The Bachelor...

As I have already mention, I have an unnatural obsession with reality shows. And I will say that it has only grown worse. Recently I have become entertained by the reality show "The Bachelor". However, it is with some apprehension that I admit that I am entertained by "The Bachelor". Here is why...

1. Have we really come to a point in society that girls are so desperate to find "Mr. Right" that they will go on national television with 25 other girls and all "date" the same guy?

2. Really ladies...do you really think that a guy is going to be interested in you if you prove over and over again that you are just as shallow as the stereotype may prove?

3. Last night on "The Bachelor" during a one-on-one conversation with Jason, one of the girls revealed to him that she had a breast reduction (first of all you don't know the guy why would that be in the conversation at all?). But after she told him that, his immediate response was "Why?"---seriously! I know that guys can be shallow, but do you really have to prove it?

4. Most girls would be offended if they found out that a guy they were dating or even interested in was talking to or heaven forbid making out with another girl, but on this show somehow all "reality" is lost and the girls are alright with the situation.

5. Girls would actually go on a show and attempt to find true love based on only surface knowledge of a guy. And then once they meet him are "in love" with him. They then allow themselves to be led on by the man (I will not use the term gentleman, because that my friends he is not) and lead themselves to believe that they are the only one...and are truly heartbroken when they do not receive a rose. I mean really aren't there enough disappointments in life in and of itself that we really don't need to set ourselves up for disappointment?

I think that is enough of my soapbox for now...

I will say that last night on "The Bachelor" was probably one of the best conversations ever...

Jason (aka "the Bachelor") to Natalie during the one-on-one date: "Is there anything else I should know about you?

Natalie: "I like bears..."

Jason: "Like panda and koala bears?"

Natalie: "I mean I had a bear named fuzzy when I was little that made the local paper because I left it at a store"

***Side note: She did not get a rose...so ladies, please note: on a first date, don't tell a guy that you like bears...

But more than actually watching the show, I truly enjoy the time I get to spend with my dear friends...that time is priceless, and really some of the best quotes come from this time...
for example:

"I like my men younger...I mean...with lower voices" -Spring while watching American Idol
"Are we going to pass any gas (lots of laughter)...stations?" -Spring while driving
"We are just going to do a little Minnesota laundry..." -Fox 4 news caster

Moments...

Just a warning, today's entry is kinda serious...

Today was a day that will go down in the history books. Today is a day that we all can tell our kids, grandkids, etc. that we were a part of. Today we watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama live at school. And this is when I realized that we all have a part in history.

I shared this with my class today...

I told them that I hoped that each and every one of them would realize how special today is in our nation's history. I don't care if you are democrat, republican, or something else, it is still history. There are very few days in your lifetime that will have such an impact on history and that will be remembered in such a way.

I told my students that many of them could ask their parents or grandparents where they were the day that Kennedy was shot and they could tell you exactly where they were and how they felt. I also mentioned 9/11. Many of the students in my class were 4 or 5 when that momentous day occurred, so they know that it happened and they have a memory of it (vaguely) but many of them don't share the emotions that so many of us do. I remember when 9/11 happened that I was in college and it was a Tuesday. I did not have class until 9:30 that day. I was sleeping and my roommates came and woke me up and told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. To be totally honest, I didn't believe her. I brushed it off and went back to sleep. I then later realized that it was real. I remember the emotions that I felt that day, anger, bitterness, confusion, etc.

In our lifetimes there are very few days that we have the opportunity to experience events that will later be in the pages of the history books. So as I told my students, I hope that you take the opportunity and cherish every minute of today and allow yourself to feel whatever it is that you feel.

I also hope that you don't just remember to say a prayer for our nation and it's leadership today, but everyday. I will tell you, being President is not a job that I will be campaigning for anytime soon (and by anytime soon I mean never)!!!!!!!!!!!

The Secret Revealed....

So last night I was cooking, which in itself is a miracle, and I realized something. Now to some of you this may be life changing...so hold on to your seats.

I realized that just because you have a dishwasher, does not mean that you can not wash dishes by hand.

No lie guys, for the past 5ish years, I have put stuff in the dishwasher and once it was full ran it. If there were other items that needed to be washed, I would wait till the dishwasher was done, unloaded and then put the newly dirty items in.

Let me tell you this new found secret has made my life easier...and by easier I mean less cluttered!

Reality shows...

Well folks, it is another year!

The other night, I was sitting in my house just looking at the t.v. (I won't say watching, because I can't promise that I actually was watching) and I decided to look at the shows that I record on my DVR...

I have come to the conclusion that I watch alot of reality shows!!! I have 29 shows that record on my DVR and more than half are reality shows. I don't know what it is about the reality shows that draws me to them, maybe it is the aspect that someone has way more issues than I do or maybe it is simply the fact that no matter what happens in Hollywood (actors strikes, etc.), my reality shows will still come on.

One that I watched last night that was recorded sometime this past week was a new show called "Homeland Security" or something like that. All in all not a bad show. The part that really annoys me is the narrator.

But, ladies and gentlemen...the best show ever does start back up next week!!!! American Idol.

I simply can't wait to watch this season. I can't wait to see the people who are auditioning and whose "friends" (notice the quotes) have told them they can sing and they should try out. I just get such a thrill from all of it. My friends and I will be texting through the show to comment on all the outlandish outfits, and incredibly bad song choices and all the ridiculous comments that are made only to the camera in response to one of the three judges...I love all of it!!!!!

Now I just have to see if there is an idol contestant this year that can live up to my favorite idol of all time...yes my friends, you know who it is, none other than David Cook!!!

Pre Christmas crazies...

This my friends is the time of the year that I don't like being a teacher...

I am currently sitting in my 8th period class (study hall) listening to my 27 students talk laugh and giggle. I have asked them numerous times to get quite, but they don't seem to understand those words. And to top it all off, I don't have much of a voice today, so it makes even more difficult to talk over these sugar filled, adolescents.

I am so glad that I get 2 weeks off...I think even more ready than the kids!!!!!!!!!!!!

just call me Suzie...

So in case you haven't noticed or have been living under a rock inside a very warm building, IT IS COLD!!!!!!!! Now being a native Texan, I have not been exposed to harsh winter time conditions. This week has just been down right miserable. That is unless you count Sunday as part of this week, Sunday in which I wore shorts and a long sleeved shirt all day and was comfortable.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of bundling up in my warm clothes, throwing a fun little scarf around my neck and calling it a day...but there is only so much I can handle.

So yesterday as I was sitting in my classroom looking at the grey, dreary sky, I decided I am going to make chili tonight. Now mind you my chili usually comes from a can, and has a smell that oh so slightly resembles dog food. But this time I decided to try my hand at making it. So I did what any good cook does and decided to look on the Internet for a recipe. I went to the old faithful website first...http://www.kraft.com/ If you have never been to this website it is WONDERFUL!!!

So I looked up a recipe (actually 2) and decided to write it down and go to the store after school. Myself and another teacher went to the store right down the street from my school, and let me tell you I will never make that mistake again. I saw about 5 students and about 5 other teachers...I don't want to be bothered during my shopping experience.

I got home and began making the chili...let me tell ya'll it really was not that hard, and it turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

Maybe next time I will have the nerve to venture out from the recipe a little...I am pretty much one for sticking to the recipe, i don't need any mishaps...right Kandy!?!?!

Bittersweet Symphony...

So this Friday was the final shower I will be throwing for 2008 (and if I am lucky 2009). I must say I am pleased to share this information with you, however now that all the shower planning is over, what will I possibly do with my time?

There are no more party games to find on the internet.

No more favors to dream up...and I must say, I created some pretty good favors.

• I made flower pens that were displayed in terra cotta pots that were decorated with ribbon to match the shower for one. And for the other I purchased several types of candy bars and wrapped them with zebra printed paper and then tied a red ribbon around them and placed a little circle on them that simply stated "thanks"...

No more invitations to dream up, make, and send out (that one my friends I am not in the least sad about)...I spent way too many hours just simply making the invites for 3 different showers...not for a long time will I do that again.

No more cakes to think of what to put on them "Congratulations (insert name)" or whatever else was placed on the cakes.

No more present buying...and of course right along with that wrapping of presents.

No more having to put on my "happy face" in order to greet guests and gladly take their presents in order to put them on a table. And then about 30 minutes later have them ripped into and the trash pile up.

No more ribbons to save.

No more (almost) fake bouquets to make out of all the ribbons that were torn off the packages, and hopefully not broken because that would just mean how many children are in the future.

Now that you have my list of things I don't have to do for a while, here are the things that I will miss...

Hanging out with friends, new and old and sharing fond memories of the happy couple.

Quite honestly, the stress of it all. What could possibly fill my weekends now. (

and really I think that is all I will miss about throwing showers...I will go to them, don't get me wrong, but throwing them is just entirely overrated!!!