot of the real Eiffel Tower in a hotel room in Paris. *le sigh*

Room with a view

Room with a view,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

This was the night view from our room down the strip. The building at the very end in the middle is the Mandalay Bay I think. You can barely make out New York New York, and just next to the Eifel Tower is, of course, the Paris casino.

KA

KA,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

This show was unreal! There was a vertical fight at one point. The stage was vertical, and the performers were all on harneses. It was insane. It even snowed in the theatre!!! Ka is worth the money! If you're ever in Vegas, GO SEE IT!

Roulette Virgins

Roulette Virgins,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

Just before we went to see Lewis Black - Red, White and Screwed at the MGM Grand - we cowered over to the roulette table. I was scared to do it. The tables in Vegas are a bit intimidating. Especially if you don't know what you are doing. But I won a little. And then proceeded to lose it right away. Sterling did the best at this table. I think he quadrupled his money. But by the end of the trip, I'm pretty sure he just about broke even.

Caesars Slots

Caesars Slots,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

I was feeling particularly arty when I took this photo. Directly behind me was the club Pure where K-Fed was going to film his new video that very night. Thank god we missed it.

YUCK! K-fed.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblin' Gates Family,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

Sterling was playing a slot machine. I don't think he won anything, but we all were mesmerized by the flashy lights.

Queens!

Queens!,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

This is Vickie and me at the buffet restaurant in Bally's where we stayed. You can barely tell - but we have little gold crowns on our heads. They served these tiny little chocolate mouse things in these tiny little gold crowns. I thought they were quite festive. :)

MGM Grand

MGM Grand,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

All in all - it was a good trip! We had a whole lot of fun, and eventhough we didn't win any money - we didn't lose much either.

...and just like that...

Photos still on the way... I just haven't uploaded them to the laptop yet.

Man! Summer is gone.

Just gone.

Like Keyser Soze.

And after all of my bitching and moaning that I was bored - I am now wishing for June again.

But as fast as the spring flew by - I get the feeling that the year will fly by too.

This weekend, starting tomorrow, is my 10 year high school reunion. I'm pretty sure I've already said this - but I'm not going. It was more expensive than I was hoping, and I wasn't terribly (or at all) close with anyone in my graduating class. Yep - I was a loser even back then. All of my friends were in the class below mine.

Inevitably, I am feeling a bit guilty for not going though. Like I'm missing a rite of passage. Maybe I am. Oh well, perhaps I'll catch the 20-year reunion. For now, I'm sticking with "count me out".

*yawn* Time for sleep.

Fabulous Las Vegas!

Fabulous Las Vegas!,
originally uploaded by amberqt.

Okay. We're home. And before I launch into any kind of a run down of my vacation, let me first hit 2 very important points:

1 - My left hand did not come back any heavier than when I left.
2 - Neither did my wallet.

Now that that's out of the way, let's commence... Vegas was HOTTER THAN HELL. But fun. I certainly understand better now why people love to go there. I never thought I'd be one to enjoy gambling, but I really did. And I LOVED the shows. We saw Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed; Ka (Cirque du Soleil); and Phantom of the Opera. . The most spectacular of which was without question Ka. I could never do it justice, but let me just say this: It snowed in the fucking theatre. It was insane! There was even a fight scene which was done vertically. It was wicked.

Lewis Black was funny. It was so vegas! The seats were half-booth things with tables. Exactly what I expected it to be like. I half expected Wayne Newton to come out. :) :

Phantom. Okay - so for those of you who do not know this side of me: I am a theatre snob. I want to be seated in the orchestra section, or I pretty well don't want to go. And for all of these shows, we had AMAZING seats. All in the orchestra section. All in the first 5 rows. But for Phantom, that was a little too close. The chandelier fell behind us. Other than that, the theatre in which Phantom is held is INSANE! They have it all done up like a 19th century opera house. The sets were so cool. But for some reason (and I am guessing that Andrew Lloyd Webber had something to do with this) they changed the musical. Kind of a lot. Much like the movie (released last year-ish) the chandelier fell at the wrong part. Originally, it came crashing down during the part where Carlotta's voice gets a little froggy, and then he hangs a guy. Then, there would be an intermission, followed by the spectacular "Masquerade" scene. But they did not drop the chandelier until "Don Juan Triumphant". This pisses me off on a whole lot of levels. There were other parts that were skipped. I am sure that since it was Vegas, they were trying to be time conscious. But don't fuck with my favorite musical! (And, as for Mr. Webber - because I'm sure he reads my blog - What are you doing, man??? Don't change things now. Phantom was a masterpiece. Leave it the fuck alone!) Meanwhile, the Venetian needs to get some better ushers, AND they need to NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME INTO A SHOW THIRTY MINUTES LATE!!! So, first, the usher is trying to seat people, DURING THE SHOW, and he is SPEAKING IN HIS NORMAL TALKING VOICE TO THESE PEOPLE! You've got to be effin kidding me! SHUT UP FOR FUCK SAKE! Then, the same usher brings in a family of 3 whose seats were (naturally) in the very middle of the row right behind us. The lady clocked Alex in the back of his head with her purse. People honestly have no couth!

Once I got over all of that, it was a great experience. And, yes - I still cried from the moment the overture began, until the last note was played. I identify so much with the Phantom. And it just rips my heart out how much he loves Christine, and how he cannot have her. (meanwhile, I'm the only one in my party who cried. I'm also the only one who identifies with the Phantom) Whatever.

We stayed at Bally's. I can reccomend staying there. It was in a great location, and cheaper than a lot of other places, and really not gross and sleazy. The view from our room was insane! There was the Eiffel Tower (from the Paris casino) AND we could see the Bellagio water show perfectly from our room too. We have some great pictures which I will post later on.

We flew on Champion Air with Worry Free Vacations. I cannot reccomend flying Champion. The people were great. It wasn't the people. But the planes. They were cramped, and they were HOTTER THAN THE BLAZES OF HELL.

Also on our trip, we celebrated Alex's birthday. I had a ring custom designed for him. It is beautiful, and I think he likes it! :) His brother gave him a WAY cooler gift. But I can't write about it on here yet.

Okay, kids... I do believe it is time for some guilt free nappage. (Cause napping while in Vegas is empty and joyless - because all you can think is: "I should be out doing something")

Pics to follow.

Can you hear that ticking???

I have my nephew with me this week. It's a little intimidating. I'm used to him being a baby. But he's a pre-teen! He's still young enough that he likes to watch cartoons. But he's old enough that he has an IPOD Nano, and a PSP. What is intimidating is I don't know how to entertain him. When he was a baby, it was enough just to be around. We could be running errands or whatever, and he was happy.

Now, he wants to do stuff. Go swimming. To the movies. Anywhere there might be other kids his age.

And yet, the other night, as he fell asleep while we were watching a movie, Alex looked at me and whispered "somebody's falling asleep" and I looked over at "the baby" and thought...I want one of my own.

The next day, we took him for an ice cream, and the guy behind the counter said I was a nice Mom. It was all I could do to not burst into tears. I said, "actually, I'm his aunt, but thank you" But on the inside I said "I'm not a mom... I am (so far) a barren wasteland!!"

Alright. MUCH to do today.

May be a while between posts.

Hope you can live without your Amber fix.