Camp!

In about an hour I'm heading to school for mass, then off to Lake Worth for this year's SALTT camp. We work with Guatemalan children of Mayan descent and sort of do a vacation Bible school for them, teaching them about God and taking them on field trips. It's a week of life change for everyone, chaperons, my students, and little ones, but it's also a week of extreme exhaustion and hard work. So please, if you're inclined, pray for us and the work we're doing.

I've been enjoying myself the past couple of days. Friday I went up to the summer camp at school and taught some dances for the older girls (8-12 years old). It was really fun, great exercise, and the ladies seemed to enjoy it as well so that was awesome. Then Friday night I invited some ladies over for a board game night, where my complete and total dominance in Apples to Apples was established. I. Am. AWESOME at that game. We also played a new version of Taboo that was... interesting. Let's just say Yesi and I are AMAZING at Bendy Bob. lol.

Last night I went to the piano bar (which I'm now having dreams about, by the way) and chilled. Adam and I are CLEARLY BFFs, and he helped make my dream come true by playing "Dick in a Box." I told him so and we ended up chatting for, like, half an hour. He's a super cool guy--it'd be awesome to be friends with him. I love Michigan people. *sigh* I also met a couple other girls while I was dancing, and then this morning and church I saw them there! Random! Miami is such a small town for being so big! But they were awesome ladies and hopefully new friends.

Today Yesi and I filmed our video for our church's summer series promotion and she's currently editing and posting it to YouTube. Whatever video gets the most hits wins, and the winner(s) get a video camera. So be on the lookout for a link to the video in the next couple of days. I'll post it on FB, here in my blog, my LJ, and email, of course. Tell your friends and pass it on! It's acutally pretty cute and funny, so it'll be entertaining. I promise!

Okay...tons to do before I head to school.

Two weeks 'til London town!!!

Happy Father's Day to my dad! I love you. :)

Much love!

My First Weekend of Freedom!

The stress and anger I felt most of last week all melted away on Friday when we checked out officially for the summer. I had a seriously stressful last week, due to a student who can't manage to follow directions and a poor decision on my part. Anyway, that's all over, and people get what they deserve and life goes on.

Thursday night was a night of premature celebration in the form of the English department's end of the year party. I made Sloppy Joe's ("man food") and we ate, drank, and generally made merry. It was an interesting event, because at last year's party we were saying goodbye to Margie and hello to Melanie, and this year it was goodbye Melanie and hello (again) Margie. Ironic, I suppose, but wonderful all the same.

The highlight of the night was Bree-Ana unveiling the finished version of a song that's been brewing all year. It was captured on video for all of posterity and you can watch it here at YouTube. There are some naughty words, so beware!

Friday night, my first officialy evening of freedom, I met up with my pal Drew and we had dinner and went to a co-worker's show. I have a co-worker who does improv comedy (and apparently has done for years) and so I thought it would be fun to see his show. Turns out, it was a fun night. We ate at a middle eastern place (falafels and baclava are YUM!) and saw the show. Improv always amazes me; the actors (parciticipants?) are so quick! I sometimes think I could do it... but other times I'm convinced I can't. Ahh well, maybe some day.

Saturday morning I had a baby shower to go to for a woman at church. I made her a sweater and it turned out to be perfect--the baby's colors are green, navy, and brown, and I made a mint green sweater. The daddy to be requested two more (Can you guess the colors?) before the little tyke is born.

That afternoon, we had a book club meeting/potluck, a little goodbye to Anya, who's going to New York for the summer. Our book for this meeting was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who liked it, or at least I thought so until we discussed it. I figured out a few things throughout the course of the conversation, so I was quite happy about that.

As the evening wore down, we decided a move needed to be made, or it was time for pjs and bed. T, Adam, and I went out to Crazy Pianos (I told you I'm obsessed!). My quest to become BFF with all of the piano players comes further and further to fruition each time I go, and this outing was no exception. Adam (not my upstairs neighbor but the piano player from G.R.) and I chatted for a while and he hooked me up with a shot of tequila. I am not one to turn down such a gift, especially when that gift is from a cute boy who plays piano and has a great smile.

The best part was the two girls who were kind of stalking him were waiting for him at the back bar and eventually worked their way into his buis-nass. I'm certain that I saw the word "help" written in Adam's eyes, but I have no time to fool around with girls like that, and found the whole situation amusing anyway. It was a fun night and we ended up practically closing the place (a first for me and something I haven't done in ages).

Sunday was pool time and church, and I've been working out and working on stuff for the rest of the week. I'm trying to figure out next year, for both my juniors and seniors (yeah, still don't know what I'm doing there...). I've got this week and next before I head to migrant camp, and then a few days later it's London town!

This summer is going to go by very quickly, I can already tell, but I can't wait for London!!

Much love.

Wheelin' and Dealin'!

Memorial Day weekend was a lovely one, mostly because I didn't spend it in Miami. It's been raining here for the past two weeks or so. We need the rain, but grey skies are, after a few days, admittedly a bit dreary.

I spent Memorial Day weekend in Michigan, hanging out with my family. It was a rocky road getting there though, because Ali, who was taking me to the airport, got a flat about five miles away, on the side of the 826. It was pretty awesome. My mom had some Macy's gift cards, so Liz and I went shopping on Saturday. I didn't find too much--just a pretty, red, BCBG top, but Liz struck gold. I even found her this amazing outfit that I made her try on.

Totally rock star. It was funny.

Saturday night my mom had an awkward cook-out. I say this because there's this guy that my mom is convinced is my soul mate (a son of one of her friends from nursing school) and she invited him, his parents, and his brother over. I mean, don't get me wrong, he was a cool enough dude, and his little brother I just wanted to put in my pocket, but I just feel like she should have invited more people 'cause yeah... It was just awkward. Fun, delicious, and awkward. But whatever.

Sunday I got to see both sets of grandparents; Mema and Grumpa in the morning, and Abita that evening. Grumpa seemed to know who I was but was otherwise pretty quiet. Abita not only recognized me, but told my uncle I'd be coming earlier in the day! That's pretty amazing, I think.

Of course, we took the obligatory photo with Mema and Grumpa, especially since my sister and I are rarely in the same room...
Oh shaggy Bubba. He's currently in Michigan spending the summer with his grandparents. I just didn't think it was fair to board him for three weeks, or ask someone to watch him for that long, even Tiffany. So he's spending time there and then Liz will (hopefully!!) come and visit and bring him back. I miss his little face and his excitement to see me but he's done this before and honestly? He doesn't much care about me when my mom and dad are around.

Overall it was a great weekend and the weather was amazing--sunny, warm but not hot, perfect.

These past couple weeks have been fun as well. The end of the year is upon us (Thursday WOOO HOOO!) ans teachers at ILS are feeling the need to work less and play more. The night before graduation, we decided to go to this place called Little Hoolie's for Ladies' Night and Kareoke. The best moment was when Tanya asked to sing "Summer Lovin'", only it was the "dirty" version (gross and vulgar) and no one knew. She was slated to sing it with Richard (this guy from work) but pulled reinforcements (i.e. me and, eventually, Nicole) on stage to belt it out with them. Let's be honest here: I saved that performance because, as always, I WORKED that song out. lol I'm sure it was pretty hilarioius to watch, and it was super fun to do.

Here's the whole group:

And in this one, I'm CLEARLY channeling Stockard Channing while Tanya does a mean Olivia Newton John...

Now to relay the adventres of this past weekend. Friday night we had a department meeting at K and Ana's house (beer and pizza were involved, always a plus) and we planned what we're teaching next year. Somehow, we decided it was brilliant to teach five novels instead of four next year. BALLS! I barely got through four! Nightmare. Anyway, I'm excited to teach the new new ones, but that means I have to come up with two new units and shave about two weeks from first semester... Balls again. Yay for summer to actually try to get that done.

Saturday I got up early and was extremely productive by 11 am. It was awesome. I even discovered a shoe repair place that wasn't miles from my house. It was a total win.

Saturday afternoon, T and I hung out for the first time in ages (seriously) and ended up at the mall. She had a total win in the clothing department but I came out the ultimate victor. Not only did I manage to spend my gift card and $10 savings check, I discovered AN ENTIRE ROOM OF CLEARANCE SHOES THAT I NEVER EVEN KNEW EXISTED! And the best part? (Yes, there IS something better...) The shoes in what shall henceforth be known as "The Magic Room" were mostly size 9 and above. HOLLA! Let's just say I got two pairs of shoes for less than the cost of each pair. A. Mazing.

Plus, a Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen/Cedric Diggory) look-a-like totally works there. His name is Gabriel and yes, I took a picture with him because I am a dork. I would have stalked him until this goal was accomplished, and now I don't have to. Woot! Seriously, though, he looks JUST LIKE Robert Pattinson...

After the magic of Macy's (those commericals are SO right) I just HAD to wear a pair of new shoes to the piano bar that night. I admit it, I'm obsessed. Don't judge! Mellie and Tiffany had't been yet so we went. At one point we were up to a party of six. I had a great time, like I usually do, and it turns out that not just Tommy, but two of the other piano players are from Michigan! One guy, Dave, is from Sag-nasty and another dude (name pending) is from GR. I'm sure, now that I think about it, that he played at Mojo's. One of the bartenders is from Michigan too. It was awesome--Michigan was in the house! I am now even MORE obsessed with Crazy Pianos and want to live there. *sigh*

Sunday I went to church in the a.m. and then T wanted to go to an outlet mall which she THOUGHT was Aventura. It was NOT. What she acutally meant was Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall, which we finally started heading toward after some aimless driving. I'd never been before and should not go again! Let me tell you--I got some DEALS. Or I could have had I completely lost my mind and bought everything I wanted to buy. But let's just say the Coach outlet was deadly, and I got a sweater at BCBG for $19. You can barely get a sweater at Target for $19! I'm gonna head back there before I go to London, I think, to stock up for the trip and I may go school clothes shopping there too. There were SO MANY stores we barely even saw any of them, but I think it's good we went with a specific shopping agenda in mind. Tiffany? Bag for school/work. Me? Collared button down for work. Missions accomplished, with a few treats thrown in.

Man, this weekend was all about spending money, but I saved more than I spent so that makes it okay, right?

Right?

It's the last week of school, finals week, and I've got two down and three more to go. Let me just say, we can't be done soon enough! I was angry (like, my hands were shaking angry) for most of the day today because of my precious, precious angels. Good riddance to them and God bless David who has to teach them as seniors.

Bring on the department party and the summer!

Much love.