(American Honky-Tonk) Bar Association Induction

I had the day off of work today so that I would go with Eli to Montgomery so that he could be inducted into the Alabama State Bar. It was a very nice ceremony, and as always, my husband was HOT in his suit, tie, and spectacles.

The second part of the ceremony was an actual court session with the Alabama Supreme Court, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. There were 18 judges on the stage (1 of the criminal judges was absent).

Afterward we went out lo lunch instead of staying for group photo on the steps of the Supreme Court Building. And then we went to the mall to hang out at the bookstore before he drove to Fort Rucker for his JAG interview.

Some notes about the ceremony:

According to the State Bar, one of the guest speakers was from the Northern "Disctrict" of Alabama.

Signs everywhere pointed the "ADMITEES" in the right direction.

Supreme Court Justice Sue Bell Cobb said that it as "a honor" to be part of such "a exciting" time in the new lawyers' lives.

A girl was recognized repeatedly as being the sixteenth-thousandth member admitted to the Bar.

A Weekend Redemption

We had a good weekend. On Saturday we volunteered at our church's fall festival -- Eli at the "pumpkin bowling" booth, and I got roped into face painting (gladly, though). Turns out that I'm not too shabby with my impressionistic sensibilities.

Sunday, I came home from church and took a short 3-hour nap, and them immediately returned to church to help pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child. I didn't actually do any packing. I was a designated wrapper, and it seems that I have quite the reputation now for exquisite paperwork. Eli had lunch with Scott today (our pastor, who is my age) and Scott told him the church ladies were raving about my skills. Yes, that's right, I've got skillz.

I of course didn't want to go back to work today (after the Friday from HECK), but then realized that it always gets better. And, for the most part, it was. Until sixth period. But that's neither here nor there.

And right now I need some prayer in dealing with my students, one in particular. After walkers/car riders and first bus load are called, I have two students left in my class. One, R, is driving me crazy. I want to scream, cry, hit him, knock some sense into him as he talks about all the girls he likes, the ones that he broke up with, the ones that he likes to make cry, the ones that he's trying to get to cheat on their boyfriends with him. I can't believe that this is coming from a 13-year-old. He talks about how he emotionally hurts girls on purpose. It really makes me sick and I wish I could tattoo something on his forehead that would warn girls to stay away. In addition to all that crap, he also is always showing off his abs, and I have asked him to stop and told him that I would write him up if he continued to show his underwear. He's gross. And it makes my skin crawl to be in the same room as him. Again, teenagers are aliens. Gross aliens.

Teenagers are aliens too.

Well, sorry guys. I was going to write some happy blog about hearing the baby's heartbeat and hoping that it's a baby and not an alien that will make its presence known by tearing out of my abdomen at dinner one night, to the fear and terror of my dinner guests.

But, guess what? I had a REALLY BAD DAY. And that's what I'm going to complain about right now.

Yesterday was such a good day all around. My principal came and complimented me on my instruction, using Greek/Latin roots as a basis for vocabulary acquisition. He was so excited about what these children were learning that he pulled all the sixth graders (and the few seventh graders I don't teach) out of class to come down to my hallway to see my exhibit. (I have the word parts and meaning posted in the hallway, and the kids wrote words with the corresponding word parts on strips of paper and hung them under the appropriate parts...takes up a whole wall.) He was so pleased yesterday he let me leave school a little early to go to my appointment.

Today I'm sure he was sorry they hired me.

Okay, so I'm new to this job. The kids are getting used to me. But, you would figure with this being the fourth Friday in a row that they would realize that yes, we are going to do work on Friday, and no I don't show movies (thanks a lot Mr. Pearce). Today they had a vocabulary test followed by writing (7th graders) and reading (8th graders). All I got all day long was resistance!

First of all, I explained to my students my test-taking policy...for the third time. I'm careful to be very specific -- no talking (even if you're talking to yourself, and yes whispering is talking) and no suspicious behavior. I'm the official judge of this. If you have a question, raise your hand and I will come to you. Do not call out your questions while others are trying to concentrate. You break these rules, you receive a zero, no arguments, no negotiations. Consider this your warning.

I gave out about 20 zeros today--that's about 20 percent of my students. Failure to follow directions. And then they had the audacity to be mad at ME! Geez.

Also, two children in each class period today got hauled off for fighting, yelling, screaming, misbehaving, disrespecting. My principal probably thinks I have no idea what I'm doing. And honestly, today, I had no idea how to handle the children. They just didn't care.

At one point during fifth period, the little freaks started banging on their desks chanting, "We want Smith! We want Smith!" over and over. Smith is the teacher whose job I took.

The last class period of the day, I (stupidly) stepped in trying to prevent a fight, but the girl (BIG girl) wouldn't heed my guidance as I tried to lead her out of the classroom and away from the girl she was screaming at. The situation escalated and the math teacher next door, Miss Jones, who was out in the hallway, came in and broke it up. She had heard them and then through the window she saw the girl elbow me in the stomach repeatedly as she was trying to break free of my grasp. I honestly don't remember what happened, just that I'm stupid for getting involved.

Now, I haven't told anyone at work about the baby, but I'm beginning to figure that some of them know. (Am I that fat already?) Miss Jones kept asking me if I was okay and how she was going to write the girl up for assaulting me in the abdomen. Then I just wanted to cry because I didn't remember it, there was so much going on. I can't refute that it happened though because we were making physical contact while I was trying to restrain the girl, and she was physically resisting. Now I feel like a bad mother. And a bad teacher.

STOP voting for Cloris!

Okay, Dancing with the Stars fans. I've about had enough. I get it. She's the oldest contestant ever on DWTS. We're proud of her. But it is time to send Cloris Leachman home. Let the real dancing begin. Let Corky Ballas go home to his wife and children.

I'm an avid DWTS fan, and I've tolerated "stars" past who were in the mix for longer than they should have been due to fan following. I mean, how else would Master P stay so long? And Jerry Springer? But having Cloris be left in the top half of contestants? While everyone who has been sent home needed to leave, some of them deserved at least another week!

I have previously been a Cheryl fan, but I don't really like Maurice Greene. And though I love love love Tony Dovolani, Susan Lucci needs to go. I think Brooke is overrated and fake, even though I do admire Derek's choreography. So, I'm rooting for Kym & Warren, and Julianne & Cody. And I don't usually like blondes. Haha.

In the desert, again.

So, it feels like he just came home, though I know it was almost (but not quite) a year ago. Today, October 15, my friend John is back in Iraq for seven months. His first tour, he left on his birthday in April and came back in November. He didn't have to be away for the holidays. This time, he won't be back until May and will definitely be spending Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even his birthday at war.

I know that our country is at war, and I am just a wreck knowing someone who is actually over there, especially someone doing something as dangerous as flying helicopters (a Huey) for the Marines. During his last tour, I talked to my students about it. It made me mad when they wouldn't stand stand for the pledge, when they wouldn't pause their conversations, and when they wouldn't care. I know. They're 12. And they have no real idea. These kids don't even remember September 11. They were 5 or 6.

Also, John being overseas makes me feel like a coward. Of course, now I have excuses, reasons I wouldn't be accepted into the armed forces, but 10 years ago, when I was in ROTC, I decided that I couldn't go into combat, that I would rather provide support for military families as a DoD teacher. I haven't even done that yet! I've done nothing except sit back and reap the benefits of these soldiers fighting and and dying for my freedoms. I'm a bum. And I feel guilty.

I make sure I tell John as often as I can how much I appreciate that he's willing to serve in the Marines. I know it's more difficult on him this time around because he's leaving his girlfriend behind. He didn't really have any real emotional attachments before.

Anyway, I wish I could find some way to help my classes support our troops this holiday season. Ideas?