Morning visiters.

Woke up this morning at 5:30 to mass chaos between four of these and Buster's barking. They didn't actually tangle (thank goodness) but they WERE all just outside Jessica's window. I sleepily ran past Dan with a broom over my head and he yelled, "MARY!!! BUSTER HAS HIS RABBIE"S SHOT!!! YOU DON"T!!". Stopped me.

We are hoping mama will show up but I have my doubts.

F

Wondering how the Pub Crawl went ****taps foot****

Since I didn't go I suppose I don't deserve an snapshot. Oh well. HOW DID IT GO DAMN IT???? And did Kara go shopping, take a nap or both???!!!!

I had the distinct pleasure of talking just a bit with Jayne Bautch until my hair appt. at 3:45.

Did you guys know that in Jayne's former life she was a confederate spy, killed a union soldier, served time , got typhoid, was released and allowed to live in England to recuperate? See? If I would have gone on the pub crawl I NEVER WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT OUT!!!!!

My Year.

Has been a mixed bag of ups and downs but the things that I am the most proud of are:

1) I got to the PLANT UNIT!!! Often times that one just seems to slip away. The kids LOVE to play in the dirt & I really do think plants get a bad rap.

2) My honors class went quite well I think. There were some troubles....lots of peer pressure to achieve & also popularity stuff I normally don't have to deal with. As far as my planning for "higher achievers" goes though, I worked hard, challenged them & I am proud of that. I enjoyed teaching it.

3) I got pooped but not drained mentally. Much of that I attribute to Dan so I guess I should say that I am proud of "us" there.

4) Even though I continued to forget kid's names ALL YEAR I got over being embarrassed about it. That is always a good thing.

5) Because I had planned so far ahead before the Phoenix trip these last two weeks have been a breeze...and I have been able to just sit & relax/ interact with my students on a more personal level. They really just crack me up. I think I have broken down and laughed until I nearly cried at least 4 times in the last 2 weeks. They say & do the funniest things & they know it. We have had fun together and I am really proud of that.

That's it. Now it's the typical clean up which I'm not going to sweat this year. I'm trying not to get too worked up about finishing my grades because truthfully there is nothing to get worked up over.

I am a little nervous about being home with Dan this summer. It's been two summers now that he hasn't been working. That first summer didn't go so well for various reasons. Last summer I taught ss so there wasn't so much unstructured time together. This summer , then, we will be the real deal so we will have to ease into who does what & when. You know, splitting up the "chores" and all. I'm hoping that I can just do what I used to do ( which is pretty much everything ) and give Dan a break to fish & what not. I guess we'll just have to work on it.

end of rambling...

F

How do you feel about kindle "like" readers?

I saw a couple of students reading from them last week. Just curious.

F

Today's field trip.

Well I did it. I took 27 kids on a field trip to St. Johns and it was a piece of cake. I didn't get worked up over it, I had fun & laughed even when the boys were throwing sticks around and the girls screeched at seeing spiders and everything.

Not sure what was different. Maybe that it was just 27 kids. Maybe because it was just one afternoon. Maybe because my med bag didn't have any mind- altering drugs or epi- pens in it. Yeah. I think that was it mostly. I felt that I could manage just about any scenerio thrown at me. Oh. And I had no parents to impress or contend with or judge me. Just Dan & the gimpy bus driver. I could have taken both those guys on with both hands tied behind my back. I mean I have a black leather motorcycle jacket now. But in reality and as my step dad would say (and has said to me many times growing up) "Well, you're really just half- tough".

Worked today!

Flash!

BIG NEWS!! WOOT!

My first cousin, Colin Puckett, & his wife are expecting a baby boy in about 7.5 months. Who cares you say? WHO CARES???? The whole fam cares!!! It will be the first Male Puckett in over 60 years!!!!!
I have already bid on and won a toddler size Twins #34 Puckett Jersey. Original for the time period, no cracks to the lettering, needs a little hemming.

I'll post later. ANOTHER PUCKETT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So damn exciting :)

FLASH!

The ERC and what I learned...

Experienced Rider Course....rode down yesterday, stayed overnight, class at 8 am, posted this on the motorcycle forum I frequent.

In a curve, straightening the handle bars is important while braking and it is harder (for me) to do with a heavier motorcycle. But I CAN do it... and need to practice.

Apparently it is mandatory for me to drop my motorcycle whenever I take a class.
( this is totally unrelated to above statement.)

I must admit, I'm pretty good in the box, and with most exercises that require a good head turn and press and roll.

Instructors must like citrus. Squeeze "like an orange" 3 years ago "like a lemon" today. Speaking of food:

Eating nearly an entire medium Davanni's thin crust, extra cheese, mushrooms and pineapple on a queen-sized bed alone in a hotel with HBO should be done at least once in one's lifetime. Once.

Rain is not bad; a downpour really isn't much fun.

If you don't somehow incorporate the concept of "Carpe diem" while taking a msf course you pretty much are an idiot. Thanks to all of the encouraging words. A great experience.

Just wanted to get this all in before the end of the world...