Oops

Looks like I need a new curling iron...

I pushed the ON button, and it pushed through the base!

Things I’ve learned as an art teacher:

• I can make a hair tie out of any writing/painting implement, string or a glue stick and a rubber band.
• Sometimes, a kid just needs a hug.
• No matter how careful you are, if you get out the glitter it will be EVERYWHERE.
• If they suddenly get really quiet, even if you didn’t see it, someone did something really stupid.
• Always have a complete change of clothes on hand...down to your shoes.
• A fourth grader can fit 5 brand new crayons in their nostrils.
• Kids will eat clay. And they will be surprised that it tastes like dirt.
• If you give them paint, students will look like Aboriginal Warriors before they leave the room.
• Black pants are the biggest blessing ever!
• That white goo on the table…not necessarily glue. (Yeah, that’s nasty--to clarify, it was a giant lugie--, and yes it happened today.)

Go Cubs, Go!

It was a beautiful evening for baseball! Ben sent me a text saying he had tickets for the bleachers...My first thought? "I'm in!! They're playing the Padres, right?"

Here's my random shot of the bleachers while I had a beer and waited for Ben. I was playing with the camera on my new phone.
I realized it's been forever since I've sat in the Bleachers at Wrigley. I know it's been more than 15 years...I think 1989 was the last time I was out in the Bleachers!! My Grandfather, who was a HUGE Cubs fan, used to tell my to ride my bike to Wrigley (about 6 miles). He knew that due to low attendance, after a certain inning, they'd let me in for free. My instructions were to "stand under the left field exit sign." He always could find me standing there when he watched the game at home on tv! Irresponsible? Maybe. At least he knew where I was!!

We, of course, sat in the left field.

To Ben's right, there was this ridiculous blond. UGH!! I couldn't believe that they let her sit there!! Seriously. Ben posted all about her antics on his blog. I do appreciate the confidence that my fellow Bleacher Bums had in me...and for the record, I could have taken her! (Check out Ben's blog for more details--see, Ben? I plugged your blog!!)

After the game I made it home...thanks Jack for the ride, but no more giving the over served girl sharp objects to play with!! (I believe I may have stapled my finger to a tow truck...)

Aside from Blondie (and the stapler), it was a great night, good times and of course a CUBS WIN!!

Nice Tales

Just when I thought they were all little bastards...

One of the girls in 6th grade brings me a rose this morning and says "Happy Mother's Day, Ms. B!"


Ok, they're not all little bastards... :)

Nutty Frogs

I've been sharing this story with others, and just haven't had the time to blog about it...but it's too crazy not to share!

I was talking with this guy...he seemed normal enough (and this is where I was clearly wrong). We were making plans to go out when he asked for a favor.

When I asked what it was, he said "Can you not eat peanut butter the on the day we go out?"

I responded "Oh, are you allergic to peanuts?" (Because that would be logical, right?!)

He replied "No, I just don't like peanut butter."

I laughed because I thought he was kidding. Then he said, "No. I just really hate peanut butter."

Yeah. I decided I liked peanut butter better that that guy. No worries ladies, I'm sure he's still out there!

Try again...

Dude? Why is Tony Romo throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game?

What the crap? You couldn't find a single other Chicago sports player to do it? Sure he went to EIU, but he's not even from Illinois, he's from Wisconsin.

What marketing genius thought of that one?

(For the record, I do enjoy the plethora of pink in the game today!)

Little Bastards

One of the little bastards in my last period class stole my cell phone out of my desk drawer. I'm so frustrated with the amount of stuff that's been stolen from my classroom. (UGH!! Those little fuckers!!)

I have no phone numbers...so if you want to talk to me, either call or email me your info. (My phone number is out of service until I get a new phone.)

The Flying Pig

Pigs have flown, and I have run a marathon (the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinatti, Ohio, to be exact!). That’s right, in just over a year of taking up running, Bethie has completed her very first marathon!

Now, this marathon had the potential to be the worst marathon ever. First of all, the marathon started late. Turns out that there was an extra alarm fire at mile 22 and the race course had to be re-routed, adding an extra quarter mile to it (No problem, after 26.2, why not make it 26 and a half!).

Then this awful woman yelled at me around mile 6. Now, I know I’m not the fastest runner in the world, so I run to the side of the course (this is a pretty common practice). This woman screamed at me and told me to get out of her way and that I didn’t belong on the course! I was so surprised, I couldn’t even move!! I’ve never seen a runner be that rude in my entire life!! Other runners started yelling at her because of her rudeness. Ugh. If this had been my first race, I would have been crushed! Fortunately I know that runners are a jolly bunch and that she was just an anomaly. But seriously, if she was that worried about her time, she wouldn’t have been passing me at mile 6, she would have been a head of me already. Second, it wasn’t as if there wasn’t an ENTIRE road blocked off for runners. Finally if she was that serious of an athlete, she would have been running Boston a few weeks ago. Besides, she was wearing head phones that were banned on the course. I think the running gods or karma are going to bite her in the ass later. Really, that kind of behavior is just bad juju.

Other technical problems included me loosing ALL the Cliff Shots that were pinned to my race belt. (Note to self, don’t pin them like that again!!) I’m used to taking one every hour/every five or six miles…so that put me a slight mental disadvantage. My inhaler ran out at about Mile 8 or 9; and on that hilly course that wasn’t fun. There was also some very really chafeage issues. I was walking funny more from the skin that was ripped off my body, than from muscle soreness.

Barb and I came upon this guy who fell out on the side of the road. The dude was seriously purple. It wasn’t good. Chest compressions were given and the paramedics came. I don’t know if the guy made it or not, but it sure was scary.

In spite of these negatives, I really did have a blast! First of all, it was an all new distance for me…I had never run over 20 miles before. Second, I wore a shirt that said “Bethie’s First Marathon”. It was great to have people cheering for me! So motivating! Barb and I also got the crowd into our singing…we started singing the chorus from Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” at mile 13… (“Oh, we’re half way there! Oh-O! Livin’ on a prayer!! Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear…) Many of the water stops had themes…parrot heads, pirates, and assorted bands. Girls on the Run gave me a balloon to wear. And of course, Barb and I spent the race entertaining ourselves through stupid comments and songs.
There was also several unsanctioned beer stops along the way. Mile 21 was run just like a regular water stop. Just grab a beer and run. J The one at mile 14 was awesome! They had the “Runner’s Lounge”. I sat on the couch and had a beer. It was great!

I did dedicate some of the miles to people as I was running…it made the race much more meaningful. But the last mile, was just for me. I hit my wall just after mile between 25 and 26. I kept telling myself that “Someday, I would not be able to do this, but today was not that day.” So, I kept repeating to myself “Today is not that day. Today is not that day.” I had so much crap on my sun glasses I couldn’t see the finish line. I thought I was going to kill Barb when she pointed out the finish line, and I couldn’t actually see it. But, lo and be hold, I took my glasses off and there it was! I finished strong…You would have thought I won the damn thing. I ran across the finish line with my arms up, Kenyan style. It was awesome!