Two Joes and Two Projects

My nephew, Joe, is just a remarkable young man. 
Simply, just a amazing kid. 
I know that he is my nephew,
                        but he's just the coolest young Joe that I know.
No, seriously...he's awesome!
And those are some awesome Handerpants!

There is another Joe...but he's much older, and he's my dad. 
He's cool too, but my nephew, well, he's got a style all his own.

So, I have two Joes and two projects.  :0) 
Both ideas come from Pinterest...no surprise there. 



Their first goal is to make a bird house.  But not just any bird house, the condo-style birdhouse for the modern birds.  The original idea was a bit ambitious...so dad adjusted the concept.



The Joes worked on the birdhouse condo first.

They had worked on the basic design weeks earlier,

so now they added dividers and drilled the openings.

Joe learned how to use the drill press. :0)

Look at all of that wood fly!

They still have a little bit of work to do, but it looks really cool...

The second goal was to get an old door ready to be my new headboard. 

 

My dad, the first Joe, found this fabulous door.  It was exactly what I wanted.  Originally, I wanted a door to paint, but when I saw the old vintage stain on this door, there was no way that I could paint it.

So Joe worked on getting this sanded so that we could seal it

He had the tough job...

I had the easy job...matching the old varnish with stainable putty...then staining the edges.
The guys at Ace Hardware gave me a great tip...mix the stain with the putty BEFORE applying it to the holes. The stain doesn't take always take to the putty very well, stainable putty or not. 

I think that it's pretty close...

 Tada!

Now I just need it installed in my bedroom! :0) 

I can't wait...

...hint, hint Dad.



Today, I was blessed at the market...

Literally...I was blessed.

This happens frequently.
Last week it happened at the eye doctor.
Today, it happened at the grocery store.

I wish that I had a dollar for each one...that would be great for my retirement account!
But, instead I get a warm heart.

I am blessed by random people because of my job.

The situations are surprisingly similar...

I tell someone my job..."I'm a teacher."
                          They respond, "Oh great! Which grade?"
                                                                                 "7th and 8th..." I reply.

"Oh..." Big pause...
                        then, this is what happened at the doctor's office. 
The nurse turned to me, shaking her head.  "Oh, wow...bless you! Bless you!" She repeated over and over.

Sometimes they just say it.
Sometimes they do the sign of the cross.
Sometimes they even bow in my direction.
Sometimes they thank me profusely.
And SOMETIMES they do all of this...that was the response from the nurse at the doctor.

It's always surprising and a little funny to see how people react. 

Why is this an age that can strike fear in the toughest people?

Forget the secret service...Forget the navy seals...Need to bring in someone? Just send in a group of middle school kids.  Apparently, they're scary, and the bad dudes will surrender in no time.

I must be a tough cookie, because I LOVE 'EM!

Top 10 reasons that I LOVE TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL:

10.  They're Goofy:  Yep...they are goofy and will join in goofy antics.  Most are not afraid of doing silly things for fun as long as they feel safe.

9.  Skits:  Middle School kids love to write and perform skits.  They love to act in skits and I love to watch skits...How perfect is that?

8.  Humor:  They still laugh at my stupid jokes...even when I've said the joke before! :0)  Ya gotta love that!

7. Dance Parties:  Whoop! Whoop! They'll have a dance party any day and any time...even for 60 seconds.  Hey, everyone has to get their wiggles out during the day.

6. Coloring:  I call crayons, colored pencils, etc. magic wands because as soon as they have one in their hand it gets quiet. I think the focused coloring helps them to be calm.  But, shhhhh....it might be the only time that they're quiet and they don't have to be, so don't tell them.

5.  Trends:  They keep me informed on what is currently trendy, therefore, they keep me up-to-date in the world of teenagers.  This helps me in so many ways, especially since I don't have cable...no MTV... nothing...How would I know about Snookie and JWow without these kids?!

4.  Honesty:  Ok...yes, some kids lie...some adults lie...they've had a lot of practice lying, but generally middle school students are honest.  If you are honest with them, if you respect them, you will get the same in return.  But when a teen compliments you, you can guarantee that it's true.  If it wasn't, they would say anything at all. 

3.  Learners: Middle school students act as if they don't like school. They are actors. They act as if they are bored, but it's just an act. They are inquisitive and eager to learn. They ask incredible questions and genuinely want the answer.

2. Passionate:  Students can walk in laughing and then be crying ten minutes later...they feel things deeply, emotionally, but that also allows them to discover who they are and who they want to be.  It's fabulous to watch a student try, win, fail, and learn those things everyday.

1.  They're funny.  Period.  That's it....They're funny.  They say funny things, they laugh, snort, giggle, and fall out of their chairs.  And sometimes this happens all at once!  Mostly, they make me smile and proud to be their teacher.  There is never a boring day in a middle school.

And sometimes
I say funny things,
                        laugh,
                               snort,
                                     giggle,
                                          and fall out of my chair too. 
                                                But they get it and giggle too. :0)

Superheroes Unite

I have so many things that I'm thankful for....
I have the BEST FAMILY EVER. Enough said.  Really, they're the best.

My friends, well, they fit in the family category...BEST EVER.

Murphy...he might be picky, but he's a funny, funny dog and keeps my life full everyday.

I love my job...love. it.  I work with the most amazing group of people ever created. They love each other and love their job as much as I do. Plus, there's never a dull moment working with teenagers, and we're just weird enough to handle it with humor.

Yes...it's about that time to start thinking about the Fall and the start of school... 
Summer, for us teachers is coming to an end.  I know, I know...we're lucky, but really this time is needed to go back and give all that you need to...every day.  If you don't work in a school, then you really don't know what it's like. 

People can say whatever negative things that they want about teachers...they have that right.  People have lost their lives defending that right...so go for it, if it will make you feel better, but for me...teachers are superheroes. 


Teacher Superhero Powers.

10. Supersonic Hearing:  We can hear everything.  Our rooms are designed as a box.  This box does amazing things.  It can bounce sounds off of the surfaces and throw them around.  Plus, when you whisper...that just makes our hearing stronger. 

9. 360-degree Vision:  We can see everything.  Yes, we have eyes in the back of our heads.  We know what you're going to do before you do it. Yep.  And it has nothing to do with the fact that we've seen it a thousand times, by a thousand different students. Nope, that's not it.  It's a superpower.  We're like a fly on the wall... an awesome fly.

8. Camouflage through Stealth Tactics:  I use this one all the time. As a fun-sized person, I can blend into a crowd easily.  They don't even know that I'm there.  When a student thinks that they're doing something sneaky...Boom!  I'm there.

7. Enhanced Lung Capacity:  We can talk.  We can talk all day long.  And we can do this everyday of the school week.  Everyday, all day long.  Yeah...enough said.  For now.

6. Voice Projection:  Do you need 300 teenagers quiet all at once?  No problem.  We do that everyday.  Our voices can carry across a room and can stop EVERYONE in their tracks.  Now you try it...no seriously.  You try it and then we'll talk.

5. Eidetic Memory/ Enhanced Memory:  Defined as "The incredible power in which one remembers absolutely everything." Ever wonder how your Kindergarten teacher remembered your name and the time that you ate all of those crayons?  Yeah, teachers have incredible memories and remember everything. 

4. Intuitive Aptitude:  In case you don't know what this is (you must not be a teacher), here is the definition. "The power to instantly learn and understand the complexity and exactness of organisms, objects, and even powers without the need of long-term or special education."  Yep, we're smart.  Really smart, and we're not afraid to use it.

3. Quick Wit: Who can tell a fact, a joke, and ask a question in one breath?  Teachers can.  And it will totally make sense to the class.  Have you ever tried to teach a group of 35 teens something?  Can you keep their attention?  Yeah, well, we can!  (High-Fives all around the schools.)

2.  Iron Bladders:  You may not think of this as a super power, but it is.  Mortals without this power know the weakness that they feel when they really, REALLY have to go.  Teachers, well, we can hold it.  We can hold it so long that we forget that we have to go. 

1. Defuse Bombs:  This is one of the most important abilities for a teacher.  We can defuse volatile situations quickly.  Superheroes have people that don't like them...but teacher superheroes can defuse the "Bomb" with an understanding look, listening ears, and a calm voice.  Even the most angry person or emotional teen is no match for these SUPERHEROES.

Who's your superhero teacher? 

You should tell them...write them a note. 

Kind words are our superpower fuel.

I feel fortunate that I have a summer to help refuel

and recharge me for the challenges that lie ahead.

With my other superheroes beside me, there is nothing that we can't handle...

If needed, we'll add coffee...which is our second fuel.

I'm going to definitely need an espresso...a double.

Babysitting Grandma

 

Gma with a mustache...it will make sense later...

Life always comes around full circle...

Some of my first memories of my grandma, were staying at her house as a little girl.  We would spend hours playing cards, playing games, watching Young and the Restless, and then, late at night, I would sneak out of bed to watch Dallas.  Shhh...don't tell my mom.  I wasn't suppose to do that!

Now, when needed, I babysit my grandma.  She's 101 years old.  I guess we've officially changed places in life...actually it happened a couple years ago.  Yes, just a couple years ago.  Up until then, she was quite active, you know...for a 99 year old.  But she is still independent, but she definitely likes having someone around if my parents aren't around. 

So...that means me...and a Murphy dog as my sidekick are in charge.

It's always a little strange, though I'm just staying at my childhood home...I just get bored.  Sometimes I bring projects with me, but I just didn't feel like hauling extra things this time.  So...what to do, what to do...

Top 5 Things to do when I'm stuck in the country with nothing to do...

5.  Hang out with Nature:
I wish that there were a few clouds today. 
Then, I could make cloud shapes. 
But it was really clear.  Beautiful blue skies everywhere I looked. 

So....I just stared at the trees and listened to the wind. 
It was really peaceful.


4.  Randomness:
Take random pictures...and add mustaches to them.

 

WOOF-STACHE

 

3. Watch Murphy:
Watch Murphy run...watch Murphy beg...watch Murphy climb trees...watch Murphy...well, you get the idea.

2.  Catalogs:
Read every catalog that you can find and pick out everything that would never fit in my house...ever.  My parents seem to always have a lot of catalogs around their house.  The catalogs that my grandma receives are the best though.

 

 

 I want that clip-on cupholder...


1.  Watch Stupid Reality TV Shows:
I don't have cable, so I'm always amazed at how little there is on TV. But it's a good reminder why I cancelled it in the first place. One thing that I get totally sucked into are the ridiculous reality shows.

Dance Moms: Seriously...what is this? And why can't I stop watching it? It's amazingly dysfunctional, but the little girls are really talented. The moms...whoa... and coach...I don't have words...it's shocking how they can stand to even be in the same state together. Yikes!

 

Toddlers and Tiaras: Ummm....yeah...it's like Halloween everyday for these girls. Again, the parents?! I don't get it...really, I don't. So much money being spent, and some of these families don't seem like they can afford it. Of course, some of the girls look like they're having a great time...others...not so much.

Honey Boo-Boo:  Okay...I feel bad, because it's you're reading this, then you might be sucked into this crazy web.  Have you seen this?  I didn't even know this show existed and I kind of wish that I hadn't seen it.  But it really is...oh man, I don't even know what to say...just watch the clip...if you are brave.

Sorry...I know...I know...I'M SORRY that I showed that to you!

All of these reality shows take place in the South. 

Now I really want to go to on a road trip around the South. 

If this is really the "reality" of these small towns, then I want to see it in person!

Are you ready Claire? 

We could have our own reality show...or not,

because then some random blogger might write about us.  ;0P