Weekend Wrap-up the Third

It's been a good weekend.  My husband had to go to work just as I was set free from my work week, but we still managed to have a date night Friday night -- the first one in about a month.  I had to get up much earlier than I wanted to Saturday in order to pick up my daughter from a sleepover, and she has since developed a nasty cold with a low-grade fever, but otherwise, I have no real complaints.  Those aren't even really complaints either, just part of life as a grown-up, I suppose.  I certainly wasn't about to let these minor nuisances get me down.  I think I'm feeling so contented because I managed a pretty good balance of work and play (crafts) this weekend, and that isn't always easy to do.  Consequently, I may even be ready to tackle another week of taming teenagers now!  (Or it's possible that I've just finally lost my mind.)

I started grading sophomore research paper rough drafts this weekend, and they weren't too bad for their first attempts ever at research.  I have ten more to grade before Friday, and I will also be starting the process with my juniors this week.  Expect my attitude to worsen, as my juniors are an apathetic bunch.

I sewed my custom pillowcase for the upcoming mother-daughter sixth-grade field trip in April, and I have to say that I'm quite pleased with it.  Hamlet the cat seems to approve, as well.

Today, I used leftover scraps from my pillowcase to sew an easy lanyard for my classroom keys, which I have a bad habit of putting down and forgetting when kids start yelling for my attention. No more.

And while I was at the machine, I decided to make lanyards for my besties too. 

Now, off to work on my Angel Hair scarf, in hopes that the weather will turn cold again at least one more time before spring so that I can wear it!  Then it will be time for Bible reading and bed... Have a good week, all.

You Dropped a Bomb on Me

I've made toys for my husband in the past; things that represent his personality and likes which he could use to decorate his cubicle at work.  However, with his new position, he no longer has a space to call his own.  All of the guys who work this position share a work space, and they work in shifts.  I think his new work space resembles 1960s NASA Mission Control.  Nonetheless, I still want him to be able to take a little (and I do mean LITTLE) something which will add some character to an otherwise drab atmosphere.  Not only that, I want it to be something which all the guys will appreciate and hopefully even come to love.  Therefore, last night I knitted up...

...the Bob-omb from the Super Mario Bros. games!  My husband agreed that he makes the perfect mascot, and after all, boys do need their toys.

Well, I'll Be...

A few days ago, our local weather forecasters mentioned that there might be a chance for snow on Thursday -- today.  Snow is a rarity here in the Deep South, so I responded with a heartfelt, "Pfffffffft!"  Lo and behold, though, it happened!  I woke up at 5:30 this morning to see big, fat flakes floating down from the sky!

I had no desire to build a snowman... my snowman flag was sufficient.

Now, I know that snow is no big deal when it's a regular occurrence, but life comes to a complete halt here when it snows.  Many schools closed for the entire day, and the rest of them, like mine, had delayed start.  Thank goodness -- we don't know how to drive in the snow!!  I left 40 minutes before I had to be at work and drove at the speed of snail.

It was lovely, but I have to say that I was glad to see every bit of it melted by noon, and the sun was shining for the first time in a week.  We Southerners enjoy an occasional snow, but we certainly don't want it to stick around.  Tomorrow should be back to normal.

My daughter decided to do an impromptu rendition of the song "Snow" from White Christmas.

Long-Winded Weekend Wrap-up

I didn't get to do any sewing this weekend; I had hoped to, but I've run out of weekend much too quickly.  Instead, I...

• took lunch to my husband at his new work cave (which resembles 1960s NASA mission control), 
• got a new inspection sticker and an oil change (after I was stopped at a license check point and somehow got very lucky when the officer did not look in my window), 
• fried chicken for the husband since I didn't get to do that on his birthday Tuesday because I had to work late, 
• watched football and fell into a minor state of depression because NONE of the teams I like made it to the final rounds of the playoffs,
• did several loads of laundry, changed my daughter's bedsheets, swept the floors, did dishes several times, and washed all the rugs in my house,
• slept late two days in a row and woke up with a sore throat today,
• watched Patriot Games and The Sum of All Fears,
• still spent too much time on Facebook despite my resolution not to do so (but I'm still going to work on that),
• marveled at Mississippi weather once again when it went from 74 degrees this morning to 43 degrees in a matter of just a few hours
• and finished knitting a scarf which I promised for a favorite student who graduated years ago, but with whom I still keep in touch:

I'm rather pleased with the way it turned out.  My former student requested something in red and pink; I didn't have that, but I had this pretty yarn which was pretty close.  I hope she'll like it!

Difficult Yet Satisfying

These first few days back to work after a mostly relaxing two-week break have been tough!  Add to my trying to get back into the school groove the fact that my husband started a new schedule at his job in which he now works twelve-hour days, thus leaving the house at 5:30 A.M. either two or three days a week... the routine which we spent years perfecting has been thrown into a tailspin.  What's more, I myself worked a twelve-hour day Tuesday, AND it has been gloomy and raining all but one day this week, causing me to want to do nothing other than sleep.  This and more has made it a difficult four days, and I'm not counting on tomorrow's being any easier (although it IS Friday; that will help somewhat).  I did, however, have a satisfying moment at work today which I just have to share...

I have my sophomore classes studying poetry right now, and we've spent some time each day discussing the importance of sound elements and rhythm and how these contribute to the meaning of a poem.  So, for further practice today, we took a couple of well-known pop songs and analyzed their rhyme scheme and meter.  One of the songs I chose was "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.  My fifth-period class had fun with the assignment, but complained that they would have that ear worm the rest of the day.  Imagine my surprise (and evil delight) when on my way back from lunch I heard several students, who were not members of my fifth period, singing or humming "Call Me Maybe" as they walked down the hall.  Furthermore, before the day was over, the song continued to spread throughout the school.

I feel all nefarious in a totally harmless kind of way!  Mwaaaaaaaaaaa-haa-haa-haaaaaaaa!