Day 47

Mardis Gras! It's no Bourbon Street (and there was way too much snow), but the hurricanes were a-flowing. Happy Fat Tuesday!

Day 46

What is this new and foreign white stuff? The stuff that turned my 17 minute commute into 50?

Yep...six more inches on top of the 30+ inches we already had...

Blame it on the groundhog.

Day 45

Happy Valentine's Day. I'm not going to get all mushy and gushy on this very Hallmark holiday, but I will say that it was a perfect day. I got to spend it with all of my Valentines... I'm a lucky girl!

I hope everyone had a great day! Hugs to all!

Day 44

Going once. Going twice. Sold. (Not to me!)

Kevin and I went do a pretty huge art/antique auction this morning in the Shadyside-ish area (near Construction Junction). Now, I've only been to two other estate auctions, but this one was something to see. There were probably 50 people in the seats, but dozens and dozens more were tuning in from eBay and IM. To my left, a row of laptops were set up with people calling out the bids from the absentees.

The most interesting bids were on a short mink coat (two online bidders waged a war with the winner coming out with a coat and almost $2000 short). There were also tiles that we thought would go for about $50, but they ended up going for almost $2,000....probably etched with unicorn blood or something! Crazy!!!

We did "win" a vase, but it kind of doesn't count since we weren't there to raise our number, but it will still look nice. :)

Day 43

Data. There was a reason I wasn't a math major. Today was in-service and it was all about...yep, data. Students' math scores, reading scores, the percentage they'll score a Proficient on the PSSAs, their Lexile level, their rate of improvement, their chances of growing to be 5'11 or taller, blah, blah, blah.

Now, I get the importance of SOME of these numbers, however, after studying all of these scores for 300 students, they don't tell a lot more than I already know. I know the good readers. I know this lower level readers. But, we all want the kids to learn how to learn and to show improvement. So, for this, I will analyze this data and use it to plan my lessons...until we get new data and we'll start all over again.

Day 42--Snow Day #4

Snow Day #4. Wow. I have to admit that I'm still not bored, but it was good to get out of the house today. I was lucky to get to go and visit my new little cousin and my uncle while they kept an eye on each other.

Aiden gave me one look and started to cry, but a minute later he was fun and all smiles. We played, read books and chatted (and babbled) all afternoon. He is too cute! It was a great way to spend a snow day! :)

Day 41--Snow Day 3

Today's 365: We all have some sort of hobby or favorite activity. Make a photo that shows something you enjoy doing.

Well, I was torn between reading and geocaching, but the outdoor elements made me choose reading. This is a smaaaaal sampling of the books on my entertainment center. Just there, I have about 200 books and have 4 other book shelves in my house. I can't think of a better decoration.

This is an accurate sample of the books I like to read...Beginning with red: Memoirs, professional non-fiction, contemporary/funky non-fiction, chick lit, poetry, and YA. "Regular" fiction should be in there too.

Right now, I'm reading The Help, a book about two maids during the civil rights movement in Mississippi. I highly recommend it...and I'm only 100 pages in! Hopefully I can finish it today.

Day 40-Snow Day 2

Snow Day 2
I'm not complaining. This is nice.

Since not too much happened today (other than a 45 minute terrifying trip to Giant Eagle), I decided to consult the 365 Challenge.

Today's Challenge: Franz Kafka said "Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." Make a photo of something beautiful today.

Since snow photos are overdone these days, I decided to "make a photo" of the six roses that still grace my end table. Their first birthday is on Saturday. They are beautiful in everything they represent...mainly because I never thought they would make it to their first birthday.

Day 39--Snow Day 1

What's a better way to spend a snow day than with some Racko (and Diet Canada Dry)? This is my favorite game of all time and as soon as I got to my parents, I was begging SOMEone to play. My mom ignored the first few requests, my brother claimed he had work to do since he left the office early, and my sister went to the gym. I'm sure my dad would have played if he didn't have to go to the Pitt game. My mom finally caved for a tournament and she became the Racko Champion of the Universe. There. I said it.

(Sometimes you just have to let people win so they'll play with you again.) Kidding, Mom. ;-)

Day 38

More shoveling and snow blowing (photo) happened at my house on Sunday. Kevin and I trekked to the South Hills even though the interstates were completely ice covered and I still had no power or heat. It was back out to the North Hills when we were done...3 hours later...

Day 37

By noon on Saturday, 23 inches fell.

The day by the numbers:
Hours shoveling: Almost 5
Driveways shoveled: 2 (plus one on Sunday)
Socks worn: 8
Advil taken: 4
Hours of sleep needed by the end of the day: 11

When's spring?

Day 36

Friday night: 10:00ish

The snow started falling like snowballs. There were probably 4 or 5 inches at that time. Little did Pittsburghers know what they were going to wake up to in the morning...

Day 34

Book Blogz! Today was the fourth graders' introduction to writing their own blog posts. Until now, they've only been able to comment on posts written by teachers. I think they got the hang of writing their book reviews and commenting on others' posts. I expect they'll get better, but here's an excerpt from one of my favorites (that was posted in the final 5 minutes of class):

This book (14 Cows for America) is amazing I am so suprised that it didn't get picked for the caldicot gold medal or at least the silver one. my favorite part in this book is when the illustrator painted those shoes when he returns to his home town.

Comment 1: I was very disappointed when it didn't win. It' s a really great book that has amazing pictures and has an amazing story to it.

Comment 2: Same here, I was very surprised.

Comment 3: I like the book too, good job.

Day 33

Before we started our tutoring session today, Avery had to show me the battlefield he set up in the few minutes between when he got home from school and when I got there. I was surprised at the detail of Marble vs. White Coat armies. Notice the two marbles by each cannon and the "White Coats" in the boats across the "river." He really wanted a photo of it, so I let him take the picture for today.

Day 32

It's going to get a little tricky now that January is over... I can't just go by what the date is!

Anyway, I snapped this photo on my way into the grocery store tonight. Not only was the sky a beautiful color (One girl in front of me said, "Ooo...the sky is beeetiful. It looks like a volcano."), but it's also the first time since October that I've been home after work while it's light out. With only one tutoring session and a grocery stop, the sky was still lightish at 6:05 when I got home. It's getting better every day. Nice.

Day 31

Borders Part II

If you didn't read Part I of the Borders saga, I recommend doing so before reading Part II!

So, after receiving some donation money this week, I "had" to make a trip to the bookstore to buy some books. Now, this is usually a very fun thing to do, however, knowing that Border's was the only bookstore that was anywhere near me today, I had to go back (even though I said I wouldn't).

You can probably guess the first shelf I checked out... and yep, right there neatly tucked between Harper and Henkes was the infamous Princess Hyacinth book. Two copies, of course, right where they should be. My instinct is that these books were in the supposed non-existent "back" because I"m pretty sure they weren't strewn all though the other shelves. Keep track of your books, people! That's all I'm going to say.

Oh, ok, one more rant about Borders is that it's starting to look like a toy store in the children's department. Srsly! Why so many toys in a BOOK STORE? Ugh!!!! Does anyone else find this totally disturbing??

Day 30

525,600 minutes... How do you measure, measure a year? In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee? In inches? In miles? In laughter? In strife? In 525,600 minutes...

For all of you "muggles" out there, if you haven't figured it out yet, the title of my blog comes from the lyrics of one of my favorite songs in my favorite musical of all time, RENT. I have seen RENT 8 or 9 times...I've lost count...Twice on Broadway in New York and several CLO performances here in Pittsburgh, but every time I see it, I see it in a different way. It's a very alternative kind of show, but the music is stellar.

Last night (after a delicious dinner at Sonoma Grille), Katie, Tim, Kevin and I saw a smaller non-Broadway cast that performed at the Byham Theater, but it still wasn't disappointing. While we all agreed that Mimi's part was a little lackluster, the other characters were energetic and had such great voices. The character of Maureen is usually shadowed by Mimi, but I have a whole new appreciation for her.

So, eight times. Did I still cry at the part when Angel dies? Yes. Did I mouth the words to almost every song? Of course. I will never forget the first time I saw the show in the New Amsterdam Theater in Times Square when I REALLy cried when Angel dies, but RENT still reminds me how to spend those 525,600 minutes and live like there's "no day but today."

Day 29

Lights. Camera. Action? Even though this isn't MY photo from today (h/t Chris Stengel), I figured I should use it to document the day.

Datum, the company that manufactures our laptop carts wanted to do a photo shoot and get some video testimonials about the ease of maneuvering the carts and how the students use them in school. It was a fun shoot and the images of the cart in the library are awesome. (I'll let you see the brochure when it's done.)

Lesson learned: I am much more comfortable behind the camera. :)

Day 27

Book Buck Store Day! Today was Day 1 of our book store and second grade and fourth grade got to "buy" one of the brand new books. They actually "bought" the right to be the first one to check it out. I made dedication stickers with their names on it to put inside and when they are done the students will do a book talk project to get others to check it out too. These second graders will make PowerPoints to share with their class.

The students love Book Store Day because they "finally" get to see the new books and have one with their name in it, but I love it because the kids get so into it. The sharing and the discussions are just what every librarian wants. What's even better is that I saw one of THE most reluctant second grade boys carrying around his book all day and his nose was buried in it when I walked by him after school. Awesome.

Day 26

My sister had a book growing up called The Valentine's Day Grump. Now, I'm no grump, but I think it's a totally overrated holiday. However, what's even more annoying is the amount of Peanuts paraphernalia that pops up around this time of year. Who made the Peanuts the national spokespersons of Valentine's Day? What is cute about a dog on a pointy dog house? Or a boy with a dirty blanket?

I snapped this picture of the card section while I waited for the nice lady to blow up the mylar balloons I need for my lesson tomorrow. There are only six cards in this shot, but believe me, there were DOZENS more Peanuts cards in the isle. I'd say at least 30. 50 maybe.

Perhaps I should go into the card making business...