It's been nearly a week since I've added anything to my blog, mainly because I've been a little cranky. I don't like to be negative, and that is certainly not the side of me that I want my dedicated readers (BOTH of them!) to become too familiar with! I don't want to be identified as a complainer, so it's best that I stay away when my evil alter-ego occasionally rises up to the surface.
I'm also becoming more and more aware that there are many topics that I simply cannot address on a public blog without ruffling too many feathers. Humph.
So, until my black rain cloud passes, I thought I'd share one of my all-time favorite videos! This one is called "Parent-Teacher Conference," and its accuracy is hilariously alarming. Even if you're not a teacher (or a parent), you'll enjoy this video. I'd bet a year's wages that you'll get a giggle from this one... :D
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Cheers, Speedo Guy!
As a general rule, I do not consider myself a sports enthusiast, although I am a HUGE fan of the Yankees, I follow college football, and I love to play golf. However, there is something about March Madness that makes me act like a complete and total nutcase. Last year, I nearly drove my husband insane when I downloaded and repeatedly played John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" during a trip to OKC. (Ok, maybe it wasn't that I played the song so much - maybe it was because I couldn't resist singing along with my incredibly amazing voice). Had West Virginia not been playing in the Final Four, I never would have become such a zealot for John Denver tunes! Just think of the joys I may have missed!!
Another example of true "March Madness"...I spent my spring break standing in a ridiculous snowstorm outside the Ford Center to purchase tickets to watch the Kansas Jayhawks play ball. What the heck?? I'm a Sooner girl!! Not a Jayhawker!
Insanity, I tell you!
With the big dance quickly approaching, I can feel my vocal cords warming up for a round of folk-song karaoke, and my toes are itching to dig out the snowboots. But, you won't catch me lingering around the Ford Center this year (or whatever it's called), though. No sir!! The BOK Center, well maybe... ;)
In honor of March Madness, it's time to say kudos to the legendary "Speedo Guy" of Duke University. The perfect example of a "true blue" fan!!
Another example of true "March Madness"...I spent my spring break standing in a ridiculous snowstorm outside the Ford Center to purchase tickets to watch the Kansas Jayhawks play ball. What the heck?? I'm a Sooner girl!! Not a Jayhawker!
Insanity, I tell you!
With the big dance quickly approaching, I can feel my vocal cords warming up for a round of folk-song karaoke, and my toes are itching to dig out the snowboots. But, you won't catch me lingering around the Ford Center this year (or whatever it's called), though. No sir!! The BOK Center, well maybe... ;)
In honor of March Madness, it's time to say kudos to the legendary "Speedo Guy" of Duke University. The perfect example of a "true blue" fan!!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday Stealing
At the suggestion of my "old friend" Dave, I have decided to participate in Sunday Stealing!!
Sunday Stealing: The Very Late Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. Make a list of 5 things that you can see without getting up:
My dog, Shanti who is snoring on the rug.
A basket of laundry that needs to be folded and put away
My husband doing dishes (if I wait long enough, maybe he'll fold said laundry!)
The television -tuned to Sirius music
Oh my god shoes!
2. How do you style your hair?
Ugh...really? Typically I straighten it and pull it up. Hair around my neck drives me nuts.
3. What are you wearing now?
OU shirt, "peace" pajama bottoms and non-matching slippers (don't ask)
4. What's your occupation?
teacher - 8th grade English and gifted/talented
5. What do you hear right now?
water running/dog snoring/music
6. Who was the last person you hugged?
The Dawsonator- I'm sure he wanted money
7. What is/was for dinner?
We should probably ask whoever is cooking...
8. What did you do today?
My Sunday routine- sleep in, breakfast, laundry, and procrastinating. I need to go up to the school and get things ready for this week, but I haven't yet.
9. Dog person or cat person?
Sea monkey person
10. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
Probably something that ended with Trump, Rockefeller, Winfrey, or Gates, but only if I get the perks that go along with it
11. What was the last thing that you bought?
sparkly black Tom's shoes!!
12. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Someplace sunny and warm with a white, sandy beach and unlimited rum
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
This chair is pretty comfy
14. Where's your birthmark?
Right lower leg
15. What are you doing this weekend?
Mostly answering texts from my nutty friends in OKC :D
16. Which book are you reading at the moment?
A Tale of Two Cities
17. The last movie you've seen?
The Town w/Ben Affleck - yummy
18. What are you doing tomorrow?
Tomorrow I get to spend the day in professional development with my teacher peeps
Sunday Stealing: The Very Late Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. Make a list of 5 things that you can see without getting up:
My dog, Shanti who is snoring on the rug.
A basket of laundry that needs to be folded and put away
My husband doing dishes (if I wait long enough, maybe he'll fold said laundry!)
The television -tuned to Sirius music
Oh my god shoes!
2. How do you style your hair?
Ugh...really? Typically I straighten it and pull it up. Hair around my neck drives me nuts.
3. What are you wearing now?
OU shirt, "peace" pajama bottoms and non-matching slippers (don't ask)
4. What's your occupation?
teacher - 8th grade English and gifted/talented
5. What do you hear right now?
water running/dog snoring/music
6. Who was the last person you hugged?
The Dawsonator- I'm sure he wanted money
7. What is/was for dinner?
We should probably ask whoever is cooking...
8. What did you do today?
My Sunday routine- sleep in, breakfast, laundry, and procrastinating. I need to go up to the school and get things ready for this week, but I haven't yet.
9. Dog person or cat person?
Sea monkey person
10. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
Probably something that ended with Trump, Rockefeller, Winfrey, or Gates, but only if I get the perks that go along with it
11. What was the last thing that you bought?
sparkly black Tom's shoes!!
12. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Someplace sunny and warm with a white, sandy beach and unlimited rum
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
This chair is pretty comfy
14. Where's your birthmark?
Right lower leg
15. What are you doing this weekend?
Mostly answering texts from my nutty friends in OKC :D
16. Which book are you reading at the moment?
A Tale of Two Cities
17. The last movie you've seen?
The Town w/Ben Affleck - yummy
18. What are you doing tomorrow?
Tomorrow I get to spend the day in professional development with my teacher peeps
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Fluffy the Chicken
Today marks the end of my reign as Woodward's Teacher of the Year.
I've had a mixture of emotions about handing-down my tiara, and it was quite the bittersweet afternoon. Bitter because - well, because who wants to give up the glamour, fame, and perks associated with being queen bee of a small, northwest Oklahoma town? Sweet because I no longer have to avoid the pesky paparazzi who stalk me at every turn begging for my photo and hankering to know which designer I'm wearing. (Ok, not really!)...Sweet because I finally had the chance to express to the community just how much I've relished being their "TOY," and because I was given the pleasure of passing the torch to another much-deserving educator who has worked diligently to provide the children of our community with a warm, loving classroom and exceptional educational experiences.
It was also great to see some of my friends and colleagues who I never get to see when I am tending the birdies up in the nest (aka my classroom!).
So, for those of you who missed it, or for those of you who just want a chance to make fun of me one more time - heaven knows I present you with plenty of opportunities for this - here is my "farewell" speech. Feel free to post the mocking comments, but please - leave the pics of Fluffy out of this.
I've had a mixture of emotions about handing-down my tiara, and it was quite the bittersweet afternoon. Bitter because - well, because who wants to give up the glamour, fame, and perks associated with being queen bee of a small, northwest Oklahoma town? Sweet because I no longer have to avoid the pesky paparazzi who stalk me at every turn begging for my photo and hankering to know which designer I'm wearing. (Ok, not really!)...Sweet because I finally had the chance to express to the community just how much I've relished being their "TOY," and because I was given the pleasure of passing the torch to another much-deserving educator who has worked diligently to provide the children of our community with a warm, loving classroom and exceptional educational experiences.
It was also great to see some of my friends and colleagues who I never get to see when I am tending the birdies up in the nest (aka my classroom!).
So, for those of you who missed it, or for those of you who just want a chance to make fun of me one more time - heaven knows I present you with plenty of opportunities for this - here is my "farewell" speech. Feel free to post the mocking comments, but please - leave the pics of Fluffy out of this.
When I was five years old, my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jane Goetzinger cast me as Fluffy the Chicken in our class play. As Fluffy, I got to wear a gorgeous yellow feathered costume complete with a big orange beak, and I literally got the chance to “strut my tailfeathers” around on stage. Every since that day, Woodward schools have been like home to me.
It has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me to represent my hometown and my school district as teacher of the year. When I stood in front of all of you last year, I told you that I didn’t always know I wanted to be a teacher, and that is true. I nibbled at many careers before deciding to become a teacher, but the classroom is truly my glass slipper, and this past year, you have made me feel like Cinderella.
It has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me to represent my hometown and my school district as teacher of the year. When I stood in front of all of you last year, I told you that I didn’t always know I wanted to be a teacher, and that is true. I nibbled at many careers before deciding to become a teacher, but the classroom is truly my glass slipper, and this past year, you have made me feel like Cinderella.
I want to thank CJ Montgomery, the Chamber of Commerce, the Woodward News, and all the vendors who have contributed to this reception. The gifts and the opportunities that I received as TOY were truly incredible, and I will never forget your generosity.
But as with Cinderella, it is time for my ball to end.
Congratulations to each of our six finalists. You truly are the best of the best!
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and pleasure to present to you Woodward Public School’s 2011 Teacher of the Year…..Mrs. Nancy Shore!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
To blog or not to blog...
For the past few months, I've been considering starting a blog. I have several friends who are quite successful bloggers, and I thoroughly enjoy reading through their posts from time to time. I sometimes find myself secretly "blogging in my head," narrating my life and experiences much like Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City (although my day-to-day experiences aren't nearly as glamorous as those of a single, uber-successful Manhattan columnist and her pack of wealthy gal pals). Why not actually put the words down in print for all to enjoy, right??..
This is exactly the question I am asking myself right now as I struggle to type out the first few lines of my newest "thing." What exactly is a blog? Should I be limited to one specific topic in blog? Is there any topic I am passionate enough about to write about it on a weekly basis, and is there anyone in the world who would even care to read it?
As previously noted, I do read the blogs of several friends, and I really enjoy them. However, I have found that most of these blogs really aren't about one specific topic or idea, but rather are more of an online journal of their lives. They write about their families, books, movies, politics, vacations, and the things that happen in their own little worlds.
Is that really what a blog is supposed to be, and if it is, how can my life possibly be interesting enough for another human being to want to know about it? I also find myself wondering if I really want people to know about my life. Can I really put myself out there in print, completely unexposed and uncensored? Is that "ok"?
Lets face it, as a public school teacher, I am constantly in the public eye. Everything I write, say, and suggest is scrutinized, criticized, discussed, and twisted to the point of being unrecognizable. I've recently discovered that even innocuous postings on Facebook about school closings can turn into a six e-mail scolding by my building principal. There are those who would suggest that I write strictly about "safe" topics - those that can in no way be misinterpreted or misunderstood, those that are shiny and pretty with bubbles and unicorns and Mary Poppins flying around with her adorable umbrella and her fruit-covered hats (pardon me while I puke up a furball). But, if I am not going to write about topics that mean something, and if I'm not going to address real issues and give my naked, honest opinion, why should I even bother to write??
So, I am back to Hamlet's age-old question (slightly altered for the 21st century). To blog or not to blog...
This is my question, but what is the answer?
This is exactly the question I am asking myself right now as I struggle to type out the first few lines of my newest "thing." What exactly is a blog? Should I be limited to one specific topic in blog? Is there any topic I am passionate enough about to write about it on a weekly basis, and is there anyone in the world who would even care to read it?
As previously noted, I do read the blogs of several friends, and I really enjoy them. However, I have found that most of these blogs really aren't about one specific topic or idea, but rather are more of an online journal of their lives. They write about their families, books, movies, politics, vacations, and the things that happen in their own little worlds.
Is that really what a blog is supposed to be, and if it is, how can my life possibly be interesting enough for another human being to want to know about it? I also find myself wondering if I really want people to know about my life. Can I really put myself out there in print, completely unexposed and uncensored? Is that "ok"?
Lets face it, as a public school teacher, I am constantly in the public eye. Everything I write, say, and suggest is scrutinized, criticized, discussed, and twisted to the point of being unrecognizable. I've recently discovered that even innocuous postings on Facebook about school closings can turn into a six e-mail scolding by my building principal. There are those who would suggest that I write strictly about "safe" topics - those that can in no way be misinterpreted or misunderstood, those that are shiny and pretty with bubbles and unicorns and Mary Poppins flying around with her adorable umbrella and her fruit-covered hats (pardon me while I puke up a furball). But, if I am not going to write about topics that mean something, and if I'm not going to address real issues and give my naked, honest opinion, why should I even bother to write??
So, I am back to Hamlet's age-old question (slightly altered for the 21st century). To blog or not to blog...
This is my question, but what is the answer?
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