2008 has definitely been a year filled with ups and downs. As it comes to a close, I thought I'd take a minute to share a couple of my favorite moments:
1. The Hannah Montana concert. I have to admit, it was incredibly fun to sing "GNO" at the top of my lungs, even if I was the only person over the age of 30 who knew all of the words.
2. The anniversary weekend spent in a Villa in Fort Lauderdale, which Chris won at the annual school auction by blocking the bidding sheet from view both by holding mindless conversations with other parents who might possibly outbid us, and by loudly declaring, "this looks like a crappy hotel, who would actually want to stay here for a weekend!" A technique that we will be employing once again this year.
3. Snorkling with my Michigan girlfriends in Key Largo. A trip that was supposed to take us 30 minutes, but which in actuality took us 3 hours and 30 minutes including an unplanned tour of Miami International Airport's arrival and departure gates. Seriously, someone needs to put better signs on the Turnpike.
4. Taking 2nd place at our very first cheerleading competition. This was another trip that took 3 hours longer than planned, and which included a viewing of the space shuttle launch, a dark and dusty road straight out of a horror movie, and a free breakfast - really, what more can you ask for.
5. Having "the talk" with Kaitlyn. It included an enormous amount of giggling (on her part), and groaning (on my part), as well as some well thought out answers to questions that might scar her forever. Nevertheless, a favorite moment for sure.
6. Michael Phelps.
In the end, amidst economics, and politics, spiraling home values, and unforseen losses, it's been a wonderful year just because I've been able to share it with my friends and family...because I've been able to spend it with you.
Blessings on a great 2009, and lots of love from the Florida Chick
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Florida Chick Wears a Polo
Last week I wore a polo shirt to school. Well, not actually a Polo shirt …but, you know, a polo shirt – with short sleeves and a collar. The kind that Ralph Lauren made famous with a little stitched horse. Mine didn’t have a stitched horse but it did have a school logo – it was nice… the kind of shirt you wear to work on casual day with khakis and loafers, the problem is – I don’t wear khakis…or loafers. So today, on a day that I thought I’d bring school spirit to my students by wearing this polo…with khakis (c’mon, of course I didn’t wear loafers – I wore heels) instead, I brought laughter.
Apparently there is protocol for teachers that wear polos. It’s like the holiday sweater or the jean jumper, certain teachers wear them, but none under the age of 52 and only a few over. It’s an outfit that screams…”hi, I’m a teacher, now go write an essay.” To date, I’ve never been this teacher. I wear heels with everything including jeans (they make me taller than all of my students…and they make me look thin), I wear faux fur vests, and every once in a while a Hannah Montana puff-sleeved shirt. So, needless to say, on the day of the school-spirit polo, I was greeted with several once- overs, quite a few “did the school actually make you wear thats?” various raised eyebrows, and one lunch detention (seriously, you cannot say to a teacher “you look weird” without getting a lunch detention…you just can’t.) It was a banner day in my classroom in which I realized that regardless of how old I get or how much authority I have, it is still awkward to be the “uncool” person in Middle School.
I’ve tried to make up for it for it since then. The next day my heels were extra high and my jewelry was extra trendy. I said things in class like “whatev” and I talked about Twilight as if it weren’t the tackiest trend in literature since Sweet Valley High (oh, c’mon…you know it’s true). I belted out Christmas carols in class and traded in a grammar worksheet for a fun partner activity…all in an effort to regain my status as a non-polo wearing, semi-cool faculty member…and I thought I had done a good job, I thought the whole error in fashion judgment had been erased from the list of transgressions…until one of my co-workers (yes co-workers, not students) said to me with a smirk, “so Mrs. V., nice shirt yesterday.” You’ve got to be kidding me - it was a polo! It’s not like I showed up to school in a robe and fuzzy slippers! But that was it, my status as trend-setting teacher is officially gone, and apparently it’s been replaced with the title of “teacher who is only slightly cooler than one who shows up in a denim jumper” …and with my status officially gone, I’ve realized that there is just one thing left to do…I mean honestly, I might as well at least enjoy myself this holiday season – so Christmas sweater, here I come!
Apparently there is protocol for teachers that wear polos. It’s like the holiday sweater or the jean jumper, certain teachers wear them, but none under the age of 52 and only a few over. It’s an outfit that screams…”hi, I’m a teacher, now go write an essay.” To date, I’ve never been this teacher. I wear heels with everything including jeans (they make me taller than all of my students…and they make me look thin), I wear faux fur vests, and every once in a while a Hannah Montana puff-sleeved shirt. So, needless to say, on the day of the school-spirit polo, I was greeted with several once- overs, quite a few “did the school actually make you wear thats?” various raised eyebrows, and one lunch detention (seriously, you cannot say to a teacher “you look weird” without getting a lunch detention…you just can’t.) It was a banner day in my classroom in which I realized that regardless of how old I get or how much authority I have, it is still awkward to be the “uncool” person in Middle School.
I’ve tried to make up for it for it since then. The next day my heels were extra high and my jewelry was extra trendy. I said things in class like “whatev” and I talked about Twilight as if it weren’t the tackiest trend in literature since Sweet Valley High (oh, c’mon…you know it’s true). I belted out Christmas carols in class and traded in a grammar worksheet for a fun partner activity…all in an effort to regain my status as a non-polo wearing, semi-cool faculty member…and I thought I had done a good job, I thought the whole error in fashion judgment had been erased from the list of transgressions…until one of my co-workers (yes co-workers, not students) said to me with a smirk, “so Mrs. V., nice shirt yesterday.” You’ve got to be kidding me - it was a polo! It’s not like I showed up to school in a robe and fuzzy slippers! But that was it, my status as trend-setting teacher is officially gone, and apparently it’s been replaced with the title of “teacher who is only slightly cooler than one who shows up in a denim jumper” …and with my status officially gone, I’ve realized that there is just one thing left to do…I mean honestly, I might as well at least enjoy myself this holiday season – so Christmas sweater, here I come!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Florida Chick Makes a Threat
In general, I have to say that I have pretty good kids - I know that I'm biased...you don't have to email me and press the issue - but, that being said, aside from the whole "voting-for-the-opposite-candidate" debaucle, I have to say that my kids are pretty well-adjusted, polite, funny, and low ratio of mistake-to-success kind of kids... except for this past week.
Now, I blame this on their father and the fact that he's traipsing around London and calling us "chaps" on the phone - it's ridiculous, I think he even said "cheerio" today before hanging up - mind you, he's only been gone four days, but apparantly it only takes that long for one to become a true Londoner...as long as he doesn't expect fish and chips when he gets back...
Anyway, the kids...now, it's nothing major, just your garden variety excessive whining and picking on each other - the kind that seems 582 times exaggerated when you've been home alone with them for almost a week...and tonight I'd had enough. I have to say that I really didn't time it right, I suppose I could have controlled myself for another day or two, but today, I lost it a little, and honestly, I did the worst thing imaginable...I threatened to take away Christmas. I mean really, what parent does this? What parent threatens Christmas? The T.V., the computer, even the cell phone or friends - but Christmas? really? And to top it all off, we were standing in front of Santa's workshop ready to hand him his letters, ready to sit on his lap and pour out our soul. And then it happened - the last straw - and mother of the year that I am...I say, in a very calm and quiet voice, the one that each child knows as the serious mom voice, "if you continue with this behavior, you will not get to celebrate Christmas this year."
Ok, so I blew it. I did what every mother vows never to do...I said the first words that came out of my mouth before thinking them over. Honestly, I would never cancel Christmas...it's just not an option. But instead of being reasonable, rational...I blurt it out, and instead of sounding responsible...I sound ridiculous. The thing is, to my kids, I wasn't ridiculous - they believed me, which might actually be worse. Now, not only am I ridiculous...now I've become the Grinch...ouch.
Oh, the joys of parenting. Of working through issues and teaching values. Of building dreams and building lives. It's the best job in the world...but it's the hardest - and at the end of the day we all know that someday our kids will be in therapy with a psychiatrist who asks them about their childhood...and honestly, no one wants them telling their therapist that mom took Christmas away as a punishment for acting up in the line at Santa's Workshop. Actually, no one wants them telling their therapist anything but how wonderful their mother was and how she shaped them into the wonderful doctor/lawyer/philanthropist that they now are...on the other hand, I did get two giant hugs before bed tonight and I think they may have forgotten about the whole "threat" thing...or maybe not, but in that case, I may have found the best way to guarantee that they are on Santa's "good list" - at least for the next 22 days, and that, really isn't all that bad.
Lots of Love from a completely ridiculous Florida Chick!
Now, I blame this on their father and the fact that he's traipsing around London and calling us "chaps" on the phone - it's ridiculous, I think he even said "cheerio" today before hanging up - mind you, he's only been gone four days, but apparantly it only takes that long for one to become a true Londoner...as long as he doesn't expect fish and chips when he gets back...
Anyway, the kids...now, it's nothing major, just your garden variety excessive whining and picking on each other - the kind that seems 582 times exaggerated when you've been home alone with them for almost a week...and tonight I'd had enough. I have to say that I really didn't time it right, I suppose I could have controlled myself for another day or two, but today, I lost it a little, and honestly, I did the worst thing imaginable...I threatened to take away Christmas. I mean really, what parent does this? What parent threatens Christmas? The T.V., the computer, even the cell phone or friends - but Christmas? really? And to top it all off, we were standing in front of Santa's workshop ready to hand him his letters, ready to sit on his lap and pour out our soul. And then it happened - the last straw - and mother of the year that I am...I say, in a very calm and quiet voice, the one that each child knows as the serious mom voice, "if you continue with this behavior, you will not get to celebrate Christmas this year."
Ok, so I blew it. I did what every mother vows never to do...I said the first words that came out of my mouth before thinking them over. Honestly, I would never cancel Christmas...it's just not an option. But instead of being reasonable, rational...I blurt it out, and instead of sounding responsible...I sound ridiculous. The thing is, to my kids, I wasn't ridiculous - they believed me, which might actually be worse. Now, not only am I ridiculous...now I've become the Grinch...ouch.
Oh, the joys of parenting. Of working through issues and teaching values. Of building dreams and building lives. It's the best job in the world...but it's the hardest - and at the end of the day we all know that someday our kids will be in therapy with a psychiatrist who asks them about their childhood...and honestly, no one wants them telling their therapist that mom took Christmas away as a punishment for acting up in the line at Santa's Workshop. Actually, no one wants them telling their therapist anything but how wonderful their mother was and how she shaped them into the wonderful doctor/lawyer/philanthropist that they now are...on the other hand, I did get two giant hugs before bed tonight and I think they may have forgotten about the whole "threat" thing...or maybe not, but in that case, I may have found the best way to guarantee that they are on Santa's "good list" - at least for the next 22 days, and that, really isn't all that bad.
Lots of Love from a completely ridiculous Florida Chick!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Florida Chick Celebrates the Season
There is something terribly wrong about celebrating the holidays in 80 degree weather. Don't get me wrong, I love the sunshine...hate the snow - but listening to Josh Groban croon "O Holy Night" while drinking a pina colada on the beach...that's a little much.
Ok, ok, so there's not actually a pina colada - but there is a beach, and flip flops, and tank tops, and air conditioning. I still order a pumpkin spice latte everytime I pass Starbucks...but there is just something not quite right about having to roll down the window while I enjoy it so that I don't break out into a sweat from the heat. This year, instead of driving slowly on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner so as not to go sliding off of the road because of black ice, we were forced to drive home slowly because of traffic on I-95. And even though we decorated the tree this year with carols playing sweetly in the background, I struggled to get a good picture of the kids because of the glare of the sun streaming in through the patio doors.
Now, snow has never been on my list of things that I miss about living in Michigan, but I have to say that every once in a while I'd love to slip on a sweater, heat up a mug of apple cider and watch the snowflakes flutter down while I listen to Christmas carols. I'd like to bundle up under a blanket, build a crackling fire, watch a football game, and enjoy the sparkle of the tree lights as they reflect off of the icicles hanging from the eaves. And then...as I continue daydreaming about all of the amazing Christmas memories that could be, I realize that although I don't have hot cocoa, or cozy blankets, or a fire in the fireplace (actually, I don't have a fireplace at all) I can still curl up with a good book while Josh Groban serenades me in the background, I can hang lights, and light candles, bake cookies (with the A/C on of course, so the kitchen doesn't get too hot), and when all else fails, I can throw on a tank top and flip flops, take a picture in front of the palm tree in the yard strung with Christmas lights, and send it to all my friends who had to shovel out their driveways before leaving for work this morning - because really, if I can't enjoy a little holiday weather, I might as well at least enjoy the fact that while my Northern friends are busy shoveling, scraping and bundling up, I'll be heading to the beach this weekend for the Candy Cane Parade, with a jewel toned pedicure and a new pair of flip flops to show it off...now that's a happy holiday!
With lots of love from a very merry Florida Chick!
Ok, ok, so there's not actually a pina colada - but there is a beach, and flip flops, and tank tops, and air conditioning. I still order a pumpkin spice latte everytime I pass Starbucks...but there is just something not quite right about having to roll down the window while I enjoy it so that I don't break out into a sweat from the heat. This year, instead of driving slowly on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner so as not to go sliding off of the road because of black ice, we were forced to drive home slowly because of traffic on I-95. And even though we decorated the tree this year with carols playing sweetly in the background, I struggled to get a good picture of the kids because of the glare of the sun streaming in through the patio doors.
Now, snow has never been on my list of things that I miss about living in Michigan, but I have to say that every once in a while I'd love to slip on a sweater, heat up a mug of apple cider and watch the snowflakes flutter down while I listen to Christmas carols. I'd like to bundle up under a blanket, build a crackling fire, watch a football game, and enjoy the sparkle of the tree lights as they reflect off of the icicles hanging from the eaves. And then...as I continue daydreaming about all of the amazing Christmas memories that could be, I realize that although I don't have hot cocoa, or cozy blankets, or a fire in the fireplace (actually, I don't have a fireplace at all) I can still curl up with a good book while Josh Groban serenades me in the background, I can hang lights, and light candles, bake cookies (with the A/C on of course, so the kitchen doesn't get too hot), and when all else fails, I can throw on a tank top and flip flops, take a picture in front of the palm tree in the yard strung with Christmas lights, and send it to all my friends who had to shovel out their driveways before leaving for work this morning - because really, if I can't enjoy a little holiday weather, I might as well at least enjoy the fact that while my Northern friends are busy shoveling, scraping and bundling up, I'll be heading to the beach this weekend for the Candy Cane Parade, with a jewel toned pedicure and a new pair of flip flops to show it off...now that's a happy holiday!
With lots of love from a very merry Florida Chick!
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