Just so darn tired

I know I did not post last night.  As the title suggests, I was just so darn tired.  We ate chips, tacos and dip last night from the local Mexican place.  I picked them up on the way home.  We were finished with supper by 4:30.  After piddling around the house for a while, I hit the hay at 7:00.  I even missed the OK State/IA State game.  Of course, it was a great game.  Steven stayed up and watched it all.  I was zonked and didn't even make it through the first quarter.  What a wimp.

Steven had a good Friday.  He didn't do a whole lot.  Well, at least that he has admitted.  Using my Nate the Great detective skills, I know that he did spend some time on the mower mowing leaves.  Of course, he has no idea what I am talking about.  Here are the clues; tell me what you think.
1.  The mower's engine still smelled when I pulled into the garage.
2.  All the leaves on the side yard are gone and there is a big blow pile on the tall grass just at the border of our yard.
3.  He was freezing when I got home, and I had to do the warm blanket routine.
4.  He would not look me in the eye when I commented on how the wind is good to us and blew all the leaves out of the yard.
5.  Really stressed how bored he was in the afternoon.

Yes, the boy was on the mower!!!

Today we had a semi busy day.  We went to breakfast at the Red Barn.  After that, we traveled to Lockwood to get the deer meat.  This time we got deer sticks, tenderloins, deer sausage, and jerky.  The deer sticks are good.  Some of them have jalapenos and cheese mixed in them. We tried some.  Steve, Amelia and Jeff like them.  I think they are a little hot.  Some of the deer sausage has pepper Jack cheese in it too.  We have not tried any of it.  I have been taking two sticks of jerky with me for snacks at school. I really like it except it makes my jaw sore.  Yea, I know.  You would think since I am a jabber machine that there would be no way my jaws would get sore or tired :)  We did nap this afternoon.  You know how we enjoy those afternoon naps.  After that, we turned on the television and watched Missouri win and FINALLY become bowl eligible.  WEEE HAW!!  We have already eaten supper and are now lounging as we watch LSU kick Ole Miss' butt.  We are waiting until 7 so we can see OK play.

I have been going to the gym very regularly.  I went this morning and did the elliptical for 20 on what they call sports intervals. You know it is normal for 30 seconds and then kick butt for 30.  It really makes you sweat.  I also did my crunches and Romans then 5 minutes of cool down.  I had a really nice visit with the lady that owns the gym.  We talked about my changes and her weight loss for the BJ tournament last weekend.  She is really in great shape.  She has mongus shoulders.  I was very impressed. They had a BJ seminar today, and she told me I should stay.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  No way!  I would like to watch them practice or at a tournament.  I think it is like wrestling.  I was a huge wrestling fan when I was in high school.  Go HORNETS!!!!  Well, honestly, that was probably because I was in love with one of the wrestlers.  I loved to watch him wrestle; even though, I hated the little outfit he wore.  He was actually very good.  The best part was when the ref would slam the mat when he pinned his opponent. I think he is now an organic chicken farmer north of Kansas City.  I guess God knew what he was doing.  I would not be a very good chicken farmer's wife. Boy, life was good in high school!!!

This coming week is going to be a short week at school.  We go Monday and Tuesday.  This will be wonderful.  In my class we are writing our rough drafts of our research papers.  I must brag on my sixth graders.  They did a wonderful job on their bibliographies.  I now have no hair, but they rocked. Bibliographies are difficult for kids.  It is a skill that I introduce and hopefully they master in sixth grade.  It is a lost skill since there are so many websites that do it for you now.  Research is a new skill too.  I believe until 6th grade, they simply master and practice the skill of plagiarism.   The old read and copy!  Another hard skill that we work on is reliable sources.  Kids think that anything that looks like an authority, must be.  They simply hit Google and then explore the first two sites listed.  I did tell them if they used Wikkipedia that I would flunk them.  Oh well, if they knew everything, I would be out of a job.  I did have a past student tell me this year at parent teacher conferences that the stuff I taught him in 6th grade helped him in his high school and college class.  Who could ask for a better compliment....mission accomplished.

Did I mention that I am reading Hold Still the banned book I blogged about maybe last week.  Talk about a great book!  I love this one.  I am about 7/8 of the way through it.  It has dropped the F-bomb about 8 times.  It does talk a little about sex, but no descriptions, just that the girl regretted choices she made.  I find this book very touching.  I would guess that it is very realistic and the feelings and emotions in this book are pretty true to life in these situations.  The lead character's best friend kills herself.  The book is about her struggle to deal with the loss, deal with the reactions of everyone around her, deal with finding new friends, and life in general.  She was unaware that her friend was so depressed; therefore, totally shocked at her best friend's death.  One thing the book has taught me is the role that teachers play in students' lives.   The girl was counting on her favorite teacher to help her though the school year, but the teacher simply ignored her.  The teacher was also having a very difficult time dealing with the death.  I do think it tugs at the readers emotions, but it also gives hope that no matter how bad things are, it can get better.