Working hard.

As I write lesson plans today, I have on SoapNet to watch old episodes of One Tree Hill. (Judge me all you want, but that show is good.) But the episode that just ended, from season 5 in case you also enjoy One Tree Hill and would like to follow along with my rant, contains a major relationship mistake. (Ok, probably more than that but let's stay focused.)

Background: In an earlier episode, Lucas proposed to Peyton and she freaked out at the commitment involved. (Nothing wrong with that!) They stopped seeing each other and he got involved with another girl. (I don't want to talk about that.)

Anyway. In this episode, we learn that Lucas has proposed to New Girl! (Blech.) Using Peyton's engagement ring. Seriously. He proposed to a second girl using the first ring. Which, sure, he already had it and blah blah THAT IS NOT THE DREAM. Gentlemen, take note. If we have put up with you long enough to consider marrying you, we want our own ring! We don't want the She Said No ring from your past. We don't want the Well I Have This Ring So Maybe I Will Propose ring. We. Want. Our. Own. Ring. I think that should be very clear, in case anyone was hesitant.

Bonus: this season gets into the psycho nanny storyline.

No seriously, I'm not done with this topic.

Recently saw a commercial for the Glade motion sensor unit which terrorized my house for quite some time. (A Google search tells me this is called the Sense and Spray. Do your best to avoid it.) It featured happy family members milling around a living room while the Glade hisses like mad.

I see what you're doing here, Glade. Obviously you've read my blog. And it must hurt to learn that not everybody loves your precious little Sense and Destroy. But this blatant personal attack? Is not cute. Or classy. Your unrealistic depiction of a family under the iron rule of your little minion is wholly misleading to the general public. Like I'm supposed to believe that this family isn't startled by the sudden output of noxious fumes? Like they don't mind the scent overtaking their home and threatening their safety? As if they actually ENJOY what is going on around them??

RIGHT. Better luck next time, Glade.

First Impressions!

Our school calendar for the week is stupid.

I guess I should preface that. I love days off, particularly when they aren't days everybody gets off--they feel more special--and I love them even more since I have a real job now. But this week? Was stupid. Students Monday morning, then teacher duty day in the afternoon. No school Tuesday-Thursday, and back for Friday.

Like I said...stupid.

However, having students in the morning only gave us the opportunity to go out for lunch. One of the teachers called me and asked if I wanted to go with some of them. I'm excited about the idea of making new friends, so of course I said yes. Panera was crowded, so we headed to On the Border. (Love it there.) The other teachers wanted to know my backstory, so I tried to make myself sound interesting and relatively normal and cool enough that they might continue to invite me to socialize. (Tough work, let me say.) Getting their life stories, I began to feel confident that these were people I could bond with! Coworkers I could sit with at meetings and CAN YOU TELL I'M EXCITED ABOUT NEW FRIENDS?

As I tried to hide my desperation for female friends and/or possible counselors for when I inevitably make bad personal choices, our waiter brought our drinks. Listening to a story, I felt a shock of cold water on my back. The table looked stunned and I tried to process what was happening. In what was a total accident, the waiter lost balance of his tray and a water and pop chose to show me some love.

So. Trying to play it cool? I should have known my coworkers would soon enough get to know me and realize that I can't really play it cool. We all had a good laugh and honestly, it could have been so so so much worse.

It could have been hot coffee. Or someone else's margarita so I spent the rest of the day reeking of tequila in my elementary school classroom. I could have been wearing white. Or on a date. Or wearing a material that required dry cleaning. (Alright let's not kid ourselves with those last two, hm?) I could have been with my boss, or heading back to teach instead of spending my afternoon alone in my classroom. The waiter could have been a douchebag. But once the floor was mopped and I began to laugh, the other ladies laughed with me and welcomed me to the staff. It was memorable, to say the least.

And so it was reinforced that I really, really cannot be taken anywhere. My favorite part was calling my mother once we got back to school. "Hey Mom..." "Hi...." she said, knowing full well that it was not a social call since I was at work. "So...I went to lunch with some of the other teachers today!" "Oh, that's nice. How was it?" "It was great! But...can you bring me some dry pants? I had an accident."

*Before I head off to get some work done today (and by get some work done I mean drink more tea, bake cookies, and then consider my lesson plans), I have to say how impressed I was with the people at On the Border. The waiter and manager, both clearly embarrassed, stopped by our table numerous times. They took good care of us, paying for my meal and bringing a couple desserts for the table. (And a voucher for a future visit! Score!) It was the best possible dining experience I can imagine after getting drenched by beverages. Thanks, OTB!

Two days late, but still.

Best text of the week, from my partner-in-crime:

"So I just saw thieves steal toilet paper at target."

A solid good choice.

I got a job. As in, a real, full-time, salaried, benefits job. It has been a huge challenge. I've been putting in a lot of hours just trying to find my footing. That will take a while, I'm sure. Despite feeling totally overwhelmed, it's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. (Sorry boys...the truth hurts.) It's an exciting change.

It also means that until I can catch my breath at work, new posts will continue to be a little unreliable. Just like your boyfriend.

School of Shame.

I took my new class to gym today. As I walked by, I heard music playing and wondered what they were listening to. I stopped by the door and thought, "Oh, it's the Camp Rock 2 soundtrack."

And then I realized how entirely shameful it is that I should be able to correctly** identify the Camp Rock 2 soundtrack after a moment's listening.

I have no excuse for this one, guys.

**I confirmed this with my class once we got back to the room.

Just like Michael Scott.

While flipping through People Magazine, I noticed a piece about the cast of Twilight settling into Baton Rouge while they film Breaking Dawn (or as I like to call it since reading the book, Breaking Awkward). Apparently, these stars have been frequenting their favorite places for pizza and coffee, California Pizza Kitchen and Barnes and Noble, respectively.

Seriously? CPK and Starbucks? This is news? Two things about this caused enough wrath to merit a blog post. First of all, this is a headline? Twilight Cast Likes Starbucks Coffee? Because this is a rare celebrity fact? As if People isn't littered with pictures of famous people holding Starbucks cups? That should be their new name, for heaven's sake! Thanks for the info, People!

Second of all...Twilight cast, I'm disappointed in you. Way to be so neophobic, guys. You can't stretch from the comfortable bubble long enough to find local places? At least that would be worth hearing. You know, something I can't find in the freezer section at Target? (Which, I'm willing to bet, is their favorite shopping haunt in Louisiana!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaKuT3dIwfc&feature=related