Kontan Jou

It’s the end of summer so we spent the evening enjoying the company of our neighbors. Grilling out and having them over is something we’ve been meaning to do for a while, it just worked out today was a good day for it. Hot as everything, but still good. It worked out great too. When you have people over you are many times compelled to engage in marathon cleaning. Maybe that is just my personal quirk, but hey… The house was not a mess, not by any stretch of the imagination. However, it always makes me feel better to run the vac and clean all surfaces when we are having people over. It isn’t like these neighbors would truly care. They have three kids of their own and know what a house with kids is like. Anyway, this marathon cleaning session was great for me. Without inviting them over I wouldn’t have done as much today, probably only relaxing most of the day and working on paperwork. Instead, the garage is ready for Salvation Army to make a pick-up next week and each day of the first hectic week of school I will come home to a clean house! Woohoo. This is a big deal. There is nothing worse than having a long day and coming home to a disorganized home. Anyway, nice evening. Djembe is an awesome cook and has amazing grill skills. Wish it wasn’t so hot or I would make him grill more often.

Today was our first day back. We have a tight schedule for the next few days. Students will arrive Thursday of next week. I think I’m ready. My room is ready. My plans are ready. Am I?

Today was spent in a district wide welcome back motivational meeting this morning and a “here’s what you can expect” meeting of just our school. There will be little time in our rooms. I hate that because there is a good bit of planning I would like to complete before students arrive. We were given material to scan before next week, A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne. I’ll let you know how that goes. Not looking forward to this read.

I’m currently re-reading When Bad Christian’s Happen to Good People by Dave Burchette. GREAT work. I know I haven’t reviewed the Krauss work. Maybe tomorrow. Is it bad that students haven’t arrived yet and I’m ready for my getaway to LA with Djembe?

Here are pics of my classroom…thanks for stopping by. Sorry there is not more to offer. I feel like my brain is fuzzed.

I’m getting ready to go to my classroom and finish some last minute organization. I also need to finish my bulletin board. Since I am lacking in creativity this year I will be creating a “Did you know?” board that includes facts and trivia about Mississippi. Here are a few that will be included…

1. In 1963 the University of Mississippi Medical Center accomplished the world’s first human lung transplant and, on January 23, 1964, Dr. James D. Hardy performed the world’s first heart transplant surgery.

2. In 1902 while on a hunting expedition in Sharkey County, President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt refused to shoot a captured bear. This act resulted in the creation of the world-famous teddy bear.

3. David Harrison of Columbus owns the patent on the Soft Toilet Seat. Over 1,000,000 are sold every year.

4. The first football player on a Wheaties box was Walter Payton of Columbia.

5. The International Checkers Hall of Fame is in Petal.

6. The Vicksburg National Cemetery is the second largest national cemetery in the country. Arlington National Cemetery is the largest.

7. Vardaman is called the Sweet Potato Capital of the World.

8. Root beer was invented in Biloxi in 1898 by Edward Adolf Barq, Sr.

9. Mississippi produces more than 80% of the world’s supply of farm-raised catfish. Each year, in April, the World Catfish Festival is held in Belzoni, which is known as the Catfish Capital of the World.

10. In 1871 Liberty became the first town in the United States to erect a Confederate monument.

11. Oxford is home of John Grisham, author of THE FIRM, PELICAN BRIEF, THE CLIENT, and A TIME TO KILL.

12. Kosciusko is the birthplace of Ophrah Winfrey, nationally syndicated talk show hostess and actress.

13. Friendship Cemetery, in Columbus, has been called “Where Flowers Healed A Nation.” It was April 25, 1866 and the Civil War had been over for a year when the ladies of Columbus decided to decorate the Confederate and Union soldier’s graves with beautiful bouquets and garlands of flowers. As a direct result of this kind gesture, Americans celebrate what has come to be called Memorial Day each year, an annual observance of recognition of our war dead.

For other MS trivia visit MS Trivia and 50states Trivia.

While I was over saying hi to MommaDuck I clicked on a quiz to see how it turned out…yes, I’m a sucker for a good quiz. Here are my results:

Are You a Slacker Mom?

Take this free personality test by going to www.areyouaslackermom.com

Bahahahaha! I have a nine year old that I have to get Jem to look over her pre-Algebra problems! Help them with Algebra, oh that’s hilarious. OK, finishing Trig in high school, I can work Algebera +, but I can not explain it to anyone. I will actually require serious review for taking the PRAXIS I in a few months. Ugh, I can’t believe I have to take it, but if I want to renew my AL license it is required. WHY?!?!

You know, the problem with lists is that they add a sense of failure to the mix when we do not complete every task on them. I have gotten school supplies and clothes for the girls. I purchased groceries for most of the month. August lesson plans are complete and I had a date with Djembe. Not too bad. There’s still plenty to do, but the “must have complete” tasks are done.

I haven’t broken down and purchased the mp3 player yet. Jem said he would take care of that for me. However, I finally bought a new mouse for my laptop. I’ve been using my PC wireless mouse that I use during the school year. Now that school is starting it is time for me to return it to my classroom. So I bought this tiny little thing for my laptop…

The picture is only slightly smaller than the actual mouse. It is hard to get used to something so little!

I do have to tutor in the morning, and finish my bulletin board. The goal for the next two days…finish the Krauss book. Guess I should stop blogging and start on that. Sorry I don’t have something more exciting for you…shopping is exhausting. Shopping with a nine year old and a six year old is just insanity.