Mandy in Real Life

2012

2012-01-01T21:40:00.001-05:00

Hi, 2012! Here's to a great year!

(and, note to self in an effort to avoid forgetting what we did this New Year's Eve: we went to a Lightning game against the Hurricanes (we won! Stamkos got a hattrick!!) and then hung out at home. )

...drumroll, please....

2011-08-07T22:27:00.001-04:00

COLIN IS MOVING IN!

Yes, you read that right.

Oh my gosh!

2-for-2!

2011-07-18T21:57:00.002-04:00

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

My URL is mandizzleinreallife.blogspot.com, and my blog name is "Mandy in Real Life." I named my blog that because it's a play on the title of the film Colin and I saw on our first date, "Dan in Real Life," starring Steve Carrell. I figured that a blog would be an account of my life, so it fit.

The username mandyinreallife was taken, however, so I used my nickname, Mandizzle. That was the nickname I got in college, when my roommates and I had "-izzle" nicknames. My big, Vanessa, even gave me the nickname "Dizzled Pink" when I became an Alpha Phi Omega brother in college, since my favorite color is pink. :-)

Here goes nothing!

2011-07-17T21:10:00.003-04:00

Day 1-A recent picture and 15 interesting facts

This is me at Fenway Park 7/13/11

15 facts about me:

I can only whistle one note. I can't whistle a tune to save my life.
I'm an avid Patriots fan, and I have been for as long as I can remember. You won't be able to sway my allegiance! I was there when we hardly won, I've been there when it was -20 with a wind chill! I'm NOT a fair-weather fan.
My graduating class from my public high school in rural Connecticut had 86 members. No wonder I wanted the "opposite of Cheers" for college: where no one knew my name!
I can't drive a stick shift. I'm motor-challenged!
I have recently become moderately obsessed with coupons.
I have learned that youtube.com can be a VERY valuable source for instruction when you're trying to teach yourself new knitting stitches... or how to crochet from the beginning! (I'd rather have my Mommadoo teach me, of course, but I'm a very visual learner and it's hard to learn new stitches over the phone. Boo to living so far away!)
As I'm writing this post, I'm finding I use parentheses too often, but that's what I get for being a language arts teacher, right?
I was obsessed - literally - with all things Disney during college. I was over at Walt Disney World at LEAST 3-5 times a month. I turned 21 there and drank around the world with my parents, who flew down to join my friends and me. You can't say that my parents aren't awesome!
I'm a grammar and punctuation freak. If you know me at all, this is no surprise.
Even though I didn't like it very much when my parents would make me read every informational sign and/or map when we went anywhere new while I was growing up, I now appreciate the ability to get my bearings with relative ease on maps and my craving for learning more about new places. Thanks and props to you, Mom and Dad!
I'm pretty opinionated; however, MOST of the time, I can understand why others could have a differing opinion, and I do my very best to accept their opinion and not be confrontational....99% of the time. I just can't stand idiocy.
I count things without realizing it, like steps, stairs, intersections, and lights.
I taught internationally in 2007. I can't wait to go back to the UK for the Olympics next year!
I've lived in 2 states and moved a total of 6 times. Since moving to Florida in 2004 for college, I've moved 5 of my total 6 times. I'm glad I own my house and I won't be moving for a while!
Saying goodbye to my family in CT has gotten harder each and every time I leave. I spend most of today crying on and off. I'm sure I got some weird looks as I sat on the plane in sunglasses, trying to look stoic, with tears streaming down my face.

Well, that's it! Here's to hoping I'll follow through with the rest of the challenge! :)

I'm Baaaa-aaack!

2011-07-17T21:05:00.003-04:00

Hi there again, blog!

It's been a long time since I've updated you. I'm sorry you have been neglected! I've had a busy end-of-the-year with school (without going into details: I'll be at a new, way BETTER school than I was!)

My friend Summer has a great blog that she's starting up. You can find her here. She has a 30-day challenge meme she got from a friend. I think a 30-day challenge (or 60-day..or 90-day...who am I kidding? I'm not as good a blogger as my KatiePIC, who updates every day!)

So, without further adieu, here are the instructions for the 30-day challenge:

Day 1-A recent picture and 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12- Celebrity Crush
Day 13-A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16- Favorite Quote
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-Wishes
Day 30-Yet another picture

Happy reading!

Things to be happy about!

2011-03-07T22:11:00.004-05:00

I hate negativity.

Wow, talk about redundancy!

I wanted to post things to be happy about/things I enjoy/things I'm looking forward to.

To start out, check out the new hair cut. Can't beat the special Ulta was running!

When I was driving home, I saw this breathtaking sunset and I HAD to get a picture of it! This is the pond in my neighborhood:

pretty spectacular, huh?

We have a long weekend coming up from 3/18-21, since our school district's Spring Break isn't until APRIL 22ND!!! What the heck? I've never had a break start that late, even in CT. Oh well. I'm thankful that we'll have a nice four-day-weekend though. Colin and I are having a friend of mine take pictures of us, since we have never done that. It should be fun!

On that long weekend, my big, Vanessa (HI BIG!) will be here in Florida in part to celebrate her St. Patrick's Day birthday. I'm so looking forward to seeing her again and celebrating together.

So, after March comes APRIL....and APRIL brings 3 things:

Baseball
MY BIRTHDAY
Easter

Yay for the Rays, me, and Jesus. Well, I guess it should be in reverse order. So YAY JESUS, me, and the Rays. Let's hope we have a great year (all of us!)

I'm also super excited because my brother, David, is graduating from college at Oklahoma State University in May, and my awesome mom found an airfare I could afford! I'll be flying into DFW Thursday night, and back Monday night. I'll get to see much of my extended family, so that's awesome!

This summer holds exciting events as well. We'll be going to Memphis to meet for our yearly vacation. I think it'll be mostly everyone: Mom, Dad, David, me, Colin, Melissa, Matt, Ruth Ellen, Emma, and CJ. I'm not sure about Lauren, but I'm sure she'll make an appearance if she's able.

So, yay for happiness, trips, and family! :-)

Genius

2011-01-15T23:09:00.003-05:00

I am finishing up my 3rd of 5 classes to earn my gifted endorsement. As one of the last assignments, we had to watch a talk/lecture by Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of "Eat, Pray, Love") about genius. She explains how people used to believe that we were visited by geniuses when we were toiling at our work; it was not until the Renaissance that people proclaimed themselves geniuses. It was very interesting and it's 19 minutes long. So, if you have a little while to spend, I suggest you watch!

If you can't (or don't have any interest...which I completely understand!), I wanted to share a quick quote/idea from the last few minutes of the lecture. Ms. Gilbert talked about how, long ago, when dancers in northern Africa would transcend and be seemingly "godlike" in their dance, the spectators would chant "Allah, Allah!" (God, God!) When the Spaniards were introduced to the region, they adapted the phrase to "Ole, Ole!" When people did fantastically in something, or were godlike in their performance, they would shout "Ole!"

"And when I have to sort of keep telling myself when I get really psyched out about that [her "freakish success"] is: don't be afraid. Don't be daunted. Just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it, whatever it might be. If you job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed, for just one moment in your efforts, then "Ole!" And if not, do your dance anyhow. And "Ole!" to you, nonetheless. I believe this and I feel that we must teach it. "Ole!" to you, nonetheless, for just having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up."

So, keep on being your fabulous self.

And "Ole!" to you for that.

:)

Here

Trip Craziness. . . .

2010-12-21T01:33:00.002-05:00

In the last month, I have taken the following trips:

Thanksgiving:
Tampa to Hartford
Hartford to Orlando

Colin's Birthday in DC:
Tampa to Baltimore
Baltimore to Tampa

Dad's Graduation in KY to Home:
Tampa to Charlotte, Charlotte to Lexington
Louisville to Baltimore (2nd time that week!), Baltimore to Hartford
NYC to Tampa.

That's a grand total of 3 trips, 8 airports, and 9 flights in just over a month.

I'm not a business traveler.

Holy frequent flier miles, Batman.

History being made (?!)

2010-09-10T21:26:00.007-04:00

THE

Have never played the

in football before.

Tomorrow,

along with several thousand of our closest

Will stampede into

Wish us luck!!

GOOOOO BULLS!!!!

Restoring America

2010-08-28T23:28:00.002-04:00

I get that Glenn Beck is a polarizing radio personality - you either love him or hate him. While I agree he is radical in some of his views, he has a lot of good things to say, too. His brainchild, the 9/12 foundation, has the goal of uniting us the way we were the day after 9/11. September 12, 2001, left the citizens of the nation (and, further, world) shaken to the core, and Americans banded together. We were proud to be Americans. We didn't care what religion our neighbor practiced, or to what political beliefs or co-workers subscribed.

Fast forward 9 years (wow, 9 years already?!) and our country is divided. We are divided by politics, religion, and, many times, skin color/ethnic background. I share his desire to have the spirit of unity, patriotism, and pride again in our nation.

Beck organized a rally in Washington, DC today to "Restore America." Yes, it was held 47 years after Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the inspiring "I Have a Dream" speech - and in the same location. Yes, Beck said it was just a "coincidence." I really don't believe that. However, I think there are similarities to the goals of creating unity, patriotism, and pride that run deep in the reasons behind both King's speech and Beck's rally.

I found the transcript of Sarah Palin's speech from the "Restore America" rally (yes, she was there, too.) Please put all of your PalinHate aside and read this. It's well-written:

We stand today at the symbolic crossroads of our nation’s history. All around us are monuments to those who have sustained us in word or deed. There in the distance stands the monument to the father of our country. And behind me, the towering presence of the Great Emancipator who secured our union at the moment of its most perilous time and freed those whose captivity was our greatest shame. And over these grounds where we are so honored to stand today, we feel the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who on this very day, two score and seven years ago, gave voice to a dream that would challenge us to honor the sacred charters of our liberty – that all men are created equal.

Now, in honoring these giants, who were linked by a solid rock foundation of faith in the one true God of justice, we must not forget the ordinary men and women on whose shoulders they stood. The ordinary called for extraordinary bravery. I am speaking, of course, of America’s finest – our men and women in uniform, a force for good in this country, and that is nothing to apologize for.

Abraham Lincoln once spoke of the “The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land.” For over 200 years, those mystic chords have bound us in gratitude to those who are willingly to sacrifice, to restrain evil, to protect God-given liberty, to sacrifice all in defense of our country.

They fought for its freedom at Bunker Hill, they fought for its survival at Gettysburg, and for the ideals on which it stands – liberty and justice for all – on a thousand battlefields far from home.

It is so humbling to get to be here with you today, patriots – you who are motivated and engaged and concerned, knowing to never retreat. I must assume that you too know that we must not fundamentally transform America as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor!

Now, I’ve been asked to speak today, not as a politician. No, as something more – something much more. I’ve been asked to speak as the mother of a soldier, and I am proud of that distinction. You know, say what you want to say about me, but I raised a combat vet, and you can’t take that away from me. I’m proud of that distinction, but it is not one that I had imagined because no woman gives birth thinking that she will hand over her child to her country, but that’s what mothers have done from ancient days.

In cities and towns across our country, you’ll find monuments to brave Americans wearing the uniforms of wars from long ago, and look down at their inscriptions, you’ll see that they were so often dedicated by mothers. In distant lands across the globe, you’ll find silent fields of white markers with the names of Americans who never came home, but who showed their dedication to their country by where they died.

We honor those who served something greater than self and made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who served and did come home forever changed by the battlefield. Though this rally is about “restoring honor,” for these men and women honor was never lost! If you look for the virtues that have sustained our country, you will find them in those who wear the uniform, who take the oath, who pay the price for our freedom.

And I’d like to tell you three stories of such Americans – three patriots – who stand with us today.

The first is a man named Marcus Luttrell. His story is one of raw courage in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s also a story of America’s enduring quest for justice. Remember, we went to Afghanistan seeking justice for those who were killed without mercy by evil men on September 11th. And one fateful day in Afghanistan on a mountain ridge, Marcus and three of his fellow Navy SEALs confronted the issue of justice and mercy in a decision that would forever change their lives.

They were on a mission to hunt down a high-level Taliban leader, but they were faced with a terrible dilemma when some men herding goats stumbled upon their position, and they couldn’t tell if these men were friend or foe. So the question was what to do with them? Should they kill them or should they let them go and perhaps risk compromising their mission? They took a vote. They chose mercy over self-preservation. They set their prisoners free. The vote said it was the humane thing to do. It was the American thing to do. But it sealed their fate because within hours, over a hundred Taliban forces arrived on the scene. They battled the four Navy SEALs throughout the surrounding hills. A rescue helicopter came, but it was shot down. By the time the sun set on June 28, 2005, it was one of the bloodiest days for American forces in Afghanistan.

********** MANDY EDIT: One of the men aboard that Apache helicopter sent to rescue those SEALS was the son of a personal family friend from Washington, CT. His death shook the small town and there is now a memorial award in his honor given to a Shepaug Valley High School senior every year. The Parks and Recreation Commission re-named their annual 4th of July 5k in his name. Steve Reich was, by all accounts, and amazing guy whom I wish I could say I knew. You can read about him here and here. **********

19 brave, honorable men were lost that day. Marcus was the sole survivor. Alone, stranded, badly wounded, he limped and crawled for miles along that mountain side. What happened next is a testament to the words: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” Marcus and his team showed mercy in letting their prisoners free. And later he was shown mercy by Afghan villagers who honored an ancient custom of providing hospitality to any stranger who would ask for it. They took him in. They cared for him, efused to hand him over to the Taliban. They got him back safely to our forces.

Marcus’ story teaches us that even on the worst battlefield against the most brutal enemy, we adhere to our principles. This American love of justice and mercy is what makes us a force for good in this world. Marcus is a testament to that.

Please join me in honoring retired U.S. Navy SEAL Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell.

From the time he first heard men marching to a cadence call, Eddie Wright had one dream in life, and that was to be a United States Marine. And as a Marine serving in Iraq, his company was ambushed in Fallujah. He was knocked out when a rocket propelled grenade hit his Humvee. When he came to, he saw that both his hands were gone and his leg was badly wounded.

He couldn’t fire his weapon, he could barely move, and he was bleeding to death. But he had the strength of mind to lead the men under his command, and that is exactly what he did. He kept them calm, he showed them how to stop the bleeding in his leg, he told them where to return fire, he had them call for support, and he got them out of there alive.

His composure under fire that day earned him the Bronze Star with Valor device. But if you ask him, “What did you get it for?”, he’ll tell you, “Just for doing my job.”

After a long recovery, Eddie continued to serve as a martial arts instructor. He resigned from his beloved Marine Corps a few years ago, but he still lives by the motto: “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

And if you want to see the American spirit of never retreating, no matter the odds – of steady confidence and optimism, no matter the setbacks – look at Eddie’s story. No matter how tough times are, Americans always pull through. As Eddie put it himself: “We don’t really foster the attitude of I can’t. When you have an obstacle in front of you, you just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and focus on what you can.”

So, please join me in honoring retired Marine Sergeant James “Eddie” Wright.

Tom Kirk was an Air Force squadron commander and a combat pilot who had flown over 150 missions in Korea and Vietnam. One day on a routine mission over Hanoi, his plane was shot down. He spent the next five and a half years in that living hell known as the Hanoi Hilton.

Like his fellow prisoners, Tom endured the beatings, the torture, the hunger, the years of isolation. He described it, saying, “There was nothing to do, nothing to read, nothing to write. You had to just sit there in absolute boredom, loneliness, frustration, and fear. You had to live one day at a time, because you had no idea how long you were going to be there.”

After two years of solitary confinement, pacing back and forth in his cell — three and a half steps across, three and a half steps deep – Tom was finally moved to a larger holding cell with 45 other Americans prisoners, among them was a man named John McCain. In circumstances that defy description, this band of brothers kept each other alive, and one by one, they came home.

Tom was released on March 14, 1973. You might think that a man who had suffered so much for his country would be bitter and broken by it. But Tom’s heart was only filled with love – love for America – that special love of country that we call patriotism.

Tom wrote, “Patriotism has become, for many, a ‘corny’ thing. For me, it is more important now than at any time in my life. How wonderful it is to be an American come home!”

Friends, please join me in honoring retired Air Force Colonel Tom Kirk.

My fellow Americans, each one of these men here today faced terrible sufferings, overwhelming set-backs, and impossible odds.

And they endured! And their stories are America’s story.

We will always come through. We will never give up, and we shall endure because we live by that moral strength that we call grace. Because though we’ve often skirted a precipice, a providential hand has always guided us to a better future.

And I know that many of us today, we are worried about what we face. Sometimes our challenges, they just seem insurmountable.

But, here, together, at the crossroads of our history, may this day be the change point!

Look around you. You’re not alone. You are Americans!

You have the same steel spine and the moral courage of Washington and Lincoln and Martin Luther King. It is in you. It will sustain you as it sustained them.

So with pride in the red, white, and blue; with gratitude to our men and women in uniform; let’s stand together! Let’s stand with honor! Let’s restore America!

God bless you! And God bless America!

I put the last lines (that I bolded) in my Facebook status today, and I know of at least one person who "liked" it that wouldn't have "liked" it if they knew Sarah Palin was the one who said it. This is a glaring example of political divisions in our country and how we automatically dislike and/or question what people have to say if we don't agree with them. This is exactly why it is important to put away our differences and have conversations with people without preconceived notions and misconceptions.

So, what's your take?

Summer Painting!

2010-06-23T01:34:00.005-04:00

Since I'm on SUMMER VACATION, I decided I needed something to occupy myself, since, well, everyone else has to work!

I found a place called Painting With a Twist in St. Pete that seemed right up my alley. You go there, pay a small fee, and they provide you with a canvas, paints, brushes, and instruction. You leave with a great painting and the feeling of accomplishment! The "twist" in the shop is that you can bring your own wine/beer/drink of choice to enjoy while painting. It's all very relaxed and very me!

So, in order for me to get into a class, I had to figure out which painting I wanted to complete, since you choose the class based on the painting being taught. I chose Maui Chris since it would make a great Father's Day gift for Dad. However, I wanted to see if I could make the dog a black lab, since that's the kind of dog we have.

When I got to the shop, I settled in and we got right to work. Since it was an afternoon class (and I didn't know what I was in for!) I chose NOT to bring any beverages. I also spoke to the wonderful teacher, Emily, and she helped me create a black lab instead of a mutt.

Here are some pictures, which come from their Facebook page:

Here I am with my two table mates for the day. They got a deal from Groupon *note to self, check for deals here! I could get into serious trouble at this paint store!*

He's coming along well!

Seriously, could this not be more my father!? It looks like a complete mix of Abby and Dad! I think he'll love it!

I coerced Katie into joining me for a class, and we went over the Bay once again tonight to paint Irises. I think we have a painting convert!

I totally recommend going to one of these classes! To quote my friend Melody, even "if talent is air, and you live in a vacuum" you can feel like an artist at these classes!

SB 6

2010-03-24T23:08:00.003-04:00

Currently, in Florida, there is a measure in the State Senate and House of Representatives that radically changes how teachers are paid and assessed. Basically, to the everyday person, the bill reads like this: "Teachers will now be held accountable and earn their salaries based on student performance. If your county decides not to adopt this policy, you will have to pay A LOT more in taxes!"

Honestly, that sounds good, right?

Some of the main points of this "wonder bill," however, include:

elimination of tenure (aka job security)
basing teacher salary on student performance. A suggested model of pay includes guaranteeing teachers 1/2 of their current salary, and the other 1/2 would be based on student performance, which is from a SINGLE, HIGH-STAKES TEST. We had numerous students "Christmas tree" the exam a few weeks ago, and proceed to sleep for the remaining 40 minutes.
If a district decides not to adopt this pay scale, the millage rate (rate on which people are taxed, based on home value) would face a SIGNIFICANT increase.

I wrote to my state representative, as it has sadly already passed the Senate. The following is my email:

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this email.

My name is Amanda Easter and I am a 23-year-old, second-year teacher in Hillsborough County. I came to Florida to attend USF from Connecticut, and I graduated with a degree in elementary education in 2008.

I come from a long line of public servants. My father is currently a captain of a fire department in Connecticut, and he is the 3rd generation of professional firemen in our family. My brother, David, aspires to be a member of the 4th Easter generation of firemen. I truly believe I was called to the field of education when I was a child. I have always done my very best in order to achieve my goal of being an effective teacher in the classroom.

Mr. Homan, I cannot express my fear of what will happen if SB 6 passes. I completely understand why there needs to be more accountability in the classroom, but to base my pay on a single, high-stakes standardized test is completely unthinkable. I have students who "finished" each section of the FCAT this year in 20 minutes and then proceeded to nap. These students will dictate my pay for the next year?

If I wanted to have a job in a field that was based on commission, I would have gone into sales. However, I chose to go into education, because I want to open the minds of today's young people, and tomorrow's leaders. SB 6 is creating a classroom that is run on commission.

I am given 60 minutes with each of my students in my classes. I have my own high expectations of how I want to perform, and in turn how they will perform; however, I only have them 1/24th of their day. If we are talking about waking hours, I have them for 1/16th of their day, which begs the following question: where is the parental and student accountability for their performance?

Ryan Haczynski, a teacher in Durant, wrote the following piece, titled "Terrible for Teachers" that was recently featured on tbo.com: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/21/co-terrible-for-teachers/ . To quote an excellent point, "in what other public-servant sector do we demand such accountability? Do we blame police officers for arriving at the scene of a crime too late? A firefighter for not saving a home from the flames?"

Mr. Homan, I beg of you: DO NOT VOTE FOR SENATE BILL 6! I don't even want to THINK of what will happen to teacher morale, teacher quality, or student performance! It is a terrible bill.

Thank you for your time.

Folks, I am SO SCARED about this! I wrote the email with tears in my eyes and on my cheeks. This is really scary and I don't know what to do! I know that I can't do anything about it, but it's a lot at stake. My job worries aside, this is going to SHAKE to the core how students are taught and the kind of people becoming teachers.

/end rant.

I'm a klutz!

2010-02-02T21:45:00.004-05:00

It's a well-known fact that my name should in fact be Amanda Grace Easter. Or, if we want to go back to my Indian heritage, Amanda Falls-on-Her-Butt Easter. If we want to get even MORE creative, it could be Amanda Falls-With-Flair Easter. Whatever my name should be, it needs to be mentioned that if there is a wrinkle in the carpet, I will find it and trip. I have also come to the conclusion that

As long as no one gets hurt and
no property gets damaged

watching people fall is probably the funniest thing you will ever see. Since I fall so much, I feel I have the right to that opinion.

So, in my teaching career up until now, I have prided myself on the fact that I have yet to show my acrobatic talent to my students and co-workers. This trend sadly bit the dust today. As I walked my students into the cafeteria, the rain on my shoes hit with the smooth tile and down I went. It would be my luck that today the students were being punished for behavior yesterday and it was a "silent lunch."

I ended up skinning my knee and I have a big bruise to boot! I went back to my team for lunch and AE and Lisa got a kick out of my follies....or should it be FALL-ies? Bad joke.

I posted this status on Facebook via my BlackBerry during lunch:

I just busted my ass on the wet floor in the cafeteria in front of 250 6th graders having silent lunch...now my right knee is skinned and the size of a grapefruit! FML

These were the comments that followed:

From Nicole:

Are you sure we aren't sisters?! I am SO sorry that happened, but it sounds exactly like something I would do.

From Gae (3 comments):

Just think of all the kids who are so glad to realize that it can happen to adults too! And go get a cool bandaid for that knee- like a Mickey one! And possibly some ice for it.

Writing assignment- Tella bout a time when you did something embarrassing.... okay- maybe not- might not want to hear what they say! lol

Did you have a tray of food? Then that could have been either hilarious or even worse.... Picturing fries flying through the air hitting kids like rain - hilarious. Falling forward on the tray and ending up with a huge ketchup stain with a blob of potatoes (which always can be
used as some sort of cement)- worse...

From Matt:

And this is news because? lol j/k

From Paul:
Oh snap...I promise I'm not...laughing...hard...

No really I love ya and hope you're ok!

From Katie ::
I'm sorry. :-(. Hope the rest of your day is better.

From Aunt Jackie:

Well....you'll be famous tonight. I predict about 250 sixth-graders will not tell their parents that NOTHING happened at school today!!:-)

From Emma:
hope you feel better!

From Mary:
love pauls comment!! so funny, but seriously i hope you are ok. make sure you write up an accident report, just incase it keeps bothering you. i know you have enough writing to do, but make sure you document your injury.

From Shawn:
you just need to learn to fall like a Morgan, go limp then you don't get hurt! hope you feel better!

From Melissa Allore:
Could someone pass me a tissue please! ;-) Love ya Mandy!

Oh well. I have to be positive about it, there's no use being mad or upset! Now I have a funny story to tell!!

Republican Response to the 2010 State of the Union

2010-01-27T23:50:00.002-05:00

The following is the Republican response to the 2010 State of the Union address by Barack Obama, delivered by Bob McDonnell, Governor of Virginia:

Good evening. I'm Bob McDonnell. Eleven days ago I was honored to be sworn in as the 71st governor of Virginia.

I'm standing in the historic House Chamber of Virginia's Capitol, a building designed by Virginia's second governor, Thomas Jefferson.

It’s not easy to follow the President of the United States. And my twin 18-year old boys have added to the pressure, by giving me exactly ten minutes to finish before they leave to go watch SportsCenter.

I'm joined by fellow Virginians to share a Republican perspective on how to best address the challenges facing our nation today.

We were encouraged to hear President Obama speak this evening about the need to create jobs.

All Americans should have the opportunity to find and keep meaningful work, and the dignity that comes with it.

Many of us here, and many of you watching, have family or friends who have lost their jobs.

1 in 10 American workers is unemployed. That is unacceptable.

Here in Virginia we have faced our highest unemployment rate in more than 25 years, and bringing new jobs and more opportunities to our citizens is the top priority of my administration.

Good government policy should spur economic growth, and strengthen the private sector’s ability to create new jobs.

We must enact policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, so America can better compete with the world.

What government should not do is pile on more taxation, regulation, and litigation that kill jobs and hurt the middle class.

It was Thomas Jefferson who called for "A wise and frugal Government which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry ….and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned…" He was right.

Today, the federal government is simply trying to do too much.

Last year, we were told that massive new federal spending would create more jobs 'immediately' and hold unemployment below 8%.

In the past year, over three million Americans have lost their jobs, yet the Democratic Congress continues deficit spending, adding to the bureaucracy, and increasing the national debt on our children and grandchildren.

The amount of this debt is on pace to double in five years, and triple in ten. The federal debt is already over $100,000 per household.

This is simply unsustainable. The President's partial freeze on discretionary spending is a laudable step, but a small one.

The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper, limited role of government at every level.

Without reform, the excessive growth of government threatens our very liberty and prosperity.

In recent months, the American people have made clear that they want government leaders to listen and act on the issues most important to them.

We want results, not rhetoric. We want cooperation, not partisanship.

There is much common ground.

All Americans agree, we need a health care system that is affordable, accessible, and high quality.

But most Americans do not want to turn over the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.

Republicans in Congress have offered legislation to reform healthcare, without shifting Medicaid costs to the states, without cutting Medicare, and without raising your taxes.

We will do that by implementing common sense reforms, like letting families and businesses buy health insurance policies across state lines, and ending frivolous lawsuits against doctors and hospitals that drive up the cost of your healthcare.

And our solutions aren't thousand-page bills that no one has fully read, after being crafted behind closed doors with special interests.

In fact, many of our proposals are available online at solutions.gop.gov, and we welcome your ideas on Facebook and Twitter.

All Americans agree, this nation must become more energy independent and secure.

We are blessed here in America with vast natural resources, and we must use them all.

Advances in technology can unleash more natural gas, nuclear, wind, coal, and alternative energy to lower your utility bills.

Here in Virginia, we have the opportunity to be the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce oil and natural gas offshore.

But this Administration’s policies are delaying offshore production, hindering nuclear energy expansion, and seeking to impose job-killing cap and trade energy taxes.

Now is the time to adopt innovative energy policies that create jobs and lower energy prices.

All Americans agree, that a young person needs a world-class education to compete in the global economy. As a kid my dad told me, "Son, to get a good job, you need a good education." That’s even more true today.

The President and I agree on expanding the number of high-quality charter schools, and rewarding teachers for excellent performance. More school choices for parents and students mean more accountability and greater achievement.

A child's educational opportunity should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code.

All Americans agree, we must maintain a strong national defense. The courage and success of our Armed Forces is allowing us to draw down troop levels in Iraq as that government is increasingly able to step up. My oldest daughter, Jeanine, was an Army platoon leader in Iraq, so I'm personally grateful for the service and the sacrifice of all of our men and women in uniform, and a grateful nation thanks them.

We applaud President Obama's decision to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. We agree that victory there is a national security imperative. But we have serious concerns over recent steps the Administration has taken regarding suspected terrorists.

Americans were shocked on Christmas Day to learn of the attempted bombing of a flight to Detroit. This foreign terror suspect was given the same legal rights as a U.S. citizen, and immediately stopped providing critical intelligence.

As Senator-elect Scott Brown says, we should be spending taxpayer dollars to defeat terrorists, not to protect them.

Here at home government must help foster a society in which all our people can use their God-given talents in liberty to pursue the American Dream. Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all.

That opportunity exists best in a democracy which promotes free enterprise, economic growth, strong families, and individual achievement.

Many Americans are concerned about this Administration's efforts to exert greater control over car companies, banks, energy and health care.

Over-regulating employers won’t create more employment; overtaxing investors won’t foster more investment.

Top-down one-size fits all decision making should not replace the personal choices of free people in a free market, nor undermine the proper role of state and local governments in our system of federalism. As our Founders clearly stated, and we Governors understand, government closest to the people governs best.

And no government program can replace the actions of caring Americans freely choosing to help one another. The Scriptures say "To whom much is given, much will be required." As the most generous and prosperous nation on Earth, it is heartwarming to see Americans giving much time and money to the people of Haiti. Thank you for your ongoing compassion.

Some people are afraid that America is no longer the great land of promise that she has always been. They should not be.

America will always blaze the trail of opportunity and prosperity.

America must always be a land where liberty and property are valued and respected, and innocent human life is protected.

Government should have this clear goal: Where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone.

Our Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to create this nation.

Now, we should pledge as Democrats, Republicans and Independents--Americans all---to work together to leave this nation a better place than we found it.

God Bless you, and God Bless our great nation.

Obamacare :-(

2009-11-08T00:24:00.001-05:00

Well, I guess when one takes out more money in the first month of his presidency than if you spent a million dollars a day since the BIRTH OF CHRIST (819 BILLION DOLLARS), what's 1.2 trillion more? Thanks, Obama. My unborn great great great great grandchildren will be forever in your debt. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/07/health.care/index.html

Reason # 2118329 Why I Love Teaching...

2009-10-19T21:48:00.001-04:00

In class today, we were discussing ethnic groups and how one can want to get rid of another, specifically the Hutus and Tutsis, and the Germans wanting to get rid of the Jews during the Holocaust. I was explaining how the Germans had gone into a downward economic spiral before Hitler came to power, and he was a great speaker who inspired the people with great speehes that didn't really have substance. One student goes "Like Obama?" I asked him why he said that. He said "This 'Yes we can' thing? Yes we can what? He doesn't have anything real to say!" I ♥ them!! :-) I didn't prompt them at all and I thanked him for his input, and, even though I wanted to give him a high five, I held back and continued on.

Thanks for the reminder that I had this, Jess!

2009-10-07T17:35:00.000-04:00

Wow, brain fart to the extreme!

I totally forgot about this blog until I read a nudge from Jess, urging me to update or be taken off her blog roll. Haha whoops.

School is going great. I love the people I work with. They are so supportive and friendly. The kids are really fun and keep me on my toes! One of the kids wrote this today, in a response for "Some Rules for Life:" "Don't believe in lies or superstitions like that exposing yourself to loads of radiation will give you superpowers. It won't. It will just leave you dead." I laughed.

In other, sadder news: Colin and I are no longer together. I am at a place in my life where I want to start the process of settling down: I have a house, a great job, and my life in front of me. We were together 3 weeks shy of two years, and he had no real idea of what he wanted. I told him that he needed to get all of his stuff in order and make an end goal with his family (what they'll do about the house, where his mom will end up, etc) before I'd consider a relationship with him again. I had been begging him to do exactly that for the past 7 months. I guess this was the kick in the ass he needed, because he's applied to relief programs and for refinancing. I'll keep my fingers crossed for him. Even if we're not meant to be together, it's imperative he get his stuff in order for HIMSELF. We still talk a lot and we're friends. I am hoping for the best.

Mom comes down in a couple of weeks while Dad's at the National Fire Academy. She'll be working on the house and painting (exactly what she wanted to do! No joke!) and I wasn't about to turn that offer down!

Everything else is going well in life. I'm working on getting things back on track in my personal life. Hope all is well with you!

I'll write more (I PROMISE, Jess ;-) ) soon.

Closing of a chapter

2009-06-05T16:44:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I finished my first year of teaching.

It was a milestone that at times seemed beyond reach, and at other times was coming too fast. I enjoyed my year on the whole. Sure, there were things I would have done differently and I made a few rookie mistakes, but that comes with the territory.

I'm looking forward to writing a new chapter in my career as a teacher next year. I'll be teaching on an honors/gifted team and my subjects will be language arts, reading, and geography. Could a curriculum be more tailor-made for me? I'm also looking forward to reducing my daily commute by 60 miles! (aka 300 a week, 1200 a month, or 12,000 for the entire 199-day working school year. HOLY CRAP...12,000 mile reduction!! Life is good!)

To celebrate my first day of summer, I slept in till 1o, worked on a superdupersecret craft project (I'll reveal details soon), and took it easy. I'm going to the beach in a little while to take some pictures that will hopefully make for some decoration at the townhouse. Since we're going with a beach theme, I'm going to head out to St. Pete Beach and see what I can find.

I'm looking forward to riding down there with my windows down, listening to some relaxing music, and just savoring life. This summer is going to be a quick one, full of awesome trips to Texas and Alaska, so I better get to taking advantage of it now.

School

2009-05-27T22:18:00.000-04:00

I am soooo done with this year. The kids are going crazy, and they're suspending the worst kids so they're out for the rest of the year.

....what's that I hear in the distance?

Oh yeah, my new school calling my name.

Hmmm.....

2009-05-26T21:43:00.000-04:00

Today, President Obama nominated a new Supreme Court justice. He picked a woman, Sonia Sotomayor from New York, as a replacement for Justice David Souter. I was at first very excited, because, even though I tend to be unapologetically conservative in my views, I really get excited when I see women advance in high ranks of power, especially when the promotions are deserved and not the result (direct or not) of affirmative action.

As I was browsing the blogs and the talking heads' commentary today, a story about a Sotomayor ruling caught my eye. If you have had any extended conversation with me, among many things, you'll know my dad is a professional firefighter. I will fiercely defend firefighters and police officers, among other civil servants, as that is how I was brought up. You'll also know that I was born and raised in Connecticut. To my surprise, I found an article referencing Sotomayor, firefighting, and Connecticut at once! However, my excitement turned to frustration as I read on, and Sotomayor's shine severely tarnished in my eyes.

A while back, the New Haven, Connecticut Fire Department administered an exam for promoting firefighters to the ranks of lieutenant and captain. Of those who took the exam, no blacks and only two Hispanics passed. The city of New Haven threw out the exam because it was "obviously" unfair. Insert eye roll here.

Firefighter Frank Ricci brought a lawsuit against the city of New Haven citing discrimination. It was thrown out, and Sotomayor was part of a three judge panel that upheld the decision. The following is a more concise version of what happened, by Katie Connolly on a Newsweek blog.

"The New Haven firefighter case is one of the most controversial rulings in Sotomayor's record, and one that will no doubt be a prime source of criticism from conservatives. The case, Ricci vs. DeStefano, was brought by Frank Ricci and a group of his firefighting colleagues (all non-black including one Hispanic man). The men were denied promotion after an examination to determine their eligibility to move up yielded no successful black candidates. As a result, the New Haven authority decided to discard the exam results and grant no promotions. Ricci and his colleagues argued they'd been discriminated against, but their case was dismissed. Sotomayor was part of a three judge panel on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals who upheld the dismissal. The case is currently pending before the Supreme Court. It raised considerable ire, sparking affirmative action debates."

Frankly, I was outraged at this ruling, and I remember reading online news about it when it happened, as I still follow Connecticut news from time to time. I am a firm believer in the idea that the best person for the job should get the job. There should be NO consideration of race, gender, eye color, or sexual preference, (or favorite song, for that matter).

If your house was burning down, would you want the best of the best firefighters out there, who obviously are well-educated and versed in firefighting to come help, or just the most diverse group?

Do you want the best police officer coming to your defense when you're in danger, or is diversity the most important thing in a police department?

Does skin color (or gender for that matter) really matter in these situations!?

Would a lawsuit have even been considered if only 2 left handed people passed the exam? How about if only a few blue eyed people passed? Would you care at all? Would it be an issue?

No, no, no, and no.

The people who knew their stuff passed the exam. Should they be penalized for studying their asses off and passing their exam? How would you feel in their shoes? What example does that set for their kids? "Well, kids, you can study, do your best, pass the test, and yet you still won't get what you deserve, because of your skin color/gender/insert-anything-else-here."

What worries me about Sotomayor is that she sided against firefighters and potentially took the safety of the people of New Haven and threw it out the window by saying the most qualified candidates for lieutenant and captain ranks in the New Haven Fire Department weren't deserving.

It scares me what she may decide for the law our country.

I'm still here!

2009-03-23T00:14:00.000-04:00

I'm still alive, just freaking busy!

Spring Break is coming up soon, so yay for that! FCAT is over, double yay.

I'm going to Alaska and Texas this summer, so that is full of awesome.

This blog is brought to you by the word 'random' and sentences 'Mandy is incredibly tired and felt the sudden urge to blog for no apparent reason. Now on to your regularly scheduled, far more entertaining and informative blogs. Just wanted to let you know I'm still alive.'

xoxo

This explains a lot

2009-01-18T15:48:00.000-05:00

I found this natalie dee comic today and, once again, the cartoonist nailed me!!

Hey um um um a heyyyyya....life in a Northern Town

2008-12-21T14:01:00.001-05:00

Yes, I realize that song (See end of entry) is about impoverished northern England, but it's the first thing I thought of when I titled this entry.

I'm back in Connecticut and freeeeezing. I stepped off the plane at Westchester Airport in White Plains and had immediate urges to turn around and head back to Tampa. However, it's good to see family and friends, as I did before I even stepped foot in my house last night. I went right from the airport to my dad's sister's house for their side of the family's Christmas party. From there, we went to see family friends in Roxbury and had a few drinks with them. It was a very satisfying night.

My aunt gave my mom and dad, brother, and me very thoughtful gifts this year. They were old family pictures of my dad's family that she framed for each of us. I'll take a picture (with the FANTASTIC new camera I got last night!!) and post them later.

I wanted to share something from my local weatherman's blog. To credit him, he is at geofffox.com and he's quite the photographer and a funny read. Here's what he had to say about the weather outside:

"The day after it snows Connecticut is beautiful. There hasn't been time for the piles at the side of the road to get brown. Everyone is still in a good mood. No cabin fever--yet."

That is pretty much how I feel too, Geoff.

Going with that theme, I thought I'd share some photos with you, my faithful following of reader(s). These are taken with my brand-spankin'-new camera!

Yes, folks...that is 11 inches of snow!

My Katie-koo, the best dog ever.

As you can see, I wasn't exactly successful in getting a picture of Abby and me. A little MySpace-ish..oh well.

Alrighty, best be going. Mom and I are going to brave the snow and do some last minute errands :-)

I realize this is a remake, but I prefer it. Enjoy!

Things I'm thankful for

2008-11-26T16:06:00.000-05:00

Sunshine ~ my health ~ friends ~ my family~ rainy lazy days ~ my home ~ my safety ~ the troops ~ having a job ~ sheets straight from the dryer ~ Disney ~ the internet ~ text books ~ glue sticks ~ cameras ~ concerts ~ Target ~ iced tea ~ my glasses ~ airplanes ~ grass ~ blue skies ~ apples ~ baseball ~ my diploma ~ my past ~ the beach ~ Woody's ~ lip balm~ cheap gas ~ fireplaces ~ Roxbury ~ Santa ~ flowers ~ music ~ everything bagels ~ strawberry frosted doughnuts ~ Rascal Flatts ~ movies ~ giggling ~ luminaries ~ sunglasses ~ London ~ the Rockefeller Christmas Tree ~ the Rockettes ~ my birthday ~ my computer ~ New York City ~ red wine ~ candles ~ cookies ~ phones ~ letters ~ hugs ~ kisses ~ Jon and Kate +8 ~ American Idol ~ coffee ~ iced cream ~ cake ~ sparkly things ~ art ~ peace ~ love ~ happiness . . . . . plus much more.

Remember to give thanks for all that you have, today and every day.

The Bucket List

2008-11-26T13:07:00.000-05:00

I got an email from Paul's mom today and she mentioned that she wanted to go to the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC next year, as it was on her "Bucket List." That got me thinking that I should really get around to making one for myself.

So I've started to compile different things I want do do in my life. This list is fluid and subject to change. I know it's not much to look at, but it's a work in progress. Also, I've tried to limit the list to things at least 1/2 way feasible.

My Bucket List

Accomplish:

Earn my master's degree
Pay off my student and car loans
Own a brand new car
Own a brand new house
Have at least two children
Coach said childrens' t-ball team

Travel:

Visit all 50 states
See the Mona Lisa
Ride the London Eye
Attend mass at the Vatican
Look out at Paris from the Eiffel Tower
Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef
Go to Disneyland
Have a Guiness at the Guiness factory in Ireland
Play blackjack in Las Vegas

Events

Go to a World Series game
Go to a Superbowl
Get married (preferably on the beach)

Separate but equal?

2008-11-16T15:17:00.001-05:00

Prop 8.

That name can evoke much emotion from both sides of the fence. For those who are unaware (or living under a rock), Californians voted on November 4th to re-ban gay marriage in the state. Arizona and Florida also passed similar measures.

I have very mixed feelings on this issue. First and foremost, one of my very best friends is gay. Who am I to say he isn't allowed to marry his boyfriend? If they got married, would it make other, more conventional marriages of a man and a woman less significant? On the other hand, I was raised to interpret marriage as between one man and one woman.

I believe people: gay or straight, male or female, red, purple, white, black, or yellow, should have equal rights. I believe that people who are in a committed relationship should have rights should they choose to make their relationship permanent. They should be allowed to visit one another in the hospital, have access to health insurance, and have legal responsibilities to any children they choose to bring into their family. However, I take issue with calling it marriage unless it is between a man and a woman. Call me ignorant or close-minded, that is just my personal philosophy.

Yes, I know I'm a teacher and I am well-versed on the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit. I realize separate does not mean equal.

I want it to be known that I voted no on Amendment 2, which was the measure in Florida. I did not want to close discussion on the issue, which I felt would happen if Amendment 2 passed.

Florida effectively shut the door on discussion of marriage/civil unions/whathaveyou when Amendment 2 passed. I, along with many of my friends, shook my head. (Blogger's note: let's just say that's not the ONLY thing I shook my head at that night.)

However much I disagree with the voters' voices, I have to accept that they have spoken. The majority of people in those states voted against their version of Prop 8.

On that day, Barack Obama was elected president. It was a very historic day, and while I did not vote for him, I respect the reasons why people voted for him and I also respect the people themselves. I will support him as my president (and boy will he ever need it.)

The American people spoke. We elected Barack Obama president. You do not see McCain supporters staging protests in the streets demanding another election. So why in the world are those opposed to Prop 8 (and its affiliates) staging 80-city protests demanding a re-vote? THE PEOPLE SPOKE! Yes, I agree that what they had to say is ignorant and ridiculous, but we have to respect that it was the MAJORITY of voters in those states that chose to ban gay marriage.

If enough people want the issue re-addressed, bring it up again in the next voting cycle. Cynthia Nixon, an actress from Sex and the City and an open lesbian, recently said on Larry King Live that 8 years ago, the difference in opinion was 20% more people in California were against gay marraige, and now it's something like 4%. As she said, time is definitely "on our side." (I am not a gay person, but I believe in equality.)

Let's vote on it next cycle. Protesting and not accepting the voice of the people (for now) will only make the opposition grow stronger.

And so it begins

2008-11-16T13:31:00.001-05:00

I have wanted to post a published blog for some time now, I just have never quite gotten around to it. Well, I guess excuses got in the way, but that's in the past now.

What spurred me to create this blog today is that I found an old link to a blog I kept religiously all through high school. My writing was so much better then - full of eloquence. I also had fun traveling down memory lane.

Also, I was inspired by many friends who have, as I now proclaim, way cooler and better blogs than I. :-)

This blog will be about my life and observations of others. I will probably talk about current events and other important things that are going on.

I want to focus on getting my thoughts down so I can read my past from time to time. So come along for the ride.