Wicked!

I was able to score some Wicked tickets this morning on a pre-sale and I just wanted to say how excited I am!

Woot Woot!

The Countdown Has Begun...In 5,4,3,2 and...

Not everyone knows this about me, but I am pretty much fanatical about a certain pop star from the south who had a huge career, then went a lil' crazy, then went a lot crazy, then hit rock bottom, and is once again picking up the pieces of her shattered life. Yes, I am a Britney fan! A BIG one. I must admit that during the heyday of her "dark period" I found myself getting sick of the constant crazy, but I remained a true fan and tried to stick up for the poor girl.

The last few months have been such a great period for this woman. A hit single, three VMA's, a SUPER hot video, a new album, a normal life again, a rumored tour, and she is trying to be a good mom. Say what you will about Britney, but I love her! Crazy and all! And come December 2nd I will be in the midnight line at Walmart picking up the new album.

I know, I know, I'm a slave for this woman!

33 DAYS AND COUNTING...

I heart Halloween

I know that there are a lot of people out there that are just not into Halloween, but I am not one of them. Next to Christmas I think it is the best holiday of the year. I love the fall weather, the pumpkin carving get together with friends, the scary movies and haunted houses, and most of all, seeing how excited kids get when they talk about what they are going to be for Halloween. It is such a fun holiday. You get to be scared and excited at the same time, and you get to play dress up on numerous occasions throughout the month. Halloween is not to be taken seriously and everyone should look at it as just plain fun.

Enjoy tonight as much as I know I am going to.

Happy Halloween!

"One of you will be in...And one of you are vout!"

LeAnne may have won Season Five...

But I kicked ass in our play at home version!

*This is the search for the next big fashion designer…12 designers, three finalists, and one winner… Three designers will make their runway debut at Olympus fashion week… And the winner of “Project Runway” will receive everything they need to start their own label… For these twelve contestants, “Project Runway” is the chance of a lifetime...*

So...this year my good friend Nick decided to hold a little design competition amongst friends during the Project Runway Finale. We each got to choose our models, pick our materials, and come up with our own designer gowns. After the judges voted (we each got a say), we narrowed it down to the three best designers, and yours truly won this year's fierce competition. Not only does my model get a spread in Elle magazine, but I also won a Saturn and $100,000.00 to start my own line. (Actually, the prize was a used DVD, but at least I got to pick first.) Woot Woot Heyyyy!

The Competition...Pretty Stiff...

The Final Three...

The Winning Design...A one of a kind Brandon Christensen.

Auf Wiedersehen

Paris, finalement!

For Casey's birthday this year we threw a "Paris" themed party. I had promised two months ago to show off the pictures of the decorations and the party, but I'm just barley getting them uploaded. The party was very "Black Chandelier" inspired. We had black porcelain animals, framed pictures of Paris, and candles everywhere. There were lights hanging from the trees, blankets for a picnic dinner, and an outdoor movie theater set up showing French films. The night was perfect and everyone had a great time. C'était un parti fabuleux!

The pictures can be found on my Facebook account, so if you want to see them I'm afraid you'll have to go there. For some reason they will NOT upload to my blog for me. Damn Technology!

OMFG GG!

I have a new drug. I can't help myself. I'm a total addict. Gossip Girl is the best show to hit the airwaves since Sex and the City parted ways.

I didn't watch the first season because I assumed a show on the CW would be lame. I mean, I haven't been interested in anything on that network since the first season of Felicity aired. But, somehow I got a whiff of what Gossip Girl had to offer (via season two premier), and it intrigued me enough that I had to check it out.

Long story short, I'm through with the first season (thank you Netflix), caught up on the second, and I can't get enough! It amazes me how much this show can entertain, and shock at the same time. The scheming, the fighting, the love stories, it is a must see.

I highly encourage you to check it out if you, like I once was, are a doubter.

Eggciting!

So...I taught my first Science lesson yesterday and I must say that it went over well. The kids really seemed to enjoy learning about the Scientific Method, and they LOVED my egg experiment...How can you tell the difference between a raw egg and a hard boiled egg without cracking them?

Two things that I can say I need to work on when it comes to my teaching style are discipline and remembering names! I am horrible at both. I think that if I were in the classroom more I would pick up on each students name. I mean, I've only been to visit them three times and so far I have more than half the class down...but little Jacob keeps getting called Joshua, and I can't help but mix up Tiffany and Britney. As for discipline, it is so hard for me to be strict with the kids and try to keep them on task and focused. I just don't have it in me to say "1, 2, 3 Eyes On Me..." or any other ridiculous focus rhyme. In fact, when I got to the breaking point and almost used the said technique, I stopped myself and asked the teacher if there were any techniques she used to keep the class under control. Her response was, "They can just tell by the tone in my voice." Well, that's nice and all, but how do I keep 24 students from getting too rowdy while holding a dozen raw eggs in their deviant little hands?

Luckily, my students are lil' angels and we only had two accidental broken eggs. Not too shabby considering the possible outcome.

I'm gonna make it after all...(Toss Hat Into Air & Twirl)

Yesterday I taught my very first lesson in this Elementary Teacher career I've been workin' towards. It was on Adjectives/Superlatives and I helped with some Halloween poetry ideas. Overall I must say the lesson went really well. The kids had fun, I had fun, the assignment got across to at least 80% of the class, and I learned a lot about teaching 3rd graders. The one flub I had was when my mentor teacher asked me to use the overhead projector to get my point across, but being that I was an overhead projector virgin, I had NO idea what I was doing. It took a third grader to show me how to turn the machine on, and an entire class of third grader's to barade my overhead skills in order for me to get the technique down correctly. Who knew something as simple as an O.P. (overhead projector) would be so difficult?

Afterwards, I went to class and proceeded to tell one of my professors about the wonderful teaching job I did on my first lesson. I was super proud and enthused to finally have one under my belt. My confidence was raised and I was excited to brag about how well it went, how much fun I had, and how I couldn't wait to teach the next one. The professor, however, proceeded to say, "That's good. I'm sure that will help you to decide if teaching is something you really want to do."

WHAT?

Of course it is something I really want to do! Why else would I spend hours upon hours of my life sitting through classes, reading chapters of books, writing response after response, killing myself trying to make a full-time work and full-time school (I'm technically a part-time student, but with teaching the hours really add up) schedule coincide, willingly give up television, free-time, and social events, let my house cleaning and cooking skills go to pot, and surround myself with children who are the most brutally honest and terrifying human beings on earth??? What do you mean, "IF TEACHING IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY WANT TO DO!?" Damn Straight it's something I want to do, and I'm determined to be good at it!

In all actuality I didn't truly take offense to what my professor had said, she didn't mean it the way it came out, she was proud of me and the fact that my lesson went over well. However, it did make me wonder what all my professors say about me when they have their meetings and discuss who is excelling and who is annoying in the program? Hmmmmmm?

I'm sure I'm excelling. I mean, c'mon, I'm good at this. My first lesson killed! I think I'm gonna like teaching after all.

I can spell a word, B-A-L-D! You're Bald!!!

Yes I am aware of the fact that I am a bald man who shaves his head. Yes I am aware that I occasionally have acne breakouts. Yes I am aware that I have an earring and boys aren't supposed to wear earrings. What I wasn't aware of is how brutally honest children are in pointing out all your personal flaws. Is this an occupational hazard or have I just ran into a bunch or tactless 10 year olds?

Stress Mess!

Things I am currently stressing over:

*Grad school
*Homework
*Placements
*Shadowing children (don't worry, it's not illegal, it's an assignment)
*My first teaching lesson (It's on Wed!)
*6 hour Saturday morning science conferences
*Moldy Cabinets
*Annoying property managers
*Insurance Agents
*Saving money $
*Preauthorizations
*Not being able to find jeans
*When I will get to watch Gossip Girl, 90210, and Ugly Betty
*The giant pile of laundry that is sitting in our room unfolded
*5 A.M. work out sessions
*Power 90
*Getting sick
*Weening myself off of my coffee habit
*Facebook (why is it so complicated and unorganized)
*Halloween birthdays (there are 7 of you people again, I thought July was my only big birthday month)
*Meaning of life