Halloween at Landmark

Landmark School doesn't mess around when it comes to holiday parties. 

First of all, it was a half-day. Second of all, the school-wide halloween party was 4th period (when I have math, so needless to say it was already a party in my mind as far as I was concerned), for an hour.

The party was in one central location and parents came to help with food and games and whatever else goes into these types of things. There were some pretty amazing games happening but there was one thing in particular I observed that made me say, "what the heck; how did I miss out on this Halloween tradition as a child?!" This "thing" was  the doughnut on a string.  Who would have thought that the act of hanging a doughnut on a string from a high bar or whatever would turn into this AMAZING phenomenon? I really, really, really wanted to show up along a line of 3rd-8th graders, ready to crane my neck just the right way to get the doughnut in my mouth. But that would show my true, non-mature, kid-at-heart ways which I feel isn't appropriate at school. With parents littered all over the place. So I decided to resist my urge to push a 3rd grade clown over in my attempt to beat all the other kids. And eat a delicious doughnut, all at the same time. Good choice? Yeah, probably.

So as a member of the math department, I had to dress up as a character that could have been in that old QUALITY show, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" Remember that show? I loved parts of it and was indifferent about other parts. And obviously because we wanted to be math related, my name had to have a math ring to it. So obviously I was Cali Q. Later. I cannot take credit for this name, however. Kudos to Abby Marstaller for this beautiful name creation. So my pretty LAME-O costume was a t-shirt I had decorated as a calculator, and to be mysterious I wore my gangsta brown hat and fabulous sunglasses. 

So what I'm saying is, since I didn't feel like I could join in on the obvious doughnut on a string fun, I stood there, Cali Q. Later, awkwardly. Yes. My costume was a calculator. Let's just face it.

I was a calculator for Halloween.

So as I said, there was doughnut on a string. But then, to balance off the awesomeness of games, there was tug-of-war. What the heck is the big deal with tug-of-war? I think that is one of the most ridiculous games ever. Maybe I'm feeling a little bit sorry for myself because I literally cut the palm of my right hand with my own fingernails because I was holding onto the rope so tight. But then again, maybe tug-of-war is just stupid.

If you had to pull the rope more than the other team WHILST eating a doughnut off of a string, now that would be a game worth throwing off all maturity and professionalism for. Maybe I'll patent and organize that game next year. That way, if I dress up as Cali Q. Later the calculator again, the awkwardness of it all will die down a bit.

LOL.

Halloween Eve at Liberty Tree Mall...

Tonight I had to get some costume materials at AC Moore. So I went and then realized I needed to stay longer than originally planned. You see, there I was, with some mighty fine ingredients for a calculator t-shirt (math department at Landmark thing...I'm still confused by the whole situation so I can't really explain...my name is Cali Q. Later tomorrow during 4th period, though...?) when I saw toddler after toddler in costume, holding their trick or treat bags. This was my entertainment as I waited in line behind some people with the same idea as me. No, I'm not saying that they all had a blue t-shirt and 2 bottles of puff paint. Their hands were littered with orange and black stuff. 

Anyway. Thing is, I was deciding whether I wanted to venture to Old Navy to look for jeans and I was torn because I had a pumpkin carving contest to blow everyone out of the water at. Side note: Rec/Leisure super star was the blower of us out of the water (!?), but I DID take what I was given, a really ugly pumpkin, and one side portrayed the pumpkin on Proactive (clear and orangey beautiful) and the other side portrayed the pumpkin not so much on Proactive (bumpy).  LOL.

So the imaginary balance scale in my head immediately fell with a crash towards the go to Old Navy side. Because why wouldn't I want to walk through a mall and see all the kids dressed up hunting for candy like the predators they are when it comes to sugar? If any of these kids read my blog, don't take offense. I'm still at that place. Remember, kid-at-heart unless we're talking snow angels and snow forts. Plus, I bought something at CVS the other day JUST SO I would feel okay about taking a free fun size candy bar from their basket at the cash register. It's true. And the tiny Baby Ruth was so worth that $1.29 index card spiral notebook. 

As I walked through the mall, I smiled a lot. My favorite was a kid who was probably about 1 and he was totally indifferent to what was going on but his parents had dressed him up and there he was, sitting (about to fall asleep) in his stroller, just like a penguin would do. Yes he was a penguin. A penguin who didn't care, in fact was a little uncomfortable about the whole mall trick-or-treat idea, was confused about this Thursday night outfit, and probably just wanted to eat his pureed sweet potato dinner in a jar and be in bed. Some parents try waaayyyy too hard. I'll tell you one thing, I will not be rushing my kids into the trick-or-treat stage. There will be plenty of years of that. And along with that will come Snickers and Twix and Reese's. Perfect. 

Also though, I will not rush my kids into the mall scene. I wonder how many of these cherubs dressed in penguin suits and awkward Thomas the Tank Engine boxes will show up back at the Liberty Tree Mall on Friday and Saturday nights in 15ish years, with REALLY low-rise jeans and hanging off of their boyfriends. Just saying. Liberty Tree Mall is crrrrazyyyyy like that if you show up at the right time.

On the way out I saw a girl I know in her Thursday best (there is a Sunday best but has anyone ever heard of a Monday best? Tuesday best? I haven't. But guess what, we all just did. I give you permission to use it. You're welcome) and yelled toward her, "omigosh that's the scariest costume I've seen here!" Joke. Get it? LOL.

Tartar sauce it's past 11 o'clock.

LOL.

Fall is my Fave.

This blog is entitled "Fall is my Fave" because I embraced the season this afternoon in the form of a walk. And I was reminded how much I absolutely "fall" in love with it every year. Hardy har har. You can LOL here. 'Cuz it's funny. A pun. LOL.

Let's pretend I didn't know my favorite season and I had to figure it out process of elimination style. Ready set go.

Winter I almost hate with a passion because of the frigidness and the snow. I would hands down say I'm a kid at heart, EXCEPT for a couple of things. One of them is I am NOT into playing in the snow. But that's weird, it's like I'm a kid at heart hypocrite because that's like the epitome of being a kid. But I could list on and on the things I like doing that are kid-like to make up for that non-kid-at-heart opinion. But that's for another blog, because I "should blog about that." Also, just like people assume I like being called "Jackie" because my name is Jaquelin, people assume that I like the snow because I grew up in Vermont. The difference between the 2 assumptions are that only one makes me want to plug my ears and say in a really loud, obnoxious yell, "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA"!!!! And this tantrum is happening while I'm walking away from the perpetrator, of course. Because I'm walking to a corner where I can count slowly to 10.

Spring. I know I'm talking about why I like fall the most, but I will take this time to say that I also love spring. *Reminder to the folks reading this, you were the ones who signed up for reading my deep thoughts. If I'm boring you because I'm talking about seasons (I guess that's not a shocker), um...just LOL and keep reading?* Anyway, spring. Spring is fun because it gets me excited for the warm weather coming. You start seeing people running and walking outside even though it's still frigid. But because it's juuuust starting to warm up a teensy tinesy bit, they exercise outside. Love it. Also my favorite thing is when the birds come back and they make their precious little chirps. I just love birds. One of my favorite sounds are birds out my window when I wake up. How 'bout these deep thoughts intermixed in this bang of a blog?! Anyway, the birds are wicked smart. Birds and wealthy old people. Florida in the winter, Massachusetts or what have you the rest of the time. I've got a lot of work to do in order to become an old person. Or a wealthy person (for starters I should find another career). I have a TON of work to do to become a bird. I have to grow wings and stuff.

Summer. I think it's safe to say most people love the summer the most. I mean, as a teacher I do appreciate what the season of summer has to offer me in the form of freedom. Oh and also ice cream. Oh wait in my opinion ice cream can be eaten any season, for any meal, at any hour (midnight run to Dairy Queen anyone?). People should start to assume that because I'm from Vermont, I love Ben and Jerry's...or just ice cream in general. You see, this way they'd be right. But summer is hot. I love the hot sun when I go to the beach, I do. And there are other times when I like the hot sun....when I am eating ice cream, when I can go outside and not wear stupid coats, when I can wear cotton skirts every day....(sometimes I LOVE trends....the recent trend of these skirts if off the hooooook.....that last word is me pretending to be gangsta....but remember, I AM talking about the seasons of the year, one at a time....who's gangsta now?) And OH FLIP FLOPS. 

FALL. What I claim as my favorite season. I love vest weather. I love the leaves. I love the sound of leaves when I walk in them. I am reminded very often of God's artistic awesomeness during the fall. Well sometimes I think of paint by numbers too, but mostly I just am in awe of God. There's a pond I pass on my runs sometime and it is ALWAYS beautiful. The pond is surrounded by trees and then the sun reflects off of the pond. When I run I have to crane my neck to watch it while I run and I always have to look back at where I'm running at the same time because one of my fears in life (probably above public speaking for me) is spraining my ankles. Probably because I'm such a pro at it. I think that part of why it's so beautiful to me is that it's all of a sudden there, off of a relatively busy part of 1A with all the cars and trucks and traffic and noise and people. And then there it is, God's reminder that HE IS. I also love the clear, crisp fall air. I love fall.

So I actually think I've realized (thank you Mr. Blog) that I love all seasons for different reasons, except I absolutely cannot stand winter. I used to say I like it because it brought basketball season with it, but honestly, I'm done with basketball and have moved on in my life. I've moved on from loving winter because of basketball season to loving the 3 other months including spring because I want to grow wings and become a bird. Or a wealthy old person. 

I've eaten too many Nips candies today. It's probably all winter's fault.

"You should blog about that"

-I made a really warm blanket with the help of a great and very creative friend. And it makes me want to be under it 24-7.

-During the sewing and cutting and ironing of this blanket we watched 3 amazing movies...one including a genie and a magic carpet, one including a red-haired mermaid, and one including a girl who has worn 27 dresses. Movie marathon whoop whoop.

-This same friend made rice krispy treats...some chocolate-peanut butter flavored and some non-chocolate peanut butter flavored. To me, they were all flavored GOOD.

-This past Saturday I spent 5+ hours in Panera with another friend.

-I participated in "game night" at another friend's house Saturday night. And her mother made a delicious meal. We played Hoopla and Rock Band (am I crazy for not being a big fan of Rock Band?)

There. I "blogged about that".  

One of my favorite parts of having a blog? People are constantly saying "you should blog about that". And it never gets old.

 A couple of things to share...

-I just saw a commercial for something called snuggles, except they're pronounced "snoogles." It's a body-length fleece outfit. And what made it so great was how the commercial showed so many different people in the snuggle. And every different person in the snuggle made my LOL in my head (does that count? laughing out loud in my head?).

-The other day one of my math students told me I looked like I was from Vermont, after I had shared with the class that I was, indeed, from Vermont. Well needless to say we took a 30-second time out from math so I could see what, exactly, she meant by that. I mean, fine I had an EMS fleece vest on over my mature teaching outfit, but really? Doesn't she KNOW I have a straight up Hamilton-Wenham purse? She couldn't explain herself and so I told her that I'd be talking to her after class. She looked scared and said, "really?" No. Okay back to denominators and divisors and fun things like that...

-I have 4 students that are my "tutees" since I'm the "tutor." I like to call them (this is the true me, not the me pretending to be mature) "tudees" because it's much funnier. One of my tudees is such a cute pie. He's in 3rd grade and I just love him. Anyway, you know how you might say, "darn", "bummer", enter expletive here, etc., when you do something by accident? Well his way of communicating this is to say, "TARTAR SAUCE!"  Well it wasn't as funny to me when I realized he might have gotten this from that STUPID SpongeBob show. But still funny. Here is how a conversation between the two of us went (we'll call him Johnny):

S: Tartar sauce!

T: Johnny, do you know what tartar sauce is?

S: Pause (this is where he is processing that incoming information at a slower pace because...he is a slow processor)....what?

T: Do you know what tartar sauce is?

S: I think so?

T: What is it?

S:....what?

T: What is tartar sauce? 

S: I don't know.

T: Have you ever had it with fish?

S:......uh....I don't remember.

So I kind of really enjoy it when he makes a mistake. Is that wrong?

I still have to work on that paper.

LOL.

What god compares to THIS!?

First of all, not relevant, but I forgot how AWESOME I am with procrastinating when it comes to papers. STILL have to write my paper. And somehow I have found so many other important and not-so-important things to do instead. From doing the dishes and laundry-definite to do things-to picking up some deodorant at CVS. Could I use the part of deodorant that is crumbling? Yes. But I have a paper to write if I don't go and pick some up. So no. I canNOT use that part of the deodorant. 

And, obviously, I wrote THREE blogs yesterday and non so far today so I obviously need to blog before I start my paper. Right?

Okay so today was church. It was awesome. First of all, I had projection today. Which means I project the words up on the screen. Pretty straight forward. What's even more awesome than that is it forces me to be at church for 75 hours. Okay fine that's an exaggeration. Five hours. Everything happens 2x. Obviously the sermon, and all the songs, and the announcements. And most days I love each and every hour. Today was one of those.

The sermon was amazing. It was from Judges and was about the generation that came after Joshua died, and how that generation really messes up big time and because they lose that meaningful knowledge and relationship with God, they end up serving other gods.

I think that it doesn't matter who you are, if you listen to a sermon about idolatry, you are affected by it. You are convicted. Unless you fall asleep or cough cough write your day's "to do" list (guilty, I'll admit it.). Because it is so freaking hard not to serve some other person or thing or idea. Okay so no, one might not be convicted because they actually worship Baal or Buddha or whatever, but I can make a long long long list of things and people that I have put before God once or more. 

Right now I'm struggling most with keeping God in first place because of work. It's new, it's exciting, sometimes just 100% stressful and rather than spending time with God in the morning (Who, really, is the only One Who can take that stress I'm feeling and do away with it like He does because He's awesome like that) I take on the burden myself and think I can make it better by getting to work that much earlier. I think God sits there on His throne and laughs a little (with love, of course) because I make this same mistake over and over.

I'll just put it out there, I used to be a quiet time champ; I'd spend like 45 minutes in the Word every morning with my mature cup of coffee and instrumental music in the background.  But that's because I "had time". And WOW I've never experienced such "overflowing" before that good year, year and a half. I experienced being saturated in God's story, in His presence, His arms. I kept thinking, "God, when is this phase going to end?" It just kept going! And because I was immersed in Him, I wanted to read nothing but good books about Him, listen to worship music constantly, and I remember my heart, I kid you not, HURTING when I caught part of some movie and the swearing was OOC.

I want to be there again.

I have been serving my work, the opinions of others and being "funny" (I can't help making you LOL sometimes but other times I try too hard), I have been serving working out...

We are spiritual beings and we WILL worship something. If it's not God it'll be something. There are no gods that can save and truly know us. On the other hand God is EXTRAVAGANT in His mercy. And He is our Savior!

I pray that my cup would start filling up again...

*Paper. DANGIT. Maybe I should eat dinner first? Or vacuum? Or iron the curtains? Well whatever I decide, God rocks.

Playing Pretend pt.2

I know I know. Third post of the day. Don't get used to it.

I am now with the friend I was to meet. And might I say we are maturely sitting next to a fireplace, she is grading tests. And I am writing my pape....uh well...oh pish posh this is about pretending, right? I'm "writing my paper" right now. Anyway now to continue my blogging.

I pretend to be an intense cyclist. I started getting into cycling this past summer. I entered the summer with nothing but a desire to start this hobby and it's October, and BAM. I officially am that person you hate on the side of the road in her full body cycling outfit with screaming crazy designs on it. The one who takes up tons of space to the right of your lane. I have TWO pairs of spandex shorts, clip-on shoes, knee warmers (don't ask, it's a cyclist thing and you wouldn't understand), and the newest addition is one of those jerseys that have the pockets in the back to hold stuff. What kind of stuff? Still trying to figure all that out.

 

On the other hand, I have so many things fighting my striving to actually be intense. The fact that I got a flat tire on route 133 in Gloucester the other day and called my *amazing* friend to come pick me up was a definite reminder that I am pretending. I even had everything I would need to change the tube and be on my way. A hand-held pump, an extra tube, and 4 little black thingies to get the tube on once it's pumped up. But again, those things I have to be prepared are all over my bike, making the bike look that much more intense and in turn, making me look that much more intense. Mission accomplished. You might say I have a pimped ride. To the naked eye, I "know what to do" when I get a flat tire. 

My dad keeps telling me I should get a little rearview mirror to attach to my handlebars so I can see the cars behind me to be safe. And I say, "Dad, don't you know I'm trying to be intense? A rearview mirror does NOT help that situation out." Throw safety out the window so I can look more impressive? Absolutely. Remember: pretending.

The last reminder to me, and the most painful one(S), both figuratively and literally, would be that time or okay fine those times I fell off my bike. Both times I fell because I forgot my shoes were clipped in. It definitely takes time to get used to. So don't judge until you try. Totally irrelevant but later this summer I fell again (100% not my fault) but this time I was on a group ride and literally RAN SOMEONE OVER, then flipped over my handlebars. I guess ironically I got the worst of it out of all the group riders, but I got up without hesitation and brushed myself off, ready to go. One of the women asked me if I was sure I was okay....piece o' cake, bunch of sallies. This said, I would honestly love to see this happen from my car. A bunch of intense cyclists riding ridiculously close to each other, looking all intense, and then one person falls and everyone else, like dominoes, falling. So funny! And I'm willing to admit it.

Needless to say I went through a whole box of band-aids this summer. Might also be because of the 2 times I fell while running. During the same run. Within 5 steps of each other. Wow. Tangent. But is it, really?

LOL.

Playing Pretend.

My first official deep thought. I'm actually doing this now so I can keep the title and feel okay about it...so I don't feel I am leading ya'll astray (that's me pretending I'm from the south).

I do a lot of pretending.

Pretending to be mature. This has come in handy QUITE a bit recently, what with all the being forced to become independent. The year/s after college really truly are a kick in the butt. You are expected to all of a sudden take control over the money that comes in and goes out. Budgets seem to be a phase for me; sometimes I'm all about knowing the whereabouts of my money and other times with guilt I hear my father's words "How's Quicken?"  It is mature to live somewhere other than a college dorm, and *GASP* have a big-girl job. 

Suddenly I find myself getting up at the crack of dawn.  I put on a collared, button-up shirt, some professional pants, dressy shoes and socks, straighten my hair, drink coffee, and leave for work when it's still dark out. Then I continue to pretend to be mature when I respond to little kids calling me "Ms. Hubbard", and I hand out homework. I try not to use phrases like "I double dawg dare you" or "you're mom (fill in the blank here)", or "you kiss yo' mama with that mouth" in my math class (and it hurts....it really is hard). Rather, I use phrases like, "take out your homework", and "boys and girls..." So needless to say when I get into my car every afternoon, I let down my tight-bunned hair (!?), trade my fake pearls for my bling bling earrings, and turn up KISS 108, happy to hear Britney Spears and maybe even a little bit o' High School Musical jams. 

So...the first half of the day is polar-opposite of the second half...

• from a low bun to a high bun
• from slacks to sweats
• from the greeting, "Good morning" to the greeting, "what up"

I could go on and on but I'm meeting up with someone in t-16 minutes and should get dressed...probably my hooded sweatshirt and gangsta HUGE black puffy vest, bling bling earrings, and weathered jeans. 

Pop quiz: what day is it? You're right! Saturday. Today my name is not Ms. Hubbard. It's Jaq. Jaq Attack, JHUBBS, whatever. Just not Ms. Hubbard.

LOL.

Blog! Blog! Yeehaw!

First off, I'd like to say YAY I'm blogging.

Second of all, I'd like to say that wow, now that I can write anything and everything, I somehow feel limited, as though nothing I write will be funny. LOL-worthy, if you will. Or worthy of your time.

Third, hmm...I could really be doing some other things right now, like writing a paper on the Highly Qualified Teacher for my Special Education Law class (just threw up in my mouth a bit). Or cleaning my room. Or doing the dishes. Or going for a run.

Fourth, uh, a little confused about who will and will not be reading this. 

But now I'm realizing that all in all, those things aside, I am really going to love having a whole page of show and tells and it will always be my turn, whenever I want. Yes I am an elementary teacher.

Some things I'm excited to write about: interactions with people I love and people I don't know, Jesus and His amazingness, funny things, lame things, food, comments made by kids, cheesy but true hopes for my future, random thoughts, non-random thoughts....yay.