Tales of a 5th grade Teacher

Here's a note one of the "designated" students for the "good" kids left for my substitute teacher in the hopes to not get "told" on when I returned.

Hump Day Randoms

If you are over a group of people it is nice, polite...not to mention PROFESSIONAL to know their names and how to PRONOUNCE them.

Closed mouths don't get fed, but when they are fed and full; they become ungrateful. 

We are not all alike. Respect it and move on. 

Sometimes you just need FIVE! Five seconds, five deep breaths, five minutes, five fingers closed into a fist, five dollars, five cents, five hard laughs, five good thoughts, five kind words, to use your five senses...

Moist plastic on cardboard makes it cave in.

Check your food before you leave; they hardly ever get it right at the drive-thrus. 

It's ok to say, "No."

Remaining silent for fifteen minutes calms you and relaxes your mood. (See rule of five above)

A simple thank you goes a long way.

If you want good food...make it at home!

For the love of all things Kate Spade, find the "funny" in ALL things! It's really not that serious!

Stupid F*cking Bird

Stupid F*cking Bird, by Aaron Posner, sort of adapted from The Seagull by Anton Chelhov, is intrepidly bold! Stages Repertory Theatre has a witty ensemble cast that create clever moments with comedic lines,  melodramatic scenes, and outlandish interaction with the audience, not to mention their chemistry combined to make a fun night at the theatre! 

"Start the f*cking show," is what the audience was coaxed to say in order to begin the series of events where we witnessed an absorbent amount of "We are here" self-consciousness, profane dialogue,  intertwining love webs that never quite connect, family dysfunction, and "accidental" resilience among other things. Sitting in the audience feels as if you're peeking through the back gate of someone's yard on a warm Fall night eavesdropping gleefully. Yet you feel apart of the on-stage conversation during those extreme moments in which you're asked advice or to express you're opinion. 

When Con asks how to win Nina's love, audience members are reluctant at first to answer, but then voices begin to emerge from various corners of the stage, "Stop acting!" "Tell her again!" "Give her a brownie!" After erupting laughter, both from on stage and off; the play moves on. 

I found the show to be wickedly funny with a parade of charming actors one behind the other allowing realistic vulnerability to lead their performances. I recommend a view or TWO. Even a person unfamiliar with either playwright will find humor and the "fun" in the show. The script is unrestricted enough that every night could motivate clever moments that would vary with the audience during any given performance.

Have a great day on P.U.R.P.O.S.E

Having a great or even good day each day is easy...once you have purpose! Purpose is easy once you know what if takes. I can't tell you to do something without giving you the means to do it, and then having tried it for myself! So here you go...tested, tried, and TRUE!

Pray- If not as soon as you wake up, make it apart of your day. Pray for your strength. Pray that you woke up. Pray for your sanity to get you through the day.Pray  for sound decision-making. Pray for that coworker or person that's sure to piss you off as soon as they enter your presence (lol...but truth)! Pray for your family, your friends, your neighbors. Pray for perfect strangers. Pray for your enemies. Pray for anything or anyone you want and if you get stumped, heck; pray for world peace cuz we just can never have too much of that! 

Understand that just because a problem arises or some type of conflict occurs throughout the day, even if it's multiple issues; you WILL be okay. As sure as you live the sun will rise and set. Understand that circumstances don't make the day...you do and how you handle your conflicts.

Risk disappointments from not-so-good decisions. Risk taking chances. Risk losing sometimes to gain, or just risk losing...continue understanding that you WILL be okay! Risk giving to receive. Risk throwing negativity to the wind so that positive thoughts can emerge and re-emerge throughout your day.

Prepare yourself for the day. If you know ahead of time you'll be busy all day, get proper rest the night before. Prepare your mind for the tasks ahead. Drink coffee or exercise if you're tired or cranky. Think before you speak or act out. You already know Jane or John will annoy you in some way so prepare to deflect their negativity or the annoyance that's forthcoming. If you're running late- breathe. Rushing and being unprepared won't make your day go any smoother. You are, in fact, already late.

Own your day. It's yours and not a single other person can give it to you or take the way you feel about your day from you. Once you know that, you understand that no one can make your day great but you. Set your intentions to own your day and go out of your way to make it great! If that includes eating an ice cream sundae...do it! (Okay, maybe that's just me)

Sing a happy tune! Singing is usually synonymous with happy. Whistling, humming...have you ever seen a person doing any of the above mentioned having a "bad" day?! Ok then! Hey, if nothing else has worked for you, I'm telling you, try it out! I don't care if it's, "Take me to the King," or "Hakuna Matata" sing something that lifts your mood! Music is a definite mood-changer. If you're embarrassed or around a bunch of people, let the music play in your head. They won't know unless you start belting out that one chorus or verse you just love.

Expose your intentions to have a great day by a simple smile. I'm not a fan of walking around with a huge kool-aid grin on your face but approaching someone or being approached with a smile on your face is a sure-fire way to transfer some positive, good energy. If no one else smiles, oh well! They're not in charge of your day. You are, so smile anyway. Your intentions are to have a great day. And nothing says a person is having a great day like a universal smile. 

If you'll notice the non-negotiable theme in all of the above for having a great day- on purpose- starts within. It's totally MENTAL! It's all on you! Remember that, and you're sure to have great days! 

xoxo

After-thought

"I've been meaning to send you a thank you message since the book club meeting. You really had me reflecting about pursuing my husband. I don't regret it all, but it made me think differently about some things. Thanks for asking me that and thanks for writing that book! (Blowing kisses)"

I LOVE that my first ever published book, Single Girl Gems, causes debate, dialogue, and divergent thinking! I'm ecstatic that someone thinks enough of me to share their critique, thoughts, and feedback! Thank you friend!! Hugs and kisses to you!

She's speaking of the question I asked about pursuing "your man" during a discussion the book club was having concerning one of my gems of dating. This particular gem is to allow a man to "court" or come after you. She and I disagreed and she felt that because of her bold and go-get-it to win personality she absolutely should not only go after her goals professionally, but also, go after the man she's interested in! I went after my husband. He didn't call right away, so I called him. I got his number from a mutual friend and called. I asked him out. No argument from me here. My thoughts, my opinions, her thoughts, her opinions. The only difference is...I published a book displaying mine and she read my thoughts and assessed her opinion. I understood her point and we can always agree to disagree. I asked, after hearing a bit more about their relationship and some of their early-bird stages, if she felt; had she not initiated the relationship and took on that "role" (for a lack of better words) of asking him out after not hearing from him does she think her relationship would have went another way. Here you go in a nut shell.

We went through a time. He still wanted to be out, party, hang, you know; stuff young men do. It got to a point that I was like, look now. I'm here but I'm not waiting much longer for you to get it out of your system and want to settle down with me. He realized over time what was important and that he wanted to be with me. So he knew to let it go and make it happen for us. It was rough and it took a few years but he said he knew he loved me.

After hearing that (paraphrased, of course) I asked her did she feel had she not initiated the relationship and followed my gem of allowing the man to assume the pursuant role, would she have saved herself the "headache" or "rough" time, because had he actually pursued HER he would have possibly theoretically surpassed all that shucking and jiving of the partying-young man phase and already been ready to settle down. It could've been a smoother ride. Perhaps! One never knows but that's what I said.

Listen I don't doubt the fact that EVERYTHING happens for a reason. Sometimes you gots to go through a storm to appreciate the rainbow, but at the same time...there's ALWAYS room for a what if, ya know?

I appreciate her story and guess what? She's married, so go figure! She did what worked for her. But the conversation was still there, which led to more thoughts from both parties, which led to another blog for me! Life's all good there lol!

My "Cult Classics"

There are some movies that I watched growing up and no matter what age I become; I'm going to watch them gleefully and with a sense of nostalgia! Here they are in no particular order:

Howard the Duck

Troop Beverly Hills

Teen Witch 

Crybaby

Just One of the Guys

The Sandlot

The 'Burbs

License to Drive

Skool Daze

Adventures in Babysitting

Loverboy

Madhouse

National Lapoon's Vacation 

National Lapoon's European Vacation 

Clueless 

Private Benjamin 

Summer School

How I Got Into College

Can't Buy Me Love 

Blame It On Rio

Woman in Red

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, here are some quotes I just love from him:

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” 

"Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!" 

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose."

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!” 

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” 

"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you."

“All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot!” 

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

“A person's a person, no matter how small.” 

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” 

"I meant what I said, and I said what I meant."

"The writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads."

...now go read my book! Lol

New Relationship Rule 31

You either meet them where they are and bring them where you both want to go or let them go. 

It's a simple rule. Stop feeling the need to "change" someone or some "thing" about them. How you met them, is who they are. If you desire a "change" in them you don't express that by demeaning what you fell for...you begin EXPOSURE. 

What does that mean? 

It means: you meet someone dressed a particular way. Let's say; suits and ties. So now that you've initially met them and you're dating; you "decide" they should stop wearing suit and ties all the time and loosen up there look. Perhaps, you decide, that they should wear more casual clothes, especially to a barbeque. Well, instead of rudely insisting that they change and stop wearing suits and ties all the time; how about you BUY them what you desire them to wear? Offer a gift or two. 

You met someone that wears their hair curly, curly, curly and you'd like to see them try a "new" style. Perhaps, you think, they should change it up and go straight. Book them an appointment to a local salon and encourage them to try the new style you'd like to see them in. 

You met someone a coffee shop yet you like an occasional cocktail. Instead of complaining to them how "bored" you are with going to "quiet" places; plan an exciting day or evening out. 

The point is: how you meet a person is how you met them. I'm not saying you can't desire change, but instead of being annoyed with the person you fell for not changing...try some EXPOSURE before you say regrettable things to them that critiques the person they are. In the long run it'll save on hurt feelings, annoyed stares, and uncomfortable debates.