Music and Poetry

Well I made it through another year and another March 22. It's been 6 years without Dad, and I have to say that it hasn't gotten easier. Some days feel harder than others, some days are okay. But there is definitely not a day that goes by that he doesn't cross my mind. There have always been certain songs that make me either A. Cry my eyes out or B. Smile when it comes to memories of my Dad. Heres a short top 10 list of what can trigger a pile of an emotional Casey:)
No Particular Order...

1. Raise Me Up- Josh Groban
2. Forever Young-Rod Stewart
3. What I Cannot Change-LeAnn Rimes
4. Very Last Country Song-Sugarland
5. It's Not Suppose to Go Like That-Rascal Flatts
6. Who'd You Be Today-Kenny Chesney
7. Days Like This-Van Morrison
8. Fire and Rain-James Taylor
9.Wonderful World/Over the Rainbow-Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
10. Let It Be- Beatles

Sunshine

I love the fact that I am sitting here on our living room floor with the sliding door and windows open! okay, so it's not 70 degrees out, but there is sunshine outside, and that is all that matters :) Spring is just right around the corner. I just finished grading some papers, and completing report cards (what a task!). So this means that there are only 9 weeks left of school until the kids are out for the summer! 9 weeks folks! It seems like I just got in the classroom, and I feel like I am just getting settled in with knowing the kids. Time has gone by so fast! M y goal for these next 9 weeks is to do my very best, whether its a great day, or a challenging day. God hasn't given me anything yet that I haven't been able to handle.

On a side note...It was Phil's 27th birthday on March 10. We kept it low key, and had a few friends over to eat some dinner, hang out and chit chat, and play some board games/Wii. I had some help with my mom for baking his birthday cake. I was really trying to get everything done, but by the time school let out and I actually finished half of my work, it was 4. So thankfully I called my mom when school got out and told her that I was planning on baking Phil a cake, but was running short on time. Being the good and supportive mom she is, she baked a cake for me. Which helped me out A LOT! So I snuck it home and frosted and decorated it. Over all Phil had a pretty good birthday. He got a ton of cards from friends and family. Me on the other hand, being a bad wife, did not get him a card, and I felt absolutely horrible! I swear, I need to take a time management class! Either that of find a way to add 3 hours to each day.

Phil getting ready to blow out his candles *Friends* Birthday Boy ;)

Anyways, enough babbling....I've got to finish weekly progress reports. I am going to Aunt Mariannes tonight for dinner, and for some helpful advice on how to teach poetry using Lucy Caulkins ;)

Aaron's Birthday and March

Today I slept in until 11:30, and it felt good. I rolled over in bed only to call time and temp to check and see how warm it was out. I am so ready and eager for warm weather. It was 56 degrees out. Not too bad. It was also warm enough for me to get out of bed and motivated for the day. However, after about an hour, I noticed it had gotten gloomy out and was starting to rain. "Ugh", I thought, but just appreciate the fact that it isn't snow!

We have already seen a week in March go by. March is full of all sort of events. March started off with my brothers 29th birthday. I called him on the way to United Art & Education. I chatted with him about random conversation bits. I really do wish that he lived closer. We always used to fight and argue growing up. My brother wasn't your average kid growing up. He was always getting himself into something. Whether that was a detention or suspension from school. Or the one time he brought home a few mice from biology class and hid them in a cage in his closet for a couple of days from my mom. She eventually found them when Lucky, our cat at the time, kept scratching at his door. Every Saturday, I would try my best to get up before my brother to beat him to the TV remote. Because if I didnt I would end up watching fishing. My parents were always so supportive of my brother, but he was a teen with everything on his mind but school. He ended up moving out to his dads during his sophmore year of HS. I eventually saw less and less of him. In March of 2002, when everything happened with my dad, my brother and I seem to understand each other on a very different level. I can happily say that we get along today better than ever. He has turned out to be a good guy. He has his flaws, which are his worst habits. But then again, everyone has a few. He's a good husband and father. I just think it took him a little while to get through a few rough patches in his life to get where he is today. I guess with time and a little patience, things did turn out.
So as we approach March 22, our family will go through yet another year with out dad and his smile, his loud laugh, and family love. It has been one of the hardest things to try and adjust to. I still hate the fact that he is not here, and wont be coming back. I can only hope that I can make him proud.

Quotes On Teaching...

The Good.....

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." ~William Arthur Ward

The Bad.....

"We expect teachers to handle teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and the failings of the family. Then we expect them to educate our children." ~John Sculley

The Ugly.....

"Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more." ~Bob Talbert

The Funny.....

"The only reason I always try to meet and know the parents better is because it helps me to forgive their children." ~Louis Johannot

The Reason I Teach...

Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them. ~Author Unknown

Is It Over Yet...

The last thing I wanted to find when I woke up this morning was....snow. And quite a bit. I had to work at the Emporium today, and finding snow was making it hard for me to get my day started. Well eventually I got ready and trudged myself out into the bittttteerrr cold, brushed off my car, and headed to work. Work went well. I can honestly say I love my job there 98% of the time. I am now back at home and it is so nice. First, our dish is out because of the crazy wind and snow. Which I totally dont mind, because I feel like that is all Phil does, is watch that damn TV. So it is really nice to just have some chill out kind of music on. Peace and semi-quiet. So as I sit on the couch with Phil, who is playing his PSP, I find it extremely calming to look over at our plasma and see it off. However, I feel like I should be picking up or cleaning something instead of playing around on the computer. Which is new, and I absolutely am addicted to all of the fun new features and details you can do on this laptop. My mom bought me the laptop as a graduation gift. I got one when I graduated HS, but that was 5 years ago! Which is crazy :/ Well, I am starting to think of how I should start being productive. I think thats a big problem for me. I can never just sit and watch a movie or TV. (Thank goodness for Wii)I need to be constantly moving, thinking, cleaning, or doing something. Please tell me I am not the only one who is like this? :D
Me and my Wii character...its almost creepy