A Lil' Bit of Monica...and a Whole Lot of Randomness

Although it is nine days into July, (but who's counting, right?), I am finally able to link up with Farley (for my first time ever) at:


for this month's Currently

July Currently

But, wait, there's more to this than meets the eye...you can't just plug in your stuff...you hafta follow the rules:

for the last question about books:
#1 should be your ALL TIME FAVORITEST BOOK to read aloud...it is THE ONE
#2 is your go-to professional book

and there's more: Farley's RULE OF THREE,

It would be sweet, supportive, and following the rules...to look at the 2 link-ups in front of your link and then come back and look at the one behind yours...I hope there's someone behind me...lol...and comment on those 3...you can comment on more than 3, of course...

But, I'm not done...I was recently bestowed the One Lovely Blog Award

by these sweet bloggers:

Victoria

Carole Dawn

AND the Versatile Blogger Award

by these lovely bloggers: Patty at 2nd in Line and Patti at Tales From a 4th (and 5th) Grade Teacher, and

Sarah

AND the Liebster Blog Award

by this sweet blogger:

Melissa

Thank you, girlies :)

Now for the 7 shades of randomness that goes along with the VB award...(just nod your head if you got that reference...)

1. I moonlight as a cart girl (and sometimes bartender) at a local golf course...when you have a daughter in college, you do what you gotta do...plus, I get adult conversation...wait, after a few holes and a couple of beverages, they're not much different than my 6 and 7-year olds...

my sweet ride...see my friends Jack, Crown, Smirnoff?

2. I know absolutely nothing about golf...see #1 above, but, hey it hasn't affected my duties...all I need to know is Jack, Crown, Smirnoff....

3. I am a self-proclaimed Bon Jovi freak! And, admitting your addiction is the first step...but, I don't want to recover!!! It goes basically like this, "Hi, I'm Monica, I love Jon." Well, not exactly like that, but how else does everybody know that I LOVE THIS BAND?!

4. I have a dog named Jovi...see #3 above...

5. I have a tattoo of the Bon Jovi smirk...see #3 above...I told you...I really wasn't exaggerating...

6. I missed a Bon Jovi concert due to food poisoning at Mason's Geli...I shall not speak the name of the place that nearly killed me...as you can see, I'm still not over my anger and disappointment...and I tell everyone I talk to...so don't go there!!! Ok, I'm better now :)

notice my still untorn/ unused ticket :(

7. I can fit through the doggy door at my house...now THAT needs a lil' back story...my boyfriend and I were about to go to Simply Fondue (where you get to dip everything) for my birthday dinner this past Saturday...we had reservations...well, when we got into his truck, he realized that he didn't grab his keys. So, he looks at me, "Where's your keys?"...I'm like, "They don't fit in this"....(duh!!)

holds phone, I.D., and lipstick ONLY

So, alas...we were locked out...we checked the Jeep (it has a garage remote) and his Infiniti (it has the garage door-button memory thing)...but, for once, they were also locked. My SUV is in the closed garage. I know...two people, four vehicles, don't ask...SO, not only did we not have any keys to drive anywhere, we did not have any way to get in the house to get keys...

UNTIL, he says to me, "You're gonna have to go in the doggy door." Huh, what?! He's watched one too many Mission Impossible movies...I'm thinkin' we're callin' a cab (woo-hoo first-time cab ride), and we'll figure this out later...

You may wonder why that idea popped in his head so easily and freely, and I blame that on my dear daughter...who casually mentioned that she'd done it a few times when she'd forgotten her keys...(and I'm hoping that was the reason...)

BACK to me and the situation (I've kinda always wanted to say that):

REMEMBER, people...I am birthday-dinner dressed, so my hair is done, and I'm wearing a dress (not the usual tank top and shorts)...thank goodness the doggy door is not in the front of the house...else I would have some 'plaining to do to my neighbors...

As I stand there...he's telling me "go feet first"...no way am I doing that...it's not a freakin' slide for cryin' out loud...so I go in head first...thinking I MUST be caught in an episode of Bloopers/ Funniest Home Videos/ Punk'd...

gross, gross, GROSSNESS!!!

BUT, I made it in alive...got refreshed and grabbed not only his keys, but MY keys, too...silently cursed his adult ADD that put us in this situation to begin with...and went on our way...

Arriving with just minutes to spare, dinner was amazing...and I got a slice of cheesecake and some champagne on the house...

I will never look at the doggy door the same way again...

And that, my friend, is all...you probably feel like you got to know me a wee bit more than you wanted to, huh?!

What have YOU had to do when you've gotten locked out of your house???

A Sub note, a Gift, and a Blog Award

Hi, friends. I don't know about you, but I have had good luck this year (not so much in the past) with securing great substitutes for my class when I have to be out (mostly for required training). Of course, when I come across a good sub that becomes a favorite, she usually is a favorite among others as well (and soon gets busy) or gets hired on as a teacher - yea for her, but not-so-yea for me. I like to know who to expect when I'm out, and I want consistency for my kiddos.

This year has been different; when I have been out, I have been pleasantly surprised that retired teachers or qualified subs are picking up the jobs. It's been a win-win for me (not returning to chaos) and my students (the regular schedule can be followed).

A Note from a Sub...

I always request that my sub leave me a note to let me know about the nuisances of the day (kiddo went home sick, H was a chatterbox, A didn't want to work, etc), but imagine my surprise when I returned to find the sweetest note about how they all did great because they were hard workers and big helpers to her. But, there's more to her note. This is the part that brought tears to my eyes, "I can tell you are a gifted teacher by how your classroom looked and how well your students followed directions!" I l-o-v-e Mrs. J!! I shared the note with my class, and they beamed. They were so proud of themselves, and it sure put a hop in my step for the rest of the week.

On to my gift...

One of my firsties brought this in for me one day. Now, I get coloring sheets, apples, letters, and other treats (that I display proudly on my cabinet doors), but my sweet, little N took the time to make this for me at home on her own time. It was a little moment of "aww - I am thought of outside the classroom" and it made my heart swell.

And the winner is...
A huge thank you to Dee from First Impressions and Ann Marie from Innovative Connections for sharing the One Lovely Blog Award with me.

The rules ask this:
1. Link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other lovely bloggers. (I am apologetic about breaking the "rules," but I am reducing the number to 5 - please forgive me :) )
3. Follow the person who sent it to you.

I am passing the award to:

Mrs. Daniel's First Grade Blog
First Grade Lyon's Den
Chalk Talk
Swamp Frog First Graders
Asprec's Apple

Check out these great blogs if you don't already. How do you prepare for a sub? What's the cutest surprise gift you have received from a student?

I am lovin' my spring break!!

Over the Moon! The Liebster Blog Award

Happy Friday the 13th to me! Imagine my surprise when I received this nomination for new bloggers! Heidi from Raki's Rad Resources bestowed the Liebster Blog Award to me. Thank you, Heidi!

Here’s an explanation of what the award is all about:

Liebster means “dearest” in German, and the award is intended to help up-and-coming blogs get the attention they deserve.

In order to accept the award, the blog owner must do the following:

1. Copy and paste the award on our blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award.
3. Pick out five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have been nominated.
4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs.

I am pleased to accept this award and would like to pass it along to the following great blogs:

1. The Mysterious Gifted Society
2. Nyla's Crafty Teaching
3. Discovery Kidzone
4. The Helping Bridge
5. Joy of Teaching


Check out these great new blogs! Thanks for supporting new blogs :)