Guess what? Last night I had a stress dream. Can you believe it? I'm supposed to be on vacation, but my subconcious is worrying about the first day of school! It was terrible. First of all, I didn't know what I was teaching, where my room was, who was in my class. Kids were running around all over the place, not listening, the TV didn't work, etc.

Then I had a dream where I was a giant pan-dimensional space octopus which took on a humanoid form in this dimension, as normal humans are unable to comprehend me. (No kidding, this really happened in my dream last night.)

And, I also had dream where someone was stalking me. I think it was in the space dream, which would explain why I had to leave Earth, but I'm not sure.

Lesson Learned: Seals can be as smelly as rats. I wonder who that offends, seals or rats?

Well, I just came back from my 6k steps. Had nice walk along the beach. Saw another beautiful purple striped jelly and a bunch of seals on the rocks. I guess if I had a thick layer of blubber, sharp, pointy rocks wouldn't bother me all that much.

What is more fun than a barrel of monkeys? How about a sweater full of rats!

Had both of the girls in one sweater sleeve this morning. It is very cute. Then I had one rat in each sleeve. I think they really like interacting with me. Right now, they are both staring at me from their table. Maybe they are trying to send me mental images with their beady black eyes? (Sudden urge to play with them some more and give them treats.)

Goal for the Summer: Not to gain weight.

This may sound strange, as most teachers plan on working on their curriculum and getting a lot of rest for the upcoming year, and I am the same way. But my biggest challenge will be to find something to do so that I don't spend my summer sitting on my butt snacking. Even if I stay within my points, my body is used to walking around all day, and suddenly becoming sedentary will just undo a lot of my hard work!

On another note, I am very happy! It seems that a large part of the wedding just fell into place last night. I won't tell you about it, as it needs to be finalized, but you'll like it....or, at least, you'll do it because I am the bride and it's MY day. :)

**Please note: this entry was completed on Sat, but unable to publish for some reason
Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))


The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))

The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))

The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))

The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))

The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))

The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))

The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy - George Gershwin
School's out for summer! - Alice Cooper
I made it! I made it! I made it!- Danielle Aranda

Congratulate me, for I have succeeded in surviving my first year as a junior high teacher. It has been quite a journey, and you have witnessed most of it. Strange, but the end of this year is a lot like childbirth--painful at the time, but once it's over, the pain is gone and only the good memories and good kids remain. Hmmm....I wonder what kind of hormones are coursing through my veins right now.

Anyway, it's done. I awoke with a start at 6:15 this morning, all panicky that I've overslept and was going to be late for work, then realized it was Saturday, then it hit me that it's Summer, and I have weeks until I need to get up that early again. :)))

The last day of school was good. I only had to growl at one kid the whole entire day. We just watched Space Jam or Lion King, signed yearbooks, and relaxed. One of my 8th graders, speaking for a group of his peers, said I was the best teacher they had all year, which was great to hear and made my year. I am going to miss some of them....OK, a lot of them.

HA.HAHAHAHAHAHA! I ONLY NEED TO SURVIVE TOMORROW, THEN COAST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY!

The experiments have gone over fairly well in the 8th grade. Tomorrow they are making ice cream, and they are excited about it. The 7th graders are looking forward to a movie and signing yearbooks. I'm looking forward to cleaning out my room and getting ready for the summer.

Tee Heee...the girls are eating their seeds, and they sound very cute.

nitey nite! didn't realize how late it is.

shhhh.....be vewy vewy quiet....only 4 days of school left...hehehehehe

So, do I sound like I don't like school? Because that isn't true. I do like what I do. I just need a break and it'll be good to start from the very beginning of the year (a very good place to start.)

My 7th graders were excellent today! We read about the human reproductive system, and no one was rude or crude. I was impressed. Tomorrow we do growth and development.

The 8th graders extracted DNA from strawberries. I think they liked it. They kept saying how gross it was, and I couldn't believe they really felt that way. It was just strawberries, water, ethanol, and shampoo. That, surely, isn't gross??

ONLY 7 MORE DAYS REMAIN!!!

I can't believe how stupid I am. I agreed to chaperone the 8th grade dance tomorrow after school. That is going to be a bunch of tweens bumping and grinding, and I have to make sure they maintain a safe distance between them. bleh. But, on the other hand, it will give me a chance to see them have fun. And I might dance, too.

BUT THE BIG NEWS IS THAT NEXT WEEK IS THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!!

Sh*t! I just remembered I am supposed to meet with some Ventura County Education people to see if I am 'FULLY QUALIFIED to teach. bleh. All this from a president whose state cheated on their test score. Maybe that is the way to go.

I know, I am just as surprised as you are to be hearing from me so soon.

It is 6:45am and I just arrived here at school. I am getting ready for my day, and, to be honest, I don't want to be here. There, I said it. It isn't that I don't like what I do, I am just tired. But, you all have been hearing me complain about that for...weeks? months? anyway, only 8 more days after today!

The kids are falling apart, but with that in mind they are doing a good job in my classes. I'm trying to make it easy for all of us, so we don't go crazy before 18 June.

10 more days of school! Nyah nyah nyah!

So far, so good. Even though there are 10 days of school left (can I get an "AMEN!"), part of me wonders if I can make it. Of course, I have no choice. This last Friday was the first time in my life (OK-in recent memory...and as a woman my memory spans ages) that I was ssssssooooooooo happy to see a weekend. I've been working for years, some crap jobs, some tiring jobs, but never had I been this ecstatic. I did a TGIF dance a few times after the kids left.

To gear up for this upcoming week, I've taken it easy. Very easy. I did very little work and took 3 long, hot bubble baths.....aaaaaahhhhhh. I even read a cheesy woman's magazine (Good Housekeeping) and lit a candle. On Friday I had a beer in the tub, yesterday I had a nice big mug of mint tea w/chocolate powder. Tonight was just me and the mag. Now I'm relaxing as Tim prepares dinner. I'm going to do dishes in a bit.

What else.....Oh, yeah. I weighed in today. Actually, I didn't and that is big news. Last week I did and was relieved to have lost 1.2lbs. But the experience of the gain (see 24 May blog), with the help of Tim and Betty (my WW leader) I realized that I have given the scale too much power. I let this thing and its 3 little numbers control my happiness. Tim suggested I keep off the scale for a few weeks, and that's what I'm gonna do. So, I went in today and DID NOT GET ON THE SCALE. It felt very.....free. I never knew how much of my behavior revolved around WI. Listen to this: because I knew I wasn't going to WI, part of me wondered why the heck should I stay in my points and exercise? That was a big red flag. I shouldn't be trying to make the scale happy, I should be making myself happy and healthy. I changed my focus. I did stay on program for me and my health....and to keep off the 50+ lbs I lost. Not only that, but I had a beer on Friday ( I usually try not to have any alcohol after Wed...possible bloating), ate a late dinner Sat nite w/o worrying if it'll show up on the scale, I showered before the meeting and wasn't concerned that some water would still be hiding in my hair, I drank my coffee in the car on the drive up, and I wore jeans....not my usual WI clothing. Whew!

Now I just gotta hang on for 10 more days......