Oh this just doesn’t need any commentary from me, other than I had the dream castle when I was a kid.

Poll: Scariest thing ever…or Funniest?

I’ve been thinking on this since Valentine’s day. I was never one to go and get all depressed over Singles Awareness Day, and personally when I walked into a restaurant on Feb 14 and saw couple in matching red outfits I thought they just looked silly not out of jealousy…because, they actually looked silly. But I have realized something though, maybe it’s the Facebook I AM ENGAGED!!! LOOK AT MY WEDDING! OOOH MY ULTRASOUND WAS TODAY, WANNAAAA SEEE? notes that keep swirling around me. I realized, I am not 12.

This may sound like a strange realization to have, since I haven’t been 12 for 15 years now, but I have always felt about 12. That same insecure middle school starting (we Jr. High for use LHS jokes) feeling. Like I am still on edge waiting for some jerk to snap my bra, and for me to trip with a tray of food in front of a room full of people, or have someone  laugh at how my chest size made it impossible for me to do the limbo (yes, thank you, you are so kind.) I’m still in the mode of fear I will do something dumb and everyone will make fun of me —”They’re all going to laugh at you!!”

I know I’m not who I was when I was a teenager, I’ve had so many experiences that have took me in new directions…but I don’t FEEL that different personality wise. The fact that I always look younger than I am doesn’t help in this regard. People assume I am a kid, so I still act like one, it’s an excuse to wear pink hats out in public and pigtails, and not be taken seriously. Apparently my greatest fear is TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, based on how many times I am legitimately upset and turn it into a joke.

I seriously think that if there was a movie ever made about my life I would be the quirky sidekick….yes I WOULD BE THE SIDEKICK IN MY OWN MOVIE. I was always the girl with a good amount of guy friends…who were all interested in one of my other friends, and used me to vent about said girls.

So what does this have to do with Valentine’s day? It’s the famous line mother’s all over the world tell their little girls “You have to love yourself first” and I, as you might have noticed, seem to hate myself with a passion. My mother gave me a link to an online dating site, which I am not taking seriously, but sure, I made an account months ago because if my own mother has given up on me and wants me to date online, I guess I should pretend to make an effort

Every time someone messages me on a site like this and says something complimentary I just assume they are insane, because who would compliment me….okay most of the people on sites like this very well may be insane. Like how I’m pretty sure this 56 year old that messaged me drove my school bus a few times when I was a kid. Also this 47 year old who said “can we chat sometime, maybe meet and do something?” That sounds…like something one should not reply to. And now a 43 year old. This is soooo boosting my self esteem.  Hmm, and this fellow who messaged me several weeks ago and then forgot and sent the same generic message again that he must send to all the girls.

So my experiment is showing interesting results. I should note that I have NOT replied too any of these people.

This leads me to the question of WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME THAT ONLY 56 YEAR OLD BUS DRIVERS want to date me?

I have examined the problem and have come up with the following reasons:

1. My hobbies and interests are just too specific and unique for anyone to connect with me, and feel they have things in common with me. I mean I like strange things like, watching movies, and TV shows, going to the movies, reading emails (typo edit, originally this said EATING EMAILS, which Kat told me might be the reason I am single haha), being online, books and reading…Hey. wait….

2. My look. I’m not sure if these relatively older gentlemen are messaging me because they want to date much younger women, or if they are creepy men who like girls who look like teenagers, because there is not a day in my life so far that I have actually looked 27. I’m 23 on a “I’m going to dress like a grownup day.”  I look at some of my co-workers who are similarly aged and I just feel like I’m the little girl playing dress up compared to them.  Put-together is not a description that matches me very well.

3.) Because of my job. I think I mentioned that a friend of mine was feeling a bit iffy about a guy she went on a few dates with (and was still not sure if she liked or not) hanging out with us at the Casino the other night. He wanted to bring his friends too, and she told him that that was okay, her friends weren’t really into bar hopping with the guys because “One is in a relationship….and the other is a Librarian.” Thanks? Also, when guys think “Librarian” they seem to think shy, mousy and socially awkward on the outside but deep down she is wild!!!  I’ve got that mousy and socially awkward part down perfect, but that’s it. What you see is what you get, there really is no such thing as Naughty Librarians, or School Teachers (okay, yes the Elem Teacher that was fired for being on the bikini boat) but I mean in real life people are just people, they don’t have hidden dark sides…I think. I know I don’t.

4.) Because I have such high standards, no really. Here is what I want in a guy:

a. He should be able to wrap presents, because I am really bad at that.

b. he should also be able to open jars and things for me without making fun of how weak I am, because it is NOT about weakness, i just have child sized hands that make it hard to open things.

c. he should probably be able to cook, since I tend to catch things on fire when I try.

d. He should not be embarrassed if he walks in on me dancing and singing along to the Go Go’s or Operator Please or …Kelly Clarkson…

e. He should know that when I scream “It’s a SPIDER, GET RID OF IT, GET RID OF IT!!!” there is an unspoken (because I am paralized by fear) :”but don’t kill it please, just get it the heck away from me” added to that.

f. It would help if he liked to put things away, especially clothes, because I HATE putting laundry away, it’s my least favorite chore. I am all for scrubbing, cleaning bathrooms, really. Just folding laundry and putting it away is an issue.

g. He should probably like insane Cats, because Sadie is a bit mental.  Right now I swear she is trying to aim her little foam cat toys into the garage can. Is there an NBA for cats?

h. The use of decent grammar is needed, I’m not a grammar Nazi (def not spelling Nazi either since that would be hypocritical…as I had spelled Nazi wrong as pointed out by Chris) but,  really,  ”yous” is not a word here people.

i. He should not be a 56 year old bus driver. Or really over ten years older than me, because that just screams CREEPY.

j. I would say He has to be taller than me (because I need help reaching for things), but really….who isn’t

I think the real issue is, where do 20-something meet people Think about it.  I work in an Elementary school, so work is not an option. How many guy elementary teachers did you have, really? I’m not a bar person, never was, I can’t ever hear what anyone is saying. Through friends, my friends leave the house about as much as I do…maybe less.

I suppose I should get a few more cats and just offically give up haha. But there might still be hope, perhaps 27 is too young to go into Crazy Cat Lady status…I hope.

I’m going to start a new blogging idea tonight. I work with kids from age 5 to about 11 years old, and they are soooo funny. I live my job so much because even in the days where I teach the same exact lesson as the day before the students make the class periods a completely different experience.

My cousin, hi Tara, asked me over Twitter, if my students said anything funny/cute lately so I thought I’d share things like that with a blog topic. No names included and only the things I deem as too amazing to not share will be used lol

I’ll label these as tmss in the blog. There were some cute ones today

First, I had a little boy not looking at me during the story time, I was worried he was crying but I realized he was yawning. Our school doesn’t have room to have full day k classes, so this boy was part of the PM class. They came to school st 1:00 and came to library around 2:15 or so.

When I asked him what was wrong he said “I’m Was almost falling asleep…I’ve been in school FOR HOURS!!” it was too cute.

During the same class, the same boy was lifting himself up on the table and I told him he didn’t need to be any taller, as he was the tallest in the class already.

Little girl: “No, that’s you! You are the tallest in the class, Miss Chrusch!”

…that’s abnormal as I have second and third graders my height and talker and it made my day! But then I noticed that this was only true because my helper mom wasn’t standing up at the time.

I'm going to the UK!!! and...apparently now I am blonde...uh?

It’s official. I just paid for my European Vacation in full today. Other than classes, that is the most I have EVER put on a credit card, and I found it to be physically painful. My dad always said about himself: “I’m not cheap, I’m FRUGAL.” Well, not me, I’m 100% cheap and not afraid to admit it…as long as I am admitting to cheap as in not wanting to part with my money….and not the…other…meaning.

In general it will be about 5 days in London, and then another week of driving around the English and Scottish County-side. I keep hearing wonderful things about about Scotland…I know it’s a tourist trap but I think I HAVE to go to Loch Ness. Yes, I know those photos are admitted fakes, but I spent my childhood taking out Loch Ness Monster Books from the Library (along with Amelia Earhart books….and anything about Kittens.) I loved a great mystery even then. I later convinced myself I would be the person to discover without a doubt who Jack the Ripper was. Wasn’t sure how, since I have no science skills. I also wanted to see Nessie for myself, and find Amelia Earhart alive and well on some deserted island (Amelia being born in 1897 would make that hard, but I never claimed to be good at math. )

My goal in life was always to work for the CDC in Atlanta…which is odd again, since I have no science or math skills. But I just love puzzles, secrets, trying to get to the bottom of something. Suprisingly I don’t read much from the mystery genre though, unless it is a YA book with a mystery in it. But, straight mysteries written for grownups about grownup things *yawn*

I also love European History, War of the Roses type stuff. My favorite class in High School was one where we had to memorize the kings (and queens) of England and list them in order. Again, I know, I’m insane.  As an English major I always took European Lit over American Lit if I was given the option.

Lauren and I are off to the UK in July, which gives me plenty of time to worry about how much of a bad idea it is for ME (who gets lost in parkinglots) to be wandering around Europe.

I stressed myself out for no reason this week. I had an observation that went fine, the only time my observations go poorly is when I FREAK MYSELF OUT BEFORE HAND, but somehow I pulled myself together. Already got my feedback, so I don’t have to fret about this all weekend (and the news was good.)

I had today off, it was an embedded snow makeup that we didn’t have to use, as we only had a delay so far this year. I spent last night playing with the wii until after 1am, then I slept in until 9:30. Lovely.

Today I went on an insane cleaning spree, like pouring comet on the floor and scrubbing like a crazy person. I worked mostly nonstop until 5:30 or so, forgetting to eat, and I’m still not done. I have clothes on my bed and the dryer that need to be put away. I don’t know how one person can have so much stuff.

Speaking of apartments, I finally hung up the paintings I’ve had since this summer (and a few from last Summer) to finish up my decorating. So here are new pictures…dun dun dun!

Look the ROOM IS CLEAN!!

Finally hung something up behind the couch, the blank wall was driving me nutty. I really like the French Cafe painting.

Added another painting and a pink chair that came from my grandparent’s house.

New PC

Decorated the back room to inspire me to exercise more. that Russian Theater Poster is from ALA in 2006 lol

1. CHUCK, TOMORROW:

You really have no idea how excited I am that Chuck was not canceled, or was canceled but the folks at NBC were drowning in Subway subs and didn’t want the Chuck fans to kill them, and they renewed Chuck. You know where I’ll be tomorrow night. I’ll have to lesson plan early because my night belongs to Chuck, he is totally the spy I was looking for haha. I just love this show, I miss my Alias so much, so this fit my Spy needs, and yet is so quirky and funny that it fits in with my “Melissa likes TV that doesn’t take itself too seriously” needs as well.

2. Lost: Feb 2

I was never a Lostie, I would watch the big important episodes, and pretend I knew enough to unders

tand, but until last month I ha no idea. I spent about 2 months watching every Lost Episode Season 1-Season 5 in order, and I can’t wait until Season 6. Yeah, late to the party.

3. Parenthood: March First

When I saw this preview about an hour ago I literally laughed out loud. I love Lauren Graham, I wish I WERE Lauren Graham, so there is no way I would not watch her new show. I don’t even care if the first time they tried to turn this into a TV series it didn’t work, it has Lauren Graham, so this will work…because TV isn’t fun without her

4. Happy Town

Supposed to be on ABC around March, and looks really good.

5. Life Unexpected

Shiri looks pretty much the same as she did on Roswell, which is strange since I KNOW I look very different from when I was 15 and watching that show. Her playing a mother is a bit hard for me to handle, as it would have her playing a character who is supposed to be 6 years older than me or so, if she has a 16 year old from senior year of High School. Lauren Graham in Gilmore girls was playing a young mom, but she looked more like a young mom….Shiri looks…like she could be the teen girl herself, haha. It has a bit of a Lifetime feel, but maybe it’s because the last time I saw Shiri in anything it was some Lifetime movie. But I always liked her and this looks like the type of show I could get into, hopefully it will work, as I haven’t really watched the CW since Gilmore Girls. Oh wait…I watch Gossip Girl, did I just admit that out loud?

6. Emma

I don’t care if the ratings were low in the UK because Austen has been done to death, when I saw there was a new adaption of Emma I was so excited. Apparently it is going to be on PBS in late January. I had no idea until I wandered over to Green Bean Teen Queen today, and I am so happy I did. I am SO THERE PBS, count me in.

7. Project Runway Season 7

I need to remember, that even though there is all this great TV, that I do need to do other things, like BLOG, and READ, and LESSON PLAN…and EAT, I always forget to eat…

Haven’t posted in a good chunk of time, as the Christmas Season usually kills me….not that I’m really busy or anything. I am a last min person, and stress myself out by not doing anything I should, when I should.

My last post was about how I was going to make all these wonderful healthy changes in my life, which is funny since all I have been doing lately is watching Lost Seasons 1-5 and eating Candy Canes. The Second to last episode of Lost is actually playing as I type this. LOST, BTW, is freakin insane, in a good way. I watched it often, but not EVERY episode until now, so I knew the major WOA moments, but it’s the smaller connections that is making it exciting to watch. I actually watched most of Season 5 as it aired, but watching it again, now with an understanding of all the other crazy not randomness,  is exciting.

Enough of my Lost babble, my goal of finishing this before Season 6 has killed all my reading time. I had to return three unread Library books, which I am ashamed to admit.  I am reading “The Maze Runner” now which totally fits into my Lost theme right now.

I’ve been having a bit of an issue lately, a kid guessed my age at 55, either he was busting me, or kids really are not skilled at age guessing, since I still get handed Children’s menus at age 27. I went to a Mary Kay party, and was told I have to use Anti-Aging products…Maria was told she was okay to use the young people’s products but I being above 23, am a GONER. THEN a girl told me that I looked like a teenager…except for my skin, which I WANT TO PRETEND meant that I have better skin than a teen…right? That’s what she meant…do I suddenly have wrinkles? AHHHH.

So at the Party I bought some anti-aging face wash, and moisturizing cream, and something for dark circles that I fully expect will not work.

I’ve never been a product, or makeup girl, I use just what I need to get buy, foundation, blush, and lip color. I tend to buy fancy cleansers and such and never use them, so I fully except this to be the case.

Maybe if I actually start using big girl makeup and products I will no longer look 12 to the older folk (I don’t think the 10 year olds thinking I look middle age is a true testament to how I look.)

I’m debating on buying a wii/wii fit for my exercise funk I am in….or winter running gear and just force myself out of the house.

I need to post a blog, I took all these pictures thought the cleaning out process of my Grandmother’s house, and I want to document it, to remember. But when I do it makes it official, over. I handed over my set (my grandmother’s actually) of keys on Saturday. The Woman already owns the house but she gave us permission to do a final walk through with the keys since she wasn’t ready to move in yet. So that was my Saturday. I know it’s a house, it’s shouldn’t be upsetting to me it’s a place. But I keep having these dreams, that I am talking to my Grandmother, that she is down the street watching her Polka on Saturday Night, and even though the house was empty none of it was complete real because I was still going there all the time, and now I will probably never go in there again, and it’s making me a sobbing mess all over again. I want my grandmother back, I want all my Grandparents back. I’m like a 6 year old. I wish I wasn’t such a mess, I wish I was a normal girl, who ould have made them proud, not this over nervous chubby unpopular, abnormal excuse for a girl. They wanted to be at my Wedding, I failed them all on that part…well, Nanny Banfield when I was 14..

Woa, extra self loathing, sorry about that.

I think now is not the time for those pictures. Now is not the time to close this, I need time.

This past weekend I drove to NJ to meet up with Kerina, Lauren, Katherine, Kelly, Kathy and Geoff for Irish Weekend in Wildwood (I drove to Kerina’s and she took me from there.) If you follow me on Livejournal or twitter (@thecatcheronrye) you might have noticed my, HOLY CRAP I AM DRIVING TO PHILLY AND HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, AHHH RUSH OVER TRAFFIC AHHHHH messages (okay, really it was more like “This is the most boring thing in the world…look a sign for Lansdale *12 hours later* Look a sign for Swathmore *1,000 years later* look an exit for Chester that I have to not make because Chester is scary) Glad I went though, because I got to see some of my Yorkies, true Artuso, Kat, and Kerina were at the May Reunion, but Kelly I hadn’t seen since graduating, and Kathy I knew a bit, and turned out to be awesome at Condo finding, and a sweet and fun person in general. Plus, we kidnapped Geoff again, like at our May Reunion, so that was fun, he’s a really nice guy.

I will admit, there was some bar hopping, and Irish festivities involved, but I only look under 21, remember? Plus my pink girlie drink matched my cotton candy from the Boardwalk. I find being color coordinated to be VERY important in life. I don’t really remember ever doing the Boardwalk thing, I probably did as a kid, but were ocean people, sand castles and what not, rides and junk food were saved for Fairs or trips to Knobles, so, while I didn’t do any rides (I did lose quite well at the water gun game) it was really fun to just walk the Boardwalk on the way to the Irish Festival, and to come back later that night to watch Kerina and Kathy fly through the air like superheros, and Lauren wack the heck out of the baseball in the batting cages. Friday night I went out and had creepy townie men trying to dance on me, and a hippie girl telling me to open myself up to the music. No thank you, no amount of pink girlie drinks could turn me into a dancing type.

The Irish Festival itself was fun, like a GIANT GREEN BLOCK PARTY, I didn’t buy any T-shirts because I couldn’t find any appropriate for work shirts, but they were really funny. I brought my camera, but I never used it :( I was trying to keep as little in my purse as possible as I’ve been back on the back pain train, but I collected pics from everyone else’s facebooks, because I’m sneaky like that

There was a classic car show on the Boardwalk. Kelly took this picture of my favorite car, it was parked by our condo when it wasn’t at the boardwalk. I’ve never been to Wildwood before, so the Boardwalk was fun!

We went out and I pretended to be Irish, but failed, haha, but Green is my favorite color. (Kathy, Kelly, me, Lauren, Kerina)

…Well, Kathy is Irish at least. Artuso and I…not so much

A Slushy…with Rum

Kat and Geoff

Gotta Love Bar Pictures

Kerina and Kathy decided being flung around by a giant slingshot on Saturday would be a good idea, haha. Not me, I was safe on the ground waving back at them!

Pictures from Lauren, Kelly, and Katherine. I uploaded all the ones where I did not look like an idiot here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27662031@N03/sets/72157622353154623/

The ride back was fine, super quick and no traffic, got back around 7, and ordered myself Chinese.

I was pretending to be a 5th grade teacher today, a thing I do every other week, when I take the big kiddos out to recess for a half hour and watch them kick soccer balls at each other for fun. I guess we have many future goalies in-training because that is the big thing for recess. When I was a kid it was all about KickBall and Jump rope (also Skip It, Baby of the 80’s Child of the 90’s here.) I know the big thing about recess and gym is we want to keep the kids moving, as it counts towards their state mandated exercise. I’m probably too chubby to comment on this, but kids need the state and federal government to mandate how much physical exercise they get? I understand, obesity rates in kids, and sedintary lifestyles, but it’s scary that kids have to be told to run around.

When we were in Elementary School we would have a circle of girls and just chat it up, but now I suppose we would have to chat while jogging around the building or something. I started thinking more about our circle chats today, when a few of the 5th grade girls got sick of the boys kicking the soccer balls in every direction and came over to say hi…say hi and chat it up about my lack of a husband.

One girl asked me if I was married, and I said nope, “You don’t Want to get married?” I do “So why don’t you? Do you want to have kids?” Uh isn’t this a mother’s job to remark on the long term singleness of a child? (Actually my mom is great…or…she just gave up on me  years ago, who knows.)  I told them I was too young to get married ;) which prompted them to think I was 21, I can accept that, because 27 actually is a fine age to get married…I guess, I’ve never really tried it out, but I hear things.
This story didn’t depress me, it made me think back to when I was a kid at our playground chats, where I recall one girl actually told us you get babies from kissing, and how we had serious chats about what we would name our children, how many we would have, when we would get married, what we would wear. It’s funny thinking about it now, because getting married is, you know, a two person thing, but when you were little it was just a plan. “I will be married at 21 after graduating from college and become a Cat Dr. I will have two children, one named Maeve, the other Darius. I will live with my husband in a Castle in California.” (It’s very medievel, that California, I guess…)

I just find it amusing thinking back on those times, where planned your future and fully expected everything to happen as planned, even if it made no sense, because that’s how futures were, you picked them, and that was it. Then you get to 21 and think, OH when I was 8 I thought I’d be married now, hahahahaaa, and then you look at 27 and think,  wait, I don’t feel old? Am I too old? What if it takes me 10 years or longer to do this plan thing? 10 years goes by quick! I was JUST 17, but in 10 years I’ll be 37, and that’s getting old for having kids, so even though there is all this time ahead of me,  i caught this caught forming the other day: “I ALREADY FAILED THE PLAN I MADE UP WHEN I PLAYED WITH MY LITTLE PONIES, BACK when I  Thought the cute boy in class would someday love me instead of the pretty blonde girl because I bought him a necklace to give to her!!!”  (yes, I really did that) back when you thought, hey I just get married, that’s the thing to do, and not actually realize that people are single out in the world, both choosing to not be married, and those of us out there who just rather suck at being picked as girlfriends (and for gym teams)

I sort of wish I was a little kid again, it was nice to think that everything you planned and dreamed up was a sure fire fact for the future. I suppose that’s a depressing thought, I’m not saying I don’t tell my students to  follow their dreams, this is more about how when think we we are young. I love that kids think like that, it’s better than being all cynical and old before their time, but it is funny to think back on how the way you think (not what you think, the actual way your thoughts are processed) changes over time.

Oh, and there are those of you who just read this for books. I haven’t read too much lately, due to the start of school, working on “Prom Dates from Hell” and just got “Forest Born” in the mail yesterday, I am SO excited. Shannon Hale books are my favorite. I met her at ALA and she said the nicest things to me as I was about to start my Librarian career, about how I will change lives, and her new book is here and it is right on the coffee table next to me and I am bouncing up and down (hence the rather hyper run-on o’doom)

This blog was brought to you by my 5th graders, the trend of all the teachers my age getting married and changing their names, and my trusty cold medicine.

I did pick up some books today, so I thought I’d show you all my goodies a la The Story Siren’s In My Mailbox meme.

I went to Barnes and Noble to celebrate my start of school, and used my teacher discount for the first time. I think they had to be for school books, but often I donate my YAs to the Middle School or HS librarian so it sort of counts, maybe? I bought “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” and gave to Vanya as part of her birthday present, because who wouldn’t want to receive a Zombie/love story in the mail for their birthday. I seriously loved that book, Zombies are beating Vampires in my mind now.

For myself, I bought “Snow White and Rose Red” by Patricia Wrede, because when I was in 7th grade I discovered her Enchanted Forest books, which made turned me on to the whole fractured fairy tale kick that is still going on. I love her Regency Fantasy books as well, so her doing a turn on one of my favorite fairy tales that gets little love in the retelling game makes me a happy.

The other BN purchase was “Shiver” if you watch the video I posted last time I opened wordpress you’ll quickly see why. It looks fabo for sure.

From Amazon this week I picked up “Prom Dates from Hell” because I was looking for some paranormal fluff, after just finishing “You are SO UNDEAD to me” and enjoying it. This is a series so hopefully I will like it and can read the rest during these first months back to school, my brain can’t handle much more than funny fluff at the start of the school year.

Also got “Another Faust” from Amazon, because it sounds amazing, thinking what the modern teen or twenty something might sell their soul for…my choice would be cheese doodles. Never. Ending. Supply. without. weight. gain. :D

And Goodreads sent me a book! An ARC of “Alice I have been” which takes the character of Alice from Alice in wonderland and re-imagines her as a historical character and what becomes of her after childhood.

I have to read “Wings” first though, it’s due back to the Library Thursday (uh but it will be a day late because I checked it out from Lackawanna Co, and I won’t be there until Friday)

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I haven’t blogged or posted to LJ in a good while, mostly the prep for back to school, then the actual back to school sort of ate me alive. Had a great first week back, even though I was at the school that made my head spin last year (no time to get things done) they gave me a part time aid for an hour a day, which sounds like not much, but has been a life saver. I start my first week at my second school tomorrow. Maybe this work one week in one school, then go to the other school will make more sense to me this year, it was tough to keep my lessons flowing when I don’t see the kids every week and my teaching assistant can’t do the admin or lessons side of things. Still getting things down, but in general I feel more calm. I think it’s because last year I came in after having about 400 kids I saw every week, to now 2,000 kids every other week, and who I did not know AT ALL. This year, I know a good amount of names, and if not the names the personalities. Plus already the kids have told me I look prettier this year (I lost weight) and that I’m “The funny person, the funny library teacher!” meant in a HAHA funny way, I promise

I’ve been curling my hair, every day, we’ll see how it keeps up. Usually I chop my hair for the start of school to look professional and teachery, this is the first year I’ve gone in with long hair. I’m rather enjoying it though, I feel more like myself with med hair like this, and short cuts and bobs make me look more like a student than a teacher.

I bought new Librarian glasses yesterday, I never did plastic frames before, or square-ish ones because I have a small, but ROUND face and they never look right, usually are just too big. These matched my hair, so I went with it. I took those extra grad classes so I get a little raise this year, decided to use it towards glasses.

I’ve been helping clean out my grandmother’s house. This tuesday they put it for sale, by Friday a woman had made an offer, on Saturday my dad accepted the offer, sometimes these things fall though, but in general, 5 days to sell a house is INSANE. My grandmother was in the hospital for 5 days too, so this quick AHHH WHAT IS HAPPENING is a trend to this situation.

Saturday was my grandmother’s birthday as well. While mom and I were out to Red Lobster to celebrate my grandmother (it was her favorite place to go with us, just us girls) the call came in about the woman officially wanting the house, so I am guessing this is all a good sign.

I brought Sadie to my grandmother’s house to hold her there until my Landlady comes in monday and tues with someone to fix my sink, apparently my dad failed to mention this, as the woman was started to find a cat in the closet when touring the house on saturday. Yeah, oops. I also had to give a tour to the woman’s sister and father who came over to look at the house last night, which was upsetting. I was 100% in chipper tour guide mode, but before and after I felt very low, my poor dad hasn’t even been in the house since they listed it for sale. Everything is happening so fast.

So Now I’m cleaning up a storm before they come, trying to pretend that my apartment ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE THIS. I also got bleach on my new purple dress because I lack common sense.  My bedroom still needs much help, the never ending clothes pile is trying to eat me, I tossed everything on top of my bed, this usually makes me buck up and get it done so I can sleep, but I have a feeling some of this monster will end up being placed ever so nicely (TOSSED) into the closet.

I attempted to restart running last night, but it was mostly a no-go, I took a month off and now I feel back to my old RUNNING IS SCARRYYYY mind set, I was actually starting to enjoy it for a bit there. I’m going to join the ladies from work with their after school T and TH exercise club, running the track, and doing exercise tapes and such, should help, plus I should probably use that expensive machine I bought myself with my money from working After School Program at HCS when I worked there. I hang my clothes on it to dry…

Okay, are any of you following Alice Ripley’s Youtube account, because I really don’t know if she is trying to be funny, or actually having a mental breakdown:

Sometimes I watch it and I find it funny, and other times I watch and feel very frightened, like this Tony Winning Actress is going to crawl out of the computer screen like the girl on the Ring, except when Alice Ripley crawls out of the Screen she will apparently be naked and only say one word…or maybe she will wear feathers, I just DO NOT KNOW!!

I’m half done with “Chains” by Laurie Halse Anderson, I’m slow reading Historical Fiction, because I want to take in every detail but I must head over to the Library tomorrow and pick up my three books, probably the last of my “Summer Reading” My goal, that I just decided on, is to get to 30 books read before I start school. Overall this is a low number, but with last year being my first year in my new district, and learning to teach two schools, reading sadly has not been my focus. Year two should go more smoothly (depending on AR *fingers crossed*) so I should be getting back to my reading self, and I have been getting some exciting recommendations for upcoming books that I can’t wait until they come out!

The Library called I have three books to pick up, and two to return (I renewed then as to not be late today, I’m sneaky like that – one is done, just at my apartment, I still have to read “Chains” by Laurie Halse Anderson, but I’ll do it tonight in some nice airconditioned room AKA NOT MINE)

School is starting next week, Thurs and Friday are inservice days (I can opt out of Friday, but I think I’ll go in because I have lots to do) and I have been at home mostly, not my apartment. We’ve been cleaning out my Grandmother’s house (quite a job, she was a PROFESSIONAL SHOPPER) and I’ve been incharge of letting people in to fix ceilings and repair items. I’m still in shock, butI actually think seeing the house  broken up like this might be helping. When it looked exactly the same, it seemed like she wasn’t gone, maybe just on one of her rides with Judy, and I would have to keep reminding myself, and it would be fresh and awful all over again.

I can’t do much school work from home, because I don’t have Library Pro on any computer but the ones at work, I asked the office for the class lists, but one school doesn’t have them ready, the poor girl has to type up the information herself, and is still waiting for them to give her the student IDS *which I need to add them to circulation* so I’m a bit stuck. The only BIG thing I have to do before school is to add the new students into the system and make cards, which can only be done from school, and not without that information. Melissa=Stuck

Instead I am reading YA books at home where it is mostly cool, cleaning out houses where it is not cool, and playing with my iphone and twitter.

I love me some twitter kids, David thinks I am insane because my facebook status updates while I am sitting across the room without me getting anywhere near the computer. :)

Speaking of Twitter:

I’m going to the beach for a day or two next weekend, and it can’t be soon enough, I’ve been craving the beach….which is insane because 1. I hate swimming, or anything that involves me in a bathingsuit in front of people and 2. I burn like I have NEVER seen sun before.

Vanya, who has been my best friend since we were in elementary school. and I walked over to her house and invited myself over to place without ever meeting her before, is working at a Theater in Princeton NY, so I plan to hang out there, and see if any of the Ivy League boys like their girls short, round, and eating skittles…and then head over to Ocean City.

I actually have never been, we usually beached in Virginia, and Delaware as kids, and when I got older we would head over to Avalon NJ. I’ve never done a REAL Boardwalk far as I can tell. I’m going to Wildwood in September with the girls from college for a weekend as well.

In honor of the impending Beach Trips  decided to take my book (“Hunger Games” Okay, it was soooo good!!! I have my name in to win a copy of “Catching Fire”  *fingers crossed* from: http://reviewerx.blogspot.com  )

outside and get some sun. I did use SPF 70, not the 100  used last year, but I must have missed a view important spots because I have the strangest burns, I basically look like I splashed myself with boiling water in random places. Soooo I am thinking, next time I want to sit out I should get an umbrella, or one of those giant hats!

I’ve been burned farrrrr worse, but I find the randomness funny:

I’ll maybe try this another time before I brave the beach, me, my Regina Spektor CD, and my latest library book,which in this case is:

Which I am really enjoying so far, but really I am a sucker for any paranormal YA.

My father works for the State, as a Supervisor for Blindness and Visual Services, and one of the lady’s he supervises was driving elsewhere in the state with a contracted engineer and to pass the time the Gentleman was telling her about his son. Since he was three years old he has had a purpose in life, to be a life guard, which they always thought was cute that someone that young already was declaring what he wanted to do. Age 3, 4, 5, 6 and now, as a first grader he suddenly has a new desire. This little first grader wants to to be a Librarian.

Isn’t that cute? I had an awww moment, until my father continued his story. The child wants to be a Librarian because he has a new Librarian at his school and he wants to grow up to be like her, and he is reading all summer because he can’t wait to tell Ms. Chrusch about what he read when he gets back to school. The engineer lives in Dallas, and I am the new librarian in question

Wait, what? me? You’ve given up being a life guard for me? The dad said a Librarian is a step up from a life guard pay scale wise so he’s happy haha.

Well I need to stop getting down at myself, next time I do I will just have to remind myself of this story.

What a lovely weekend, and that extra day today made it perfect. Could not have asked for better weather, or a better way to spend it. Not long ago I upgraded my old Canon digital camera to…a new Canon digital camera, but there are some different settings to play with so I used this weekend as a chance to experiment.
Saturday I went for an hour and a half walk around Mellow Park, but didn’t have the camera with me. Shot some things with my cellphone, but nothing I can upload or send with my plan from 2003 that has not changed, so I’ll show you Sunday and Monday via photos instead

SUNDAY

-played around with camera trying to find a new facebook picture:

-Realize I don’t know how to smile, and decide not to waste my batteries and instead take pictures of nice things like mom’s garden

-And the pets:

-Nittany dug holes and tried to look innocent:

-Ren hunted in the jungle of the driveway

-I went for a Walk at Alyesworth

-Not much Trail, mostly rocks

MONDAY

-Went to a Parade

-Went to a Memorial Service at the Cemetery

-And finished my day at “home” by bothering the animals with the camera more

Christian was trying to convince me that my shoulder pain may be because there is a ghost on my shoulder, like in a horror movie he saw. The only thing I have killed lately is a bug or two…and plants, I do kill plants. So we are now planning a Summer Blockbuster called Ghost Bug, it will be way bigger than that Harry Potter thing that is coming out, that I can promise you.

I am watching the last episode of ER, 20 mins left, I think I will be weeping soon. I grew up with this TV show. I’m getting rather annoyed with all my TV shows up and dying. 7 Years of Gilmore Girls, Only? 15 Seasons of ER? How could they end so soon, 15 Seasons is nothing. I complain, but really I have been lucky, most of  “my” shows have made it a long time running. There are some that I love that expired far too early, like Firefly of course, and Pushing Daisies (will we ever see the last episodes.)

I recently watched the Dead like me movie, not really sure how I feel about one main character not being in it, and another being played by another actress, but in general it was great to see that show come to life again.

Yesterday I went to amazon to look up cases for the iphone. I don’t have an iphone. I think I am getting closer to making that decision though, the nepa tweetup helped, I was one of the only non-iphones there, my phone won’t even let me text people back. I am just concerned that I will misplace something that expensive, as I tend to be bad at remembering where I put my cell phone.

Sorry blog, this rambling about nothing and then more nothing is usually reserved for my livejournal.

ER Over. ER over forever.

*sighs*

new Battery’s Down might help me feel less heartbroken: