If I could write a letter to me....

I have been getting so (nervous? excited? pumped? apprehensive?) who knows- about the upcoming school year, that I've started doing some lesson planning.

The first unit deals with The Readers/Writers Notebook and I was trying to think of ways to get kids sort of excited about their writing and inspiration struck (Inspiration came in the form of googling "Writers Notebook Ideas")

But one idea was to have kids write a letter about themselves, and about their future year. And I have tons of ideas of how I want my students to write these letters, but that's not what I'm interested in writing about here . (and what if future students is reading this? I don't want to ruin the surprise! PSYCH- I don't really want future students or any students reading this)

SO to sort of kick this off I wrote a letter to my 7th Grade Self. Here it is.

Dear Abby,

7^th grade seems like it’s starting off so great. Your parents let you go to that N*sync Concert the night before your first day of school. You could of sworn Justin Timberlake, was looking right at you and your best friend Carmen. Who knew he would still be famous now?

This year might be rough for you- but on the bright side things will go waaay uphill. But not for a few more years, you have a lot to learn about yourself and the people around you.

My first piece of advice, is to think carefully of who your friends are. I know that Carmen, Rosa and you are inseperable right now. But ask yourself this question, did you get in more trouble before or after you started hanging out with them? They are good friends to have, but you can find even better friends, who will ALWAYS have your back.

My second piece of advice, is to TRY HARDER in school! You’re a pretty smart kid- but it’s hard to keep up with the other kids at your school. You probably will never get 100 in Algebra, and Mrs. Mika may never like your writing. But if you actually tried harder on your homework and paid more attention in class, you would start getting grades that you were proud of. And in the end, your opinion of yourself is the only thing that counts.

My last big piece of advice is this, WAKE UP. There are so many wonderful, amazing things around you all the time. It’s so easy to let all of them pass you by. Your brain is always somewhere else, and you never seem focused on what’s in front of you- only on what’s next. You are incredibly lucky, your parents aren’t so bad, and you’ve got so much to appreciate. And you will appreciate it, when you finally learn to notice it.

Here are a few minor pieces of advice, but pay attention they will help you now and when you’re older (like now!):

That guy is dumb, and is always playing games. Move on.

Spend less time online, and more time outside. Your happier when you aren't always in front of a screen!

Your parents really don’t want the worst for you, although it seems like it.

Be careful what you wish for, it won’t always come out the way you want it to.

Open your mind to new ideas and new things. New friends don’t mean their bad or worse than your other friends. It just means their new.

Always stay loyal, trusting and looking for the good in people. It is one of your best traits and can only take you farther.

If you know it’s wrong, don’t do it.

Good luck, and I promise things are always getting better!

Always,

Abby Green

PS: Take out those purple contacts, be happy with the eye color you have, it suits you.

Do You Remember When....?

Do you remember when I had a blog and I actually updated it?

Do you remember when I actually had things to say?

Usually, I know I want to write about something when it sits in my mind for about a week. It sits there, and gnaws at me until I have to get it all down. I don't ever know what direction it will go in- but I still know that it needs to start going somewhere.

Lately my mind has looked like the bunch of silly bands on my wrist.

When I pull them off my wrist, one by one, you can see each thing clearly and individually.

A pig

A turtle

The United States

A Statue of Liberty

A Crescent Moon

A Bucking Bronco

I always know what each band will turn out to be.

Together, though, they seem confusing. Singularly it's all clear.

Just like all the things running through my mind.

i missed the memo..

and didn't write a Happy Father's Day blog. ooops!

But I read all these other happy fathers day blogs and got a little sad, and a little sorry that I didn't write one myself so here it is!

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

I know this is the ELEVENTH Fathers Day we haven't been together for but I promise my love for summer camp can never trump the love I have for you.

Thank you ford handing me a stack of twenties every time I leave home.

Thank you for putting up with me and my silly requests.

Thanks for teaching me to be exactly like you.

Thanks, Dad, for always being there for me.

I love you.

Are You Lonely Looking for Yourself Out There? pt.2

... and I'm back for more. Here's the last five things that are making me happy!

5. Energy

This may be due to my workouts, or the fact that I've almost completely given up meat and am eating a lot more fresh foods- but who cares, I have so much more energy. When I come home at the end of the day I'm not dying for a nap. I also don't feel like the whole day at school is equal to running a marathon. And that is a Great Feeling.

4. Mrs. H and Mrs. L.

(this is what all teachers look like- sitting at their CLEAN desk, with an apple and smiling all the time)

... and well a lot of other teachers on my team(s). I have met some pretty awesome teachers, who have kept me going all year long. As the year has grown longer, I think our friendship has gone stronger. They help me with school and life. I like to call Mrs. H and Mrs. L my work mom's.. because who doesn't need more than one?

3. Reading

Since I've had a little more time to breathe lately, I have finally gotten back into reading for fun. I had forgotten how great it was to be involved in books and reading. Laura Bush was on Oprah the other day and they talked about how only children can really take to reading because it helps create their own world. I couldn't agree more. Currently on my shelf (0r in my bag, or on my desk, or in my car... or wherever I can read)

2. Great Friends

I have made great new friends in Austin and I am making more and more. I have great friends scattered around the country, too. It's a great feeling knowing there's so many potential friends out there and so many established friends right along with them.

1. The Future

I am counting down the days till the end of school (9) as excitement for a break and excitement for what's next. I feel like next year can only get better-with work, friends and just life in general. The real world has really started and I can't wait for it to get better and better.

Are You Lonely Looking for Yourself Out There? pt.1

I have a lot to complain about. I am excellent at finding something stupid and unnecessary, and then well, complaining about it.

But today

I'm going to share the things that make me happy. The last 2 weeks I've been in a great mood. I haven't been feeling as stressed or disappointed lately and I decided to really think about what has caused a change in my mood. So here it is (or at least half of it):

10. Austin, TX

Austin has stolen my heart lately. If I knew where to send it, I would write it a love letter to Austin at least once a week. I love the people, the places, the food, the music... just everything. I love the city I live in. I could go on for hours, but I don't want to make anyone jealous. Driving over South Congress or even I-35 takes my breath away,every time. Without Fail.

9. My workouts
Ok, this on the list and it is low on the list. I have been trying (key word:trying) to work out at least 5-6 times each week. For the last month, I have hit that goal every single week. Honestly, it's become something I look forward to. When I wake up, when I'm at school, in meetings I am ready to get to the gym and get my workout on (or over with.. but still). I download new tunes to keep me motivated (currently: Sad, Sad City by Ghostland Observatory), I bought a new gym bag and I have no problems packing it at night.

8. Moving

I HATE moving. I hate the idea of packing up all my boxes and everything I own and moving it someplace new. It sounds exhausting... But I am excited to move closer to downtown, have a roommate AND be able to paint the walls any color I want.

7. My students AMAZING projects

I asked my kids to make a Fake Facebook page about a Greek God or Goddess. This is one of the AMAZING examples. They are great.
6. The month of May

I AM loving the extended hours of sunlight, the end of TAKS season,and the closeness of Summer. I feel like I can get more done afterschool (and I have less to do!), the sun is actually up when I leave for school, and I have a HUGE holiday to look forward to.
5. Great Weekends

Above are just a few people I have gotten to see over the past few weekends. My wonderful friends and family have been willing to drive all over Texas (and I have done some driving myself), to see each other. I had the best time with Rachel on S.Congress, annoyed Adam downtown, helped my mother spend money on me, and had a REAL Castroville experience with Brooke. The next few weekends hold even more visitors and traveling, and I can't wait!

Part 2 of the Ten Reasons Why I'm Loving Life Will be Posted Soon!

the only thing that is on my mind.

This is what I am doing right now. NOT working on the Jeopardy game for my students to play tomorrow. Just thinking of things I can write about in my blog, checking old emails, reading every online article I can find... but defiantly NOT working on what needs to be done tomorrow.

I'm so ready for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to be over. And also the FOUR weeks after that.

I forsee that my level of procrastination will cause a spike in blog entries.

I have seen the world, and sometimes wish your room had room for 2.

I've spent this weekend hibernating in my apartment. I feel kind of lame for not acting like the socialite I know I can be but I'll be honest here, I've been feeling kind of disappointed.

You know when you're a teenager and you're parents catch you doing something you aren't supposed to be doing? And then they say something like, "I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed in you." And that was the WORST.

I remember one particular incident from high school in which I was grounded forever and could actually feel the waves of disappointment coming off of my parents for weeks. I think I cried every day I was grounded.

Well, this time I am the disappointed one and I am not so happy with humanity.

This week alone, I have experienced:

1. The stupidest lie from a student that involved him lying to me THREE times (this is actually funny and disappointing, there will be a post about it later)

2. A parent that I contacted THREE times about her son failing (which she never returned the calls) show up to harass me about his grade

3. A parent try to involve me in his hostile feelings for his ex-wife and harass me about his sons grade

4. A parent demand I change one of her son's grade

5. A student deface school property

6. Another teacher yell at me because she didn't agree with my teams policy on morning duty

7. A student deface themselves

8. And finally.. a parent blame me for number 5's misbehavior

I have always considered myself an extrovert, which as my friend Rachel describes is someone who is "energized by being around other people." I have never questioned my extrovert status... until now.

There's no way college can prepare you for the feelings you get when people are just flat out rude.

For the last three weeks, I had been feeling so stressed and tense. This week those feelings finally went away and were replaced with this instead.

I hope next week brings something positive.