Monday, August 29, 2005

the weekend FLEW

I had a surprisingly good weekend. I went to two parties - Karen's BBQ on Saturday, and a birthday thing at a bar on Sunday (for James, the guy who took pics at the last Bistro show). Karen's party was a fun time, even though my attendance was cut quite short by my brother's girlfriend's malfunctioning digestive system. But we did manage to squeeze in a good old fashioned acoustic sing-along before we left! I live for the sing-along parties! I could do that every weekend. (Seriously. Let's do it every weekend.) Tom & Doug played Weeze and Foo and Banditos (whoo-hoo!) among others, and the rest of us sang along. Some of us more than others. Although I did urge certain people to sing more (cough*Tom*cough).

So... Hmmm... I guess all can be revealed on the blog, right? Blogs just make people share things. So I'll share. It was kind of weird to be at a party at Karen's parent's house... I haven't been there in years. It was also a little strange to be hanging out with people I haven't really talked to in years. Outside of an In Theory show, I mean. I wasn't uncomfortable at all. I don't think I expected anyone to make me feel uncomfortable, but ... I guess I just wasn't sure what to expect. But it was all good. Sometimes burning bridges is a good thing. Other times it's better to keep them intact. You never know, right?

Well, it's late, and I'm trying to get back on work schedule. School starts next week, and I'm FAR from ready to go back to work. 'Night, all.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

I don't got game.

Why is The Sims so damn addictive??? I've been playing it non-stop since Doug gave it to me, and I don't even like video games. In fact, if you put one in front of me right now, I wouldn't have the slightest clue what to do. (True story.)

I mean, I have a general knowledge of what's out there. PS2 and Game Boy Advance and XBox and such. Mostly because I teach first grade, and the average first grader is obsessed with anything that will numb their brain for hours on end. But this goes way back to when we had a functioning Nintendo. (No numbers or addendums here. Just "Nintendo." The gray, boxy one. Remember that?) I played Tetris, Legend of Zelda, Dr. Mario and Super Mario Brothers (but only 1 and 3... 2 was hokey). And honestly, that's probably the last time I touched any sort of game system.

And even back then, I didn't like video games much. I remember when I used to have my New Year's Eve parties in the basement, and I'd have to hide the Nintendo in the closet so that the boys wouldn't feel compelled to play in the middle of my party.
But now it's like I'm coming full circle. Technology is taking over the world, and I can't fight it. I have a laptop, a digital camera, a camera phone, and a Palm pilot. This summer, I've been on the computer more often than not. Reading/posting blogs, researching lessons for this coming school year, playing Freecell and Yahtzee, creating South Park characters on a website Doug found, reading/writing email... and now The Sims.

Damn Sims.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

sometimes you just gotta brag...

I got my grades for last semester's classes today. Allow me a small moment of celebration, accompanied by a brief, yet tasteful, victory dance:

I got an A in both classes!!! Whoo-hoo!!! 4.0, baby!!!!

That is all.

Monday, August 22, 2005

early to rise

I'm back to waking up early this week for inservice (ah, the joys of teaching). The last time I saw 6 AM was most likely an up-all-night party. Lemme tell you, the other side of 6 AM is not pretty.

I'm starting to get that end-of-the-summer panic going on. The feeling that summer's almost over and I haven't gone on even one vacation. The feeling that I haven't been to enough parties (or thrown enough parties). The feeling that I should go out and do something fun 'n' crazy as one last hurrah before September 7th. Any suggestions?

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Sleep is overrated

So. Fucking. Tired.

Screw this 4 AM crap. I don't care how cool GA is, I can NOT stay out until 4 AM and then have a productive day the next day.

But last night's show rocked hard. (Or as Ray would say - "It owned!") It wasn't so much a show as it was a private party. No one was there except us band groupies, and that was actually pretty damn cool. At one point, I think the band even abandoned the set list. The best part of the show though, hands down, was the acoustic set. It was like some crazy jam session - one good song after another. (Mr Big, whoo-hoo!!!)

And okay, even though I'm completely exhausted, I had a blast at GA after the show. As always. But I'm still pissed that they didn't have waffles. Or soup. And that Rich took one of my chicken fingers even though he had a burger. Damnit.

So now it's already past noon and I've wasted half of my day sleeping, drinking tea (my throat is kicked - a combination of singing and the damn cigarette smoke), and burning CDs for my godson. In a few hours, I need to make myself somewhat presentable and go to a family dinner for his birthday. But for right now... the pool beckons. Later.

Friday, August 19, 2005

Am I old? (Please say no...)

Today is my godson's 14th birthday. Since I didn't know what to buy him, I decided to take him to the mall and let him pick out what he wanted instead. We spent the day at Willow Grove Mall (his request), and it was quite an experience. The last time I spent the day with a 14 year old was... well, probably when I was 14 (which was like 13 years ago).

We went to a music store, where he browsed through some choice CDs: AC/DC, Beatles, Beastie Boys, System of a Down, Green Day. He showed his obvious ignorance to good music by asking me, "Dree, what CD is 'Sergeant Pepper' on?" I sighed. Shook my head. Held up the Sergeant Pepper CD.

Then he made me feel old. He talked about some bands he listens to. One is called Mustard Plug. Now I consider myself to be pretty up-to-date on the latest cartoons, kiddie trends, and music with my first graders... but apparently, I know nothing about 14 year olds. I have never heard of Mustard Plug. I'm kind of afraid to find out what they sing.

We went to stores like Hot Topic and Spencers. He bought two giant silver belt buckles (one was a flaming Cadillac), a bracelet made out of a bike chain, an early Beastie Boys CD, and a mini Sharpie marker to clip to one of the many chains draped across his drooping jeans.

He laughed at jokes that I thought he was too young to understand. He let some curses slip, leading me to believe that he uses that kind of language around his friends. (Did I curse when I was 14? I don't remember!) He talked to me about his friends, his girlfriend (what?!?), his blog on Xanga, his plans to start a ska band. We debated the merits of Family Guy and Simpsons. We ate a gourmet Mexican meal (aka - Taco Bell). And then I had to take him home, because he "might have missed some phone calls."

Wow. He's all grown up. It's kinda scary.

(I bought Doug a kick-ass new T-shirt... he said he's gonna wear it to Street Road tomorrow, so make sure you check it out!)

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Inspiration, and the lack thereof

I wish I had something inspiring to write about.

For that matter, I wish I did something inspiring, so that I would have something inspiring to write about.

And while I'm at it... I wish I could do, think and say something inspiring every day.

And then everyone would want to be around me in the hopes that they, too, would be inspired to be inspiring every day.

I used to write more. Letters. Poems. Journals. Things that meant something to someone. Now I write lesson plans. And emails. And occasionally I sign a birthday card.

To be honest, my lesson plans are sometimes inspiring. But not in the same way that my poems were inspiring. I haven't been that inspired in over a year. What was different a year ago? Where did the inspiration go?

I wasn't inspired when I wrote this. I was tired. I'm tired of not being inspired.

And now you must be tired of reading "inspired."

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

playing God (and other tales)

My brother gave me his Sims disk to put on my computer. He said he thinks I'd get a kick out of it. And damnit, he's right. For the life of me, I can't figure out what's so entertaining about telling little computer people what to do. Is it the power? The control? The fact that I'm so bored that watching paint dry seems like it'd be fun? (Probably that last one.)

I had a Susie Homemaker kinda day. Cleaned the bathroom, did the dishes, walked the dog, made dinner, did more dishes, sewed the hem on the sleeve of my favorite green shirt. I'm especially excited about the shirt. It started unraveling in the wash last summer, and I finally got around to fixing it. But... go me! I can sew!

So here's the problem - I have nothing to write about, as is evidenced by my last few (or all) posts. Once I go back to work, I'll be chock full of amusing anecdotes and scintilating stories. Of course, I'll be too busy to blog about them.

Oh, wait - here's a fun topic. My friend is on eHarmony now. Paying way too much money to do something she can do at pretty much any bar/coffee shop/bookstore/laundromat. But her twin sister recently got married and had a baby, so she's feeling old-maidish. Anywho, she's trying to convince me to do the whole online thing, too. I told her I don't have the time or money necessary to get into that kinda thing. But it seems like more and more people are going that route lately. My best friend even met her husband on the Internet. I just think it kinda forces the issue. Meeting Mr. Right is something that's supposed to just happen, you know? But as my friend so shrewdly pointed out, "What if it doesn't 'just happen' on it's own?" I dunno... she might have a point. But for right now, I'm saving my money and keeping my fairy tale. Sue me for being old-fashioned.

Monday, August 15, 2005

I hate shopping

My trip to Wal-Mart yielded little in the way of merchandise, but much in the way of revelation. I am not in any way, shape or form ready to be around children again. Wal-Mart was full of the little urchins, and they were in rare form. ("It's the most wonderful time of the year...") Whining, crying, begging, screeching. Darting in and out of aisles, hanging off of shopping carts, climbing on displays. I wanted to run them over with my cart. One in particular, actually. A girl, about seven years old, decided it'd be a hoot to set off every blessed singing/animated/talking toy in the kiddie aisle and then run like hell.

I'm thinking about early retirement.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

one day, I'll just move into wal-mart

Why is it that there is nothing good on TV on Sunday nights? Bleh. I need to find someplace fun to go on Sundays instead of sitting here looking for something to watch.

Tomorrow seems like a good day to go to Wal-Mart. I need a bunch of random stuff, and that's their specialty. I should probably make a list of what I need, or else I'll be wandering around the store throwing stuff into my cart willy-nilly. (Do people still do things willy-nilly? They should. It's a lost art.) Okay, I need: cookie sheets (for magnet letters, not for cookies), felt, index card file box, garment rack (for charts in school, not for garments), birthday card... hmm... there must be more. Damnit. I'm gonna walk out of there with a cart full of stuff I don't even want.

Oh well.

Just for fun, I added a bunch of pics on here. I didn't think I even had that many pics of myself. Check out the one of me rockin' with Ray at the Bistro Friday night. Pretty kick-ass. I wish I knew what song that was, though.

Ooh! There's a "Night Court" marathon on TV Land! Now I have something to watch. Whoo-hoo!

Saturday, August 13, 2005

What's wrong with this picture?

I went to bed at 4:30 this morning, humming the Mr. Belvedere theme song. That's just not right.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

weekend... yay!

I'm done grad school until September. *huge sigh of relief* Got a B+ on my paper for Psych of Reading, which is a much better grade than I thought it was worth. And I think I kicked some serious ass on my final tonight... but we'll see.

I'm psyched for the Bistro tomorrow!!! I've got some people coming (cuz I pimp the hell outta this band) and I can't wait to hang out. And it'll be good to see the band again. Haven't seen them play since my party, which was 8 hours of pure acoustic sing-along fun. I need to have another party. Screw this once-a-year thing.

I got the annual "welcome back" letter from my principal today, which means I need to get my ass in gear and start thinking about Back to School Things. Maybe next week. I'm still on vacation. :)

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

I asked for this.

Grad school is kicking my ass sideways. For some reason, I decided it'd be a good idea to take two classes in the Summer II session. You know, since I'm not working this summer. Unless you count the 4 weeks of camp I did in July. So that's 4 nights a week for 6 weeks (don't ever say that "teachers have their summers free"). And of course, both classes have major projects due the last week of class, which is this week. I spent all day writing a paper that was supposed to be 4-6 pages. Mine was a little over 4 pages, but at least 2 of them were pure bullshit.

But on Thursday I'll be done. (At least until Fall semester.) Whoo-hoo! So on Friday, I am going to the Bistro and having myself a celebratory beer (or two, or three). Hell yeah.

Monday, August 8, 2005

Beer is evil(ish)

Still recovering from kick-ass party Saturday night. I'm hoarse from smoking a cigar and singing all night. And, of course, the drinking didn't help. Damnit. I never learn.