100 Things to Do In My Lifetime (Part 1)

At school, I always tell my students to set goals for themselves so they have some idea of where they are heading. Their goals serve as a guiding light for their decisions and actions. Since I do like to practice what I preach, I have devised a list of goals I have for my lifetime. This is the first installment of my list of 100 Things to Do Before You Die. I have a list of more than 25 things, but since I believe that our goals should change as we engage in more life experiences, I will only publish the first 25 goals. You may never see my complete list because I hope to make this something that does indeed span my entire lifetime. That being said, here is the first part of my list, enjoy!

********

1. Write a book.
2. Get a piece of writing published.
3. Be in a play not affiliated with any type of school.
4. Go to New York City.
5. See a Broadway play.
6. Go to the theatre once a year.
7. Experience unconditional love.
8. Marry my best friend.
9. Have children.
10. Watch a space shuttle lift off…in person.
11. Be an extra in a film.
12. Send a message in a bottle.
13. Befriend my neighbors.
14. Learn how to ballroom dance.
15. Learn to play a musical instrument with some degree of skill.
16. Spend New Year’s Eve in Time Square.
17. See a lunar eclipse.
18. See a solar eclipse.
19. Sing onstage in front of an audience.
20. Learn to juggle.
21. Find a job I love.
22. Buy a house.
23. Grow a vegetable garden.
24. Complete the Cooper River Bridge Run.
25. Read 12 books in one year.

********

The highlighted items are goals that I feel I have already sufficiently accomplished.

During the summer I dabbled in writing a children's book that encompasses social reproduction and tracking in our current school system. I hope to finalize that book this summer.

I am also currently working on #25 (Read 12 books in one year). I know that sounds simple, but now that I am out of college and not required to read several books each semester, I feel that I need to impose that goal upon myself. Obviously to meet my goal I would need to read one book each month (sounds easy enough, right?). However, here we are in the fifth month of the year and I have only read two books cover-to-cover (as a teacher, I feel hypocritical saying that). The two that I have read this year to completion are Nicholas Sparks's At First Sight and Dave Pelzer's A Child Called "It." I have been searching for the next books that I will read, but I can't make up my mind. I want my book selection to be more deliberate than just going to a store and picking a book out of the minimal collection. I would also like to read a variety of genres and a variety of topics. Any suggestions? What book(s) could you not live without? I have several books that I could not live without, but I am not going to count repeat reads as part of my 12 books for the year.

********

Shoot for the moon; even if you miss you'll land among the stars.
~Les Brown

Update

After nearly a month of anticipation, I found out today that all of the blood tests and ultrasounds came back normal...perfect, some might say. Now that we know my body has the potential to function normally, my doctor has started me on a a medication called Met.formin. This should help my cycles become regular and the doc said that hopefully I will be pregnant within six months. After all of the waiting, Hubby and I are so excited to finally receive some answers! The only bad part is that this medicine has the potential to make me very sick. We will continue to pray that everything works!

Rookie Teacher of the Year

After observations from the previous 5 Teachers of the Year and 2 administrators, I was named my school's Rookie Teacher of the Year. It is a great honor to hold this title and I am so excited! The ceremony/celebration was after school on Wednesday. When my principle called my name my family came around the corner to congratulate me. I had no idea!!

This is a picture that my dad took on his cell phone--my family forgot to bring their cameras--so I apologize for the poor quality! I received two plaques (one for home and one that is now hanging by my classroom door), a paper weight, roses, and a book dedicated to the library in my honor called The Brand New Kid.

BLAH

As a result of my long awaited doctor's appointment yesterday I am now about to start a 10 day cycle of Pro.metrium. If you know me, then you know why I'm taking it. If you don't know me, or you haven't been paying enough attention to know why I would need to take it...go look it up. I'm too tired to explain....

The Ring of Fire

So what happens when the Carrington Crew comes together for the monthly cookout with accompanying camp fire, but gets so distracted by ladder golf and good food that they forget to watch the fire? THE RING OF FIRE!

Yep! We were all having a grand time around the food table when Ben just happened to turn around to find a large ring of fire around the fire pit. Needless to say, we don't have any pictures of our backyard burning--but here is a lovely picture of the aftermath. Thankfully the patch directly beneath the fire pit is the only area that may have been burned beyond repair!


Besides the fire fiasco we all had an excellent time. We are so blessed to have such wonderful neighbors!

POST HOLIDAY SALE

Poster for Etsy Mud Team Post Holiday Sale

The Etsy Mud Team is having a post holiday sale and Hubby is participating! Check out starkspots.etsy.com and save 10% off everything in his shop. Also, check out the other participating shops for some great pottery!!

Jeff Foxworthy's Take on Teachers

You know you are a teacher if…

1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.

2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.

3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's Ms/Mr. _________" and know you have been spotted.

4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.

5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.

6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period .

7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.

8. You laugh hysterically when someone refers to the Teacher’s Workroom as a “lounge.”

9. You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 7to 3 and have summers off." (without pay!)

10. You believe chocolate is a food group.

11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside.

12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today."

13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.

14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.

15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.

16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.

17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items!

18. You ask your friend if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice."

19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils

20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and finally,

21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.

This is so great…and so true! I just had to pass it along to all the teachers out there. Enjoy!