Last night I was out baby-sitting my lil' 10 year old friend and we decided to go out for pizza. We arrived to the restaurant and while we talked about what kind of pizza we wanted to have made, she informed me that she also wanted to have some wings. I continued to ask her which kind she wanted and she replied back with the "mild". Well, as there is no "mild" on the menu, I had to just assume that out of the three styles listed, the choice in the middle was the milder of the three. After clarifying with the waiter, our order was off and the wings were delivered.
I've had my fair share of mild tasting wings and last night I wasn't feeling up to the zip that they leave on your tongue so I let my little charge dig in. We were chatting back and forth and as I watched her I noticed that after she ate a wing or two she would take a bite of celery and would rub the remaining celery stick over her lips in a fashionable style. I didn't question what she was doing and just figured she was pretending to put on lipstick. Goofy kid stuff, right?! After she had her fill of mild wings I asked her how they were and she told me they were a bit spicy and they left a tingle on her lips. I glanced away for a second and when I looked back over at her, she had dressing smeared all over her lips, thanks to the helpful celery stick, and I asked her what she was doing. She informed me that the dressing helped to cool down her lips, and she would follow through with a run over by the celery because the cool, crisp water in the celery pieces helped to put out the fire.
And here I thought she was just playing beauty parlor.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Oh, Shoot
What a doozie!
This morning I was giving my 4th graders their spelling pre-test when I noticed one of the new spelling words was "shoot". Our routine when giving a test is to say the word, use it in a sentence, and repeat the word one last time. My mind drew a blank when it came time to place "shoot" in a sentence and as the students were watching me, waiting for the sentence, I popped out the only thing that came to mind. I said, "I must learn how to shoot the gun." (On a side note, I would just like to say that I don't think the lead teacher was in the classroom when that went down, but maybe he was, I can't remember. Pahhhhhh! Hopefully he wasn't.......) After repeating the word, I noticed a few boys who immediately decided to pretend their hands were guns. Terrific, Miss Judith Anne.
Not until a few hours later did I realize my mistake in phrasing the sentence. I felt like knocking myself in the head. I could have said one of many sentences such as, "The coach told me to shoot the ball." HELLO! Why did I not put two and two together?! I could have tied in "shoot" with any kind of sport or ball. What a doofus, hahaha.
So much for a violence free school zone. Good grief. Maybe I should skip making up my own sentences for their spelling words from now on and use the example sentences in the teachers manual...........now there's an idea!
This morning I was giving my 4th graders their spelling pre-test when I noticed one of the new spelling words was "shoot". Our routine when giving a test is to say the word, use it in a sentence, and repeat the word one last time. My mind drew a blank when it came time to place "shoot" in a sentence and as the students were watching me, waiting for the sentence, I popped out the only thing that came to mind. I said, "I must learn how to shoot the gun." (On a side note, I would just like to say that I don't think the lead teacher was in the classroom when that went down, but maybe he was, I can't remember. Pahhhhhh! Hopefully he wasn't.......) After repeating the word, I noticed a few boys who immediately decided to pretend their hands were guns. Terrific, Miss Judith Anne.
Not until a few hours later did I realize my mistake in phrasing the sentence. I felt like knocking myself in the head. I could have said one of many sentences such as, "The coach told me to shoot the ball." HELLO! Why did I not put two and two together?! I could have tied in "shoot" with any kind of sport or ball. What a doofus, hahaha.
So much for a violence free school zone. Good grief. Maybe I should skip making up my own sentences for their spelling words from now on and use the example sentences in the teachers manual...........now there's an idea!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Trial and Terrors
Let me just start by saying---today was NOT a good vacuum day.
As I went about vacuuming the house this morning I nearly tripped on the chord and machinery 3 times. I was off to a rough start. Guess you could say I was a little uncoordinated today. (It's not an everyday thing, trust me.) Anywho, the task at hand was coming to an end as I began the final sweeps in my parents room. As I went around my dad's side of the bed, I was pushing the vacuum back and forth when all of a sudden I heard a HORRENDOUS, grating noise and it was coming from the vacuum! I don't know if I had looked away for a second or what, but apparently I got too close to the quilt corner lying on the floor and the vacuum began sucking it up in earnest. Hence the horrendous sound. As I'm trying to find the off button on the handle my mom comes flying out of her bathroom, foaming at the mouth. (No, she's not rabid, she was brushing her teeth, hahaha!) While she was yelling at me to turn it off, it seemed my finger just couldn't find the switch. My insides hurt from the near panic attack!
I finally got the vacuum shut off and it instantly let go of its victim. My mom went back to her bathroom, and after I muttered, "Dumb vacuum....." I started to laugh (out of frustration or being scared silly till my insides hurt, I don't know.) Of course, hearing the commotion going down in the room brought my dad in from the family room. He immediately started imitating the noise and asked me what had happened. After filling him in I figured that was the end of it. Both parents left the room and I began the final step of vacuuming the bare floors in their bathroom. Apparently Dad hadn't had quite enough excitement yet and he thought it would be funny to scare me. He waited for his most opportune moment and he took it. I had my head behind the toilet vacuuming the trim, when he popped his head around the corner, made that horrendous grinding noise, and drilled his fingers into my ribs, aka-his way of tickling. My instant reaction was to grab his fingers and give him a face to fear. Funn-nay!
Dad's response, "Owww....." (followed by laughter)
As I went about vacuuming the house this morning I nearly tripped on the chord and machinery 3 times. I was off to a rough start. Guess you could say I was a little uncoordinated today. (It's not an everyday thing, trust me.) Anywho, the task at hand was coming to an end as I began the final sweeps in my parents room. As I went around my dad's side of the bed, I was pushing the vacuum back and forth when all of a sudden I heard a HORRENDOUS, grating noise and it was coming from the vacuum! I don't know if I had looked away for a second or what, but apparently I got too close to the quilt corner lying on the floor and the vacuum began sucking it up in earnest. Hence the horrendous sound. As I'm trying to find the off button on the handle my mom comes flying out of her bathroom, foaming at the mouth. (No, she's not rabid, she was brushing her teeth, hahaha!) While she was yelling at me to turn it off, it seemed my finger just couldn't find the switch. My insides hurt from the near panic attack!
I finally got the vacuum shut off and it instantly let go of its victim. My mom went back to her bathroom, and after I muttered, "Dumb vacuum....." I started to laugh (out of frustration or being scared silly till my insides hurt, I don't know.) Of course, hearing the commotion going down in the room brought my dad in from the family room. He immediately started imitating the noise and asked me what had happened. After filling him in I figured that was the end of it. Both parents left the room and I began the final step of vacuuming the bare floors in their bathroom. Apparently Dad hadn't had quite enough excitement yet and he thought it would be funny to scare me. He waited for his most opportune moment and he took it. I had my head behind the toilet vacuuming the trim, when he popped his head around the corner, made that horrendous grinding noise, and drilled his fingers into my ribs, aka-his way of tickling. My instant reaction was to grab his fingers and give him a face to fear. Funn-nay!
Dad's response, "Owww....." (followed by laughter)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Taskmaster
Our students were quietly working in pairs this morning while looking for spelling words hidden in a word search. As I meandered around the classroom I stopped near two boys who had just paired up. I peered over their shoulders to see how they were doing, and actually wound up hearing a rather interesting conversation being whispered between the two. (Although I must say I think it was rather one-sided.)
Boy 1 - whispering......"Are you rich or middle?"
Boy 2 - "What?".......very confused look on his face
Boy 1 - more forceful......."Are you rich or middle?"
Boy 2 - "Rich? Is that one of our spelling words?"......clearly
has no idea what Boy 2 is referring to
NO! I decided it was time to step in and I quickly redirected both boys attention back to the task at hand. Boy 2 could barely hear the whispered question in the first place and the confused look on his face spoke volumes.
Talk about nosy!
Boy 1 - whispering......"Are you rich or middle?"
Boy 2 - "What?".......very confused look on his face
Boy 1 - more forceful......."Are you rich or middle?"
Boy 2 - "Rich? Is that one of our spelling words?"......clearly
has no idea what Boy 2 is referring to
NO! I decided it was time to step in and I quickly redirected both boys attention back to the task at hand. Boy 2 could barely hear the whispered question in the first place and the confused look on his face spoke volumes.
Talk about nosy!
Civil Rights
I was buzzing around the classroom today when I walked past one group of students and saw a troubled look brewing on one young boy's face. (This particular child is almost too smart for his own good.) I asked him what was wrong and he quickly informed me by saying, "This person is messing with my Civil Rights. She keeps moving my desk." Civil Rights?! What 8 year old talks about that?! The only thing running through my head at that point was---man, how am I going to handle this one. While he began to explain his case about how his Civil Rights were being "messed with" by this girl who kept pushing her desk into his, I truly had to bite back a laugh. I quickly handled the situation, taking care of both parties involved in the "movement", but seriously, listening to a child talk abut their Civil Rights with such a serious face and furrowed brows was almost too much!
He'd make a perfect lawyer.
He'd make a perfect lawyer.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Wax Museum
We decided not to let a little power outage rain on our parade last night so we started up a family card game at the dining table. We lit the candles and dealt the cards. As we began to play, we noticed that 3 moths were hanging out above the table, much to my sister's dismay. We paid them no attention and began playing when all of a sudden, one kamikaze moth flew in from left field and dive bombed the lit candle sitting closest to my dad. The poor little moth didn't even have a chance. He landed right next to the flame in the melted wax, and although he tried to fly away the damage had already been done. I felt so sorry for the little guy and I jumped out of my chair from across the table to do the nice thing and blow out the candle that was still burning within a hairs distance from him. I leaned across the table and as I attempted to blow out the candle, I quickly learned once again that I can NOT blow out a candle like a normal person. Not only did it take me too long to blow the sputtering candle out, but I wound up blowing the flame right across the moth's backside in the process. I was just trying to help! Unfortunately, the poor critter was encased in wax. Needless to say---he didn't make it.
I did not want to have another "flight to the flame" episode with the other two moths still above the table so I caught them and released them outside. Yep, they're the lucky ones alright.
I did not want to have another "flight to the flame" episode with the other two moths still above the table so I caught them and released them outside. Yep, they're the lucky ones alright.
Blackout Giggles
Last night as we were sitting around enjoying dessert we experienced a blackout. I had no idea our house could get so dark! I flipped open my phone and shed some light on everyone while I went hunting for some matches. By the time I found the matches and lit a candle for my mom, my dad had already taken off out the front door with his flashlight to investigate. Of course, me and my curious nose had to follow along.
Outside, Dad was shining his light up and down the street, telling me how 3/4 of our street was without power. So there we were, goofing around and laughing when we heard our strange hermit-like neighbors across the street open their front door and shine one little lone light out onto their porch. Next thing I know, Dad tells me, "Quick, lets hide behind the tree!" As I try to suppress my giggles, I jump in line behind him---just like a couple of kids I tell ya. As we're hiding out, I notice that the neighbors are starting to walk down their driveway and before I know what happens, Dad starts shuffling up the walkway to the front porch while leaving me there with my head poking out around the tree. Of course I'm hot on his heels as I realize he is going to hide behind the front pillar. We were quiet enough that we could hear what Mr. Hermit was saying and we see him shine his light up and down the street taking it all in. Dad starts mimicking his actions and I nonchalantly tap Dad on the shoulder and inform him that he was doing the EXACT same thing not 5 minutes ago. Hahaha! While we were out there playing P.I., I remembered that I was barefoot, it was DARK out there, and there have been a few cockroaches hanging out on the porch lately. As I'm trying not to laugh at my dad's antics and give our position away, I decide it's time to hightail it inside before I step on something squishy. I start tiptoeing to the front door and as I attempt to open the door quietly, so as not to gain attention from the hermits, Dad thought it would be funny to shine his BRIGHT flashlight on me for a split second. The whole front entrance was filled with white light. How could they not see that?! Thanks Dad. At that point I gave up on trying to get in the house secretly and laughed my way in. Neighbors or not, my dad is a hoot! No doubt the hermits saw that one.
Dad went out a little later and when he came back in he said it looked like there were burglars in the house across the street................but it was just the hermits shining their little headlamp around in their living room from corner to corner. No need to panic.
Outside, Dad was shining his light up and down the street, telling me how 3/4 of our street was without power. So there we were, goofing around and laughing when we heard our strange hermit-like neighbors across the street open their front door and shine one little lone light out onto their porch. Next thing I know, Dad tells me, "Quick, lets hide behind the tree!" As I try to suppress my giggles, I jump in line behind him---just like a couple of kids I tell ya. As we're hiding out, I notice that the neighbors are starting to walk down their driveway and before I know what happens, Dad starts shuffling up the walkway to the front porch while leaving me there with my head poking out around the tree. Of course I'm hot on his heels as I realize he is going to hide behind the front pillar. We were quiet enough that we could hear what Mr. Hermit was saying and we see him shine his light up and down the street taking it all in. Dad starts mimicking his actions and I nonchalantly tap Dad on the shoulder and inform him that he was doing the EXACT same thing not 5 minutes ago. Hahaha! While we were out there playing P.I., I remembered that I was barefoot, it was DARK out there, and there have been a few cockroaches hanging out on the porch lately. As I'm trying not to laugh at my dad's antics and give our position away, I decide it's time to hightail it inside before I step on something squishy. I start tiptoeing to the front door and as I attempt to open the door quietly, so as not to gain attention from the hermits, Dad thought it would be funny to shine his BRIGHT flashlight on me for a split second. The whole front entrance was filled with white light. How could they not see that?! Thanks Dad. At that point I gave up on trying to get in the house secretly and laughed my way in. Neighbors or not, my dad is a hoot! No doubt the hermits saw that one.
Dad went out a little later and when he came back in he said it looked like there were burglars in the house across the street................but it was just the hermits shining their little headlamp around in their living room from corner to corner. No need to panic.
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